Ramblings...

Days and time are precious, and I can’t help but feel anxious to get on with life. Some days seem like a “holding pattern,” and I feel like I’m not accomplishing much, or am not doing all that I can. The heat of this place takes a lot of physical energy away, the culture of this place allows for little to be accomplished in a day. I struggle with trying to keep the children occupied, fed, educated, one-on-one time together, and to get enough physical activity in as well. We’re only here for another month, and all of these challenges will become easier as we begin to settle into life in Florida. Still, I want the children to have a good experience while they’re here and not remember this time as when “Mommy was over-the-top stressed-out!”

I struggle with keeping the house clean (talking filthy in just one hour) on a daily basis as the kids get into everything, the cats shed, and the dirt and dust from outside cover the tile floors, all the while having to go through our boxes of stuff (some items with mold from being stored- and due to asthma, I must depend on the help of others to go through most of those) and clean and get rid of things and put aside what we will be taking with us. It seems we’ve made little headway and we have little time left.

Then there’s wanting to spend time with family, friends, ministry staff and visit old places that we used to go to. This has been difficult due to the lack of regular transportation. I think it’s just been one of those days where looking at the big picture overwhelms me. And this is even after having some time to myself today. Edilberto took the kids with him to town (on the bus – which the kids just love), and then to his mom’s to fix her electric showerhead.

This really has nothing to do with anything I've written. I just wanted to say that chicken (frango) tastes so good in Brazil! We had some for lunch again today (one of the only things I can get the kids to eat.)

Where are your FLIP-FLOPS?

It's the phrase you probably hear me asking (more like yelling) more than any other during the day when the kids are playing. Bare feet just don't work well on wet tile floors! The floor is often damp after a clean-up, or from pool water out in the back courtyard. Or when the kids are playing with the hose. The courtyard also has stone tile flooring that gets very slipper when wet. Therefore, I come calling after the kids all day long, "WHERE ARE YOUR FLIP-FLOPS?" We usually call them by their Portuguese name, "chinelas."

Flip-flops were one of our very first purchases when we arrived. You use them in the shower (we have no bathtub here) to keep from slipping as well. I could easily obsess on buying flip-flops here as I love the Brazilian 'Havaiana' brand (click on title for link) and they've become so popular, that they now have come out with dozens of wonderful designs and colors. They're not expensive to buy here compared to outside of Brazil.


On to other news: Liam and Isabella are opening a School of Demolition. They are experts in the field. They can make the house look like it's been turned upside-down in literally seconds! They have amazing talent in demolition work. Just today, they managed to cover the entire courtyard floor with mashed bread rolls. They were making "cookies" out in their play kitchen. Just mix and mash the bread rolls with a little water and you can make a very nice paste that covers the floor evenly. I have no idea when they looked like cookies. Somehow the "cookies" ended-up like paste on the floor. It kept them very busy at least!

Mother Hen Complex?

I have been concerned in the past few days with Liam. He has visibly lost weight since we've been here. I can think of several possible factors being: the change of foods (he's really missing the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, quesadillas, burritos, etc.), the change in climate (from cold to very hot), and the stress of all of the sudden changes in his young life. He is someone who is sensitive and feels things deeply. I know that he misses terribly his friends back in the U.S. We don't know as many people here with children his age to get together with (although we are friends with a couple of families who do - but they all have girls. That's fine, as he enjoys playing with them, but he also loves to play things like Star Wars and light sabers and he's very obviously missing having boys to get together with.)

We've been taking the kids once a week to a pay play area at the mall (slides, plastic ball pools, trampoline, games, tubes, etc.) They have a great time there. We also try to get to the park on the weekends. It just doesn't seem like enough. There's no place to go for walks in our commercial district, hot, noisy, obnoxious, speedway traffic filled neighborhood. I won't even let my kids walk out the front gate and 3 feet up the sidewalk to my sister-in-law's little storefront without accompanying them! Other than the mall, the park (both of which are hard to get to without transportation) and our own little back courtyard with kiddie pool, there's not much for the kids to do.

