I've been weepy today. I'm not sure as to the reason why. At church this morning I was sharing with some folks about my walk with God (which on my end of things has been weak) and I just broke down. I'm not a huge fan of crying in front of people because I'm an all or nothing kind of gal. So, when I cry (and try to talk during the crying) it's somewhat of a dramatic event. Anyhow, the sweet people at this church are so eager to encourage, and from what we've already seen, they want to really understand you and be a part of your world--even if it's messy or confusing or you're feeling low. I'm rather fond of this little church. They are intentional with relationships, and they believe in the power of prayer, which is something I've been struggling with of late. So, if you're of the praying sort, will you remember me as you pray?
This was a pretty great week, though. The kids (as I've stated before) in 6th grade fill me with great joy. Maybe not their homework habits, but definitely their personalities. They make fun of my Spanish accent, but they quickly discovered that two can play at that game. We finished reading the novel we've been reading together, My Side of the Mountain, outside in the fresh air on Friday, and they thought I was the best teacher ever. Small things matter to these kiddos. And to me. I love the middle school teachers here. One of them (Maurici) teaches step aerobics on Tuesdays and Thursday, so I've been learning her moves. Colin has wrongly assumed that there might be a possibility of me one day being an aerobics instructor myself--you know, "to earn extra income when you're a full-time mom," he said. He hasn't seen my moves. While I sweat, I definitely do a lot of laughing at myself. But I'm good at the "inhale" "exhale" parts. I feel like a ballerina when we take those breathing breaks. Pretty sure I don't look like one, but I can dream.
We hooked up with some Embassy folks today for some ultimate frisbee. Gringos come out of the woodwork when you wave a frisbee around (see www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com). It was great fun--and it wore both of us out! And wouldn't you know, we met two more people from East Tennessee. So, we chatted football (of course!) for a bit. What's up with our quarterback? I be missing me some football 'bout now.
Another high of this weekend was when I was at the hardware store, La Rache, yesterday. Remember those two "sweet gentlemen" that I met on that crazy post-toque de queda (curfew) grocery shopping day? Well, low and behold there they were at the hardware store. After the affectionate greetings (everyone kisses down here--I love it! Colin's still not there yet), they invited me to the opening of their "boutique" on November 7th. Definitely going to check that out. They were excited to tell me about all the products they would be selling, but me, not being your typical girly girl, had no idea about what they were talking about. But I'll probably buy something and then invite them over for dinner. :)
Slowly our house is becoming like home. I'm going to post only one room at a time so that you can join me in the slowness. I'm now embracing the slow pace of things like this. The bedroom needs major work. For one thing, I thought all the lovely quilts I packed would make for a beautiful set up--and we'd use them more. However, they don't quite fit with the decor of the place. So...soon enough we're going to buy something to match the fancy chairs. But Colin's wonderful gift to me for the living room (the fancy dancy rug from the one and only Sears) has made all the difference. And we also realized yesterday that our entertainment cabinet for the TV was upside-down (I guess the movers didn't realize it either). The couch looks better than it feels (it was designed for little brown people). But hey, it works for now!
Thanks for reading our posts! We love reading your comments and knowing you're thinking about us. We think about you, too! A LOT....especially on weepy days. Thankfully I don't have too many of those. :)
10 comments:
Nice! However, when I visit, I'm definitely going to need somewhere to set my coffee cup while I read. :)
Oh Elisa. I love you and I will be praying for you. Your post made me cry although you know me I cry at everything even Disney movies. I love you guys for taking the risk to move out of your comfort zone.God will teach you so much while you are there.I love you. I wish I could give you a hug right now.
i certainly understand about weepy days. if it is any comfort to you, people have them in north america too!
i dig the rug, it is very minimalist and modernistic and trippy--all of which are good things--and i like the colors.
when i think of you guys, i sort of think of my first six months in college: away from home, isolated, lonely, in a different world, but it kept getting better and better and better and i ended up having the time of my life. in fact, eventually, when i was away from school, i felt that i had left my home behind. i would be willing to venture a guess that by the time you come back, it will be really, really hard to leave. in the mean time, we pray for you all the time and we think about you constantly. it is hard for us for you to be away too. there are so many things happening with william that i want you guys to get to see, but at the same time, i am a firm believer in people seizing the opportunity to go and live a different sort of life for a while and have remarkable and life changing adventures.
