Nicaragua for the American Thanksgiving

What a sweet trip we just had. It all started out with 2 cold days in a row :) Perfect way to start a vacation is with a vacation. Just wish you could end a vacation with a vacation too..that would have been the ultimate end to a great trip. Neways we got to do and see quite a bit during our 4 nite 5 day excursion across Honduras and Nicaragua. Amy has put up a starter post to provide you with some inital highlights and a few pictures. I will try to get some more pictures up and we are going to send out an album once we get pictures from Clinton and Tara.
So for now here are a few pics to tide you over. Make sure to check Amy's blog for more detailed synopsis and different pictures.

Yes this would be our up close world...on coming traffic and a plane all in a VERY close area.


Cool bug we found on Tara's bag when we switched buses mid trip.


This is the room that all 6 of us stayed in the first nite. Amy and I had to share that single bed in the corner. Needless to say none of us got a good nites sleep!



Clinton got to "pretend" to drive our little carriage ride around Granada.


This was the best day of relaxing in the water ever!! It has been way too long since I've gotten to just chill out in the water, and not been Chilled b/c of it;)



As well I got to feel like a kid again as we played around on the kayaks and tubes for hours!




OUr group photo at Lago de Pollo (yes that would be Chicken Lake in a crater) ok so apparently its Lago de Apollo which is possibly "support"...ya chicken lake sounds more fun!



This is my photo shoot pic for the day.



My one and only timer shot this trip...sad I know :(



Clinton, Tara and I checking out the active Volcano...seriously takes your breath away...literally can't breath start choking on the sulphur!



So if anyone is curious what the inside of an active volcano looks like this is it :) I was hoping to see bubbling lava but apparently you have to be in a different area to see that so this is all we got.



This is me in my frustration as I attempted to try to find presents to bring back...arrrgg do I ever hate shopping b/c I can NEVER find anything good...or decided on what to get. I did end up buying myself a sweet hammok chair just before we left the market. Talk about last minute!

Feeding Center

So the feeding center turned out to be very chaotic but definitely an amazing experience. I am so astonished at just how many children, and their families, live in such horrible conditions. The amazing part is that they are still just like any other child running around happy as can be..especially when new people come to visit them. There were over 150 kids that came to the feeding center while we were there. I did my best to mingle with them when we first got there….it didn’t take long for me to exhaust my Spanish..but they didn’t seem to care. We sang some songs with them..in Spanish…it’s a neat experience hearing so many young kids (toddlers up to 16 years old) singing to Jesus at the top of their lungs in a different language. Just watching their faces...most of them probably have had nothing to eat for who knows how long and yet they have this simple Joy. If we could only be so simple in our lives….not stressing over the small things but just being thankful for the blessings that we do have.
It became very chaotic when it came time to pass out the food…I guess you can’t really blame them b/c they are so hungry and this is probably the only food they will have today, but I still found myself getting a little frustrated with the pushing and shoving to get the food. I helped collect and pass out the cups of rice and it really is hard to put into words the feeling you have as you get to the end of the pot and there are still children there pushing their cup to you to fill L heart breaking! Once the food is gone the center clears out pretty quickly but there are still a ton of kids outside b/c they LOVE to have their pictures taken…and then they run up to you to see the picture b/c they all know about the digital world…how crazy…here are the pics I took yesterday. Some were also of our mountain which we could see way across the city, and it was engulfed in a rain cloud. It is still engulfed in a cloud and it is terribly windy and only 14 degrees right now…we are apparently quickly coming into a cold front…we are hoping for a cold day on tue or wed which would be a sweet way to start our vacation heheh J
Neways here are the pics..hope you enjoy them. These kids are so beautiful, even with the circumstances they live in.




Those are the cups they bring to get their rice snack. Thats all it is is a snack really..just a little cup full.


Our mountain you can see the sun and the rain on it at the same time. That white statue is the Jesus statue that helps us locate our mountain wherever we are in the city.

Looking down the street we walked up to get to the feeding center.



These kids really are lots of fun. So much energy!



This was the shoving line to try and push your cup far enough ahead so Joseph would take it to fill it with rice. I guess I would probably be a little pushy too if it was my only opportunity for food.



These kids just love to have their pictures taken.

I Love Saturdays!!

