The New Stuff

The other day, I was walking from my car to a building, and I brushed up against some greenery. This time, it did not make me break out in vicious hives. Instead, it left me with another gift: a chameleon. He must have come from there. I know not whence else he could haev come. All said and done, he ended up on the inside edge of my T-shirt.

And then he crawled up my tummy and beyond. Ew. I jumped and squeaked. He flew out of there and onto the ground. I kicked at him and he lost his tail. Then, I let dog have at him.

And that's just another day in our lives here.

July looked like an easy going slow kind of month, but instead we found it to be pretty busy. We ended up moving out of our lovely monster house (called such because it was so big) and into the mission's guesthouse facilities, in order to help out with the hosting job. That means we take reservations of incoming missionaries and help with what they need here. It's everything from making sure their room air conditioner is working to taking them out for a cup of coffee (not too shabby :)).

We feel we are finally settled in. And we like it. The kids are enjoying the bikeriding space, the great outdoors. We are very thankful to the Lord for this new adventure.

We've also welcomed some new co-workers, helping them with where to find things and looking for a house.

Ben has a flight tomorrow. The new pilot will accompany him, and I will flight follow with the wife of the new pilot. We have good times. Coffee and laughter and good fellowship. Well, there is some work involved too. and kid watching. and possibly some cooking. It will be Friday. Fun Friday. That means we will have some fun.

We've been mighty busy. It's time for a little fun.

A May Update

June is here! That means:
3 more months till Christmas Season.

Ok, seriously, time is chugga-luggin' away on us. What have we been doing? Working! At least, Ben has been. Flying, maintenance, paperwork (he loves that part, in particular). And he's been a gem of a husband at home, helping when the extra is needed (which, when you are hauling water, happens more than you can imagine).

One of the highlights of May was: Swimming lessons. Every afternoon for two weeks. It was cool. Ty turned out to be a quick learner and pretty good little swimmer. Ellie turned out to be a bit more distracted(Mom: Ellie, remember to use your arms. Ellie: mom, you have soft hair...) but she did learn how to come up for air, and using this strange caterpillar style moving, she can wriggle her way to where she wants to go.

Even Zack joined in the fun, swimming in his ring everyday.On the last day of class, the kids had to swim across the pool. Ty did it all by himself. Ellie did it too, sort of, and not by herself. And then, we were informed, would follow the certificate ceremony.

This closing ceremony included a Thanksgiving Mass to celebrate the swim team's first place victory at a recent competition. The priest came, set up a table, the whole bit.
It was a cultural experience.
45 minutes later, the kids sitting on the poolside, gazing longingly into the water, they then had a swimming expo. THEN, the gave out the certificates of completion.

And then we ate food.
The whole shebang took over 3 hours.

All because we completed a 2 week course to swim.

Doin' the Laundry

When life is normal, you get up in the morning and go about your routine. What would you do if, when you woke up, you found out you had no water coming out of your faucets? And what if you then discovered that water would only be coming out between the hours of midnight and 4 to 5 am every day due to a water shortage in the area? Last year, we kicked and screamed and threw a bit of a fit, but that didn't stop the water shortage (during the last 3 months of dry season), shockingly enough. This year, we opted a different approach. Since April, we have been getting up at night to fill up our bathtub and other containers, so that we can have water during the day. Hauling buckets works for dishes and toilets and floors, but not for laundry. For that we had to be a little more creative...

So, out came the hose, one end in the bathtub...

and through the bedroom, out the window......out the window, down to the washing area...
...where the water is siphoned and fills up all the containers. And now I know how much water it really takes to do the laundry: half a bathtub.

I write this now, with the good news that our water has come back on. There has been rain in the mountains (where our water source flows from), which has increased the water, which has turned us into happy toilet flushers once again. Nothing against the bucket flush method, mind you, I just have a strong preference for the flushing version.

Mashed Potatoes

A full week passes us by. On Ben's end, there was paperwork, there was bill paying, there was flying.

We planted sticks that will become trees, we hauled the playhouse we built up the stairs (that was interesting), we got to eat at some friends' house and they fed us a delicious American meal (I do love mashed potatoes. Zack does, too; but, that's it for our family; hence, we do not normally eat mashed potatoes. I know, I don't think it's right, either). And Ben got up at 5 am this morning to get ready for his flight. I heard his alarm at 5 am, as well, but I repeat, Ben got up at 5 am this morning.

One may often wonder what it's like living in the tropics (from the viewpoint of someone who is from a cooler climate), by the sea, even. I mean, I know I pondered that question many times. Really.

ok, no I didn't. But I will tell you just the same.

I will tell you the really cool things about it:

1. Only need one set of clothing--hot weather clothing
2. You can't kill plants easily. In fact, I put a couple sticks in the ground the other day and they are sprouting. And this coming from a truly gifted plant-killer....
3. Rain. Soaking, beautiful, fresh smelling rain.
4. Soft elbows, soft knees
5. Shakes are always in season
6. You get to see your babies growing (rather than bundled up all nice & snug in cold weather). I like seeing Zack's round belly and chubby legs. It's cute at that age.
7. There's always a fruit in season (if you aren't allergic to it)
8. You're socks last forever, cuz you never wear them. My kids wear socks maybe once a month.
9. In the Philippines only: Halo-halo
10. Did I mention that it's warm? All the time.

