a cozy Saturday afternoon!

 My kitchen was filled with the smell of Sopa Paraguaya

baking in the oven for tomorrow's lunch guests.

 Our porch was filled with boys and legos

and happy Spanish chattering.

 One bed was filled with our sick little boy, 

getting some healing rest.

I guess the only thing that wasn't filled was the 

gas tank for the oven.  It, of course, ran out right 

in the middle of the Sopa Paraguaya baking!  

But my husband, filled with joy at the opportunity 

to serve :), ran and got more!

...moments of rest!

 Now that we have returned from our trip, 

busy life returns as we get into our routines again 

and work hard at finishing up our Spanish study.

But this morning...

somehow the boys and I finished school early and

lunch was already prepared

so we drug some cushions out to the porch 

and curled up together.

 It was, what I would describe as, 

a perfect summer day in the USA 

(even though it is still winter here).

  The sun was so warm the boys changed to shorts.

The wind gently blew our hair and we watched 

as the ambay and palm tree branches 

rocked back and forth.  

A pair of pigeons would settle in our yard, 

until "little guy" would try to sneak up and get close to them!  

The ants were busy munching on some of our 

popcorn leftovers we threw in the yard.

The scent of the grapefruit tree blossoms was amazing!

 It was refreshing to rest and just observe 

God's creation with my little ones!

...indoor plumbing!

Welcome to our humble abode!

Below you can see my kitchen sink.
It is a metal basin resting upon two small brick walls.  

No hot water is available here.  

When we first moved into this house, 

I thought this was the laundry room 

because it was so primitive!

And this is our shower.  

It does have hot water when you flip a switch.  

To make the water hotter, you turn down the water pressure.  

This morning was very cold so I wanted pretty hot water...

I was basically standing under a drip!

Does it sound like I am being thankful?

Well, I am VERY thankful for what we have when 

the Lord reminds me of even more primitive places 

we have visited this past year.

  

I'm thankful for our washing machine!

 

I'm thankful for running water inside our house!

I'm thankful for our indoor toilet!

I'm thankful for our indoor shower!

(For many, this stream is a bathtub.)