Dear Kids,
Well, we've been here for ONE MONTH officially!
It seems like so much longer than that! So much as happened:
-We've learned how the bus system works. That took some practice. The bus system doesn't work here like
-We found a "Lavendaria" (Laundromat) that we use for our clothing. We take our dirty clothes to them every Thursday and then pick them up every Friday. The ladies there are starting to recognize us and they are starting to warm up to us instead of being irritated with us when we don't know the right word to say to them!
-We have a cute little "Oxxo" store that is down the road from us where we can walk if we need something last minute. It's kind of like a gas station size, but without the gas, and the prices are reasonable. We have a tradition to get treats for every Friday night for the kids from the Oxxo so they have something fun to eat during movies and while we go on a date.
-We've gotten to know our little condo area really well and gotten into a good rhythm these past two weeks since Dani and Alan headed home. We were in tourist mode with them, but then we knew we needed to get into "living" mode. This is basically what our schedule looks like on a weekly basis:
-The kids are getting more screens than normal while we've been here. That's been a little bit hard for me, but it's been the best solution in the afternoons while we are doing podcast work. One of the BIGGEST reasons we are living here for several months instead of at home is because Brent is taking time off work in order to get these Spiritually Centered podcasts completed and DONE. With him not working we've been able to work on them REALLY consistently and we've already gotten half of the presentations lined out at this point! That feels REALLY good. I keep praying to God to make up the difference for you guys. That when we spend time with you it is quality time, but that you are having more screens than when we were at home because of the way it frees up time for Brent and I. I believe the Lord knows our hearts and we are doing our best with this.
-We have been going every Wednesday to the church activity. They do something fun here where the RS, YM, YW and the Primary all meet together Wednesday night and do activities together. That has been fun! It's a long night for us, we've been leaving around 5pm to get food before getting there (that's been fun to go to different local places to eat) then we have the activity and get a taxi home. We aren't home usually until about 9:45pm or 10pm. But it's a fun night for everyone.
-The swimming pool as been a GOD SEND! Doing apartment living while we've been here has been interesting. We've made it work really well. It feels so cozy and close, and I really like that actually, not spread out in a big home. But the kids get really restless. So going to the pool everyday to swim has been HUGE. And Joshua has learned to swim while we've been here! He's doing amazing! Brent and I have been swimming as well and getting our lungs working out more with holding our breath. The first time we held our breath under water we couldn't do it very long and it was alarming. So one of our goals is to leaving with better air control.
-Something else that we're doing as a couple is Intermittent Fasting while we're here. We are fasting after lunch on Monday until dinner on Tuesday. Then after lunch on Thursday until dinner on Friday. Usually it gives us a fasting period of about 24-28 hours. We knew we had to do something to get more healthy, but it's been a challenge to be on the same page about food in our home. It's been a source of contention and frustration for me. So as we talked about it we decided that we might be able to make Fasting work. We still drink water during those times, but we fast from food. And so far I think we might have found something that works for both of us! yay!
-Understanding Spanish has been DIFFICULT because of everyone wearing masks down here. That has been a challenge. But we are working on it very hard. Brent is a CHAMP. I feel like he's the Senior Companion helping everyone understand how to do things in a different culture, including myself. Because of speaking Italian he has been able to understand Spanish much faster than I have, and I'm so grateful for it! I am slowly getting more and more of the language and keep praying to the Lord to help make up the difference for me. I'm trying!
-For school time everyone has just the basics to get done. EVERYONE does Spanish Study. We got Ipads for everyone for Christmas specifically for school things. We are doing Duolingo together, and it's been a great program to use for all the kids as well. I spend 30 minutes a day on Spanish Study. The kids school right now consists of Reading, Copywork, Math, Spanish Study, Art or Ukelele (for Talia), and then the educational screens in the afternoon. Talia has also been putting together a Learning Club that she teaches classes online Friday's at 5pm EST (our time), 3pm MST. It is VERY basic school work honestly, nothing really fancy, but it's keeping the kids up to date. Usually at home I had specific teacher prep time every month for what we were going to be doing and focusing on, but I'm not doing that here because besides the kids and navigating the culture here, the Podcasts are the focus of my energy. So the kids are doing basic school work and having experiences. They've had a TON of new experiences here and THAT is a HUGE education in and of itself! I hope YOU ALL REMEMBER that having experiences while we're here was a HUGE focus of our schooling time.
Well, I think that gives a pretty good overview of everything that we have been able to learn and do!
I love you kids,
Your Mom
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