Its taken me awhile to get around to updating the blog...My intention was to keep it updated at least every month, if not every week. But every time I sit down to do it, there's too much to write and I don't know where to start.
Family
Its been busy since we got back to Honduras 2 months ago. It took awhile to get resettled back into our house and routine. The kids and I have been sick 3 times each...usually Juliana gets sick, gives it to Levi, and then I get it (Levi’s getting over a double ear infection right now). I also cut my thumb pretty badly in September and had to get 6 stitches. The stitches are out and the scabs have started to come off and it doesn’t look too badly, but its pretty numb. Its hard for me to write or do much with my right thumb.
Juliana
This year Juliana has 5 elementary aged kids that live in 2 neighboring houses that she likes to play with when they come home from school. Its the first time that I've been able to just send her outside to play on her own. It is a little different for me (and sometimes a little frustrating) to have a bunch of dirty kids running through my recently cleaned house, but I try to remind myself that we're very blessed to have neighbor kids and a safe area for them to run free and play. Our church recently started a "Li'l Ones" sunday school class for 3-4 year olds (and added in the 5 & 6 year olds as well), which she is loving! They study the same story and bible verse for a month...this study they were learning about creation. I love all the things she is learning and the funny things she comes home saying :)
Levi
Levi crawls everywhere, gets into all the cupboards, makes funny faces at everyone, and will be walking in the next couple months. He got 4 top teeth within 3 weeks of getting back here, for a total of 6 teeth. I can't believe he will turn 1 in just 2 weeks! I've been busy planning a train birthday party for him. We'll have a bunch of friends from church and school over for snacks, cake, and a piñata. We have a 5 day trip planned (for the school track meet) right before his party, so I'm trying to have as much as I can ready before we leave.
Melodee
I’ve had an overwhelming number of computers to fix for staff at the school, and the Honduran Fellowship website has needed a lot of updating. Between all this work, a lot of sickness, and a hurt thumb, I've needed a little extra help. We needed to hire a new nanny this year to take care of the kids on Tuesdays, and since she was looking for another day of work each week, she also comes on Thursdays. So far it has been wonderful! She is the first nanny that the kids have actually liked. She spends the day on Tuesday playing with them and teaching Juliana Spanish. On Thursday she comes to help me clean the house & wash laundry and diapers. Or if I have a meeting or computer to work on she keeps the kids busy for awhile. Juliana asks every morning if Iris is coming to play with her, and Levi threw a fit when she left today (So she came back and played with him an extra 20 minutes...and then he threw a bigger fit when she really left :). It makes it easier when I need to leave the kids, gives me time to get some work done, and I don't feel guilty that the kids are feeling neglected. Its also helped Levi become accustomed to being held by other people...he got pretty clingy towards the end of the summer and didn't want to be left in the nursery at church or taken care of by anyone else. He's definitely gotten better the last month and will let most people hold him...at least for a little while.
Kyle
Kyle started on his master’s degree a week after we returned to Honduras...he says its a lot more time consuming & work than he expected. This is the 8th week (and end of the first quarter). He’ll have next week off and then he starts the 2nd quarter. Its a lot of reading (he told me this is the first time he’s done every bit of the reading for a class 😊) and MANY papers to write, but he’s really enjoying the classes and doing well.
At work he has a few events coming up in the next couple weeks--a planning trip/meetings in San Pedro this Saturday, the track meet in San Pedro the following week (which we will all go for), and then Family Game Day at school the weekend after that. Family Game Day is a yearly event where our basketball teams come and play against teachers, alumni, other students, and their parents. During the last couple games Kyle has started a "Balls & Dolls toss" where the audience tosses balls & dolls onto the court during the first free throw. Then all the toys are collected, I wrap/gift bag them later, and then a school or hospital is chosen and the students take them to give away right before Christmas. The first couple years its been a little slow to catch on....so I'm praying that this year the students and families will really want to take part and bring lots of balls & dolls to throw.
Kyle's also still enjoying leading the youth group at church...they are currently answering their "tough questions" that they worked on over the summer. He'd also like to plan a weekend event (retreat or something similar) to help the youth bond and really become a group.
Hope everyone is doing well. We loved being able to see so many of you this summer and are still so thankful for how you've all blessed us.
Love, Melodee, Kyle, Juliana, and Levi
