A normal Tuesday in the life of a missionary/mommy/wife

4:30ish Joshua's first feeding of the day.
5:30ish My devotions
6:15 Rosa up and ready for school, breakfast with Caleb and Rosa, Bible reading and prayer for Rosa's day.

7:00 Joshua eats again while Steve takes Rosa to school. Joshua has a bath while Caleb plays.

He smells so good...for a little while.

7:45 Joshua plays in his playpen until he gets grumpy for nap time while Mommy and Caleb get working.

While Joshua plays, Caleb helps Mommy with food prep for the day. A good amount of time is put into preparing food since most things need to be made from scratch (sauces, salsas, certain kinds of bread, and all vegetables and fruits need to be treated in a solution before eaten.) Today we made a pie since butternut squash is very cheap right now. If you've never had butternut squash pie, you are missing out...its delicious.

8:00 Joshua's first nap of the day, in his swing. He's a good sleeper. I do my discipling in this time frame since he sleeps so well and is full. I do not have to worry about him, and this is also Caleb's time with Daddy.

8:00 I get Caleb dressed and ready for his day. He spends 8:30-10:00 with his Daddy running errands, going to the park, or whatever. This is their time together almost every day. This time also happens to be Joshua's nap time. Its amazing what I can get done in that time frame with no children!

8:30-10:00 If I am not discipling (one-on-one teaching) a lady in this time frame, I get laundry washed and hung on the line, dishes washed, floors swept and mopped, you name it, it gets done. Three mornings a week I also add exercising on the spinning machine for half an hour.

10:00ish Caleb comes back from his time with Daddy, starving! He has a juicebox and some ham...which ends up on his knee. Today he and Daddy went and got results from the lab which told us that Caleb has no parasites or ameobas. We are so relieved! This has been a constant struggle with him. Actually, a normal struggle for a third world country.

10:00 Joshua wakes up starving! We cuddle and he nurses while Caleb plays with Thomas the tank engine toys.

10:30 Joshua's happiest time is after napping and eating. He laughs and smiles so much. I probably have about a hundred pictures of him smiling after eating!

10:30-11:00 is play time with my boys! I can't resist kissing all over my chubby Joshua,

and we make a mess of the living room! Toys are everywhere but Caleb is happy.
11:00 I start lunch while Caleb watches a DVD. This is the only way I can cook! Otherwise, he is underfoot.

12:00 Steve picks up Rosa and comes home for lunch. Today we had tortilla soup and mini chimichangas. Rosa was thrilled, this is one of her favorite meals.

12:30ish Dessert and Rosa clears the table with me. Rosa does her homework with Mommy's help.

11:00ish to 1:00 Joshua is asleep during lunch and homework time. And Caleb goes down for his nap around 1.

While Caleb is asleep, Rosa has "quiet time". She plays alone in her room for an hour, usually from 1:00 to 2:00, depending on how long her homework takes.

1:00 Joshua wakes up starving. We snuggle in my bed, with the help of the fan (it was around 100 degrees today) and Mommy doses off while Joshua eats. Joshua plays for a while, then is ready to sleep again. I normally study for a class I am teaching during this time some days.

2:30ish Joshua sleeps in Mommy and Daddy's room, in the bassinette that is really too small for him now. Mommy and Rosa have "Rosa Time". We read books, color, play dollhouse, bake, or do whatever Rosa wants.3:30 or 4:00 Caleb awakens, normally pretty grumpy until he is all the way awake. At 4, Joshua eats again.

4:00 If we do not have something to do at the church, we decide what we are going to do. Today we decide its a beautiful day for the park.

This time of year, there are tons of mangoes falling from the trees at the park. It is dangerous (you don't want one landing on your head!) so we sit at the far end of the park where we are far from the mango trees. I sit under the almond tree while Rosa and Caleb run.

Rosa and Caleb have great imaginations and like to play with fruit that has fallen. They play "restaurant" and cook me exquisite dishes out of fruit, rocks, and leaves.

Joshie likes the park too!

Rosa decides she wants me to take a ton of pictures of her. I do.

Then Caleb joins in the photo fun while Joshua watches from his seat.

5:30 Dinner time. Rosa and Caleb request oatmeal for dinner. I suggest chicken nuggets. They turn them down. Okay, oatmeal it is! With fried ham and fruit.

6:00 Leggo time while we wait for Daddy to come home. Rosa builds Rapunzel's tower while Caleb has more fun with the Leggo container

6:15ish Daddy is home! We are all thrilled. Tuesday is one of his longest days working without us with him (like when we are all at the church together).

While Daddy plays with the kids, Mommy finishes up the day's work.

7:00 Bath time! Caleb's least favorite part of the day! Daddy washes Caleb while Mommy helps Rosa, and Joshua sleeps.

7:30ish Good night, all three kids! now its time for Mommy and Daddy to relax :)

Addition to our family!

