Good stuff

Have you ever had a chocolate urge but there were no cookies or miniature Hershey bars or anything else remotely chocolate in the house other than chocolate chips? And you think, "I'll just have a little handfull to take the edge off." And then the next thing you know, you've emptied a "small" bowl full and you feel totally gross. Just wondering...





So, I'm feeling better (or was until that chocolate episode) and am praising God daily for my health and Natty's health and that her cute little smile has come back. She was even flirting with a little boy at church on Sunday- something I did NOT teach her. We're getting out often and my goal this week while Scotty is away is to organize my stuff (meaning, throw out a ton of junk that I haven't used since we moved back to Bolivia) and start packing things into boxes for when we're in the states and someone else is living here. I'd also like to visit someone each day, since that is what I love doing and haven't had a chance to do lately.

Yay for happy Natalie!

We've switched our Saturday afternoon Bible study to Friday nights. This is because it is much more convenient for everyone and allows them to hang out after study is over for as long as they like- in my experience, this is easily until mid-night. Because of that fact, I am thankful it won't be in my house any longer. This past Friday, we joined forces with another small group from church in order to have an open forum with Scotty and the pastor- a free-for-all, if you will. No question was off limits- we wanted to give everyone the chance to voice the doubts and questions they've had on their mind since our little church began a year and a half ago. Topics ranged from women preaching to spiritual gifts to worship styles (just how demonstrative can we be during praise time?) and then back to spiritual gifts. It was a good time for people to be really honest with where they stand, admit that they don't know where they stand, and to hear exactly where the pastor stands. It was good for the leadership to also emphasize that they haven't talked about everything or decided where we will stand as a church (on form issues, not doctrine). We talked a lot about love and grace and how those must trump differences in style and grey issues that will often arise. I feel like it was another time for us to grow as a body as we wrestled together with what it means to be a church and how that is practically played out. It could have gotten messy, but pastor Edgar did a fantastic job of reminding people that above all, we are called to love each other. And I think it made people feel like they really are important in the process. We've been told how much we will be missed in the time we are away. It is good to hear and good that we will miss them too. We're at such a tender age right now as a church- I can't wait to see where we are when we come back.

Heatlh update

Well, praise God, Scotty remains well and has not yet caught the monster cold that is going around. Natty seems to be mostly better, other than a nasty cough, but has retained a mostly fussy attitude, which I'm hoping is related to teething and doesn't mean she still has something that needs to be looked into. Poor thing eats like a mouse- good thing she has some reserves in her chunky thighs. I am finally on the mend, after seeing a doctor yesterday who prescribed some stuff for the congestion and some drops for a minor ear infection. I spent most of yesterday sleeping while Scotty took care of Natty, neglecting a whole lot of other things he's got going on right now...what a great husband! My Bolivian friend, Ericka, came over today to visit and made some chicken soup for us. Then Faith sent over some soup with Greg- so I'm good for the next few days. I can't even tell you what Scotty has been eating while I've been bed/couch bound. Did get in a good read by Chinua Achebe: "Things Fall Apart". Very interesting and simply written look into Nigerian culture. I appreciate all the well-wishing and prayers. God is always good and takes care of His children.

One more thing. This is a funny glimpse into how life changes once you have a baby...I know you know what I'm talking about.

Overheard (in baby monitor)
Scotty changing Natty's diaper

Scotty: "Good job Bo-D (don't ask about the nick-name, I have no idea)!

Natty: "Ma."

Scotty: "You're a rock star...a pooping rock-star...you're a poop-star!"

Yes, we might need to get out more.

Uuuuugh....

There will be no pictures today. There's nothing cute happening at our house this week. Natty and I have decided to have our first mother-daugther bonding time (besides the whole birth/breastfeeding/raising time, etc...)- we have the flu. I'm a couple days behind Natty, so I get to watch her to see what's in store for me. She's held on to a particularly nasty strain for a whole week now- most of that week with a low grade fever and lots of crying/whining. I, being an adult and very healthy, figured that this would not be an issue for me. Oh- was I wrong! My body also is not letting go of this one, or it's not letting go of me, and every day seems to make me feel a little more awful...I wasn't sure that could happen. So, that's been our week. A couple times, I've felt up for leaving the house and thought maybe a distraction would be good for Natty so we went to the park and into town once for sherbet. Bad idea. There was lots of crying and a few quizzical/judgmental looks thrown our way. I did have a melt-down yesterday after going into town, feeling not so hot, but determined to have my gyro and sherbet. Natty fussed as soon as we got her out, I lost something in the car, Natty cried through the gyros (which I couldn't really taste but left a nice, gritty film on the roof of my mouth), and then couldn't find my sunglasses upon leaving. Needless to say, we skipped the ice cream and drove directly home, Natty crying just for a minute before falling asleep, and me crying for a good while after that. Well, I suppose that is enough complaining for one blog. I did listen to an excellent sermon from John Piper this morning about John 3:16. He unpacks this well-known verse into the 7 most profound, important, life-changing truths you will ever hear or hope to understand. It was effective in making me see how petty my little sickness is and how great is the God who raised me from death to life through Jesus Christ.

