Amazing story

I found this story and thought I need to post this! It is hard to watch without shedding some tears. It is one of those stories that remind us that God can still do miracles.

Gingerbread Houses

 For a few years I have had this on my to-do list. I just always thought it was too much work or I was too lazy or too busy, I'm not sure which. We did this yesterday, and it went real well. I would not have known that to make gingerbread houses was so easy. The dough turned out perfect, and so did the decorating. Enjoy! The photos, that is. The houses have been demolished already... :)

 

 Spice drops, smarties, pretzels, raisins, candy corn, and coconut for the roof.

Internet and Chocolate

It was my birthday recently-yeah we're all gettin older, aren't we?. Anyway, Daniel looked into getting internet for me, and ended up getting a pretty good deal, ;) he said it would be my birthday gift. So, now I have internet in my very own home. I have missed it so much. Now I shall be able to update my blog like I enjoy doing.

Chocolate, yes. My sister remembered my birthday and brought me three chocolates. That was a treat. Especially the one that is made right here in Belize. I have often seen it in the store and been tempted to buy it, but never thought it was a good way to spend my husband's hard earned money, so thank the Lord for sisters (and their husbands)!

 I wish I could send you all one!

Jaguar Preserve Camp

 We went camping  last weekend after we left the beach.

 The trail to the river. We went tubing, and had a blast, but unfortunately we don't have a waterproof camera so we couldn't take it with us into the water We had to drag our own tubes to where we got in the river, and then tubed about 20 minutes. Timothy and I walked back after that, but the others swam a little more. That is when I found some jaguar tracks.

 I think these are called cow foot leaves. They make a wonderful tea, and it tastes just like sassafras tea. We made some at camp.

Too bad we never got to see one of them, but we saw footprints so we knew they were close by, and just knowing that went a long way. I am pretty sure in the evening at dusk we heard a huge cat, and I dared Daniel to go and find it; he went, but it was not on the path and the jungle is mostly impenetrable so he couldn't find it. It sounded just like a cat meowing, only much louder and deeper. It could have been another member of the cat family, as the reserve has 5 species of wild cats.

 The next day when Daniel took the oldest two hiking, I took Timothy and went back to the tracks to take a photo of them. Its not very clear, but the best I could do.

 Isn't it wonderful when you go camping, and your children take over putting up the tent? I love it!

I dared this little 'mancub' to climb up here, and he did. Then he wanted to jump down, and I had to explain that you don't do everything they do in movies!

 Studying the map to see what hike to take the next day...

Warming up by the fire in the morning.

 Our camp in the morning mist. Daniel and Joseph shared one tent, and we others in the other one. We don't all fit in one anymore. It was so peaceful here, no one else camped except us and the wild things.

 Cooking is always the best part, isn't it... Here we have potatoes, chicken, and beans with onions and culantro. Culantro grew wild all over the place, so I added it to our food. (Culantro tastes like cilantro, only better!)

 This is taken by Daniel, on their several hour hike. Next time I camp here, I'm taking this hike! They told me how beautiful the waterfalls, the mountains and everything was.

 Taken by Jessica. Victoria Peak is in the background, the second tallest mountain in Belize, and hiked by only expert climbers.

Oooohhhh. Who wants to join me in going here?!!

 Crossing the creek at the plane wreck.

 Three people who were studying the jaguars crashed this plane here long ago. (Nobody died.)

The park has lots of birds that I have never seen elsewhere. We saw curassows a few times. We saw no animals except one deer, but we heard more than that. This truly is a wild place, but absolutely enjoyable.

Now, who wants to come visit us? I am looking for another chance to go back here...

Beach Day

  Here are the photos of our beach day. I know they are the typical beach photos, but hey, why not? The morning we were there Jessica and myself went for a refreshing walk along the beach.

 

Brew a cup of coffee, sit down and watch the sun rise over the ocean...it is one of the most relaxing things you can do.

While Jessica and I were enjoying the early morning, we watched this fisherman. Once he had enough small fish he rowed way out unto the ocean, probably to catch his bigger fish. 

Boy, did the children have fun! This was the fiirst time in their life that they were to a real beach, so the swimming and sand playing meant a lot to them. 

