#15 - 14 Years with Alex

He was such a cute boy!  From the moment of conception Alex has fought to get the absolutely most possible out of life.  When I was on bed rest and we were not sure he would make it, He lived.  When he was born nearly 6 weeks early (he was supposed to be a Christmas baby), he fought.  The nurses in NICU regularly commented on the fact that they knew this boy wanted to live.

And then as we watched his personality develop, we knew that God gave us Alex to keep us young, laughing, and savoring life.  Not a moment passes by that Alex doesn't choose to grab on to the positive, find a reason to laugh, and savor the moment.  My prayer is that he never loses this love of life.  God has great things planned for him and it is fun watching him grow into the man God wants him to be!

Happy 14th birthday!

#14 - Mornings with Time for Breakfast

I know I am in charge of my mornings, but I don't always make wise choices before I am totally awake.  Many, many mornings I prefer to hit snooze, linger under the warm covers and then in the warm shower (When they work, I love the hot water heaters here in Spain - they are tankless and you never run out of hot water).  Eventually, I am dressed and realize I don't have time to savor a cup of coffee or linger at the table, but instead I have to grab a cookie and a a juice box and run out the door.

But today, caffeine from last night won out and I was the first one up.  I did manage a long shower and then downstairs with time for an uninterrupted quiet time, a slow cup of coffee (I like my coffee really hot and if you are in a hurry this isn't a wise thing), my favorite breakfast cookie (yes, breakfast cookies are acceptable in Spain and these are oatmeal with chocolate), time to catch up on blogging, and then some Spanish grammar (tell me what I am doing that - I have a 3 hour Spanish grammar class this morning, isn't that enough?).

So, I am not sure today I am thankful for slow mornings or caffeine the night before.  But I'll just be thankful.

And ladies, you'll relate to this one - an extra thankful thing today is for American sized tights (you know, old fashioned panty hose).  For some reason, tights you buy in Spain have plenty of leg room, but not enough room for my gluteus maximus.  If I wear Spanish tights I feel like I spend the whole day pulling them up and ya'll know how annoying that can be.  But today as I got dressed, I pulled out a pair of tights that Shelby brought me when she came with the NC team in October and I smiled.  So thank you Shelby for the little things like tights that are in American size.

#13 - Special K Cereal with Dark Chocolate

So it is nearly midnight and I have been writing conditional sentences in Spanish for the past two hours.  I had a couple chicken fingers around 9:00, but I am still hungry.  And what do I eat at this time of night that I won't regret eating in about an hour?  After quietly scouring the kitchen (cause everyone else is asleep) I found the box of Special K Cereal.  Not any ordinary box of Special K Cereal, but the kind with curls of dark chocolate.  So i can proclaim that I am having a healthy "midnight snack" (anything that is called Special K has to be healthy), but in reality I am just praying every bit has more chocolate than cereal in it. 

FYI - no I am not eating it with milk, but instead just dry with a spoon and an apple juice box on the side. 

#12 When Common Sense Loses

Saturday we decided to head west to a town called Talavera.  It is known for its pottery and we wanted to get a head start on Christmas shopping.  The weather wasn't fabulous for a day of exploring, but the rain had stopped so off we went.  Of course, what kind of day of exploring would it be without chocolate and churros, so our first stop was at a chocolateria and then we hit the shops.  We were blessed that a fellow pastor had told us where to go for the best deals.  We wandered in and out of several stores and made several purchases.  Then back in the car for a drive through look at the center of town and to find lunch.  We settled on McDonald's (I know, living on the wild side).  As we headed home we passed the exit for Lidl (kind of like Aldis) and decided to turn around and grab a few things from there.  So far common sense is winning, but then we see a castle off in the distance.  Just ask Alex - all days of pueblo exploring have to include either a castle or a church, and so far we had seen neither.

We asked the clerk at Lidl how to get to the castle, but her directions didn't seem accurate (don't ask me why we foreigners thought we knew better than the native), so we took off following our own ideas.  Well, we would get close, sort of, but not close enough.  We drove on dirt roads, through parking lots, and made several turn arounds.  Finally, we gave up.  We were heading home, via the directions the clerk gave us, of course.  And then we saw one more road - it led under the interstate (the whole problem we had been having to begin with) and appeared to go in the right direction.  Common sense said "Quit!  Go home!"  (I think we might have heard Alex say that too), but we tried once more.  And guess what?  We found it - or at least the base of it.  You can't drive to it - you have to hike to it.

And then once again, common sense failed.

Because yes, I was wearing dress boots.  