And now, I shall put the egg casserole in the oven that Scotty prepared last night in honor of Mother's Day. This was a big deal for him, as cooking is #567 on his list of favorite things to do. May the Lord sustain us as mothers and bless us today as we celebrate the gift of our children!

Little. Yellow. Different.

So, Nattybear is fighting a nasty cold this week, so I'm inside a lot. Therefore, I decided to wander around the house while she was napping to capture a few, everyday things we live with that are different from the US. Not better or worse- just different.


There's no such thing as central heating and air in the homes or buildings of La Paz. 12,000 ft. can mean warm, if you are outside in the intense sun, or cold, if you are inside- at almost any part of the year. Now that it is coming on winter here, it is COLD inside. We cart this puppy around- a gas heater with wheels that warms up a room in no time. It's a must for heating up the kitchen for breakfast, Natty's bathtime, and sometimes even the bathroom when you don't want to come out of a warm shower into a frigid bathroom.

Bolivian builders are less than creative when it comes to light. The majority don't figure into the equation how lighting will affect a room and most rooms sport the classic lightbulb-hanging-from-a-wire look. Thankfully, our landlord has an artistic side and most of our other fixtures have nice iron work of some kind.

Hot and cold water coming from the tap is extremely uncommon (which, paired with the chilly temps of the city, makes for constantly icy fingers). But, if you have a magic box like we do, you can get hot water from the tap AND the shower. The other alternative is what is affectionately called the "widow maker"- an electric device that is wired to the spout where the water comes out in your shower. DON'T TOUCH. This is an electric water heater and I love it.

Dish washers are pretty much unheard of. I don't mind hand-washing, especially since we have the electric water heater.

There are no electric stoves/ovens, that I'm aware of. Gas is nice and heats up quickly.

They do exist, but we don't have gas lines that come from a gas source directly into the house. Most people don't. So, we (meaning Scotty) lugs a very heavy gas tank to and fro the shop down the street or from gas trucks that drive by to replace your empty containers. I'm afraid to change the tank on the stove because I'm convinced I will do something wrong and blow up the house. It's not out of the realm of possibility.

Drinking tap water is a "no-no". Here is our beautiful water filter that actually says "Stefi" on the side. I guess that's her name.


We drink milk from liter bags. No milk jugs here. Sometimes they spring leaks on the way home from the grocery store and you don't realize it until you start unpacking milky food products.

Fruit and veggies must be soaked in disinfectant for a few mins before eaten. It's even advisable to soak your eggs cause they come in the nice, little egg cartons with bits of poop still stuck to them. Don't want to crack that into your frying pan!

Yogurt is sold in liter bottles and labeled "Ready to Drink". That's right- we don't want any rich, creamy yogurt with big fruit chunks...right? This stuff is drunk (drunken?) from a glass.

220, not 110. Too bad we've blown stereo equipment, coffee grinder, telephone, Vonage system, and various other things forgetting that fact.

Hence- there are many converters littered around the house. This one is very important- for our imported coffee grinder and crock pot.

Bath tubs aren't so common- standing showers are. I haven't taken a bath in at least a year (but lots of showers, don't worry).

Plumbing is not up to the standard necessary to flush your toilet paper. So, you put it in the trash can...I know, a little yucky. It also messes with your mind when travelling to and from the US.

Whirwind weekend

Frisbee... grocery shopping... cooking... cleaning... Bible study... friend's house... sleepover in the living room... church... friends for lunch... picking up furniture... sick baby. It was a full two days! The party in Mallasilla seemed to continue picking up speed and volume until it reached a crescendo Saturday afternoon. We had been invited mid-day on Saturday to visit some friends we haven't spent time with in a while and right before our weekly Bible study, we decided to invite ourselves to stay the night in their living room to avoid the drunken mayhem. It's Mallasilla's official birthday on Labor Day and one family each year throws a party for neighbors far and wide. What this includes, explained to us by our Bolivian friends, is spending tens of thousands of dollars on tents, sound equipment, and beer. Lots of beer. The families that participate in hosting these parties are the lower class and they are asked by the previous year's host, only to be completely rejected from the community if they are to say "no". No one says "no". Aymara are very communal and relational- there is no such thing as the individual, so to be rejected is basically the end of your life as you know it. So, what we know of construction workers, which would be a typical job for one of these men, we figured a yearly salary of less than $4,000. $4,000 yearly income and a 3-day party for $20,000= debt for years to come, or possibly the rest of your life. Besides being horrifically annoyed by the noise, we were extremely saddened to see so many living their lives for a momentary party that brings them acceptance from their neighbors. At one point, sometime late during the night before I had given up and put earplugs in (wanting to be able to hear Natty, who seemed to be waking from the music), I felt like I was in a scene from a movie. You know when someone goes to a fair and they get terribly sick or poisoned and the cameras pan to a close-up of a clown wildly laughing, children screaming with cotton candy in their hands, the merry-go-round whirling out of control- all with blurry, bright lights and blaring carnival music? Are you with me? This is how I felt lying in my dark bedroom- that's how ridiculous it was. So, we made the decision to skip night #3 of that all-inclusive party and work-it camping style on the living room floor of friends. It was SO quiet there.