At first Timothy wouldn't get close to the water, he found the waves very intimidating, but once daddy took him in there he thoroughly enjoyed it.

And here is what I enjoyed, watching them play.

 Breakfast at the restaurant.

 The pool, if you prefer it to the beach.

 Our treehouse. 

When you try for a while to get two little boys to look at the camera perfectly, this is what you get.

 

 The happy couple; well, at least one of us looks happy...

 My baby...

Yea, life is that good!

Weekend Getaway

Wow, we had a really great weekend. Daniel had planned to go camping with Jessica and Joseph this weekend for a while already, while I thought I would have to stay home with Timothy and be sad and lonely. Not so! In the end the person he asked to go with couldn't make it, so I got to go along! And it was fun. I so needed to get away from everyone and everything. And it just so happened that my brother-in-law found out we could go to this one resort for a free night, and of course, we took the chance! So, one night at the beach resort, and the next day, off to camp. Later I want to post pictures of our time at the beach, and then of the camp, but for now, here are some shots of what we saw along the way.

We happened to see not one, but two of these gorgeous birds, the king vulture. I am so happy they sat still long enough for me to take their picture. To see one of these birds sure is a treat.

 

 He made sure he took a good look at me as well.

Daniel had some business in Springfield, along the way to the beach and camp. This weekend made me realize how much I love this country. It's hard to wish myself someplace else right now, what with all the snow and cold people are experiencing elsewhere. :)

Banana trees along the way.

 We had blue skies almost the whole time we were gone. The weather couldn't have been better. I feel the Lord really took care of me to turn things out the way He did. I couldn't have been happier!

Sad things happen

    Daniel's cousin, who happened to be our neighbor and still single, has taken suicide last friday. He has been suffering from schizophrenia for several years already, and has often wanted to end his suffering. They did all they could to help him, and he was just out of rehab after several months of being there (in Mexico).

 We are praying for the family and hope they will soon recover, but how do people recover from something like this? It must take a lot of grace, a lot of time.Please pray with us!

The Update

We had our second ultrasound yesterday, after almost two weeks of anxious waiting. It was quite obvious there was nothing there, only the empty sac. The Dr was still not ready to induce miscarriage, and although I couldn’t stand anymore to go on like this, I must give him credit for being so cautious. (I am afraid many a baby is lost because of careless doctors just doing their job.)  I didn’t know how I could go on for who knew how many more weeks, when I felt so sure that the baby was gone. (I have reason to believe the embryo lived for several weeks, then died). I know there were sisters that have been praying for me after this ultrasound that I would not need to suffer longer, and the Lord heard. The same day I started bleeding. I knew this was it, and to speed things up I ended up taking dongquai and Vitamin C. I never thought a day would come when I would have to do that. But after the miscarriage before this one, I bled too long and hope to avoid it this time.

It wasn’t meant to be. The Lord has given, He has taken away, may His name be praised. He knew all along what was best for us, and what was best for Him. If I look at it in a way that this is what is best for the Lord’s interest, I can accept it so much easier. Now when I am sad I turn my mind to our other children, and I feel so blessed. God has been so good to us, and I feel He wants me to appreciate them more.  I believe with time He will add blessings as He sees fit, if He sees fit. In the meantime, He wants to gain me, one way or another.

Here is a song that I just love. It is one of the sweetest songs I ever heard.Why not click on the link below to listen to the melody while you read the song...

O Love, that wilt not let me go;

I rest my weary soul in Thee

I give Thee back the life I owe

And in Thine ocean depths its flow

 May richer, fuller be

O Light, that followest all my way

I yield my flickering torch to Thee

My heart restores its borrowed ray,

That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day  

May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy, that seekest me through pain

I cannot close my heart to Thee

I trace the rainbow through the rain

And feel the promise is not vain

That morn shall tearless be.

O cross that liftest up my head

I dare not ask to fly from Thee;

I lay in dust life’s glory dead,

And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.

Here is a link for you to listen to the new melody. If only I knew how to include the song from the cd that comes from NYCYPCD on this blog, I would. You might be able to listen to part of the song there.

