Merry Christmas!

I'm sitting at home crying while I listen to "I'll be home for Christmas" I know I can't complain, I was just there, but I still miss Christmas and New year's eve around my family.

I also have a bunch of Christmas cards that will be mailed late, better late than never.

I'm thinking about having a game night or something for New Year's Eve, anybody interested let me know.

Enjoy your time together!

Turns out I'm not the only killer in our house

costa rica pics

this is sophie...jakes cousin...about the same age...and those are my two cats!

Good times..

Our visit has come to an end. There's so many things I miss about Costa Rica, my family of course, going out with my cousins, walking downtown, fresh veggies and fruit. We had a great time, but we missed Mr. Rider. hopefully he'll be here next time.

We went to visit a Children´s Home, I used to help there when I was younger. It was crazy to see some of the kids, they´re teenagers now. I remember Marci so well, she came to the home with her little sister. They used to put food in their pockets for later, it took a few weeks till they realized they would have food every meal. Jake was excited to take them some presents we got. I love to see how happy he gets when we give to others. My parents built a little house in the country so we went for a few days, there we met Roberto, he came to play as soon as he woke up and stayed until the boys went to bed. At first I wanted to send him home, but my mom said she wanted him to stay so he could eat. He usually doesn't get 3 meals a day, and some times he goes with just saltine crackers and water. Jake couldn't believe that some people don't even get enough food. I tell him all the time how thankful we should be for everything we have. He wants to buy Roberto a present for next time we come. He noticed how Roberto wore the same clothes 3 days in a row, so maybe we can bring him some clothes.

This is a picture of my brother in law, he races. This is another of my favorite things to do here.

pics from the beach

So far...

After a long day of traveling we made just on time to have Jake´s B day party the next day. I wish I knew how to do the collages, I really need to learn so I can post more pics. Jake had a blast with a bunch of second cousins he had never met before, the highlight was the pinata and then had his first motorcycle ride on my cousins awesome bike, more later...

Costa Rica here we come!

The tickets have been purchased and the suitcases dusted. I'm going to Costa Rica in 3 weeks, right after Thanksgiving. I can't wait. We'll be going to the beach and the jungle house like Jake says. The only bummer is that Mr. Rider won't be able to join us this time, so I'm sure he'll appreciate any invitations to a homecooked meal, if you see him please remind him to water the plants and get the mail, he always forgets.
Last time I was there we found an awesome little hotel, $100 for 6 people in a completly equipped villa, very nice and clean. The beach was incredible, not many tourist, beachfront, about 10 steps to the beach from the room. I loved it because it was a very preserved area, no big and modern hotels, there was a little bakery (delicious fresh bread), a homemade ice cream place and a few souvenir places, there was also a spa that used chocolate for facials, massages, etc. Everybody should go to Costa Rica at least once. I'll be posting pics of our travels and adventures.

My dirty little secret...

I have not one but two dirty little secrets, I would like to think that over all my house stays somehow clean and picked up. Except for my shower and my laundry room, they're not only messy but dirty!! really bad. I was at a friend's house yesterday and I got convicted about my secrets, her laundry room was not only spotless but decorated!! she had a vase with flowers in her laundry room for crying out loud!!! she had a shelf with pictures and decorations. It was an inspiring laundry room. So today, I started cleaning my laundry room and will get to work on my shower, I don't know about decorating yet, since our bedroom doesn't have one single picture or frame on the wall yet. Some day maybe...

Halloween was a success, we have 2 containers full of candy to prove it. I have to admit that I got a little carried away, I never went trick or treating growing up, not once. In Costa Rica is viewed as a satanic holiday (which it is) and christians simply don't celebrate it at all. So I have to admit that I didn't want to quit, Mr. Rider made me. But I decided that next year I'm going to coach our kids on what kind of candy to get, they always go for suckers instead of the good candy, so I'll have flash cards with pictures of the candy they should pick and quiz them for weeks ahead.

Really I need to get rid of some of that candy, the kids are a little overwhelmed usually the only candy they get are fruit snacks, so if you want some you know where to go...

New found mission

One of my "addictions" during fall and winter are smores. I LOVE smores, but recently I was talking to my sister and I said something about eating smores, "what is that?" she said. How could I forget! people haven't discovered smores in Costa Rica!!! I tried them here for the first time. So I decided that on my next trip home my mission will be to spread the word, to enrich people's lives.... I may start a new business down there, I would have little fire pits on each table and let people roast their own marshmallows!!