Liam was eating a little better the past couple of days. Mealtimes have been a huge challenge. It's been agonizing watching him decline whatever's offered to him at every meal! He did eat a little more today. Maybe he's getting used to the food? I just wonder if it is all due to emotional things. I am going to take him to a pediatrician to make sure it's not something health related. All he ever asks for are sweets (comfort food?) Of course, we are very careful in moderating intake of sweets; although the Brazilian culture makes that a challenge with complete strangers offering sweets wherever we go. Plus the fact that sugar is used in huge overabundance here (they even put sugar in a perfectly good healthy glass of milk! Not just chocolate milk either.) Soda pop is also offered almost always during lunch and dinner (not at our house though.)

Finally....after the third trip!

Our depature date is officially changed and fees paid - after trips #2 and #3 to the American Air representative office this morning and again this afternoon.

This morning, a friend gave me a ride in only to find out that I couldn't use a credit/debit card to pay the fees for ticket changes. You can only use them if you're purchasing a ticket. Funny, nobody told me that on trip #1 to the agency the other day. I had actually gone in there telling them the Sao Paulo office told me I couldn't use my card over the phone and would have to go to the agency near us.

Therefore, Edilberto had to go into town and change a personal check for cash so that I could go and make trip #3 to the agency to pay the fees -- finally! We had to find another ride as my friend was previously engaged and wasn't able to bring me in again this afternoon.

I don't want to complain about all of these inconveniences and endless trips to resolve this problem. Because trips #2 and #3 resulted in the happy news that we only needed to pay the fees and not extra for adjusting the ticket to a different length of stay (which we had been told we'd need to do during trip #1 to the agency. This potentially would have been a huge expense.) I was a little nervous on trip #3 to the agency, hoping it was really the case and wouldn't believe it until the amount was paid and reciept in hand.

I asked the lady if that would take care of everything and that there wouldn't be any surprises upon check-in in Sao Paulo on the evening of our flight. She assured me it was taken care of. I told her the story of when our then 3 year old son had been booked on an international flight leaving an hour later than the one the rest of us were on! We found this out when we were checking-in. They tried to tell me then I would have to pay $100 fee to change him to our flight. I told them, um, I don't think so! Like I'D make a mistake like that? The check-in woman had to go twice to her manager to finally say we didn't have to pay the fee afterall. I said, "Of course not." Geez!

Audrey Carolina

Please please pray for Audrey Carolina, a 19 year old Brazilian girl who had her stomach removed today. She has stomach cancer and the doctors discovered today that it has spread to other organs. Audrey Carolina does not yet know that she has cancer. She didn't know that the surgery she was undergoing was to remove her stomach. This is common here in Brazil to not tell the person who is inflicted with a terminal illness. The doctors said that she has up to a year to live, if that. Now her mother has to tell her everything, about losing her stomach, about the cancer and about the prognosis.

Her cousin, Debra, also 19, was over at our house for dinner the other night. This is when we first heard about Audrey Carolina. Debra was very upset that her aunt had not told Audrey Carolina the truth. Debra and her sister, Sara, are dear to us. Their mother is a good friend of ours (Audrey Carolina is her sister's daughter). Her husband, Debra and Sara's father, committed suicide in a horrific way while we were back in the U.S. We had been in touch with them over the phone after it happened. The girls are very upset about their cousin's prognosis. Audrey Carolina had a relationship with the Lord, but has since fallen away. We pray that she returns to know His love for her, even more through what she is facing. We pray for her healing. Please pray with us for her life. I can't imagine being 19 years old and hearing this kind of news. My heart is aching for her and her family.

"Liam, can I be on your spaceship?"

