A Visit to Sooth the Soul

Hello people...I know it's been quite some time since my last post. So much has been happening around here. It seems like the longer you go without writing, the harder it is to pin something down to write about. The overwhelming feeling of remembering everything you've done keeps you from the small task of picking a story or two and running with it.
We've changed things up a biton the homeschooling front. I am basically "getting through" this year with the help of Hooked on Phonics Reading, Spelling and Math. Raymond has his books and curriculum which was sent to us by a Christian School in California, which has been a total blessing. We have, however, figured out that it's not the right curriculum for us. It's not that the curriculum is bad in any way at all, one of the problems is that my 8 year old has to know how to completely navigate a page (which would probably be easier if we weren't in a Country where internet access cuts off frequently). Every time he navegates away from the page it causes a "0". Even so, Raymond is still making A's and B's...the main problem is that he has to log in every day to get credit. This does not in any way work for us and our schedules as a missionary family. Not only do we not know exactly when we will have interent, but we also have to leave the Country every 3 months to renew our visas, help when teams come in town, when family visits the kids are on vacation...we have got to have a more flexible program. Next year Raymond will be in 3rd grade, and I have purchased Switched on Schoolhouse for him...this will be better and all of the kids can use it...yay!
On a more personal level, my parents came to visit in February. Oh my heavens! It was the most relaxing, wonderful time I've had in a long time.
We went to Ometepe Island for a few days
The kids and Dad rode horses
Mom and Dad relaxed in hammicks while Caroline played with her new barbie doll...yay
The kiddos hung out together
We went to Ojo de Agua
We happened upon La Vina Ometepe
Mom, Dad, Preston, Neenaw and I enjoyed the Island...and the kids enjoyed having their family here for what seemed like the blink of an eye.
Mom enjoyed showing these kiddos what a smart phone is...they were so excited to have their picture taken
Then there was this...hahahaha
Next was Granada
The boat ride was beautiful
Gotta love those Monkeys
Next was Volcano Masya
Then we spent a few days at our home in Managua. Everything you read above is not anything we do in a normal day here in Nicaragua. In fact that's the most we've seen of the Country since we moved here. My parents and Neenaw coming to visit us was refreshing and so much fun. When they left, it was heart breaking. Everybody was sad...I barley got the kids out of the airport before the crying started. We explained to the children that we were all sad and let them know how much we loved them. When we got home from the airport Preston had to leave to teach an English class in another town...the kids and I watched a movie, nobody said anything...there were just tears :( Joe put himself to bed about 5 minutes into the movie and slept for a few hours. I kept excusing myself to cry in the bathroom...until Raymond came to me and said, "What's wrong mom?" I said, "I miss them" and he said, "it's ok...we all miss them". It took a good 3 days for the crying to stop and a bit of normallsy to return. I think that really is the hardest part of being here, saying goodbye to friends and family.
Okay, so now that you're completely depressed...life is back to normal. I've discovered pinterest which has been wonderful for my love of cooking. We cut down to meat once a week since it's kind of expensive...so it's helped with finding foods I can make here. I started P90X and have been working out in the mornings...and I'm trying to find a sewing machine so I can start making the kids clothes because buying them is so much more expensive here. I will be making more frequent posts to keep yáll updated...sorry about the break. One more thing, we are now officially the Youth Pastors at our church!

Comments

  1. We had so much fun being on vacation and part of your life if only for a week. I'm all teary looking at the pictures. That is the first time that I got to be Granny Mac without my own kids around. I just cherished having alone time with the kids-really got to feel like a grandma pouring out everything for them and not having to share myself. I also loved it when Carrie would come and whisper at my door or window for me to wake up in the morning to spend time with her. Raymond has always guarded my sleep so she was very secretive about waking me up. Every time she would say, "Don't tell dad that I woke you up." So funny. I can't wait until the next visit!!! Love my family of 5 so far away.....

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  2. Glad to see your pictures and read your updates! Love you ol' friend!

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