And yes, this is the rainy season - and yes, it had been raining here for days - and yes, Spain is not known for lots of grass, and yes, they build castles on the top of hills.

And yes, if you climb up that muddy hill in dress boots, you have to walk back down that hill in the same shoes.

But why not?  It's only a little mud and after nearly an hour of wandering to find this castle, common sense must lose and fun must win!  I made it to the top and back down without falling.  My boots were a mess (as were everyone else's shoes) and had to be removed and put in a bag instead of worn in the car.  But it was a gem of a castle - deserted and not preserved - but you could go inside and up a few of the stairs.  

It was fun.  We laughed a lot.  We conquered the "lost castle" and enjoyed some time together as a family.  There was a time in my life (not so long ago) that I would not have let common sense lose - and I am thankful that I have lightened up a little and can truly enjoy those days of just doing the crazy thing.  Wonder where we will find ourselves on our next day of exploring (and what shoes I will be wearing)?

#11 - Church Via Internet

I know, I know - we are church planters and we are here to start a new church - but we still yearn for time in a church to be fed with the Word of God and to worship and pray and be surrounded by fellow believers.  Eventually, in Illescas will be a group of believers with whom we worship together, but before then, what does church look like for us.

We actually are part of the Cristo Vive church in San Fernando.  We love the people and the pastor and the worship time.  They have opened their arms and made us feel just like we are at home and we know the day will come that it will be hard to say goodbye.  So for today we are blessed by and grateful for this congregation, but.... It is all in Spanish.  It is work to go to church.  We can worship in Spanish and feel like we have worshiped from our hearts.  But when it comes to prayers and sermons, we have to work to understand.  We cannot just sit back and absorb and apply.  Often, by the time my brain has translated what the pastor has said and realized he is saying something I really need to hear, I have just missed the next two points or the full explanation.

So after much prayer and searching, I found what works for my heart.  Each Sunday morning I get up and fix breakfast for the family (love that church doesn't start until 11 here).  While I am fixing breakfast I watch Church at Viera.  It is not just the audio, but it is also the video of the pastor preaching.  I am able to feel like I am sitting in the service (now if I could just hear the worship music too).  It feeds my soul and heart in my heart language - English.  Then, as I go to worship in Spanish I am already filling like God has been filling my heart with His word and I don't feel the pressure to take it all in.  I can sit back and rest in what God helps me understand and not stress over what I have missed.  Each Sunday, I get a little closer to feeling like the Spanish version of a sermon is filling, but until then (and probably after that) I am thankful for the many churches who broadcast their services in a video format - for everyone who can't be there, but especially for missionaries serving in other lands in other languages.

Perhaps today I should send a thank you note to the Church at Viera instead of just blogging about it.  Maybe that is the point of this whole month - maybe I should be expressing these thank yous a little more often and little more directly. Hmmm, something to ponder.

#10 - Cellophane Tape

I am determined (and praying hard) that  I will pass the DELE (the Spanish proficiency exam) in May (May 24 to be exact).  My life revolves around Spanish verb conjugations and periphrases (if you don't know what that is - don't worry - I didn't know the name for them either - but they are phrases that always go together and don't usually mean what they literally say).  The joke in the house is that I am wallpapering the kitchen with Spanish rules.  But the problem with wallpaper is that it is permanent - so today I am thankful for cellophane tape - tape that sticks, but isn't permanent.  It gives me hope that I won't be permanently studying all these finite details (just new ones).

(Sara and Joanne Wood - if you are reading this you would be proud) All around my kitchen are things I need to work on, and each time I come across something I should have already mastered, it gets added to the cabinets.

When I wash dishes I get to study verb conjugations - the names of the tenses and when each one is used.  The long paper on the left is the conjugation of haber - one day that conjugation is just going to flow from my head without thinking, including all the irregularities!  (Haber is to have and it is used in combination with lots of other verbs to say things like "I had gone to the store or I am having fun or .....) 

Every time I get coffee or tea I see Preterite vs Imperfect - oh my!  Someone just shoot me and explain to me why we need two past teneses - why can't we just say it has already happened.  But in Spanish you have a past tense for things completed and things that are habitually done/repeated, but in the past.  I finally get most of the conjugations, now to master when to use one tense or the other.  

And while I cook - I get to compare SER and ESTAR (yep, two verbs that mean to be but are used at different times) and when to use Subjuntivo (the hardest verb tense to master according to not only all the foreigners, but the Spaniards - used for things you hope for or wish for or desire or that aren't real).  And when I can take no more - directly over the stove are lots of Bible verses in Spanish.  

