He Never Stops

surrounded by friends!

I'm learning about writing a letter in school so Mom is making me write it in the BLOG!

Dear Friends,
        The thing that I like down here in Costa Rica is the fried chicken. The thing I do not like down here is that we have to speak Spanish!  I would like to tell you all the fun and new things I got to do here.  One day at the new Base, I helped the Electrician and he let me use his extra pieces and he taught me how to weld, IT WAS AWESOME! I get to play drums for worship at our new church. I'm trying to learn how to play guitar.  I decided to get baptized by pastor Pablo in the creek at the old base.  (Mom says I have to tell you what this means to me...) It means that I have a new life in God and God has taken all that old junk and sin out of my life!  I've been helping Mom in the kitchen  A LOT! She likes to let me bake yummy desserts and help her make meals, but not breakfast cause that's her alone time.  I was the first one in my family to go to the dentist here because I had a filling fall out. Now she says I can't eat chewy candy or gum.  Mom is happy about this but I'M NOT! I just learned about my new favorite show ... The Great British Baking Show.  I like it because I like to speak British and I'm really good at it and I like to cook and bake!
       My favorite places we visited are: Pollo Mino (Fried chicken shop), Market and shopping with Mom, Ojo de Agua (swimming), Jaco Beach, Poas' the Volcano, Swimming in a Volcanic Crater in Guatemala, National Children Museum.
       Food that I like: Rice, refried beans, fried chicken, pizza, fried platino, fruit smoothies Mom makes for lunch, cheesy bread from the bread store, and home made tortillas. Food I don't like: Gallo Pinto, avocado, water apples.
      What my normal day looks like: I wake up, I eat breakfast, I play my kindle for 1/2 hour, then I do school, I play car mat with Adam, then I do spelling words and Math, then I eat lunch, then I usually watch a movie or my favorite TV show on Netflix, then I might play car mat again or build legos, we eat dinner, have family time and then we go to bed.  Two afternoons a week I have to study Spanish at Ligia's house which I sort of like because she gives us snacks!
      I miss all my friends back home and sometimes I cry about it because they were the best days of my life.  But, I'm thankful that God brought us here because I made new friends but I really miss my normal life back home. Mom said I should think about a verse to share.  This is one of the verses Mom and I memorized while walking to school last year.  Isaiah 30:21 "This is the way, walk in it!"  I am trying to walk in God's light and never turn away so I don't sink into sin.
                                                                          Love,
                                                                          Jedidiah

this smile melts my heart ...
photo credit, Anita Salas

*And there you have it ... a narrative from my tenderhearted, 9 year old.  Parenting him keeps me humble ... he broke the mold ... life is too short and has to many adventures to sit still for a second ... explorer at heart ... forever friend ... he knows no stranger ... he mourns with those who mourn ... his heart has a constant song ... he pushes the boundaries and charters a new course! Jedidiah Lynn Hoover, I love you just because ... I'm so proud to be your Mama.
   

Mom, she speaks English!

Just like Pop-pop ...
welder, inventor, needs a challenge

Life in the City ...

Johnny Rockets ... Burgers n Fries

Celebrating Daryl (and Delynn's) life with good friends, good food and tears! We saw The Shack (thus, the tears) at a VIP movie theater: leather recliners, menu service and almost all the comforts of home.  It was a much needed night out for Daryl and I ... so thankful for our friends The Gordley's who watched our boys and for Micah having everyone asleep in bed till we got home! ... We had another full week with lots to get done at the new Base: electric, water, kitchen, beds, painting, roof repair ... we continue to thank God for this blessing! ... Daryl is working there every day, he even chose to help last Saturday on his birthday ... Micah and Jedidiah took a break from school to spend a few work days with Dad ... we had our first dentist visit, Jedidiah lost a filling ... we've had many hot days and daily rain showers ... thankful for buckets and towels! ... said good bye to William, our upstairs tenant ... Danced the dance of celebration with all Heaven when a new Mom at El Nido gave her life to God as she asked Jesus to come and take the heavy burden she is carrying http://elnidocr.blogspot.com... my heart is full ... We continue to seek ways to share God's love with the world around us ...

Raising Obedience in our hearts, learning from the boys, growing in God's grace ...

