Life In Honduras...in case you ever wondered...

I got to thinking the other day. I bet some people have no idea what life is like down here in Honduras. The question, "you have a Walmart and a Target down there right?" spurred this thought on. So I just thought I would share some of the ways life is different down here.

1. We do not have a Walmart or a Target down here. We have a store owned by Walmart (it is also a grocery store) but it does not have the same products as Walmart. (Hence therefore the major "Walmart Run" as we affectiontely call it when we come to the states). Generally, if you need an item and live in the states, you go to the store and get it. You can pretty much count on finding it. Here however...it may take going to five or six stores (I'm not exaggerating) until you MIGHT find an item close enough to what you want. I have been on the search for quite some time now for good socks for Caleb that actually fit. The search continues by the way.

2. Life takes LONGER. To pay bills, if you can't do it online you have to go wait in line at a bank (and the lines are long)or go to the place itself (e.g. cable/internet). How else does it take longer? No dishwashers. No icecube makers in the frig. Not drinkable tap water in the sink. We need to wash our fruits and vegetables in iodine water before eating them (we can't just rinse them off in the sink)

Traffic. This city is situated in the mountains and the streets can be just pure craziness. There are tons of cars now here...but no space to make roads wider etc.. It LITERALLY takes me THREE hours just to go down the mountain to get groceries and come home. Now we are only about 8 miles away from my favorite grocery store...but the traffic is like rush hour all the time. When you do get to that grocery store, that ONE item you needed for that recipe....is not there. It might normally be there, or occasionally be there, but not always. So you may need to go to three different stores around town to find the one item you need. (now that takes time! Especially with three small ones!)



(in this picture notice if you can, the line of cars behind me...that was the line we were in)

This picture is of a lovely moment...that lasted AN HOUR. I drove in the parking lot with all three kiddos and a dear friend who was visiting. Only to find out that we could not move. We could not park. We could do nothing. As soon as we drove in the parking lot of the grocery store we were at a standstill...nobody could get out of their spots, nobody could park, nobody could leave the parking lot. So there we sat for an HOUR (Hannah was crying too...she was hungry poor baby!) being able to do nothing. I had chosen to go there to get just one item, because I wanted my friend to see it since it was built after she moved. Irony of all ironies...an hour later...we leave the parking lot without ever entering the grocery store. We leave without the item, and we leave without her seeing the store. However, we did leave with a unique memory we shared together!


Roads. hm. They have craters in them. At least the one up the mountain does! Driving takes on a whole new meaning down here! You never know what you might find in the road....a pot hole...a cow...a pig...people walking as if they are not walking on a busy road....taxi drivers without break lights stopping without reason (not necessarily pulling over to the side either mind you)...cars passing and in your lane coming your direction...when you least expect it....chickens...oh the list goes on. Driving defensively takes on a whole new meaning. I am convinced if one can drive in Tegucigalpa...one can drive anywhere in the world. However, I have been told it is worse in other places. Wow. My favorite saying while I am driving is "when in Rome!". So if you can't beat them...join them!

Now I have mentioned some differences that do not seem so positive in comparision to the states. These are definately inconveniences, but that is what they are, inconveniences. I have a theory on cultures and countries. Non are better than the other...they are just DIFFERENT. That said, let me tell you of some positives to living here.

People. People come first. It is not a task oriented culture, it is a people and relational oriented culture. People greet each other with "picos" kisses on the cheek as greetings. No matter how busy someone is, they will try not to let you know if you stop them and chat. If they call you for a reason, they will first ask you about how you are...how the family is...before asking for what they called for.

FRESH FRUITS and VEGGIES!!! Need I say more??? It's affordable to eat healthy! And the fruits are just amazing!!!!

Wonderful climate! We don't have air conditioning, nor central heating. Our temp inside the house depends on the weather outside. There is something nice and natural about that. Now we technically live in a cloud forest, so it can be quite damp certain times of the year. We don't have seasons other than the rainy season and the dry season. I can wear capris pretty much all year round...but when it's cold, it's cold. But that doesn't last very long.