#9 - Friends that Bring Tears

The Rountree Family

Looking at the label for today's thank you makes me sound a little crazy.  But it is true, I am thankful for those friends that when I stop and think of them or see a picture of them, they tug on my heart strings strong enough to bring tears.  This morning was one of those times.  I was flipping through facebook posts and there was a post of a young lady who I have watched grow up over the years.  Her parents hold a special spot in my heart and as I read through the comments to the picture tears spilled.

These kinds of friends are hard to come by.  Friendships that span the size of the Atlantic Ocean are rare and treasured.  Not every friendship can survive this distance and I am truly blessed to have a handful of relationships that have.  One of the hardest things of life in a foreign country is how long it takes to make friends.  It's hard to make friends with people you can't talk to (although God has just recently blessed up with fantastic neighbors with whom we are becoming friends, as well as some other relationships in town).  There are some lonely days, yet this handful of friends makes it a little easier.  They email, facebook chat, comment on your photos, send care packages, skype, and more.

I am thankful that God created us to need relationships - both with Him and with others.  I am very thankful that God gave me friends who reach across an ocean, and the thought of them can still bring tears to my eyes.

#8 - Seasons

Today in class my language teacher asked me whether I preferred the climate of Spain or North Carolina.  I answered I prefer the winter of Spain (It's shorter) and the rest of the year I prefer North Carolina.  As I sit in my kitchen and look outside at the dreary sky I am definitely thankful for Seasons. If I knew I lived in a place that was cold, rainy, and dreary (like today) the majority of the year I would be terribly depressed (and fat because I would never go outside).  If I lived in a place that was 100+ all year I'd be miserable as well.  And although I constantly proclaim that when I retire I intend to live somewhere that is 75 degrees every day, I would definitely miss the sights, sounds, and smells of spring and fall.  So, I guess I'll bury myself in my blanket, put on a cup of tea, and be thankful for the fact that winter (oh wait, this is officially fall) won't last forever.

The dreary, gray view from my kitchen window.

#7 - Partners

It is a cold dreary day here in Illescas.  From the moment we woke up you could feel the dampness in the air.  The temperatures are in the 40's and the sun is hiding.  We went to class and to the grocery store and to a second hand store (I am looking for an inexpensive, used sewing machine - only needs to sew straight lines, nothing fancy), came home to a warm home, had a home cooked meal, and sat around the table as a family.  Now I find myself curled up under a blanket, brownies in the oven, water heating for a cup of tea, computer in my lap, and homework staring me in the face.  I am blessed!

All this is possible because of our financial partners, for whom today I give thanks.

www.send.org

We live in Spain and have (or had until October 1 and are waiting on the renewal) residency status that allows us to live in Spain, but not work. And by the way, we are not independently wealthy, either.  We are here to work with the evangelical church and to serve the people of Spain.  First we are learning Spanish and then we will teach English, cooking, crafts, Bible studies, and more.  Through these and other activities, we will be starting a new evangelical church.  But if we can't work and we aren't independently wealthy, the question becomes "so how do we survive?"

We live on faith.  More than 125 people, businesses, and churches have committed, by faith, to financially support us.  We do not take the sacrifice of these for granted.  We know there are 1000s of places they could choose to spend their money, and yet they have chosen to support us.  Many have lost their jobs or had unexpected crises in their lives, and yet they have continued to be faithful in their giving.  We know that each dollar that is given through SEND to us is a sacrifice.

For each of you who repeatedly choose to sacrifice on our behalf and thus allow us to continue to serve God in Spain, today we publicly say

THANK YOU!

#6 - Laughing Along the Way

I'll admit it.  I am lazy.  Given the choice between walking somewhere and driving somewhere, I'll almost always choose drive.  Now dont' get me wrong, I like to walk, just for the sake of walking.  But walk to a destination and carry my stuff as well, no thank you.  I am also a fair weather walker - I like to walk when it is 70 degrees - 85 is too hot - 50 is too cold.  I don't want to have to wear a coat while I walk and I don't want to sweat.  I know, picky, picky.  You won't be the first to tell me so.

But, regardless of my preferences, I walk most days to language class.  Today the sun was shining so I didn't wear a coat, making it a little better.  Unfortunately it was a little cool to go without - but on the way home the weather was perfect.

Today as I walked home I realized how many things I saw along the way that made me laugh, things I would have missed if I drove.  So today, I am thankful for the "little" things I have passed over the past few days as I walk to and from school.  Here are just a few to let you laugh with me.

