El tiempo dedicado a papá...Time spent with dad

!Hola to all
I have been away from the computer longer than usual, as our weekend with dad took an unexpected turn. His flight was canceled, and we had one extra day with him. This was a welcome extension to his trip, but a big hassle as far as all the confusion and lack of organization at the airport. His new flight, the following day, was even delayed, and he did not get home until 2 in the morning.  In spite of the trouble at the end of his stay, we had a WONDERFUL time with dad. After picking him up from the airport, and watching in anticipation as each passenger came around the corner to the baggage claim, everyone anxiously tried to fill dad in on all that was happening here in Puerto Rico. He and I had a fabulous dinner date at the most wonderful little carribean cabana on the beach just down from where we stay.  The next day we headed west with the kids to hike a trail that lead us to some spectacular caves.  Interestingly, I came across a travel site where someone had posted the directions to a private trail which individuals can hike on their own, without having to pay for the big tours. These are always the most fun. With my computer printout in hand, bearing an unknown travelers precise directions by highway, to the trailhead, and up the rocky path to the cave entrance, this mom lead the way! These were not the deep caves the tour guide takes all the tourists through (we will have to see those another time). These were in fact caves at the very height of a mountain. If you are wondering how that could be, see the photos; they speak for themselves!  I think the kids agree, like the rainforest, this was one of their "coolest" adventures so far. We were truly alone in these caves, except for a couple of flashlights, and bats hanging above....and dad, of course. These situations are always better when dad is around. After the cave, we headed about 2 more hours west in search of a snorkeling beach in the town of Rincon which we had visited in June, on our first visit to the island. This trip was not as successful, as we did not see much. We have asked around, and many locals tell us the waters stay stirred up this time of year from the tropical storms.  High tourist season doesn't begin unitl December. We will wait and try snorkeling then.  We had forgotten about the traffic along the roads off the main highway, and it was a very long day in the car.  Myself, always the one to keep things level, had to remind everyone, more than once, "At least we are all together!" This didn't seem to satisfy while sitting still in bumper to bumper traffic with motorist that adhere to no form of traffic laws, and in a vehicle that doesn't cool real well.
After such a long day in the car dad declared, "No more driving" for the rest of the weekend, and it was great. From our apartment, we walked everywhere we wanted , or needed, to go the rest of the weekend: to eat, to the grocery store, and of course spent most of the time on the beach.  Dad bought some beach toys while he was here; an unexpected treat for the boys. However, I think Naomi may get more use out of Hunter's sufboard than he will. She is going to take a surfing lesson or two, while Hunter, with the true heart of a 16 year old boy, thinks he can teach himself. No lesson needed for this big guy! Boy, is that spiritual material to chew on?....the pride of a teenager; the pride in us all when we think we know how to do things, and are unwilling to learn from the Master himself. Even Wyatt says he wants to take a lesson from the "master" surfing instructor. I wonder what age that pride thing gets us? I'm convinced, after having five kids, it's somwhere between 9 and 16! At nine years old Wyatt is still so willing, and eager, to learn new things. It is precious. If only it would remain that way. Dad bought Wyatt his own "toy" in the form of a skin board. He tried and tried until he has finally gotten pretty good at it. He waits every day to walk down to the beach to ride his board. He gets tired, a little frustrated and banged up (when it comes back and hits his ankles), but he loves it.

~ In the absence of my husband, I think only of his good qualities, those I miss the most. And seeing each other again, after four long weeks, couldn't have been sweeter. As I reflect on our time together this past weekend, the special dinner date we had, the time spent watching him spend time with the kids, and literally play and talk with them (each in a different way), I wonder to myself, "Why does it take separation to make us truly appreciate those we love the most?" And, "Why is it so hard to live every day with those we couldn't otherwise live without?" The weekend with dad was so special because it was ordained by the Lord as a reflection of how we should live every day as a family, really savoring the moments with one another...I pray that you will have special dinners with your spouse (and kids), really play with your children no matter what their age, and talk to each of them about what's going on in their lives, what they need to work on, and what goals they need to set! I pray that David and I take this time of separation to heart, and learn to apply these lessons all the more often. Life is too short, grace is what keeps us together with our loved ones, and in the end "the only place we need to see before we die is this place of seeing God, here and now" (Voscamp, One Thousand Gifts 33). What a beautiful reminder of the Lord being in the "hear and now". My final prayer is that you will have eyes to see that today, with the ones you love the most! 
Make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. ~ Ephesians 5:16
Love is.... ~ 1Corinthians 13 ( a refresher course on how to truly love our loved ones)

Cave entrance in background



Exploring the cave




And this was the view when we reached the top of the cave. Incredible!!!!