This is the question often asked by Isabella to her big brother. You see, Liam is going to build a spaceship. He has been collecting parts for it. This story has gone on for months actually! The two of them talk about the spaceship that each is going to have. Whenever one is happy with the other it's, "You're going to be with me on my spaceship." Whenever one is unhappy with the other it's, "You're NOT going to be on my spaceship." Usually when big brother says to little sister that she's not going to be on his spaceship, there is a dejected screech and cry in reply. It is all taken so very seriously, you see.

Just Two More Days...

...and 'Caranaval' will be over and life will get back to normal. I need to change our air tickets by next Monday, so we can stay a month longer. I won't get to do that until Wednesday at the earliest because the agency is closed until then -- What's that I hear? Is that Samba music playing? Oh yeah, it's Caranaval. Can you tell I just love this time of year in Brazil!

Our friends in Florida requested us to stay longer and that they'd pay for the change. They're not quite ready for us to arrive there and it would be easier for them if we stayed here longer. We had originally wanted to stay longer so that Edilberto could get dental work finished and we could have a bit more time to take care of our home and belongings and spend time with people. Looks like we get to afterall, but the change is a bit of a hassle. I hope we get transportation soon too especially if we're staying longer.

Summertime in Brazil

I know most who read this are still experiencing a cold Winter. Here of course we are in the middle of Summer. Here's a picture of the kids in their pool in our back courtyard.

It's 'Carnaval' time in Brazil this weekend through Wednesday, lunchtime. Only then will life get back to "normal" again. So, we just lay low and enjoy some time off. Hopefully we'll be able to get together with friends and family during the next few days. I'm thankful we don't get television reception because television is exceptionally bad during the Carnaval!

Valter!

Dear Old Trustworthy Valter. The man came out of retirement when he heard we were back and our washing machine had broken. He's saved this 24+ year old machine countless times in the past. I told him I had to have a picture of him with the old machine. What would I do w/out my washing machine? Its motor had burned-out so Valter installed a new. It's working again.

Since we've been back, our refrigerator's motor has burned-out (which is being fixed) as well as our electric shower head (that Edil just fixed).

Something I've hesitated to talk about because it's so awful.

This happened since we've been here. It is too horrible to even think about. Even a country that has become somewhat callous to the constant violence that occurs is shocked by this. (Warning: Content is upsetting - young child involved.) *Click on title for article. The family that this happened to, and Brazil, need our prayers!

Edil's day with Claudio, Sid, Danilo and Edivaldo

From Edil:
Five of us drove into the city to serve doing renovations on an apartment, we began to talk about our pasts. One guy mentioned that he'd already been in prison for five years and had been a street kid and was involved in doing terrible things. Another guy was also an ex-street kid who had once lived causing trouble.

Working in the apartment, I was impressed by their desire and enthusiasm to serve: Painting, electrical work, breaking-up flooring, putting in a new kitchen sink. One person even mentioned that breaking-up the old flooring reminded him of when he was in prison. They would fill bags up with old cement and dirt and have to camouflage the holes in the walls while digging tunnels trying to escape.

I was impressed today with how everyone worked together. Everyone worked without expecting any type of payment in return. A few years ago, these same guys would never have the disposition to do the work like they did today. I was impressed with how far they've come in their lives because of God. I could clearly see that only God can transform a person from the inside, changing what motivates them. We ended the day having coffee and eating cookies!

kIdS MoDeLiNg NeWs ClOtHeS fRoM Tia Sonia!

Isabella with her Vovo (Brazil Grandma)

Forgot to share this...

...cute story from yesterday. Edil scooted-out for a short time with his brother-in-law, Claudio, to his house to watch the rest of a soccer game that was on television. While I was rewinding a video for the kids to watch, we had the television on with a poor transmission of same soccer game. Liam heard Sao Paulo make a goal (and kind of saw it!) and a few seconds later there were firecrackers going off outside. He asked me, "Wow Mom, is that because of the goal?" I said, "Yes!" He said, "Wow, we SAW it happen and we heard the firecrackers. We're the luckiest!"

Sunday...not much to talk about!