Prayer

Strength and health these next weeks

We have a lot of work ahead of us to get the new Base ready 

House praying for favor

Vehicle ... still looking

Praise

A sweet church fellowship
Communing with Father
Joy and peace in our hearts ... especially the boys!
Thanking God for another year of life for my sweet Hubby
New life at El Nido
Little by little, day by day ... we're learning Spanish and the work is getting done!

Happy birthday to the handsome Gringo ...
Sticky buns to share

American Snacks ... Heredia Jersey

Celebrating Daddy! ... Adam didn't want to wake up

Sore muscles ... long days ... satisfaction ...
Micah hard at work

What to you do when a huge tree falls on your gate? ...
cut it into boards to make bunk beds!

Adam's job ... Patient Samuel

Go Heredia!

Birds eye view

20 ft trench Daryl dug on his B'day ... 

This little man ... he melts Mama's heart!

Balancing Life

Balance ... Steadiness

For everything, there is a season ... these seasons, constantly changing ... the challenge, finding a healthy balance through these seasons of change.  Balance involves steadiness.   Much like life in the States we need to balance family, solitude, ministry, sista's, church, school, outdoor play, study and ... this Mama's biggie ... tech time which inevitably leads to solitude for me! ... and speaking of balance, this blog has been sitting here for a week waiting for me to finish it!

Father is training us in steadiness ... finding that balance.  Many things vie for our attention and distract us from Him. The steadiness He desires is that no matter what change happens, we are aware of HIM in all circumstances.  As soon as something grabs our attention, attempting to throw us off balance, Father desires we talk to Him about it.  He helps us balance whatever is before us ... this is the way of Peace.

Psalm 112:6-8 Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.  

Life in the City ...
The highlight of our week (last week) is obvious, the EMM retreat!  Our Spirits were refreshed and edified like a well watered garden while surrounded by the intense heat and dessert like climate of Chiquimula, Guatemala.  We converged at El Tule from 5 different nations: 5 families, 18 children (13 boys, 5 girls!), 3 brave childcare workers, 1 teacher/encourager/grandpa, and 1 spirited EMM regional representative.  There was someone for everyone.  Within minutes our hearts were Holy Spirit bonded and we were strangers no more.  This Mama's heart was content ... Constant playmates from sunup to sundown, a swimming pool, worship, edification, tears, Spirit lead prayer times, coffee and chocolate with sistas, the momentous climb up the volcano, the refreshing dip in it's rain filled crater, and His constant presence ... Here's to 346 days until the next El Tule! ...

She's all grown up ...
Thanks Smuckers for the treat!

Blessed by a visit from a Stumptown youngin', is she really old enough to be traveling through Costa Rica alone? I'm getting old!
... Early morning Easter celebration: breakfast with our church family, worship practice at 7:30 for Daryl, Jedi and I ... "Aunt Jean's Potatoes" for Easter lunch, tastes of home ... a suitcase of snacks, the biggest "Easter basket" ever received ... Monday April 17th, we officially closed on the New Base, God is SO good! ... We celebrated by making a typical Mennonite dinner for the family we bought the property from, Meatloaf, Green bean casserole, creamed corn, mashed potatoes, and Shoo Fly Pie! ... the work has begun in getting the new base ready for the students to return the first week in May ... there is plenty of work for everyone, feel free to stop by anytime and help! ... our beloved Volcano, Poas, is closed due to spewing large rocks and gaseous fumes ... books, beautiful books at the English library ... getting back into school routine after a week away has been challenging especially with the excitement of moving to the new base ... tears as we said goodbye across the miles as my uncle Ken moved to his heavenly home ...
For everything, there is a season ... these seasons, constantly changing ... finding balance and steadiness in life as we seek the Prince of Peace. 

Praise
-First official date night Friday 4/21 to celebrate Daryl's birthday 4/22 ... thankful for the Gordley's keeping our mighty men
-Closing on the New base
-Safe travels to Guatemala and back home
-Health and life
-Sweet connections and opportunities to share our heart bilingually
-English books

Prayers
-Balancing life, keep our focus on Him, steadiness
-Vehicle purchase
-our next House, closer to the base
-Do not be anxious about anything ...
-Wisdom on school options for Jedidiah
-A special day to celebrate Daryl's life this Saturday

"Suitcase size Easter basket"

Yes it is ... Shoo Fly pie in Costa Rica

The Heavens declare the work of HIS hands ...
storm clouds, blue skies ... window into Heaven 

