October 4: Proverbs 4 Our Life in Photos

Today's blog is short, because today was a long day.  We received our temporary religious visas!!  Today we went to the American Embassy in Costa Rica (with the kids), then continued on to Immigration for the second day in a row.  But God is faithful and we now do not have to leave the country since our paperwork is in process! Praise the Lord!!

"Listen my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding."
                                                                                             Proverbs 4:1

In this whole process, He definitely showed us His instruction--and luckily we were paying attention!!

Emme and Leyton praying before dinner.

"3 When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, 4 he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. 6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you; 9 She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor."
                                   Proverbs 4: 3-9

"20 My son pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to a man's whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
                                  Proverbs 4: 20-23

I really don't think I have to explain what was taught to me today, but my kids need to hear this--not only when I tell them what to do--but when their Heavenly Father tells them what to do as well.

Day 4-lesson learned.

October 3: Proverbs 3- Our Life in Photos

Today was not a normal day.  First off, it was Bruce's birthday and second, we didn't go to school.  We did drop off the kids at school, but then Bruce and I headed to Immigration to file our paperwork for our religious visas.  We left school a little after 8 and didn't return until 2:40 to pick up Emme.  Luckily, we had friends that picked up Leyton- he and his friend Jacob played till we got back--Thanks Adam Cain!! And thanks to Miguel for driving us--would have been more of an adventure without these 2 people in our life today!

So although today was not part of our 'daily life' this is what we have to do to make Costa Rica part of our life.

So today we went to Immigration with all paperwork in hand.  Traffic was awful.

 Here is a picture of the train we got stopped by--imagine the rest of the traffic....lots of cars!

 Here is one of the trucks that was next to us.  The bumper sticker says, "Para mi Dios todo es posible"  translation: "For my God, everything is possible".  (I think God winked at us!) What a great reminder as we were stuck in traffic and heading to this:

 Here is the immigration office.  We were sitting in the yellow chairs after being in two other lines before that.  9:30-2:00 in this room with not one English speaker--except us!

After we arrived home, we made chicken and rice casserole (oh how I have missed it--and it was ooh so good) and later we had Bruce's chocolate cake!  It was worth the little splurge to see him 'light up' at all that chocolate!

As we prepared for Immigration this morning, I read Proverbs 3.  As we were sitting in traffic, at the bank to pay for the visas (yes, we paid at a bank not at the office), and in Immigration, I remembered Proverbs 3: 5-6:
"Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Spending the whole day with Bruce, on his birthday, driving around San Jose, sitting in the bank and Immigration, being reminded that everything is possible for God (by a bumper sticker)--definitely was not in MY understanding, but God knows what He is doing and in His time.

Proverbs 3: 23-26
"23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; 24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared."

At the end of the day, our paperwork was submitted, everything seemed to go WAY TOO smooth, and we have 3 more documents to produce and that should be it.  If it is meant to be, then it will be.  Thank you Lord for all of the provision that you gave us, we enjoyed the time together, and made it a time to acknowledge you in everything that we do--which made our paths straight.

Day 3-lesson learned!

October 2: Proverbs 2 Our life in photos

October 2: Proverbs 2

Today, I read Proverbs 2 and for some reason, I felt the need to take pictures of our daily journey to and from school.  Believe me, you probably think that we are in the middle of the rainforest and surrounded by beaches and wild animals.  Some of the is true, but we are in the city--the capital city so our life is not so different looking than any other city.

Everything that I read in Proverbs was talking about the ways, or the paths, and walking....maybe not in the literal sense of these words, but again, I am trying to make connections from Proverbs to our daily lives in hope to give our Lord all the praise and glory of this season in our lives.

' 8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. 9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair--every good path.'
                                                                                              Proverbs 2:8-9

' 11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.'
                                                                                              Proverbs 2:11

' 20 Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.'
                                                                                               Proverbs 2: 20-22

Every day we walk these streets; some days we take the same path, others we change our path for certain reasons--there is a break in traffic and we can cross, there are too many people, there is too much noise, there are some people that don't look safe, one street is more flat than the other (because honestly, everything seems to be uphill in Costa Rica--is that even possible??), or just because the kids want to go a certain way. 

In whatever path we take, we are making choices where we want to go and what we want to do.  But '1 if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, 3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
                                                                                               Proverbs 2: 1-5

Every day we are walking these paths, every step we take--in the hopes of understanding why God lead us here.  For only He knows why we are here, and while we are here, these streets become our paths of understanding.  Every choice we make we want to be able to turn it into glory for our Lord, and every block we walk we want to become our paths of righteousness.

