Oct 30

I forgot to mention that any more questions would be welcomed because it’s really fun to think out the answer, and it gives me more to type about. J

Apache seems to be better, he hasn’t complained of stomach upset or anything since yesterday, so I’m hoping he’s over whatever it was. I just didn’t think it would last as long as that!

Wow, Saturday is the first day of November… It’s so weird. Except in the evenings it doesn’t feel like October. I haven’t noticed as many lovely autumn colors here as in the Midwest, but maybe they’ll come later as the cooler weather becomes more constant. My head’s been messed up for several days now, and I don’t know whether to attribute it to my wisdom tooth being bad (it would wait until I’m in Mexico to act up!) or because of the changing weather - almost hot during the day, then really cold at night. As for my head, it isn’t really a cold, more an achy feeling all the time. My nose is runny but it’s because it’s so dry here. Runny and cracked…. And, to continue this string of complaints, my heel cracked. One heel cracked in Alaska right before I came down and it’s only just now healing - now the other heel cracked just today. Ouch!

Ok, if I continue on this string the post will be constant complaining again…. Something I was trying to avoid. J *snip* haha

I crocheted a little pouch for my money, since my wallet was a long weird shaped one that didn’t fit well in my pocket, and I don’t need all the junk that I have in it that I “use” in the U.S. I asked at the Market how much a small wallet was, but it was a little high for me then, so I crocheted one. It works excellently for putting in my pocket, so as not to leave it in reach of anyone else and to not forget it. J Anyway, now Sarah (my sil) asked me to crochet one for her to wear around her neck. Maybe I can get into the “business” of crocheted bags…. Haha

November 1^st

Well, the unbelievable day has arrived. The 1^st of November. Ha. J (whoop-de-do) haha just kidding.

Anyhow… now for catching up… later that same day of the previous paragraphs we went to Sara’s house (I think she spells it without the H) and made pumpkin bars and pizza. (How American!) The pizza had ham and pineapple and chorizo and mushrooms on it. I forgot that I had seen a bottle of Prego in a certain store, so we had to use only tomato puree… oops! I did sprinkle on some oregano and we mixed in some chicken bouillon, but it wasn’t the same. Also they don’t have basil or the other things. Anyway that wasn’t what I was going to write about. We made a “cup’a’noodles” for the kids to eat, and Elena kept complaining about her loose tooth - which I think I forgot to mention earlier! Oops! (again!) well… now you know what I’ll say next: Elena lost her first tooth that day! J She got a rag and was squirming in and out of her chair in nervousness. First she wanted me to pull it. Then she didn’t. Then she did. Then she didn’t… on, and on and on… I hadn’t thought it was ready yet, because it’s only been loose for I think a week or so. But after she finally gave in and gave me the rag, I tugged gently on it and it came out easily! We were all very excited. Apparently in Mexico, instead of the Tooth Fairy, they have El Raton… put the tooth under your pillow and the Mouse takes it away and leaves gifts in its place. Sara said that children here get lots of “presents” and even money from people when they lose their teeth. Sarah gave Elena a ten peso coin, and I followed suit because she was saying what she wanted to buy with it and I knew she’d never be able to afford it…. And still won’t probably - she said she wanted a princess doll with a purple sparkly dress…. I have no idea where to go for one, or if we’ll have enough money, until we get back in the U.S. But either way it’s fine because probably what she’s thinking about is Barbie, and after a trial and fail period I’ve decided I just don’t feel comfortable having her play with Barbies… Their clothes always do come off and stay off and then with miniature naked women lying around… it doesn’t really teach anything about modesty! I’ll admit they are fun to play with, changing their clothes and imagining grand lifestyles for them - but there have got to be more decent dolls out there somewhere that can change clothes… Anyway, that is totally off my subject. J

