School Has Begun

Today was the first day of school for the kids!!

They looked so nice all dressed in their uniforms and backbacks on their backs.

Mat really likes being the big brother and watches out for his sisters.

I will post a picture soon so you all can see them.

~Especially for Cindy~

A VERY SPECIAL HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, MOM & BIRDIE!!

WE LOVE YOU AND HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY GREAT DAY!!



Afternoon Swimming

We were all ready for Sabbath so we got to spend the afternoon swimming at Cahal Peche. A resort that sits way up on the hill above San Ignacio with 3 pools.

We call it a resort but its far from fancy, however the kids sure do like to swim there!

You can get a lime juice or soda to drink by the pool and the kids really like that too.



Date Night

Chris decided that we needed to have a date night last night. So we mulled over our options here in this less than opportunistic place! We knew that we would like privacy for talking and spending time together but figured we wouldn't get that at most of the little eating places.

So I said we should just meet on our roof at sunset and the whole evening unfolded. Yes, Chris went and got us some dinner for a very special treat and the girls went to work decorating for us.

We were not allowed to see until they were all done. Of course Hannah headed up the decoration committee and put her eager little assistant, Bella, to work doing her bidding. I'm not sure how many trips they made up and down from the roof but in the end it was very sweet and special.

The girls had decorated a small table with nice linens (the best we have), a vase full of red hibiscus and a rose, crystal pitcher of ice water, and another of juice. They even provided beautiful background music by taking a cd player upstairs. They did try to put candles but the wind was too much.

I enjoyed grilled eggplant with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies and Chris, well he enjoyed a veggie burger with a pile of fries!!

We had a nice time visiting and enjoying our supper together! Finally, we ended up getting too cold and had to come in, I believe it cooled down to the low 70's.

Such a nice evening and I enjoyed my time with Chris just as much as I enjoyed watching the girls work to surprise us!! Mat helped out too but I don't think he was into the decoration part other than accompanying the girls out to pick flowers and help carry chairs upstairs.

The girls want to know when they can do this again for us??

Who knows this might become a regular weekly thing just not the eating out part. 

Application Filed

We have filed our residency paperwork and this morning was our interview with immigration. Good thing we got there early because we found out that its first come first serve. Ha, we Americans actually thought we had a 9am appt., well I guess we did but so did everyone else. So arriving at 8:30am really helped!! We were first and they came out and announced that they don't start until 9:30am. Well, we are praying it goes smoothly and quickly as to alleviate our monthly visa extension.

The next step is an interview with the police dept. then back to immigration. Please pray that God will push our file through with record speed and surprise even the officials.

Alanna

HAPPY HAPPY 35th BIRTHDAY!!

A Thought to Think On

Those who are finally victorious will have seasons of terrible perplexity and trial in their religious life; but they must not cast away their confidence, for this is a part of their discipline in the school of Christ,

and it is essential in order that all dross may be purged away. The servant of God must endure with fortitude the attackes of the enemy, his grievous taunts, and must overcome the obstacles which satan will place in our way.

Jesus is the light of the world, and you are to fashion your life after His. You will find help in Christ to form a strong, symmetrical, beautiful character. The Lord has a work for each of us to do. He means that every soul shall stand in the strength of the Lord.

Traditional Mayan Food

The girls and I along with Addy's kids went out to see sister Terry yesterday. She had asked us out to help and to learn how to make tomalitos (mayan food).

We all shucked the corn.......we've done that before except this corn has about 10 times the amount of husk as corn back home. Next, we all cut the corn off the cob which we've done that before too......just way out of practice.

On to the hand grinder where we took turns cranking the grinder handle. How hard is it to grind fresh, young corn? Well, apparently it isn't easy as we kept trading off (could it be that we are soft from easier living). The farm has no electricity so all the work is done by hand.

We also added onion and green pepper which we also put through the grinder. Whew!!! By then its like 1pm and we started at 9am.

Sister Terry added seasonings to the mix and melted margerine and some canned milk (no refrigerator there) gave it a stir and announced it was ready to fill the husks back up.

So we gathered around the table and Terry showed us how to fold the corn husks and how to fill them and place them into a huge pot that had husks lying in the bottom and water.

I'm sure that we were way more messy than she would be but it was fun to do it. Very hard work and you might get it for supper most likely the next day. We filled two layers into the pot and covered the top with more corn husks to help keep the steam in. The pot was carried out to the firehearth as they call it here and it cooked for 90 minutes.

They were soooooo good and worth the hard work!

We finally were finished and had our prize tomalitos to take home and left the farm at 4:45pm. An all day affair and I hope to do it again sometime.

We have to pass through two cattle gates going in and out of the farm. For some reason going out the kids couldn't get one of them to shut. How many kids does it take to shut the gate?

Where does the time go?

Hard to believe that time sneaks by so fast! School starts in 2 weeks and summer break will be over, well its always summer here.

The family has been busy with taking walks, bike rides, butterfly collecting, working, household chores, market shopping, etc..... and the truck clutch has gone out so we are stranded today.

Yes, its the hottest time of the year down here but the rains will cool it off if we get some. Praise the Lord that no more hurricanes are looming on the horizon.

We are working on our residency paperwork and that will take some time and effort on our part and then its a waiting game......praying that God will expedite it through.

We have talked about going down south to the beach but thats all its been....talk. Maybe someday we will actually touch the sand with our toes for the first time since coming here 11 months ago!

Keep looking up because Jesus is coming so very soon!

No Hurricane Here!

All glory to God!!

We have managed to escape any of the hurricanes force......even the outer path!

All we've had is a little wind and some rain that I wouldn't call any different than normal here in the tropics.

So glad that it didn't hit us......and so sorry for all those in Mexico that it is affecting. Prayers for them.

Homemade Butterfly Nets

Chris and I made the kids butterfly nets and they have quite a good collection started. To date they have 23 specimens of butterflies and dragonflies.

So many butterflies here- all colors and so many awesome designs!



Storm!!

As tropical storm Ernesto gets closer and stronger we are preparing. According to the report it should gain strength and become a hurricane soon.

We aren't sure if we will be in the path or not as the projected path has changed sooooo many times.

Hoping it just goes away!!

Brother & Nephew

Happy 40th Birthday Eric!!

Happy 6th Birthday Eli!!

Hope you had a great day together and that you ate lots of cake!

Fun Outings

We have had some nice outings on bikes and for walks!!

Mama Mantis

Baby Mantis