So, after we had friends over for lunch today, we headed over to the house of a US military family who had offered us some old couches. Since they are moving, they also threw in a couple things they didn't want- a wooden rocking horse from Africa and a great, red kid's bike for Natty! As missionaries, we've learned the best things you can get here are from other missionaries (or foreigners) who are leaving. Natty looks too cute on her rocking horse!

Green pie and other stuff

I'm feeling terribly uninspired lately, which is why you'll note the lack of blogging. So, in order to not expend too much energy trying to summon my writing creativity, I will simply fill you in in list form. Maybe a few pics of Natty will make it better.

1. Can anyone tell me why the sweet potato pie I baked turned green on top the next day. Not just kinda green- GREEN. Thankfully, there was still a third of it that wasn't totally green that I could serve to our neighbors who came over for lunch- they're not so much into Dr. Seuss here.

2. Had the neighbors over for lunch- Edgar, Hortensia, and their 30+ aged kids, Pablo and Sylvia. Good food, loud conversation, family arguments over whether or not technology introduced in Bolivia brought alcoholism. Fun times.

3. Making my own baby food. Natty pretty much puts it all away the same, so I'm not sure what her favorite is. I'm partial to the prune apple oatmeal. She did cry the whole time I fed her carrots today, but she kept opening her mouth for more. She sends some mixed signals during meals. The bottom shelf of the freezer is full of ziplocks with frozen food cubes. It's pretty.

4. Fair amount of hosting going on. I'm starting to wonder if it'll be worth investing in a dish washer down the road. Favorite new salad is chinese cabbage salad- look it up on allrecipes- yum.

5. IBMers seem to be opening up since the retreat. More honesty about what people like, what they dislike, confusions they have, etc. Our small group times tend to be more relaxed with more conversation and more chatting afterward. This is great progress.

6. New family commiting to attend our church. The son says he thinks he's met some real Christians at this church (after attending a handfull of others around town). Awesome.

7. The summer is officially over! This causes even more of an urge to return to the states where people are wearing shorts. It's quite chilly at night and now stays cooler in the house than outside. Natty is getting a chance to wear all those cute jackets and hoodies we've been given (but only in the house- still pleasant in the sun). I really want to keep slippers on her feet to keep them warm, but the only ones I have look like little animals and she constantly pulls them off to taste them.

8. We've got plane tickets home! June 17th-January 8th- woohoo!

IBM Easter camp

So, we were back to the Yungas last weekend for our first camp as a church- for Easter! There was a ton of planning that went into this and a lot of praying that it would be a success. I suppose there are different ways to judge success when thinking of camp. For me, it meant that Natty slept most of the way there and back, that she slept well at camp, that the food cubes I had made to feed her didn't spoil and that she ate well, that she enjoyed the company of 100 different people grabbing, petting, cooing, touching, and holding her off and on throughout the weekend, that the kids program being held in our cabin didn't interrupt the naps, that I had someone to talk to while sitting inside the cabin waiting for her to finish her nap...I'm sure you get the picture. So, for me, it was a great success! The weather was beautiful, I had nice conversations with people who were in and out of the mission's cabin where we were bunked, and Natty was a dream. For other people, especially leadership, we found that there was a lot we would do differently next time. The turnout was amazing and had me continually in awe at how good God was to bring so many people to our church camp. Lots of people invited friends and family, many of whom are not believers. However, there were enough unexpected visitors to warrant smaller portions of food and even one run into town to buy more chickens. We also need to work on delegating more responsibilities, as there were 2 families who did the brunt of the work and really burned themselves out. I'm not taking credit for this, as we were not included in those running themselves into the ground, but for their sake, something needs to change there too. But, overall- the games were tons of fun, people seemed to be getting to know each other better, the messages were great, and I would rate the camp a success. A petty thought came to mind on Easter- outweighed by gratitude for the life I've been given through the death and victory over death by Christ- but it was there nonetheless: Natty celebrated her first Easter without a dress! Or a basket or any of those other things I grew up with. Now, living in Bolivia and potentially participating in camp every Easter in a remote jungly area that is a bit rough, I'm guessing a pretty new dress won't be part of the picture for our daughter. So, that got me thinking about what I would like to see as tradition in our family. I love traditions and I remember looking forward to specific ones when I was little. I want our traditions to first, point the way to Christ, and also be lots of fun. Scotty and I have some thinking to do- what are some of the traditions you guys enjoy at Easter?

