Huh?

When I was the the US working this past year, I left my computer at home.  I mean really, why would I have the need to bring a desktop back and forth to America?  So I left the computer in my room, stored away so that nothing would happen to it, and left specific instructions to not to touch it.  Anyone.  Not even my husband.

A bit after I came home I decided to hook the computer up in my room so that I could watch DVD's.  As I pulled the computer out of storage I knew that it hadn't been left alone as the monitor had lots of beautiful crayon drawings on it, and the CPU had some scratches on it.  But no biggie I thought, the monitor can be cleaned, and hopefully the scratches aren't due to it being dropped.  So I set it up, and it turned on perfectly, and I breathed a sigh of relief.  That is until I went to put in my passcode to log on.  My keyboard is messed up.  In my passcode for my computer i have to type the number 0.  Well in both the number pad as well as the numbers across the top the 0 wasnt working.  Great, I thought.  A new keyboad has to be bought.  And from there, it was pushed to the back of my mind.  Every once in a while it would work its way back to the front, but in general I kept it hidden.

Then I knew I had to get a new one in order to be able to get online.  So less than a week after moving down here, I bought my new keyboard.  Now this keyboard is special  It has Skype buttons and a microphone and speakers and who knows what else in it.  So I set the keyboard up, installed the program and then sat down to read the user manual. 


The user manual comes in Spanish, Portuguese and English.  I started to read it in English, but had to switch over to the Spanish instructions.  Why?  Let me give you some examples of what the user manual says in English.

• open the controller but no any control on the interface about 10 seconds.
• This driver is professional for skype if you need this use set chat you must need install this driver for used
• if no equipment be install to computer no keyboard set computer icon no green set light grey
• keyboard is support headset a audio and micorphone if you have need used keyboard for in the office of personal very information insert the two jack to jack of keyboard s left side
• you can skype to your friend or others non need sets by your need.
• if you feel sound is less or your chat friend feeling that mean is you need nearness especially let your mouth to nearness
• micorphone of the keyboard middle bottom side

And spelling errors are intentional.  This is exactly how it is in my user manual.

Exchanging one thing for another...

Since moving here I have been wishing for cell phone signal, and internet signal, but its just been that.  A wish.  Now that I have cell phone signal, and internet capabilities, I am wishing that I didn't.  Sort of.

Let me back up and explain.  We have a truck that has been a faithful transportation for the last three years.  When I say faithful transportation I mean that it has always been working.  Not in great shape, but it at least got us from point A (our house) to points BCDEF (two different high schools, a elementary school, a kinder, and my mother in laws house) and back. And it has always gotten good gas mileage, and general there hasnt been many complaints.  I was even nice and let it have a rest for almost a school years worth when we bought the other truck.  (the one that got smashed by a Dole truck)  We would take it out a couple of times a week, but no heavy work. Just for a stroll around the city, to the river to let it look at the water and get a bath, you know, little things like that.  I will say though, that anytime we had a bit of extra money the truck knew.  Something always went wrong with the truck, and it usually cost within $15 of the amount extra that we had.  But it has always been reliable.  Until now.  Something has gone horribly wrong with the truck, (something in the computer/fuel injector area) and to take everyone to and from school - three trips a day because Jordan has class in the afternoon - now would cost me $80 a day in gas.  Where as before it would have cost me $4ish per day.  I dont know about you, but I dont have $80/day to stick in the gas tank.  I dont even have $80/day in general.  So I am renting a house near all the kids schools.  The cost of the rent for this huge house is slightly shy of $160/month.  So its a nuch better deal.

