Time Slows Down

Ecclesiastes 3: A Time for Everything

 ¹ There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:  ² a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 ⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
 ⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 ⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 ⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace.

Time can be my biggest enemy if I fail to cherish each moment!  Since returning from Honduras, I have found that time is passing so painfully slowly.  I anxiously await our special time on Skype with our family....last night I was able to introduce my brother's family to my Honduran family for the first time.  The language barrier made it slightly awkward, but it was such a blessing to use the technology in this way.  I am so grateful that my mother -in - law is embracing Skype, because I truly believe it is going to really help everyone with the children's transition to the U.S.

We spoke with our attorney Thursday evening.  Though not much will happen in Honduras over the next two weeks, due to the Holy Week holidays, we definitely feel very positive that we are making significant progress!  Hoping that we are back in Honduras for Mother's Day!!!  Mi Corazon, Reyes was in Honduras for Mother's Day in 2010...and I was back in Texas...It would be wonderful to be together in Honduras for Mother's Day in 2012!!!

Time will tell...

Recovery

We made it home late Sunday night from Honduras. My brother and nephew picked us up at the airport at 7:30 pm, but we had a major blow out on the freeway (at a very dangerous intersection) and had to call 911 because it got dark and we were unable to safely change the tire ourselves. WELCOME HOME! After picking up our dog, Osito (Spanish for little bear), at our friend's house ---thanks, Yvette---we got to the house at 11:15. Starving, mi corazon, Reyes, starts unpacking and warming up Honduran goodies. I guess I don't have the stomach of steel that my husband has because I got food poisoning. Nearly 48 hours later, my tummy is still rumbly and food sounds wretched. Back to work Monday and we are in another world. Today is our 11th anniversary. I am uploading pictures from Honduras while my exhausted hubby snores on the coach. We are still in recovery mode....Skyping has been great, but the sound doesn't always work. Having difficulty troubleshooting from here with our family, but we are trying the instant message (IM) feature when we can't hear each other. LOVING the sweet faces and the "I love you" in ASL (American Sign Language) from the kids on the video, though. It has been really hot there and they may be setting up the Intex inflatable pool really soon!!!

Beyond Blessed

We have been in Honduras for over a week...Mi Corazon, Reyes is exhausted, staying up way too late visiting, but I have been going to bed with the children at 9:30 to get up at 5:45 and help them get ready for school. We have had a great time and are trying not to be sad that we are returning to the U.S. on Sunday.

Quick Recap:
ARRIVAL: Thursday---Warm welcome (and yes, it is HOT here...93 and humid) at the airport and off to the house. Had fun introducing the children to the IPAD....they LOVE it! We realized that Reyes had left his cell phone on the airplane...lost forever =( But refused to let that upset us. Enjoyed candy and new clothes...but the IPAD was the BEST!

Friday---Discovered that the children have lice ...a HUGE problem in Honduras! Fortunately I was prepared with lice shampoos and lice combs. I even brought lice repellent shampoo for me. UGH! Practiced braiding in an effort to minimize access for the lice. We rented a vehicle because I told mi corazon, Reyes that I felt unsafe in the 1972 Toyota Corolla that we purchased for my mother-in-law last fall. I tried a new fruit called MaMe (not sure how to spell it...it is the size of a coconut/cantaloupe and grows on trees)...it was awesome! Tasted like a mix between a pineapple and a mango! YUM!

Saturday---Had a barbeque at our house! The box arrived from the U.S. with the computer that we sent to allow us to use SKYPE with our family!!!

Having a BLAST!

L

Sunday---We went to the beach in OMOA and had a wonderful time!!! It was absolutely gorgeous...warm, breezy and sunny! I had grilled lobster at the beachside cabana restaurant...fun day! (Saw boys selling iguanas for their meat along the side of the road and got a picture of it...will post sometime)

Reyes and His Mom with the New Refrigerator (Amor Mio)

Monday---Bought a refrigerator for my mother-in-law and a computer desk. I took the kids to the movies, by myself, and we saw John Carter (in English, with subtitles...weird movie!) Stopped at Pizza Hut on the way home and bought pizza--very yummy, actually!

Tuesday---Went to order cable internet...got cable in three rooms and cable internet (1 megabyte per second speed) for $40 a month! Not too bad!!! Had waffles for breakfast with nutella, pastelitos (little beef pies) for lunch and baleadas (bean and white cheese with sour cream tacos) for supper. Visited with many friends and had a great day.

Wednesday---not a good day! My mother in law passed out in the courtyard and was very sick all day. Internet installed and took kids to play video games in the mall...bought shoes for Jennifer.

Heading to School

Campo Casenave School

Thursday---WE HAD OUR HOME STUDY!!! Everything went very well....LONG DAY!!!

So, today is Friday...the kids wore casual clothes to school for gym...no uniforms and we made waffles again for breakfast. We are planning to go to the lake after school to fish and swim!

It has been an amazing trip! The kids are learning so much English and we have had so much fun packed into such a short period of time! Not looking forward to Sunday...AT ALL!!!


Thank you for your continued prayers....Dios les bendiga siempre!

Esperanza!

(Jesus said...) I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you! Matthew 17:20

Mateo 17: 20 Porque de cierto os digo, que si tuviereis fe como un grano de mostaza, direis a este monte: Pasate de aqui alla, y se pasara; y nada os sera imposible.

We have HOPE!!! Last year, over Spring Break, I traveled to Honduras, alone, to visit the children. On an outing to the mall, I met an American woman in the arcade. She had two beautiful Honduran children with her and I asked if she was adopting. As it turns out, they had been in the process of adopting for over 3 years and were using the same attorney that we are using. We had a wonderful time sharing our experiences and we had so much in common, even our birthday was the same---March 23rd! I truly felt the Lord sent me this blessing to encourage me that I am not alone on this journey...someone out there is on the same emotional roller coaster, but we both have our Father holding onto us with all of His might!

On Thursday, March 1st---after learning Wednesday that IHNFA was on strike again---our friends finalized the adoption of their son...more than four years in the process!!! The joy was overwhelming!!! God moved a MOUNTAIN...he made a way, where there seemed to be NO way! And, through her, I learned that this strike has ended. We have HOPE!

This Thursday, March 8th, mi Corazon, Reyes and I will travel to Honduras. It has been over three years since we visited together...we usually send one of us 1-2 times a year. There is still so much to do, but we are gradually marking through the list! I absolutely CAN NOT wait!!!