A little bit of catch up

Okay, so I'm really still here.  I've just been distracted with teaching school, helping sick kids get better, visiting doctors, dealing with insurance, questioning my own health progress (or lack there of), re-evaluating my purpose while we're here, trying to thrive and not just survive, coming to terms that OUR plan while we've been here was obviously not HIS plan, and praying through all kinds of decisions this month so I've not posted much lately.  Here's our month in a nutshell for now...

Audrey An giving a good 'ol try at the ukelala!

We love Mrs. Laura...I think they could go on the road!  Thank you for sharing your time and talents with my girls, Laura : )

So...after weeks of convincing the girls to get a little trim.  Both girls went for it.  So, both girls plus their daddy got their hair cut all for the USD equivalent of $7.50.  We can't quite do that in the states!  It was a step up from the "tree guy".  Am I just totally bad or what...I make my kids go to the "locals", but I'm not brave enough.  whimp : )

I'm quite certain this was the first time this floor had ever seen blonde hair!

The finished product...beautiful Abigail!  She looks so grown up to me now!

Okay, so moving on to the feet.  Yes, those legs don't belong to me.  Hint: a real man gets a pedi with his wife!  He liked it so much we didn't leave until he pampered himself with a mani, too, but I'm not telling....shhhhhhhh!

waiting on some lunch...

Our view at lunch and yes, and that is an ENCHILADA.  Not quite Tex-Mex that we love, but it will have to do for now!  People watching on this teeny tiny ledge was great though.

First day of trying to learn to ride (with supportive sister catching it on tape)!

oops

calling it a day and walking back home

Now, moving on to art class.

Abigail is called the "professional" student by her teacher.  It's great seeing her excel in something she's really enjoying.

every week at our house...

Last but definitely not least- I was privileged to attend a ladies' retreat last weekend.  This was my view from my balcony.  To the right were rice fields...

and to the left was a beautiful view of a river.

 I had been anticipating the retreat for several months for many reasons.  I was so blessed to have been a part of the weekend.  WOW...what a glimpse of heaven I got to see.  As one friend of mine put it "every tribe and every nation"!  I was refreshed but at the same time was in the midst of some open heart surgery if you know what I mean.  The good kind of surgery though.  The theme was "drawing near" and evaluating the hindrances and highways in our path.  Ouch.  So, it looks like I'll be in another type of rehab (a welcomed one though!).  Hopefully, David's having some heart surgery this weekend on his retreat as well.  It comes at a very good time for us as we are seeking wisdom and making some difficult decisions for our family.

"Be still and know that I am God" has been a tad difficult for me to incorporate into my life this year- eventhough I've been forced to literally be still.  It's a lesson that I've obviously not learned and I am in desperate need of and have a long way to go in learning.

Downsized...in a strange kind of way!

Abigail and I were invited to go to the movies today, and we went!  So nice to have a friend with a driver, too!!  It was a very nice theater.  Really, it was very much like what you'd see back home.  UNTIL...we had assigned seats.  I did think it strange that we had this nice, modern and spacious theater with tons of empty seats (we went to the matinee), but the 20 people who were there were all nicely squished together.  Hmmmm... no big deal.  I could role with that (and the sub-titles).  The movie was in english and the sub-titles were for the locals.  sweet.

One thing that David and I have been amazed with here is the customer service here- or should I say the lack of customer service.  Obviously, there are cultural differences living in a country that is not your "home" country, but this difference to us is truly glaring.  If it's not in their "script" it doesn't fly too well over here (no pun intended).  After purchasing our tickets we stopped to buy some snacks.  My friend and I decided to get the "family combo".  Paid for it, sipped on our coke and ate a few kernels of corn while we waited for our change.  Well, he didn't bring the correct amount so my friend graciously told him he owed us more change as she pointed and told him again what we ordered.  He proceeded to tell us that we had ordered something else, took our cokes and popcorn out of our hands (yes, that we had already been drinking and eating!) and downsize us to smaller cups and smaller popcorn bags.  Seriously???  You're going to take your customer's food items away from them as they take a gulp, throw it away and start over on the order???  Oh brother.  Needless to say today was the first time I've had an establishment take food out of my mouth!  I just hope they didn't give my coke to someone else. yuck.