14 year olds in El Tule

Dessert of Guatemala ... dust storm ...
mighty men on the move

lined up in age order ... without talking ...
creative child care workers

100 degrees ... keeping cool in the shade

three musketeers 

3/4 of the mighty men in El Tule

third world culture ... no seat belts
... ride to the top

warming up in the Guatemalan sun

swimming in the crater ... sand castle from volcanic ash

swimming in the crater ... cool water ... warm sun

watching airplanes ... just like daddy ... hours of entertainment

Café, Chocolate and Chicharrónes

Men vs Women ... Meat vs Chocolate ...

They have Peppermint Mocha!

I don't often use stereotypes however it brings me great joy to share the difference between our "Man-date and Sista time" this week!  Daryl spent three full days jaunting around Costa Rica with Delynn ... it's not what you know but who you know!  Daryl experienced the organized jumble of details which unfold daily in Delynn's mind, amazing! God's call is clear ... to support Delynn by helping to organize those details and help him thrive in ministry.  An important part of male bonding should always involve enjoying the delicacies of some choice MEAT ... Chicharrónes of course! Although these days were not technically a man-date, I chose to use this word due to the male bonding that took place and ... this word has always made me chuckle!

For the purposes of this blog, I've chosen to contrast their days with the Sista time I had with Gloria this week. Our journey started with a visit to deliver donations to another El Nido in Guadalupe. Next, what's a sista to do when the grocery store has a Starbucks right outside? Well, two sista's with a lot to talk about in a relational culture would obviously choose to order a beverage of choice and for certain it would contain some form of chocolate!  Laughter, chocolate and sharing a window into each others world ... somewhere in the mix of laughter and sharing, groceries were bought and delivered and before I knew it I was whisked away on a bus heading home to my mighty men who already had supper started.  Sista time, coffee and chocolate ... always good for my soul!

The highlight of this week for the boys is our impending plane ride to Guatemala in "T minus 20 hours" ... currently 1/4th of these mighty men are sleeping (10:40p.m.)!  This week we made a family decision to turn technology off after supper time ... they all agreed to this and this week proved the test.  There were a few moments of melt down because "there is nothing to do" however all agreed this opened the door for more family time.  I'm so proud of them!

Life in the City ...
Heat, oh glorious heat ... thanking God for a few cloudy afternoons and for wash that dries in less than an hour! ... cafe and tortillas with Ligia, always a blessing ... giving directions to the pizza

Stop licking your hands!

delivery guy when we don't have a house number ... He called, we stood outside, he delivered, we ate! ... didn't know our house was an old veterinary clinic, this apparently is very useful information when giving directions! ... Hopeful as we looked at another property, not sure if this is the house for us, but certain God is our provider ... Yearly tradition making Peanut butter and Coconut cream eggs! ... Yeah, a video call with Uncle Jeeg ... Enjoyed supper with friends celebrating her completion of school ... Mama's highlights for the week: Coffee and conversation with my sweet hubby, Micah made breakfast, Jedi made dessert, Joseph shared his guitar with Jedi, Adam's hugs, Spanish and sweet smile, I drove for the first time in CR ... Our bags packed, tickets in hand, ready for some English fellowship in Guatemala ... James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

 He is our provider ... He is good ... He does not change ...

Prayers
EMM retreat in Guatemala
the Vida220 teams are in Honduras this week
William family situation ... he's our upstairs resident and friend
House, Vehicle

Praises
Male bonding and Sister sharing
Health
Family time
Homemade Stromboli

Possible housing ... interesting color selection ...
thankful it's only outside ...

soccer field outside this colorful house

Triage at El Nido

Faces of El Nido ...

In my previous life as a Labor and Delivery Nurse I have often lamented how difficult it is to care for multiple patients in Triage who are walking through very different experiences in the birth process.  During a 12 hour shift I could experience new life, death, infertility, a multiples birth, unwanted life, a life longed for and lost, an abundance of family support and the honor of supporting the one who is walking through life alone.  I witnessed determined strength, unrelenting pain, a quiet resolve that what must be, must be and the anguished cry of the birth process gone awry, out of one's control. At times a 12 hour shift in Triage can leave your soul feeling war torn and weary.  Even so, I miss life in the L/D world!  I long to share these moments where miracles happen as Heaven meets earth ... God in His faithfulness is providing these moments as I learn about the lives changed by God's work in El Nido!  Thursday I had the privilege of spending these moments with Gloria and hearing her heart as she's trains me to be a counselor. I invite you to experience three hours at El Nido as I relate them to the "Triage rooms" in my L/D world ...