• This morning (and yesterday afternoon) I passed a rooster sitting on a wall.  Yes, we live in the city - although we are on the outskirts.  Apparently farm animals are legal in the city limits of Spain.
• I passed a man who had to be more than 80 years old this morning, sitting on his front porch playing a recorder.  Yeah, the kind the kids learn to play in school.
• Last week as Scott and I walked to class one morning we passed a grandmother and child calling for "??."  I can't remember the name - but it was a name used for people, so we both assumed they were calling for another child.  But as we went around the corner here comes  a big dog.
• Today as I walked up to a major intersection there was a couple making out (ok, not everything has made me laugh) - and I mean MAKING OUT.  All of a sudden, he came up for air and realized his bus was at the bus stop, which was on the corner diagonally from the corner we were on.  He lets out a yell, grabs his bag, and darts across the intersection, yeah jay walking, without looking, waving his arms at the bus driver, and yelling.  Of course several cars are now blowing their horns at him and I can see the bus driver just shaking his head.
• Every day I pass a set of triplets - two boys and a girl.  They are probably 4 or 5 years old and are always running ahead of the dad.  The girl has red hair and it is almost always in pig tails.  I can't help but laugh and smile every time I pass her.
• This summer I met 3 sisters at the English class we offered in the park.  They range in age from 6ish to 10ish.  The two youngest are both missing front teeth and the oldest has this sly little smile.  They remembered me and every day they wave or speak and I say back "hola chicas."  Nothing like being recognized and remembered when you live in a foreign country, especially when it is not because of how bad you messed up your language the last time you were around them. 

#5 A Spouse Who Is Flexible

Today Scott and I swapped roles.  We both hope to pass the DELE Exam in May and realized that meant we would need to be flexible in schedules and roles between now and then.  SEND suggests that one spouse go to school full time and the other part time, to allow time for all the domestic tasks.  Up until now, Scott has been the full time spouse and I have been the part time, but today all that changed.  For the month of November I will go full time and Scott will pick up a greater share of the domestic responsibilities.  I am grateful for a spouse who is flexible with responsibilities and is willing to cook, clean, shop, and even clean a bathroom.

Today he cooked Tuscan Chicken Stew.  Yum!

Ingredients

• 8 skinless chicken thighs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 2 red peppers, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (28 ounce) cans peeled tomatoes
• 2/3 cup dry white wine
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano or 1 large fresh oregano sprigs, chopped
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• salt and pepper
• 4 sprigs oregano (optional)

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a non-stick skillet until hot, not smoking. Saute the chicken in the oil until brown. Remove chicken from the pan and reserve. Add the onions and peppers to the pan and cook 3 to 5 minutes until soft but not browned. Add minced garlic.
2. Carefully drain tomatoes reserving liquid in a cup or bowl. Mash the tomatoes into a thick paste – more concentrated than tomato sauce but not as thick as tomato paste.
3. Add chicken, tomatoes, wine and oregano to the onions and peppers. Simmer 30 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. If the pan becomes dry, add a little of the reserved tomato liquid. Do so sparingly.
4. Add cannelloni beans to the pan, and simmer another 5 minutes until hot.
   Recipe from www.food.com

#4 - Tastes of America

The food in Spain is great.  We have encountered very little food we don't like, but there are times we just yearn for something familiar and comfy.  I am grateful that we have access to some of these tastes (although I really want an Outback Steak and Baked Potato right now - which is totally inaccessible).

This weekend Alex and I had lunch at Kentucky Fried Chicken (after waiting in line 30 minutes because it is a favorite of the Spaniards as well) and then last night we had Domino's (not quite the same and it has a place for you to sit and eat in the restaurant - but pretty darn close!).  This morning I went to our "American cabinet" (where we store all the wonderful gifts we have received from family and friends) and pulled out muffin mixes.  Tomorrow it is back to a Spanish diet, but for the weekend, we will be grateful for the tastes of home we have found.

#3 - People & Things that Stand in the Gap

One of (many) things that is difficult about life overseas is the distance from our children.  I know, when a child goes off to college you all parents don't get to see them daily or know everything that goes on in their child's life, but it is different when there is an ocean between you.  You no longer have the option of popping in for lunch on a Saturday, offering to do their laundry, dropping everything and visiting when you hear distress in their voice, watching a football game together, or even sending fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.  I know there are parents who are living in the US who sent their children off to other parts of the country and miss out on many of these things as well, so I'm not saying I am the only one in such a situation, but it is hard.

