From the sick ward

We've been sick here going on two weeks. That's what happens when family genetics allow the germ to pass on with a slightly new strain to the next guy. "I've seen this before and I'll hit 'em harder." Though Mom hasn't been sick I've spent a lot of nights without my full allotment of sleep, and when day starts at 5am, short night are a killer. We're praying that everyone is better in time for our High School Retreat this weekend. We debated for a while, but finally decided the family will all go along and enjoy Word of Life. It's fairly new facility here and they are still in the process of building things though they have a large piece of land and lots of potential for growth. We're excited about the pool as we haven't been since we left Florida last August. Keep the Retreat on your prayer list. Lots of potential for challenging kids to grow.
Other news? I can hardly belive but in just a few months we will have a second graduate-Nayt. I am finally getting around to putting together his photo album. I started with Ben and want each of the kids to have one as a graduation gift so that they can take their family with them to school-in pictures anyways-as we won't be able to visit. It's a big project to compile 18 years of life into one album. Then next year I have another one to do for Josiah. Boy it will be different without my big guys here...and I'm dreading it.
Over the weekend we decided to revamp our family room by moving it out front and center. Hopefully this will give us a more usable space for hospitality. I tucked a comfortable chair and bookshelf by a window so I can sit there and do my devotions or study Spanish-which by the way is still coming very slowly. Hard to teach an old brain new things, and I'm not immersed as much as I would like. But I need to head off now as Spanish class is calling.

We've been studying Ephesians at church. Last week we talked about Christ being the cornerstone and Pastor Herb told about his church in Cuba. Over 50 years ago the church had a ceremony where the cornerstone of the new building was placed. That stone was hollow, and the pastor had placed a Bible in it to remind his church members that this church was founded on the Word of God. As a young boy, he would walk past that stone and remember. That pastor now walks with the Lord and several since then have been persecuted for their faith, but that church is still strong despite everything. Please pray for our church here in Honduras. Though we don't yet have a building (though the land is purchased and the plans made, just waiting for permits), the church is growing. Lately there has been lots of persecution, especially of marriages and families.

I need a transplant

That's how this Momma feels lately. A brain transplant to be exact. This one is old, and well, a little less than acceptable. I seem to be able to have a Spanish lesson and then promptly forget what I have learned. Perhaps it's that the lessons are at 3pm and my day starts at 5 in the morning. By 3 I'd just like to lay down and take a quick nap before I start dinner and the challenges of 5th grade homework. ("I am Smarter than a 5th Grader"-just keep telling self.) I know I NEED to conquer this challenge to really function here well, yet somehow a smattering of Tagalog creeps in from years ago, or the French pronunciation from High School....and what was that ending anyway???
Then there's the fact that soon I will not own a pan if I can't keep this brain functioning. And my family may need a new home. The other day I put some chicken on to boil for soup, got distracted doing something on the other side of the house and then remembered in a panic when this odd smell filtered into my bedroom. The house has smelled like dead fish, stinky dog, charcoaled chicken....take your pick as these were all used by the children and the stink was so bad we had to sleep with the windows open when it's in the 50's outside...
Can you teach an old lady to use a new part of her brain? I need to recussitate something in there. Someone once told me you lose 20 points on your IQ with the birth of each child. After 8 I think I am reduced to the "blubbering idiot" level so my family will have to be patient. THey are responsible for this. And I will keep plugging away with language, parenting, and ministry. I have joined a study on Ephesians recently. My desire for this new year is to look more like my Savior at it's end by filling my heart and mind with His word. That would be a productive transplant!