I've been absent for the last while because we haven't had internet and I'm fighting this ridiculously stubborn cold.  Not sick enough to stop me in my tracks but I'm just floating through the days feeling garbagy.

Lots has happened the last few days and I'll get to posting really soon.....

Another Reunion

A few weekends ago, I had the privilege of being reunited with a family that I had stayed with on the colonies when I was here in Bolivia in '98.  I had some contact with Justine after I left the first time, writing letters, exchanging pictures up until our first children were born.  Then things got busy, we lost touch.

So, like the last time, I tried to track down Justine, by talking to folks that had connections on the colonies.  I found out from Helen, that Justine's parents lived on a particular colony, and from someone else I actually got her Dad's cell phone.  I thought just to be sure, I'd write her a note and put it in the colony mailbox in Centro Menno.  And then I waited for her to call.

A few days later, she called!  She was so thrilled that I had made contact with her.  She actually saw my picture in the Menno Bote (MCC's in house magazine for Colony Mennonites and others) and knew she had to come in and meet me again.

We decided to meet for lunch; all of us with our husbands, our children and Justine's parents.  We had a lovely time out, visiting and catching up.  Kind of funny, all of us speaking in our second language!  Justine's mom was so happy that she learned Spanish so she could talk with me.  It was a real blessing.  We are hoping to go out to Justine and Ben's place in the next few weeks before we leave.  It would be great to see where they live.  And since they have family in Canada, this may not be the last time we see each other.

 Justine and I

 Justine's Mom Tina, Me and Justine

 With Dietrich and Tina

Both families, Whew! lots of kids

This Week

It's been a good week, but a tiring one.  If I get more energy than I have now, I'll write more about it.  But just to recap, this is what we've been up to....

Went to visit one of the doctors that delivered Elena to give her a thank you gift.  It was such a life giving visit.

Had meetings here on Thursday and Friday with the entire team.  Always a good time, but I'm tired after being with so many people for hours and hours of the day.  And of course I ate way too much.

Getting food poisoning, or something last night.  Shudder.  At least it was just me.

Elena laughed out loud when Kezia was doing her gymnastic routine in the living room.  It was priceless!

We did a cachivachi (garage sale) of extra items in storage this week.  I love being the cachivachera.  I'm the queen of garage sale organizing.

The kids came home with perfect report cards.  And Asha's exam was quite impressive.  Amazing what daycares do with bright little three year olds.

Both Joel and Kezia did something special for the goodbye (despedida) party for another MCC family leaving in a few weeks.  Though no words were expressed, it was touching.

I packed my first suitcase to leave....

And no electricity in our house as of last night.  How am I blogging?  Well, we have a long cable running from our house to the workshop at the back of the yard.  The fridge and the freezer are plugged in, we have two lamps.  The gas stove works, but the electric shower doesn't.

Well, it's kind of like camping.  It would be fun if this wasn't the 4th time this has happened in the last few months.  Oh and now the other buildings are having problems and I'm now sitting in the dark....

Ugh.  Well with little electricity, you have nothing to do but go to bed.  And that I shall do!  Good night to you all.

Far Away Mother's Day Tribute

Though it's a bit late, we are wishing our Moms a very special Mother's Day.  We wished we could be there to celebrate with you, but hope that you feel treasured and honoured.  You have been a blessing and encouragement to us in your walk with the Lord and have been a constant support in our lives. Even though there is physical distance, we continue to have a close and growing relationship. 

The kids still talk about your awesome baking and fun activities you did with them here in Bolivia. 


And they talk often about the time when we come to stay at your house, "You can just drop us off at Grandma's place.  You don't need to stay because we'll be just fine.  She has lots of goodies and beds for us". 


You are loved very much!

Another Thought Provoking Read

I borrowed a book from my friend Laurie, that has been quite an interesting read.  It's called, When Your Child is 6 to 12 by John M. Drescher.

I have to admit, this parenting thing can be quite daunting, anyone else agree?  When we were in Fresno, there was a campaign called First Five, which stressed the importance of the first five years of your child's life.  I don't know why, but panic set in as in my head it screamed, "You have only five years to impress on your kids! Don't waste time, hurry, hurry before they are lost forever!".  Okay, maybe it was a little less dramatic than that....

So when Laurie loaned me this book, it was like a sigh of relief, "Whew, I've got a few more years than I previously thought!".  I need to relax, I know.

It was a good read in the fact that it talked about creating connections with your child at this age, the things they need and crave, and things that we as parents are so prone to doing.  It really spoke to me.  I would highly recommend it.  It's definitely given me much to think about, but also in talking with Laurie and other parents, remembering that it totally takes a village to raise a child. Not only  many hands, but often we as parents need a word of advice, encouragement and insight.  That's what I gained from this read.

This section of the book I want to share with you.  It's actually from another book that John wrote, Seven Things That children Need.  This was a life giving section of the book. 

Read and be inspired.

*********
[John says] some years ago I found these parables.
I took a little child's hand in mine.  The child and I were to walk together for a while.  I was to lead the child to the Father.  It was a task that overcame me, so awful was the responsibility.  I talked to the little child only of the Father.  I painted the sternness of the Father's face, were the child to displease Him.  We walked under tall trees.  I said the Father had power to send them crashing down, struck by His thunderbolt.  We walked in the sunshine.  I told the child of the greatness of the Father who made the burning, blazing, sun.