Changing the subject, this is a touchy one. But I'm really tired of the homeschooling pressure, many of my friends homeschool their kids, and that's great for them, but it really isn't for me, plus I don't see the need to homeschool here, however, they have a way of making me feel like they're better moms because they homeschool. Subtly they comment about the "terrible" school system and the horrible morals the kids will be exposed to in school. Every time I just listen and nod, they already know I'm not going to homeschool, but they keep trying to change my mind. I guess I get mad at myself for not saying anything, like why I won't homeschool, but I don't say anything because I don't want to offend them. Anyways, I better get back to my smores propagation plan.

Tick and tack still alive!

A couple days ago I was cleaning the floor with windex, I read that windex would get orange glo off my floor, (orange glo big mistake) so I spent hours on the floor with a bottle of windex in my hand, at the end of the day I noticed that tick and tack (Jake's goldfish) had red spots all over. I got on the internet and found out it was due to the anmonia in windex. I thought we were going to have our first goldfish funeral but they're back to normal!
I've been thinking about getting a dog, but I don't know if the kids are too little, do I want an outdoor dog or indoor? big or small? too many questions. Plus Mr. Rider says I have to prove I can take care of the goldfish first before graduating to bigger pets. Maybe a turtle will be next...I killed a turtle once, not intentionally of course.
Well, Ethan is not taking afternoon naps anymore, I knew this day was coming but not so soon. He's 2 and 5 months!! I still make him stay in his room for about 1 hour though. I keep trying to put him down hoping he'll go back to his old ways.
And Jake always thinking and asking questions, about God, Heaven, etc. all the time!! Today he asked if God sleeps, I told him the Bible said He rested after creation, then he said did He close His eyes? I try to be patient but after 400 questions a day I get delirious. Some questions are really funny though. I'll miss him when he goes to Kindergarten, but right now I really appreciate times of silence.

Watch this!

You have to see this video, I don't know how to do links, sorry!

http://www.childdrowningprevention.com/index.html

On a different note, my sister called me today to tell me that Ray Rhoton missionary in Costa Rica (I grew up with him, he was the missionaries' son in Costa Rica and went to BBC) and his wife got a called yesterday, they can't have kids, so they have been trying to adopt, a man called them to tell them that a woman from an island off the cost of Panama was going to leave her little 2 month old baby in the middle of the jungle or throw her in the ocean. She couldn't take care of the baby and apparently that's what they do when can't take care of a baby or simply don't want anymore!! Ray of course flew there the next day and now has the little girl. I can't wait to see her pic! What a blessing!

My brother is coming!

I'm soo excited for my brother to come, he'll come next year in Aug. but I'm starting to think about things to do. He's the only one that hasn't been here yet. He has had no life since he started med school.
Well, I want to enroll Jake in music lessons, I want him to learn to play guitar. Maybe I'll learn with him.
We also had a closet make over while my mom was here. Her and my aunt organized Mr. Rider's messy closet (I'll post pics later) unfortunately it's starting to look like before! already!
I couldn't get out of the lady's Bible study either! As I was walking by the door going towards the auditorium the leader saw me and said "I'm glad you made it, I have your book here!" (I had signed up for it) so to make matters worse I was in her small group, she's probably the worst at crying and all of that... maybe God is trying to teach me a lesson or just punishing me for something...:)
I almost forgot, Mr. Rider informed me that there will be a bible study on saturday mornings, I asked if I could come (he's a great teacher and I know it'll be good) but apparently girls aren't invited so I want to express my discontentment (if that's a word). I just may declare myself on strike. (ok that probably wouldn't be the submissive wife thing to do, and I'm the epidemy of submission, u can ask Mr. Rider.)

Bold lady

A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of working at 3rd St. Books while Mr. Rider was gone. A normal looking lady came in and asked me a few questions about some books. She later came to checkout and asked me if I went to church anywhere, I told her I went to Seminole, and she then said "so you're baptist" I said yes and then she looked at me again and said "do you know Jesus as your Savior?" at first I was a little offended, couldn't she see the reflection of God's holiness glowing thru me!!! hello! of course I know Jesus! I quickly said yes, and she seemed satisfied with my answer. After she left I thought about it, she had a look of urgency and concern. I should have told her thank you for caring. That's what really made me think, not only was she bold but she seemed like she really cared. When I think about witnessing I think about something I'm commanded to do as a christian, and I want to do it to please and obey Him. But many times I forget about the love and compassion, and the urgency we should feel.

