Some Things I've Learned - by Heidi

- Don't run on trash day...IT STINKS!!
- Don't assume white people will like you right away because you are white.
- I would give anything for some dirt...well, and something to plant in it.

Our laundry

- The country is about the size of Massachusetts and only 300,000 people (tiny), but feels gigantic when you only have a bike and your own two feet by which to explore.
- We have made it 4 weeks without turning on the A/C all because their is an unspoken competition to see who will cave first (just after I wrote this we all simultaneously caved).
- You stick out like a sore thumb when jogging through town with your gigantic dog in tow. (#1 because you are jogging, #2 because you have a gigantic dog)
- No one begs here...except the dogs!
- EVERYTHING must go in the frig.
- Time and a little colloidal silver heals just about anything.
- Watch out for jellyfish at all times.
- You eat what is in season...because that is all there is.
- Everybody has dirty laundry.

shared bread

- The most interesting people are met when you stick around through the awkward silence.
- Boredom is the mother of creativity.
- Laughter comes in every language.
- Sharing food is a good way to make friends.
- You won't care if the hot water heater goes out here.
- There aren't more stars...but it sure seems like it.
- Goggles make swimming in unknown waters less scary.
- The sea has claimed many things - goggles and an iPod are two of them.
- It's really hard not to talk to people with an accent, with an accent (I'm sure I sound ridiculous).

me sweating

- It's ok for girls to sweat.
- Riding a kid on your handlebars is easier than you think...and worth some street cred!
- Even in hot weather kids feel a need to touch you at all times.
- People will assume you don't want your fishing pole any longer if you leave it out by your bike at dinner.
- That's ok...it didn't catch any fish anyways!

-Heidi

The Fort - by Ryland

One day me and Addie built an awesome fort. It was on our porch so it was pretty cold.  It had walls, a roof and stuff in it.  We taped duct tape to the walls and floors so the blankets wouldn't go everywhere.  There were 2 folded blankets and 3 pillows against the wall.  Also we have this thing that goes out like a red carpet and chairs, plus a hammock.  It's pretty awesome, right? A couple of nights ago me and Addie slept in our tent and it's outside.  We got bitten up.  We do school in it and play in it.  It was really fun.  I hope we build one again.
-Ryland

One Day - by Addie

One day and what we do and where I wake up:  Just saying, it's pretty awesome!!

When I wake up and I look out my window it is so pretty.  I love looking out at the beautiful view.  It always makes me happy!

In School we do lots of fun things.  The different subjects are math, language, writing, science, and grammar.  I like it a lot.  Sometimes we do school in the fort that me and Ryland built.  It is really cool.  I like to play math games on the computer.  In science we like to learn about the ocean and animals in it.


After school we have lunch.  We usually have it at home but sometimes we have it out.  If we have it at home I usually make my 2 min. sandwich.  It has toasted bread with melted cheese on it and a tomato, and some mayo and mustard .  It is delish!!!

What we do after school is we either stay at home or go to town to see my dad or to go to the pier.  If we are at home we usually go swimming or just hang out and try to entertain ourselves.

For dinner we usually eat at home whatever my mom makes.  But sometimes we eat out.  Like last night we ate at Omar's.  It was really good.  I got a fish and cheese burger!

So at the end of the day I am usually pretty exhausted so ... GOOD NIGHT!!!
-Addie

Just Be. - by Heidi

It's been ringing through my head since I came to Belize and then yesterday someone gave me their business card and I turned it over and there it was...again!  Just before we left the States a wise friend shared with me a quote from Evelyn Underhill -

"We mostly spend [life] conjugating three verbs: to Want, to Have, and to Do.  Craving, clutching and fussing, on the material, political, social, emotional, intellectual, and even on the religious plane, we are kept in perpetual unrest: forgetting that none of these verbs have any ultimate significance, except so far as they are transcended by and included in, the fundamental verb, to Be: and that Being, not wanting, having and doing, is the essence of the spiritual life."

"To be," it's not as easy as it sounds...it sure wasn't back home.  I have to say though, coming here a lot of the stuff that seemed to get in the way of just "being" sloughed off...just like Layla's extra coat of winter fur.  I felt like our life quickly went through a sifter and the simple and most meaningful things were those that remained.  It wasn't easy that first week for me to feel a bit out of control.  We had jumped all in (and though I didn't admit it) I was scared I couldn't swim.  That is when I grabbed for the rope, the thing that always anchors me...Christ.  He was still there, as always, and I took comfort in reading the Word again.  It is our life vest and how quickly we let it lose its power when we aren't in the water.  Well, we are in the water now and I'm so glad I have him to hold on to!

Back to Being.  Funny thing is that today in Ryland's school lesson on verbs we talked about that "to be" (is, am, was, were, etc) is the only verb that is not an "action" verb.  It states a fact.  Just as the quote says we preoccupy ourselves with Doing, Wanting, and Having when true life starts at Being.  I am learning it's ok to be still, at our house enjoying the water and our family, and it doesn't matter what we are missing elsewhere.  We are here, and being in that moment is good.  I am learning to let go of feeling the weight of all that I should be doing, or even want to be doing.  Time can stand still.  I am where I am and who I am and that's all I can be.  I am fine with that.  Maybe we should change the title of this blog to "Make Me Be" because sometime we just can't do it on our own.


Also....Happy Birthday to my beautiful boy Ryland who makes my heart smile every day.  I love you, Ryland!!