Triage room 101: "Rosa" is due this week and will be induced this weekend if she doesn't go into labor before.  She is surrounded by a host of women to walk this journey with her ... her Mom, G'ma, Aunt, Cousins ... etc.  Her countenance, in spite of occasional contractions, was one of peace in contemplating the birth of her first child.  We talked about ways she can teach her new babe about God's love, the changes her body is starting to experience, we prayed for her, felt the life moving inside her, and sent her on her way full of anticipation.

Triage room 108: "Carlita" came to El Nido today with her friend because she is 5 months pregnant.  In God's perfect timing, Gloria's next client was a 'no show' so we were able to do Carlita's intake and hopefully get her connected with a counselor. She is 14 years old, living with her 20 year old boyfriend and not involved with her family.  She is timid, shy, and uncertain of who she is yet she made a positive choice for her baby and her life by coming to El Nido. God give us wisdom ... We were left with a heavy heart and needed God's wisdom for direction.

Triage visit ... "Maria" doesn't need a triage room, she just stopped in to say hi and tell us all the positive things happening in her life since her time with El Nido.  Her twin boys are already 2 years old, she just got married, she has a job 2 days a week at a local bakery, her husband's Fried Chicken restaurant is doing well (Pollo Mino happens to be our boys favorite chicken place, they ask for it every time we drive by!), and she is starting night school a few evenings a week ... Just like at work, these visits here at El Nido are always so sweet and full of life! Maria then told us of her cousin Carlita, who is 14 and pregnant. OK, another God moment ... She told us their equivalent of CYA is involved and Carlita is going to be living with her Grandparents.  God was already working in this situation ... help us Father to support Carlita, show her Your perfect love and help her be the best Mama she can be!

Lord, I come, I confess ... Bowing here I find my rest ... Without You I fall apart ... You're the One that guides my heart ... Lord, I need You, oh, I need You ... Every hour I need You ...My one defense, my righteousness ... Oh God, how I need You ... As I drove to work and now walk to El Nido, this song by Matt Maher continues to be the cry of my soul.

Life in the City ... Praises

Adam's "Friend Girl"
at church ...

I was introduced to the largest Costa Rican Goodwill I have ever seen ... ummm, this could be trouble ... who doesn't love a good bargain! Staff dinner and laughing ourselves silly as we played a bilingual form of Pictionary and Charades ... Worship practice and subsequent playing on Sunday morning worship team for Daddy and Jedidiah ... Shopping for maturity clothes for a friend, how many bargains could we find ... saying "see ya later" to the Heredia/Honduras team as they left for Honduras ... we miss them already, so thankful for their companionship, fellowship and growing belly! ...  Daddy's creativity in teaching Jedidiah math, it's all about the challenge! ... Home school co-op connections, can't even tell you the joy I have ... Saturday Market with Jedidiah thanking God for a 'hand' of 18 bananas for $1.17, just what we need to make a sweet ice cream treat ... Jedidiah loves to shop like I do meandering in and out of stores just to look! ... Sweet Sunday fellowship challenging us to reevaluate family time ... The gift of a borrowed keyboard ... Driving home in a torrential down pour, thankful our little Egg made it home safely only to find our house flooded with water due to leaks in our roof (it hasn't rained since we moved to Heredia in January!) ... Mopping up 25+ gallons of water in our house, thanking God for tile floors, that it was only water and for dry beds ... Homemade ice cream from frozen bananas and pretzels for Sunday night supper, a game of "hide the thimble" and charades ... We have a lot to be thankful for ... Oh the sweetness of being in the center of His will ...

Prayers ... these first three have been encompasing our prayer life ...
-Vehicle
-House
-Language
-Daryl as he spends time with Delynn discerning God's place for him
-EMM retreat next week

Mopping up Sunday's aftermath ...

Lunch on the Veranda ...
our dining room was under water!

Sunday night supper ... Ice cream and pretzels

Home school co-op  

Sweet music for our soul ...