But in saving money on gas, and being able to get online, and talk on the phone I am giving up alot.  In my house we have running water 98% of the time, and it has awesome pressure.  I have my 3 pilas.  I have space to hang up the clothes to dry.  I can turn on the faucet and have cold water to drink.  In the house that we are renting there is more space.  It has 5 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, a dining room, kitchen and two bathrooms.  It also has 2 pilas.  What it doesn't have is water 60% of the time.  And when it does have water, there is no pressure.  In the two bathrooms there are two showers.  Little itty bitty things, but two of them anyways.  In one, when you turn it on to take a shower the water comes out in drops.  Really in drops.  In the other shower, when the water comes out, it goes straight across and hits the wall behind you about 3-4 inches above your head.  (there isnt a shower head, just a faucet that opens out, not down)  And the water isnt good to drink.  At all.  The only thing it is good for is washing clothes, and washing dishes.  There is not much space to hang up the clothes, and for a family with 9 kids in the house, you need space.  And the two pilas that it has, combined it holds not even 1/4 of the amount of water as the main pila at my house holds.  It holds maybe 1/2 of the amount of water as the middle pila at my house does.

How do we bathe, you might ask, seeing as how the showers dont work worth didly?  Well at the pila of couse.  At first it took some getting used to because the pila is on the side of the house, facing the road.  And how can you bathe (well) without taking off your clothes?  Especially facing the road, and you can see everyone that passes by, and the houses near you as well.  Well as you can see from this picture, you can see everyone, but no one can see you.  Can you tell that I am bathing here?

can you see me there?  no? well how about in this one...

After I realized all you could see was my eyes and forehead,

I realized I could bathe the day away with no worries.

And this is what I get to look at while I take a bath.  Nothing like a mountain view.

How many of you are that lucky :)

And its hot.  At my house, because its up the mountain, it is much cooler.  Here, it is so dag on hot.  I hate it.  But I can see and talk to my mom, and brothers and other family and friends in the US. (skype!!)  And when you arent in your own house, it just feels weird.  But the kids can sleep a bit more and can play with their cousins in the afternoon.  So its all about exchange, and compromise.  While I am here I will enjoy the benefits, and deal with the drawbacks, because I know it isnt permanent. 

And Im Up...

After a couple of days fighting with getting my modem operational, I am now online.  Yes!!  I am setting up my skype right now as I type, then from there I have a list of blogs to write out and post. So keep an eye out this week for at least 3 new blog posts. 

Who knew that being able to get online from the computer, and not the cell would make you feel so free?

Updates Coming Soon!!

Due to a car malfunction we are temporarily staying where there is internet service availability.  So sometime within the next week/10 days I will be getting a modem (and a new keyboard as mine broke) and I will be updating.  Internet service and time to blog, I wont know what to do with myself, LOL.  See you soon!

Time Flies

I sit here and think about how fast the time has flown. Three years ago I was excited because I had my moving date to move to Honduras.  And while so much as happened in that time period, it still doesn't feel like it has been three years.  It seems like yesterday almost. 

On this trip back to the US, I was able to visit with my grandparents, whom I haven't seen in those three years, and since 06 I have only seen a few times.  I am so thankful for the time I have spent with them during this trip.  They truely are very special people, anyone and everyone who has met them can tell you the same thing.  I am so blessed to have them as my grandparents.  I miss not being near them as I was growing up.  I miss just being with them, feeling the love and warmth that radiates from these two wonderful people.  I wish that they were able to travel to Honduras so that my younger children could have wonderful memories of them before my grandparents pass.  Its hard to believe that they are closing in on 90 years - both of them.  This past November they celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary.  I love it.

 My GrandmotherMy Grandfather

Another thing I noticed on this trip up north is how much my children have grown.  I can't believe that in 3 years my oldest will be an adult.  I now have to look UP when I look Andre in the face, and Sendy is right behind him.  Am I really old enough to have a child that old, that grown? 


Sendy
Andre - the only way he will let me take his picture



Jordan 
In these past three years, Jordan too has grown and changed.  She has always been a beautiful person, but she is growing into an even more beautiful child with each passing day.  Dont get me wrong, we still have to deal with the normal 13 yr old drama and hormonal issues, but in general she is a great child.  And hormonal or not, she has a great heart.



All the kids except Gisela 
All of the kids, just looking at pictures of them over the past three years, they have al grown and changed so much, it blows my mind.  They drive me crazy each and every day, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  They each are so much alike, yet so different.  I enjoy watching them grow and watch their personalities blossom.  I can't believe that this school year all of my children, with the exception of Ari will be in school of some sort.  And next February Ari will be joining her brothers and sisters, and I will be at home all alone. 



