No blogging for a while...

I have camp week this week. I won't be blogging for a while. Take care! Have a wonderful week remembering our Savior's sacrifice, Salvation, His Wonderful Love for us, His forgiveness.

I Need a Secretary and a Cook

We wanted to have school camps right away so that the kids could get to know each other and we could enjoy the pool and nice weather at the Quinta. So, this just means added jobs to start out the already hectic school year. This also means that I am overbooked...no new posts on my blog, no food at my house. So, if you want to be my secretary or cook...you are welcome! My kids would love new food, good food, lots of food.
I would love it for you to blog for me! We could talk, drink tereré, or tea, or whatever and share, maybe pray together, laugh and cry. You could take notes and summarize while I finish the cooking, rocking a sick toddler, watching over the puppies, buying things for the school camps, baking huge pizzas for a youth-praise and worship retreat, or just enjoy a long awaited - long deserved night out with my husband (tonight for our 19th anniversary!)
See, I'm not being lazy, I'm not sick, I'm not sad or depressed...I just need a secretary...and a cook!

Sasha had puppies...I mean...is HAVING puppies!

We were just getting ready to leave for church this afternoon when noticed that Sasha had ONE puppy already born! Something must have happened before we got to her because it's little arm was broken and the bone sticking out. We called the vet and he said to just bring it to him tomorrow and give it a drop of tylenol! So we put a bandaid on it to try to splint it a little bit.

This was sure an experience! She started digging a hole a couple of days ago. Actually, a couple of holes! Today at noon I took a picture of her huge tummy. We thought that they would be born around March 6-8.

Her third puppy was dead and right away she started to eat it and bury it.

Edson and Sasha are such good friends that I have to practically pry him away from the puppies and Sasha. He is so excited.

Well, she is up to 5 as of right now! We thought she was done so we put all the puppies up to her to be fed and all of a sudden she got kind of nervous once again and started pushing all the puppies away. We grabbed them all safely away just as another one was born.

Hmmm. I wonder if we are even going to sleep tonight...

It’s Just Not Fair!

Today Oscar was in town getting some toys for our pre-school/kindergarten classes. He bought a parking ticket from a young guy in the street and stuck it in his window for $0.80. It gave him 1 hour in the toy store he was going to. He wanted some sand toys; pails, shovels, etc. I would be like…hey, let’s look around, what could I buy for Edson, what’s new and interesting, you know, the mom thing…but Oscar went in and came out in 10 minutes.
When he reached the car in front of the store, it had a “cepo” on the tire…a huge “clamp” they put on the tires of cars that are illegally parked. The policemen were still there when Oscar got there since he was only in the store for 10 minutes. He started arguing with the officer that he just bought the ticket, but the officer said that it had yesterday’s date on it. Oscar looked closer and realized that it was true and that the young guy sold him a bad ticket. He started complaining about the corruption in our country and that the young lad probably worked for the police in order to “catch” innocent people, but no arguing would “free” him of his obvious fine. He was at fault even though he really wasn’t.
They charged him a $100 fine for parking without a valid parking ticket (according to them).
Worse yet, he had no money with him! He had to walk for blocks to find an ATM machine (that actually worked) and pay the cops before they would take the “clamp” off. He also had only one hour to do all this or they would tow the car away at HIS EXPENSE!
He finally found an ATM that worked for his card and hurried back to his car. They DID give him a receipt, but it’s just not fair!