Our Natalie

I have to take a moment to brag on our baby. Everyone probably thinks their baby is the best, but I'm pretty sure our little girl is (or as one friend would say, best "on this side of the world"). She has reached this super fun stage where she chats happily in her crib in the early morning when I'm too tired to go in and get her, she smiles for strangers (which was definitely not the case a few weeks ago), she goes to sleep without any coaxing- naps and nighttime, she rarely cries, she loves to play by herself with toys, she's never afraid of dogs- no matter how big or loud they are and she gets a huge smile on her face when she sees me or her daddy. She really is such a joy to be around and is learning new tricks everyday. For example, I heard her whining in her crib just a few minutes ago, which is a bit unusual for her. I went in to check on her and she was lying on her tummy! This might not seem too exciting, but I've been trying to get her to roll from back to tummy for the longest time! Anyway, I could go on and on about our daughter. So, I will just sum it all up by saying she is a precious gift from the Lord and I am awed that He gave us the great responsibility of making her a disciple of Christ and getting to cuddle with her too!

The happy box

Last night we dropped Natalie off downstairs with explicit instructions on what to do and what not to do with her. As soon as we walked in, our landlord, Edgar, says, "I'll put her to bed." I wasn't into that. The point of waiting until 7 to go out to dinner was so that we do Natty's bedtine routine and hope that this would distract and calm her in new, scary surroundings. Then he told us not to worry, if she wakes up, they'll play. No again, I'm afraid. We explained that from this time on, she sleeps- no playing. He seemed a bit disappointed, but we left feeling like we had done our best to explain what she is used to and how to treat her if she were to wake up. And off we went on our first date since Valentine's Day- Scotty's birthday dinner. He had chosen one of his most favorite restaurants, Mi Tierra. It's Brazilian style, which means an endless supply of meat. And we're not talking chicken (unless you count the hearts), this is beef, pork, lamb. They bring around different cuts on skewers and you can accept or decline (I find declining hard cause they sometimes seem to take it personally). And then there's a large salad bar with veggies and various fried things that go well with red meat, and a dessert bar. You can see where this is going. Overindulging and very full bellies at the end. But, we had such a nice time catching up after a busy week and celebrating the life of a wonderful man. And then, the grand finale- the happy box. Scotty had to run out of the restaurant when we first got there and I informed a waiter it was my husband's birthday tomorrow. He said they play the "Happy Birthday" music and do a "happy box", whatever that is. I said that sounds great and he said they'd be happy to do that tomorrow for my husband. I was a bit confused at first and then explained that the man I was there with was my husband and I was hoping they could do it tonight...he readily agreed. So, as we sat down with our plates of rice pudding and crepes, the wonderful latin version of "Happy Birthday" came over the speakers and out came the waiters with a plate that had a little box made out of flat, square pieces of chocolate, filled with whipped cream and "Felicidades Scotty" nicely written in strawberry gel- a happy box! When we got back home, we found Natty asleep, after having been taken out, walked around and put back to bed in a lit room on a bed, watching soccer....mmmmm, I won't bother typing how I felt about that. But, I was thankful for neighbors we can trust and a good relationship with them.

After a busy morning, Scotty and I headed back into town for a small office party in his honor. One of our favorite traditions here is how everyone takes their turn during a birthday party to share what they love, admire, and appreciate in the birthday person. It was neat to hear Scotty's office co-workers and friends all agree that one thing they see consistently in him is a passion for Christ and the Word. I've thanked God many times for a husband that can explain Biblical ideas to me and to other people as well as a man who has a gift of faith and loves to grow in his love and understanding of the Lord. Scotty is a patient, fun, loving, affectionate, compassionate, generous, intellegent, friendly husband, father and friend- how grateful I am for the privilege of being his wife.

All-American morning

Scotty and Natty reading her Spanish Bible.

We found out recently that every Saturday morning at the American School, there is an English speaking group that comes out to play frisbee. The American school has a gorgeous campus, nicer than any I've seen in the states and is the educational institution of choice for embassy families and upper class Bolivians. Scotty goes every Tuesday night to play basketball in their top notch gym. If we get ourselves organized enough, we can get the other things done we need to before or after and enjoy a couple hours of playing frisbee with other foreigners. This morning, I set Natty up on a blanket in the grass, by herself, surrounded by toys, and far away from the action. She probably sat alone for close to an hour total without complaining once. She even fell over a couple of times and didn't seem to mind. That gave me time to play or chat with friends.

Mommy and Natty on the swings while Daddy plays Frisbee.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a shot of the action, but there had to be at least 20 of us this morning- it was great and Scotty was in his element. After frisbee, I had a hankerin' for a burger and fries. There is no where you can go for a decent hamburger and fries that is quick (so Natty could go home and nap), except Burger King. Now, I used to go off and on to Burger King in Cochabamba because the youth I worked with always wanted to go. Scotty, however, has managed to live in Bolivia for close to 5 years and has never eaten there. He has nothing against the establishment, just kinda had the bragging rights to say he'd never been there. We gave in today, also realizing that once kids come into the picture, there will be all kinds of fast foody type places we will probably go because they have playgrounds. So, it was fast and it was good. And, it was the first burger and fries I can remember having in half a year. So, for a few minutes, sitting in our kitchen with a brown BK bag in front of us, we felt a little like we were in the US. Now, we're getting ready for an all-Bolivian night. Bible study at 4 and church set-up after. It's nice to have the chance to do a bit of both.