Ari and Levi 
Out of all the kids, Levi and Ari have been the most fun to watch. 

Levi, with his mohawk 
It has been said that Levi is my favorite.  And it really isnt true because there is no favorite.  As any mom will tell you, you love them all the same amount, only different.  And I am no exception.   Levi however has been the most fun out of all of the children.  Everything, from his laid back attitude, to the easiness that he sheds a tear, to how attached he is to me (by the way, did you know that in the Bible it says that the name Levi means attached?  That couldn't be a more accurate description of my boy, LOL).  Levi has just been fun. 

Thats a cut off piece pants leg
He found my eye mask one night and this is how I found him sleeping. 

As Ari's personality has emerged she too has been tons of laughs.  And I will admit, because her personality is what it is, I have let her get away with more than I have allowed the rest of the kids to get away with. Ari is Miss Priss.  Miss Bossy.  She isn't quite two years old yet ,and she loves to tell everyone what to do, and how to do it.  She has no problem getting a spoon, or a broom, or if she can find nothing else, her hand and spanking whoever she feels needs it.  She will follow behind one of the kids (usually it is Levi that she is harrassing) and tell them dont do this, dont do that, and if for some reason that other child does it, she will say (insert said childs name) POW POW.  Then that child will get smacked.  I know I am going to have to put a stop to it because she is borderline brat, (and sometimes she is capital letters BRAT) and I have raised my kids to act better than that, but it just makes me smile.


Miss Priss/Attitude!

Her Albert Einstein hair. Her sweet side - yes she does have one.

Mickey is my little (or not so little now - I can't believe she is in a size 10/12 already) tomboy.  She prefers jeans to dresses (like her mom!) and has no problem sticking up for herself or for her sister.  And she has alot of spunk too.  In our neighborhood there are two sisters that always pass by our house, and there is always yelling of names between those two sisters and Mickey and Isa.  (I love to listen to them - they insult eachother by saying in spanish 'toad soup, toad soup, you are toad soup')


Mickey and Papi 
One day there was some physical fighting between them, and I sent my children over to the other ids house to apologize.  I sent Sendy with them to make sure they did as I said.  When they came home, Sendy was laughing and I asked him if Mickey and Isa apologized.  He said yeah, that Mickey went up to the little girls and said "My mom said I have to say I am sorry.  Well I am sorry that you are stupid and an idiot!"  Thats my Mickey, LOL.


My Mickey.
Two beauties.  Isa (left) and Mickey (right).Lana and Isa are the two who are more calm.  Although they are not calm by any means.  Isa is the second meanest kid of the bunch, after Ari (who when another child is crying will walk up to them, point in there face and say HA HA, HA HA, HA HA - see what I mean about capital BRAT).  But Isa is slick about it, and she gives the impression that she is the innocent one.  She is one who is very smart, but spends alot of time with her head in the clouds.  Which gives the impression that she isnt that smart.  She will fool you that way. 

Isa and Lana. My girlie girls. 
Lana is just Lana.  She is hardheaded, but she is so loveable.  Sometimes I feel bad for her, because of her personality, she gets lost in the shuffle alot.  The other kids will make themselves be seen and heard, but Lana is content to sit back and let the world go on.  I have to make sure that I carve out special one on one time with her. 

And Johan, what can I say about my Johan.  He is his daddy's boy.  Anything that Papi is doing, he wants to do.  Anytime he sees his Papi getting ready to go up the mountain, or go to work, there is Johan dressed in work clothes and work boots quietly waiting for permission to go.  I feel so bad for him when he is told no because he so wants to go, and if he is told no, his heart just breaks and he ends up sobbing.  And its that sobbing that makes me want to just pick him up and love on him all day.  He is a good boy, but he is going to give me a hard way to go.  He is so handsome, he has eyelashes to die for, he loves to flirt and loves the women.  He prefers to work with his Papi than go to school, and getting him to do his homework can be aknock down drag out fight.  But he loves to help, and will do just about anything that you ask him too.  And he is always ready with a hug and a kiss for his mother.  What more can I ask for?

