I don't always feel like I need a seatbelt for life, but this past month Stephen and I decided to strap one on. We both agree it was such a good idea to wear that we're about to tighten it for the upcoming months - just to be safe.
Here's a little description of our July seatbelt required ride:
* On the first Saturday in July, we celebrated Ruth's 2nd birthday. She's pretty darn cute, folks, and I wish a thousand wishes that you could see her and know her. Sometimes the young motherhood stage of life feels long and laborious (most days I think I'll really feel liberated when I'm no longer wiping anyone's butt or bathing anyone but myself), but the reality is these days are short-lived. Ruthie is talking up a storm. She is understandable by most, but likes to start the majority of her words with the "h" sound. Monkeys are "honkeys," she likes to have "hun" (instead of fun) and she's happy to tell you that she's going to be a big "hister." Even when the days feel long, I know that her honies (ponies) and honkeys will probably only live another six months or so. And then I know the time really is fast. Happy Birthday, sweet Ruth.
* On the second Saturday in July, we said goodbye to my dearest friend this past year in Antigua, Christina DeLeon, and her daughter, Elizabeth. Tina had been living in Guatemala for three years trying to legally adopt her daughter. We celebrated that her long adoptive journey was finally over with a lovely dinner party at my house. She's back home in Dallas, now, and it was bitter sweet to see her go.
* During the third week of July, my daddy came for a visit. This is the third trip he's made during this past year and we were so blessed to have him here again. The kids really have a relationship with him and it's special to see. Between the coffee tour, the zip-lining adventure, bike riding, swimming, and more, we kept busy and made some fun memories.
* On the third Saturday in July, Stephen and I hosted our very first small group through our church here in Antigua. One day I will sit and write a more specific update about our church experiences here because we no longer attend the super evangelical, Pentecostal church we attended the first few months of our time here. Since January, we have been attending a church called "La Vida Real." The church encourages small group attendance (since there is no Sunday morning Bible study for adults) and Stephen and I have felt moved in the past two months to start one at our home. We had anticipated a group of English speakers, but during the past two weeks of meeting, it has already taken a shape far beyond our expectations. Besides being conducted mostly in Spanish, we have been blessed to meet new people and start new relationships just by opening the door to our home.
* And speaking of our home, on the last Saturday in July, we moved! That's right, we packed our bags and moved...to a different block in our same neighborhood. On August 16th we will celebrate our first anniversary of living in Guatemala. Our rental contract expires then and we were interested in finding another rental in which the bedrooms were closer together. Although my Guatemalan friends have a hard time understanding, baby Georgia can't stay in my room too long after she's born and I was itching for a place where I didn't have to climb stairs in the middle of the night. A friend of mine in our neighborhood agreed to rent us her beautiful home for this coming year and we are so happy to be here. I didn't anticipate moving one block would be that difficult, but after the last toy and the last pair of socks were finally put in their place, I was pooped!
* Although we moved out of our "old" house this past week, it is still not unoccupied. Stephen's parents arrived on August 2 for a ten day stay and get have their room, heck their own house, across the block. We are now enjoying our time with them. Although it's been a while since the kids have seen them, Sam and Ruth have warmed right back up, enjoying cuddling, reading, and playing with Mimi and Granddaddy.
And yes, that's just the past five weeks! The metaphoric seatbelt has been nice security during all the activity.
Ahh, and mentioning activity, there's just one more story from this month I've got to share. On the last Monday of the month, Antigua celebrated Saint James, patron saint of the city, with a day off from school, lots of activities, and full fair grounds which included everything from a very precarious Ferris wheel, to bumper cars, to churros. Sam and Ruth decided to ride a helicopter ride that moved up and down as it spun. Before they loaded into the helicopter, we gave Sam a big speech about taking care of Ruth and comforting her if she were to get scared. About 30 seconds after the ride started, Ruth was smiling, raising her hands, and squealing with delight. And my son? Well, he was freaking out. I guess we gave the speech to the wrong person.
We tighten our seatbelt for the next three months as we anticipate my new job, Stephen's new job, Stephen's initial job application process for next year, our adjustment into a new house and the kids sharing a new room, and, you know, a new baby.
