A Little Lighter

If you've read the past few posts you're well aware that we've had a rough couple of weeks.  Well, after feeling so heavy and distracted for so many days, I'm happy to report that things are looking up.  When we were in the midst of the turmoil I sensed that the Lord said, "I will vindicate," which I took to mean that I no longer needed to worry about how things would work out.  He would take care of the issues and I simply needed to trust in Him.  So.....we've been trusting that He'll sort it all out.

In the mean time we've celebrated Doug's birthday with many minor things:  a big breakfast to get his day rolling, a huge group of people to sing Happy Birthday to him during Chapel at school, a lunch of his favorite things (tomatoes and avocados to start), brownies for his staff meeting, a special requested dinner, a small bar-b-que grill as a gift (I'm starting to realize that food plays a big part in this man's life).  We also went to dinner the night after his big day because both of the restaurants that he would have chosen were closed on Mondays.  We took a cab there and enjoyed the most wonderful view of the Pastaza River.  Lovely.

Yesterday we had the fruit and vegetable truck stop by our house.  When the family arrived we bought our usual varied fare.  One new thing that we usually don't buy was a cabbage.

That baby only cost a buck--the same price as three apples!  (not sure why there's a black strip on the photo)

We've also recently discovered that Ecuador, every year on the two days prior to Lent, goes all out celebrating 'Carnival' by throwing water balloons, eggs, or anything else at unsuspecting passers by--everywhere in the country.  WHAT?!  That was my response.  You mean to tell me that besides the huge parades that we experience for days in November, the loud music that pumps out on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, the all-day and all-night campaigning that happens in February--at some point I'll tell you that story--, we've got water assault to look forward to in March?  I just had to laugh.  Compared to Ecuadorians, we Americans are so dull.

So in response, I think we may hop a bus and go into Banos or Ambato for a day and then scurry back to Shell before Monday so that we can avoid all that.  We actually get Monday and Tuesday off from school--and apparently EVERYTHING is closed--because no one wants to be pelted with stuff.  Do you think every country out there has it's own weird traditions like this?  Certainly makes for an interesting existence. 

I'll let you know how it all falls out in the next few days.
Blessings, kim