Every day is up and down with my mil - but I’ll tell you about today since it didn’t turn out so bad. She had closed herself in her room the entire day yesterday except for one time for a few minutes, so today I didn’t know what to think and just went about my business. But she did come out after a while and actually ate the dinner I prepared, and then I did something I had my doubts about but am glad I did. I asked her if she didn’t want to help me make tortillas! First off I was afraid my tortillas would flop. Then that she’d be insulted about me asking her, but I think she ended up being pleased that I did - maybe she needed to feel needed. I mixed up the tortilla dough and then we set about it - her sitting at the griddle, and me making them. This is how I made them: first, put water on to boil. Then, pour about one pound of flour (not sure - it’s in kilos here) in a large bowl, (it’s probably six cups, m/l) , add about one and half cups lard/shortening, one teaspoon baking powder and one teaspoon salt. Once the water boils pour into the flour mixture and mix rapidly so the flour doesn’t cook into little balls… (I had to pick out a couple little pieces of hardened flour because it was too hot to stir - you can use a wooden spoon or your hands) Then, for each tortilla, I pinch off about a two or three inch ball, and with a rolling pin, roll it flat and attempt to make it round… I had some interesting shaped ones at first! Haha Then pick up the flattened dough and lay it on the griddle (this is where my mil started her job) - flipping several times to make sure it gets cooked all the way through, until it whitens and has specks of brown all over. Oh yes, I forgot, you have to knead the dough several minutes to make it nice and elastic.

Well, after we made tortillas together she seemed very open and almost pleasant… and didn’t close her door, and we actually watched the end of a scary movie together. J There is a lot of things that we clash on pretty badly, (we haven’t had any screaming matches yet, though, so don’t worry) lol but today turned out ok!

I feel like I was running here and running there today…. I washed laundry, made breakfast, lunch, and supper, made tortillas, washed dishes… it’s not that much, or all that unusual, but it took up the whole day. I made that tripe stuff I told you about earlier - pepena, they call it, with pieces of tripe, or the tube-like innards, and I think liver and kidney or something like that. I cooked it all day like they said, and everyone said it turned out good, but once it was done, I just couldn’t bring myself to eat it after all… just one bite at lunch, and another attempt at supper (there were leftovers - shock!) and I just couldn’t make myself. I think I liked it at Sara’s house because I didn’t have to be the one to cook it… and see it at all its stages. Also at Sara’s I was more hungry, and didn’t even have very much of the actual stuff, more tortilla. I don’t think I’d have minded it so much if it had only been the tube tripe stuff - but the other two things…. EEeEeEeWwWwWw J haha So BLOODY! Yeck I washed it all very well and rinsed the bloody things till they were very pale, but they still had a lot. So…. They rapidly left my “like them ok” spot to my “please never eat that again” spot.

I guess the laundry days have changed a little, now they aren’t strictly on Fridays and Tuesdays.

Nov 6 2008

… ok! That was an interesting little comment thrown in… I was going to elaborate but I must have gotten interrupted.

I didn’t get up to the computer place this week… We spent like $320 (pesos) in the pharmacy this week, all for things we need. It’s probably cheaper than in the U.S. but it used up a lot of our money. Maybe one of you can do an experiment for me…. This is what I bought: one package of 32 diapers, two packs of wipes (the refill/travel pack size), Nivea lotion (small), one chocolate (ok - so maybe that wasn‘t really a necessity…) J , small bottle of hydrogen peroxide (like 1/3 the size of the brown bottles of the U.S.), small deodorant, large bottle of contact solution (ReNu), toothpicks, medium package laundry soap, and one bottle of fabric softener, and one package (4 rolls) of toilet paper. Now, if someone wants to waste some time…. You can go to Wal-Mart and see how much it is for all those things. Now that I think of it, $32 U.S. is probably less than what you’d pay… depending on the size of the things and if you buy generic or the more expensive brands. It’s actually a little less than $32 right now because it’s somewhere around 11% I think, instead of 10. It spent a while up around 12.75% but I think it’s gone down now.

If you want to know the reason I haven’t typed very much this time … it’s because I’m in the throes of a storm of self pity. Isn’t that awful? I hate it when that happens. It’s a lot harder to decide to be happy when all you want to do is feel sorry for yourself… I think everyone has times like that, right? (I hope so! I don’t want to be alone in my pity party!) haha J The post started out on that strain and I’m afraid it’s still-a-goin’-on. No, it isn’t because I’m a woman. Ha There are about three different things causing it, things that are not fixable. But, I need to go read my Bible and remember God and His sacrifices for my sake, instead of thinking of my life, that hasn’t really been terrible at all - in fact, I’ve had quite a leisurely life compared to some.