Have it your way (is that the right slogan?).

Scotty & Lisa's March Update from Bolivia

It's our privilege to share with you what we continue to be involved in here, as well as invite you to look forward to some future events with us! As always, we'd love to hear back from you!

Carnaval Barbeque

February is the month of Carnaval- the time of age-old customs that began before the Spanish conquest and center around giving thanks to the Pachamama (earth-goddess) and warding off evil spirits by throwing water. Beliefs vary widely these days, but water-play is still a must and young people will drag it out as long as possible- lining the streets to throw water balloons at each other for the whole month, and closing down everything for the state holidays to splash, soak, foam, and generally have a raucous time. Not wanting to miss the chance to spend free days with our small group, we planned a barbeque for Saturday and were thankful to see the sun shining as we got ready for a fun afternoon. Everyone from the group came, plus the Hursts, pastor Edgar and his younger son, as well as a few extended family members. We grilled, we ate, we chatted, we played with water, we tried to convince Natty she could, indeed, sleep in an unknown place, we chatted some more, we soaked up sun, we relaxed. Although we had to go home early to get Natty to bed, we heard that most stuck around until late, enjoying each other and getting each other pumped up to attend the IBM first annual retreat in April. When the leadership team had asked key members of the congregation about their commitment to attending the retreat, the answers were doubtful at best. But God must have worked in the hearts of many, because we are now expecting a good number! Our hope is to present the vision for this year as a church body, as well as encourage and enable people to become more involved in church service. We'll head down to the camp in the mountainous jungle region called the Yungas to celebrate Easter together for this retreat.

A Home of our Own

Picture with us a modest, inviting home on a hill overlooking our side of Mallasilla and the mountains surrounding this community. A big, green lawn is full of fruit trees and kids playing soccer in the sunshine, while Scotty and the men grill steaks for a few families that have come over after church. I'm inside with the ladies, talking about what each of us learned from the sermon and preparing salad. Ok, maybe it sounds a little dreamy, but this is what we envision as we look out our windows at our property, one block away. Our hearts are filled with the desire to use this gift for God's glory, as a place where friends and neighbors can come and be encouraged, challenged, and prayed for. Building our home is not in the very near future, as we are waiting on the Lord for the funds to do it, but even now we are asking for wisdom to know how to build it, with what architect, and when. We'd like to invite anyone who can get excited about this project to contact us if you'd like to contribute in some way to making this dream a reality, from outright contributions to our SIM personal fund (not tax-deductible) to a no-interest loan, or being part of a work team to come and actually work on our house in the construction phase.

Home Assignment (what used to be called furlough)

We're coming home! Even as I type "home", I realize that we have two homes. It will be mentally and emotionally hard to tear ourselves away from our lives here in La Paz- to realize that we will be missing what God does in our church in the next 6 months and in the lives of our friends. We will be away for Natalie's first birthday, a date that is very important in Bolivian families and a time of great celebration for all who know the child. But, we also long to be with you, to catch up after more than 2½ years away, to know the particulars of what you have experienced in this time and for us to mutually encourage each other. We wanted to share with you our hopes for these 6 months in the states and also let you know of some great needs we have. Flying back in mid-June, we'll spend our summer in Florida with Lisa's family, while taking trips to Minneapolis, to Scotty's family in Tennessee, and a great sweep of the Midwest to visit supporters and churches in a handful of states. In the fall, Scotty will enroll in two classes at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC to continue working toward a Masters' degree in Christian Thought, while we have some time to live in community with a supporting church there where we spent our first year as a married couple. We'll stick around to celebrate the holidays and plan on returning to La Paz at the beginning of 2010. While in Charlotte, we'll need a vehicle and an empty home or apartment, or a place to rent for our home base. There will probably be a significant list of baby items that will be needed as well, so contact us if you are willing to help in any of these ways. As much of a temptation as it is to worry about these big details working out, we know and constantly experience the rich provision of our Lord, and trust Him.

Praises

Natalie is healthy and right on schedule developmentally. She continues to bring smiles and coos from perfect strangers around the neighborhood- opening doors for us.

Although there is a recession raging in the US and globally, God has greatly and faithfully provided for our needs through our supporters.

Our landlord, Edgar, has been asking Scotty more and more questions about God and the Bible.

Prayer Requests

We intended to obtain our permanent visas before leaving because we cannot be out of the country for more than 3 months without losing our current status (2 year visas). We've recently found out that is not possible, but will apply for special permission to be away without having to start from scratch upon our return to Bolivia.

That Lisa will be able to balance new challenges and needs of Natalie with ministry time. For Scotty's ongoing desire to prioritize the many responsibilities he has with the church, school and family.

