I'm Reading!

Kezia is very proud to be able to read now. A few months ago, she started sounding out words as we road past signs or when she'd see labels of anything at home. I had a feeling that she would learn Spanish faster than English, and sure enough! The letters have all the same sounds, regardless of how they are paired with other letters, which makes it much easier to sound out whole words.

Then just a few weeks ago, she started reading English. She asked Asha if she wanted her to read a bedtime story. We were so proud of her as she sat and sounded out the words to read the story to Asha.

She's blossomed and she can already read her own word problems from school. Here's an example of what she brought home today.

*Quiero repartir en partes iguales 9 figuritas a 3 niños. Cuantos figuritas tocara?
*I want to divide into equal parts 9 figurines between three kids. How many figurines will each have?

She read the question and then drawing 9 shapes, she figured out that the answer was, tres figuritas, three figurines. Kezia loves to read now and she said her next thing that she wants to do is learn how to do cursive. Her teacher already informed me that she's writing out the alphabet in cursive when she has a spare moment. This eagerness for learning is sure amazing to witness and be a part of.

Our Kids' Programs

The last week or so, our kids have had a variety of programs for school that we thought we'd show for you.

Asha - her end of trimester program on numbers, colours, and the family. She was a very competent number 4 and a hoot of an abuelita (grandma).

Joel - showed off his singing from his English class. I missed the parts in between the songs where he, feeling liberated since it was for English class, yelled out into the mic, "Let's get this show on the road", while his buddies yelled, "Vamos".

Kezia - for the school's 9th anniversary (kermesse) her class danced a traditional dance from the province or Oruro.

Growing.....

To make 18 weeks memorable, baby started to make their presence known by giving me a little kick. This week, the teachers told me it was a boy because of my butt, but the manicurists said it was for sure a girl since she could feel the curve of my waist. Let the guessing games begin!

Something I Read

Over the last two years, I'm proud to say that I have evolved into an avid reader. I think the fact that up until June, we didn't have television and our only viewing option was our computer (which Carl and I fought over.....Battle Star Gallactica or America's Next Top Model...grrrr....).

Since we've done quite a bit of work reorganizing the libraries here, I have come across some real gems. And thanks to all of you that have sent books for us. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time lately to delve into all of them. We still have over 2000 books in the library I haven't read! But there are a few ones I have really enjoyed.

For example;

Island Walkers - this one is about a group of folks in a small Canadian eastern town and how their lives intersect, which I found fascinating. Plus I like books in a Canadian setting.
A Fine Balance - this will leave your heart in shreds, but it's totally worth it
Cross Cultural Conflict - Who would have thought there could be so much strife over a broken dish?
Three Cups of Tea - I think I got something out of it that wasn't expected and I'm not sure how to handle it
The Year of Living Biblically - that was very well written; boy did I laugh and boy did I think
No. 1 Ladies Detective - I never read it with a full bladder, it was that funny!

I'd still like to finish the Moral Intelligence of the New Testament that I started last year, but there are so many other books calling my name. Like Everything Must Change and Blue Parakeet.

Anyways, I was passed this book by an exiting volunteer, Eat, Pray, Love, which is about a woman's quest through three countries to find herself and heal. The author is quite witty and often I'm smiling at the things that she says. One thing struck a chord with me and I thought I would share it, since I bet some of you could relate to this.

************************************************************************************

Letting go, of course, is a scary enterprise for those of us who believe that the world revolves only because it has a handle on the top of it which we personally turn, and that if we were to drop this handle for even a moment, well - that would be the end of the universe.

By try dropping it, [insert your name here]. This is the message I'm getting. Sit quietly for now and cease your relentless participation. Watch what happens. The birds do not crash dead out of the sky in mid-flight, after all. The trees do not wither and die, the rivers do not run red with blood. Life continues to go on. Even the Italian post office will keep limping along, doing its own thing without you - why are you so sure that your micromanagement of every moment in this world is so essential? Why don't you let it be?

I hear this argument and it appeals to me. I believe in it, intellectually, I really do. But then I wonder - with all my restless yearning, with all my hyped-up fervor and with this stupidly hungry nature of mine - what should I do with my energy instead?

That answer arrives too: .......Look for God like a man with his head on fire looks for water.

Carl's Latest Project

A few months ago, Carl made a proposal to install some solar panels around the campus. In May, the first small panel was installed on the roof of the back guest house, but this past week, Carl and Patro (with Andy's help) put together three large ones to go on the unit guest house. The idea was to connect them to the office, where most of the power is used here at MCC. We probably won't get to the point where all power is solar provided here on the grounds, but it certainly is a good way to be an example of environmental stewardship.

Dance Festival

Kezia had her annual dance festival for gymnastics this past week. She was very excited about her routine and brought home a music CD to practice. Her friend, Maria and her mom came to watch Kezia and were so thoughtful and brought Kezia a bouquet of flowers. It was Kezia's first bouquet of flowers!

Here's a little clip for you to enjoy.

Cruel to ourselves

A few nights ago, Carl and I were lying in bed talking. The conversation drifted to being a bit hungry, then to things we'd like to eat, then imagining all the foods that weren't available that we would love to have. Honestly, why would we talk about that? It's not like we can pick these things up? And they don't even fit in a suitcase.....

