I wish I had a gym membership back home in CT. Because I'd quit it. Having four children is a fantastic workout. Picking up and carrying smaller children is a great for toning upper body muscles. Squatting and bending to play on the floor, get up and run, and then play on the floor again is fantastic for the lower body. And chasing after everyone in the 90 degree Brazil heat is the best cardio I've ever done. I'm pretty sure I'm down 6-7 pounds. At this rate, I'm going to have to go buy new pants before going home. :) I hate to exercise, but this is GREAT!
Today we got to play in the playground on the grounds of the hotel. It belongs to the school here, so we can only use it on evenings and weekends, but it was worth the wait. You would NEVER find a playground like this in the States. It's made of tree trunks, old tires, ropes, rusty bent nails and 1000 tree roots in the dirt. Most fun ever. It harkens back to a day when the only rule was "watch out." Everyone had a blast and we caught lots of smiles on camera. We also enjoyed watching Maynara play with Brayan and Luana--so cute and clever with their little games of castle, wolf, witch and "house."
Overall, we're all very happy. This is, without doubt, the most challenging thing we've ever done in our lives, and it's probably one of the hardest the thing the kids have done in their lives too. We just keep trying to imagine things from their perspective. Sometimes we forget to stop and notice all the progress we've made together as a family in the last... week and a half... but it's really amazing how we've grown together. We're able to communicate well with them and our Portuguese is improving every day. The kids are starting to understand and accept their limits and seem to be trusting us pretty securely. We're doing almost all of our communicating in Portuguese because we want to take advantage of this short time we'll be in their familiar environment. Today we started "Aulas do Ingles" (English Lessons) with the older two, working on some basic English workbooks.
We are well aware that there are probably dozens or hundreds of friends and family members reading these updates and praying for us daily. We feel like those prayers are holding us up and keeping us together. We are so thankful for all the saints that are faithfully praying for our family!
Tomorrow morning, we're going to church with the family of a friend of a former classmate of James' who happen to be from Curitiba. They are picking us up in two cars and taking us to a Baptist church with English services and a lunch afterwards. We're looking forward to it!
4 comments:
Another fun day with the family and lots of good pictures! Lawsy! I don't know how you've got the energy to write all this down and load pictures after the busy days y'all have!
I'm so glad that you are getting to meet C's family. I'm sure that they are as awesome as their daughter. Hopefully, the church trip will give you even more assurance of God's blessing for your new family. My prayers are with you daily as I excitedly read your updates.
Kayleigh and I prayed for you this morning in our church, imagining your family in Brazil praying together in your church - connected by the love of Christ across the miles. Each day is such a milestone and we are so thrilled to reach each update! Keep up the good work!
Kisses to you and ALL of yours from all of us!
Those playground reminds me of my hometown playground in Japan :)
I continue to pray for God's presence, grace, and strength, wisdom, and everything else you need. He will provide! All glory to Him!
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