New shoes... The Bridge... the circus...and a little bit of my heart

Sorry for the delay in posts...here is a quick update:

Tuesday, I took Ethan to get some new shoes. Well, we went to look because he really needed some new tennis shoes. I dread shoe shopping here for two reasons: 1) Shoes are sooo expensive and 2) they are pretty poor quality. So, anyway, off we went, me praying for a bargain and Ethan just excited to be looking for new shoes. First two attempts came up with nothing but two pairs of shoes in his size and they were pretty ugly. So, we went to Payless, which here means PayMORE but what do you do? So, they only had two pairs in his size as well (he must have the popular size around here) but one pair he really liked and I did, too. After he tried them on and decided he liked them, I asked the price because I couldn't find it on the box. They were pretty pricey. I walked around trying to decide whether to get them or not and I came back and asked Ethan if he really liked them and if they were really comfortable to which he replied "yes" to both questions. Then, he sighed and said, "Mom, I really like them, but I just don't want you to have to spend so much money." My heart melted. He has such a kind heart. Well, we bought them...he wore them home...and hasn't taken them off since! In fact, he has been running and jumping every chance he gets- it is so cute!

Also this week, the church in Tejarcillos has been learning the 12 scripture verses to the evangelical tool, The Bridge from Navigators. At the beginning of the year, one member of the congregation shared with Pastor Rogelio that she had wanted to share the gospel with a family member, but didn't know how. So, he challenged the church members to learn the 12 verses and each week during the Wednesday night prayer meeting, we have taken time to go over the verse for the week. This Wednesday, we recited the verses in front of the church. Matt and I both were able to recite all 12 and are praising God that He has given us the ability not only to speak in Spanish, but also to guard the Word of God in our hearts in Spanish as well! We feel much more prepared now to share with the people we are serving with about God's great love for them.

And, in other family news, the circus has come to town! The circus tent was set up mid-February and the kids have wanted to go since they first saw the big purple castle-tent! We checked on admission and it was outrageously expensive so, we told the kids we couldn't go and of course they were bummed. I had prayed that God would make a way, because I had heard it was really good and they wanted to go so badly...and God in his goodness, answered my prayer! A sign went up Monday offering 2 for the price of 1 admission this week, the last week of the circus. So, Matt and I talked about which day would be best to go and the plan was set for the Big Surprise for the kids :) Isabelle had actually been invited to spend the night with her best friend and her family was going to the circus also. So, we talked with her and explained to her the surprise and that she could choose and either way it would be fine with us. She was so cute, she said, "Well, you are my family and I really want to go with you, but I know that I'll have you forever. Abby is my best friend and I don't know how long we'll live in Costa Rica together, so I think I'd like to go with her and her family." In more ways than she even knows, she has grown so much since we began our life here. Without fully understanding her thoughts, she has processed that sometimes people are only in our lives for a short time. She has began to understand the value of really loving the people God gives us to share our lives with. Although, I missed being with her at the circus and kept thinking what she had thought about it all (our family went at a different time than her friend's family), I was proud of her choice to spend time with her friend. She had a great time and even got to spend the night!

Matt and I enjoyed the time with Ethan and Audrey. They were fascinated with all they saw and we were pretty impressed, as well! I do thank God for the life he has given us. Although our schedule at times is quite crazy, God has given us such wonderful opportunities to grow closer to each other as a family. Matt and I are learning how to marvel in the wonderful creations God has given us in our children. I say learning, because I believe our lives in the past have been so chock full of "stuff" that in the process of running from one place to another we many times ran so fast that we missed wonderful opportunities with our kids. Now, we recognize this, and honestly, are fighting to preserve the time we have with our kids. Ethan will be 9 in May! Nine years with this precious little boy and in 9 more years he'll be in college! I have committed to God to fight to preserve my family, to really commit to them in these precious forming years of their lives. I've committed to holding my relationship with Him first, Matt second and then to my kids. Right now, that takes up almost all of my time. For some time, I struggled with that, struggled because, as I always have, I fight with the lie that I need to be everything to all people. God is showing me that I do NOT have to believe that lie. He doesn't want be to be everything for everyone and stress about how to do everything I think I need to do. What He wants most is for me to be all things for Him. He wants me to love Him more than anything...anything else. Even if that means that my role as a missionary looks like the life of a normal mom. I am learning to accept that sometimes what He calls us to does not look like what we first think it might. And the Holy Spirit has gently reminded me that He made me to be Matt's wife and the mother of these children, a job he gave to no one else. He has often reminded me that he really doesn't need me to reveal His word to the lost people of Tejarcillos, even if I have memorized all 12 verses of 'The Bridge.' What He would really like for me to do is be the helpmate to Matt that he designed me to be. To be supportive of him like no one else can be. To keep our home in a way that allows him to be comfortable and relaxed. To pray for Him for the things that only I see. And to train His precious children, the three he has given to Matt and I, in the way He created me to. And so, my life continues as wife, mom, teacher, daughter of the King and missionary. I am thankful for the opportunities that God has given me to disciple the young girls and the two married couples. I love these times and am thankful to have this time in the ministry. I am also very thankful to be able to help in the cooking and serving of the many mission teams that come throughout the year and also to our team during our weekly meetings. I believe we are finally finding a balance and I thank God for the prayers offered on our behalf and for His answer prayer and guidance.