On to another topic:

SOME of you didn’t do your job! McCain Lost! And Sarah Palin! Alaska’s Governor! And now the one who hates America and who doesn’t put his allegiance to the U.S. has won presidency… We shall all see what happens… maybe it’s all in God’s plan. It’s hard to say. I didn’t do very good homework, I must say, just skimmed over the websites of the candidates - I at first wanted … forgot his name… all I can think of is corn husks! Haha (brain freeze!) but he quickly got out of it… I think a lot of people fell for Osama’s - I mean, OBama … the computer wants to change it to Osama - I’m serious! It isn’t ME! Ahem, anyway, OBAMA’S “charm” and big smile. Well, since he is now elected I must stop and put respect where respect is due. I really don’t know which of the two would have been better for the U.S…. I just thought it had to be the other dude. For reasons of my own. But, maybe he will surprise us all. He could turn out to be the best president we’ve had for the past 50 years, who knows. (I’m watching you, Mr.!)

Ok. That’s enough. I’ve had fun writing this though. Haha And I really was serious, about the computer changing the name. It was doing it automatically and it was annoying. So I made fun out of it. J

One thing that especially irked me… wasn’t that he won, and McCain lost… it was because since we don’t have tv, I wasn’t able to watch the news about it, and mother in law, who has her tv in her room, got GREAT pleasure out of telling me who won (she knew who I wanted) - I’m serious - she told me with a HUGE grin on her face, and then when Sara came to visit, she told her too, in front of me, with a HUGE grin, and then when Apache got off work, AGAIN with the … you guessed it - HUGE grin. (just so you know, I’m telling this so you can get a laugh… I knew what she was doing, and why, but the annoyance passed yesterday and now I can laugh about it) J

Something that surprised me though, was that people here were glad he won, because supposedly he is better for the Mexican cause and will help them out, whereas McCain was vehement against it… See, I didn’t do my homework. I thought I had…(I thought ALL the candidates were against the Mexican cause) But I don’t really care, because in the end, all the promises and “beliefs” of candidates turn out to be lies, or wishy-washy, in the moment, declarations that are never carried through. That’s what I learned after the Bush dynasty. (haha- dynasty - !) you’d think 8 years would be long enough to do at least one of your promises… I realize it would be hard with all your attention on a war… but really.

Another Earth Shaking Topic: GET READY:

MY CAMERA ISN’T WORKING! WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I am so, incredibly, SAD… Aargh…. I was going to take pictures on Sunday of us all dressed up, cause the kids had on the clothes from Grandma and we wanted to post those… *sniff, sniff* But, I think it’s because Brandon grabbed it and either threw or dropped it.. Not sure which.. And now, the tube thing in front will not go in or out, it’s just stuck there. I hear it trying to twist in and out, but it can’t. I took it apart and still couldn’t see what it was (shocking myself twice or thrice in the process - even without the batteries!) so I think it’s something inside the tube thing (what is that part called, anyway??? Focus?) that is jarred to the side, because the picture shows a black area on the right side, so it’s got to be that. It won’t take pictures or anything, it keeps saying to turn off and then on again. Anybody got any advice? Otherwise - NO MORE PICTURES FROM MEXICO! this is terrible, earthshaking news. I hope you can recover. J (because I can’t!!! aaah!) just kidding. … but still….

Well, this has been fun, but I just looked at the clock and I have realized that I still have to make Apache’s lunch… before 2.…. And it’s 12:54... And I still have to take a shower and go to the store… Aack! And I hear mil’s voice shouting, AGAIN, at the children so I’m leaving now. I’ll see if I can get online soon.

Nov 7

Ok, so I didn’t get online yesterday… let’s see if I can today. Haha

About my heel, which I began this post with, it has healed up almost completely because I put Vaseline with Lanolin on it. Wow! I should have done that with the first crack. (I wonder how much they’d pay me for advertising for them online? Hhhmmm…..) J

Well, I had more interesting things to type but I can’t remember any of them. I’m off! Enjoy the last pics! :-S

Elena's missing tooth

posing with her puppy

Brandon playing in the sand pile

posing with the dogs

this is not posing - she really is sleeping like that! haha

Now, my before and after pics, but really it isn't hardly noticeable. very tiny itty bitty difference.... it's very slow going.

Before, when I first got here:

After, last week:

good day!

well, here's another installment.... Sorry about no pics, again! and I got lazy and only typed one day.

Oct 28

Well, in the box that came was my glasses… and they are making my head dizzy… I guess I have to get used to them first. J I’ve been trying to make my last pair of contacts last.. So far it’s working, but it’s really not very healthy.