SAD DAY

My mom left today, there's always such emptiness and sadness after they leave. I enjoy having somebody to talk to all the time. It's hard for the boys too, having their grandma so far away is no fun. But I won't miss the spanish channels, we only have 2 and they're terrible!

We went to St. Louis to drop them off and on the way back we stopped in a little town called Bourbon, I think, after eating, we went to the gas station which had a car wash, and with huge big green letters they had 5 cents off on Monday, yes, 5 cents off, almost worth staying over night just to get our car washed!!!

Bible study

During the fall and winter Seminole does electives on Wednesday nights, we haven't been attending faithfully for the last year because Mr. Rider doesn't like to go to the men's bible study, but I decided to start this fall (actually Jake has Children's choir practice on wed nite so I want to take him so he can be in the Christmas program). Besides the electives, the preacher will teach like a regular service and he's a great preacher. So I'm really leaning towards going to the main service instead of the women's bible study. I love a good Bible study, but I can't stand the women that cry every week and then the ones that never know when to stop talking!!! I may sound a little insensitive, Am I the only one? I don't mind if somebody cries one time, but every week!! And I want to cry when we have prayer request, I'm not going to pray for somebody's cat, or somebody's neighbor neighbor's job. I thought I had the gift of mercy but I'm starting to wonder if I really do...

How bad is it?

One of my favorite things about my house are the his and hers closets so I don't have to see Mr. Rider's mess. I'm sure there's worse, but I want to know how bad do you think it is? Coacher you can abstain from commenting, no offense but your standard might be even lower than Mr. Riders.

Okay Mr. Rider, I know I have a problem with the word butt, booty, butting, buddy, it's all a little confusing...

To wipe or not to wipe...

Let me start by saying I love my mom, she really is a great woman, and I love having her here. Now, she can really drive me crazy. She continually tells me what I'm doing wrong, what I need to do and why. Some times she's right, and sometimes she is wrong (I can say that cause she can't read this in english!) But today she said that I shouldn't wipe Jake anymore, he's too old. A part of me would love not having to wipe Jake's little butty anymore, but I don't think I can let go yet, just the thought of him not doing a good job drives me crazy. So, is he really too old???

butt?

okay, I was informed by my beloved Mr. Rider that I made several mistakes in my blog, he said it was too long, I wrote bud instead of butt, etc, whatever, I learned english 10 years ago, so I should get a break. A little discouraged, I was really close to giving up my short blogging career but I don't want to be a quitter. Besides, I do it more for me than anybody else, so don't panic, I'm not quitting yet.

first in line!

Today we were at Silver Dollar City, it was fun, the boys and my mom and aunt enjoyed it. At lunch time, we were waiting in line to eat at one of the food places, and an old lady and her husband apparently didn't see us waiting in line because they stood right next to us, trying to bud in line, little did she know, she was up against my mom. She was basically wearing the american flag, I wonder if she thought we didn't count since we were speaking spanish, who knows, the funny part was my mom, who was pushing Ethan's stroller in front of us. How can I explain my mom... she once jumped on a man's back who was trying to pick a fight with my dad, she once or twice stopped the car proceeded to get out in the middle of a busy intersection to yell at a guy who dared to say she wasn't a good driver, any ways, nothing really intimidates her. So she proceeded to push the stroller a little more in front of the lady, the lady took another step ahead, well I usually beg my mom to let it go, to avoid a scene, but this time I said "push it again". We were there first!!! why did they think they could get in front of us?? was it because they were old?? I don't know, but needless to say who won...my mom of course. It probably wasn't the Christlike thing to do, we probably should have let them go first blah, blah, blah....

My mom is here!

Well, I decided it was time for me to keep a written record of mis memorias "my memories". It will be like a journal, which I'm supposed to keep as I was instructed by Mr. Rider but I don't, well, I do sometimes. He got me a nice leather journal, and we both were supposed to write about the boys and each other. I don't know how he is doing, not better than me I'm sure.
I'm excited to keep a blog...since I spend more time on the computer, I should do better.
My mom and my aunt are here, which means double babysitter, double cook, and double everything!! IT is awesome... we'll be going on some dates soon.
Jake started swimming a lot without water wings! and he had his first soccer practice. He has a real coach this time (no offense Mr. Rider) and Ethan is talking!!! he had us a little worried for a while... he actually speaks in english and spanish a lot.
Well, it bed time now, we'll have a big day at Silver Dollar City tomorrow!

First blog

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