i want! i need!

Okay people, keep in mind that I use my computer for a variety of things each day. I have my blogs, graphic design, and daily ministry projects that I am responsible for that require me to use Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, MS Word, Powerpoint, the internet, etc.

But my computer is falling apart. I have a standard Toshiba laptop... it's worked out well these past few years. But after having Anna bash her toys on the keyboard and screen a few hundred times,traveling back and forth between here and the states, and just treating it with a general lack of respect & kindness, it is now on the verge of dying.

I only have one functioning USB port... and that is acting finicky lately. My CD/DVD drive is completely useless, and I now have a big ugly external drive plugged into my one usable USB port. The keys are falling out... I have found the letter 'K' in Anna's mouth on more than one occasion (I know, I know... I should keep the whole thing out of her reach... I know.)

And don't even get me started on the unimaginable slowness of my processor. Everytime I go to open a new document, my screen flashes black and white for a few seconds, then freezes, then the file opens. It does the same thing whenever I save anything. Very. Very. Annoying. (And no, it doesn't have a virus, I just scanned the whole thing yesterday).

So we're saving up. Every penny. I don't know how long it will be before I can afford a new laptop... but I'm in desperate need. And so I have begun torturing myself browsing the Dell and HP websites for my dream laptop. I discovered that you can pick a basic model and then CUSTOMIZE IT JUST HOW YOU WANT IT! This may not be news to you, but it's a brand new concept to me and me likey. Did you know that they come in different colors now!!!???

So here it is... my future pal... I hope... one day... soon... maybe...


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Señor Papa

Little Anna hasn't figured out that these stylin' green glasses belong to

Mr. Potato Head (aka Señor Papa) and not her. But she's so stinkin' cute, we didn't tell her.

balance

Christian. Wife. Mother. Homemaker. Missionary.

These words are my definition- in order of priority. My role is that of a servant, a helpmate, a teacher, a caregiver, and an evangelist. This is no insignificant list. In fact, just reading the description of what I am supposed to be to those that God has given me is intimidating and overwhelming. In and of myself, I can do nothing. My strength and abilities come only from the very throne of God... the throne that He commands us to come to boldly to receive mercy and grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Today I am struggling to figure out how the "me" fits into this definition. I have so many creative passions within me that are itching to burst out. Perhaps in a 56 hour day I would find time to sweep & mop the house twice, cook & clean up 3 meals, teach & play with my daughter, show love to my husband, wash-hang-take down-put away laundry, read the Word & pray, study spanish, complete my ministry projects, and still have time to sew burp cloths for my best friend's new baby, add pages to Anna's scrapbook, work on a blog design, take the "photoshop for artestry" tutorial I've been eyeing, and begin a new quilt.

Striking the balance is the key- I'm sure of it. I just can't seem to figure out how to strike the balance. Oh Lord, please help me to find that perfect balance. My greatest desire is to be a good and faithful servant, and to be a wise steward of that which You have given me to do. Your Word declares that I should ask for wisdom... please pour it out upon me. The Proverbs 31 woman was a regular gal, and she managed to fulfill her role and find time for industrious hobbies. I have much to learn from this godly christian, wife, mother, homemaker & evangelist.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also and he praises her:
'Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.'
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:27-30


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busted

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sick, sick, sick

We're all sick! Poor Anna seems to be on the mend, though her cough persists. But last night both Eric and I felt the scratchy sore throat begin to come on. This morning I woke up feeling awful, as did Eric. So please pray for us. I have to be here with Anna all day (who is more fussy and needy right now) and Eric has to go to Los Mortales and play with & teach the kids. I won't be doing nursery at church tomorrow because we're both sick, so pray also that the Lord would cover that need.

spinach

We recently planted spinach in our backyard because 1) we're trying to become healthier people and 2) to save money. I was very excited about the idea of going out back and plucking spinach leaves to use in a meal. Our spinach, however, is YUCKY! It doesn't taste like the spinach back home... it's incredibly potent and bitter and basically gaggy. Hubby did some research, and it turns out that wild spinach, when grown in hot and humid climates, develops a much stronger and more bitter taste. So I need help. I am determined to begin incorporating our fresh spinach (no matter how gaggy) into dinners... but I am having a hard time finding tried and true recipes involving spinach. We need to develop a tolerance for it before we can just start eating it as a salad. We just aren't there yet. Any spinach recipe suggestions?



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wish i was there...

Do you ever have those days when you wish you on vacation in Hawaii? I'm having one of those today. Everything's fine here... just fine. But for some reason, I just keep remembering our honeymoon to the Hyatt in Kauai. That trip was truly unforgettable, as we don't have the money to go on fancy vacations... it was once in a lifetime. I wish I was there. We don't have our photo albums with us here in Panama, so I can't scan in any of our honeymoon photos, but I'll share some I found on the internet. These photos really show what the place looks like! AHHH Heaven!



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immigration

When we first moved here to Panama, Eric and I went to the immigration office in Panama City with all of our paperwork in hand, to "register" with the government... whatever this even means. We figured that Anna didn't have to be present in order for us to register her, since she was only 7 months old at the time. We were wrong. So after waiting for over 3 hours to register ourselves, we knew eventually we would have to do the whole thing over again, with Anna in tow.

Needless to say, we put it off as long as possible. But time on our current visa is running out, and in order to get started applying for our missionary visa, Anna needed to register. So we woke up at 5 am, put poor, very sick Anna into the carseat, and headed to the city... long before the sun came up. We arrived at the immigration building at 6:30 am, and stood in line. Then at 7:30am they opened up the doors and the crazy herd of people rushed inside to form yet another line. They gave us a number. Then we sat and waited... (well, Eric sat... I chased Anna around & then vice versa). But praise Jesus, we were only #6 and were in and out of there in less than 15 minutes.

Total time spent at immigration: 1 hour 45 minutes.

Not bad at all. We were home by 9am and resumed our morning as usual! (And the city water came on after lunch and I was able to do 2 loads of wash, scrub the shower & bathroom with bleach, sweep & mop the floors & clean the kitchen while Anna was down for her nap!) Now that's a productive day! Yay!

it's raining, it's pouring (but there's no old man snorring)

It's really coming down right now. The sky is dark, so the lights are on in the house even though it's only noon. The sound of the torrent on my metal roof is deafening, and the powerful explosions of thunder & lightening are awe inspiring. These frequent downpours are one of my favorite things about living in a tropical land. Something about rain makes me feel creative, energized and motivated. Weird, huh? These downpours also bring the respite of cooler temperatures and gentle breezes, and much needed relief from the deplorable heat and humidity of Panama. It's a good morning here on Calle Principal, Villas Del Campo in La Chorrera. Does anyone else find a good rain to be so peaceful and rejuvenating?



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funnel cake anyone?

One of the most creative blogging mamas I know, Stacey, just posted her Menu Plan Monday posting and treated us to her funnel cake recipe! If you have a hankering for this sweet amusement park delight, check out her recipe! Thanks Stacey!


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