The boys and their toys



Trying out the skin board



This is how it's done!



Playing frisbee with dad





Dad and boys in water



Dad chasing Hunter...



Steps Beach on the west side of the island...get the name??



This is "our park", as we call it. We walk to it daily and enter the beach. Nanny and Naomi enjoy watching the boys play with dad in the water.



Galeria de fotos (Gallery of Photos)...

It's midweek and, like always, we are bogged down with schooling and more schooling. Yes! This home schooling thing is quite rigorous. Actually, the kids online program requires every bit the accountability as does a traditional school with attendance and lessons to be complete daily, and assessments to follow which require mastery.  We get started around 9 or 10 in the morning and are still going at 3, sometimes 4 o'clock. There are days we complete more lessons in the evening in order to get ahead, especially when we know we have plans the next day. We are expecting Dad tomorrow, YEAH!!!! So we have completed 5 days worth of lessons in 3 days! I thought I would hold you guys over with some recent photos until we finish our fun-filled weekend with Dad.  After a date night together, just David and I, we all plan to visit some of the worlds deepest caves, get in some snorkeling off the west coast, and take care of some needs and errands while dad is here to help.

I hope you enjoy the photos. You are in our prayers!!!!

Here's Hunter and his boys! You don't think he sticks out, do you? Gringo's are like a show and tell object around here, until they get to know you, which is kind of funny. This is not the entire team, only about half. And that's not a coach in front. He's a senior, and the catcher!!

 

Naomi has landed what just may be an opportunity of a lifetime! A club volleyball team with 16 and 17 years olds. After club practice and a private lesson, she cannot walk!  These girls are something to watch. We are still marveling at this opportunity adn how it all came about. More to come on this...



Here she is with the coach from Argentina, Alejandro. The girls told her he is one of the best on the island. After one private lesson with him, I'm convinced! They have an interesting time communicating with each other....a lot of hand gestures, but certainly enough that he gives her kuddos when she gets it right!

These are not line barriers at an amusement park...it's the line markers for Krispy Kreme Donuts!  And this outdoor tent, and waiting area, is full in the mornings. This was mid-day so the line was in the drive-thru...half way around the parking lot!  It's really crazy, and never lets up.

Evidently it's a big deal to watch the donuts go through the conveyor belt. Everyone gets a free, hot and fresh one straight off the line. Maybe that's why the long lines...you think? Great marketing strategy!

The balloons and the line...every day, all day, for a donut!?!? I don't think they would believe me if I told them several of the locations in Texas have closed down. I have to admit, they are pretty good:)  Shipley's might have a rival in my book.  (Why the Mexican colors on balloons, I don't know.  We're way far from Mexico and their colors are red, white, and blue like ours, and the culture quite different.)

Naomi the scientist!  Somebody tell Mrs. Ingram she's figuring it out, mostly on her own, but with the help of her online teacher as well.  She received everything she would have had in her science class at school, microscope, test tubes, and all. This was her first biology lab. And who said home schooling wasn't for real???

Wyatt wanted everyone to see how much Rico has grown in just a week and a half. Still hand feeding him. No words yet, but we are working on them...."Hello", "My name's Rico", and "Go Yankees".  I wanted "Go Rangers" but was over ruled.

Buscan debajo de la superficie (Looking beneath the surface)...

