colorful craftiness...

 Found some craft supplies at Dakers today...

 

and I made a couple of tie-backs for the dining room window...

I'm looking forward to playing around with the rest of these letters!

the sting of Spring...

The first day of spring should be a day of joy.  But, for me, it's a mixed bag.  You see March 20th was my younger brother's birthday.  If he had lived Bruce would be 46 years old today.  Even though it's been many years since his sudden death in a car accident I still think of him on this day.  He was a playmate, a co-conspirator in the childhood escapades of the Wright 5, and he often got in trouble with me when our mother thought one of us was bothering the baby. 

I don't have a sister or a daughter.  I grew up with four brothers.  So quite often when I think about my brothers I also think about my sons.  I spent last night tracking our son Spencer's flights.  His first plane took off from Dallas and went to London.  Then the second flight was from London to Mumbai.  Hopefully, he is safe in Mumbai now and is on his way to Pune with Meesha to meet her family.  I started thinking of Bruce as I was watching the progress of Spencer's flight on the computer screen.  

Bruce has missed out on so much.  So many life experiences, new inventions, and time with family.  When I think of the adventure that Spencer is on I cannot help but be happy for him.  I am thrilled that he has found a best friend that he cares deeply about.  Thrilled for all that is to come in the future for the two of them.  It just feels strange to celebrate on this day.  

I keep reminding myself that my little brother is now part of that cloud of witnesses that Paul talks about.  And perhaps he is aware of all that is going on for us.  Perhaps he knows about all of the nephews he was never able to meet.  And that he is part of that crowd waiting for the rest of us to get to the finish line.  At least I choose to think about it that way...because it gives me comfort to know that he is still a part of my life...no matter how long he's been gone.  

Praying fervently for the children...

The Belize Sex Offender Registry reported that two little boys went in to the police station in San Pedro with their mother over the weekend to report a case of sexual abuse.  The boys are 6 and 9.  Here in Belize when a sex crime is committed against a boy it is called an Unnatural Crime.  

Aren't all sex crimes against children unnatural?  

I'm not trying to make a political statement...just a human one.  Children should not be the objects of anyone's sexual desire.  It is heartbreaking each time we hear about a new case. I keep thinking about the ones who are not being listened to, the ones who are too young or too afraid to make a report, the ones who are trapped.  No child should have to face sexual advances from an adult...ever.

Please join with us in prayer for the children of this country and for children all around the world who are suffering from current or past sexual abuse, sexual slavery, and sexual exploitation.

What's in the news in Belize?

These are just a few of the stories making headlines here in Belize:



The Mauling of a Monkey
7 News Belize
A foursome of high school aged schoolboys and their teacher face a penalty of one thousand dollars or six months in prison for the illegal hunting of howler monkey - which is a protected species in Belize. As we understand it, the Forestry Department is trying to put together the charges and expect to file those before the end of the week. And while public opinion may be split - because after all boys will be boys - the video we've seen fo the assault on the monkey is truly appalling. This was capture don someone's cell phone as the young men tied up the monkey after they had already felled it with slingshots and dragged it into the compound. It shows them terrorizing the already brutalized animal with impunity. We note that the law states that hunting means quote, "to kill, take or molest by any method and includes attempting to kill, take or molest by any method any species of wildlife."

Cop/Chess Teacher Accused of Exploiting a Child
7 News Belize
Tonight, 50 year-old Special Constable Santos Carvajal, a resident of Fairweather Street, is at prison tonight after he was taken to court for allegedly having sexual relations with a 12 year-old girl.
According to police, the girl reported that sometime in the month of November, 2012; she visited his home, and he was supposed to teach her how to play chess. Upon arriving at Carvajal's residence, she sat in a chair in the hall area of the house and waited for Carvajal to start his training.

That's when Carvajal allegedly made advances toward her, professing his love her, and then, he reportedly disrobed the child and had intercourse with her. As a result of this report, police arrested and charge Carvajal with carnal knowledge, and he was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith today.