That we will be able to prepare others to fill in our gaps during the 6 months we will be out of the country.

Especially for our church's retreat over Easter weekend as we share the vision for ministry and invite the members to participate more fully.

Thank You
We truly could not be here without you. Your prayer and financial support are our life-line, making it possible for us to live and minister here among Bolivians. We are eager to see you while we are on Home Assignment in a few short months!

Contact Information
Our permanent email address is scottynlisa@gmail.com
Our mailing address is Bolivia: Casilla 3-12052, La Paz, Bolivia, S. America

P.S. Please join our Support Team!
God has graciously provided for all of our needs through your generous support ever since we (separately) hit Bolivian soil in 2003. Now, with a new fiscal year and little Natalie having joined Team Miser, we need to boost our support level with SIM. If you would be interested in joining our support team, please contact us or you can begin giving here!

Day of the baby

This morning we chose to have Natalie's dedication- something we've been wanting to do for a long time, but finally put on the books before she outgrew the dress we wanted to put her in for the event! I have talked to other moms about what it means to dedicate your baby to the Lord and I wanted it to be something more than just a milestone or common occurence. It was special for us to stand before our IBM family in the country of Natty's birth and commit to living godly lives before her, teaching her the Word and of Christ's love for her, and asking the church family to hold us accountable to this. It also meant for me a giving over of her life (not that it was ever in my hands) to the Lord and submit to His plans for her, whatever they may be. This will be a daily discipline for me, as I know times will come and have already come where I don't want to let her go and let the Lord have control. And yet, He loves her so much greater than I can and knows her needs so much better than me. So, Edgar read some scripture on the importance of raising a child in the ways of the Lord, prayed for her, asked a blessing for her life and for ours. He handed us a sweet certificate with her name on it and a children's Bible with a note he had written inside. It was a neat time to be congratulated by our church family with lots of hugs and kisses for us and Natty.

Natty always falls asleep on the 5 min. ride home- she looked so cute half-asleep on my shoulder!

This afternoon, we heard the twins downstairs- the grandkids of our landlords. Two boys who were born three weeks before Natty, who are being watched by their grandparents this weekend while their parents move to a new house. We decided it would be a great time to go down and play with them, also realizing it was a perfect opportunity to spend more time with our neighbors, whom we've felt convicted about reaching out to lately. We had a blast watching the three together, comparing size, eating styles, nap schedules, physical advancements, etc... We will definitely go play more with Edgar and David- cute boys!

Oh, what a night!

So, I love Bolivia and never want to complain about the life that God has called us to here...But, sometimes I wish there were noise ordinances. Take, for exanple, the dude that opened a metal working shop at the end of the street- that clanging is not so bad unless your very tired baby is trying to take a nap, is bleary-eyed and crying, but is having a hard time because of hearing metal against metal like it's outside her bedroom window (oh, right- it is!). Or, the amazing parties that are thrown in the center or town (remember how small our town is) like the one last night where we could hear horns and drums in the distance starting around dinnertime. That wasn't so bad until the party decided to follow the asphalt and see where they ended up- only a loop, of sorts, is paved in Mallasilla. Of course, they end up in a perfect spot to continue their fiesta- on top of the hill at the Catholic church which is directly across from our bedroom window. The ladies were spinning, the men were marching and leading their women onward, the horns were blowing, the drums were thumping- it was oh, so much fun at 11:30pm. Then, just as we had resigned ourselves to living within the party for a few hours and covering our heads with our pillows, we heard some snapping noises and Scotty looked over to see our small transformer on fire. Now, I'm not sure if you've ever smelled an electrical fire...we have somehow managed to blow 3 transformers in the most spectactular ways- with sparks and flames. It's not a good smell. It starts sweet and lures you into believing it won't be that bad. Then it quickly begins to consume the room with acrid, sting-your-throat smoke that is absolutely impossible to withstand. So, around midnight we're throwing open the windows (getting a great view of the parade on the hill- very impressive for a cold, rainy night), grabbing a few things and shutting the smoke into our bedroom. Thank God we have a queen sized guest bed. The guest room becomes home for the night. This was all topped off by the frequent crying episodes that Natalie has engaged in for the last week- I ended up feeding her twice last night, which I haven't done since she was a few months old. I'm not sure if she's going through a growth spurt or I just thought that would be an easy way to get her back to sleep- I know, I caved! Anyway, it's raining this morning, which is a blessing because this rainy season has been dry and they've threatened water rations. Natty is "chatting" in her crib, we have water (which we were told we'd be without for 3 days), and we get to worship with our beautiful Bolivian family this morning at IBM. God is always good.

