Tuesday what not thoughts....

Another week to work, to enjoy the sunshine then the coolness and the rain. It's interesting how people can call a rainy day such a yucky day. Granted yesterday was warmer and  people came in the hardware store to shop and made it a good day in many ways. But I think any day is a good day, no matter what the weather. Considering what the people of Oklahoma has been through these past few days, this weather is great! Nor is it hot and humid like Nicaragua. 

I am so blessed to be loved by my family and this weekend we will be celebrating our granddaughter's 5th birthday. She's growing up so quickly and so loving to her little brother.
She enjoys drawing and being silly. I love her laugh. I remember when she was little and not able to talk. She come with her mom and dad. She'd sit in her highchair. While we were eating, she'd just laugh. She was happy. Even now, she gets a little sad when she has to leave our house. We like having her here visiting with us. I just love her so much. She's added another dimension to love in my life. 

My daughter is looking for work, had an interview on Sat. for a nanny position. Today another job interview for a place where they make knives. The company moved the knife making from China back to the states, since it costs too much business to do it overseas! (That's good). A job fair on Thurs. So it's keeping her busy and excited that there is a job possibility soon. She enjoyed her job at the tulip farm but that season is gone now.

 I have slowly been going through photos from Nicaragua. I am sharing a couple with you today...things I brought back with me to the states.

I bought these nice purses, made in Nicaragua, for $10 each, red striped one for my daughter and purple striped one for me. They are lined in black and have two zipped openings.  Other side is just striped material. I've not used mine yet. Wanna wash it first, by hand of course.

Some money I took photos of are 10 cordobas (50 cent) and 50 cordobas ($2) I kept the purple one since on the front it has pottery and that would have been hard to fly home with.  The money looks like I'm rich but in reality, not. But I am in many ways as in, my lifestyle and my job. my car. I count my blessings in many ways. I hope I never lose sight of that.  I'm rich in my relationship with God. And on that note, I'm closing this lap top and going to do my Bible study, fold some clothes, clean kitchen and go to bed. Hugs and blessings, my friends!

Thoughts on Sunday

Life would be flat if there wasn't any music!

I've always loved music. Studied music for a year at Bible college. I enjoy singing and especially singing praises to God in church and on days I have Christian music playing in the car on the way to work, or working in my kitchen. So I was thrilled to see a church reader board in my town with the writing that I just shared.  I love the "Sound of Music" and "Oklahoma" (which was the first musical I saw in junior high, many years ago!)  I have asked a few people what it would be like to just start singing when I'm out in a store....would anybody think I'm weird? Would they sing with me or call security, give me weird looks? I have heard of flash mobs going on. A couple months ago my daughter and I were at a Fred Meyer store on a Friday. They had asked customers to come up front.....we continued to shop in the shoe section. About 10 minutes later, a flash mob dance was happening! Oh my...how funny, how fun?! Sigh!  I like music. It's in my head and in my heart. 

One of my favorites was sung at church today. We sang it beautifully. Then when I was leaving church after interlude of snack and visiting with friends, heard the song again as 3rd service was going on. "Beautiful Things"  I found it on a Youtube to share with you. The music is playing while photos come up of
Finish the Wall project at New Song Mission, in Nicaragua. (click on link) We were there after the project. I enjoy seeing the photos of before and the new. We experienced the new. Enjoy! Find a good song for your heart to sing this week! God bless!

Released!

As of Friday, May 17, the equipment that included solar panels and filtration units for New Song Mission have been released from customs. Unfortunately there was ALOT of money involved in the process and numerous trips to Managua for paper work and hopes of the release. But the saga has a happy ending! Thank you God for hearing our supplications and helping your children in Nicaragua have cleaner, healthier, purified water!  Thank you, my blogger friends, so much for your prayers. We will now commence in the happy dance of joy and sing praises to our God, who reigns as our King and Lord forever!

Trees on Photographic Friday

Coconut trees at New Song Mission. Top one has coconuts that are near picking stage, green ones, in photo below, have longer to go.  Bottom photo is of tree branches shadows. Coolness under them for sure. It's was my first full day in Nicaragua.  I actually ate some coconut from one of these trees on Thursday. Yum. Then later someone made coconut and sugar cookie balls....yummy as well.  Have a great Friday and an even better weekend. God bless!

My Journey Begins to Nicaragua

Aboard a Delta airplane out of PDX, flying above the clouds, Mt. Hood in the background.

Flying over the Wallowa mountains, eastern Oregon.

Ticklish (my stuffed, warm, cuddly travel companion) on board with me, my orange juice, and my hat. I ate my cinnamon roll I bought along with oj at Rose's cafe in airport. I was hungry cuz it was 2:30 a.m. when Don and Belinda picked me up at my house. Two and a half hours of sleep. Tired. Hungry. When I'm awake that early, my tummy says eat.

Fast forward to airplane from Atlanta, GA to Managua, Nicaragua. Ticklish and I are figuring out forms for temporary migration into Nicaragua. A whole new world for us!

Sunset out the airplane window.

Our taxi driver of van we rode in from the Managua airport to New Song Mission. He's explaining things about what happened at customs to Diego. Linda and Don listen in. Linda knows Spanish but not as good as the driver.

Sat. a.m. was staff worship time. This was scripture from Isaiah.