I'd love to bake Hannah a batch of her favorite cookie or muffin and drop them in the mail (but it would cost a ridiculous amount of money and take so long to arrive they would be growing something).  I miss her calling home and saying I need my winter things - instead she called my parents to bring her fuzzy socks.  I miss helping her figure out how to go to the doctor because she says she needs new glasses - instead I told her to call one of our college friends.  I miss walking around Hillsborough street with college classes in and experiencing the atmosphere of college with her (just not the same in July before students arrive).  I dearly missed moving her into college (although I can't say I missed toting all that stuff up to the 3rd floor).  I have missed chatting with her - sitting in front of the computer screen is a great back up, but just not the same as a light hearted conversation.

I think Hannah would say she misses these things too, especially since she is counting the days until she arrives back at home.

But God is good and faithful!  We are not on this journey alone.  He has placed people and new inventions in our paths that help bridge this gap.  And for these I am deeply grateful.  My mama's heart is soothed by those people who have stood in the place where I cannot be.

Here are just a few:

Christine Linderman and her friend took a side trip to Raleigh this past week.  They walked Hillsborough Street together, laughed and caught up, and making it all the more special to me - skyped me from the sidewalk.  Others have "checked on" Hannah for me as they find their way in the direction of NCSU.  My aunt Carol and her friend Phyllis drove from Florida to NC to visit with my parents (an annual trip) and after 12+ hours in the car one day, found themselves in the car the next morning so they could take Hannah to lunch.  I am very grateful for those who make the campus visits in my place.

Care packages are essential to the life of a college student.  Joanne Schulze has taken on the task of mailing Hannah some fabulous care packages.  Hannah says when she sees the box is from Joanne she knows good times are ahead.  One box included a chia pet - which has sense been named, featured on skype conversations and facebook posts, and even prompted Alex to experience a little jealousy and want one of his own here in Spain.  SEND sent a care package to all college MKs.  When the team was here in October I was able to send a care package to her via their suitcases and then Lea helped get it delivered.  Thank you for all who help Hannah's mailbox not be eternally empty.

 Football games are part of the college student life.  Kevin and Ashley invited Hannah to tailgate with them for one of the home games.  Knowing that she didn't know their family really well they even insisted she bring a friend.  What a fabulous treat - home cooking, lots of laughter, and being a part of the college life that she was without.

Shopping - what college girl would turn down a chance to go shopping?  Over fall break Mary and Joanne took Hannah and Dena shopping.  Although she did some picking of things she really needed, she had a lot of fun being silly.

 My parents have been fabulous at standing in the gap for us - even digging through the things she left at their house and delivering fuzzy socks to keep her feet warm.  They have repeatedly stood in the gap for us - taking Hannah to college, loaning her a car to visit friends, giving her a place to call home and a permanent address to put on paperwork, and more.  

 

Carol and Steve live in Raleigh.  Carol and their daughter Anika took Hannah to lunch one Saturday - just because weekends on campus can be long and boring.  Carol has helped Hannah find an eye doctor, and if need be, will help with transportation as well.  It's th elittle things that people remember and help with that bring tears to my eyes and fill my heart with gratitutde.

 

And then of course, I am grateful for Magic Jack phones that have allowed me to just chat on the phone with Hannah as if we lived in the same city.  I'm also grateful for Skype that gives me a glimpse of her face regularlly as wella s the sites around here and iphones tha tallow us to text daily without costing a ton, email and facebook to allow us to experience a little more, and so much more.

 

So today I am grateful for all of you (even those I did not mention) that have stood in the gap for this mama, making the distance just a little easier to bear.

#2 - One on One Days

Scott is at a conference for missionaries and pastors so Alex and I are having a couple days of mother/son time.  Together we planned our day - first we had chocolate and churros (yum!), then we went shopping (ok - so this was my addition, but at least it was shopping for him).  After that we rode the Teleférica of Madrid, which landed us in Casa de Campo Park - one of the larger parks in Madrid.  We walked and he climbed trees.  Then we drove to Kentucky Fried Chicken (yep, that is what happens when you let a 13 year old choose where to have lunch).  We thought it would be easier to go to a stand alone KFC than one in a mall - little did we realize that meant I would be driing straight down Gran Via - one of the major, busy streets in Madrid.  But God took care of that too - cause my other addition to the day was to go to Bricor and get a television cable so we could rearrange the living room furniture.  When we found KFC and a Cortes Ingles parking deck nearby - we discovered that there was a mini Bricor uder the store and it had what we needed.  No need to stop on the way home.  Finally at home - we rearranged furniture (and I like the way it looked so we don't have to move it back) and now we are watching a movie and studying spanish.  What a great day!