 On the street coming from school.

 One of the first turns up to the first busy street.

 The busy street (this is where we tend to play frogger)

 Turning the corner towards our house, busy street number two.

 One more street and we are home....

Our street, we are the very last house, that you can hardly see! But on a dead end!

Day 2: lesson learned.

October 1: Proverbs 1 Our life in photos

Ok, so I have been praying about really getting this blog thing down and trying to update as much as I can with everything that is happening.  I have also been trying to get more into the Word.  So I thought I would combine the two.  Believe me, this is going to be a challenge for me, but I really have felt lead to do this.

So here it goes, hope you all enjoy seeing our daily life here and also being fed the Word at the same time!


Proverbs 1:2-7
(The proverbs) 2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; 3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young-- 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance--6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

As I read through Proverbs 1, it not only showed me what the proverbs are for, but I knew I had to open my mind and heart in order to understand and learn from each one every day for a month.  At the same time, what I read, I wanted to make a connection with our every day life here in Costa Rica.  Not only for you all to see what we do every day, but for me to make mental connections with my daily life and His Word. 

I thought I would do this by capturing moments that have become daily life for us.  Things we have already started to take for granted; things that we are thankful for; things that we could do without; and things that we complain about.  These are all things that I want to change to give praise to our Lord for providing for us--everyday!!

So, take a journey with us through our praises to the Lord for everything He has provided for us.

' 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.'
                                                                                          Proverbs 1: 32-33

Here is a picture of our home, well the stairs that lead to our home.  Yes, it doesn't resemble anything of a typical American home, but we love it.  At first, not so much, but God came before us and chose this house for us.  We know this and we trust Him.

Through trusting Him, we have a wonderful Tico family that lives downstairs that have already become like family and neighbors--not landlords.  The apartment off to the left in the picture is also of another great friend, Nathan, who graduated from the Language School this past August.  He fits right in with Bruce and I.  Through everything that has happened here in Costa Rica--the rain, storms, flood, death of the family's dog, earthquake, potty training regression, and plain old mass hysteria--THIS is where we feel safe; THIS is where our children call home; and THIS is the home that the Lord provided for us--regardless of size, bugs, or anything else....and for THAT, we are so thankful and so humbled.

Day 1--lesson learned.

September 15th--Costa Rican Independence Day

September 15, 2012 was the 191st anniversary of Costa Rica's Independence Day.  We had the privilege of being a part of it and celebrating the event with our school and new friends.  The day started with our landlord, Maribel letting Emme borrow one of her daughter's traditional dresses.  She wore it to school and was beaming the whole time she was wearing it.

 

Leyton appearing in the kinder (preschool) parade at school.  He got to play the drum and he was sooo loving it!

The evening festivities were very traditional, singing the Costa Rica Anthem, learning about the history of Costa Rica, had the traditional 'faroles' (lanterns) competition, and then paraded around the block with music, drums, and lots of happy people.

After the festivities at school, Steve Thomas and family took us out for pizza at Pizza Hut.  It was so nice to hang out with the Thomas' and just enjoy the night with friends--and the pizza was pretty good!

It was a nice blessing to a part of the history of Costa Rica and it was a wonderful experience for Emme to be part of the dances.  She was so excited and so proud--she was literally glowing and so composed in every move she made.  And for anyone who knew Emme with performing in front of people, I was a little nervous about her backing out and deciding not to--especially since we were in a foreign country, in front of a lot of people--mostly Spanish speakers--and with students and a teacher she didn't really know too well.  But she was AMAZING!! I was so proud of her and she stayed focused on her teacher and was so graceful with every step she made.

 Emme and dance teacher Graciela Arguedas--so sweet

 Emme and Leyton in traditional dress--with a farol (lantern)

  Leyton in traditional dress, with his wooden machete

  Our landlord's daughter, Carolina, in the school's parade

  Some of the parade people--really good music and drums.

So, that was it, other than the constant drums all night.  Typically in the United States, you hear firework before July 4th and all during the night--Here, it is drums.  Practicing before and all night long.  I actually enjoyed all the music!  So glad to be part of such a celebration with the Ticos and the pride they have in their country!

So blessed!

In HIM,
The Crawfords