Here's a little description of our July seatbelt required ride:
* On the first Saturday in July, we celebrated Ruth's 2nd birthday. She's pretty darn cute, folks, and I wish a thousand wishes that you could see her and know her. Sometimes the young motherhood stage of life feels long and laborious (most days I think I'll really feel liberated when I'm no longer wiping anyone's butt or bathing anyone but myself), but the reality is these days are short-lived. Ruthie is talking up a storm. She is understandable by most, but likes to start the majority of her words with the "h" sound. Monkeys are "honkeys," she likes to have "hun" (instead of fun) and she's happy to tell you that she's going to be a big "hister." Even when the days feel long, I know that her honies (ponies) and honkeys will probably only live another six months or so. And then I know the time really is fast. Happy Birthday, sweet Ruth.
* On the second Saturday in July, we said goodbye to my dearest friend this past year in Antigua, Christina DeLeon, and her daughter, Elizabeth. Tina had been living in Guatemala for three years trying to legally adopt her daughter. We celebrated that her long adoptive journey was finally over with a lovely dinner party at my house. She's back home in Dallas, now, and it was bitter sweet to see her go.
* During the third week of July, my daddy came for a visit. This is the third trip he's made during this past year and we were so blessed to have him here again. The kids really have a relationship with him and it's special to see. Between the coffee tour, the zip-lining adventure, bike riding, swimming, and more, we kept busy and made some fun memories.
* On the third Saturday in July, Stephen and I hosted our very first small group through our church here in Antigua. One day I will sit and write a more specific update about our church experiences here because we no longer attend the super evangelical, Pentecostal church we attended the first few months of our time here. Since January, we have been attending a church called "La Vida Real." The church encourages small group attendance (since there is no Sunday morning Bible study for adults) and Stephen and I have felt moved in the past two months to start one at our home. We had anticipated a group of English speakers, but during the past two weeks of meeting, it has already taken a shape far beyond our expectations. Besides being conducted mostly in Spanish, we have been blessed to meet new people and start new relationships just by opening the door to our home.
* And speaking of our home, on the last Saturday in July, we moved! That's right, we packed our bags and moved...to a different block in our same neighborhood. On August 16th we will celebrate our first anniversary of living in Guatemala. Our rental contract expires then and we were interested in finding another rental in which the bedrooms were closer together. Although my Guatemalan friends have a hard time understanding, baby Georgia can't stay in my room too long after she's born and I was itching for a place where I didn't have to climb stairs in the middle of the night. A friend of mine in our neighborhood agreed to rent us her beautiful home for this coming year and we are so happy to be here. I didn't anticipate moving one block would be that difficult, but after the last toy and the last pair of socks were finally put in their place, I was pooped!
* Although we moved out of our "old" house this past week, it is still not unoccupied. Stephen's parents arrived on August 2 for a ten day stay and get have their room, heck their own house, across the block. We are now enjoying our time with them. Although it's been a while since the kids have seen them, Sam and Ruth have warmed right back up, enjoying cuddling, reading, and playing with Mimi and Granddaddy.
And yes, that's just the past five weeks! The metaphoric seatbelt has been nice security during all the activity.
Ahh, and mentioning activity, there's just one more story from this month I've got to share. On the last Monday of the month, Antigua celebrated Saint James, patron saint of the city, with a day off from school, lots of activities, and full fair grounds which included everything from a very precarious Ferris wheel, to bumper cars, to churros. Sam and Ruth decided to ride a helicopter ride that moved up and down as it spun. Before they loaded into the helicopter, we gave Sam a big speech about taking care of Ruth and comforting her if she were to get scared. About 30 seconds after the ride started, Ruth was smiling, raising her hands, and squealing with delight. And my son? Well, he was freaking out. I guess we gave the speech to the wrong person.
We tighten our seatbelt for the next three months as we anticipate my new job, Stephen's new job, Stephen's initial job application process for next year, our adjustment into a new house and the kids sharing a new room, and, you know, a new baby.
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