Oh, then as we entered in our assigned stadium seating, spit out my gum, and dropped my popcorn bag...nice. So I was really downsized two times within about 5 minutes of each other!  Yes, one might think this was not blog noteworthy, but it was just so bizarro to me I couldn't resist...sorry : )

Secret Keeper Girl Date #3

Okay, so I've totally gotten behind on our SKG dates with my favorite li'l Abigail! Oh, how we've both missed our special dates.  I guess with the busyness of the move and school starting our special dates got pushed a little too far on the back burner.  Abigail was thrilled when I told her to pack her bag and we were going for our "date"!  A little spontaneity is good for the soul at times.  This is how we spent the afternoon today...

We hopped on our bikes...

found a little peace of quiet in the hustle bustle of the neighborhood, discussed, shared, and prayed about what I Peter 3:3-4 means...

did some reading on our own...

did some thinking and praising on our own...and then together.

I had to confess to my daughter that I have struggled with this verse lately and have had to really keep things in check.  I've been remembering what I posted in my last SKG date.  I believe every single bit of it and will never change my mind on it.  I admit gaining weight, losing some hair, prying my wedding ring off/on and looking like a red tomato on parts of my body due to the medications I'm taking has made me feel frumpy and not very "lovely".  I also discussed with her that those are very real emotions and  perfectly normal to have those thoughts as a girl/woman.  It's what we do with them is what is important.   I explained that's been even harder for me recently when I'm asking God to "put off" the yucky feelings/thoughts/frustrations/insecurities and "put on" the pure/good/lovely/excellent/admirable/praise worthy things and don't feel very victorious.   You see, I think know perseverance has been trying to make its way into my middle name this year.  Even mommies have hard times...I pray I can reflect some ounce of graciousness and gentleness to them even when I'm not "feeling" lovely on the inside or outside right now.  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my Word will not pass away."  I pray that my girls will see a mommy that perseveres even in hardship.  I hope they take note of stopping to pray for a family back home who just lost their son very unexpectedly this weekend.  I hope that my girls will remember a mommy who went to go pray with a lady this morning even though in my head was fighting thoughts of wanting to stay home.  Thank goodness, I have a Savior who perseveres with me and didn't give up on me even when he probably didn't "feel" like praying for me...

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight."  I Pt. 3:3-4

 We had a lovely time together! Just what Abs and I needed to do together today.  We ended our date with a challenge- one that I'm looking forward to doing with her.  Guess you'll have to go on date #3 with your daughter to know what the challenge is!

What I would give (sometimes!)...

to be able to hop in my car!  Today is one of those days I'm missing the convenience of a car- NOT that having a car in this city would be much help because there are no parking lots.  So, it would really be more of a pain than a help.   So, having a car here would present another problem.  Now, having a personal driver is another story...that could be NICE.

Today, I went to physical therapy for my re-twisted ankle (which I was very thankful and looking forward to be going...how weird is that??).  We've had major hiccups with our insurance so I've not been going, but I'm having such problems with it I decided I'm going anyway.  David the chauffeur was leaving on a trip so the girls and I rode our bikes to the clinic...YAY, that I can ride to the clinic!  We're so close now it only takes us 5 minutes to get there. Anyway...when we left the clinic it was raining; hence, the comment/yearning about the car.  Yes, days like today when it's raining AND I have on an ankle brace AND I have a 34 lb. child riding on the back of my bike AND have deteriorated muscles AND my rain pancho cap keeps falling in front of my eyes AND my lovely 34 lb. "tail" drops the newly purchased umbrella in the middle of the street- is when I'd like my old, white, paid for, very convenient Jeep.  Oh well, my newly purchased, white, paid for, better-than-nothing bicycle will have to do!  We sold both of our cars back in the states anyway (insert sigh)!

Since last post I learned that my ESR (that's the inflammation marker) is slightly elevated and I'm going to be on my meds longer than I had hoped.  Don't really know more about anything at this point.  Just more wait and see.  Pray and hope.

Too bad the paparazzi wasn't out in full force to caption the vision of loveliness on my bike today! Oh, and my sister will be happy to know that my super cool rain boots she gave me for Christmas last year not only serve as little umbrellas for my feet, but they make GREAT doorstops.

Okay...I'm rambling, but, oh well.  It's my therapy blog. I can do that, right : )