As I watching Alex hang from trees I knew that today I would give thanks for those rare days when I get to spend uninterrupted time with one of the kids (or Scott).  I am thankful for those days that we get to slow down, laugh, and play.  I definitely plan to put a few more of these in the schedule!

 

 

 

Thankfulness Challenge, Revisited

Two years ago I challenged myself to write a blog post each day listing something for which I was grateful.  I re-read those posts tonight and am ashamed to say, it has probably been two years since I was that intentional in being grateful.  So, I am revisiting that challenge.  For the month of November, I intend to find at least 30 things for which I am grateful.  This should be easy - I am blessed above all measure - yet, sometimes it is easier to complain about what I don't have.  Will you be intentional with me as well?  Check back here and leave a comment for what you give thanks.

#1 - I am grateful for the relationship between Alex and Scott.

Although they can drive me totally insane when we are out and about, I love the fact that they can goof off and rough house with each other.  It was cute to watch when Alex was little - but he is almost as tall as Scott now and he gives Scott a run for his money.  (A note to Hannah - come home soon - I need someone who will just walk on the sidewalk with me - no need to jump, twirl, duck, walk backwards, etc).

Pollo a la Santanderina

My favorite Spanish chicken dish - easy to cook and always a hit.

• 1 whole chicken (or parts - I use about 8 - 10 pieces of chicken)
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, cut in about 8 - 10 wedges
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced thinly
• 2 red peppers, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons brandy (optional)
• 1/2 c white wine
• olive oil
• salt

1. Clean the chicken pieces and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Cover the bottom of a frying pan with oil and add the chicken.  Brown the pieces, then remove to a paper towel to drain.
3. In the same oil, saute the onions, carrots, peppers, and garlic until tender.
4. Put the vegetables in a dutch oven/soup pot (spoon out - because you want to reuse the oil one more time).  Add the chicken to the dutch oven.
5. Add the wine and brandy to the frying pan and heat well - allowing the drippings to come off the bottom of the pan.
6. Pour on top of vegetables and chicken.
7. Cover the mixture and cook on top of the stove about an hour (until chicken is done and vegetables are very tender.
8. Remove the chicken from the pot.
9. Use an immersion mixer and puré the vegetables and sauce into a "cream of vegetable" soup type texture.
10. Return the chicken to the soup.
11. Serve with bread.

Problem with Perfectionism

I know - it has been forever since I posted.  Over the past month life has moved faster than I could keep up and unfortunately the blog lost in the line of priorities.  I have so many blog posts floating around in my head that I could probably write for an entire day and still not be caught up.  Hopefully over the next week or so I'll get some more of them down, but for now - we'll just take it one post at a time.

"Perfectionism, in psychology, is a personality disposition characterized by an individual striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high performance standards, accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others' evaluations."  

Some of you who have known me forever just read that and said "that describes her perfectly."  I had the same reaction.  I have always been a perfectionist.  I have always set high standards and usually have achieved them.  I graduated from high school in the top 10 students (out of 500+), I graduated from college with honors and a GPA of higher than a 3.75, and I graduated from seminary with the same GPA while working, raising 3 children, being married, and driving nearly 2 hours each way to class.  

I have driven my co-workers (and husband) crazy at times.  Shoot, I've driven myself crazy at times!  But I'd say, most of the time this perfectionist trait has benefited me.  It has proven to be the push behind surviving and reaching my goals.  It is a great benefit when organizing large events or handling tasks that require attention to every detail.  But this week it really hit home how this attitude hurts as well.

I am not blessed with the gift of learning a new language.  I have to work for every new word and every new conjugation (and Spanish has thousands) and every new pronunciation.  I think I am making progress.  I have learned to survive and can even usually accomplish my daily tasks.  But then, put me in a situation where I think I am being evaluated (whether I really am or not) and I know no Spanish.  

For example, last Sunday in church I had to introduce our guests and I stumbled over the 10 words I said and half were wrong.  Why?  I panicked because the team leader of the language and orientation program was there and in my mind he was "evaluating" my language when he probably wasn't even thinking about it.  Then later this week I was in a group class and every time I went to speak I first looked at the teacher to see if she was nodding yes or no.  (She pointed this out to me later when she was asking "why do you talk in long, fluid sentences and communicate well when it is just you and I and yet in a class of all learners you stumble with 3 word sentences?")

I realized this week that perhaps, needing to be "perfect" in my language may actually keep me from ever being fluent.  How do I overcome this?  I have no idea.  All I know is that I am tired of tears falling over Spanish, tired of freezing when needing to speak, and tired of fearing I will never pass the DELE (the proficiency exam we must pass).  I know that God's grace is sufficient and that I can do all things through HIS strength.  

