Friday 11 November 2011

Toothpaste and Price Smart

OK so I have this remedy for curing all acne problems. Go to bed with toothpaste on your pimple. Well that's great in Canada but I have a problem out here in Costa Rica. If you leave any food, lotion or any other substance out you are basically sounding an alarm notifying all the insects in your house to "Come and Eat!". So I am stuck without my toothpaste remedy because I'm too scared to wake up to find a cockroach attached to my face. So all week I was blessed to sport a third eye on my chin. To read a article ablout toothpaste vs pimple cream go the following website.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ansy/2420480843/

I was recommended a book a few weeks ago called "Crazy Love." I finally downloaded it on my kindle....OK on my husbands kindle and read it. Wow what a great read. It was one of those books that was easy to read but if you actually challenge yourself to follow the philosophy in the book your life would drastically be changed.
Here is the the authors web site http://crazylovebook.com/ 


I have been trying to take this year in Costa Rica slow.  There is hours of schoolwork, and then on top of this I need to be with Sam for his schoolwork. For some reason Sam takes 3-4 hours a night to complete his work. Then there is the time we get to be a family, set some traditions down, be there for one anothere in a new way. In those respects I am loving it here. More and more my heart is growing towards my children. Not that I ever thought it needed to, but I am continualy suprised how, as a parent you can find a bit more love to pour put when you sense your child is feeling discouraged.

I have been so tired lately but both of our children have their birthdays this week. Beth's friend party is tomorrow. We are having a pancake makeover party. Sam's will be the following weekend and his is an Angry Birds theme. I am still brainstorming on how we can act that out at the party. I found a amazing woman out here who isn't just super freindly and stylish but she bakes! So I do not have to stress about this aspect of the kids parties.

Sunday 30 October 2011

Hola Amigos! It's Been a While

I can't believe we have been here over 2 months!  I think we are surprised with how smoothly things are going. Now that doesn't mean it hasn't come with it's difficulties but somehow we have survived and are "still in the game." That's the phrase our friend used on his son one day after arriving here when it didn't seem that his son was engaging in the new culture and language.  And some how "get in the game" keeps coming up in our family conversations, sometimes it is to me, sometimes to Sam and Beth and yes sometimes I get to say it to Andrew. Well I promise to be more regular then 2 months. My goal this week is to post some simple recipes for you that tend to make multiple appearances in our weekly meal plans.

 This is a picture of the woman in my Grammar class. All I can say is the Lord knew I needed this group of ladies to laugh with, to cry with, and to experience change with.
 This is a picture of where we get our produce for every saturday morning.  It is called the Ferria. All the merchants are the farmers who grow the food.
 One of the creatures that I have come to accept. Thankfully they are not mornally this size where we are.
There two girls represent two families that our ffamilies have connected with since arriving here. Andrew and I and the children have found great friends in them.

Thursday 11 August 2011

Thursday August 11, 2011

It is 1:32 am and I can't sleep. Are we really leaving Canada in only 6 days! Is my brain to old to learn a new language? Will our children settle in well and meet new friends? Will friends and family forget about us once we are gone? Irrational thoughts? Tired thoughts from a day spent running errands and packing?

This is when the passage in Jeremiah 29:11 washes over me "for I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

I know all is well even in the chaotic moments.....

All my love Claudia,
PS if you are looking for the non paying job of blog editor let me know =)