Aftershocks???

"Our house in the middle of the street......."

The kids keep singing this song, because our house is literally in the middle of our street.  As is typical in colonial Guatemalan architect, our house is shaped like a C with a courtyard in the opening of the C.  All doors open to the courtyard and this gives a openness to the house.  Also, it helps with cooling when the temperature gets warmer.

Our first night in our new home was rather hair raising.  Since the doors all open to the open court yard we were a little nervous about the kids sleeping in their rooms.  Even though there is electrified razor wire around the place, security cameras everywhere, two security guards with big guns, and locked gates I was concerned.  Every noise in a new house causes alarm when you are already on edge.

We had been in bed about an hour when Toby and I heard a bumping noise coming from somewhere.  He jumped up and flew out the door to check on the kids.  They were sleeping peacefully all snug and cozy in their beds, so we laid back down.  A few minutes later we heard the same sound again, and again Toby was out the door in a flash.  The problem was that the noise always quit about the time he got out the door, so he decided to stand by the door a little while.  Sure enough there was the noise again, but Toby still could not find where it was coming from.  Coming back in he says, "Kayla, I think it must be aftershocks from the earthquake."  OK!  That was not what I wanted to hear, but at least it was not invaders. Plus, I hadn't felt any shaking or swaying. We heard it several more times during the night, but we stayed in bed confident that there was no harm coming to our kids.

The next morning, Toby asked the kids if they felt or heard the after shocks during the night.  None of them had heard anything.  Puzzled, Toby asked if they had heard the bumping during the night.  Kaitlyn said, "Yeah, every time I moved my head board made a loud bumping sound. One time I tried to see how many times I could make it bump the wall."  You should have seen the look on Toby's face.  We have heard Toby's "aftershocks" every night since, but Toby has slept through most of them.  

For some reason this whole scenario reminds me of my bear in TN that turned out to be Kaitlyn's cell phone on vibrate.  Lesson learned......if you are ever in a new place make sure any strange sounds in the middle of the night are not somehow tied to Kaitlyn.

Happy Thanksgiving

I think I have had writers block since arriving in Guatemala.  You would think the sights and sounds would energize my creativity and productivity, but it has been the opposite.  I honestly think I have been overwhelmed with sensory overload.

........Thankful that this does not occur all the time.

Our first trip to the store to purchase necessities was nothing but sensory overload.  We didn't go to one of the several Wal-marts that I have seen, we went to the local market/grocery store.  It was Friday evening and the place was bustling with locals getting what they needed.  Most people shop daily due to lack of refrigeration.  The smells, sights, and sounds were so different that half way through the trip I zoned out.  Someone with us asked if I was OK.  I honestly could not take anymore.

......Thankful that we made it through and we at least had enough sense to buy toilet paper.

Our first few days were spent with people coming and going, trying to get out house up and running.  The gardener comes on Monday's and Thursday's.  He came with the house...hired by the homeowner.

.......Thankful that I do not have to tend to the plants and that he was already hired.

The pure water delivery is on Wednesday's and Saturdays.  They deliver 15 gallons of pure water at a time that we use for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth.  I have gained a huge appreciation for clean water at our disposal in the US that comes from the tap.

.......Thankful for clean water that I take for granted.

The internet was quite elusive for the first week.  Seems that here it takes several people over several days to fix a problem.  Each time a new internet technition showed up they were a little more qualified to deal with our problem.  Finally, after a week of being here they sent out the experts and they had us up and running in about an hour.  The cable from house to the street was bad.

........Thankful for wifi and the experts that finally got it turned on.

We have a maid/child care person I will refer to as E.  She cleaned the house from top to bottom everyday the first week, but after starting school today, I don't think that will be the case.  Kamryn keeps her VERY busy while I study the language.  She told us today that Kamryn is very smart.  I saw Missy Smarty make several runs for me today with a very determined, mischievious look on her face, with E. in hot pursuit.  I think Kamryn enjoyed the chase and really didn't mean to ever get to me.

........Thankful for a nice lady that helps so I can learn the language.

Kamryn has been very sick since we got here.  She got the ROTO virus in Miami and the Monday before we flew out, we had to take her to the hospital.  She was dehydrated and I could not stop her vomiting.  They gave us medicine, and the next day she was better.  On Friday, we woke up with her vomiting again, so we took her to a Dr here.  He confirmed the ROTO virus and said that it was about over.  He was right and in a couple of days she was better.  Within 24 hours of her eating again, her allergy to soy started showing up.  For the next week, we battled having to figure out what contained soy and what didn't in a language that we can't understand.  Wal-mart is a mine field of products that contain hidden ingredients.  Well, hidden to those that do not read the language.  You can find some American products here and that helps.