So once again I Tackled the mountain with Kevin and Chris. I think we are getting stronger because we had a quicker pace today (up that is) and we are trying to use harder gears to challenge ourselves. It took us 45 mins to get up the mountain today wooo hooo!! It was a chilly start b/c there is a cold front coming in, we’re hoping for a cold day this week ;) It is incredible the temperature change as you god down and back up the mountain you really notice it when you are on your bike. It just hits you when you get down to the look out…it almost feels like a blast of warm air on the way down and a blast of cold air on the way back up. Wear a sweater down and peal it off on the way back up (thanks Kevin for carrying it back up for me).

So what to do on a Saturday morning when you are totally awake and ready to go by 9am….lol well today I decided I’m finally going to go with Joseph, Brian and the group to the feeding center. I can’t believe its take me so long to finally get there…sad I know. I’m excited b/c I’ve heard so much about what they do there. I’ll let you all know how it went later.
After we get back it will be time to head out to our CCI church social, which thankfully is up here in El Hatillo. We are having a bonfire, complete with hot chocolate and smores. Perfect for the cool weather we are having. Might have to crack out my scarf tonight;)

Neways that’s all for now….we are counting down the days til wed afternoon when we are officially on thanksgiving break (American that is). J

God is Great! and He never ceases to amaze me!

High School Meetings

So there I was trying to make it though a high school staff meeting...which by the way are not usually bad b/c well we have the GREATEST principal in the world, and his wife is amazing too b/c she always bakes us something yummy to help us through the meeting. NEways there I was not feeling so great, had been feeling dizzy last part of the day and so I was proping myself up with a couple chairs so that I would not have to miss any part of the fun we have. Well it didn't happen to just about the end of the meeting, but my "friends", co-workers decided that they needed to spice things up a bit. We have a little thing called work orders that can be filled out whenever we need something done or fixed etc...and they all have to go through the principal so we like to give him something interesting to read between all the regular boring ones. Well apparenlty I was the focus this week b/c Kyle, Kevin, and yes EVEN AMY! decided to play "concerned citizens" who felt like I needed something to help me be more easily found. Well unbenonced to me that this work order was even thought up, Jonathan thought it would be best if I found out about it at our monthly staff meeting this past wed. So here are the pictures that were posted up on the overhead projector for all to enjoy.





Please continue to pray for me and the "friends" that I have to live/work with down here lol!

All I have to say is stay tuned for the next workorder fun ;)

The crazy things we'll do for entertainment

So who knew that when you are bord playing with your answering machine message could be so entertaining. Lets just say when amy is stir crazy she is insane...special mention goes to Joseph who played along and helped us with our many attemps at a "good" message. He's a good sport thanks Joey.

Biking down the Mountian

ARRRRRRRRR so attempt number 2 a this post....So yesterday I got to go for my first ride down the mountain and back up. We (Kevin and Chris Kleman) went all the way down to the US embassy residence and back up. It took us an hour and 10 mins in total......10 mins down and an hour back up....I'll let you imagine the road hehehe.....I really enjoyed it and felt much better than I thought I would so I hope to try doing it more often. Kevin, Chris and I hung out chattin for a while after we got back and decided that we would try to this ride once a week during the school week...I'll let you know when that happens b/c it would have to be awlful early. After that it was time for a shower, breakfast and then back to bed for a while b/c I didn't get a full nites sleep. I awoke to the phone at 3am, it was Cossetta asking me if I would come watch Jayden as they had to bring Arelia to the hospital b/c she was having trouble breathing. I went over and was back to sleep by 4am, and then awoke again at 5:50am with Jayden standing beside me waiting for me to wake up. God is Good and Arelia is alright, she had a reflux episode. Who knew that babies could get this....neways I got to have breakfast and visit with Jonathan and Cossetta after they got back which was nice. I always enjoy my visits over there.

So I'm listening to my favourite story right now....the Vinyle Cafe...and today was about Dave and Sam going on rollercoasters...soo great!! So if anyone is ever trying to figure out something to get me, for whatever reason, a Stewart MacLean vinyle cafe Dave and Morely stories CD would always be welcome. I could listen to his stories over and over. They remind me of being at my grampa's as thats who first got me listening to them on CBC.

So unfortunately this post was not a long or near as great as the one I had originally written but alas thats what happens with technology. It a test in patience, espeically when you were hoping to make a phone call and you find that the internet just isn't working so you just have to change your plans. I did get to make some phone calls this weekend and got to catch up with Darcie and Keith...oh how I miss you guys!! It was soo great to hear your voice again. I really hope to get to see you at Christmas, even if it is short! We'll have to keep working on that.