Carl: Oh, I would just love a big tub of sour cream with nacho chips, and not even the light sour cream. And chunky salsa on the side too.

Kathy: How about a Carl's Jr. Burger?

Carl: The one with jalapenos...

Kathy: No, the one with guacamole.

Silence.

Kathy: Those fries from In and Out, those are awesome.

Carl: Or how about the ones from VJ's?

Kathy: I'd rather have their chili burger.

Silence. Drool.

Carl: Remember the day that Asha was born and we had those chili burgers?

Kathy: And then how I threw it up at the hospital?

Carl: Yeah, that was kind of gross.....

Pondering how gross it was.

Kathy: We went to BDI that summer she was born, right?

Carl: Oh, that ice cream is amazing....

Kathy: I could go for their hot fudge sundae.

Carl: It's kind of too chilly to really enjoy ice cream right now.

Kathy: Yeah, you're probably right.

Sigh.

Carl: Hey, what was the waitress' name at Carl's Jr. on the way to San Fran?

Kathy: Shaniqua? Shania? Sha....?

Carl: Wasn't it too names put together or something?

Kathy: Oh, her name was Shatonya!

Carl: What a name!!

Laughing.

Kathy: Yeah, Carl's Jr.

Carl: Those burgers....

Me and My Bump

14 weeks.

Buhlers Come to Town - Part II

So the south wind came about 9 days into my family's visit with us. And the coldest temperatures in 27 years swept through Bolivia. There was snow just a few hours from here and while 8 degrees (50's F) isn't that cold when you're outside, my how that changes things when that is the temperature inside your house, with no form of heating.

My Canadian-blooded parents shivered and repeated over and over, It's Freezing!

Well, none the less, we still enjoyed ourselves. We drove out to Samaipata to see the ruins, but they were closed due to ice on the stairs. Apparently some Germans slipped and fell the day before. I just wanted to go and see the ice. Can you imagine ice?! I haven't seen ice outside in years! We decided instead of freezing in our cabin with the nights dipping to 3 degrees, that we'd hightail it home only after 24 hours. We immediately made a fire in the fireplace, which warmed a bit of the living room and roasted these enormous marshmallows. The next day in church, we could see our breath. Brrrr......

We also celebrated Asha's birthday with a wonderful cake made by Eloina. Then we went outside and set off fireworks and firecrackers. The guys LOVED it!

The government canceled school for the rest of the week, so the kids were at home the last few days of my family's visit. That was nice. We spent the days relaxing, huddled close together drinking tea and api and hot chocolate, playing games and visiting. Asha had her one favourite book that everyone took turns reading to her.

Thankfully, the last 2 days that my family was here, it was warm enough to wear just one layer! The two weeks went by very quickly and it was a bit surreal taking them to the airport. Asha insisted that she too was going on the big plane back to Canada. The kids really bonded with their uncles and grandparents and it was hard for us, understanding time and separation better, to have to see them so upset when they left. Well, we made some amazing memories, and that's the best and lasting part.

I'm This Big Now

On the 27th, Asha celebrated her 3rd birthday. For weeks she has been announcing to us that "today is my birthday, almost!". We celebrated with my family when they came and then again on her actual birthday we had more cake.

Everywhere we went that day, she announced it was her birthday, so my friends would scoop her up and take her to the nearest candy cart to buy her a treat to celebrate. Some of our co-workers, Eloina, Carmen, and Paola came by in the afternoon with a large piece of cake, just for Asha. It was really something else. Unfortunately, all that candy and cake came up in pools of vomit around 4 a.m. Note to self: though it's a birthday, there should always be limits!

Since she had been talking up her birthday for weeks at school, her teachers said that she would enjoy a full-fledged party, instead of me just bringing in cupcakes. So this past Friday, with 37 cupcakes, gift bags, juice boxes, and a piñata filled with 4lb of candy in tow, I brought some happiness in the form of Red Dye #5 and sugar to a bunch of toddlers. One word describes the event. Chaos. One word describes what I did after. Collapse. But two words describe Asha's reaction. Sheer joy.

Well, you're only three once, and Asha, she sure knows how to celebrate! We love you so much and are so blessed to have you in our family.

Buhlers Come to Town - Part I

My parents and three brothers came to visit us for two weeks. I decided to split up the posts, since I took lots of pictures, but there was two distinct themes for their time here. Heat and Cold. So the first part will highlight what we did together in the heat.

My family also helped us paint the entire inside of a house that MCC is returning back to the owners. We worked together, but also played a lot too! First, we had the chance to enjoy the Guembe Butterfly Sanctuary. It was so wonderfully relaxing. The kids enjoyed swimming, kayaking, and seeing all the animals and butterflies. We also took them over the following days to the market, to the zoo, out to Chorovi where Carl's parents were missionaries in the 70's, and to the plaza. Except for the crazy wind, the Sand Dunes were a pretty big hit too.

It was nice that for the first part of the vacation that the weather cooperated. But we knew that it's winter here in Bolivia, so a south wind could come and change everything.....