And one twilight we met the Father.  The child hid behind me; the child was afraid; the child would not look up at the loving face.  The child remembered my picture and would not put a hand in the Father's hand.  I was between the child and the Father.  I wondered.  I had been so conscientious, so serious.

**

I took the little child's hand in mine.  I was to lead the child to the Father.  I felt burdened by the multitude of things I was to teach.  We did not ramble.  We hastened on from spot to spot.  At one moment we compared the leaves of the trees; in the next we examined a bird's nest.  While the child was questioning me about it, I hurried the child away to chase a butterfly.  If the child happened to fall asleep, I wakened the child lest my little one should miss something I wished my child to see.  We spoke of the Father often and rapidly.  I poured into the child's ears all the stories the child ought to know.  But we were interrupted often by the wind blowing, of which we must speak; by the coming out of the stars, which we must need study; by the gurgling brook, which we must trace its source.

And then in the twilight we met the Father.  The child merely glanced at Him.  The Father stretched out His hand, but the child was not interested enough to take it.  Feverish spots burned on the child's cheeks.  Dropping exhausted to the ground, the child fell asleep.  Again, I was between the child and the Father.  I wondered.  I had taught my child so many things.

**

I took a little child's hand in mine to lead the child to the Father.  My heart was full of gratitude for the glad privilege.  We walked slowly.  I suited my steps to the short steps of the child.  We spoke of things the child noticed.

Sometimes we picked the Father's flowers, stroked their soft petals and loved their bright colours.  Often we told stories of the Father.  I told them to the child, and the child told them to me.  We told them, the child and I, over and over again.  Sometimes we stopped to rest, leaning against the Father's trees, letting His air cool our brows and never speaking.

And then in the twilight we met the Father.  The child's eyes shone.  The child looked up lovingly, trustingly, eagerly, into the Father's face, and the child put a hand into the Father's hand.  I was, for the moment, forgotten.  I was content.

She Thought I was 23....

 I celebrated my 33rd birthday on Monday, but all day Asha kept asking me if I was turning 23.  After the 4th time, I stopped correcting her, because I loved how 23 sounded!

It was a good day.  A holiday because it was Labour Day, which was an added bonus.  Carl hosted a wonderful birthday party for me with my school friends on Sunday night, and though there was a karaoke machine set up, we were so busy yakking, only 4 songs got sung.  At 11 p.m. we all yawned and said it was time to wrap the party up.  Okay, maybe I'm not 23 anymore.....

On Monday, I slept in, we went for Japanese food for lunch and I had another nap in the afternoon.  Oh, that was awesome!  The kids gave me some very nice shirts that a particular brown lady went to purchase the week before.  Figured it was easier than Carl tromping through the market with three kids.  They had made cards and included chocolate bars.

Jake and Helen stopped by for coffee and to bring some homemade sausage (seriously, what an great gift!!).  Then we made our way to Liz and Ramont's for supper.  After the delicious stir-fry and left over cake, I was happy as a clam.

A good birthday.  I quite enjoyed it.  I don't feel old at all.  Just richly blessed.

Elena's 3rd Month

Elena is three months and blossoming into quite the baby.  This month she's really turned into quite the character.

She found her voice and loves to coo and gurgle.  Just on Monday, Elena started blowing spit bubbles, so out come the bibs to catch some of the slobber.

Elena now weighs 6 kg (13lb 2oz) and is 64 cm long (25 inches).  The doctor told me that she's really tall, growing 3 cm in one month. I haven't taken her for her shots yet, kind of dreading it because the last time she cried, sobbed, and wailed the entire day....

This month, Elena discovered that though the soothers I bought her are very pretty (though it's more like wishful thinking on my part) she'd rather not suck on soothers.  Nope she's a finger sucker, just like I was.

We've never had a child that prefers their fingers over the soother.  Of course there are pros and cons. There's no looking for the soother at 4 a.m. or standing in a filthy market street wondering if you licking off the dropped soother will actually help.  But then there's no taking away a finger or thumb at age 4 and the orthodontist bills could be through the roof.  Well, I'm not thinking about pros and cons, I'm thinking about what makes her happy.  Plus, you have to admit, it's terribly cute, isn't it?

Elena went on her first vacation on the train this month, and also did quite a bit of trips in the trufi and in taxi.  She also had her first Easter, even though the weather wasn't conducive to lovely pictures in the grass.

One cool developmental thing this month is that she can roll from  her tummy onto her back!  Now, there's no leaving the baby on the couch unattended; well, that hardly happens on account of a very zealous-with-her-lovin' older sister.

Elena also went for her first studio pictures and did quite well.  Although she wasn't super smiley, she did put up with the goofy photographer trying to get her to smile for over 20 minutes.  Seriously, babies don't understand when you yell at them, Sonrie! Sonrie!

Ah, it's been a good month with our little sausage.  Yes, the poor thing is now known as sausage, or chorizo, which I think sounds a little better.  How is that my kids all end up with food nicknames?

Anyways, here's looking forward to a great month with our lil' Elena.