Hello and Goodbye Intermissions

We're home!

Last week was a short week. We had Monday off (Mid-Winter Break) and then 1/2 day on Friday due to Intermissions. "What is Intermissions?" you ask. Well, Intermissions is a conference for any and all missionaries in Guatemala. It is a time of spiritual recharging. There is a worship band and a guest speaker.

Also, servant teams fly in from the States to pamper us missionaries for a two day period. These pamperings take the form of manicure, pedicure, massage (body or cranial), hair cutting 101, and child care. They have ministries for couples and singles. They have various short seminars on a wide range of topics. They have child care (can't say this too many times). And the food... food, food and more food.

Well, we had a wonderful time. This year, like last year, Intermissions was held in Panajachel - AKA "The Lake". The drive up (with Richard, Jean, Jordan and Rachel) took a little over three hours with a stop at Charlie and Pats for "cleanup, isle 'E'" as poor Emma threw up in Chimaltenango. The ride back was slightly less exciting as, thankfully, no one threw up but Sara screamed for a good portion of Mud-slide-ville.

This Intermissions marked the one year anniversary of our family hooking up with the Logan family. This family-relationship-dynamic has been wonderful for Joy and I and (of course) Abigail and Emma. The kids play so very well together and us Adults... well, we just enjoy getting into trouble. Enough said...

-knme

January Down...

Looking back on January is what we're doing now. One down, eleven to go (in 2011). Where did it go? Well, let me tell you.

The transition from one to two was a challenge. The transition from two to three has not been horrible -- except when one of them is cranky. When more than one is cranky -- look out.

Sara has settled into a few new routines... eating at 3, 6, 9, 12... and pooping every four or five days. The latter has been much more difficult to adjust to due to her discomfort on days four and five. We've been to two different pediatricians and both have prescribed different "baby laxatives". Neither have worked...

Sara is generally happiest between the hours of 7 and 8 in the morning, much to her mother's delight. Lately Sara has taken to eating at 8pm, 2/3am, and then again at 6/7am.

Abigail has settled back into school with ease. She has taken to reading small chapter books. Over the Christmas break she read the "young reader version" of Alice in Wonderland -- in five days. She continues to devour her collection of Magic Tree House and Box Car Children.

Emma continues to talk. Talk, talk, talk. Just recently Joy was discussing with her that one of her gifts from God was to make people laugh. This has helped Emma understand it is ok when people laugh at some of the things she says and does. Even more recently Emma declared to Joy that God had given her the gift of "stop talking" -- which she uses sparingly.

Joy has been suffering lately with some sort of stomach discomfort. She is considering a trip to the doctor this week.

Ken has been continuing his efforts to complete a computer systems change-over he started in August. This continues to progress.

This month we did have a scare of sorts when Maribel, our "nanny" and maid since August 2009, told us on a Friday that she and her daughter were moving back to Chimaltenango to live with her family because her husband had been drinking and had become violent. Sadly, here this is all too common. What is different is that Maribel was determined to not fit the mold of wife who just took this in stride (as part of her life). She is a very intelligent person. She did not want that for her life or the life of her daughter.

We sat and explained the situation to Abigail and Emma and then prayed with them. The next day Maribel came to work and told us that her and Edy, her husband, had talked and he has made a commitment to change. Evidently he did not realize just how close he had come to losing his family. We continue to pray for them as relapse is easy.

As we begin to look forward to the summer we have had early discouragement at the anticipated cost of airline fares. We ask you join us in praying for direction as we make summer plans.

-knme