We are now a family of five, and we love it! I will admit, there is more work, it feels like there is always something that needs to be done. But, at the same time, I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Not the best family shot, but its the only one we have so far. In a few weeks a good photographer (aka Aunt Katie) is coming and we will have a better picture up soon.

And here is the handsome boy! He is a very easy baby. He sleeps when he should, eats well, and smiles a lot. I am so grateful for how well it has been going with him. Now, the next big challenge is having him share a room at night with 2 year old Caleb (yikes!)

About Ants

Rosa and Steve have started an ant farm to have some quality time together. Today, they read something interesting. All of the ants that are the workers are female. There are only a few "princes" who reproduce with the queens of the colony. Soon after reading this fact, Steve read Proverbs 6:6 to Rosa, and explained what it means. But there is one word that impacted me. The verse says "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise." The Bible says HER ways...referring to the working ants as females. The Proverbs were written well over 2000 years ago. How could the author have known such a detail? There is only one explanation. God knows, and He filled Solomon in on such details that could not have been discovered in any other way. Now, when I look at an ant working away, I will think about the fact that the Bible is full of many small details...so many details that we overlook.

Caleb's Definitions

I am helping Mommy write a blog entry today since she has been busy and has neglected her blog for a couple of months. I thought everyone might like to know what I think about some important words.

-Bib: Something Mommy puts on me tha must be removed at all costs, and as quickly as possible.

-Washcloth, Soap: torture devices.

-"No": Mommy's favorite word, she uses it all the time.

-The Backyardigans: The best thing since sliced bread. One day, I am going to marry that Uniqua. I tell Mommy that she is beautiful.

-Sunrise: The perfect time to get up.

-Shirt: Conveniently always available in front of me to wipe anything unwanted from my hands, toys, floor, or nose.

-Meal time: A necessary evil to get to dessert time.

-Big Sister's toys: So much more intriguing than my own toys. Especially the delicate ones that break easily.

-Mommy's lap: The best seat in the house.

Yell- When you are too exhasperated or excited to remember how to use words, just do this. It is also quite effective to repeat what Big Sister is saying in those moments. For example, mine, give it back, or stop it.

-Potty: This is a magical word. If you say this word to Mommy, she will instantly stop whatever she is doing and pay complete attention to you!

One step at a time

I was thinking about the events that are going on in our lives right now. Things are exciting and at the same time, a bit overwhelming. But then I remember my trip to Cape Cod...

About 7 years ago, a friend and I were on a trip to visit a church up north. We decided to go to Cape Cod before heading back south. I enjoyed the specialty shops and the small town feel that Cape Cod has. But the most memorable part was visiting the lighthouse. It was rainy and cold. It was the kind of rain that just sort of sits in the air and makes you feel chilled to the bone. But we decided to climb down on the rocks that led out to the lighthouse. I took a few steps, trying to look ahead to the lighthouse, since that pretty scenery was our ultimate goal. But I realized, that with the rain and wind, it was wisest to just keep my eyes on my feet and make sure I stepped on flat, smoother rocks. I would enjoy the view when we got to our destination. It wasn't as exciting, keeping my eyes on each step, but it was necessary. I knew it would be worth it.

During that trek, I realized that was what God wanted me to do with my life. Keep the ultimate goal in mind, but take it one step at a time, making sure each step was correct.

Now, I want to look at everything going on around me and stress or wonder how it will turn out. But then I remember Cape Cod. One step at a time. Keep pressing forward and you will eventually enjoy the best of what God has for you.

"In all thy ways acknowlege Him, and he shall direct thy paths."

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand."

Breakfast Time

I love our mornings together. Once Rosa and Caleb are up, their little tummies are ready for breakfast. Once they are settled and eating, we read the Bible together. There are pauses for answers to Rosa's many questions about what we are reading.

I find breakfast is the perfect time for Bible reading with small children. They are still sleepy-eyed, and a bit calm. They are also happily eating.

This is the most peaceful part of our day, before the craziness begins. I love it :)

Simple yet complicated

I would have to say that life on the mission field is simple. Hanging clothes on the clothes line. Baking from scratch. No TV. No air conditioning or heat (not that we would ever need the heat!). Many of the people we minister to do not have any kind of electricity. Most people do not have cars and simply walk where they need to go. Life is less complicated, in terms of technology and material possesions. With less distractions, life is simple. More focus on family time. Board games and evening walks.

Yet at the same time it is complicated. As in more work! Hanging laundry during rainy season is quite a challenge. And baking from scratch...you know that it is time consuming. Another example is travel within the country. Our country is the size of Massachusettes, yet it would take probably 5 hours to drive across the entire country (thanks to 2-lane highways and rugged mountains). Also remember earlier that I said most people do not have cars? They tend to walk along the highway...even walk across the highway, if needed. Along with cows, donkeys, and sheep, the roads can get crowded!

Maybe this post is just a big oxymoron. I think that friends on the mission field, or those who have visited will understand that life here is simple, yet complicated.