FOR TODAY
Outside my window...

I am thinking...Of how much I need God!

I am thankful...for God's grace!

In the kitchen... Making sugar cookies for neighbors today.I found a really good recipe for cutout cookies.

I am wearing...My favorite pj's.

I am creating...nothing at the moment.

I am going...to walk up the hill to a little store to buy butter for sugar cookies.

I am wondering...what time Rocky will be home from up the river today.

I am reading...several free devotions on my kindle. My favorite is"The Journey: a season of reflections.I started it the day after Thanksgiving and will go through Christmas.

I am hoping...In Christ and Christ alone!

I am looking forward to...Our time in Quito with other North Americans.

I am hearing...Roosters crowing, buses on highway.

Around the house...A vase of beautiful roses from Rocky's garden.

I am pondering...On Christmas's past.

One of my favorite things...holding the hand of a small child.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Making cookies, packing and bible study on Friday.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

This is Estaban, wife and one of his 5 children. They are from Shakai up the river and in the last couple of weeks they have came knocking on our gate and visit for a short time and then leave.
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Mark 10:29-31

29. Jesus told him:

You can be sure that anyone who gives up home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or land for me and for the good news 30will be rewarded. In this world they will be given a hundred times as many houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and pieces of land, though they will also be mistreated. And in the world to come, they will have eternal life. 31But many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.

I think of this verse and know that God has given me 100 fold grandchildren at Naichap. Just wish we were closer and could spend more time just hanging out with all of those sweet kiddos.

Prohibited

We have been stopped almost every time we have been out on the road the last month. The police are checking documents. There will be a whole bunch of them working a spot. This morning we went to town and and when we were coming home we were stopped near the market and the police ask for our documents and then ask us to get out of the car and they searched the car. Rocky keeps a machete under his seat to clear the road of fallen trees or whatever. Well the police told Rocky that it is prohibited to have it. But they did let us go and gave Rocky his machete back.

Rocky does look pretty scary!!!

Cookies

Today I made 2 batches of sugar cookies and one recipe of chocolate chip cookies. Baked one recipe of sugar cookies and the other is in the refrigerator for tomorrow. I baked the chocolate chip cookies and froze a big container of them for our trip at the end of the week.Enjoyed myself , but would have been awesome to have had some grand children knee deep in flour and dough with me.

Christmas Chai Tea

I microwave one large coffee mug of water till boiling. I like a Christmas mug Add 2 tea bags( black tea) and let steep. Add 1 Tablespoon of powered milk and you have to really stir this, 1 1/2 tablespoons of coffee creamer ( I use the powder) 2 packets splenda, a short shake of cinnamon, a short shake of nutmeg and stir well. Top with cool whip or what ever is available in your area and a quick shake of nutmeg for a pretty top!

Ok! Sit back and put your feet up and enjoy some Christmas music and ponder on Christmas's past!!!!

Tight Spot

  This week there was a little bit of concern!  

First our car has been acting up and we had it worked on and had a u-joint replaced. It was good for a couple of days and then began to make more noise. At about the same time Rocky found he could not get any money from the ATM and he kept going into town to try different cards. By then the car was really making bad shakes and noise. Rocky told me we that we were in a tight spot. no car and no money. He got the car some better yesterday and when we left to travel to bible study yesterday he said ok car be good. We took off and when we were traveling through Yanzatza I looked up and saw a brand new bank. I said Hey there is a new bank. We turned around and went back to the ATM and WA LA! Rocky was so happy because he was able to get some cash....Not all he wanted but it sure helped us out. We will stop there again on Friday and get some more. We are hoping the car hangs in till we get to Quito. We will leave for Quito on the 17th and take 2 days to get there. Plan to have car serviced there.Get our visas and renew our drivers lic.   Rocky really gets aggravated with ATMS at times but then yesterday he was so happy with the new one!

