Dia de la Biblia

Last Sunday was the 442nd Anniversary of the date the Bible was translated into Spanish. I have never heard of any day like that that we celebrate in the States, but here in Nicaragua it is cause for celebration. Each city puts together their own celebration and all denominations join together to march and celebrate God's Word. The march through El Crucero began at the 'parque' and ended where the girls play soccer. We are about a third of the way down the main street where they were marching so we just hopped on the back end as they passed by :) The march ended with a service with worship time and various pastors sharing briefly. Thankfully the rain held off and we had a beautiful morning. I even got a little pink on the back of my neck!


Here we are all walking :)

Getting to where the service was being held. 

Singing

And wonderfully for us. . . Charity drove to the site instead of walking in the march, so after being on our feet for nearly 3 hours (between walking and and all) we didn't have to walk the 3 ish kilometers back, we just piled back in the van and drove home! haha. But despite being tired at the end, I really like the idea of the celebration, and love how all the churches in the town are able to use it as a real time of unity. 

Joy

Sometimes I wonder why in the world, God called me to be here. What in the world my purpose is in it all, and why someone else wasn't put here.  And then one of the kids will do something to give me a knock on the head and say 'DUH.' And I realize we're here for each other. I'm here for the kids, and they are here for me. I'm here because this is where God called me to be, and I love it. It is a life filled with so many moments of pure joy, and although you may not see the joy as clearly, I still want to share these precious moments with you. 


Sunday night after church I usually take a role call. Its more than anything fun, and informal, but it gives me a little peace of mind to know that everyone is in the van. I usually go by age (that way I am sure not to forget anyone) and go down even through all the babies (who are precious when they answer 'presente!' (present!)) I even have to call all the grown ups (regardless as to whether or not they are the one driving, in the passenger seat, or myself) But Sunday as I called Samari (the 5 year old), her response was 'Si, mama, aqui estoy' 'Yes mama, I'm here.' My heart melted, of course. And she's the best when I pick them up from preschool, she always runs at me and buries her head in my legs telling me all the latest news (usually involving how Luviana was behaving during class, and what they ate, or who she shared her cookies with). 


Every time Yelka runs at me full speed, or covers her eyes when I hold her and someone else comes by wanting to take her, or how she tells me she wants to 'dormir' (sleep) when nap time or bed time is no where in sight, simply because it means I will lay down with her in the bed and cuddle, its that feeling of joy and pure love. How could I wish there was anyone else in my place.


The other morning I was sitting eating breakfast with Solimar -7 years old- (they were off school, so we were having a really laid back breakfast) and she began a round of spit fire question asking. It started with 'How does God talk to us?' Then moved to 'How do we know its God talking to us?' and 'What is the devil like?' and how did he become the devil, and how many devils are there, and if there was a fight between God and the devil, who would win, and what happened to the guys who died on the crosses next to Jesus, and so on and so forth. I could barely get my response out before she was on to the next question, but I was so thrilled that these were the questions she was asking, and she was so interested in knowing these things and really being educated in this faith she professed as opposed to just living the motions. Sure with every question I hoped that I was really giving the Godly response, but I was so happy that I was there for her that particular morning to be her resource. 


Then today I took Emily to the bathroom and she occasionally has a problem with constipation (sorry, I'm just being honest) and she sat there and the look on her face when more than just pee pee came out- again- pure joy. 


The other night Ruby was walking holding hands with two people when it turned into a game of 'Ring Around the Rosie' a game she loves and during the part where it says "we all fall down!" She squeals with joy and screams laughter as everyone falls down around her, and then she falls down herself and rolls on the ground with excitement. Its one of the greatest sights to see. 


Tonight I was sitting in with the babies and Ofelia grabbed Leito to dance with him. She held him in the stance you would if you were ballroom dancing and started singing "Na na na na na na na" (Every move I make) as they marched around the room. Pretty great, I think it should be considered a song you should always ballroom dance to (Eryn take note).


Then laughter of a different form was sparked tonight as two of the older girls and I talked with the lady who cooks dinner, and the women who helps to do laundry/clean about the ideas of marriage, when you should get married, and if it's better to just stay single. I will spare you of all the details, but lets just say I was laughing out loud from some of the things they had to say about it all. 