His favorite place to be - with Papi. After a day of working outside with Papi and his brothers.

Last, but certainly not least is Gisela.  She to has grown and become such a wonderful and beautiful young woman.  She is full of life and beauty and goodness, LOL.  This year she graduates and will be able to begin teaching next school year.  We are going to try to get her the plaza for the school in our neighborhood, and if we succeed, then she will come and live with us as well.  That can only be good things for both us, as well as the neighborhood.  Then maybe the local children might have a chance to actually learn something.

At the River behind our house.
Gisela and Papi.  We love it when she visits. And again, my beautiful daughter.  Maybe not by blood, but certainly by heart.

The Lord has blessed me more than I deserve, and more than I can imagine to be surrounded by so many people that I love, and that love me.

I truely am blessed.

My Pila

I do apologize for not having the post up by last Saturday as promised.  However there was some drama going on (isnt there always?) and I had to deal with that instead of posting this post.  For a couple of days I removed my blog, and while I did put it back on again as you can see, it is under lock and key so to speak, LOL. 

Now, an update on my last post... Everyone is doing well at home, and they have "fixed" the bridge with dirt until the rainy season is over with and they can actually fix it right.

Ever since I moved to Honduras, I have been asking for a pila.  Whats that you say?  A pila (pronounced PEE-la) is a large cement water holding area used for washing clothes, or holding water for when there is no water, etc. etc.  Having a pila is a big responsibility that comes with pila etiquite as well. 

When you have a pila, or are at someone elses pila you do not stick your hand in there.  If you need to get water out of the pila you use a clean pana (plastic bowl) to get what you need out.  It must be cleaned at minimum every week (although at our house every 2 days seems to be about right, LOL).  It is just a big responsibility, LOL.

So anyways, for 3 years I have been asking for a pila, and was always told, later.  Well I decided to pitch a fit and get my pila.  I had already had an area picked out for my pila, and knew what I wanted, and when I told my husband, he looked at me and said no.  No? What do you mean no?  We have enough blocks to make it, all I need to get is cement and rebar.  No, he said.  I want to put it here (a totally different place - a place that I wanted to turn into a bedroom), and I want to do this, and this and this.  Whatever I said, just make my pila.  I should have stood my ground.  4 months, and who knows how much money later I now have 3 pilas, and a "laundry" room.  Which isnt finished.  Although I do have my back porch, which is about 60% finished.  (there is no floor other than dirt - which is ALWAYS nice when you have as many kids as I do, and animals, and when it rains as much as it does where I live.  My kitchen floor is ALWAYS spotless, LOL.)
The pilas technically arent finished yet because there is no faucet on any of the three, but the hose reaches, so thats ok.  Here are some progression pitctures of the back area/laundry room progress, and even some pila pictures as well.  The three pilas are for this... the small one is for washing mops, boots, feet and the like.  The middle one is for soaking clothes - either in bleach or soap or whatever, and the big one is for clothes washing etc. etc.
Can I tell you I love my pila.  I love my laundry room, I just wish it was complete.

I tried to fix the pictures so that they ran in order, but either my computer/internet or slide.com was giving me a hard time and wouldnt let me.  So if you watch all the pictures, you can sort of see the progression, but in a time warp sequence.  So sorry.

Washed Out Bridge

SUPRISE!!! A new post.
While I am working on a new post that is about my life and me and what not, it has come to my attention that it has been raining - ok monsooning, if thats a word - for a couple of days near where I live in Honduras (I am in the US for 2 weeks, just got here Monday) and that a bridge near my house was washed out earlier today.  And that the Army was evacuating people from the area that I live.  I haven't heard from anyone at my house, so I am going to assume that no news is good news, and just ask for prayers for safety for my family and surrounding families as well.

I will be back with another post that I have been working on by Saturday.

Thank You.