Carvajal pleaded not guilty to the charge, but due to the nature of the offence, he couldn't be granted bail. As a result, he was remanded to prison until his next court date, which is scheduled for April 25.

We note that he is the second Chess Teacher being involved in child abuse. In 2009 US Citizen Robert Snyder - who was teaching Chess in Belize - turned out to be a fugitive on the run from authorities in the USA where he was a convicted sex offender accused of preying on his young students.


Mother and Step Father Charged in Disturbing Carnal Knowledge Case
Channel 5 News
In a most disturbing story tonight, the stepfather and mother of an eight year old girl have been detained by police for the crimes of Carnal Knowledge and Abetment. On Monday, the minor along with her aunt, visited the Belize City police station and reported the alleged heinous crimes. The minor complained to her aunt that she has been experiencing pain in her stomach and vagina and when questioned, she reported that her step-father had sexual intercourse with her. A medical examination was conducted on the minor; it certified that she was carnally known. The child was admitted to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for further attention.

God opens the flowers...

There is a rhythm and cadence to life that we must learn to fit in with. 

In my season of Embrace there is a sense of being called to accept 'what is'.  "Face life on life's terms" as the recovery saying goes.  There is so much to learn about God's timing.  And so much to learn about when to speak and when to be silent.  When to forge ahead and when to wait and see.  

I have been spending more time in my Al Anon books preparing and being reminded of recovery principles.  We see a great need here in this area for this type of support group.  Beginning with an English speaking group and then adding Spanish and even German.  It would have been ideal to start back when the English speaking AA meeting started. But we didn't have a meeting place available back then.  Recently a space was offered to us...it wasn't my ideal timing...but, obviously it was God's.  

Having a head knowledge that His plans are not always the same as mine is not the same as truly acknowledging that His plans are not always the same as mine.  And it's important that I fit in with His desires.  It's imperative that I follow His lead and not step out of rhythm.  There is not much value in forcing things to happen before their appointed time.  It just causes unnecessary stress and heartache. 

This doesn't mean that I won't set goals or make plans...it just means that as I make decisions I want to be more sensitive to His leading and pay less attention to my own neediness.  My praying needs to come before my planning. And listening instead of doing all the talking in prayer will help me get a better grasp of His timing.  

May I always remember that God opens flowers without forcing the buds...

It's working!

Last night's rain gave us the opportunity to check on the new drainage system.  It came down pretty hard and for a long time so it seemed like the perfect time to get out there. Tom and I got dressed and went to check on how well it was working.

Tom in his rain gear!

As we walked out to the fence it was hard to see clearly what was going on...

So we had to go outside the gate and zoom in...

It might seem like a boring or ridiculous thing to do...but, it was actually fun for us to see the water pouring out of that drain pipe!  We still have some areas in the yard that are low lying and we noticed pools of water in those places.  But now we know which areas still need the soil to be built up.

The Trench is done...

On Saturday our neighbor, Armando, came over and finished off a project that we started last month. He trenched alongside the fence, out toward the ditch near the street, then laid the pipes inside the trench, and finally buried them from view.

Now when the rain comes it will drain from the gutters into the underground pipes...

and end up in the ditch for all the run-off water.

Hopefully, this will work to keep water away from the foundation of the house.  We had an excessive amount of rain this year and have heard that many people in different villages around the country experienced the same problem we did with tiles buckling.

 We still need to get our bedroom floor fixed and have the house painted.   Fortunately, we have a bit of pipe left over that Tom can take back and exchange for some tiles to replace the broken ones that we couldn't save.

The home repairs are coming along slowly but surely...all in due time!

Belizean Beauty...

 The beauty of Belize in bloom fills me with joy...

This photo was taken out at Jaguar Creek a few weeks ago when we were there for the Belize Christian Academy Retreat.  I walked around with my camera during the break and this flower caught my attention.  The ones in our yard are a dark burgundy.  This bloom is a gorgeous shock of pink from God's paintbrush!  