Something interesting happened on Saturday. I went to Market day with the children (Tiangis) and looked at all the things for sale, (if I haven’t explained that before, market day is every other Saturday near the square and lots of venders come and set up along the street, selling everything from clothes to music, food, shoes to toys, etc. ) then as we were leaving Elena pointed at something on the sidewalk and said, “What is that!?” I went to investigate, and at first I thought it was just a discarded wrapper of some kind, until I got closer and saw it was a bat. I was shocked, because it was daylight, and I thought it must be dead. Upon staring at it a bit I noticed it moved its head, and couldn’t fly or move because it had a stick-tight stuck in its back and wings. (I’m not sure what stick-tights are really called, just half inch things from weeds that have lots of thorns sticking out of it.) well, in my mind there was only one thing to be done. I carefully took its wing in my left and with my right tried to pull the thing off. I felt sorry for it, and as I pulled it made squeaking noises and acted like it wanted to pull it off with its mouth, just couldn’t reach. The thorn pulled apart, leaving pieces still in it, and the bat tried to get away, so I let go to see if it could fly then, but it was still unable, so I did it again and pulled a big piece off. Finally it hopped away and flew off, weakly at first but gaining strength as it went. We were all glad to see it fly off, and hoped it lived. J I had never touched a live bat before - that was quite interesting. It was the softest and most delicate thing I’ve ever touched! Even as gross as we think they are it was still a beautiful little thing, displaying God’s handiwork. I told Elena they’re like mice, but I like them better because they don’t go in the house (at least, not very often) and they eat bugs. J That reminds me of something else: We’ve been trying to get rid of the mice in the kitchen so there was a trap between the stove and the wall - it had been placed there the night before, and when I pulled it out, the mouse was half eaten by morbid little red ants. I’ve seen them at it before, and once stepped where there were many and felt their fiendishness. I think the things are like those big black bugs in The Mummy - where there are lots and they crawl all over the victim and within seconds leave nothing but bones. Ew! They are hard to get rid of, too. But it’s interesting to think of how much they get done, since they’re the smallest ants there are here. There are several varieties that we’ve had trouble with here, black, red, big, small - and flies and mosquitoes.

I hope I’m not blabbering. I’m trying to get something interesting typed so I can have something more to update tonight. J

Oh yes, one more thing: I’ve had to take in my pants!!!!!!! I sewed two inches shut on my jeans! (and yes, they fit afterwards, haha) J I need to do it to my other pants as well. All this walking is really very good for me. J The jeans had been falling down and starting to become indecent. Oh, how grand it is to have such a “terrible” “problem”…! J One of these days I’ll get some before and after photos…. It isn’t THAT drastic yet. Just a little teeny bit, but enough that I’ve had several people comment to me that I’ve been getting thinner. Sure does boost the morale! J

Now this is why God invented His church! To give excellent advice to someone like me... Don't worry, I say all those wild things when I get frustrated, but would never have the guts to actually do them. It's all I can do to live peaceably ... isn't that a good thing? haha  I will try to remember all of the good advice you've given me and not let her bother me so much or her idols. We do teach the kids as it comes, saying, "it's very sad, but these people think that they are serving God by following these idols and things that the people from that religion make up" in simple child words anyway. Elena now refers to things like that as, "Momma, is that from the naughty church too?"  There is probably a more tactful word I could use than naughty but that's what I came up with at first and it stuck.

Another gross menu item: (hehe)  Tripets... or whatever it's called. Little snips of tripe, fried in lard... and served with a flour tortilla and salsa. I was looking at it rather dubiously and they convinced me to try some. I put about 3 tiny pieces on a corner of a tortilla, and..............        I ended up eating about 2 and a half tacos of it! It was surprisingly good! haha  still.... EW! but good. It reminded me of fried morel mushrooms.

There is more griping about the religion in this, but less. and I'll really try to be better. I wrote it before I read everyone's great advice and encouragement! I think it's a great learning experience, and also to learn how to live with people of different opinions and religions, etc. Again, sorry to not reply to everyone personally as I would love to do. Just know I think of you all individually and love you all very much. And now, here is my second installment:

(oh yes: I got some great questions from some of you and I will have great fun answering them and putting them in another installment!)