The past week was full of visuals for us. Isn't every week a "week of visuals" for you too? Think about it. Everyday is another reminder of God's grace for each of us in all that we see and do. Just how much do we consider, think, ponder, and put into perspective, from a biblical point of view, everything that we observe?  Being in a new culture, and having only one or two years to experience life in Puerto Rico, I have made it my objective to consider my surroundings, and all that we see and do, in light of God's greater plan.
~At the beginning of the week we took in the Puerto Rico Art Museo and a special exhibition of the islands most reknowned 18th Century artist, Jose Campeche. We received our very own private tour in english amidst a gallery of school children, and had a wonderful docent that gave us terrific historical timeline of life on the island through the beautiful work of Campeche. His paintings rival all the greats of the Baroque movement, including Goya and Moreau. It's been too long since I've walked through an art museum. This was a treat. How my God was moving through history is seen through the artists pallet. On the other hand, you can see how, and if, the artist responded to God's work through his pallet as well. Great lessons in biblical worldview through time periods in art!
~On Friday, we walked "Ashford Street", the main street, or hot spot, for tourist in the outer San Jaun area where we are staying. It is fun, either day or night, with all the shops, restaurants, and just for people watching. This particular day we encountered university students taking part in what, after we inquired, they said was "National Parking Day". I looked it up on Google and sure enough, it was a international movement.  They explained that students all over the world were "protesting" the use of parking alongside municipal streets and showing alternative ways to use these parking spots. The teacher in me was quick to ask two of the female students if they had a solution to what they were protesting. Where should the cars park as an alternative to help beautify the streets? They enjoyed the exchange with me, because most young people enjoy debate, simply for the sake of debating, right? However, they didn't have a solution. They were just "protesting" the use of metered parking spaces simply for the sake of protesting and being part of a movement.  I readily admit, they came up with some pretty creative uses of the parking spaces, as the photos will show, and we enjoyed seeing them from block to block.  Remember, I'm taking in all I observe, and young people are creative, no doubt, that's part of being made in the image of God and being heirs to his creative genius, just like the artist Campeche that we viewed earlier in the week. Unfortunately, these university students were simply feeding the rebellious nature in all of us and what better way than to "protest" simply because their professor suggested they take part in this national university movement; no questions asked; I'm certain that if they would have asked questions, making sure their cause was worthwhile, they would have been able to answer mine, or better yet, ask themselves, "For what greater good are we accomplishing here?"  But they couldn't. Again, we enjoyed looking at the different displays, and in the end it provided a opportunity to speak to my own about the truths of following "movements", and asking certain questions before we jump on the bandwagon.
~Saturday night we attended the Women's Pro Volleyball International Championship in Caguas, a large municipality on the island. We were given free tickets to the event and were eager to watch both Puerto Rico and the US women compete; the top 3 teams qualifying for the 2012 Olympics!  This was all part of a series of events that happened after observing some girls, who looked to be about Naomi's age, practicing volleyball on the beach. I inquired about a possible volleyball club for Naomi and was put in touch with several different people. Consequently, we are waiting for the beach volleyball coach I contacted to start up his private lessons in the Fall; however, he called us back after our initial inquiry to give us the free tickets to the Women's Championship Saturday night.  We were all excited to take in such a high profile sporting event, especially when he told us USA was the favorite to win! A quick internet search told us that we would be seeing some of the best VB teams in the world. Besides the US and PR, we saw Cuba, Canada, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. There were 9 teams in this regional competition, other Olympic qualifers taking place in other parts of the world this week as well. We were surprised by the low attendance for such a big event, nevertheless, we "took it all in" and had a great time. We cheered for PR against Cuba; Cuba being the victor. The US and Dominican Republic were the final match, being the top 2 teams. We were part of only a handful of fans cheering for the US. The most exciting part was the start of the game and observing the national anthems while each teams flag was displayed. Our very own "Old Glory" never gets old to behold, and add our national anthem in a room full of other flags and other anthems...WOW! I doesn't get more moving than that! Patriotism is a bless-ed thing and America stands out among the rest, a fact that cannot be denied. What I observed about this outing, however, (remember, I'm observing beyond the surface) was this: Patriotism is a bless-ed thing indeed, no matter what country a person is from. It's good for the soul, and I was glad to watch the other fans show their devotion to their own flag and nation. I realised that me, my mother, and my three kids were part of something much bigger in that colesium than an Olympic qualifying volleyball match. We were in a setting of different people and different races, representing different nations with nothing to separate us but our allegience to different flags. One day there will be nothing to separate us at all, as all nations and all people will share their allegiance to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Until then, may we all learn to compete with a proper respect for one another. Oh, and in case you were wondering...we won! The USA dominating in the first 3 matches!! Go team USA!!!! See YOU at the Olympics!!!!

