Before the fever and tremor strike
Friday, May 29, 2009
The day there was no tsunami - B
So there was this earthquake... 7.1; I'm sure you've heard. But since there was no tsunami it has effected our life less than a little fever that has been floating around our house. Amazing... a 5 degree body change in a 20 lb girl means more to me that a huge rumble of the earth and oceans. Also... it causes way more of a decrease in my hours of sleep than a little shaking. Babies... oh and husbands with a fever aren't much better I guess. Anyway, that's what is going on with us, and as far as the rest of the country goes... it doesn't seem to be a major catastrophe – especially considering their track record with hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters.
Before the fever and tremor strike
Before the fever and tremor strike
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Vagabond values – B
We are now a random family of six in a single cab truck that works only semi-consistently. We are in the full swing of language school that somehow only 'swings' about ½ as fast as desired. We just came out of a week of 'Carnival' -which fitting to it's name allowed us 3 various opportunities to view how Hondurans spoil their 'carne' – with too much fried food, beer, and dancing... and as usual around here – any extra event brings extra garbage and noise.
The 3 boys each have their own machete. We all lay on our bed together at night and watch movies with Spanish subtitles and we snack on anything we can get our hands on. Lucy spent one night in a cardboard box and Dru was out learning to juggle until 4:30 in the morning one night when it was too noisy to sleep. And right now the kids are 'swimming' in a 3 ft. plastic tub. And I am beginning to think we are becoming more Honduran by the moment.
I am easily frustrated while in school because I feel like we aren't 'doing' anything, and sometimes I question what we are 'becoming.' But the kids are laughing and right now Jude is singing in Spanish, Jarod is showing a considerable amount more patience with car trouble than he ever did in the states, and Dru has done more dishes and laundry in the past week than in his whole life combined. So... maybe we are learning... to be patient … to be gracious... to live together in the back of a truck... and speak broken Spanish... wow... what values we are imparting to our children.
Please pray that my attitude will improve and that the car will be like a $10 – 1 hr. fix. Thanx.
Ready for our carnival adventure:
On a river adventure:
My Machete men:
The 3 boys each have their own machete. We all lay on our bed together at night and watch movies with Spanish subtitles and we snack on anything we can get our hands on. Lucy spent one night in a cardboard box and Dru was out learning to juggle until 4:30 in the morning one night when it was too noisy to sleep. And right now the kids are 'swimming' in a 3 ft. plastic tub. And I am beginning to think we are becoming more Honduran by the moment.
I am easily frustrated while in school because I feel like we aren't 'doing' anything, and sometimes I question what we are 'becoming.' But the kids are laughing and right now Jude is singing in Spanish, Jarod is showing a considerable amount more patience with car trouble than he ever did in the states, and Dru has done more dishes and laundry in the past week than in his whole life combined. So... maybe we are learning... to be patient … to be gracious... to live together in the back of a truck... and speak broken Spanish... wow... what values we are imparting to our children.
Please pray that my attitude will improve and that the car will be like a $10 – 1 hr. fix. Thanx.
Ready for our carnival adventure:
On a river adventure:
My Machete men:
Friday, May 15, 2009
House allegories - A
I love that my blog is about 'housewifery' because I feel all the freedom in the world to talk about boring things like scrubbing my floor. I spent today, our 3rd day in our new home, scrubbing the floors (which is something that a higher class mother would have gotten around to … oohh in like the 1st 30 seconds after discovering the filth.) We knew the house previously, so nothing, including the reliably unreliable apt. manager, came as a surprise but down on ones hand and knees, face to face with termites, cockroaches and mold... one beings to pontificate a bit much about the situation at hand (warning – pontificating can be done without internet... just not 'posting' – meaning you'll probably get a lot of these long rants in the coming months.) And this is what I thought:
Prov. 12:15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.
Prov 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
First, this house was built by North Americans. People who didn't know the climate, the bugs, or the fungi. They 'knew' what they wanted; what they liked – wood, windows, and air conditioners. The ever present stench of mold is a good reminder that humility is a good thing. They could have asked around, gotten advice, settled for 'different' and avoided a lot of trouble. We could all do the same, as we enter this world.... we have never been here before - but my children are proof that from day 1 we “know” what we want. They, and I, would do well to ask for some advice from someone who has been around awhile, or maybe even from the Creator – because the climate of life is a force to be reckoned with... even more than fungi.
Second, delayed maintenance is not maintenance at all – it is destruction. Things like termites and rot can not be 'dealt with tomorrow.' Or you get things like this:
It ain't pretty. We've all got relationship issues, personal struggles, or major crouching character flaws that we try to ignore until the damage is so apparent it is unrepairable. Like my house... there are so many things in my life that would have been easier to take care of yesterday.
So, that's it. Those are my thoughts from 5 hrs. of cleaning while the boys were off exploring the city. Things are good here - pretty much back to normal. We even found a truck – which is amazing! (and right now the boys are macheteing an area to park it in) Our house has been full of friends since we got back and our avocado seed even sprouted while we were gone and I think Dru and are going to start some sweet potatoes today. We have internet now – for a month – so we'll be in touch.