Thankful for Divine encounters. Since I parked down the hill after I put the basket in the car I walked back up the hill to shop for a couple of things and I passed a gringa lady but she did not look up or speak so I went on and purchased some plastic for my counter and was headed on to the fabric store and saw the lady sitting on the curb eating her breakfast so I went on over and said bueno dias and she spoke so I said hello do you speak english and she did and invited me to sit down with her.What a blessing. She lives in Villacumba and said she felt the need to just get away for a while and so she was visiting the national park here in Zomora and on to the coast tomorrow. We both shared our struggles with language, cultural and she was not sure that she would be returning to Villacumba. I gave her my email and hope to be in contact with each other.It was a huge blessing to just sit on the curb in Zomora and visit with another woman!!!! Thank you Lord!

Thankful for divine encounters

I went to the market for fruits and veggies this morning. I went alone so I parked by the old grocery store and walked up the hill with empty basket to market. Shopped for all we needed and my basket was very heavy so I was glad to be going down hill to car. I had used all my change and I still needed to get mangoes and I had a 5.00 bill so I thought no problem because they had been open all morning so they have change. Well I picked out 6 small mangoes that were 6 for a dollar. Pulled out my 5.00 bill and it was very worn( that is the only kind we get here because the banks hoard the new bills) the lady saw it and said no way! I said that this was all I had and she said no. Ok I went next door and picked out 5 for a dollar and same thing happened but this lady kept saying just come back with change and even was going to let me have the mangoes before I got back but I said no. and then I turned around and they did not have mangoes but they had tomatoes and I wanted extra for salsa so I got 1 dollar worth and she took the 5.00 and gave me change. I did not buy from the earlier ladies so had to back tract and find more mangoes and I got 3 for a dollar.hahahaha Just they way things are done here.
 American currency!  Why would any country want to have the expense of producing their own currency when the good old USA will make it. When we get any change here we get tons of those gold dollar coins that was produced 2000 and any paper bills we receive are totally worn out. But I am glad we do not have to worry over converting money.

More Thankful Photos

I think Rocky decided he might should just sit for a spell.

Trying on shirts

Sister was helping. Love those smiles!

Rocky ask Edwon if he was tired and bored and he No!

Lisbet modeling her new outfit.

Having fun with Christmas decor.

Shopping for shoes

Rocky found a hat from Arkansas in Qualaqiza!

Thankful for being able to communicate little by little

Lisbet

      Today rocky and I had the privilege to take Silvia and five of her children shopping for new clothes. thanks to the beautiful people of GABC Arkansas.
 

      First let me say what a fun time I had just shopping and hanging with those awesome little children.

Rocky and Nicolas with Lisbet watching, Silvia, Paula and Franlin in back.

Paula playing with hats

The boys waiting for girls to finish. 

 

             

 

      Silvia's husband was killed last spring and she has 6 children to take care of out in the jungle. The group that was just here from Arkansas left money with us to use for Silvia and the children. What a blessing for Rocky and I to get to spend this time with this precious family.
      Silvia became a believer about 2 months after the death of her husband. I am so thankful for training in Lima about grief and also for enough language skills to be able to talk with Silvia and encourage her that all of the up and down times is just part of the normal grieving process. She was able to share and I could understand that there are times when she feels depressed and very sad.
 Thank you Lord for caring about all the little things as well as the big things. I love you Jesus!!!!

Thankful

I am thankful for the team from Arkansas coming to Ecuador to bless us with a prayer retreat. I am thankful for the upcoming 4 days of fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. I am thankful for 4 days of fellowship in my heart language. Thank you Father for touching my heart with your grace and love!!
 

 Thankful for coffee in the mornings,
 Thankful for children,
 Thankful for our lovely home,
 Thankful for washer and dryer,
 Thankful for my kindle,
 I will stop there but I could go on and on.

GRAND KIDS

I am so thankful for grand kids!!!! There is nothing like them that I have ever experienced!!!! Oh how my my heart feels when I hear one of them say "grandma"! 

HUGS

I am thankful for the all the wonderful hugs from the little children in the village. January 19, will be 2 years in Zomora and the little children have just now become free with their greetings and hugs. thank you Lord for building trust.
 

