Nicaragua 2011

Highlights from the first ever Missions trip taken by Aurora and Willow.  One week in Nicaragua (mostly Managua) with a team from Antioch.  Three days at House of Hope, a day touring Managua and learning Nicaraguan political and cultural history, a day at Matagalpa looking at the site for a new Christian school, (as well as a trip to the only Young Life camp in Nicaragua), two long days traveling, and a special opportunity for the girls to meet our Compassion child, Olga, in Leon.  So much to process.  So much to be thankful for.  God is good!

A view of Managua

An injured cinnamon hummingbird

(it recovered and flew away)

Some of the girls at House of Hope

Aurora and friend

Sorting beads at House of Hope

Touring the Christian school site in Matagalpa

 

Coffee growing at the Young Life camp

Teaching a dance to compassion child Olga

Aurora and Olga

Olga and her brother Jonathan

SCD

Specific Carbohydrate Diet. No grains, no sugar, no lactose. Simply that. Except it's not that simple.
Mama and I have been doing this diet for a while, in fact we are coming up on a month. Yes, we do eat lots of fruit, veggies, and did I mention fruit?! Nuts are wonderful, along with carrying around fruit leathers for snack time. We eat some cheeses (it's a life saver!),  and there is a special almond flour that allows us to eat bread and such, but sometimes it's hard to feel "full" without the normal carbs that round out every meal for the rest of the family.
It is hard and long, but overall it will help the colitis, the  unexpected tummy aches, as well as that pesky "mind" grogginess we all experience with sugar consumption.  No one else in the family is interested in trying it at this time, but those of us with "tummy troubles" are looking for good things from this eating regime!                                                                                                                           

                                             We are learning to appreciate REAL FOOD!

Within maybe a year (or two), we should be doing just fine. But for now, we are taking it day by day, resisting temptations by the truckload, and redefining celebrations to mean more than just food!  In another month we'll check back in and let you know how we're doing!

by Willow

Chick days!...and ducklings, too!

Even with nearly a dozen eggs being produced daily by our assorted flock (3 ducks and 10 hens) we have been thinking of the future, and aging hens, and slower production....at least that's what we tell ourselves!  Last week, on a very typical "spring" day here in Central Oregon (ie. hail, snow, rain and wind trying to sweep us off our feet) the girls and I drove to the large feed store 25 miles away and came back with 4 sweet chicks.  We ended up with 2 Wellsummers (a new breed for our flock), an Ameracauna, and a Black sex-linked (also new).  However, we were a tad disappointed to come home without the new ducklings the girls had cajoled their parents into allowing...  "Come back Tuesday or Wednesday of next week and we'll have a new shipment in," they told us. Well, it just so happened Willow and I had our final lesson on how to use my new sewing machine on Wednesday morning, and we found ourselves once more driving past the feed store....

...To adopt these lovelies, with the softest down you've ever stroked, and the piercingest of  peeps as they bond to their new nest mates and "parents".   We almost called them Sarah and Percy and Bill, after the 3 baby owls in the Owlbabies book by Martin Waddell.  But their new owners needed fancier names, and so we have Triss, Anranria, and Tibby.  Mostly literary names, as usual.  The chicks are Annie, Velika, Sandra and Ginevra.   

Today the new flock had their first "interspecies gathering" on the livingroom floor--it was a splendid success as they all got along and enjoyed a few sunpuddles in the late afternoon.  The ducklings were mostly interested in the pan of water, of course, but enjoyed a bit of socialization with the chicks.  When they were all huddling together in a pile we knew it was time to get back under the heat lamps and have a rest.

  

Tomorrow there will be more livingroom socialization while their human companions enjoy several chapters of The Lightning Thief.  Life is so sweet!

Sewing Class

We have 3 sewing machines in this house.  How often do they get used?  Rarely.  Why?  Perhaps because "sewing" belongs to a place of serene creativity and order....a place that only exists in my mind.

But now!  A homeschool sewing class has opened up in our town and the girls are enrolled.  They have had 2 lessons, and model the scarves they made yesterday afternoon below.  Why is it easier to pack up 2 machines and all their paraphenalia and sew up a storm somewhere else?  Most likely everyone who reads this knows "why"...

Today Willow cranked out a little drawstring bag all by herself after all her school was done for the day!   I predict a flurry of creativity spread all over the house in the days ahead!  Serenity?  Maybe not. But that's OK.

Lanie assisting in cutting 18 " squares for scarves

Willow's scarf, hemmed in zig zag stitch

Aurora's scarf--around her neck, not her head!

Willow's scarf

Willow creating at home

A drawstring bag in Christmas fabric

the proud seamstress!

Memories of last year

   Pictures!!!!

                                                                Many beautiful days

Tree trimming

Today we got our Christmas tree. Usaully we go out in the woods and get our own, but when we woke up this morning the snow/rain was blinding and we couldn't see anything else. Later in the day we went to get the tree from the lot... and ended up getting two, one for upstairs and one for the living room. They are both small trees but are nice. We also stopped at a Saturday market and got some nice homeade gifts! We also got out our Christmas lights out and are having a fun time at home! We are waiting for Aurora to come home from the Christmas parade where she walked with the swim team.

The Nutcracker

We were in Bend all day, and it was a nice, but snowy afternoon. It just happened to be the very same day of the Central Oregon Nutcracker ballet. Oh we couldn't help ourselves.... we had to go to it! Not that we hadn't gone before, but it was always a enchanting spell and joy to all that watch it. And we were right. Every moment it had its delicate but strong feel to it. It is good to see local people produce a quality show. Really wonderful, and it was worth the slippery roads!