My goal this week?  To rest a little more in His grace and a lot less in myself.  

Hannah's Room

Yep, even though she is the states at college, we still have a room she can call hers.  When she is not here we'll enjoy the use for a guest room (or a spouse run away room when the other is "sleeping" just a little too loud).  The curtains need hemming and the rug needs to be a little bigger and it needs some pictures - but there are no boxes, no tools, and it feels good when you walk into it.  Actually, what I really need is an interior decorator to now come behind me and add the pretty touches.  Anyone interested in a trip to Spain to decorate?

School for Alex

Many have asked "why don't you know where Alex is going to school?"  So, I thought I would do a primer on school registration in Spain.  At first, it is easy to proclaim that the process is just crazy, but the further into it you wade, the more it "makes sense" in a Spanish sense  We are learning to say "it's different" and embrace the difference without the comparison to what is natural for us.  It sure is a lot less stressful with that mindset.

So, back to school registration.  We knew at the end of last school year Alex would not return to school where he attended last year, but did not know where he would attend.  Lacking the name of a new school we were required to accept a position in his old school - just in case something didn't go as planned he would be guaranteed a spot.

Then, when we finally had a house rented in our new town we began the registration process here.  We gathered all our paperwork and went to the school of our choice and turned it in (this was July 10).  They told us to come back the first week of September to see where we had been assigned.  Side note:  Unlike in the US, you are not assigned a  school based on your address, you are assigned a school based on where there is a vacancy.  You will get a school in your town - but you could pass 10 other schools on the way to yours.  Here in Illescas there are only two choices, so we knew we would get one of those, just not sure which.

Now we were able to officially un-enroll him from his previous school (which by the way was required before we enrolled him in a new school - makes sense, can only be enrolled in one school).  Scott filled out the paperwork relinquishing his place in original school, but again, because we did not have a new school assignment, only a portion of the process could be completed.  They could not issue a certificate of transfer because no one knew where we were transferring.

We returned the first week of September and was told that they had not made any assignments for students who requested schools during the summer and to return the next week.  We returned the 2nd week of September and were told that assignments had still not been made and that although school officially began in the middle of that week, we should return on Friday.

Alex's New School

Finally, today (Friday) we returned and were given a place in our first choice school.  God is good!  We had decided to not fret over either school, to just rest in His ability to navigate the system without our help.  So, now we have a place, but we are not registered.

We then "bought" our registration packet (only 1 euro to help cover the cost of the official envelope and etc) and sat in a corner and completed the paperwork.  We discovered we were short two things - a picture of Alex (there are picture kiosks everywhere as almost all government paperwork requires a picture) and a certificate of transfer (see above).  So, Alex headed down the street and got his picture while I finished the paperwork, but we were unable to finish the registration process due to lacking the certificate.

Next stop, calling the old school to determine how to get the certificate.  But uh oh, it is nearly noon on a Friday and the lady who processes these certificates only works 9:00 - 11:30 and you must request the certificate in person on one day and pick it up the next.  After explaining we were an hour away the secretary kindly gave us directions for how to request the document via e-mail, but adamantly explained it would still not be available until Tuesday and without proper identification we would not be able to pick it up on Tuesday.

So, email is sent and I have received a confirmation that the form will be ready on Tuesday.  Tuesday I will drive to the old school (with documentation in hand) to pick up his certificate of transfer.  Will hopefully make it back to the new school before the end of the secretary hours to submit his registration paperwork and then we will hold our breath as we wait to hear what the next steps are.

We know we will have to wait to be assigned to a group of students (students stay together all day, teacher's travel) and we will have to purchase all of our textbooks.  We'd love for Alex to start school next Wednesday, only a week late, but we will be excited for him to just attend any next week.

It's all a learning process and a chance to practice lots of Spanish.  It's a chance to stop and learn how Spanish minds think and process.  It's a chance to meet new people.  It's a reminder that life moves slower here and it is ok.  It's a chance to put a little more trust in God.  And mostly, its a reminder that I can fuss and fume because life is not how I am used to, or I can embrace my new culture, love each person I encounter, and be eternally grateful that I am blessed to have the opportunity to live in Spain.  I think I'll chose the latter option.

Check back next week - hopefully the headlines will read Alex Went to School!

Dining Room

 One more room is finished!  Well, finished minus the need for some decorating now - perhaps some kind of area rug and something on the walls - but we have furniture, curtains, and lighting!  Scott did a great job with the Japanese panels, but he is also glad that he is finished with that project!