........Thankful that I live in a country that things are labeled clearly and for a variety of products that make my life simpler.

Thanksgiving came and went this year without much fan fare.  We had the rest of the missionary team at our house for the Thanksgiving meal.  I made the cornbread dressing and it turned out wonderful considering the corn meal here is really corn flour.  We missed our family and traditions at home, but found that where ever you are Thanksgiving is in the heart.  We have so much to be thankful for that we should celebrate a spirit of thanksgiving daily.

Thanksgiving 2012

Happy Thanksgiving 

Lowry Park Zoo

Today we went to one of the coolest zoos that we have ever visited. The Lowry Park Zoo is rated #1 in the nation by Parents magazine.  It wasn't so big you couldn't see it all in a day, but there was so much to do at ever turn.  I love when each kid, no matter how young, can have a good time participating on some level.  There was so much for ALL of us to do.

We saw so many animals and one of the best animals to watch were the rhinos.  They chased each other around and around playing and terrorizing three zebras that were sharing their habitat.  One of the grossest and interesting things that they did was poop in the exact same spot one behind the other.  I am not sure what that was all about, but it was definitely INTERESTING.  My kids stood glued to the action, until the smell hit them.....it was time to move on.

One of the first things my youngest three spotted where the kiddie rides. Poor Kaitlyn, she gets stuck riding rides with Kamryn because she can get in places someone with longer legs can't.  She is such a good sport, but today I think we pushed her limits with a ride.  She was getting on the kiddie train and the roof of the car about took her head off.  Seems that we may have to retire her riding privileges.  Guess Nicholas will have to step in and be the designated rider.

  

The Bad, Bad, Kiddie Train and Kaitlyn enjoying their time together.

Look at the smile on my little girl's face.

I really wished I had gotten a picture of one of the kids petting this llama named Angie.  All of the them where somewhat scared of her.  Kaitlyn really didn't help the situation by announcing, "I think that thing is about to spit," as we were waiting to go in the petting zoo.  No one wanted to get near Angie and her spit.

Kamryn loved this goat, because it was just her size.  She kept petting and loving on him, until she decided to give him a big bear hug.  He was NOT impressed and butted her ever so slightly in the stomach.  It wasn't hard, but he got his point across.  Kamryn came flying to me, saying over and over, "He mean!"  She didn't hug any more goats after that.

Toby named this goat EARL and spent the entire visit to the petting zoo brushing him.  Not sure about this, but the goat loved it

.

We have two ways of thinking in our family, either "I HATE BIRDS" or "I LOVE BIRDS".  I am in the love them camp.  Kaitlyn, on the other hand, is the main HATER.  She has been known to leap on top of my head to get away from a bird, so today was a MIRACLE.

 LOVE BIRDS

Kaitlyn was VERY BRAVE and overcame her fears to hold and feed a bird.  The girl that worked in this exhibit was very patient with her and showed her how to hold them, blow the hulls from the seeds, and how to get them to come to her without scaring her to death.  I am so proud of my girl.  We MAY have another bird lover in the making.

Last week we were at Toby parent's house and Kamryn saw the horses running in the pasture.  She wanted to go ride one and was upset when we told her she could not.  She was so excited when she realized she could ride a pony.  She kept telling Kensli and Nicholas that she was, "FUST!"

Our EXCITED Pony Rider

 Beautiful Kensli Ready to Ride

Cowgirl Kensli

 Nicholas taking his ride.

Several weeks ago, when we were in the area, we went to Busch Gardens and fed the giraffe.  You had to be five years old to ride the safari truck to the feeding area.  I can understand their rules, because you had to ride standing up in the back of the truck.  Today when I realized she could feed a giraffe I was so excited for her.  As you can see, by the look on her face, she loved the experience.

 Look at the happy girl.

We have never been anywhere that you could ride a camel.  This was a nice treat for the kids.  Check Kaitlyn out, she is riding with Kamryn AGAIN!  Guess the camel didn't poop, kick, or do some other disgusting thing, because she has a smile on her face.

 Camel Riding....we just need Pyramids.  

Naturals and Smiling Kaitlyn

One of Kensli's favorite marine animals are the manatee.  She couldn't wait to go and see them.  Last year when we were at a zoo with a manatee exhibit, she had wanted to buy her a stuffed animal manatee.  Guess what she got today?  She finally got her wish, except little sisters have a way of getting in on your dream.  We ended up bringing two stuff animal manatees home with us.

Sisters

Fresh air, lovely weather, warm sunshine, and wonderful experiences made this a perfect day!