Easter Tree Devotions...

As Easter approaches my desire for this year is to have a more hands on devotional.  With our nest empty again we have extended times of quiet throughout the day.  My little tree is sits on an end table next to my chair in our living room.  

Each time I glance over at one of the ornaments I am reminded of a name or attribute of Christ.  Today the one that stands out the most is Love.  I keep thinking of Christ being the embodiment of the Father's love for us.  And it is this love that I desire to be rooted and established in so that I may have power, together with all of the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ.  And I want to know this Love that surpasses knowledge--so that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Can you grasp the magnitude of God's Love for each one of us?

Does the thought of Christ's sacrifice remind you that God is Love?

I, for one, am still trying to take it all in...

and to Embrace this Love more dearly.

Each day until Easter I will continue to add ornaments to the tree so that I can further study and meditate on each word. I am truly looking forward to all that this upcoming holiday holds for us.  I know there will be mourning from Good Friday until Resurrection Day...but we do not mourn as those without hope...because there will also be a time of celebration when Sunday morning dawns!

May your journey to Easter be filled with the awe and wonder of learning who Christ is.

Belizean chocolate...

Spencer bought me some of this chocolate before he left for the states.  I am so very happy that it's gluten free...but sad that it's all gone!

Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida...

A week ago we had the blessing of meeting Tim and having him teach one of the sessions of Tom's Christian Counseling class at Belize Bible Center.  His teaching left us relaxed and peaceful as he shared how to build our joy capacity and experience the life the Christ came to give us.  It's always a pleasure to connect with friends of friends and have it all turn out so well!

Just yesterday at church we had two teams visiting from the US.

Students and some of the faculty from Widener University in Pennsylvania were in attendance along with a group of students from the University of Florida.  The team from Florida shared dramas, dances, singing, and testimonies, along with a puppet show for the children following the service.  Three of the students from the University of Florida will be staying in Belize for the next three months as interns working out at Prayer Mountain.

 We look forward to seeing more of them and hearing about their experiences here in Belize.

There is so much to do, see, and be a part of here in Belize.

No matter how long your visit...you won't regret your time here!

The Exterminator...

 

 

We've been battling ants in the house for several weeks now.  So Tom decided to get serious.  He purchased the chemicals and the sprayer and got to work.  Never thought he would get to add exterminator to his resume!

Embrace the boundaries of today...

When our friends Ed and Linda visited us on Valentines Day they showered us with gifts.  One of the gifts that Linda had lovingly picked out for me was the devotional Jesus Calling.  This little book contains a reading for each day of the year.  The style of writing in this book is fascinating. And perhaps in some circles it might even be controversial. It is written as if Jesus Himself is speaking to the reader.  There have been days when this writing style unnerves me. Other days it is exactly what I need to hear Him say.  Today's reading focused on keeping our eyes on Him. 

 Worry takes our focus off of God and puts it on our circumstances.  

I see grave danger in focusing on what might happen tomorrow.  Most of what we think might happen or could happen...never does.  Focusing on the worst case scenarios so we are not disappointed can bring a sense of relief when we get to the other side.  But, what does it do to us in the present?  

For me personally, it deprives me of the joy of trusting in Him.  It drains my energy and fills me with unwanted and unnecessary stress. Due to my fibromyalgia any stress that I create in my own head over what might happen translates itself into physical pain.  Living with chronic pain reminds me each day to live in the reality of 'what is' instead of dwelling in the 'what if' that could be ahead in tomorrow.  

So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own.  
Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34 Amplified Bible

I am reminded in scripture that each day has it's own troubles.  I don't need to add tomorrow's trouble onto my plate for today.  My desire is to embrace the boundaries of today, let go of the worries for tomorrow, and live in quiet trust that He holds each day in His hands...so I can let go. 

Sweet surprises...

This weekend we had visitors from Michigan.  They left behind a few bags filled with vitamins, aspirin, tylenol, peanut butter, nutella,and so on.  We gave the majority of it away to others at church and a bag went to the men at Freedom House.

