another busy week

Yes, that is one more week to cross off on my calendar and say Thank you Lord for letting me get through it and do my many jobs well. Whew!!! some days I wonder how I do manage, and other days I am just so thankful for the work he has given me to do and the experiences I have had in my past that enable me to feel comfortable in the responsibility of the job. For example; choir practice.
Yes, we are well into our first cantata and I am really enjoying the whole process. I like that I am the director and can just lead from the piano and not have to wonder what someone else wants me to do. I just do it. Yes, it is hard at times to catch everything, but Scott is a big help with the guys, and I lean on him to help me when we are missing something.
Play practice is going well, I am hoping to get some help on the choreography, but other than that I am starting to feel like yes, I can command that many people of so many different ages to do this and say that, and stand there, and sing this way. Wow, what a job. But it is fun, and yes, we are often laughing and smiling at even the mess ups that happen.
I shared in chapel last week about how it is the thought that counts. How our moms appreciated the thought behind the pancake breakfast even though the mess was beyond reason. And how our heavenly Father appreciates that we are willing to serve him even though we may not do it as well as so-and-so. Or even completely fail. It really does matter to him that we are willing to serve and do it out of a heart of love and compassion and not obligation.
I challenged my girls this week on how we see ourselves. Especially in the physical aspect. And even though we are not all the same size or have other areas of our looks and body that we struggle with how God created each one of us, just the way we are and we should be thankful for it. It was precious to me when one of those girls shared today in chapel about our spiritual gifts and how God gave each of us different abilities and gifts, and are we using them or comparing what we have to others and not using them. It was neat.
Other news. Emma has had a fever since Sunday and seems to be still fighting a fever. It seems to come and go, and I suspect that she will soon be coughing and sniffling like all the other kids here. I hope the rest of us don't catch it. It is not fun being sick when it is in the 90's each day lately. We are really hoping for rain and cooler weather soon. Yes, we have had quite a bit of rain, but then it heated up again and dried up, so we are back to wishing for rain.

flowers

Here is a weed I couldn't get pull up. I am so glad I didn't, since

I started fertilizing my roses, this one just took off. The

roses are still trying to decide if they want to live or die.

This is the flower from the Rubber Tree.

I wish I could post the smell, too, it is the sweetest smelling flower.

The trees are huge, and right now full of baby parrots. I always

walk under this tree on my way to class. Yesterday I got real lucky.

I missed being hit by flying bird... by just inches,

it hit my bag on my back instead.

parrots and rubber trees

Did you know that Rubber trees have the sweetest smelling blossoms?? Kind of like a honeysuckle, and they seem to bloom throughout the entire year, it is one of my favorite things about Brazil, that as you walk to school you are always welcomed by that wonderful fragrance.

Did you know that parrots make the loudest squawking sound you can imagine, and they love to be in large groups?? Well, lets just say they are not my most favorite bird here. Yesterday, I was watching the news real quick before we headed of to church when a big bird fluttered past my window and a flash went off out of the corner of my eye. All our power went out. Yep, that was a huge heron that hit the line, causing a surge in our power. Luckily, it only took a few minutes for Scott to restore our power and we could get on with our day.

Last week was as busy as usual. We had our second home ec supper and the girls really did a great job. On the menu was roasted garlic spread on french bread, pasta with grilled chicken and vegatables, salad, and for desert, strawberry shortcake and chocolate fondu with cinnamon crisps all made by their hands. My 6 students were each allowed to invite a guest and most brought moms or dorm moms. It was just a very fun night, and we enjoyed every bite.

Now I am trying to get my Christmas cards started. We are putting the last few touches on the kids play, and we have started praciticing our Christmas Cantata. Tis the season!!!

As to my diet... That is actually still on track, home ec dinners and all. I have lost in 14 days almost 7 pounds. Like I have heard often, just diet and exercise. Nothing more than that, I just never quiet understood what a diet looked like!!! I didn't realize it meant 2 bites of chicken, and a piece of bread, with all the salad you can eat!!! But I feel good, and hope I can get a few more pounds off before I hit Thanksgiving and the season of Christmas goodies!!!

Ahh, 4 days off

Yes, that was a nice way to end our first quarter. To take 4 days to just catch up and finally even find time to relax. It was a busy week. I started teaching an extra English class for a teacher traveling until the first of November. So my mornings are a little busier. Plus this week I had 4 extra plates at our table at lunch time to help out a family who took the Seniors on their trip. So by Saturday I was ready to just crash!!

I spent my free time this week sewing a pile of things I had made, but never finished the seams: curtains, tablecloths, and even the girls Easter dresses. That felt good. Yes, some of those projects have been on my mind now for almost a year, why did I wait so long, well, I was hoping for cooler weather. Who likes sewing in the heat? But finally I just had to tough it out. I got my fan out, and just went to work. I managed to clean my dining room from ceiling to floor, and washed all the curtains (thus the sewing...)

The worst moment of the week???

Scott let Jonathan invite a few boys over for a movie and a campout. I, wanting nothing to do with such madness, popped their popcorn and headed over to spend the evening with Karla, and watch a nice romantic comedy. When I came home, they were pretty much outside ready to settle in, but had left half the popcorn on the floor.

I got out the vaccum and started to clean up. I know now that doing this after 10 is probably not wise. Something had got caught in the hose, blocking the air, and my sleepy brain didn't catch the sounds quick enough and the bag busted inside and the crazy machine started blowing dirt all over my just cleaned from top to bottom - living room!!!!! Well, Scott came to the rescue and shut it off and we finally go the place cleaned up.