"There are Two Aunt Marlenes"

On thursdays I go to a meeting at school and leave Edson at Marlene's house. Ever since he was born he goes there on Thursday mornings. She is Pastor Dario's wife and their kids and our kids are best friends for life! It is like a second home to Edson (and Brandon and Gaby).
At church the other day, Marlene was sitting with her identical twin sister, Elena. He doesn't spend much time with Elena because she lives farther away, and we just do so much more with Marlene's family. We were eating lunch at a table near by and Edson was finishing up and looking around. He spotted Marlene and started saying to himself..."There are two Aunt Marlenes...there are two Aunt Marlenes". Finally, some of us at the table started listening to what he was really saying and we all started laughing.
They do actually look alike and if you don't know them well, you could easily get them mixed up. Their kids used to go to the same school. Elena's kids are all older, but every once in a while someone would meet up with one or the other twin and start talking to her about school activities...and it was really the other person...do you know what I mean? Elena used to work at the snack bar at CPA and knew just about everyone at school. Sometimes people would go up to Marlene and start talking to her about the snack bar, money for their kids, what they should buy, etc. and Marlene is like, "ummm what are you talking about?..."
Once you get to know them you can really see how very different they are, but to a three year old (and many others)..."there are two Aunt Marlenes".

I feel safe and secure knowing that God can tell us all apart...there are no two "Aunt Marlenes".
Psalm 139: 1-6 (NIV)
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

CPA Update 03-03-10

We are planning menus, looking into transportation, working on lessons, preparing games and prizes, and counting the days to our Spiritual Retreat at Colegio Privado Adonai. We want you to mark your calendars and ask for specific prayers during these dates this month and April. All of the camps (except Pre-school and Kindergarten) will be held at the Quinta Adonai...a beautiful campsite near the Paraguay River.

March 12 - 1st - 3rd graders (one day) - 66 students
March 18 and 19: 4th - 6th graders - 56 students

March 26 - Pre-school and Kindergarten (1/2 day...one grade in the morning one in the afternoon) 30

March 25 and 26: 7th - 9th graders - 90 students

March 30 - April 3 (CHURCH CAMP)

April 8 and 9 - 10th - 12th graders - 50 students

We are excited to start our school year off with a spiritual retreat to Worship God, Teach His Word, Make Him Known, and invite our student body to know God as well. Pray that these students would have a true encounter with God. Pray for Pastor Baldo and Mary who will be teaching. Pray for our principals who are organizing the activities. Pray for our teachers/leaders and the cooks. Some kids are already auditioning for music; singing or playing instruments for the Praise and Worship Band...pray for them as they prepare and thank God with us for their talents (some are only 13,14 and 15 years old). Pray for the safety of each student. Praise and Thank God with us for the opportunity to plant the seed of salvation in each one of their hearts!While the weather is still nice and summery we wanted them to have the chance to get to know each other, get to know us, and start the year off with a spiritual focus that they'll remember the rest of the year. We want them to feel Christ's love! We want to break away from the books and notebooks for a while to enjoy time with the Creator.

Thanks for your prayers!

We will also have church camp during Easter Break. Pray for the organization, bible studies, workshops, and everything involved in a camp. We are expecting some visitors from Argentina. (P.S...you are also invited! )

I have attached photos of the Quinta Adonai and last year's camps.

All of us at Adonai thank you for your prayers, donations, and letters of encouragement.

A Busy Life

I have been just too busy to blog, lately...or maybe, just not inspired would be a better way of explaining the few blogs I have been posting.
School is on - full blast. I had to get new notebooks, uniforms, books, etc. for the kids, plus deal with plans, projects, and problems at school. Oscar usually handles all of the legal-paperwork stuff and I am more involved in the internal part - meetings, organizing, counselling, trying to coordinate things so that all 35 of us can work together peacefully...with God's help, of course.
I have also been dealing with a health issue the past couple of months that kind of saddened me after experiencing years of good health. I've been back and forth to doctors with tests and results...and all this while trying to keep my mind focused as a mom of teens and a toddler, who need almost constant attention.
So, I have been having my ups and downs, but then I look up to the great women in my life who have gone through a lot or so much more and are still praising God. They are still joyfully moving onward...grabbing onto our Lord's hand and facing the battle. It makes me want to be like them...as they also imitate Christ! (thanks! Some of you who are reading this are these "great women in my life.")
God gave me some encouragement this morning and while Edson is watching Thomas the Tank Engine, I decided to share it with you! It's my prayer for YOU today.

Colossians 1:11-12 (New Living Translation)
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,
always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.