October 18

For a while it wasn’t feeling like fall weather, but summer - however, it is feeling pretty cool right now. Of course it is still pretty warm during day light, but in the mornings and evenings it gets cold. I hear Alaska has been getting dumped on, snow-wise. Or, it was last time I talked to mother! J That’s been several days ago.

I have more to say on things I notice here in Mexico. (ha- it’ll never end) J Anyway, this is on the work situation and the woman’s position. As most know, I was raised with and still hold to the teaching that the husband is the head of the household… but I have also believed that it comes with limits, put in place by Christ’s own example He gave us through His treatment to the church.

The work here is very scarce and scant. Many men go without work at all, and few ever have regular work. The bad parts of that is obvious, as in no money. However there is another more evil affect of this, in that the men who haven’t work hang out at the corner store and drink beer and liquor. As in, up to no good. Spend whatever pesos they may have and then go home drunk and either beat their family, or just fall into a drunken slumber, leaving the wife to do all at home, and suffer alone. This is where the woman’s position comes in. Here, the wife’s duty is to stay home, clean house (and the houses here are terrible to upkeep), cook food, have babies, and take care of said babies. They can’t say to the man, “stay home, help me” - and if they do voice their concern over the husband’s habits, their comments are just swept aside and scoffed at or forgotten. Not all husbands are the same, but almost all of them have that trait, or custom, of superiority, and the attitude toward women of their insignificance. I say almost because my own husband is better at the true love and valuing than his fellow countrymen… he does have his moments, but who doesn’t? J I’m thinking because of his finding the truth in God’s word - he is a million times a different man than when we married. Anyway, they don’t fall over themselves loving their wives or telling them how they appreciate them, no sir! My opinion is that the husband ought to stay home as well when out of work, and try to fix up whatever he can of the house, as many houses here are in need of some fixing. True, sometimes it costs to buy supplies, but there are many things that can be done to better the appearance and livability of the house that doesn’t cost money that they can do. Instead they get drunk and mistreat their families. I think that for the women, and this is just my guess from observation, I haven’t confirmed it with anyone, they almost need to marry to survive here - and also to escape unhappy situations at home. You’ve heard the saying, “out of the frying pan, into the fire” - that’s how it is for many. I’ve seen a few wedding pictures, and I have no idea why unless it would be for this that I have said, or if it’s just custom to never smile, but they both look like caged animals. “No mas libertad”. (No more freedom) My sister in law has told me many things about her life, and even of some others that she has known, and she said that her parents fought all the time, and after they would fight, the mother took it out on the kids. She said when her first husband came along, (and this is the way she put it), “ he didn’t have to say ‘vamonos’ twice!” She took up her skirts and ran. Only there her inlaws were stiff, and he ran off after only a short time. She returned to her mother’s house, her father now dead, with her son. There they stayed until she married the husband she has now. A very nice man with a terrible habit of getting drunk…. They love each other, but it’s not enough to satisfy the hunger that poverty has caused in them both. Poverty and familial problems have filled her heart with hatred and bitterness. You would never know it by talking with her or seeing her in casual acquaintance - she seems a very upbeat, happy person. It’s only after long and numerous conversations with her that I have found that out. And many people seem to have the same. Everyone has their secrets of pain and torture that they hide behind a smiling face. She must not let it consume her or anything - something she told me was she thought why should she act bitter or angry toward us when we weren’t the ones who did the harm to her.

Apache (or Moy, as they call him also) seems to have escaped a lot of the bitterness because of being the youngest child, and having quickly gotten out of the situation. He still remembers being very poor, but a lot of the strife in the family had passed or came to a quick end after he came along. His father died when Apache was very young, and his brothers all moved away very soon - he had brothers in the US in the 70’s! (he was born in ‘79).

We should pray for Sara so she can learn to forgive the terrible wrongs done her, and to get rid of her hate and anger. I know it would be next to impossible for me to forgive some of the things that have happened to her, had they happened to me, so I can understand how she feels. But I can’t make her understand that harboring anger and hate is only going to harm herself, not the person who harmed her. That she is letting them win, so to speak, by letting it kill her.

There are so many people here who need God in their lives, but they are all blindly walking after the wolf in sheep’s clothing that they think is God’s way. (There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Prov 14:12) They are still doing the neighborhood services for the Corazon de Jesus… and this evening a young cousin had to postpone some plans we had to make a cake together so she could go to catechism class. I told Apache later, half joking, “cake is more important than that”… but there is really nothing funny about it.