The mountains and countryside are beautiful!

Medical attention is amazing. Now we might not have state of the art this and that....and there are some reasons to go to the states for medical attention..but for the most part it is a very positive aspect of living here. I actually have the cell phone of our pediatrician and ob/gyn....and I have used it several time. And yes, they actually DO ANSWER!!!!!

Life can be simple. A simple life is nice. A silly example, but an example nonetheless, I have learned to not depend on packets to cook with...things are now from scratch. Including lemonade! Electricity comes and goes at times. Internet comes and goes at times. But we have these things. And life is simple. Life is good.

Well, our children were born here...so I now have even more affection for this place than I did when I came.

So there are just some aspects that have come to mind.....as to how life is like here!!! I will put more pictures up sometime of the beautiful countryside! And also a video of the ride up and down our mountain. In case you ever wondered.

Art Attack!

For those of you who know Caleb...you know that he is my little Picasso. He LOVES art and LOVES to draw. It is his passion, and well....he is REALLY good at it! This morning he was in his room quietly drawing..and this is what he came up with. I am amazed at my little munchkin...truly. (I know I am mom...but still!) Also, this morning I made play dough and the kids had a ball! Caleb actually came up with the idea to make "cookies"...specifically peanut butter! (can you tell who is mommy's little helper when I make cookies?) So apparently he took the "dough" part quite seriously! He asked me for a fork. A fork? Hmm. OK. Then he asked me for pan...hmmm...OK. Creative little fella. He actually wanted to timer so that he could "bake" them for the right time! Sara...well...she just had fun making balls and cutting out shapes. She likes the feel of it! (oh, and yes, that is a tatoo on my baby girl's arm!)

My Little Sunshine...

I tend to sing "you are my sunshine...my only sunshine" to my girls. I used to sing it a lot to Sara. The first time she heard me sing it to Hannah she said, "No Mommy, Sara"...meaning it was her song. I can tell you that she is now happy to share her song. Hannah is now two months old..and it has already gone by way too fast. I don't know if it is the whirlwind of three little ones..or just how fast they grow. I tend to think it is a combination of the two. Either way...I am enjoying this little treasure from the Lord. She is such a doll baby. Her smile just makes me melt. Big brother and sister love to dote on her and sing to her. So here are some shots of one of my little sunshines today.

Caleb Goes to Pre Kinder!

The day has come. My baby has started school. He is ready though...he is ready to meet friends, he is ready to learn, and ready for this next stage of life. We all left this morning as a family to take Caleb to school. He looks so cute in his uniform! So there we were with the other parents....cameras in hand as well as video cameras! He has a fantastic teacher and I already know some of his classmates (well, at least the parents, because I have been the teacher to their older kids!). So here are the pictures from just a few hours ago.

Potty Training Woes....

(** TMI WARNING! **) read only if you dare!

Now I am sure I have heard from some mom, somewhere, more than once....that if you let your toddler run naked...they will potty train faster. Or if you use cloth diapers, they will potty train faster. Or if you bribe with chocolate. (I beg to differ with all systems)

Here's the scenerio. I'm inside with Hannah, Caleb and Sara are outside playing. I hear "MOM!! Sara went poo poo on the slide!". Hmm... Caleb doesn't really make things up. He generally says it like it is. So I figure I better check this out. Now I must preface this with the fact that I had my two year old daughter completely clothed. I did. Really. I look out the window and see a diaper laying on the lawn and her pants laying on another part. This child loves to be naked from the waist on down! (and she loves to change her clothes about a gazillion times a day...which is ironic I know...but that's another story all together). So I go outside....and head towards the slide to look for...well...my present. There is nothing there. Whew. But wait...I look a little closer...and there is a sign that something WAS there...to the tune of what Caleb was saying...but...not there. Uh..."Caleb, did you say your sister went on the slide?" "Yes Mom". "um, where is it????". "I think Toby at it Mom". That. is. just. GROSS! OK, let's look at the positive...I didn't have to pick it up. The negative..... that. is. just. so. very. gross. Never let a dog (OUR DOG!)lick your face. I wonder what surprises tomorrow holds....with my kiddos....one never knows!! (by the way...I thought I would spare you the picture on this entry. I think the mental image is enough).