Wating and waiting

What do you do when you think you are 8 weeks pregnant, then do an ultrasound that shows no baby? I wish I could have posted the great news instead of this, but I need your prayers! A little over a week ago I had reason to suspect some problem, so I was advised to get an ultrasound. But, no embryo was to be seen. the Dr mentioned a blighted ovum. If you have ever been diagnosed with it, then you know how confusing it really is. You feel pregnant, you have morning sickness, you gain weight, you have all the pregnancy symptoms, yet you have no way of knowing for sure if you really are pregnant, or your body just thinks it is and holds on the whatever is left. The last thing you want to do is to induce a miscarriage in case there is a small chance that the baby is still there, only hidden. I have heard of people having done abortions thinking the ultrasound was right. I can not bear to think of doing that. But what should I do? I can not do much except wait, wait on the Lord. This is really hard to do. I believe if time just goes on and nothing changes, we will do another exam and hope it can clarify things for us. Some days I want to believe the baby is still there, some days I think it's not and wonder how much longer will I have to suffer...I have posted this verse on my fridge and it is a song I sing a lot lately:

"Those that wait on Jehovah will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles; they will walk and not become weary; they will run and will not faint" Isaiah 40:31

  here is another verse I really enjoy, 

"For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God..." Romans 8:28

The key is to love God, no matter the situation. I told my sister I feel like Abraham, having laid my 'Isaac' on the altar. He is still there, and I am still waiting for God to speak...

Brrr, winter's coming

It's shivery. Sweater and socks weather. Tonight the thermometer goes all the way down to 62 F. If you live way up north, you might have to read that a few times to fathom that. That is cold. I find it interesting what a person can get used to. If you are used to temperatures being 90 during the day and down to 80 at night for a long time, then 75 starts feeling chilly. Go ahead and laugh if you want. I am enjoying it!

A wish come true...

   I often wished that one day I would experience a hurricane. My dream came true last night. (Sunday night) The storm will never be forgotten by those who experienced it. Before we had any wind at all, the air was quieter than I had ever felt. The fire flame at the oil company stood straight up into the sky, the first I have seen it that way. The wind first started blowing late afternoon, and close to midnight it was about the worst. Electricity was off for about 12 hours. Luckily I had water saved up and candles and the lamp out. Even though it was dark, we were still able to see the trees shaking and I even saw one fall close to the house. Daniel had to go to the shop in the night to take care of some metal that was getting wet so he left us alone during the worst hours. I was not afraid, because with a hurricane you know exactly how strong the wind is, and it was a category one so not strong enough to blow down a house like ours. We stayed fairly dry in our house. First we had wind from the north, then west and then a really strong south wind.  The maximum wind speed was 90 mph, but at our place it would have slowed down already.

A hurricane has an eye in the center where there is no wind and absolute calm, and the center of this hurricane came over Belmopan so my family there felt it. First the wind will blow from one direction, then total calm for 10 minutes, and then wind from the other direction. We did not have the eye over us, but we must have been very close to the center.

Daniel was eager to go to a restaurant once the wind had started blowing already. So we looked and looked, and found only one Chinese restaurant open. I guess Belizeans take warnings seriously. Well, we were the only ones at that restaurant, and in the middle of eating, the electricity went off, probably turned off on purpose. It was a very interesting experience, all right. Going through a city at night, completely dark! I guess you can say we made the most of the situation by braving it.

This morning we woke up to a quiet world, the weather innocent as if nothing happened. But lots did. We have two trees down, and more broken branches. As much as happened here even though we are inland 60 miles, I am sure the damage must be a lot greater at the coast. Here is some evidence of what happened around here.

 Under that tree are my washlines! Now I might have to use the dryer, as expensive as it is though...

 At Daniel's parents place things looked pretty rough! They have many old trees on their yard that can't stand lots of wind, so there are a lot of broken branches.

 Here come the avocados! 26 of them fell in the night. Think guacamole, as much as you can eat...

 This is one bluggar bunch that will be easy to harvest.

This is the tree I saw fall when looking out the window.

Well, that was one exciting night. It was fun in one way because nothing very serious happened to us. I have yet to hear and see what happened closer to the coast, and if we check it out soon I'll update you all again!

Misty morning on the farm

Ahh, gotta love those fresh mornings.