Smell the Roses

As I sit here, the song Sail by Awolnation plays throughout the house (courtesy of your truly), a breeze drifts in through the many open windows, the sun shines brightly outside, and the smell of cooking beans makes my stomach rumble.  It is a beautiful day.

I have many things to be thankful for this week, and many are blessings that I could easily overlook if I didn’t slow down and “smell the roses” so to speak.  The beautiful weather.  Fresh food in the fridge.  Consistent internet.  Cuddling with Maya.  A roof above my head.  Flushing toilets.  A piano, guitar, ukulele.  Great company.  I could go on and on about things that I take for granted every day.  Today is a day for me to slow down and recognize them.

Meal time at Casa Adobe

Sunday morning, Tali and I woke up at 5 in the morning and went outside to paint.  There are wood panels surrounding our keyhole garden and Ginna wants each member of Casa Adobe to paint their own panel, to bring a little bit of color and life to the otherwise dull brown wood planks.  Like the crazy people we are, Tali and I decided to wake up long before it would be hot out and enjoy the early morning light by painting.  It sounds silly, I know.  Especially for me.  But I loved it!  Though I am no artist, I am proud of what I painted.  Maybe if I’m brave enough, I’ll take a picture and share it with you :)

(Left to right) Tali, Izayana, Susi, Ashly, Sharon, Kendall

The project Bola Bola is going great—kids are participating, things are getting done, meetings are happening, the community is helping.  I couldn’t be happier.  The kids’ attention spans and capacity for remembering things is challenged every day and, though sometimes I get frustrated, I see improvement.  This is so amazing.  I am just so proud of them for committing to something that’s challenging and requires them to dedicate time and energy to doing things that sometimes are not so fun.  To keep their spirits high and their hearts a pumping, we are planning occasional celebrations:  a movie night, a pizza party, a soccer tournament, etc.  After all this hard work, we deserve to have a little fun, right?

I have to admit though, working with kids day in and day out is tiring.  By the end of the day I am exhausted.  I want to quit sometimes, throw in the towel, walk away, give up.  But God has provided me with a surprise: my very own cheerleading team.  The girls here at the house—Luli, Guiss, and Tali—have not only been working on the project with me but also have been pushing me along, encouraging me when I feel like my head is going to explode.  I couldn’t keep going if it weren’t for their gentle (or not so gentle) nudges.  Also, Ginna, Chabe and Daniela (the other girls who live here) are always making me a cup of tea or massaging my shoulders or something nice like that, anything to help me out.  I just don’t know what to do with all this love!  I feel embarrassed at such a showering of attention but secretly I enjoy it and wouldn’t have it any other way.  With such a community of love and support, I feel like I can do anything.

I just want to end by saying thanks.  Thanks to everyone for everything.  I can’t name you all here—there’s simply not enough room.  But know that I truly do appreciate every moment of encouragement, every word of prayer, every smile, every hug, every joke, every laugh.  You are my community, my family.  I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without all of you.  So thank you!  Stay tuned :)