These are a few of my favorite things

I asked Scotty if he would bake me a cake for my birthday if I were to find a box mix and icing. He agreed and the hunt began for the perfect combo. Growing up, and to this day, my favorite cake (and probably dessert) is a yellow cake mix with chocolate frosting. I'm pretty sure my mom made it for me every year. So, this was my goal for this year. If I were more organized, I would have picked up these items when I saw them in the store and put them away for this special occasion. But, I'm not. So, I started to look a couple days ago and it seemed that all the stores were getting was funfetti cakes and lemon icing-hmmmm, this does not measure up. Third time's a charm, they say. In my third attempt at the Achumani market (known for a variety of good imports), I came across vanilla cake and chocolate buttercream frosting- close enough! I had also picked up an envelope of blueberry muffin mix a few weeks ago and find that it will make a perfect addition to my breakfast/dinner tonight. My favorite birthday dinner was always smoked sausage, mac n cheese, and blueberry muffins (healthy, right?). Well, at least I have the muffin part. I've been wondering who the lucky party was that would share in the cake extravaganza, as it would not be prudent to consume the whole thing myself, as much as I would like to. I've decided, upon much contemplation, that our Saturday small group will be the ones to celebrate with me. They always look forward to the snacks I make for group and it will be a good way to share in my special day, even if it is a day late.

Wednesday nights

I can't resist adding a ridiculously cute picture of Natalie.

Every other Wednesday night Scotty has a men's book study at 8pm. It's a nice excuse to relax and go to bed early. I will be going to bed extra-early tonight, as Natalie kept me on my toes late last night when I should have been visiting Mr. Sandman (does anyone else picture that scene from Back to the Future where "Mr. Sandman" is playing in the background?). Anyway, I love the quietness of Wednesday night. I love knowing my husband is meeting with other men who all want to challenge themselves to live more radically sold-out lives for Christ. I love that my baby has been in bed for an hour and a half and I had a relaxing dinner with my husband. I love that I just had a bowl of vanilla ice cream with chocolate ribbons. I love catching up on friends' blogs. I also usually spend some time before going to bed praying for friends- the sweet, Bolivian women and families in my life, missionary friends, others going through hard times. I am reminded again of how blessed my life is, how amazingly wonderful and adorable my baby is, how grateful I am that God has chosen to shower down goodness on my family. The beginning of my week is usually slow and gradually builds in intensity. This week is no exception. Tomorrow I must run several errands that will take up the majority of Natalie's "awake" time. Friday is my birthday, beginning with SIM team meeting and ending with a "Grease" themed birthday party. One of my good Bolivian friends is also having a scheduled C-section that day- the birth of Natalie's future husband. :) Saturday is Bible study and prep for Sunday. Sunday is church and then an all day church leadership lunch/hang-out time/prayer time at our pastor's house. So, tonight I rest. If I had a bathtub, you know where I'd be.

4 a.m.

Natalie: Waaaaa!

Me: Could this be the 16th time she's cried tonight? (obviously overexaggerating in my tired state)

Natalie: Waaaa!

Me: Scotty? Are you going to go?

Scotty: Should I bring her in here so we can question her?

Me: What?? (Did my husband just suggest that we interrogate our daughter?)

Scotty: Should I just put her paci in?

Me: (Wondering if I awoke him from a dream) Yes.

Thanks for all the encouragement after the last post. The week was full and challenging and I think I cried more when Natalie got her vaccinations than she did. But, God's grace is sufficient and either she is having a better week, or I am accepting that she is going through a more difficult time right now. I think she's teething, poor thing. We're gonna start cereal when we get back from our retreat this weekend, which I'm pretty excited about. Still trying to figure out how I can squeeze one more breastfeeding into the daytime so that maybe she won't need to get up at night. Not too worried about that, as I've found that pushing her to do something she's not ready for is more trouble than it's worth. I love my daughter.

thoughts

I find it hard to blog these days. Not because I have no time, but I can't seem to put two interesting thoughts together... However, I'm home alone tonight, with Scotty leading the men's Bible study and Natty sleeping away in her crib. It's dark and quiet, the cats are fed and happy, it's too early to go to bed (if there is such a thing as too early). I should start our next prayer letter, but I'm not feeling inspired. However, I just walked out of the computer room to make some tea and had this sense of longing to see my little girl. I didn't dare open the bedroom door cause it is poorly constructed and very hard to latch closed without making a considerable amount of noise. So, I just thought about her cute, little, round face and how I miss her smiles. She's had a few tough days= I've had a few tough days. Coming back from Cochabamba last week meant trying to get Natty back into a normal routine. She started waking up several times in the night, crying for us to put her paci back in...this sounds like a sleep association to me. So, I get the hairbrained idea that we should try to introduce new sleep associations (a "lovey", music, finger sucking, etc...) and maybe wean her from the paci at the same time. Well, our baby is still swaddled cause she wreaks all kinds of havoc when her arms are free and she seems to highly dislike the feeling of loose limbs. So, we've had a few full-blown melt-downs while Mom tries to implement these new ideas and a couple shortened naps for other reasons, leading to much crying. I gave our downstairs neighbor a ride into town today and he said, "You're little girl is quite a little cry baby, huh?". Well, no...she didn't used to be. Anyway, all this to say that I have been frustrated and sad that she is sad. Scotty prayed for joy tonight at dinner, that Christ would be our joy. Between my baby issues and his overly busy schedule, I think we are leaning toward the not-so-joyful side. It's easy to get distracted by life and forget the One who gives true life, and joy. These challenging circumstances should serve to bring us closer to our Lord, our Father who cares for us and knows our needs. And yet, I pick up Super Baby Food instead of the Bible, and don't move any closer to laying my burdens on Him. I told Scotty I'd start our prayer letter tonight, but I think I'm going to go have some coversation with my good God.