Office

After two solid days of work I can finally proclaim the office finished (or at least finished minus hanging the curtains and buying an extension cord).  It feels so good to walk into this room and know that it will be possible to be productive again.  I have missed having a work space (other than the end of the dining room table).   Now to attack the expense report!

Loving all those cubbies!  I am an organization fanatic!  Besides, next to impossible to find file cabinets here, so made do with cubbies and boxes!  The desktop computer came with us from the states - after several trips to the shop (wrong power supply for use here) it is great to have it up and running!

The yellow chair quickly folds out into a single bed.
Making room for friends and teams!

Aroma

So, I am a doer!  Anybody who knows me knows that.  Always a to do list, always trying to accomplish something, always needing to see progress.   This is a great trait when you are in a job that requires constant production.  It isn't such a great trait when you enter a season of life that has little to do with WHAT you can visibly accomplish.

And that is the description of this season of language learning and job transition.  There are of course tasks that can be written down and checked off.  Even at times, in a short span of time.  But the majority of this season is about slow progress and unseen accomplishments.

Yesterday, when reading the Bible I came across this verse :

"For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To the one we are the smell of death; to the other the fragrance of life."  (2 Cor 2:15-16)

A refreshing reminder to this "doer."  God is using this season, whether I can see it or not - the question is am I allowing him to use it as a fragrant aroma or a stinky mess.

Laughter

One of the hardest losses when learning a new language is laughter.  In the beginning, my vocabulary was so limited that I couldn't understand enough of a story or a joke to know whether it was funny or not.  Solution, if everyone around you is laughing, then laugh.

Then, as my vocabulary grew, I could follow the conversation, but had to work so hard at translating, by the time I realized it was funny, everyone else was finished laughing and I got some odd looks when I would then laugh.  Of course, the solution was still - laugh when everyone else laughed and pray that it was appropriate to laugh.

Then last night I laughed - at the right time and because I knew it was funny.  Somewhere in the middle of the laughter I realized, "hey, I'm laughing at a funny story that I understand what it is about."  We were at a birthday celebration and another guest was telling a story of when their pool had a leak and they stopped the leak with cinnamon chewing gum.  The story was hilarious and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Later, I realized how much you miss laughing when learning a new language. Laughter is good for the soul, the heart, the mind, and the body.  It is good for my mood and is so encouraging in language learning.  The whole evening seemed to much more fun after starting the evening with true laughter. 

I can't wait for the next "true laughter" moment!

Cars and Bikes

Never bored at the Hunter house!

The temperatures are cooling down and I am once again focusing on losing a little more weight (personal shout out - have lost nearly 20 pounds since arriving in Spain and would like to lose 20 more :) ), so invited Alex to go for a bike ride last night.  Scott is still nursing a hurt back, so he stayed home.  Needless to say, I grew tired way before Alex, so I returned home and he went to do one more time around the block.

Just as I got home my cell phone rang (we require Alex to always wear a helmet and always have his cell phone with him) and I jokingly said "please don't be Alex and he be hurt."  Needless to say it was him and the first words out of his mouth were "I was hit by a car."  My heart stopped beating and I had enough sense to say "are you hurt?"  He assured me he wasn't and told me where he was.

Side note, our car is in the shop - every time you unlock the car the trunk door opens - so we were without a car.  I got back on my bike and Scott started walking.

Sure enough, overall he was ok.  Lots of scrapes and bruises and is sore today, but nothing serious.  However, when we began to converse with the driver of the car, he wanted us to take full responsibility for the accident and pay for the damage to his car (the passenger side window broke when Alex's shoulder hit it and there is a scrape from the bike).  Alex's version of the story at best made the accident the driver's fault, and at worse they both shared fault.  Due to our limited Spanish we called our teammate who joined us at the site.

After more discussion, the driver decided to call the police (this is not required in Spain unless both parties do not agree to the circumstances in an accident).  The police came and after another 30+ minutes of standing on the corner (did I happen to mention I was still in bike clothes - not the clothes I wear with friends and definitely not in public?), the police explained what would happen next:

• we were required to take Alex to the Health Center (aka emergency room in a small town) to be checked
• after the doctor saw him we would need to bring the papers to the police station
• the police would then process the report to the judge (who also does detective work, not just ruling) and the driver's insurance company
• together the judge and insurance company would decide fault and who needed to pay for what

We are so grateful to God that Alex was not seriously hurt - he was coming down a pretty steep hill and could have been seriously injured.  We are grateful for teammates who dropped everything and helped with translation and driving until nearly 11:00.  And we were grateful that Telepizza was still open, because when it was all over we were all starving - dinner hour had been missed.