Time to Ponder...:)

So much sunshine here today!! This is rainy season for Belize but so far it has been rain free since we are here. It is also slow season here. It does seem way more quiet then it was the last times I was here! Many businesses are closed for vacation or renovations. They are getting ready for the next busy season all over again.

I got a nap on the beach today as Dave went and did his own thing. If it were not for the ocean breeze it would not have been near as pleasant sitting in the sun! I'm hardly sure how to act!! I have time to just read my book (song of war) and I have no demands! It feels sooo refreshing! Things have been way to busy at home these days and I think it's a trick the devil likes to play on me.... Busy life so I don't take time for the "God moments". I'm going to try to do better...I say this every time I go away for a fresh breath and yet that rat race sneaks up on me again...:) We all have a choice as to what to make of those "God Moments".

We rented bikes today so we can go back and forth to town better. I'm glad my legs are used to running because we sure are using them a ton down here!! We walk for miles and miles!! We can bike now but even this is a workout since the roads are bumpy and you really need to pay attention because the bikes are like cars down here. You have one way streets and everything...:) Better pay attention or you'll get run over!

The food here... I can hardly get over it's wholesome goodness! REAL FOOD!! One reason I'd like to move my family here!! Fried food is a normal to but still nothing packaged anywhere! People here are often over weight just like in the states but I think it's because they eat so much rice and fried foods. Another thing you will notice in Belize if you ever visit is the friendly people! You never see people on gadgets or cell phones unless they are tourists! You might see ear buds because these people just love music but never once when I was out and about today did I see Belizians standing or walking around looking at a screen of any kind! They are on cell phones sometimes but they don't have the screens on the phones like we do. (Maybe it will come yet?) These people here are happy and content and I love the feel of it!

 No pressure about dress fashions, decorations, nice cars, or even nice gardens or flowerbeds here! Food is cheap and REAL. Sometimes all of this appeals to me since I seem to go round and round that hamster wheel of sameness week after week and what is really my purpose here on this earth anyway??  I  believe my family is my mission and my purpose right now in this stage of life. But it's just that I tend to loose focus so many days when my work looks to overwhelming...  Hobbies are great but I can go overboard and before I know it I'm stressing over the yard work and gardens even though it is my most favorite thing to do around the house. I know I'm a picky housekeeper and dirty windows make me way to nuts. I'm trying to work on this. I want to just let things more so I don't stress over the small stuff like dirty counter tops and stuff that really won't matter to me or my family one day anyway!

An example... I stopped in at the old house the other day. Dave and I were out for a run Saturday morning when a van pulled up and wondered if we are the ones that lived at 623 Mount Vernon?? We said yes we were, and she had a check for Dave that came in the mail. Anyway this gave me an excuse to stop in there when picking up the check. It has been almost seven years since we moved and it still felt so normal to walk up those walks that we put there! (it seemed like a few short days since I was walking up those walks!) I looked around. A lot. I couldn't help it. Many of the flowerbeds I made, loved and kept so nice were overgrown, full of weeds and grass had grown into them, they were hardly even visible anymore. The shrubs and trees that we planted were so overgrown that they covered the windows! The house on the inside (even though I only peeked) was so full of clutter it hardly looked walkable! My point?? I spent many many hours working around that house and for what? My sanity I guess...:) It will be the same way with the house we are in now if we ever don't keep up with the maintenance. Yet time just whooshes by! These houses are so temporary! I need to remember that. Coming to Belize always opens my eyes up to something new and with not having many distractions I have time to ponder stuff like this...:) therefore I go off...:)

Another example...
At home the other night as I was putting Jenika to bed, the night before us leaving for Belize early the next morning. I was helping her pick out her outfit for school the next day. This was so she will be all organized and ready to go up to Marilyn's to have her hair done...:) (Thanks Marilyn!) At the same time as I was putting her to bed I was also putting away her laundry. I asked her if she wants to wear the shirt that I still had in my hand? She looked at it and her bottom lip started to quiver and she got tears in her eyes. I said "Jen what is wrong??" Through her tears he told me some girls at school were whispering all day at recess about her clothes and telling her that they don't match.

I sat down with her and explained that Jesus sees her heart and it does not matter what she is wearing. God loves her anyway.  As long as she loves Jesus and listens for his voice and is kind to others he will bless her. This shirt was new for her and it had sparkles, she LOVED it when I brought it home for her! She then declared on the spot that she is never wearing it again! How do I respond to this?? I know how young girls can be because I was one. One with drama to. I know they don't mean to hurt others feelings. I was sad to see her this hurt. I just want to shelter and protect her from the real world but it's this kind of stuff that needs to come along as we grow up to build our character and be prepared for much bigger issues that we are sure to face once in adulthood.  It seems in today's world everything needs to match and coordinate and be name brand or it's not cool. I told her it's okay if she don't match. I don't near always match either and we need to let the peer pressure ride past us...:) God knows the heart and this is the only thing that counts.  I hope she is okay with my answers because I'm so not detailed and getting her everything exactly coordinated and matched sounds to stressful to me...:)

Keep it simple... Jesus was the best example ever! May we be more like him in our everyday walk of life!

I'm off to meet the group for supper... I love it that I don't have to feel pressured to sit at the meetings with Dave since this time away was more about refreshing my focus and catching a breath... We are so enjoying our time here!

I wanted to post a few more pictures this morning but time was running out. This is the plane we did the tour on... I'm so comfortable on these small aircraft's that it scares me...One day way back I would have been horrified to get in one of these small planes! I guess the more you do it the more comfortable you become. So it seems for me anyway and getting out of my circle of sameness is fun sometimes!! I think I'm starting to like adventure more... Doors open up when we get out of the comfortable circle of sameness. Doors that we would have hated to see stay unopened...:)

This guy is loving ALL of my attention! I'm loving the one on one time with him so much!!

Good Night...

ps. Thanks for the note Rachel Ann! Javon is in great hands with you. Love you Javony!! You can have fun with baby Ava the next few days but you will be coming back to live with me again just so you know!...:) Miss you all!