February

So.  February was busy.  That might be obvious from the lack of anything new here.  We traveled, a lot, spend time with dear people, spent time as a family, learned more about how to live well this life God has given us, where our heart longs for both homes.  And because it was so full, I am going to resort to bullet points.

• We had lots of snow days.  As in 3 plus 2 already scheduled days off of school plus one kid was sick for 2 days.  Yeah, no real school rythm in February.

• It got cold!!  As in actual temperatures being in the -15 F neighborhood.  But Elliot did find some sun!

• The boys got to experience a classroom party in the US.  Parties here are so different.  They are parties.  In Costa Rica, it's often just a meal ordered from a local fast food place.

• Noah and I were able to spend a weekend at Barakel helping out!  It was so fun to be back with those dear folks.  Noah helped drill ice fishing holes, run the tubing hill, teach ski lessons and do announcements.  I helped in the kitchen (which was a much warmer assignment by the way).  It was strange, it felt in some ways like we had never left, although it has been four years!

• I got to share about what God is doing with a group of amazing women.

• We were given a gift of a week at Missionary Training International's Debriefing and Renewal program.  What an amazing time!  We have been able to express and share how hard and wonderful the last 4 years have been, had someone to cry with and pray with, people to breath hope and life into us, all the while our kids were given the same kind of care! So very thankful!

• While in Colorado, we got to spend time with a former student of ours (those teaching years seem like a lifetime ago!) and meet her sweet kids, husband and friends.  We were overwhelmed by the hospitality of strangers as they opened their home to us for 3 days!  

• We also got to visit the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.  So amazing!

• And now we are back to Zeeland, still working on finding a normal routine, although I have my doubts about if we'll be successful
  
  
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This and That

Yep, we're resorting to bullet points.  Don't judge.

• After two days of working on letters and sounds, Elliot became a reader!  Love this kid!

• I have been working on tons of projects for church!  We have a picnic coming up in a few weeks, so we've been painting and building outdoor games, sewing buntings, and figuring out relay races.  

• I am also neck deep in fabric to make new table clothes for church.

• We're working on plans to give the kitchenette at church a make over.  Fun stuff!!

• I started tutoring for my Spanish again.  It's been painful, but good.  This language learning, it's a life long process I tell ya!

• A few weeks ago, we found a desk for a steal!  After way too long of using the kitchen table as a desk, I have one again!!

• For Mother's Day (August 15, yep, it's different) the boys and Noah got me a hose and a nozzle!! So excited!

• Our neighbors, can I just tell you how wonderful they are?  Not only do they go along with almost every hair brained scheme we come up with, they take our kid to school, and bring us food, they also have a sweet fire pit and understand the importance of living in community and taking time!!

• We've started to think more about getting ready for our Home Ministry Assignment (furlough) that will start in December.  I've got really mixed emotions about that. On one hand, we're all very excited to see family and friends we haven't seen in over 2 years.  On the other hand, we are going to desperately miss our friends, church, and neighbors here!  Sigh.  This living with your heart in two places is hard. 

• Speaking of being in MI, if you know of anyone who has a car/van/something that will hold a family of 5 that needs to be driven, we're looking for a vehicle for that 6 months. 

11 Thoughts

So, in no particular order, here are some of the things I have learned over the last couple of weeks:

1.  Baking soda is not an easily found ingredient.  Last week I walked to four different stores, totaling somewhere around two and half or three mile walk. Never found it.

2.  Mint green is never a good color.  Unless there is ice cream involved.

3.  After many months of not experiencing it, air conditioning can take you aback.  I took a taxi yesterday to look for sheets and when I got in something seemed strange.  I couldn't put my finger on what it was.  About 3 minutes into the ride I realized all the windows were closed.  And that's when it dawned on me, this taxi had AC!!  First time I had experienced that!

4.  Being far away from hurting friends forces you pray harder.  You desperately want to do something for them, and since there is no way to clean their house, bring them a meal, you pray.  Which is really what they need the most anyway.

5.  Four year olds can spend the whole day with their underpants on backwards and not care.

6.  Given the right conditions and the right amount of time, I can tell you what I am doing right now, what I am doing continually, what I want to do, and what I did in Spanish.  Again, note the stipulation of the right conditions and the right amount of time you have to waste listening to me stammer through the conjugation.

7.  It's truly amazing that in three months you can go from needing the help of another family to maneuver around the city, to being that other family to help someone new.  Our 'little brother and sister' Will and Elaine Savell come tomorrow!  They will be here for a year studying Spanish and then they will be working with pastoral training in Latin America.

8.  Without having a 30 year experiential knowledge of the subtle nuances of the weather, it's hard to keep track of what time of year it is.  Seriously.  You know how you can tell by the way the air smells, the look of the leaves, the sky, when it gets dark at night, what produce is in season, how the seasons are changing?  Yeah, well, I got nothing here.  It gets dark every night at the same time, there are no leaves to change, no familiar signs.  I don't even know if there are seasons for produce here.  It's a bit disconcerting really.

9.  Just like in high school or college, adult language school students get lax at the end of the term.  Wow, we are all ready for our two week break!

10.  Stores in Costa Rica sometimes carry only pink sheets.  Yes, for real.

11.  Sometimes you just need a nap at 10:30 am.

201

Alright, so since I totally cooped out on the whole 200th post thing, and because I got bored and re read my 101 post (does anyone else read their own blog?) I thought it might be fun, at least for me anyway, to do another list...

And since 201 things would be a bit much, let's try just 21, shall we?

Ready? Set? Go!

1. I have always wanted to live in an old, old house Done it.
2. I have always wanted to live in the north woods. Doing it.
3. I have always wanted to live in the jungle. Maybe someday.
4. I am eating my daily does of dark chocolate right now.
5. I have more books out right now from the library than I will be able to read this year.
6. When I find a book I want to read, I immediately order it from the library.
7. I need a new system. I think it's called a piece of paper with a list.
8. Noah is getting ready for the middle schoolers to get here.
9. I got new sandals this summer.
10. I love them. They actually make me want to wear shoes.
11. No, I did not pay the list price for them, are you nuts?
12. The calendar on my desk goes through January of 2010. I need to print off more months.
13. I am getting pretty good at building superduper roads.
14. I am discovering Charlotte Mason. Why didn't we talk about her in EDU classes?
15. I like new and different, but am often scared of the change.
16. We still have a house in Holland...anybody? anybody?
17. We enjoying having people in our home.
18. I want our boys to be able to have a dog someday
19. Noah might be going to Honduras this fall.
20. I need to write an update letter.
21. I don't want to be selfish and grouchy when I am old.