And the last moment of joy for this post comes Ruby. She loves hair accessories for one, but she had a head band around her forehead and was doing the movements prompted by the other girls moving her arms around and dancing, and that coupled with the spandex pants she always wears. . . and you have a mini sized 13 year old straight out of a 90's aerobics video. 

She's doing it!

She may not be able to walk on her own, she may not be able to carry on a conversation, she is still using diapers, and she is 13 years old, but my goodness she is amazing, and improving leaps and bounds. God is truly working miracles in the life of our dear Ruby. Although her disease claims she has already passed life expectancy, we are believing in so much more for her. 

We went to the pool this morning, where she loves the water.

A great ministry called Tesoros de Dios gave her these perfect braces so that she can continue to build strength in her ankles and learn to walk correctly. She LOVES to wear them, only minor problem is that she doesn't like shoes. I think they are heavy on her feet and throw her off, so she will gladly put the braces on, even socks over top of them, will let you put the shoes on her, but has no desire to walk with everything together. But its all baby steps right!

And one of the most exciting improvements to her physical abilities, was the gift of this walker! She just got it last week, and tonight for the first time pulled herself up and started walking with it all on her own with ZERO assistance!!!! She still can't turn it very well on her own, and doesn't have great control, but she is doing it! And is thrilled by her new found independence :)

So continue to keep her in your prayers, and we will believe that soon she will be walking all over the place!

the sun

A pretty good summary of our afternoon at the beach. Beautifully tranquil.

Soccer

The oldest girls are playing in a soccer 'league' here in El Crucero. Their team is made up of other kids that go to school with them, and the PE teacher is their coach. 


Needless to say, its not quite like the organized sports that I grew up playing, but regardless, they still have fun. Example: this morning their game was scheduled to start at 8:45 am. At 8:29 am all three players living in this house were still in their beds. As we started to leave about 9 we found out the game had been moved to 10 am. When we got to the field at 9:50 am, they were just about to start the game before ours. . . So game scheduled to begin at 8:45 actually began at 11:05 am. 


But it kind of made me laugh to think about how my dad would be silently fuming if 1. was still in bed 15 min before a game 2. if we arrived late for the time a game was supposed to be starting or 3. for no reason other than players arriving late, games were being delayed :)


A three shot panorama of the field (or something to that effect)

the bricks will hopefully be turned into real seating eventually! (also they mark the out of bound line meaning that great pile of dirt is in play :)

Happy Independence Day Central America!

Thursday was then the celebration of Central America's Independence Day. There was a program at school with dancing, poems, tributes to Central America, and the drums!

One thing, that I liked about the schedule of both these days, is that both the march (parade) and program 'started' at 7 am like school normally would, but when they finish by 10 am and you have the rest of the day to relax and lie around, it makes for a great long day!

Happy Independence Day Nicaragua!

Wednesday we celebrated the independence of this dear country! All of the  students from the schools in El Crucero get together and parade down the main street (there is only one) in celebration. 

Ezequiel carried the Nicaraguan flag because he was in the highest academic group of students

Joely

Debonney and

Solimar also marched wearing sashes as tribute to their good grades

Cecilia marched too!

our school

the rest of the schools following (we were the lead)

and two very excited spectators :)

And all the marchers after the parade!

tommy

this is the newest addition to our family. Since Max, the dog wasn't working out so well, we decided to try a different route, and get a cat. Its been 3 days and so far, we're okay.

Grace has definitely taken a liking to him :) (she can also be given credit for his name)

I'm not a cat person, and never have, but there is something about a kitten that is different than a cat, and also doesn't he have the most precious little blue eyes! Who knows maybe raising him from a kitten will bring out different feelings for him when he grows up.

my baby holding her baby

kyle has generously allowed me to use his computer until mine is usable, so here you go!

baby selah (in the pictures exactly 5 months old!)

how cute is she :)

the blog of nothing

so I have not posted recently, not because I am living a boring life with nothing note worthy, almost the opposite, but because my dear computer battery has died :( A dead computer battery means my computer itself isn't working because it has no charge, and because of that, I can't upload pictures, leading to the conclusion of no new blogs. 


BUT here are some things that you can look forward to in the near future of blog posts. . . 


1. baby selah
2. newest addition to the house: kitten Tommy
3. the 'photo shoot' the girls took so that Charity could bring the most recent photos of them with her to Waspam
4. Nicaraguan Independence day
5. the girls playing soccer


So until then. . . !