Hannah is Two Months!

Whew! It has been a while since I have updated our blog! I would have to say it's because life with three is busy! Hannah is now two months old...and such a doll baby! She has started smiling and it makes my heart melt. She is still a good little sleeper too. And of course she is showered with kisses by big sister. Caleb is mommy's little helper with getting diapers or whatever it is that she needs. I haven't taken as many pictures as I would like to, let alone download them to the computer...but this will have to do for now.

Soccer has begun...

So I said to myself..."self. it's summer. let's try to make it feel like summer. we need to be out and with other kids!". So our option...was to put Caleb in a little soccer league! Let's see...the benefits...
1. Caleb burns off some of his energy (and a lot he has!)
2. Me and the kids get out of the house a bit
3. Caleb learns some soccer skills at a young age
4. we get out of the house a bit
5. Caleb gets to socialize with other kids
6. Mommy gets to socialize with other mommys!
7. Caleb has fun!
8. Mommy gets out of the house... other than to the grocery store and bank
9. Sara gets to cheer her big brother on
10. Did I mention we all get out of the house a bit?!

Now, granted...it's bee type soccer. They all chase the ball like little bees. But it's cute....and fun. I'm really impressed with the organization of the club and the ability of the kids at such a young age! We go three times a week right now. But preschool starts on the 25th so we will cut back to two times a week.
(by the way..Caleb is the one with the navy blue long shorts with the white stripe along the side...a gift from Tia Ruth!)

Sweet Big Brother....

This morning around 4:00 or so...Sara started vomitting. Unfortunately she didn't get it all out of her system in one clean sweep. It took a while. Poor baby girl...she felt miserable for a few hours. Once Caleb got up around 7:00 am...he asked where Daddy and Sara were (because they weren't in our bed...normally all five of us end up in Mommy and Daddy's bed!). I told him they were in his room because Sara was sick and I asked him if he wanted to go in there and pray for her. He ran in there.....kneeled down by the bed ....and prayed the sweetest prayer. It went like this:

"Senor Jesus, te pido que Sara no vomita mas. Gracias por tu amor. Y tu fidelidad. Te pido que Sara no vomita mas. Gracias por morir en la cruz. Amen."

translation....

"Lord Jesus, I ask you that Sara doesn't vomit any more. Thank you for your love. And your faithfulness. I ask you that Sara doesn't vomit any more. Thank you for dying on the cross. Amen."

oh, sweet, sweet big brother. And you know what? God answered his little prayer. That is now the second time he has prayed for his little sister, and have it answered right away. Sara was up playing with her big brother shortly there after.

We are told to come to Jesus with faith like a child. Caleb sets a great example.

The Beach in Tela, Honduras

It finally felt like summer for a couple days!! It has been raining here so much and has been so damp and cool out...that it was so refreshing to be in the heat and see the sunshine. Not to mention playing in the sand and listening to waves crash! The kids had a ball! For the moment I will just have to show these pictures...I have been trying to do a slideshow...but I seem to be blogger challenged these days! Also, the pictures are not in the order I wanted them, but there is one of them in the car...our first family trip with our family finally complete! The kids did great! We took our time...and the drive was around six hours to get there...and around seven to get back (we hit a storm on the way back). I hadn't been to this particular beach in ten years! So here are some of the highlights...and in my spare time (ha! and ha! again!) I will try to figure out how to do the slideshow. But what a blessing it was to get away from the city a bit...and enjoy some family time by the beach!