Have a blessed week and remember to take the time to look beyond the surface of things all around you. I'll leave you with one of my favorite verses, of which my former students know quite well, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy of this world which depend on human trandition rather than on Christ" (Colossians 2:8). 






Our day at the art museum

Parking Day 2011 (a Google search tells you all about it)

I liked this one...swings under a tree, but really, where do the cars park?

They represented us well!!! (How about the girl to far right, not saluting our flag? That's a whole other topic.)

Look at the height on that block shot.  #10 was a "beast", says Naomi!





El día del loro...the day of the parrot

~The latest tropical storm, Maria, passed just to the right of us through the Caribbean and up into the Atlantic where it seems to be situated just north posing no real threat! We didn't get any unusual rains or winds, as was anticipated.
~This past weekend was Naomi's birthday where we celebrated with a day of shopping at one of the largest malls in North America, Plaza Las Americas. So Puerto Rico is supposedly a very poor country, per capita, and we're suppose to be in a recession, right? You wouldn't know it on the surface.  I've already explained the massive amounts of people everywhere, and the mall is no exception. JCPenney in Puerto Rico is the highest grossing Penney's store in the world! Naomi added her birthday dollars, that she anxiously waited to receive in our new mailbox, to PR's economy.  We enjoyed a terrific italian fast-food dinner in the mall as well.  The islands cuisine is a mixture of those countries which set sail to the New World after Columbus' discovery...Spanish, Italian, and African.
~Naomi experienced a little teenage fun for her birthday as well. Our first contact on the island came back in June when our entire family traveled on vacation, and to check out the baseball academy for Hunter. It was then that we met the John Lombardo family upon renting one of their apartments. Mr. Lombardo has continued to be a point of contact, and local friend, as he keeps us updated with what is going on around town and wants to make sure we are finding our way. To this end, he called to invite the kids to attend a dance at the local private school his son Angelo attends. I have become familiar with the school, it's surroundings, and investigated it's mission and curriculum (the teacher in me), as we live just 2 blocks behind it and I've considered doing some substitute teaching. After much ado (you can imagine the coaxing, the doubting, the anticipation and wonder amongst my teenagers, who all of you know well), Naomi decided to go; Hunter declined. What to wear, what to wear? What do Puerto Rican teenagers where to dances? It was all a teenage girls frenzy. So we take off to walk an anxious yet excited Naomi up to the school, wondering the whole time if this is a good idea. I quickly default back to the idea that we are here for the experience and opportunity, and broadening my kids horizons and so, with dads approval (the entire situation considered) this is for Naomi. Is anyone giving her kuddos at this point??? Can you believe her courage? Of course Hunter thought she was completely nuts! But in the end, it was Hunter left to hear about the friends she made, and the nice girls who took her around campus and showed her their classrooms and invited her to their upcoming volleyball tournament. Boys? Well, Angelo was a gentleman and stayed by her side, and consequently introduced her to the other girls; but yes, there were boys who wondered where in the world (literally) did the only blonde girl in the room come from, but for the most part she remained sitting in a chair taking it all in except for talking to the girls and another young boy who has just recently moved here as well.  Just outside the door, my mother and I, with Wyatt riding his scooter, sat on a bench in a most pleasant hacienda style courtyard, watching all the students and parents go to and fro as there were socials going on for every age group. We left, only after complete investigation was over, and returned about an hour later to walk her home. Chalk this up as one of Naomi's many experiences on the island...life as a Puerto Rican teen (from the private school end of things; there are other parts of the island that this simply would not have happened).  This week she starts adventure #2 - staying with and babysitting for a home schooling family from The Woodlands. She is looking forward to it while I marvel at God's hand of grace that allows good things to broaden, benefit, and call our children to a knowledge of Him through diverse experiences. Oh, that I may have the intuition to see it and convey it rightly to my own, and that they have hearts and minds open to receive it and use it for His glory!
~Hunter is trying to raise funds to attend a big tournament back home (in Dallas). It is an annual PR vs. Texas event whereby the spirit of baseball greats from both places, like that of Roberto Clemente and Nolan Ryan, are celebrated by carrying on the tradition of competition from the two great baseball locations.  The tournament is in October, and this will be dad's opportunity to see Hunter play with his new team, although we have yet to see him play on the island. He tells us that games pick up more in January. Until then, it's practice and workout sessions, along with school. He started an elective course this past week called Carribean Studies. I'm waiting to get filled in on that one.
~ AND FINALLY, the parrot.  Anyone who visited with Wyatt in the weeks leading up to our departure knows that the little guy was looking forward to one thing when we arrived, and that was finding a parrot. With the help of a garage sale, lemonade stand, and some chore money, he had just enough to purchase a quaker parrot. I must add that he had done his research on all parrot breeds, making a booklet of his findings and determining just which type would be the best fit for his budget and in the taking care of department. Some of these birds live as long as humans! Oh, the things we do for our kids.  Grandkids are on the horizon for me, not parrot keeper! We prayed. Did we pray. At the most odd times and locations, he would say, "Mom, let's pray for a parrot". So we did. So this is for you, my mother-friends who I love dearly, I traveled two hours on Saturday (and remember, everywhere we go it is hot and no place to get out of heat), to meet the lady with the parrot, to take Hunter to a talked about snorkeling beach, and back home to take Naomi shopping for her birthday!  Yes, I met all their hearts desires in one day, and the bed couldn't have felt sweeter that night!  Your're not in it alone my friends.  We do what we do for our kids because we are made in the image of a God who loves his children on a grander scale than what my energy and heart level can even imagine.  Wyatt is a precious 9 year old, the last of my five, and I'm trying to take in and relish every last minute of who he is and what his desires are in a most tender way, that I can show Him the way to God's greater love. The photos are priceless! Oh, and the little parrot is Rico. He's only 8 week old and we are hand feeding him, which makes the experience just a little more fun, and sweet. What to teach him to say is quite a funny topic of conversation around here!   