My mother in law is another who came from a terrible situation at home and married into one almost as bad. I think that is much of her problem now - she never had an example of true love given to her.

Ok… I promised I would try to be less heavy in this portion and here I go again, worrying. I’ll tell a little trifle that happened today… There is a corner that we pass when we walk to town that always has a few cats, but up on the roofs, out of reach. Well, this time the kitty was down where we could pet it, and I noticed it was very skinny, and kept yowling like a poor forlorn little thing. I happened to have just bought some cheese for lunch, so I pulled a chunk of it off and gave it to the poor thing. He ate with a flourish and then continued with his yowling. I dared not spare another hunk of cheese because it had cost $21 (pesos), which is rather extravagant for cheese here… J So I left the thing to its fate. I hope it doesn’t starve to death. I was hoping it would get up and follow us home, and I could say, “what could I do? It followed me!” J hehe but he didn’t, he just stayed there. Oh well, it probably would have been killed by Princess! Her puppies are getting bigger even, and the time is swiftly approaching to be giving away the puppies. Poor kids will be sad, and I will kind of miss their cuteness, but they are hard to keep fed, and they do make the kids so dirty! J

Well, off to bed, as the mosquitoes are feasting on my ankles! (did you know mosquitoes had an ‘e’ in it? My word program faulted it without one….) so far, the com’s still working…. Thankfully!

Oct 20

Another thing about the food: how many millions of ways can one make eggs? Please fill me in! That is the only thing eaten for breakfast: Migas, which are eggs with tortillas in them, served with beans (of course), eggs and hot dogs, served with beans and tortillas, eggs beaten with a little chopped onion then fried without stirring until golden brown, then served with - you guessed it - beans and tortillas! All of these options are quite tasty and delicious… but for someone like me who has never really liked eggs to much of an extent, every single day is a little taxing. But, I’m not complaining, because it’s nice to have enough to eat, whether it’s eggs, beans, or whatever the Lord provides. We have temporarily been turned off of cereals for a while because they always seemed stale …. Or past their expiration date. I guess they don’t sell much of it here, so it sits on the shelf until someone decides to buy it finally. The stores (and I don’t really blame them, it has to be hard) don’t like to throw things away when they pass the date. The other day our niece, Alma, wanted to make cupcakes, so her mom went and bought a mix, which is a rare experience since they’re too costly for most people to buy. Which explains why the mix was in the state it was when we opened it…. Immediately upon opening I knew it would be unusable. Those weird cobweb things all around the package, holes in the bottom, and a stench upon pouring out the mix. I felt bad for them… but I think they took it back and didn’t have to pay for it after all. The next day (yesterday) they bought a different mix from a different store, and we made cupcakes fit for a king. J

I forgot to mention some earthshaking things that happened on Saturday. First, my mother in law arrived back… ! J not really earthshaking I suppose. Anyway, since I think I cut that part out of what I shared with you, I’ll fill you in on why she was gone. She’s been having severe pains in what we thought were from a ball of fat on her side, maybe resting on her nerve or something. Then she said it was her back, then her side, so she finally went to Monterrey where she has insurance from her grand-daughter (I thought it was through her daughter but it isn’t) who died and left it to her apparently (didn’t know you could do that). Coincidentally it was the granddaughter who died right before Elena was born, and therefore Elena has her namesake as her middle - Lupita, though I made a mistake and put the longer form, Guadalupe. Anyway, she doesn’t have insurance here, which explains why she went there. We don’t have money to pay for her going to the doctor here. We were all worried about it, I thought it could be cancer, and we didn’t know what to think. Well, after tests were done, they found out it was gall bladder stones. That just made me realize all the more how people here come to their comical, yet tragic, conclusions - they don’t know anything about the body (myself included) and can’t afford doctors, so they make assumptions and then die from their mistake. (I said comical because some of their assumptions aren’t fatal and it’s just hilarious and aggravating at the same time - anytime you have any kind of ailment, they have a long, drawn out explanation of what it is and what to do for it - many times a corny treatment of some sort, rarely one that actually works) Anyway, a surgery was scheduled for the 22^nd of November but she decided she’d had enough of Monterrey and returned, in spite of all of her kids telling her she needed to stay and have surgery, so that her gall bladder wouldn’t burst or anything. She came anyway… she didn’t feel the pain because it wasn’t her that had to pay the bus tickets - it was Apache. It’s twice now she’s gone for this reason and come back before they could do anything, and both times it was Apache who paid, even though she has money hidden away (also of Apache’s, and others - part of what I cut out, and I’m getting too carried away). So, we shall see what the future holds… Maybe we can convince her to return in time for her appointment. Now she is telling us that her pains are only in her back bones….