So now for the worst moment, I went into the bathroom to brush the dust off me and get it out of my hair and when I shook my head my glasses fell of, and BROKE!!! Now I know, they are four and a half years old, scratched beyond reason, but I use them every day, and my contact supply is out (of course they are outrageously priced here - so I keep putting of buying more - which you don't need a doctor's scrip to get). So now here I am at 10:30 blind as a bat trying to find my super bonder glue!!! AGGGGGHHHHH I went to bed and cried myself to sleep.

The next day I did find the glue and manage to get my glasses put back together. Now they just have a few more scratches. I really want to have eye surgery, but as you know with three kids, and school, dentist, ect. I keep putting it off. Maybe this week I will at least call and find out what the prices are these days. If they are still pretty high, I will have to break down and buy some more contacts. Hopefully my glasses can wait until we come home next summer.

So what does the poor exhausted lady do after a week of starving herself ( I lost 3 pounds already!!! ) for a week?? Take friends out to supper. We took Karla and a couple friends to Walmart and then to one of the best Brazilian restaurants around. It was really nice to eat, and to share it with friends and best of all - not to have to do any dishes afterward.

What a week!!!

Karla at Walmart

How much can you fit in our trunk?? You don't get to

Walmart every day( the couple in the picture is another family

we are enjoying getting to know them)

pictures and video

Finally the local pool has opened!!!!

During dry season they keep it closed to help

with the dust, plus it is pretty cold for swimming,

at least the water is too cold.

Emma enjoy the beginning of summer

Check out Emma doing a puzzle. She really likes puzzles and

is now doing it more and more on her own.

Baseball, Football, and other fun things

Yes, I have been watching sports games again. Karla is a big football fan, and she even comes over and watches baseball with Scott and I. It is fun to just settle in and watch a good game. Even if half the time we quit before the game as things get started an hour later here. But it is still fun.
Next week the time changes so we will be two hours different from EST, then when their time changes in the states it goes to 3 hours different. Lets just say that when we watch the Superbowl, it is almost an all-nighter. But it is still fun.
This weekend was a busy one, but I do enjoy it, I had 12 people come for lunch Saturday. Then Saturday supper was a home ec supper and we really had a good time. They did a great job, too. I tried to only be there to consult and to find ingredients. We made a fabulous appetizer from Pampered Chef cookbook, Tex-Mex Chicken, French Onion Soup, Parmesan stuffed chicken, Presunto and Peas Fettuccine, Caesar Salad, and a Lemon cake with lemon and raspberry filling. It really was goooooood.
Now I am starting a diet. Really a real diet, with counting calories, and eating specific foods on a list. I don't know how long I will last, but hey I made it to day two!!!! I really have to lose 10 pounds, they just keep creeping up on you, your clothes still fit, but just not right. I am in shape, just too much shape. So here goes!!! Pray for me. I really don't do diets well, I get lightheaded, and just feel like doing nothing!!! I need to lose weight, but I just can't imagine doing it. I have tried before and I get like 2 pounds off and that is all that goes!!! So I really need to do better. Don't ask me why but unlike all the other missionaries I know, I gain weight in Brazil and lose in the US. I guess it is all the cooking I HAVE to do here, but don't have to do in the states, so I just have less tempting things around me all the time there. Plus I have discovered I eat for comfort. I really miss home some days, and food always helps. I guess that explains the extra 10 pounds I find overseas...

fun with friends

This is one of the kids living here this year while her parents study Portuguese. It has been such fun watching Emma be with a friend and really play well with someone her age. Watching her, I realized what we missed with Jonathan and Laney cause we didn't have any kids around when they were this age. I am just glad I have got to watch Emma make her first friend. Plus since her brother and sister are so much older than her, I am extra glad she has a friend.

Things not to do when you are over 30

Yes, I was watching a show yesterday and that was their topic, they had some interesting points, but they didn't mention this one.
Do not play basketball like you did when you were a teenager, the first time back in the game!!!
But is that what I did yesterday?? Yep!!!
The girls here have been wanting me to come out and coach them, since they don't really know much about the game, and yesterday I finally made it. It was fun. Getting that ball in my hand, dribbling down the court, actually making some good shots. But know my knees are killing me, and my back is probably aching, except the pain in my knees is so bad, I can't tell.
Another thing. Brazilians girls play basketball like you would play soccer, worse than street ball, it is get the ball away from the opposing team in whatever means possible. It was insane, just the sound of the slapping heard almost more than a ball being dribbling, was incredible.
But by the end of the hour, we were starting to get something going that almost resembled my favorite sport.
And I really did enjoy it, even though I sounded like I was gasping for air by the time I got home ( I doubt I have breathed that hard in a very long time). I haven't sweated that much in a long time either. Maybe I am crazy, but I can't wait for next Thursday night??

even better

Yes, this would be Scott taking the pictures.

I love them!!!

RAIN!!!

Really, it really rained, and lots of rain, so much the gutters were overflowing

So refreshing, and cool, the best thing in the world!!!

Tiger didn't know what to think of all that rain, but

made himself at home as soon as it stopped.

One of the flowering trees here, so pretty against the cloudy sky

The best part about rain,
PUDDLES!!!

Flaymboyant Trees

These are the trees that just burst before the rain hits

And as you can see it is time to rain!!! Plus the 1st of Oct.

Is the official beginning of rainy season so we are ready

Can it be any drier???