Addie's Awesome Life in Belize - by Addie

What I do? Who I play with? Where I eat and what is going on with school?
Well I'm going to tell you. I love it here. It is all so fun! I do not have a lot of friends but some. And I can not wait to tell you about where I go, all about school, and what we do.


So, when I got here I was worried about meeting friends. Then when Reuben, the care taker down
stairs, sister and brother came.  I was excited because number 1 I was wanting a girl down stairs and 2 lets just say Ryland was starting to not be so "perfect". So her name is Hannah and she is 12 but we like playing together. Also, we like  to go swimming a lot. Plus, her brother Levi, who is my age , Ryland likes to play with.

I like going to a lot of different places and having a good time. But I'm going to tell you about all my favorite places.  So one of them is Tutti Frutti.  It is an ice cream place and it is the best ever.  It is so good and fun to go to and have around.  Also, Brewed Awakenings has the best smoothies you have ever tasted.  They are so good.  Plus, I love going to the pier.  It is a lot of fun.  They always have something going on.  So, all of it is fun but these are my favorite places!

So, about 1 week after we got here we started school.  At first we did not do a lot but now we are.  We end at about 12:30pm and start at about 8:30am.  It is a lot of fun. We do all week except on Wednesdays we only do 2 hours. I love to have my mom as a teacher because she makes it more fun. After school we usually play with Hannah and Levi or go to the pier!!


- Addie

Friends - by Ryland

These are my friends!
Levi, He is from a Mayan village.He is teaching me Mayan. He knows how to speak Mayan,
English, and a little Spanish.  He is good at futball (that means soccer here). He  likes to swim a lot. But they call it bathing.

This is Hannah.
Hannah, She is Levi's sister.  She is12.  She is also from a Mayan village and speaks the same language too!

This is Reuben Rufina and Wilber. Reuben is they caretaker of the house. Rufina is his wife. Wilber is
the baby. Rufina had Wilber six months age so he is six months. They are nice to have around.
(Reuben and Rufina picture to come)



This is Fluffy

Fluffy- She's Reuben and Rufina pet. She likes to bite.When you  pet her on the head...SNAP, but she's just playing. When she calms down she's really sweet!

Taeshon,We met at the futball field.  He ask my dad if you have futball shoes.My dad said yes.  So he followed me all the way home so he could get his futball shoes.  The next day he came to our house,I guess to get some thing again. He always meets us at the futball field.


- Ryland

Layla's Crazy Way to Belize - by Addie

It was 3:00 in the morning and we're at the airport and they said Layla could not come...

So when we checked in all the bags and went to check in Layla they said she could not come because dogs cannot travel in hot weather over 85 degrees and in Belize it was 86 degrees.  Then we begged them to bring her but they said no way.  We asked them to call the supervisor and ask him if we could bring her and he said no also.  We asked him to look on different websites and he did and found one that said it was 85 degrees!  It was a miracle!  When we got her in the crate and went to go through security they zip-tied the door closed and she escaped to come looking for us.  My dad had to get out of line and shove her back in and we finally got to go!  Yay!

Addie

The Awesome Hot Dog - by Ryland

This is how Layla got here and how it's going in Belize!

We got to the airport and they said Layla can't come because it was 86 degrees and it was supposed to be 85.  So we begged them.  They finally looked on a different website and it said 85.  So they said yes! Once we got here Layla was burning up.  But now she's not.  She adjusted to the heat and lost hair from her winter coat.

 Ryland

Settling In - by Heidi

It's evening.  The sun is sinking and this was the first day of pretty near perfect weather.  It was a scorcher the day before.  The wind was still and the bugs were grazing on our white American flesh.  The precious Mayan family living below us clued us in to the tiny gnats that like to appear when the breeze disappears; however, the day ended, we survived and a powerful storm brought a cool rain that lifted my spirits again.

Who is that stud muffin?

It's amazing that it has only been a week.  I am surprised at how comfortable we feel here.  I am sure it is because we came together, including Layla, as a family unit.  Having each other on this adventure makes us not feel so far from home...because we are home.  We ARE each other's home.  I have not heard one complaint from the kids.  Yes, I think my kids are pretty awesome, but to be honest I don't think it is just a testament to their attitudes.  I think in general kids are more resilient and more flexible than we give them credit for.  I also believe, as my mom always told me, they will rise to your expectation of them.  So far though, they are loving it.

Our typical day is started by barking dogs, not roosters, awaking us around 6:00 or 6:30.  I like waking up early here...I think it's the best part of the day.  If you have seen our pictures you have realized we have a pretty awesome view.  It makes the mornings and evenings pretty magical.  It's hard not to love it!


We have started homeschooling a bit, though next week is our real kick-off (I'm still a bit nervous....but kids can smell fear so don't tell them).  Richard works from home when the internet is working or a nearby coffee shop when it's not.  I love that his schedule is flexible and he can take breaks to swim with us or play soccer like we did today on the field in town with 2 cute little barefoot Belizean boys whose names I still can't pronounce.

 

We bike everywhere as the whole town is only about 1.5 miles long.  It is a fishing village, but I have only managed to find a fish to buy 1 day out of our 8.  I haven't figured that system out and I never seem to get a straight answer from anyone as to when and where to get them.  I guess we need to learn to fish!!

We are taking things little by little though and resisting the temptation to feel like we need to figure it all out right away.  We've got time...for the first time in a while!
Talk to you soon!
Heidi