The other thing really was earthshaking, to me. There is a naughty little girl who is a distant cousin of ours who likes to come and cause trouble once in a while. I try to be tolerant and not be overly inhospitable just because she nettles me, but this really crossed the lines of the barriers of hospitality. The kids and I were getting ready to go to town to buy meat and other items for lunch, and once I had gotten the stroller to the door and the kids ready, I paused trying to think of a “nice” way to say, “go home”…. She didn’t seem to get the hint as we were getting ready. Well, the door was open, and it so happened that Alma and her younger sister Marisol had come over right then. The naughty girl(Sarai) grabbed the stroller and started out the door with it. This was my mistake: after saying, “wait Sarai!” I turned to Alma in exasperation and then back to the door. In that fraction of a second, Sarai had disregarded my slight warning, proceeding to push the stroller out and set it rolling at high speed un tended down the hill. This would have been no problem had Brandon not been in the stroller! My heart racing and nearly tearing into a panic I rushed after the stroller, and just like in a nightmare, I could never quite reach the handlebars in time. In seeming slow motion I watched in horror as it careened toward the wall, smashed into it and then flipped upside down - all with my precious baby inside. I reached him immediately after and pulled him from the wreckage and held him, myself shaking and scared out of my wits, Brandon crying dazedly, and I yelled up the hill to Sarai: “Ya vete a tu casa, por favor!” (it just sounds better in Spanish, but I’ll translate: “Go home now, please!”) She finally heeded something I said and ran home… probably because it frightened her as well - sometimes something you think will be great fun to watch turns out to be frightening instead because of an unexpected ending. Later as we finally set out, with Brandon sporting a two inch goose egg on his brow, bruised and scratched wrist, and had dirt cleaned out of his mouth, we met a woman who had heard first hand what happened as Sarai reached home. She said Sarai had run home crying and said upon reaching her mom, “oh, momma, they’re blaming me because Brandon fell down!” Well, after hearing this I was sure the mom would be angry with me, and soon the whole neighborhood would hear and then glare at me as I pass… I don’t know why I worried so much. Ha I knew what had happened, and that I had not over-reacted (not when I didn’t do what I really ached to do - whip the daylights out of that girl…) They all knew how mischievous she is and so no one really did anything but mention it once in a while. I saw the mother later and she was saying how Sarai needed a spanking (not sure if she got it or not) and she wouldn’t be allowed to come anymore. As bad as it sounds, I was relieved! J Poor little Brandon was swollen and achy for a day. Right after it happened I was shaking like a leaf, and mother in law told me I was white… and told me to eat something, so I ate a piece of banana. I wasn’t worried about myself, I was worried about Brandon! It could have been so much worse than it was, but thank God He was protecting my baby!!!

Well, after those negative thoughts I will bring in some cheerier ones:

Yesterday the kids and I had fun having a Bible class - we learned about Jesus feeding the 5,000 and then colored pictures. Brandon isn’t much for coloring - he likes better to throw crayons and wrinkle his paper. J ha ha Elena colored very well, and I colored too. J It’s been a while since I colored a picture! Ha

Last night something happened that had me screeching, “Oh, what a BIG boy!!! Wow!!! You’re such a GOOD boy!” haha can you guess? Brandon pottied in the toilet for the first time! J I set him up, and he finally wasn’t afraid of it. At first I thought he wouldn’t, because he sat for a little bit without doing it, and then I said, “oh, I won’t look” and then covered my eyes with my hands… waited… then…. ‘tinkle tinkle tinkle….. Tinkle….. Tinkle tinkle tinkle” I praised him to the skies and back and he grinned and looked quite pleased. J He understands very well when I explain things to him, so that’s how we arrived there: after having taking a bath, he inspected himself and I said what it was for. Then I asked if he had to go potty. He thought about it, I asked again, and he said, ‘mmhmm” shaking his head yes. Such a big boy! He also says “boy” because once I was telling him he was a “stinky boy.” He already knows how to say stinky, because he says that when his pants are full, so now he said, “boo-ee” and proceeded to say it many times with an extremely pleased expression at having learned another word. He also says “pica!” for the bugs, like ants and spiders, because they “bite”. Pica is like poke, only they say it like we say, “it’ll bite you!” (“te pica!”)