 I am thankful for the new Dicavi grocery store opening this morning in Zomora. Looking forward to attending the grand opening at 10:00 am.

 More on this later!!!
   

Zomora

 I am thankful for Friday in Zomora. Today I get to prepare and eat lots of fresh veggies that are super cheap. I get to enjoy spring like weather. I am enjoying the birds singing out our window. The best part is I get to travel to Naichap tonight and be a part of sharing Gods love and His word with a group of beautiful children.

Month of Thanksgiving

Day 2:::::
 I am thankful for the blessing of my sweet husband!!!! This morning he came down stairs with the dirty bed sheets and put them in the washer for me!!! AHHHHH! The thing is he always makes up the bed each morning and I ask him last night to not make the bed because I needed to wash the sheets....OH HOW I LOVE CLEAN SHEETS AND CLEAN PJS.

November

 WOW! it is November and I want to take the time to be thankful each day.
 
 Today I am thankful for my Jesus! What an awesome life in Him. I think back to what a wretched sinner I was before He saved me for His purpose. And now the amazing life with Jesus!!!!

Fun Times

Our little neighbor's birthday was today and we were invited to his party. Sebastian was 4 years  and he had an amazing party complete with clown and the kids loved it. They dance a lot, here in Latin America. Even the little 2 and 3 year olds  bodies just rock with the beat. It was such a treat to get to spend time with all of the kiddos!!!! And we eat continuously  for about 3 hours.... I am so full.  Thank you Lord for little children.
    
        Rocky and I got gifts just like the kiddos also..FUN! There was a chocolate fountain with strawberries, jello, cookies,candy, chicken on a stick, brownies and ice cream, beef with rice and salad. coconut juice.

 Lots of music.

Missionaries always have minutes on their phone!

Here in the south of Ecuador, when the people we work with want to talk to us, they call us and hang up so that
we can call them back and that way they save their minutes. Last week Rocky and I both did not have minutes on our phone. Rocky bought the card but we just did not have activated. Marta called 3 times and hung up three times before she finally stayed on the line and talked to Rocky.

what's happening

  Today I am preparing to be gone for 6 days. I will fly to Quito tomorrow the 22th of Oct. and stay the night with Ruby and Fletcher( looking forward to my time with this special couple.) Leave on flight to Lima on Sunday 23rd with Kyleen and Cindy. Will be in Lima for 3 days of training and back to Quito on the 27th for another night with Ruby and Fletcher. Flight out of Quito at 8:40 am on 28th and Rocky will pick me up at Catamayo at 9:05 and we will return home to Zomora...a 2 hour drive.  Looking forward to some time away.

 Cake baked and leftovers frozen for Rocky! lol  It has been funny because he has ask me how to make coffee, and how to wash clothes.....
 

Got to go and decide what clothes I am taking....Decisions!!!! 

I wonder

Today I walked into Zomora and up to the post office. I passed a little childrens clothes store and in the window was the cutest little T-shirt size 2 and on the front of the shirt it said " My Grandma is awesome" in English. 
Today I have been wondering if my little 2 year old granddaughter even knows me!  I have been out of the country all of her life.

The one day of great sunshine

We awoke the second day in Banos with sunshine and were told get on out and see the volcanoes before the clouds.

So up and up we went, but in the car.

Tree tomatoes

Tree tomatoes

The Hike

We stopped at this one waterfall that we could not see but was told it was a short 10 min hike down. 10 min. for a Ecuadoran is a 30 or more for me.

Down we go and dgoing down is the easy part for me. 

beautiful walk with lots of pretties

Awesome GOD

DOWN!!!

I keep thinking I got to come back up!!

Down some more

And more, legs are feeling a bit weak!!

We are there! Not all the way but as far as we went!

about half way up and still smiling!!

At the top and not much of a smile, but I did it!!

More

Crates full of naranjillas

This was a woman with a heavy load

A carving in a restaurant

We get to live in an awesome place

Cool tree with lots of plants growing on it

Bird eating corn

The power behind one of those baskets to carry a group across a canyon

So many waterfalls