But this one treat stayed at our home...and I'm so grateful.  A container this size would cost close to $50USD.  A luxury item that I've looked at but never purchased.  

To celebrate I made up two batches of pancake batter, regular for Tom, and gluten-free for me.  Thanks Tim and Mike for this yummy blessing!

Horsing around...

 

 

You never know what you're going to see while driving around Belmopan!

Just crocheting leaves...

Tom's been sick this week and today it was my turn not feeling up to par.  I've been in bed all day and was getting bored so to help pass time I decided to get started on my Easter tree.  My crocheted leaves are almost done!

I wonder if I'll be able to find floral wire here in Belize so I can attach them to the tree branch I'm using?  Oh well...I'll be sure to post pictures of whatever I come up with!

The meanings of words...

As a preteen I struggled with missing my grandfather deeply.  But even at the age of 12 I understood that his death meant something different to my mother and grandmother.  Years later when one of my brothers was tragically killed by a crush injury when he was just barely into his 30s the words 'grief', 'loss', 'sadness', all took on new meaning after his death.

Even a word like 'comfortable' is comprehended in a different way after living abroad for almost eight years. Creature comforts, like a really good pillow, air conditioning, or an ant-free home, turn from simple pleasures into luxury items I daydream about.  Feeling comfortable is no longer a given...it's a priceless treasure when experienced.   

The word 'joy' has changed for me as I've gotten older.  Times of hardship have caused me to appreciate joy. Joy is deeper and more lasting than mere happiness.  Whenever I hear people on tv or in a movie say "I deserve to be happy"....I smile and think to myself I would much rather have joy in my life than happiness.  

As I continue to ponder words and phrases that mean something different to me now than they did 30 years ago I also have to consider God's word.  I understand better today how ALIVE scripture truly is.  I see things that I didn't see before...though I may have read or meditated on a passage a thousand times...today it's brand new. 

And when the affliction is over and the burden has been lifted and the trial has been faced...I can always find something to be grateful for.  I can glean from my new vocabulary and praise God for a few more puzzle pieces being filled in.  

I can lift my head and know that He holds my hand through each lesson, as He impresses them on my mind, and we talk about them on the way, as I lie down and when I rise up.  I can try to share what I have learned just as I try to learn from others.  But, there are some words that just won't have the richness and depth they are due until we are face to face with their true meanings for ourselves.  

What's for dinner?

Potatoes, onions, smoked turkey sausage, fresh dill, and snow peas equals yummy!

Memories from Jaguar Creek...

Last week CDF had the opportunity to work with the highschoolers from Belize Christian Academy.  We covered a variety of topics including; Child Abuse, Help for Abuse, Sexuality from God's Viewpoint, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Making Good Decisions About Relationships and Sex.

The students worked hard taking notes, participating in small groups, and making their presentations... 

 

And they played hard during the lunch break...

 

We are grateful to Pastor Jerry, the board of Belize Christian Academy, and the staff for supporting this event.  And our prayer is that through providing a safe environment to discuss difficult topics like this...that a lasting impact will be made on the youth from this school..and that it was a life changing event for at least one student!

Cruise Ship Day...

Yesterday was a gorgeous day...

 Perfect for braving all of the road construction in Belize City...

Just to spend a few hours with friends from California!

Wednesday evening Tom and I drove up to spend the night in Belize City.  We got up early the next morning to meet Ed and Linda as they came off the cruise ship.  It was a great day.

We were able to show them our beloved Belmopan, our home, where the church is building, where the AA meeting takes place, and our favorite place to shop for souvenirs (Art Box).  Our hearts are filled with gratitude for all of the prayers and support and encouragement we have received from them over the past eight years.  And it was a joy to be able to show them what their prayers and encouragement have helped us to achieve.

Our day felt like a taste of the reunion we will all have with friends and family when we are all reunited in heaven!