Elena was being comical yesterday, though I really couldn’t encourage her behavior, so I had to speak sternly, while trying very hard to hide my smirk. When we had made the cupcakes with Alma and were enjoying the fruits of our labor, she made a mess on her face like a moustache - that would have been ok - what little kid eats luscious chocolate cupcakes, with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles, without getting a moustache? But when the cousins giggled, that’s when it got worse: she spread it a little further, and put a dot on her nose…. The cousins giggled again… there the frosting went, up, up her nose… onto her forehead, cheeks, and chin… each time it grew the cousins giggled even more. When she was finally done she looked like Shirley Temple in the movie “Littlest Rebel” when she painted her face and hands to look like a little black girl… haha J This morning she tried it again and I sternly told her not to play such antics again as she had a bath yesterday… all she succeeded at was a moustache that looked like the man from the very old silent movies. I almost laughed. But I didn’t. J Have you ever noticed accidental things are funnier than the ones we do on purpose? It seems Elena likes to keep us laughing and therefore tries too hard…. I remember learning the same lesson as a child myself so I can’t blame her. J

I am making a shawl. It is Way. Too. Big. I suppose it’ll fit me fine when I’m done, but I way underestimated the amount of yarn I would need. It’s rather inexpensive, but the place I buy it at is a long walk away where we rarely go, and Apache is always working so has no time to take me. So far I’m on the second ball and it’s getting low. When I spread it out on the bed, it takes up the length of it! That’s how big it is. J

Apache has continued working - he’s now worked more than two weeks straight the way I explained earlier… He only got yesterday afternoon from 10-4 free. And was too tired to do anything but sleep and eat! I am glad he has work and is able to support his family, but I wish the men he works for would be more understanding. Saturday there was a game he was going to play and they wouldn’t let him off for it, even after two weeks of working every single day, and the time was after the morning milking. The guy who gives Apache a ride every day, who also works with him, likes to take on airs and act like the boss - and even said some ugly things last night when Apache mentioned how he thought he would be paid more fairly (for some extra work he’d done). This man happens to be Sarai’s father…… Apparently nobody likes to work there because the boss and that certain guy clash with everyone and make it miserable. I think it’s admirable of Apache to put up with everything so he can provide for his family - he really feels his responsibilities strongly. We were talking about it and Apache said, “well at least we’ll have some money of our own now” and then I told him, “yes, but you don’t have time to spend it!” ha Actually, I spend it for him. J just kidding, but really I do - on food for fixing meals!

I really should get a picture of Brandon walking in Apache’s shoes - he does it quite often and it is rather funny. J

Well, the novelty wasn’t allowed to rub off of washing laundry half-by-hand… much… J Our neighbors, Alma’s family, has gotten a new clothes washer that does everything, and the grandmother doesn’t know how to use it… she prefers to do it the old fashioned way. Anyway, they offered to let me use it whenever I need it! I thought that was very nice of them… I used it the first time last Wednesday, and Oh! What a renewed appreciation for modern technology I had! It was like “heaven” - just plop in your load, soap, and it even had its own dispenser for softener and bleach, and let it do all the work, then just hang it on the line! I tell you, that was the most fun I’ve ever had washing laundry before. J

Speaking of laundry…. I really should be doing that very thing right now.

Oct 21

I’m sorry I don’t have new pictures to post for everyone. I’ll try harder next time! I hope you’ve been enjoying my “journal” posts. Now to go get online and see what you thought of my first installment… J

Oh yes, before I forget, as I have been forgetting each and every time I go online, our telephone hasn’t worked almost since I got here, so I do apologize if anyone has tried to call. I’ll give you the number of the cell phone we’ve been using (it’s Apache’s nephew’s). I don’t know if you have to dial the country code or not, but if you do, they’ll be the first numbers you dial (unless of course if you’re using a calling card), and those are: 011-52 (then the number following). Otherwise, if it doesn’t work with the country code, just dial 01-344-101-5045.

I’ve been wondering if my font is too small… let me know and I’ll change it!