En tanto, por ahora (so long for now)~

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11)


A picture worth a thousand words, no doubt!



Meet Rico!

Everyday Life

    Bueno!  This is the standard Puerto Rican greeting; a shorthand version of what we are use to in Texas, being so close to Mexico. Just like the different dialects of english spoken by American's (in the north, south, midwest), spanish speaking countries (islands/territories) each have their own.  Because we are in a tourist area, we are are faring well with communication, even if it is in broken form.  Hunter, however, is learning a bit more spanish because he stays in the very middle of the island where there is less english spoken, and the fact that he lives with spanish speaking boys 4 days a week.  He comes home knowing a little more each week.  
~This week finds us settling in to a daily routine with our home schooling and afternoon activity.  Naomi has really taken off with her online learning, needing almost no input from me at all. She will certainly know how to navigate her way through college course work and university related communications, as the program we are using is set up in much the same way.  Although she has direct communication with her teachers in each class, I keep records of her learning and must sign off on her course work as her "learning coach". She is usually done by noon each day, while Wyatt's lessons take us into the early afternoon. Being all boy, and nine years old, it is a challenge to keep him focused as we switch from subject to subject. However, he is enjoying the material he is learning, and I am blessed to be given this time of teaching and learning with my third son, in the same way I had it with my first two. We are able to speak about the invertabraes he is learning about in science as we walk down the sidewalks in the afternoons and evenings, and recall the story he read in literature with either myself or my mother. However, todays big lesson was not even planned. I wondered where my little pupil went when I got up to call him back to our "school room" only to find him next to his grandmother with a peice of cloth and needle in hand. "Look mom, Nanny's teaching me how to stitch."  Priceless moments that pass all too fast. All of our days, yours and mine, are full of them. I'm finding more and more of these moments to treasure in our slower pace of living and realizing more and more God's greater purpose in allowing this time with my mother and children.
~I wish I had more to report on Hunter and his baseball. At this point, I drop him off after dark on Sunday evenings and he comes out to meet me on Thursday afternoons.  We are waiting to see a baseball game in our area and will send photos as soon as we get to some.

