SIX!

Johnny's 6th birthday is today.

Here are 6 things I really like about him (in no particular order):

1.) He's funny and makes me laugh.

2.) His eyebrow raising skillage.

3.) His love and admiration for his brothers.

4.) His never-ending energy.

5.) His no-fear, go-for-it attitude.

(Even if this makes my heart skip a beat every once in awhile.)

6.) His willingness (and ability) to make himself heard in this crazy family.

~

I love you Johnny-boy. You have my heart - wear it carefully.

Another Johnny Quote & Neil Cantrall

Doesn't this picture make you happy?

At night, before going to bed, I often just sit at Johnny's bed and stare at him.

He's so calm and quiet and peaceful, even if he is sprawled out across his entire mattress.

He's such an angel when he's sleeping.

Here's his latest pondering:
"I don't want to be a Police Officer anymore. But I want to be the guy who asks the neighbors if they want me to cut their grass. It would be fun. Daddy would cut. I would rake. Brothers would scoop it up.

[Side note from mom: What the heck would I be doing? Cooking? Cleaning? Laundry? Whatever.]

Being a police officer would be a good job, but being a grass cutter would be funner. I wanted to be a police officer because it would be fun, I could get the stuff that the robbers rob, put sticks in their bags as a trick, and I'd like to have a gun."

I love the way he thinks. He's hilarious and I love laughing with him. It also seems to me that he already has a bit of a grasp of micro-enterprises! There are a few guys (and some with their families) who come around asking us if they can spruce up our front yard. For about 20 pesos (or USD$5), they weed-wack and trim the grass. Johnny is clearly fascinated by the whole process.

On another note, we have a new, fun friend visiting us right now. His name is Neil Cantrall and he is here as a LAM missionary appointee checking out Córdoba Capital as a possible place to use his gifts to work with kids. He and his wife, Kelsey, have 2 cute boys, spent almost 2 years in Peru, and have lots of amazing stories to tell. It's been great to show him around the city and to introduce him to other people who also have a heart for children. We're selfishly hoping this is the place for them and we'll be able to partner with them in showing people the grace and unconditional love of the Lord!

We just welcomed Autumn down here and are thrilled with the lower temperatures. Johnny brought home a handmade leaf drawing that said "Llegó el otoño."

I promise not to complain about the winter weather this year. Promise.

DIY & Perseverance

I'm in a bit of a funk today after saying good-bye to Melinda and Frank. Actually, a funk is putting it lightly. "I'm in a foul mood" is more accurate.

So, to dampen my spirits further, I decided to rip out the disgusting, molding caulking in our bathroom. I won't go into the finer points on things that are hecho en Argentina since I'm already grumpy, but suffice it to say that when a shower floor doesn't have a slight slant toward the drain and you need to literally sweep the water until it disappears, mold can tend to grow. I hate mold.

Last night and today, I took it upon myself to pull out all the repulsive caulking, dry the shower thoroughly, and recaulk the floor. You wouldn't care to see the before and after photos in this Do-It-Yourself since it was ugly before and it's still ugly after (and I didn't take any anyway). Now, it's just really clean and not at all moldy.

Just as it was in the States, life can be difficult to balance. To vent a little? It's hard to balance trying to raise 3 kind, generous, God-fearing boys; be nice to my husband; learn a new language and culture; cook, clean, launder; start a new ministry; visit poor villas; miss my family and friends; make new friends and contacts; take an online course; kill bugs; update spreadsheets; buy school supplies for 8 subjects with new lists every other day... I guess that was more than a little venting. I told you I'm in a bad mood.

Everyday, we post a new word and verse for our family. Today it's

Perseverance

and the verses are Hebrews 12:1-2 (from the Message):

"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever."

Okay. Okay. I still feel like this:

but, I'll keep on running with my eyes on Him....

Gratitude

I don't think there are many women out there who can honestly say they thoroughly enjoyed a 17-day visit with their mother-in-law.

I can.

I am richly blessed by my relationship with Chris's mom. And with her husband, Frank.

The past 17 days have been a whirlwind of activities: the boys started a new school, Chris and I finished our level 3A/B language course, we all traveled to La Cumbrecita, and Chris and I started an online course that has been hugely helpful for our work. (We're analyzing and investigating the current financial landscape in Argentina - more on that in another post.)

We've lived life in Argentina together these past 17 days.

We've cooked Argentine meals, hung laundry, talked, prayed, laughed until we cried,

and played lots and lots of games.

It is going to be terrible to say chau tomorrow. We love them so much.

Not that you're asking, but I do feel the need to offer some unsolicited advice.

Please, please, enjoy the people around you.

Do not take your relationships for granted.

Whenever the kids write emails or send little notes to their friends, that is the one thing they always write: "Don't take anything in your life for granted." Good advice.

First day of 3rd and 5th Grade!

Aren't they handsome? I'll write more details as I get them.

And these lovely people arrive tonight!
When I asked Andrew how he was feeling about starting school, he said, "I'd rather not think about that. I prefer to remind myself that today Grandma and Frank are coming. That's better."