Happy Birthday to The Other “Miss Doyne”

Is it any wonder they grew up to be America’s First Family of Nepal?

The song of the night, December 20th, at Satsung was Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to YOU, Happy Birthday Dear Libby, Happy Birthday to YOU.

We were all missing Libby today during the day.  Her name comes up constantly every day with Julia teaching her English classes and Maggie saying Libby has the receipt for the drill, and the Kids saying Libby said we could make cookies, and, and, and… it is not the same without her here.  We know she is getting well earned R & R and Mom time, and it may be her first Christmas at home in ??? I don’t know.  I would only ask that she and Nancy (a.k.a. Grandmother) don’t work too hard on the house and take some “Me” time for each other.

After my first month here the song “The Wind Beneath My Wings” began running through my mind.  Maggie makes it very clear that she is not making this miracle alone.  That she has an incredible staff, both at the School from Principal Jeff through the Teachers, Cooks and Maintenance Staff and in the Home with another amazing staff.  The staffs surge back and forth at peak times of the day and week to meet things like mealtime for 300+ and the issuing of clothing and shoes.  It works incredibly well and continually brings that song to my mind.  So many people operating in Maggie’s overarching shadow.

One of those SuperStars is none other than Maggie’s younger Sister, Libby who I feel particularly close to because she carries the same given names as my departed Sister, Betsy (both a.k.a. Elizabeth Anne).  Libby is a very complex person, as all Doynes seem to be.  If you follow her blog http://persistinlove.wordpress.com/ you get that she is short and to the point in her communications.  She doesn’t mince words or hold back thoughts or opinions.  I think the Children would prefer Maggie as the disciplinarian (I have to be careful here) because Libby runs a very tight ship.  The ship is full of love for everyone in equal measure, but your ration gets cut off quickly when you are breaking the rules.  She and Maggie make a great team working together.

I almost cut this 2nd teaching video out, but it shows you the size of the classes the teachers deal with, how well they can keep them organized, and Julia give a great summary of the progress on the book project.

Libby is so much more than an English Teacher, I can see so many of the Girls looking up to her as a role model.  She’s a Lady who looks so tall and strong and elegant in her Nepali garb.  She’s a Tomboy who can kick that ‘football’ with the best of the Boys and has inspired so many of the Girls to take on the Boys at anything and everything.

She is an excellent Mother who like both her Sisters learned super-parent skills from both her Mom and her Dad.  The little kids love her and I think Namraj would have Solomon’s problem if he ever had to choose between his Mothers.  Thankfully, that won’t ever have to happen, there seems to be plenty of love to go around!

We Love and MISS YOU, Libby Miss!  Have a super birthday!

Love,

Uncle Ed & Julia, and Maggie and Grandfather, and Lexi and Jeff, and all the Kopila Kids, Aunties, Uncles, and Teachers and Staff.