It's "Spring Break" aka Holy Week here

This is a picture of the boys the evening before they left to visit their dad and extended family in the mountains to the north of Matagalpa. They are Gener (ice cream), Saul (guitar), and Nahum (playing the flute with his nostrils). They are happy, silly and much younger in every way than their ages (16-1/2, 13-1/2 and 18 in April). We're glad that they're not older than their years ... that's for sure.

This trip will be the last trip the brothers will make to the mountains together, as Saul will soon be leaving for the United States. It appears that his adoption will be complete in late April or early May. Everyone has suffered through the tortuous process, so we'll soon see the end of their childhood together and the beginning of new lives (separated). Saul didn't get to visit the family over the Christmas holiday, so this is a good opportunity and "adventure" where they can all be together one last time.

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It's also good that we get a break. The task is difficult, but we keep our eyes on the fact that we have a good reason to be here: their education so they can support themselves in the future. We are encouraged when we see even small changes such as table manners, improved English and a growing bond. They DO appreciate their new teeth (the last four crowns were "installed" Thursday) and the big, good dinners they get. Our motto is "take all you want, eat all you take." And that has morphed from taking way too much ... to learning to take a lesser amount and go back for seconds. They've learned! They appreciate. The looks in their eyes (BIG SMILES) when they go back for seconds is priceless.

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Our main challenge has been overcoming their idea of what we would be like! With team after team, year after year, kids in the orphanages equate North Americans with soccer games, going to the beach, candy, gifts and movies (and more). So, no matter what we SAID (like, we're here to make sure you have a home and an education for a better life), they HEARD (we'll get an education inbetween all the constant activities of the North American lifestyle). When we finally put that together and talked about it with the boys, the lights started coming on for all of us. And now the path is illuminated by that light ... so if it should start to be a "when are we going to ...." we can quickly bring them back to their education, how they're doing in school, and the basic stuff first. We can always add the rewards and treats. They are malleable and they're good boys, but they have tested the limits - and we sincerely hope the boundary testing is over hahahahahaha (but we won't place any bets on it). We'll just have our eyes wide open.

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So, our week off now is good because it's quiet. We had our friends, Wil and Karen (from Colorado) stay with us a few nights and we took them to their language school in Managua this morning. Now we're totally alone (except for Louie). Life is good. We're recharging for the "next round."

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We've found some new friends (North Americans) in Nicaragua that we didn't expect, and it's SO NICE to be able to exchange stories and laugh, and begin more friendships. We're looking forward to coffee / dinner / just hang time with each of the couples ... see ... life IS good! It's not all teenage boys.

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As a matter of fact, it soon will be another Forward Edge team ... so John is getting ready for that next Saturday. And there will be another team immediately after that team leaves ... which is a returning team from Sarasota, Florida ... so it'll be nice to see old friends and work together on their projects of interest.

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Pray for us when you think of it. Life isn't easy. But character isn't made without hardship either. The boys are worth it. And we're being re-tooled too!

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We love you all.

Louie "putting up with" Nahum

... just barely.

Silly boys with our "dollar store" glasses

They don't wear glasses, but there are so many pairs around here ... they like to wear them and be silly.

Any time is hammock time ...

It's been some time since we've posted ... and it's not just because we've been swinging in the hammocks by any means, however we make time for the hammocks every night. We live in the foothills and there has been a breeze most every day and night - but unfortunately the breezes are slowing down. Also unfortunate is the fact the temperatures are heating up. The month of April supposedly has the highest temperatures of any month, and it feels like it's making a run at it now ... it's really heating up.

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The boys are in school and are approaching their exams (next week). Then they have "Holy Week" (in this Catholic nation) and they'll be on break from Mar 14 thru the 24th. They want to take a looooooong bus ride to visit their father, sister and family members in Waslala during some of that vacation time. So, we will drive them to the bus station at the end of next week and have a little "exhale" from the parenting thing for a couple of days.

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The house, though lovely, has many problems which we are correcting slowly and as we are able. This week we're having the inside of the cupboards tiled so they can actually accommodate "things." They were cast in the crudest of cement, were very uneven, were mildewed (p.u.) from leaky plumbing, and it was both impossible and unwise to put anything inside the cabinets under the countertops. Soon, though, we will have much of the kitchen CLUTTER hidden. YEA! Though it is "Nica time" and we understand the meaning of the term oh so well now, we "think" we'll have a clutterless kitchen by Friday.

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Saul is still with us, but he will probably be able to leave Nicaragua in April or May. He is our private translator and a lot of fun. We'll miss him!

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We're safe and sound, in a different lifestyle completely - but we're walking one day at a time and drawing closer to each other.

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I will post pictures next as they are so much better than words!

John's here ... the boys are in school ... life is good

John is here … and we are happy! He came ahead of the team, which was his response to the “tone” of my emails to him. Twenty-five plus years of marriage has enabled him to read me – even and especially between the lines. I missed him … the boys wanted him. And he responded and came early.

So far John has had the privilege of sharing some “once in a lifetime” moments with the boys (the first of many such moments, I hope). We’ve also shared the simple things like driving here (with instructions from the back seat, like “let’s go, let’s go”), our soon to be “regular” Friday night movie at the mall, shopping for groceries with three hungry mouths, and more than I can think of right now. The highlight for me is this little story:

I noticed a few dark “curly-cue” hairs on Nahúm’s face … so I asked him if he wanted to shave. He’ll be 18 years old in April, so … the time to begin shaving may be on the horizon. His answer was the typical pointer finger wag (simultaneous with the spoken word “no”), and that appeared to be the end of the subject. The next thing I know, he asked John if he would teach him to shave … and they had a little shave session … and Nahúm appeared with a clean-shaven face. Hmmm. It’s a guy thing methinks.

John is working with his first 2008 Forward Edge team of 21 people from in and around the Portland, Oregon area … and one man from Houston who came last summer. The team arrived here in Managua on Saturday night. They’ve already visited and worked at the school and with the kids in La Chureca (the dump) ... and also at Villa Esperanza, which is a project Forward Edge has undertaken to rescue girls from the dump. It was a great contrast of God’s heart for “what is” and “what will be.” Also, they’ve visited a nutritional center & baby orphanage, as well as the orphanage where our boys lived for the past five years. Tomorrow they will take an hour bus ride to an area outside of Leon and then camp out until Sunday. They plan to build a home for a family (Elifonso, Carmen and their two young sons). This particular area outside of Leon is one of the places the Nicaraguan government relocated people whose homes and total way of life was buried under a mudslide from the rains during Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Forward Edge began work in this area in October 2006 when a team remodeled a church (from branches and tarp … to cinderblock and metal roof). It was through the building of this church that we met Elifonso. While living in black visqueen and branches himself, he took the time to help us remodel the church. And now it is time to help him with his house. Hopefully we’ll have pictures of the team and the construction here soon … or check also at Forward Edge’s website: www.forwardedge.org to find their Nicaragua blog.

More later, but until we get the internet … this is it for now. Thanks for your prayers and concern and communication. Adios … hasta luego~

After ...

A good looking and HAPPY Nahum!

Before ...

Not a great picture, but you can generally see Nahum's silver lined teeth here.