Catching up (part 3).....

So, just a short note about October 3rd....It was Bruce's birthday here in Costa Rica!!  It was his LAST birthday in his 30's....

So, the kids and I surprised him with a 1/2 chocolate cake from Fresa's restaurant.  It was one of the first times we "splurged" on something sweet and chocolatey for us!!


YUM!!!!

He was really excited!!!

 

 

It may have only been a 1/2 cake, but it was as big as his head!!

It was a good treat, and can't wait till the NEXT birthday to have some Fresa's cake again!!

Catching up (part 2)....

Here is Part 2:

Ok, so many of you already know that back in October we "lost" our passports.  We were in the process of applying for our Religious visas here in Costa Rica and through the several trips to the American Embassy and Immigration we "thought" we left our passports on the desk at Immigration. After that, we had to miss 1/2 day of school, head to the police station to make the reports that our passports were stolen.  Then because I already had tickets bought to Indiana for a short trip home, I had to go to the American Embassy and apply for an emergency passport.  The emergency passport cost the same as a regular passport, and I got it the same day.  It is only good for 3 months and it is guaranteed to get you out of the country you are in....however, they can not guarantee that Costa Rica would let me back in on an emergency passport--even though IT IS a valid passport.  But honestly, it looks fake.

However, after my trip home, I made it out of Costa Rica and back into Costa Rica without a problem!  Actually the only people that questioned my passport were both State side--Immigration in Atlanta and the lady at the airport leaving Fort Wayne.  Oh and funny story about the Fort Wayne airport....when I was going through security, the TSA agent looked at my passport, then had to ask his supervisor about my passport, because he had never seen an emergency passport before--that is because most people do not LEAVE the US with an emergency passport!!  UGH!

About 2 weeks after I had been home, Bruce was getting ready for school, and he came out of the bedroom and said, "You are never going to guess what I just found."  Of course, I said, "What?"  And he proceeded to show me the 4 passports!!  He had hid them so well, that he forgot where he put them.  (They were in a place I can't mention because they are still hidden there).  The funny part is that he took out everything in the closet except where the passports were!  He felt really bad!  But no big deal!  He cancelled the police reports, the kids and his passport are still good, and I will be heading to the American Embassy to get my new one!

All in all, it was a very stressful time, but lessons were learned--and above all, we now know the process IF passports are stolen...actually not too difficult of a process!

Here is a picture of all of our passports and paperwork for our Religious Visas.

One of our MANY trips to Immigration....

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Catching up (part 1)...

Ok, so here is the beginning of the catching up phase.

Part 1:

On September 21, the family went on a paseo with other families from the school.  We went to La Paz waterfall garden.  It was really fun!  The trip was about 1 1/2 hours by bus and there were about 40 families that went.  It was the first trip that we had taken as a family.  It was beautiful too!  Animals, waterfalls, flowers, trees, hummingbirds, butterflies and a wonderful lunch.  Here are some of the pics from that trip!

Definitely had a wonderful time and look forward to the next time! 

Falling behind....

Ok, so if you have followed this blog at all, you know that I have not posted ANYTHING since October 4th.

There is a reason for this-- falling behind.....

Ok, so it is not the best excuse, but it is true.  These last 2 months have been tough.  Homesickness, holidays, rain and more rain, a lot of Spanish instruction, tests, depression, prejudices, loneliness, constant physical issues and just a whole lot of stress.

This is normal, but it doesn't feel normal when you are the one going through it.

Although we have made new friends at Language School, it makes you miss the friends back home.  And although your friends back home are willing to talk to you about these issues, sometimes they just don't understand--and the new friends here do, and can relate to the same issues.  That is comforting, but still hard.

I start things and then don't follow through: i.e. October--the month of Proverbs-our life in photos.  November- the month of thankfulness.  I start something with the desire to see it through to the end, and after I miss one day, I feel as a failure- and give up.... this is not so normal to me.  I usually miss things, but I typically pick right up, accept my mistake and keep going with the flow.  But now, I feel like if I have messed, missed something--what is the point? 

Ugh...these last two months have been hard.  I know that I should and AM thankful for many, many things.  EVEN BEING HERE IN COSTA RICA is a miracle in itself.  But of course, the support, the kids, the temper tantrums, the sheer EXHAUSTION, the disconnectedness, the not understanding anything, the feeling of not learning enough OR as fast as the person next to you, the constant reminder that we are not fully supported always creeps into my thankfulness and my every thought--and that just makes me feel like I am barely surviving everyday.  I feel like I am stressed to the max to even be able to enjoy this time with my kids or my family.

But then, I think that I AM here and God has provided everything we need--sure the money is going out faster than it is coming in, but we have not gone without food or clothing or shelter since we have been here.  And for that I PRAISE GOD EVERYDAY!!

So, I say all this to say, sorry.  Sorry for the lack of communication, sorry if you felt like you have not been appreciated.  Believe me, your support, thoughts, facebook messages, skype and facetime calls and above all your prayers are what get me though everyday--even if I don't respond, know that I appreciate every little effort made by each and everyone of you.

I will try to get caught up on everything that has happened in the last 2 months--but alas, don't expect me to complete everything--because I may let you down and me down all over again!  But I will try my best!

Thanks for your 'everything'!

In Him,
The Crawfords

Here is a funny picture to add to the end of that 'sad' feeling blog.  Me and the kids playing with the photobooth--we look like rats!  BAHAHAHA!!  This was before our Fall Harvest Party at school.  Emme was a cat, Leyton was Chacho--our neighbors dog, and I was a one horned, one eyed, flying purple people eater!  FUN!

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.