We went to Edilberto's niece, Tatiana's, house for lunch. They live in a very small place in the back of someone else's house. There was a lot of people there for lunch. We had a very nice time. I tried playing a keyboard that was there (I'm so out of practice), listened to Liam and Isabella play the keyboard together (cute!), played with Tatiana's two cats, sat around talking and ate a lot of good food. We had rice, baked ribs, chicken, lasagna, potato and chicken salad, and green salad. Typical Brazilian Sunday lunch with lots of choices on the table. Of course, I had to try them all!

The kids got to have soda pop since they drink that like water here. Our kids rarely ever get to drink the stuff so they always want to have some when they can. Although I'm glad to say they don't really seem to like it much and don't ask for seconds!

We promised the kids since we got here that we'd take them to the park with the lake that has a 100 year old trolley that goes around it that you can ride on for about 50 cents. We were on our way there after lunch when a horrid looking gray mass of clouds were on their way in. Oh bother! They don't run the trolleys when they're wet. The poor kids had to be told there'd be no trolley again when the rain began to pour, but they didn't seem to mind when we said we'd go have ice cream and rent movies to watch at home. That chocolate chunk ice cream was delicious!

I am feeling weary of the piles that are around the house. This moving stuff is getting so old. I am looking forward to being settled. It's close now but not close enough! I am praying for a bucket full of grace. I would love to organize and have a routine. It's the way I am and I've been having to live contrary to that way for far too long. Oh complain complain complain!!!

I'm BACK!!!

What end of the earth are we on now? Why...back in Brazil! And back to my blogspot. Of course, now that we're in Brazil, there's rarely a lull in interesting things to share (sadly sometimes).

Well, the laptop is fixed, and I'm writing again! We're back in our little home with the mosquito sounding motorbikes driving by as I write. Oh....there was one tooting its horn. So much for the peace and quiet of where we came from back in Washington State. It was so wonderful to be back there to enjoy the quiet of the woods and

We had a "garage sale" here today. We are dismantling our home here to move to Florida - which is almost an equal plane ride distance between our two families and friends in Brazil and Washington. We did quite well at the sale and got rid of a lot of smaller items. The bigger things will probably sell through word of mouth.

The kids are adjusting well to most things here - except they've become Americanized in their diets and haven't wanted to eat much. We can get them to eat fruit (which of course, is delicious here) and chicken (which is also better than in the U.S.) Oh, and of course, they still eat French fries!

Life is better for them now that we splurged on a pool for the backyard. I can't blame the kids for living in it since we set it up. We came from ice and snow in Washington, to blazing hot and humid in Brazil. We have all been sleeping in one bedroom together; the one that has the air conditioning in it. It's sure nice to have the cool temperature to sleep to as well as the noise from the street drowned-out by the hum of the air con! Another good thing is it keeps the mosquitos away. The kids really suffered when we first arrived with bites all over their legs.

It's been great to see our Brazilian family and friends again. We are car-less but hope to have a car soon. Our family here has been wonderful about taking us to the grocery store and shopping mall when we need to, and letting us borrow their cars whenever possible, so that we can all get out of the house. Most people don't have more than one car in Brazil, as it is very expensive to own one.

There's been a lot of sad stories in the news here, as usual. One though touched us personally as we learned last week of the death of a very dear older couple whom we know. They were on their way home from another state. They had flown there, but decided to take a bus back on the return. Their bus was involved in a terrible accident (which is very typical on Brazilian highways, especially in the state they were traveling in because the lanes are side-by-side in different directions rather than separate). The bus collided with a semi-truck and exploded into flames. This dear couple were in the front of the bus. They along with seven others (including a ten year old child) were burned to death. The people in the back were able to escape. It was hard to imagine the suffering of these people. We can only hope that they had already passed-out from the impact and didn't know what happened afterwards. Our prayers are with their family. Ingrid was a medical doctor and her husband, Timothy, was a minister. Their entire lives were dedicated to serving others.