Praying for the wildfires and all our fellow Texans! 
Good night to the sounds of the coqui~ j.

Our New Church
(One of the few english speaking on the island)



School Time

Wy learning to stitch. This home school requires no uniform! It's just too HOT!







 

Change doesn't come easy...

     Our first week in the apartment, and while it's nice to have our own place, there is still so much to get use to.  Start-up cost for living in another locale, while maintaining things back home, means that we must make do with the bare essentials; hard lessons for the kids, and in some ways, mom. "Good things don't come easy", as the saying goes, and while living like a local is not near as glamorous, or "good", as living like a tourist, I had prayed that this be a time of total reliance on the Lord in a way that me and the kids had never experienced. In this way, it is good.  However, change doesn't come easy, so there are several things we are having to get use to.
~No air conditioning!  While the high 80's sound like a cool front to everyone back home (we are hearing about the 108 degree temps!), living indoors without a/c means getting use to a constant sweat.  The cost of electricity is so high on the island (2-3 times our cost of energy) that a/c is reserved for the bedrooms where people who do have them run them only at night.  The tropical rains that come across the island almost daily do help to cool things down a bit, but getting use to having no where to go to get out of the heat is a silent challenge among all five of us.  I say silent because we are doing a good job of dealing with it for the most part; it has not proven unbearable.  It's no wonder we are ready to go to sleep around 7 oclock when it gets dark...we are so exhausted from the heat and can't wait to turn on a/c in bedroom!
~Yes, it is completely dark by 7 o'clock.  We are in the Eastern time zone, just an hour ahead; however, Puerto Rico is so far east that the sun rises really early, therefore, it goes down really early as well.  Sure makes getting up early a bit easier, which has been helpful to motivate me and Naomi toward our morning run.
~  The cost of groceries! I mentioned the gallon of milk I bought for $6 the other day.  Already having to live as frugal as possible, the cost of groceries is proving to be a double challenge when one walk down the grocery isle will leave anyone from the states with their jaw dropping. Everything is two to four dollars higher than what we pay at home.  I have a feeling leftovers will be going a long way in our little apartment!:) They already have, as the kids have woken up on two occasions, happy to eat what was left over from the previous day's lunch.
~People everywhere! While this may be a term for stating the obvious, never have I experienced the feeling of claustrophobia in a society.  There are 4 million people living on the island which is only 90 miles east to west, and 30 miles in a north/south direction! Nowhere can you see (and feel) this more than on the freeways and in the stores.  My friend Keli has lived on the island for 3 years and has only been to Wal-Mart 3 times!  She refuses to go to the stores if she doesn't have to (and with three under the age of 5, this is understandable). 
~"Slow and easy wins the race".  This will be our motto for living when we return home, no doubt. However, this is perhaps the hardest thing to learn. As Americans we are programmed to fast-forward mode in everything we do and expect.  Not so here. Forget taking care of 2 to 3 things in one day; it simply won't happen. As I already stated, a trip to the grocery store, or Wal-Mart, takes all day. If the lines in the store are not wrapped around like a theme park ride, the cars in the parking lot are!  This goes for the malls, the freeways, and the little side streets that I have attempted, thinking my American logic will outsmart these islanders.  Ha! Jokes on me. I've found out quickly that the sides streets are blocked up too. One wrong exit off a freeway usually results in a 10-20 minute mistake before finding my way again.  Sunday mornings, and evenings, are the best times for getting around.
     While in the midst of these everyday occurances, annoyances and hinderances, I find myself remembering the words of Paul who said, "Be anxious for nothing", exhorting us instead to be thankful (Philippians 4:6). It is at days end that I am encouraged by his words further in Philippians 4:12-13 where he has learned to be content in all situations because the source of his strength and endurance is Christ Jesus.  This is my prayer for each of you!
Until next time.....ADIOS from San Juan!!





This is where our morning run ends. Not bad.

                                          

A day after school

                                                                 


Me and Cervantes. Spanish novelist, playwright and poet, best known for Don Quiote!