in the meantime, i think often of you guys coming to stay in cleveland for a long time next summer. those are the kinds of things i daydream about at night as i am falling asleep. it looks like we will have an absolutely incredible house for you to stay in, and there are so many fun things to do. there is a gauguin exhibit at the art museum right now. there was a van gogh exhibit in the summer. next summer there will probably something really amazing, and we will take you to the botanical gardens and a baseball game and the zoo and the house of blues and all of the amazing parks and the beach and william will perform various tricks for you and bishop will probably poop on you at some point.
p.s. check out my facebook page. my friend janelle posted a bunch of pictures of the house that we think we are renting. it looks wild and overgrown and really beautiful
p.p.s. on a bit of a sadder note, rachelle alvarez just had her third ectopic pregnancy--you may already know this--but just in case you don't, i thought i'd tell you so you can send her love.
we love you guys so much. you are our very favorite busters in central america, and also, the world. talk to you soon. last night was great! 44 minutes and 41 seconds is really impressive. maybe those "internets machines" (as my hilarious friend, nate, calls them) work after all.
love, j-c, j and wilbo waggins
Elisa,
I just prayed for you! I love hearing of al your adventures.
I love the rug! Can't wait to hear about your "sweet friends'" boutique!!
I LOVED reading "My Side of the Moutain" to my kids. Be watching for runaways wanting to live in hollowed-out trees!! :)
Hey girlfriend! I must agree with everyone else- love the rug! Sorry you had a weepy day, although I find they provide a good time to reflect on where you are, what you're doing & why you're doing it. I sure do miss hanging out with you! I haven't found a running buddy in Dallas, except Hudson. He just doesn't provide quite the same depth to conversations. Although he does give really big waves to all large trucks & vans passing us, which is pretty cute.
love ya! em
The botis signing in here. Yes, ballerina botis, for I in my day did too often dream of being a ballerina, or like one rather, not the tutu kind, that would be too kind, but rather the leaping goat, the soaring man swan, the twirling fleshed baton, spinning, falling, catching a toe and towing the moves through the air with sweet grace. the botis remembers, elisa how you put your mouth in a certain way when doing your moves, scrunched up and hip hop like. nice to hear some grace is steppin in. you always had so much of it, grace, and that's one of the things i like about ya. and i for one believe colin, that this grace has indeed found its way into your steps. that ballerina girl's been twirlin' in you your whole life, and now it's about time she was let out. love ya miss ya. and thanks for weeping. "rain is grace," as your husband so eloquently quoted to me at one point in my life.
Oh 'Lis,
I'm sad to hear you've been feeling blue... but the good thing about weepy days (even weepy weeks or weepy months!)is that they pass, and they bring you closer to where ever it is that the Lord is taking you. I too have had my share of them - but never for reasons as good as yours are. In fact, speaking of weepiness... just moments ago I melted down after handing a coffee cup through the little kitchen window to JT at the sink. I let go to soon and it dropped down to smash a little china dish that had been my grandmother's. I think I was as shocked as JT at how strong my reaction was... it was, after all, one of many things I have of hers and it can probably be glued back together for the most part. I think I'm just more and more aware recently of how little time I may have left with her. (Which means I should probably give her a call or go visit instead of crying over a silly trinket.) Anyway, the point is that it's definitely hard when the seasons change sometimes. We get sad and we miss home and all the people who love us and the safety that there is in familiarity. We paint pictures of Egypt, as Sara Groves would say... but there will soon be a new normal and a new familiar! You have embarked upon such an amazing journey! I can not wait to hear you tell of God's grace to you and Colin when he has taken through this experience - how he has provided, how he has blessed, how he has used you, how you have grown... And I know that he will, because he loves you and because he is faithful and because he will have his glory. In the meantime, we will indeed be praying for you - for encouragement and strength and healing (among other things).
We love you very much and we're so proud of you and of what you are doing.
Sending lot's of love from Maryland,
Megan, JT, Noah, and Dixie
PS: I think that Noah is on the brink of laughter... any day he is just going to bust out a great big belly laugh at his daddy. I can feel it. Hopefully next time we skype you can see how much he has grown. :)
PPS: Maybe try reading Romans 8 ...pumped me right up this morning. It's a good one.
Thank you thank you thank you, sweet friends and family for your encouragement. What great words and prayers to receive from you all!
I love you!
I love your dance moves!
I love your blog posts!
I LOVE your new "fancy dancy" rug!
I love your tender heart.
I hope your days are happier now.
I have to say It's been fun reading your adventures and experiences in my country, but again:
"(it was designed for little brown people)."
Again with the "little brown people"
I know, I know, it's your blog and I'm just a stranger reading your stuff, but I kind of like reading your blog, but it's really unconfortable to understand why educated american in 2009 use terms like that.
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