What a week!

Ben got back safely and with treasures for everyone.  He brought me two large bags of brown sugar!  I hugged them (the bags), yes I did!  The boys were thrilled to have Pasta Roni and Pop Tarts and other treats from MaMaw.  It's the little things.  He also brought back a vacuum that my sisters got for me on black Friday.  I've never been so happy to vacuum in all my life!  There is more than a little dog hair on these rugs of ours.  I filled up the canister just vacuuming ONE rug!

We decided to be a nice family and share....germs that is.  The 24 hour bug struck 4 of us this week, one at a time, of course.  I'm praying it has stopped there.

Ben and I had a nice time tonight with some friends on a double date.  It's always refreshing to have some adult time.  The boys love when Paty comes over to watch them.  They got to go to a tienda and filled up on chips and suckers and then came home and had ice cream.  Surprisingly, they are all sleeping.

Thankful

Ben is in Indy this week enjoying time with family.
Hopefully Addison isn't too spoiled by the time he leaves.

Some friends who just moved to Magdalena a few weeks ago have graciously offered to stay with us while Ben is away.  I am so thankful to have help!  They have been playing with the boys, doing dishes, helping with meals, cleaning, changing the 5 gallon water bottles, etc., etc.!!!  Not only I am grateful for their help, but simply for their presence!  If they weren't here I know I would not be sleeping well at night!  I'm a bit of a chicken!  I hope and pray that we don't drive them crazy :)  I know I would have gone crazy if I had to do all of this by myself!

I ventured out to the market this morning with the boys.  Telma saw me so she accompanied us and insisted on carrying my basket.  Paty walked the boys home from the art school today and came in to see if we needed anything.

I was so nervous to be flying solo for a week, but I am so thankful for friends who are willing to sacrifice to make sure we are well taken care of.

Getaway

We spent the weekend at a missions conference in Panajachel on Lake Atitlan, a few hours away.  It was a great time of meeting other missionaries, being refreshed and encouraged, and having fun with our boys.  There were some wonderful classes for the kids!  They were spoiled and loved on!  The boys enjoyed swimming at the hotel!  They are little fish!  We almost lost Caleb, but thankfully, I saw him go under and got to him quickly.  This parenting thing isn't for the faint of heart!  Sadly, I don't think we took any pictures, but I guess that means we were too busy having fun :)  We are so grateful for friends whose generosity allowed us to get away and enjoy a weekend and be refreshed!

I am very excited for Ben and a little nervous for me.  He is leaving tomorrow for a week trip to the U.S.  He is looking forward to visiting his new niece, Addison and spending quality time with family.  I think the cold weather will be a shock to his system.  I'm wondering how much Spanish is going to automatically come out of his mouth :)  If you see him, give him a hug for me.

Visits, Boogers and Babies

We had fun in the cooking school this morning.  I love getting to know the ladies!  We have had one of the ladies not be able to come for about a week.  This afternoon Antonietta and I visited her at her home.  Aura is married and has two boys.  They are currently renting a room in her husband's parents house.  They are hard workers.  Aura is attending the cooking school and also sells some cleaning items in front of her mother-in-laws tienda.  They saved up money to buy a car that her husband could use for work and someone stole it.  They started saving money again and bought a motorcycle and it too was stolen.  While going to church on Sunday they had someone following them.  Aura is fearful even to walk to the cooking school now.  We were able to encourage her and pray with her.  Please pray with us for their safety and for the Lord to comfort them during this difficult time.

The boys have been something else today.  We've had some interesting discussions!  There were two large boogers on the wall in my bedroom so I asked -"Who put these boogers on my wall?"  I got - "not me, not me!" from everyone.......except my husband!  He said "I don't think it was me, but I do flick them sometimes!" WHAT?!  At least someone was telling the truth, right?

Luke has been talking about wanting a baby sister ALL day!  He wants me to have a baby, he wants to visit us in the hospital, me to ride in a wheelchair, bring the baby home, name HER, tell her she is precious, nurse her under a tunnel (blanket), show her to Aunt Emily on skype, etc., etc.  He hasn't stopped talking about it!  Not sure why he is coming up with this all of a sudden!  Ahh, I love my boys!

Cakes and Attitudes!

Yesterday at the cooking school the ladies decorated their own cakes - they were beautiful!  Everyone worked on different types of flowers for two weeks and then yesterday they brought a cake to the school, iced and decorated it.  They are learning so much and are already starting to make and sell cakes/pastries.  One of the ladies even made a wedding cake a few weeks ago!

We have been meeting with some other missionary friends here and having church each week.  We are teaching the kids this month about being peacemakers.  Between the three families we have 15 kids!  We know a thing or two about brotherly love and .....not so loving actions.  We are memorizing Romans 14:19 together and encouraging the kids to be choose to make peace, walk away instead of causing trouble, etc.  I know at home I have been focusing on the first part of the verse -  ^"So let us do all we can to live in peace."  However, I have been convicted lately about issuing consequences when the boys choose not to make peace and not paying attention to the second part of the verse - "And let us work hard to build each other up."  We have had A LOT of attitude around here lately and it has been very frustrating!  I lost it with Levi yesterday and had to apologize and really examine my heart.  I really need to work on building my boys up and not always focusing on what they are doing wrong.  They aren't perfect and neither am I.  I want my boys to know that they are loved and have fun with them.  Sometimes I get so caught up in doing things and I don't take enough time to just be with them and love and encourage them.

Welcome to the world Addison!

I have a new niece!  My sister-in-law had her baby on Super Bowl Sunday!  Addison Marie was four weeks early and weighed 4lbs. 15oz. and was 19 1/2 in.  She is just beautiful!  They are doing well.  Matt and Emily are going to be wonderful parents!  It is so sweet to see them with Addison!  Oh, how I wish I was there to hold her and tell he how much I love her!  Missing these special moments and missing family is by far the hardest thing about being so far away!  I'm an emotional wreck these days, but I am so thankful for skype!

Football Fun and Crazy Mr. Carl

I may be the only one, but I really dislike football and therefore am not interested  in the Superbowl.  We did have friends over which translates to the men watched football and the women cooked :)  We ate some yummy (not so healthy) food and made chocolate no bake cookies.  Maybe that's why some of the boys are still awake.  Too much sugar!!!

Jacob and Levi are enjoying the art school and still come home covered in paint....  The boys are doing well homeschooling.  Everyone is looking forward to Joel's birthday on the 15th.  Luke talks about it EVERY day!  The boys are excited to have ice cream.  It's the little things.

I had strep throat for the third time in two/three months.  I am doing much better, but my throat still hurts a lot!  Sure wishing I would have had my tonsils out while I was in the states.  Not sure how I keep getting it!

We are looking forward to another full week.  Our (crazy) friend Carl is coming for a short visit at the end of the week, which will surely be exciting!  He and a friend are coming to create some videos for the ministry.

Have a great week!