Later, I went out with Kay so she could remind some of the youth about the function happening later in the evening. Here's a dog at the first house we went to. I was a bit apprehensive about all the dogs running around loose. But never had one bother me. I looked at this one, he sniffed me, didn't bother me.

Wash hanging out in the afternoon. Everyone does laundry outdoors, by hand.

Drainage from the house.

This young man came riding by us. I was trying to get out of his way and vice versa. We nearly collided!  He has a sack in his mouth that holds one shoe.

Houses in the area.

Kay getting some lunch after we got back.

Plantain, mangoes, melon in the kitchen.

My lunch....macaroni and cheese, broccoli, chicken and tomatoes.

Kitchen that was recently done, during build the wall project at New Song Mission. There is filtered, purified water in sink to the right of refrigerator. It was worked on Monday.

Truck at mission. We rode in this a few times. I rode in the front. A couple physical reasons.

A windy afternoon.

Bathroom at the mission. There is a toilet to left of shower. Because of the issues with septic tank, no toilet paper could be flushed. It clogs it up. Only cold water but that's ok. It felt good. But when I get out and dried off, I started to sweat again!

My bed and Ticklish too! Window behind bed was opened at night for some ventilation. No a/c! Just fans. It didn't help me sleep much. In hindsight, I think I should have rested a bit during the afternoon so I wouldn't be so tired when I got home. Live and learn, especially at my age!

My taxi ride from New Song mission to Leon. I am meeting up with Maria and her girls for the weekend. I will be staying at the Hostel Italian, which she and Pedro manage.

Taxi driver and car...it's a BMW. But not real plush, no door handles inside. 4 windows open for ventilation. I'm so thankful to be here safely. The drivers are crazy here, so different from USA drivers. Stop is a loosely  used term in driving....slow down, no stop or totally ignore it! Sometimes I just looked the other way instead of looking at the traffic when we were out somewhere! Kept myself more sane that way!

Relaxing in my room with my cold Pepsi and water bottle.

I turned on the tv. I changed channels until I could find a channel that had English programming. Wound up watching something with animated penguins. It wasn't Happy Feet. Later I turned it on and there wasn't anything good to watch, off it went, read a bit of Bible off my tablet, went to sleep then took a shower in the a.m. Didn't know how to make hot water come on. It felt good anyway since I was warn already!

Doors, one to hall other to bathroom

Air Conditioner.

Ticklish wants some Fritos that I bought at the Atlanta airport. Yes, we ate some cuz it was snack time.

Maria ordered pizza for us since she was busy at the hostel and couldn't go out. Just like a Sat. night at our house! Laura and Rachel look on, we're waiting for Maria. I had a good time with them, so good to see my friends again.

My room.

Painting in hallway across from my room. I liked it alot.

Nice little rest area in hostel. Beyond the door was a kitchen.   This is the end of the day for me. Next will be Sunday, a new week in Nicaragua. Quite the adventure....hot days, every day. Beauty, old buildings, friends to help me through the days.   Thanks for stopping by for a visit. Let me know you were here.

Equipment Update

Yesterday my friend, Don, sent this email update to me. He was the leader of our team when we went to Nicaragua.  Here's an update on the equipment that was seized at customs. 

Just heard a word from our friends in Nicaragua.  They are in the final stages of getting all the equipment released from customs.  I don't fully understand the process.  They got all the paperwork done to get it released without having taxes in 16 out of the 20 days, but the government says it does not have the time to do it's paperwork.  So if we want the equipment, we will have to pay the taxes anyway.  Makes no sense to me, but it will be good to get the stuff released.  
               **********************************************************
I pray that the equipment will be released on time, without having to pay taxes and that the government will do their part to get their paper work done. They've had it long enough to do it. Our God is a great God, creator of the universe, the Great I AM. He can change these stipulations for the good...helping His children out who brought it and help the people who will receive the clean well water. I'd ask you, my bloggy friends, to pray as well. I know you have been praying and it's worked to get the equipment released and much appreciated. 
=====Becky 

Mother's Day 2013

Happy Mother's Day to all my bloggy readers. Wishing you fields of happiness and good memories to last a long time. When I told my mom, Happy Mother's day a few days ago, where she lives in a nursing home, she gave this reply. "Thanks for having my grandchildren." Awe, isn't that sweet? I love my mom. She's been a praying mom and loving mom, growing a garden to feed her family on the farm. When we moved into the little town close by our farm, she still grew a garden. I loved the veggies so much. The meals prepared. She's a loving grandma and great grandma. Even in her late 80s she can find some humor to make people laugh. She's always loved flowers.

Megan and I love the tulip farm. Here we are a few weeks ago. She'd just got off work at the tulip farm and we spent sometime together before she headed home. Must take a fun photo!  We had a good day yesterday. Enjoying friends at a bridal shower, 45 minute drive. It was worth it with delicious brunch. Then we stopped in a town that we always pass through to a destination for some shopping. Grocery Outlet and then Fred Meyer. Both of us scored at the last place, a pair of sandals for me and two pr of pants for Megan.....her's are going. Being between jobs, I felt I could help her out a bit. That's what moms are for. Daughter worn out clothes need replaced sometimes. She usually buys her own. We got a good deal with sales then coupons, saving $25....all that for $45. Amazing!  It pays to be frugal!   Enjoying my day and hope you are as well.  HAPPY MOTHER'S' DAY! God's blessings be upon you, now and always.