P.S. This is the photo of the day - Jude loves the fact that the bathroom has hole where the door-handle to bathroom is suppose to be - right at his eye level so he can make sure that 'that is really where Dru is' - if he hasn't seen him in a few minutes. (Welcome to a family with a 4 year old) (STAGED PHOTO)
Prov. 12:15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.
Prov 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
First, this house was built by North Americans. People who didn't know the climate, the bugs, or the fungi. They 'knew' what they wanted; what they liked – wood, windows, and air conditioners. The ever present stench of mold is a good reminder that humility is a good thing. They could have asked around, gotten advice, settled for 'different' and avoided a lot of trouble. We could all do the same, as we enter this world.... we have never been here before - but my children are proof that from day 1 we “know” what we want. They, and I, would do well to ask for some advice from someone who has been around awhile, or maybe even from the Creator – because the climate of life is a force to be reckoned with... even more than fungi.
Second, delayed maintenance is not maintenance at all – it is destruction. Things like termites and rot can not be 'dealt with tomorrow.' Or you get things like this:
It ain't pretty. We've all got relationship issues, personal struggles, or major crouching character flaws that we try to ignore until the damage is so apparent it is unrepairable. Like my house... there are so many things in my life that would have been easier to take care of yesterday.
So, that's it. Those are my thoughts from 5 hrs. of cleaning while the boys were off exploring the city. Things are good here - pretty much back to normal. We even found a truck – which is amazing! (and right now the boys are macheteing an area to park it in) Our house has been full of friends since we got back and our avocado seed even sprouted while we were gone and I think Dru and are going to start some sweet potatoes today. We have internet now – for a month – so we'll be in touch.
P.S. This is the photo of the day - Jude loves the fact that the bathroom has hole where the door-handle to bathroom is suppose to be - right at his eye level so he can make sure that 'that is really where Dru is' - if he hasn't seen him in a few minutes. (Welcome to a family with a 4 year old) (STAGED PHOTO)
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Life grading system
People have brought it to my attention that my sarcasm is often difficult to interpret over the internet and through thousands of miles of culture and climate change. Therefore, until I have mastered the art of satire, I have decided to create a life grading system by which you can all judge our current life standing. You can use it to guide your prayer life for us, jealousy level, or worry level – whichever you so choose. The second benefit of this is that once the grading criteria has been established it will be super easy for Jarod to update you all via facebook or blog whenever he gets to internet access (which will be more frequently than I do... and we all know how helpful he will be in keeping in contact through lengthy personal letters.) So here is the grading criteria:
A+ = Perfect health, Jarod and I feeling as though we are in a perpetual honeymoon, perfectly obedient God-fearing children, complete spiritual and social transformation of the community in which we live, millions of dollars, a ministry so successful that Oprah can't help but interview us every few weeks – and the UN keeps asking for our advice on how to facilitate world peace. Just back from a spa vacation and 3 hour full body massage and we aren't even daily missing our loved ones we can't communicate with. And we have discovered that the large bugs and scorpions in our house actually cure cancer and make wonderful crib mates for babies!
Oh wait.... I think I got carried away.
A+ = Healthy, happy, obviously productive, easily learning, building strong deep relationships
B+ = Minor illnesses that that are easily and cheaply treated, semi-exhausted, content and full of faith that God is working even when we can't see it, children who are learning important life lessons but aren't always happy about it, parents who are learning Spanish and important life lessons with an attitude that is a positive influence on those around them, open to relationships even if they are hard to build
C+ = Some ongoing annoying illnesses that are really cutting into life, some real struggles and bad attitudes on the part of us or the children, some ongoing conflicts with friends and neighbors, frustrations with language and ministry, some financial tension and looming uncertainty but we still know we are learning and growing through it all and are trusting that God is conforming us to His image and using us in spite of ourselves. (Hint: now would be a good time to start praying more.)
D+ = Chronic illnesses, obvious dangers (like war or something) major financial difficulties, ongoing discontent, no signs of progress in our personal lives or in the lives of those around us, sever breeches in our family relationships.
F = Either someone died, we are getting a divorce, or we have stopped believing that we are loved and used by a Divine Creator. (Hint: Now would be a good time for an intervention ... but don't blame Honduras – F's happen all the time: Everywhere – they just let us know how much grace we REALLY need.)
So that's it... fret no more. And if you are a really lazy friend who refuses to be faithful in one way communication just drop me a weekly grade for your life as well!
A+ = Perfect health, Jarod and I feeling as though we are in a perpetual honeymoon, perfectly obedient God-fearing children, complete spiritual and social transformation of the community in which we live, millions of dollars, a ministry so successful that Oprah can't help but interview us every few weeks – and the UN keeps asking for our advice on how to facilitate world peace. Just back from a spa vacation and 3 hour full body massage and we aren't even daily missing our loved ones we can't communicate with. And we have discovered that the large bugs and scorpions in our house actually cure cancer and make wonderful crib mates for babies!
Oh wait.... I think I got carried away.
