~This afternoon after school we took the kids and walked down to the Mennonite store. We found out its really quite close to us if we just walk the back streets instead of going way out and around on main roads. They have the best huge cinnamon rolls (we had some at school yesterday during our break) GOOD cheese (eh eh Juli!!) and soft serve ice cream. O yummm.:) They also have a nice pile of Spanish books, kids books, school books and Bibles.

  ~ On our way home from the store, happily licking our melting cones we came upon two women and a little boy, the one lady pushing a huge broken down old rusty wheel barrow with an almost flat tire. It was piled high with fire wood and apparantly  heavy. She would run along pushing it, then prop the tipping side with a board before sitting down to rest. Mateo offered to push it for her. She was grateful. So there we were walking along this dusty street. Matthew(Mateo) with the loaded wheelbarrow, the ladies and boy and Jillian  beside him and then the rest of us trailing along behind. Ocho cuadros- 8 blocks she had to go. Then an older lady and little girl were pulling another load of wood. They stopped to talk to us, asking if we went to Mikes school and what are names are etc.. I love the interaction with the people! It made our day to help them.:) The man of the family or friend, whoever he was came along after 3 or 4 blocks and with a smile took over the load.

The First Impression

The second story here is beautiful!Every day we soak up the wonderful breeze from this barred glass sliding door/ window that overlooks the town. Somehow our room has become the hangout for more than just the big girls.We are so glad to be here, I guess these little guys are too. 

(Same window, from the ground with Nikki behind the camera)

But to tell of our flight, this is David en route to San Pedro. Life is good. We made the flight in a nick of time, found the one child's lost passport and arrived safe and sound. God is good.:)

 Hello Honduras!

 (1500 pounds of luggage... needed a truck in addition to the van. Those airport guys sure got a kick out of the 28 totes that clogged the baggage claim, had to be put through customs, and loaded)

 * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 Our first day OUT of our prison, I mean mansion, on Wednesday, we walked about five miles exploring the town of Sigu. So many people eagerly took the few tracks we had on us, I wished we had a backpack full!

 We were thrilled to find a market around the corner and this little place where we bought the most yummy tortillas with cheese for lunch. We ate with our fingers.... which may explain the stains on Em's skirt because I was not very neat.

 Spent a day at the Horten's.... They spoiled us with a fabulous american meal 

and wonderful southern hospitality.:) 

 The view out our bedroom window.

A cute little bake stand in the mall. Joanna I took this for you!

House Painting!

 

 It is always awesome seeing the church work together side by side ( & fun fellowship) to tackle a need. This weekend was the third weekend in a row helping friends with the HUGE project of painting their house and we got it done! It was a beautiful day of sunshine, perfect for a good sunburn, with a sweet summer breeze. Baby kicked on his blanket in the shade, kids played in the pool, and meanwhile painters on porches, painters on rooftops, painters in window sills,  painters stretching to dangerous positions on teetering ladders to reach scroll peaks...  all worked steaditly. By the end paint was everywhere from the sidewalk to the baby's arm. It was a good day.

 

We are done!

 

 Jo Jo... so proud of her hard work painting all the porch trim and scroll work!

 

 This is where we started...SO scary up on that second roof!

 I lost some of my fear by the end of the day.
 

(Tough sisters of mine hauling around a 500 pound ladder)

 

Joshua & Joseph

                                                            Newborn.... April 3, 2013 

~Now it's a whole year later and the twins have grown up into some pretty cute little toddlers....Happy Birthday Joshua and Joseph! Their family moved away when the twins were only three weeks old, so having them come for a visit a few weeks ago was a treat. Joshua and Joseph were so adorable playing together, (both tugging and squealing over the same toy at times...:), crawling up the steps, getting into corners and then looking back at their other buddy, I almost couldn't stop watching them! Clara says at home they always keep an eye on each other, Josh crawls down the hall then stops and looks back for Joe and laughs when he sees him coming. 

      

                         

 Joseph

 Joshua

 "Oh, did you need something?"

" Really we aren't the posing type ..."

 "This is getting boring up here."  (Joshua)

"Yup, I'm all done now...." (Joseph)

"Hey everyone and goodbye...

 it's time for our lunch!

(Which was like feeding two birds in a nest! Except they were in Dad's chair and I was trying to keep from being coated with macaroni and applesauce. )

Kim & Ju

Sometimes it just does the soul good to know you have a buddy,

a chum, and comrade who's there, always, regardless of the miles, who knows the moment you're in, who takes time to soak up the sun with you,

who endures the rain with you,

 who takes last minute strolls,

and makes gourmet tea parties after work,

or chats deep into the night....

 

Thank you Lord for these two.

 

 

Missing My Mary!

This is the picture  of cuteness that came bouncing down the hallway every morning with hugs and smiles, that pulled on her snow clothes and helped her aunties do chores every chance she had. Mary especially loved gathering the eggs for uncle Nathan! 

    I miss her hugs, her cheery singing at 7am as she trotted down the snow covered path to the barn, or held my hand so she wouldn't slip on the ice. She was my Florida buddy too for 10 whole days! And with four aunties all the same size, and your only five and live in Alaska.... sometimes she forget who was who. She remembers who Aunt Amy is. All those m&m's did the trick. Love and miss you Mary girl!

Winter

 

    On a freezing January afternoon we bundled up in countless layers, remembering our scarves and hit the trail with Treasure. We needed to get out of the house and she needed the exercise. The temperatures have been steady single digits, the snow crunches almost a squeaking crunch under our boots, fingers turn to ice in our gloves and too deep of a breath freezes all the way down. It's winter at its best!

 

    The path to the woods was filled with almost 12 inches of powder, white fluff that billowed merrily in our faces as we laughed and sang,  sailing along behind tiny flying hooves. Trees branches smacked our heads, briars reached out like fingers to snag off our hats and Treasure decided a few times to turn a fast circle and head for home. In the end we made it all the way back to where the trail narrows, where we finally turned toward home. The woods were beautiful all snow laden and quiet. We didn't even mind the snow in our mittens and boots, the freezing temps, rosy red cheeks, and snow blowing, we had such a time!  We were together, making memories and that was awesome!