Pics below of Jonathan and Cossetta and the wonderful, slightly belated birthday dinner from the highschool. Kyle made bacon wrapped asparigus, Amy and I made BBQ chicken kabobs and potatoe wedges, with a cheese cake for dessert. I think they enjoyed it very much :) how could then now hehehhe...look how yummy it looked...and the smell....well its a good thing you can't smell over the net or you'd be in trouble.


My first time making Kabobs...turned out not too bad I think.



Thats all for now.....oh yes and I'm going to be an AUNT again :) I'm praying for a girl...but of course will be very happy with another boy too :)

ps matt we are about to watch Nacho Libre...so i'll let you know what I thought of it after lol...I'll have to see if its as good as you say it is.

Volleyball, Track and Teacher Conferences.....

Have to start a post with greatest picture ever!!! lol you can not keep a straight face looking at this.


So Last weekend I had a great volleyball match where I got to play all 5 games b/c our normal setter was not there. It has been a while since I've set but it was fun to play again. I think I did not too bad considering how long its been. We didn't end up winning :( so that meant that we were to play for 3rd place yesterday, which I was very excited for. However after I arrived at 1pm for our 2pm game we evenutally found out that the other team had to forfiet b/c they didn't have enough people. I was really disappointed b/c I was totally pumped to play. Also b/c it now meant that we had to sit there for another extra couple hours to wait for Kyles game which was supposed to be at 4pm....well that didn't happen until closer to 6pm so needless to say we spent 5 and half hours at the Villa yesterday and only one of us actually got to play any v-ball. Oh well I'll get over my frustration one of these days lol....Apparently there is another Christmas tournament starting very soon and we have the ceremoney for this past tournament on wed nite...maybe we'll get medals :) that would be exciting. I'll keep you posted on that one.

So Amy beat me to posting (as usual) about the track meet. It went really well and we only came 2nd by 1 gold medal so that was very impressive for us! I am very proud of our team they had some personal bests and broke some of the ABSH records :) I'll post some of the pictures that I took from that day. Few great action shots.

Thur and Friday this week were very LONG. We had half day of classes but then parent conferences from 12:30 til 5pm each day. That is a very long time to sit around waiting for parents to come b/c you never know who or when someone is going to come by to see you. I had a few parents come see me and thankfully none of them were irrate or angry they were very understanding and encouraging which was VERY nice for me. BIg change from my first year thats forsure! I did get to use the extra time to catch up on some of my lessons plans and get ready for next week. I am starting volleyball so I am excited for that. I hope the girls get excited too...they either are or aren't...there seems to be no middle ground with them! Oh well they are keeping me on my toes, amid the frustrations they cause me at times.

Please continue to pray for patience and wisdom for me as, especially lately, I have been feeling very irritated by a lot of little things that I don't want to let annoy me. I think part of it is b/c I've been over tired, but also b/c Satan is trying to attack and discourage me down here. I am grateful for the many blessings I have down here, especially when it comes to friends and encouragers. God really does know exactly what we need, WHEN we need it. Also please pray for safe travels for Julia as she flys to Kenya starting tonight.....I love you Julia and sorry I didn't get to talk to you one more time before you left :( sniff sniff....She is now gone for a full year!! wow seems like a long time but then again I've been down here for almost 3!...who'd a thought;)
Let me know when you get a number down there julia and I'll try calling. Amy and I called our friend Kevin in Zambia this week...that was an adventure lol...we did eventually get through to him where we could both hear each other. It was really great to talk to hear your voice again Kevin...and so totally bizarre to think you are on the other side of the world and yet we can hear you so clearly....technology never ceases to amaze me...and frustrate me lol go figure!

neways here are a few random pics that I have found...and of course have to add some of my beautiful nephews who are continuing to get SOO big and even cutier every day!!! I miss them so much.
alrighty thats all for now....more to come
till then may God continue to bless your lives

ps Congratz to ERIN AND JASON!!! on a very beautiful wedding...i saw julie's picture :) you were stunning erin :) and of course Melissa, Venessa and Angie you looked amazing too...love the red dresses!!! wish i could have been there too :( sniff sniff one of these days i'll meet those boys of yours erin and angie!

Chris showing his high jump skills















Two Heidi's or Haidy's however you spell it lol



Sarah showing her enthusiasm that the jumping events are done!!



Luisa showing some amazing long jump skills...she easily took first place!! way to go luisa!



Some of us trying to find some shade on a VERY sunny hot day!!



Love the hair ben hehehe....reminds me of WHO from whoville.



Sam was a lamb and Ben was a frog for Halloween this year. I'll let you judge just how cute they are!!