Park days...

We've spent the past two mornings at local parks in an attempt to just relax and soak up the wonderful sunshine God has blessed us with recently. Yesterday, we went just down the road from us and let Izzy ride her bike. Ethan played soccer and Audrey, well, she just ran and screamed and ran and made all the noise she wanted to :) (OUTSIDE!!!)

Today we went to a park about 10 minutes away from our house. We have come to love this park. It reminds me of Columbian Park for you Indiana folk...Anyway, today we took a kite along with us and had a wonderful time. There are two sections to the park and to get from one side to the other you have to cross over a walking bridge that is over the main highway we take to Tejarcillos (for those who have been here before. We found quite possibly the best playground we've seen so far on the other side of the bridge. It was a wonderful morning!

"I need your kisses"

Last night, as I was putting Audrey to bed, she reached her arms out to me and said, "Mommy, I need your kisses." Awwwww...so sweet. The perfect way to end my birthday. Thanks to all who called or sent me birthday wishes!

"I need your hugs"

Tonight we got home a little later than planned and the girls were both asleep. Ethan was almost there. Matt and I carried the girls into their bedroom and put them in their beds. As I started to walk away from Audrey's bed, she said, "Momma, I need your hugs." Isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever heard? :)

Happy Birthday Isabelle Adair!!!

Today is Isabelle's 7th Birthday! How can it be that she is that old? She woke up this morning and said that her voice was different and she looked bigger because she was 7 now! We are making it "her" day today. This morning I fixed her french toast, we ate tacos for lunch and we'll do what she would like for supper :)

This morning, we took off with the purpose of finding her a bicycle, which is what she wanted for her birthday!






I prayed we'd be able to find what she wanted: "a pink bike with a basket and streamers on the handle bars." Thank you, Lord, for leading us to the right shop :)

Then we took her to her favorite park, where she could ride her new bike, and we also fed the ducks. So far, it has been a fantastic day :)

Please pray for our sweet Isabelle today :)

By the way, we are all better today. Thank you for praying. Late yesterday afternoon, Audrey's fever broke and I started feeling better. Last night Isabelle said that the only thing she wanted for her birthday was for me and Audrey to feel better :) Isn't she sweet?

sick...

Just a post to ask for prayer. We've been hit by a flu-like bug. Audrey and I are both down with headaches, body aches and stomach aches and I've also got some yucky sinus stuff going on. We'd appreciate your prayers.

The retreat was wonderful...but I'll have to post more about it later.

some thoughts

Last night, I talked with our good friends the Blackstock's who are serving in El Salvador. It was wonderful! Both of our familes have Vonage phones and so we were able to talk as if we were in the states. The connection was amazing, I must say. My thoughts afterwards were of how wonderful is our God to allow us the advances in communication that we have today. What life must have been like for the early missionaries who waited weeks upon months for communication with family, friends and churches. We literally have communication at our fingertips with the internet, Skype and Vonage, email and other instant messenger-type programs. I have had the opportunity to "talk" with friends in various parts of Central and South America instantly, and North America, too as well as "seeing" them through Skype and webcam. I am amazed at the ease with which we can communicate today.

Other thoughts: I'll be leaving this afternoon for an overnight women's retreat through ILE (the language school). Although I am no longer a student there, they offer these retreats for missionaries serving here as well. I am excited because all of the "wives" on our team will be going. Pray it will be a great time of fellowhip for the three of us as we generally have no spare time for time together outside the ministry. Pray for the "men" as they'll hold down the forts without us.

blog questions answered

The answers to the blog questions are:
1. I chose the colors red, white and blue because they are the national colors of both the United States as well as Costa Rica. (Way to go Erin! Half-right, Ryan...)

2. The picture is of Ethan and Isabelle and was taken in Nicaragua last August.

Audrey's follow-up

Audrey made sure to remind me to read in the Bible what God said when He made the world and the story about Jesus's death today. After I read them to her, Ethan came in the room and she preceeded to explain to him exactly what I had just read to her. She was very interested in the Jesus's death on the cross and exactly how a person dies on the cross. Her interest was not in a morbid way, but she was trying to understand exactly what it meant. I read to her from her Bible,which is in both Spanish and English and is well illustrated. There are two pictures of Jesus's death- one of Him on the cross surrounded by the two thieves and the next is of the soldiers taking him off the cross after His death. Audrey noticed the detail of the second picture down to the blood on Jesus's feet, hands, head and side. She noticed details like the color of Jesus's skin being more pale in the second picture (after His death) then in the first where He is on the cross but not yet dead. We had a very good discussion of Jesus' death and how very painful it would have been for Him to die on the cross. This was the first time I've discussed with her in detail Jesus's death. Her mind is searching for more information about all that she has heard us talk about. It was so sweet that she took the time to share with her big brother what she had just learned. Please continue to pray for her as she searches at a tender age (she is 4 1/2) for answers that will define her faith.