Randomness and an Earthquake

We have been on the road since Sunday morning, and I find it much harder to blog while on the road.  We are staying in Clearwater, FL for a couple of days and hope to visit a local zoo today.

I am thankful for many things right now, but especially for a delay and we have not made it to Guatemala yet.  Yesterday they had a 7.5 earthquake that did some minimal damage to the missionaries houses.  Thankfully the orphanage was not damaged.  If we had gone with out original plans, we would have been in country for only about 6 days and I am not sure I want that as part of our welcoming committee.  I am praying for the people and our churches in Guatemala.

Schedules are so messed up right now.  Homeschool things are packed and we have not been anywhere in the last few days long enough to justify pulling it all out.  I am praying that once in Guatemala we will settle into a routine and get a lot accomplished.  

After we get to Guatemala, we will have 9 days to figure out Thanksgiving.  Seems that, since we are the new kids on the block, we will be hosting Thanksgiving at our house.  This should prove very interesting, since I have NEVER shopped in Guatemala for anything, much less a Thanksgiving feast.


Patiently waiting, but READY TO GO!!!!!

1st Day of Thankfulness

We were supposed to leave today for Florida, but due to a slight delay we will leave Sunday.  We have leased our house for a year, and the paper work will be signed Saturday.  

Thankful for the delay.

Just a Glimpse into the "WHY?"

Disclaimer:  With the move and all the talk of missions work, quite a few questions have come from some about the reasons we are doing this.  I have several reasons I could share, and if time allows I will, not to get a thumbs up from people, but to clarify and explain our thoughts and reasons for doing what we are doing.  It is part of our process and I think it worth sharing.


Toby and I were talking the other day about that moment in time where we just knew we were called to missions.  We have heard so many people describe their "called moment" into ministry and usually they hear a voice, dream a dream, see angels descending, or some other great and marvelous moment in time.  We thought and thought and there just wasn't one.  I am not belittling anyone that has experienced anything like that, but it just didn't happen that way for us.  It really evolved over time.  God put us in places and opened doors until we are where we are today....at the door of launching into full time missions, living in another country, learning a language, and helping with an orphanage.  

One of these "called moments" for us happened in Vietnam.  We were there adopting our oldest daughter and our experience there had been blissfully happy until this particular night.  We were taken to an wonderful Vietnamese restaurant for dinner in Ho Chi Mien City.  It was a lovely evening and the heat of the day was slowly fading.  Night life was in full swing, so we decided to walk a few doors down to check a little clothing store that specialized in handmade items for babies.  The items were beautiful and I was drawn to the handmade quilts in the back of the store.  As we stood talking to the store owner, we heard a banging on the glass front of the store.  Looking up we saw a lady holding a dirty, practically naked, little boy up for us to see.  She was frantically pointing at us and pointing at the little boy.  Puzzled, we went back to our conversation.  The banging started again, only this time louder and more frantic.  Once again we turned to see the same lady and in greater flurry of frantic pointing and waving.  Toby asked the shop owner what was going on and his reply was that she was poor and probably could not provide for the child, so she thought she would give him to us.  The look on our faces must have been one of grief, because the owner sent a worker to shoo the lady away.  We finished our purchases and exited the store.  Two steps down the sidewalk and there she was standing before us.  She asked in broken English, "You American? You American?"  Nodding, we tried to side step her, but her pleas became even more frantic.  Finally, she tried to put the little boy in Toby's arms.  Not wanting to draw attention to us and make a scene, we told her no and tried to get way from her.   She chased behind us until we were almost running.  I guess we finally reached an area that she wasn't as comfortable or something, because we realized she was no longer there.  Slowing, I turned to see her standing clutching the child.  My heart broke.  What would drive a mother to try to give her child to perfect strangers?  What could be so terrible?   This was not a case of neglect.  It was not a case of I don't want this child.  There was a desperation in her face I have never seen before or since, and her face still haunts my dreams at times.  

No, we didn't see angels, we didn't hear voices, we haven't had dreams, yet we have had all three of these.  

Our angels were not so angelic....they were dirty, hungry, and poor.  

Our voices were frantic and desperate.  

Our dreams, they have been haunted.  

We have been asked, "Why GO?" Why leave the life we have?  Why drag our kids to another country and culture?   How could we not?  There are many that are just as desperate as that woman was in this world.  They are hungry, dirty, and spiritual poor.  My heart aches.  It is not an option.  God has called, we MUST answer.

Just a Little Day Dreaming

I woke up this morning to cloudy skies.  

The forecast for the weekend is cool and windy.  

Can't help myself....day dreaming.