A more personal Christmas.

I recently read a post on Facebook by Amy Sprayberry.  She was done with Christmas like we've always done it.  Amy just wanted to enjoy her Christmas instead of getting caught up in all the hubbub.  I say good for Amy!  We moms especially get all wound up about getting things just so, making everything perfect.  We can be a lot like Martha instead of Mary.  Mary had it right.  She knew who she had right in front of her and she wasn't about to let the moment slip away without Jesus knowing how much she loved him.  It's not that Martha was totally wrong, we appreciate the Martha's in the world.  I think many of us have been both.

This year I find myself in the position of being a Mary.  It never occured to me that I would feel closer to Jesus this year than ever before.  My position as Martha has been officially resigned and now I am loving my Lord more than ever.  As I have learned to lean on him during the times of homesickness my faith in him has increased.  I guess you could say that I should have seen that coming but there are many things happening that I never saw on the horizon.  All the bible quotes you can think of are falling into place for me because I am living them out.  When I am able I will be expanding on how my heart is changing.  The words are not there at the moment so I figure it's in the works.

So anyway, here it is Christmas 2013 and I am happy to be alive and love my family and friends more now than ever before.  Your messages, emails, notes and letters have touched my heart dearly.  One of the benefits of being so far away is that you appreciate your loved ones even more.

My little $12.95 Christmas tree.  Can't find a star for the top yet.  I think I will just
cut it out of cardboard.

Willow Tree Nativity that I got from Amy L. last year.
 I smuggled it into the Bronco.

Made these especially for my boys back home.
If you're not into Star Wars you won't get it.
The husband in the background is an added bonus.

These are stockings that the kids in Mr. Uck's room made for Dennis and I.
They all say thank you and we love you.

Yes, I even decorated the outside.
Please ignore the giant washer and dryer.  They will be on
the back porch soon, and remember, they are precious.

Christmas in Belize.

Wanted to add this in case you didn't see the Facebook entry.
On the square in San Ignacio.

So our first four months are about over already.  At times it seems like we just got here and I can't believe that it's almost 2014.  Other times...well, other times will always be a part of living far from family.

Dennis and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas!  Our hearts are full and our joy is ever increasing.  God is good to us and I hope the same goes for you.  (By the way, if you feel He's not so good to you give me a call or email me and we'll talk.)

We love you guys!

Christmas in Belize

Today was the last day of school until 2014!  The whole school just shows up and play and eat and hang out with each other.  Dennis and I had to go an hour out of the way because the bridge was under ten feet of water again.  But we got there around 10:00, just after the other teachers arrived.

Dennis and I brought candy for all the kids.
The tall guy on the left is Yoni, he is always smiling
because he is always up to something.

Please note that the guy with the gun has candy also.
I wasn't about to skip him.  He must have gotten a
hair cut recently because usually he has all this wild
hair flying everywhere.

Dennis is helping Mr. Mefi with his computer.  Yes, Mr. Mefi got
candy also.  He is a pretty nice guy.  The young guy in blue is
Geldin.  We are getting to know his family.  His brother, Marvin
is the slate carver.  We will have more on that later.

This is Mrs. Blanco's room, Infant 1.  These are the youngest ones. 

The rain just kept on coming.  I felt like a little hen with her chicks.
I had to keep the candy up high because the kids kept
nabbing it when I wasn't looking.

And finally this is Mr. Uck's room. (ook)  I have been going through
a phonics program with them.  I also helped them make the little
decorations hanging from the strings.  They are good kids.

The teachers were busy getting the chicken ready for the grill and some of the rooms had movies playing.  (Not exactly movies that would be approved by the schools back home.)  There are always young men sitting on the benches on these kind of days and they got candy too.

Just to let you know, the man with the gun always has that gun.  I think it is broken.  First time I saw him I was all freaked out.  The teachers told me he lives next door and is always around.  I see him often now and he always smiles at me.  I think I will find out his name.

Dennis and I went to the Campos home to give Lauren her laptop a second time.  I guess the battery is messed up and Dennis had to take it out.  It works just fine when you plug it in and Lauren is happy.  They do not have a Christmas tree or decorations.  I have not seen any in the village.  I asked Lauren about it and she said they never have.  They celebrate Christmas by going to church that day.  

I asked her if she wanted to play Uno the next time I came over and she told me that she wanted to come visit Dennis and I at our house.  So, now we are going to have all the girls come over for a fun day of baking cookies and playing Uno.  It will be Lauren, Delmi, Noelly, and the older sister Raina.  Should be a really fun day.  We will have to wait for the river to go down first.

Hope everyone is enjoying this Christmas season.  Dennis and I are making the best of it.  The next blog will have our Christmas tree on it.

Love you guys!