For my Valentine...

Special thanks to Meesha for painting this portrait for our 31st anniversary.

It's just the two of us again.  We don't own much anymore after all of our losses from our last move.  But, one thing has been clear over the past 31 years...all we need is us. Happy Valentines Day, Sweetheart!

Lean in...

As we drove away from the airport, away from Spencer, away from the days of having our two sons tucked safely into our nest, I clearly heard the words "Lean in" whispered in my ear.

I kept seeing these gnarly looking trees bowing at the Caribbean's edge as if taking a sip of it's life-giving power.

My word for this year is Embrace.  I thought that meant that this year would be a celebration of accepting new things, people and places into our lives.  Now what I am sensing is that this is a year of Embracing Him and Him alone no matter what comes my way.  A year of Leaning In to Him to meet my needs.  Not just the physical needs but the emotional and spiritual ones.

The first scripture that came to my mind was Proverbs 3:5.  But, when I read it in the Amplified version it said:

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind 

and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.  

Lean on?  I thought I was supposed to lean in?  And then it hits me...

I have to lean IN to Him to be able to lean ON Him. 

I cannot lean on Him from a distance.  I have to move in close.  And close to Him is where I need to be right now...and always.

Through the changes that are inevitable in life, through the different seasons we pass in and out of on life's journey, and the trials we may face along the way...the best way to get through it all is with Him.

I cannot speak as one who has it all figured out.  I can only give witness as one who is still learning and growing and doing my best to Lean In.

Tasty Tuesday...Arepas

 

 

 

 

 

Last night we had breakfast for dinner!  We do this from time to time just because it's easy and with just the two of us easy is best.  This recipe comes from The Gluten-Free Bible.  The cost of the flour here in Belize was only about $3.37USD.  I was thrilled to find it in our local store.  I thought I was just buying white cornmeal so you can imagine my surprise when I read through the recipe and then looked at the flours in my pantry and discovered that I had actually purchased this specialty flour.

I will definitely be making these again...Tom and I both thought they were very tasty!

Arepas

1 1.2 cups instant corn flour for arepas (also known as masarepa, masa al instante, or harina precodica)

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 to 2 cups of hot water

1/3 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (I used half cheddar and half Monterrey jack)

1 Tbsp butter, melted

Fillings: scrambled or fried eggs, cheese and salsa

1. Preheat oven to 350F.  Mix flour and salt in medium bowl.  Stir in 1 1/2 cups water.  Dough should be smooth and moist but not sticky.  Add more water by tablespoons if needed.  Add cheese and butter.  Knead until dough is consistency of smooth mashed potatoes.

2. Preheat heavy skillet or griddle over medium heat.  Grease lightly with butter or oil.  Break off a piece of dough about the size of an egg, roll the dough into a ball.  (If dough cracks or seems too dry, return to bowl and add additional water by tablespoonfuls.)  Flatten and pat into 3-4 inch round disc about a 1/2 inch thick.  Immediately place in hot skillet.

3. Cook arepas 3 to 5 minutes per side until browned in spots.  Transfer to baking sheet.  Bake 15 minutes or until arepas sound hollow when tapped.

4.  To make breakfast sandwiches, split arepas b piercing edges with fork as you would English muffins.  Fill with, eggs, cheese, and salsa as desired.  Makes 6-8 arepas.

Note:  Arepas are best served warm; day-old arepas are best toasted.  Arepas may also be frozen for future use. 

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Alida's notes:  It took 1 1/2 cups of hot water plus 2 Tbsp for me to get the right consistency.  It is hard to regulate the temp on our oven so mine actually baked at 400F for 15 minutes until  they were golden and sounded hollow when I took them out of the oven.  I had a little trouble with sticking when they were in the cast iron skillet before going into the oven.  I may try my non-stick skillet next time.  I am looking forward to making these on a regular basis.  They could be used to make egg McMuffin type sandwiches with sausage or ham.  Such a great gluten-free alternative to English Muffins.