What's not in La Paz

I went to my favorite Cochabamba grocery store with Natty yesterday. If you're curious, here are some things I can't find in La Paz that I bought here:

1. canned green beans (does anyone else think these are super yum?)

2. coconut milk, lite (yes, not "light")

3. Crispix cereal (there is a serious good, but not too sugary cereal shortage in Bolivia)

4. donuts- these are as close as I've come to Krispy Kreme in Bolivia, except heavier (could that be all the grease?)

5. diet Cranberry Canada Dry- this was just a random splurge buy. I'm not much of a soda
drinker, but I think I picked it up just cause it was a novelty.

For some reason, I love purusing the aisles at the grocery store. As long as Natty has a plastic produce bag to play with, she likes it too.

The Land of Possibilities

Ok, so Cochabamba isn't magical or anything (but almost)...but it feels so good to be here for several reasons:

One: It's warm, even in the shade! Natty and I sat out on towels this afternoon and watched the tree branches waving above us, felt the breeze on our faces, and relaxed. Natty stayed up much longer than she ever does, I think just cause it was so fascinating for her to be outside and not have to have a hat on and clothing covering every inch of her body to protect her from the harsh sun. She didn't even have pants on (gasp!). I think she saw her own toes for maybe the 3rd time in her life- and she loved it. I loved it. It was truly a magical moment for us. I wish I had the camera...

Two: Food. Cochabambinos are known for eating, lots, and often. I went out to lunch with a friend and her baby that is 2 days older than Natty. We ate yummy food and Natty actually fell asleep in my lap, which she wouldn't do at home (after crying for a bit though). Maybe I just never give her the opportunity, but I felt like she could handle it here...or maybe I just didn't have another option.

Three: The SIM gueshouse. Special people; always meeting someone new; homemade granola every morning; large, clean bathrooms; wifi; beautiful gardens/lawn; old German shepherd that licks Natty's hands; kitchen staff that remember me from my days as a single, working with youth here.

Four: It's the city where Scotty and I fell in love. Isn't that enough? And it has donuts. And a really nice movie theatre with a food court. OK, those things help too.

So, we're happy here. Relaxing. Eating well. Do I have to leave on Saturday?

Valentine's Day

Yesterday was a full day. I woke up and went into the kitchen as I do every morning- hopefully before Natty wakes us- to eat breakfast and make coffee. On the kitchen table was a cute picture of Scotty and Natalie that said "Happy Valentine's Day" and two gifts. This was a very nice way to start the morning. I had already decided to make waffles and bacon for breakfast, some of Scotty's favorite breakfast foods. I whipped up some batter, dying it blue since pink is not one of his favorite colors, and then went into the bedroom to open my presents with Scotty. One of the gifts was this beautiful batik that we have seen before and both admired. The other was a very cute necklace and earring set. What a great guy! I had drawn a card for him that listed 10 things inside I loved about him. After breakfast (including a bad, waffle-stuck-to-maker incident) I got busy cooking and baking for lunch and other events coming up. I spent most of the morning and early afternoon at that and taking care of Nats. Mid-afternoon, our small group came over and we had a great time discussing holiness and how to attain it without drifting into legalism. And then, the moment we had all been waiting for- the V-day date. This would be our first time leaving Natalie with someone other than family and we were a tad nervous. A wonderful Bolivian family that live in our neighborhood (in the house we met as a church for the first year) were excited to take the baby for the evening. We packed a bag of goodies for her, including all her favorites and things used in her bedtime routine and drove over. We explained in detail how we put her to bed and when and left confident that she would do fine. Then, we set off for one of our favorite restaurants in town, a little Italian place that we had been wanting to return to for a long time. Alas, upon arriving, we found that they are not open on Saturday nights (what??). We also found that little is open on a Saturday night in La Paz. Obviously we hadn't been out for a while. After driving around a bit, we remembered another Italian place we had wanted to try, and it turned out to be scrumptious. We ate and chatted and enjoyed each others company, not worrying for a minute about Natalie. We walked and ate ice cream and got tired and headed back. Carmen explained to us when we arrived to pick up the baby that she had cried for a long time (boo.), but that she was finally asleep. We realized a few key things that Carmen could have done differently to help her fall asleep, and hopefully can implement those next time. She seems no worse off for the trauma and we were thrilled to have a night to ourselves- a freedom we haven't felt for too long.

Ready for church!