Reality

Bottom line, sometimes life is hard, and that’s okay.  Reality isn’t always pretty. 

It’s late, and it’s been a long week.  I’ve had bronchitis, and we’ve been battling lice all week long.  Yes – every mother’s worst nightmare lice.  It’s hard to escape lice here.  It’s hard to escape bugs in general here…but we’ve managed…and everything will be okay.  My everything spotless clean self feels pretty defeated here in South America right now.    

Jared has been out-of-town in the desert of North Argentina.  He’s home now, but our phone conversations were broken up through the week as he calmly tried to explain to me how to treat the lice situation with the chemicals he picked up from the pharmacy last December when those pesky bugs paid us a visit before Christmas.  I won’t even begin to explain the process of de-bugging a home - it’s rough.

To make things worse, Gabe crawled on top of the stove’s bottom cupboard flap while I was baking cookies - trying to maintain some sense of normality & ‘home’ through the ongoing lice episode.  He burned the bottom half of both legs – not severely thank heavens – but enough to leave it’s mark for a while.  His crawling hasn’t slowed down much, but he hasn’t been comfortable. 

On top of all that, the movers came in Friday morning and boxed up our life.  We’re living out of suitcases now and doing everything possible to keep the kids entertained and comfortable with the emptiness we feel. 

I’ll never forget what life feels like right now.  It’s as if the page is almost turned over, but not quite…not yet.  The last few sentences still have something to say.  

I feel so much better today after getting on the antibiotic I needed.  Jared & I gave our last Castellano talks in church this morning.  It’s a true miracle that I was able to wake up at 4:30 this morning to really prepare and translate a talk after the week we’ve had.  I felt guidance from above…helping me, and I think that’s exactly why we go through rough weeks - to recognize His hand – to remember the eternal perspective and to appreciate the good days maybe a little bit more than we did before.

The May Revolution Celebration

I’ve been anxious to post these fun pictures all week, but life has been a little crazy around here. 

Anyway, it’s always interesting to be an integral part of the Argentine holidays.  The May Revolution began the Argentine War of Independence back in 1810. 

Basically, it was a week-long series of events that ended on May 25th, 1810 in Buenos Aires.  Every year, the May Revolution is celebrated on May 25th – yet another holiday (and reason) for the people to take work off.  :)  The Argentines have so many holidays it’s not even funny. 

AnnMarie’s school had a special program in the assembly courtyard.  The weather was beautiful, and the students were all so excited.  AnnMarie and a few other classmates were able to dress-up as Paisana Argentina, a patriotic Argentine cowgirl with braids, boots, and a bandana.  

A few other classmates were “gossipy” housewives pretending to sweep the streets. 

Francisco (on the far right) was the Pope.  The people here are so proud of the new Argentine Pope…billboards, banners, lots of publicity going on. 

AnnMarie had to stand around with gauchos (Argentine cowboys) drinking mate (mah-tay). 

I wish I could’ve gotten a better photo of her in her get-up, but it was one of those days I tried to soak in…just enjoying the fact that we were all together as a family supporting one of our own. 

AnnMarie’s favorite part about the whole thing:

Christmas in June

Yesterday marked the beginning of a countdown.  Instead of 25 days ‘til Christmas, it’s 25 days ‘til change, and around these parts, we believe change is a good thing. :) 

Since June is the coldest month in Argentina (we’re dead smack in the middle of winter here, and yes, it’s very cold), I thought it would be appropriate for our little family to have what I’m calling Christmas in June. 

My sole intention is to bring in the Christmas Spirit.  Both Jared & I have a tendency to anticipate change to a fault.  We need our last several weeks here to be savored, not watered down with everything else to come!  The Christmas Spirit is real, and I want our family to slow down by remembering Him, our Savior, right now – really remembering Him.  I feel like this approach will best help my family to finish out our time here strong.   

Last night we finished our poster board which is now hanging up next to our dinner table.  We have 24 little gifts (simple magazine cut-outs) scattered around the board.  It’s nothing fancy – in fact, it’s pretty un-fancy to say the least, but the kids did almost all of it, and that’s what matters.

Under each gift is a scripture coupled with something to do that night – something special that will invite the Christmas Spirit into our home.  Tonight was our first official gift opening….. ‘As a family, pray for someone with a special need (Alma 34:27).’  The girls’ suggestions surprised me.  I learned something new about a classmate and felt inspired to serve.  

We’re all looking forward to the next several weeks as we seek the Christmas Spirit with our whole hearts.  We’ve been playing Christmas music, making lots of yummy soups, and trying to think a little less about ourselves, our to-do lists, and all the busy stuff that comes with change. 

It was a little ironic though that right after we finished our poster board, a neighbor brought us a loaf of fresh bread wrapped in a Christmas napkin.  That’s only happened like never.  What are the odds?!  Ha!  

(Carlie & I at AnnMarie’s school program enjoying the last warm day in May.)