A+ = Healthy, happy, obviously productive, easily learning, building strong deep relationships
B+ = Minor illnesses that that are easily and cheaply treated, semi-exhausted, content and full of faith that God is working even when we can't see it, children who are learning important life lessons but aren't always happy about it, parents who are learning Spanish and important life lessons with an attitude that is a positive influence on those around them, open to relationships even if they are hard to build
C+ = Some ongoing annoying illnesses that are really cutting into life, some real struggles and bad attitudes on the part of us or the children, some ongoing conflicts with friends and neighbors, frustrations with language and ministry, some financial tension and looming uncertainty but we still know we are learning and growing through it all and are trusting that God is conforming us to His image and using us in spite of ourselves. (Hint: now would be a good time to start praying more.)
D+ = Chronic illnesses, obvious dangers (like war or something) major financial difficulties, ongoing discontent, no signs of progress in our personal lives or in the lives of those around us, sever breeches in our family relationships.
F = Either someone died, we are getting a divorce, or we have stopped believing that we are loved and used by a Divine Creator. (Hint: Now would be a good time for an intervention ... but don't blame Honduras – F's happen all the time: Everywhere – they just let us know how much grace we REALLY need.)
So that's it... fret no more. And if you are a really lazy friend who refuses to be faithful in one way communication just drop me a weekly grade for your life as well!
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Plan
It has arrived. Do to none of my stress and sleepless nights, because, "Who by worrying can add a single hair to their heads?" (Matthew 6) Not I, but I try.
We have 2 homes scheduled for our next six months in honduras. We have a month of school planned followed by 5 months working the jungle with Jason and Sarah Furrow of Give Hope 2 Kids. So next Sunday the Tippy Family + our friend Dru Stopes will leave for Wichita where we will board a plane at 5:30 a.m. on Monday and arrive in La Ceiba at 11:00 p.m. Thanks to our amazing friends the McCanns, we have a home and after a week of settling in, showing Dru around and hopefully purchasing a vehicle, we will begin Spanish study once again (We are pretty sure our teacher is gonna beat us for all we have forgotten.)
Then off to Urraco it is, to spend 5 months immersed in jungle village life and to help establish a mostly self-sustaining orphanage that is in the start up phase. We know it will be a learning experience for us; working first hand in the language and culture, as well as learning different construction, irrigation, agricultural, and parenting principles. We hope we will bring not only our willing hands to serve this project but we are looking so forward to being able to be in on the ground level of establishing a home environment for over 80 children that is built on Biblical principles of love for our Creator, Savior, and Sustainer, and love for the world in which we are placed.
And of course, by my nature I focus on the future instead of focusing on the amazing moments that have surrounded our life here for the last 6 weeks. I do not take these for granted: Who could?
The 4 stooges after the wedding
The pinata finally meeting it's intended end. It did not disappoint.
In life you only need one friend like this. And they were a great help setting up for the wedding photo shoot.
"Jude's" park revisited
DRU. Are we ready for this?
Inside an inflatable playground at the AWANA picnic
Jude and Laurel playing "swords" in Iowa.
Lucy with Kristi
Our niece Maysyn
Maysyn being freaked out by her cousin and uncle
Grammee's reading chair
Grandma beads and the "blind" glasses
Grandpa Tom with Lucy in my old gnome hat
We have 2 homes scheduled for our next six months in honduras. We have a month of school planned followed by 5 months working the jungle with Jason and Sarah Furrow of Give Hope 2 Kids. So next Sunday the Tippy Family + our friend Dru Stopes will leave for Wichita where we will board a plane at 5:30 a.m. on Monday and arrive in La Ceiba at 11:00 p.m. Thanks to our amazing friends the McCanns, we have a home and after a week of settling in, showing Dru around and hopefully purchasing a vehicle, we will begin Spanish study once again (We are pretty sure our teacher is gonna beat us for all we have forgotten.)
Then off to Urraco it is, to spend 5 months immersed in jungle village life and to help establish a mostly self-sustaining orphanage that is in the start up phase. We know it will be a learning experience for us; working first hand in the language and culture, as well as learning different construction, irrigation, agricultural, and parenting principles. We hope we will bring not only our willing hands to serve this project but we are looking so forward to being able to be in on the ground level of establishing a home environment for over 80 children that is built on Biblical principles of love for our Creator, Savior, and Sustainer, and love for the world in which we are placed.
And of course, by my nature I focus on the future instead of focusing on the amazing moments that have surrounded our life here for the last 6 weeks. I do not take these for granted: Who could?
The 4 stooges after the wedding
The pinata finally meeting it's intended end. It did not disappoint.
In life you only need one friend like this. And they were a great help setting up for the wedding photo shoot.
"Jude's" park revisited
DRU. Are we ready for this?
Inside an inflatable playground at the AWANA picnic
Jude and Laurel playing "swords" in Iowa.
Lucy with Kristi
Our niece Maysyn
Maysyn being freaked out by her cousin and uncle
Grammee's reading chair
Grandma beads and the "blind" glasses
Grandpa Tom with Lucy in my old gnome hat
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