A wise missionary once told us to list 3 things to accomplish in the day and if we got one done, the day is a success. That is because things move slower around here. Need to send a package? Get in line and wait for 45 minutes. Need to pay your bill? Take a number and wait for 45 minutes. Need to send a fax? Good luck. That one took us 3 hours. But we got 'er done!

last week and this one, we've had a couple flights per week here on our island. Ben also has written out a list (YES! I have triumphed in turning him into a list lover...at least in this case) of various maintenance projects to be done when flights slow down. So, he has been working on that. We also joined him at the hangar yesterday for a rousing afternoon of cleaning.

At home, we have been fighting a flu bug. 3/5 of the family had and conquered. That being said, we who were at home had a pretty lazy week. I pulled out one of my favorite poetry books and Ty kept asking for more until we read the whole thing. Lest you think him a literary giant at 5, the author is Shel Silverstein and the book, A Light in the Attic, is full of great pictures, and poems like this:
Hammock
Grandma sent the hammock
The good Lord sent the breeze,
I'm here to do the swinging--
Now, who's gonna move the trees?

(picture accompanying with only one tree to hang the hammock up with)

& this one is from the one we will read today!:

I made myself a snowball as perfect as could be
I thought I'd keep it as a pet and let it sleep with me
I made it some pajamas and a pillow for its head
Then last night, it ran away, but first it wet the bed!

Shakespeare can wait--these are the true works of literary genius!

So, today we will hopefully finish the playhouse that we have been working on since before Christmas, and get it set up in the house. That's after Ben gets back from flying and the plane gets a bath.

In honor of our literary theme for the week, I have written a little poem:

Things done this week

I took a lazy week and simply moseyed along
and took things as they came just a'whistlin' my song
Cleaned up my girl's messy flu bug --splish
Pulled hundreds of ticks from the dog --squish
Pushed the kids on the swing ---swish
Killed them roosters that liked to sing -- delish!
Touched the mangos, got puffy lips -- kish
Lost some inches from my hips -- I wish!

Feeling the temperature rising...

In a small village in southern Palawan, a missionary got on his motorbike to drive to the boat on the coast. He got partway there before his bike broke down. He sat in the shade of nearby coconut tree, hoping to catch a lift with someone passing by, and finally called his wife on his cell phone. "I'm stuck under a tree and there is no one out!"

Why is that?

Because it is HOT SEASON here and that means it is HOT! and in the middle of the day, no one goes out.

When I moved here, I mistakenly thought that the tropics meant heat, humidity, and rain. I was only partly right. During rainy season, there is rain, which we gladly play in (much to the amazement and consternation of the locals). But during hot season, it is only hot and humid. There is no respite during the day from the heat and humidity, which put together, puts us up to between 110 and 120 degrees every day. And hot season lasts for 6 months.

Any suggestions for staying cool are welcome. I may send you a treat of some sort if it actually works :) (we don't have an air conditioner, so you can't use that one)

On another note, allow me to introduce you to my oven (see picture) It's a big *huge* pot that I put on the stove. It has a brick in it so that my dishes won't burn. It works well. I bake anything I want to in there. and even some things I don't want to.



For the last few months, I have noticed a strange odor and taste in my baked food. I thought maybe the brick was getting old or maybe there was some moisture in there. Couldn't really put my finger in it. But then, the other day, I took the brick out to clean the pot up a bit, and there sat a lego man (see picture). He is completely burned to a crisp. poor guy.

And now, our food tastes much better.

Birthday Bashes

A week ago I turned 31. It was a really cool day.
I got to sleep in till 8 am
We went out to breakfast at the local coffee house and I had a very yummy Filipino breakfast
They played country music, my favorite, over the loudspeakers
They played my favorite song, "Love, me". They didn't know that was my favorite song.

We checked to see if cheesecakes were available at a local bakery. None were, so we went home and Ben made me a chocolate betty crocker cake on our stovetop. He frosted it and decorated it.
I opened my gift of a very fancy coffee press. I can now drink yummy coffee again.

We made one of our favorite meals and watched a family cartoon.

It was a very good day, indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed being with my family and just having fun.

And the rest...

And the week went fast. Ben had a flight last week, which went well. My days were full. Monday was talking with the US embassy and our office in Manila. Tuesday was for buying plane tickets (yes, it takes a good part of the day when you have to price shop); Wednesday was for receiving and sending a fax--which took a good part of 4 hours. Thursday was *FUN* visiting with a friend while our kids played. Friday was setting the house in order and getting a few food essentials (which was actually on Monday's list...). Saturday was playhouse building. It's almost done, and I'm very excited.

And that is our update.

Cockroaches

When we returned home from our trip to Manila over New Year's, our house had sat empty for 3 weeks. Or had it?

Empty, yes, of the human kind, but when the humans are away the cockroaches will play. When we returned, our bathroom was their new high occupancy apartment complex. The first night back, we killed over 15. Or, I should say, Ben killed them.

I am totally grossed out by them. But they don't care about my opinion. They crawl up the toilet plunger at night, in plain sight, they hang out in the toilet paper roll, they crawl all over and eat away at our toothbrushes. They scurry all around the sink and floor. or skulk. no, scurry. They are quick, and they fly. They hide in the shower curtain, the trash. I hear them at night. They are gross. and I hated going in that room in the dark.

To date, they have not all gone away. I realized a few days ago that depending on Ben to kill them was not practical. My being home all day and him being at work... So I asked the Lord to help me overcome my fear/revulsion. And then I took the first step.

Now I am:

Suzy

the

Cockroach

Slayer

Victory is mine!!!

The plunger is my weapon

and the death toll is many.