good news for all; it's "week of the pig" this week at our friendly local grocers!

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Psalm 42:11

I recently came across my friend ironing her son's school smock. taken aback that someone would actually take the time to iron something that is intended to take the splatters of paint and spots of mud that happen at school, I started secretly eying the smocks of all the other children as they headed to school on Monday mornings; and guess what? it's true! I think I'm the only mother who does not iron her child's school smock!
Well, Malachai does not go to school this week, and since I have an entire week to plan for his next Monday. I will iron! . . . just for fun . . .

my little flame of fire



So, being faithful missionary parents, we have been doing our research on Carnaval, and boy, am I glad we did. It turns out that unique to the carnaval celebration in our area is a personage named Miel-Otxin who, according to the tales told in northern Navarra, was an evil man who sneaked about the town stealing stuff. Miel-Otxin is finally caught by the townspeople and justice is served as his is burned at the stake. SOOO evidentaly all week long, Malachai has been hearing this story; each child at the school has been encouraged to write down the bad things in their life that they want to get rid of. these things are placed at the feet of a life sized, straw stuffed Miel-Otxin and burned at the end of the celebration. oh my . . .
Well, we took Malachai home before the burning, and spent a good amount of time talking to him about God gives us a better hope, and that He tells us that the only way to be pure is to repent of our sins and trust Jesus to forgive us. Malachai was a good sport about it all; sweet boy! Malalchai's teacher was taken aback that we didn't want Malachai to participate in this "beautiful symbolism"; I will try to talk with her on Monday and explain some more to her.

we went to our local farmer's market this week - - something I am trying to do more often. I have realized that when I shop at the grocery store, it is a passive shopping experience and that when I go to the market, I have to brace myself for a more aggressive shopping experience - - having to shop around at all the stands, evaluating the price/wait time ratio, asserting your preferences ("one kilo of apples please, and make sure they aren't mushy like the ones you gave me last week . . . "), being pushed by the vendor to make split second decisions on what you want to buy, and how much of it, etc . . .
it's all worth it, of course; I always end up with better produce at a better price - - and I am surrounded by the people of my community (and the guy who sells candy and sweet rolls sings his advertisement! and how could I not be drawn in by that?)

I wonder what poor sucker got duped into buying this car?
Also, I came across this toy as I was wandering through the "girl aisles" at Toys R Us today. It made me laugh.

I got together with some moms from Malachai's school this afternoon to sew costumes. Next month is Carnaval - - the crazy celebration that happens before lent. It's a big thing in the schools here; all the kids dress up and put on a show for the moms and pops. Apparently Malachai's school does a theme every year. This year is "science through the ages" and the 3, 4 & 5 year olds are dressing up like fire, the printing press and the light bulb. Joshua and I really aren't sure about the moral implications of Spain's celebration of carnaval - - how far removed is Malachai's fire costume from the evil origens of the celebration? (maybe we're asking ourselves the same questions U.S. parents deal with Halloween in the States) We will participate this year, observe carefully and evaluate it all so that we can be wiser more imformed parents next year!

coffee outreach today - - it was so, so good! we wondered if anyone would be out; teperatures have been the lowest we've had this winter in Pamplona, and we thought people would be prone to put off waiting in the immigration line until the cold passed. there were fewer individuals in line, but the crowd was a grateful one! (made getting out of bed at 5:45 worth it!)
Again, we are thankful for Carlos and Hebe who have been so encouraging to us. These pictures are of Carlos and Joshua prepping for our coffee give away in Carlos and Hebe's coffee shop.

yesterday was "family day"; we braved the cold and the 10 snow flakes and went downtown to scout out the rebajas (Spain's sales - - which only happed twice a year) for another blanket to put on our bed. I found one that I was pleased with - - brown and 50% off. we then went for a coffee. These are sweet times together as a family.



mom emailed me last night that my dear friend Stephanie had a major seizure after giving birth to her baby girl. I rejoice with Stephanie and Dennis at the birth of baby Rachel Susanne, but I feel a bit like the created world that Paul talks about in Romans 8:18-25 - - anxiously longing for freedom for a corrupted world - - eagerly looking forward to a world free of sin and sickness.
my heart is heavy yet hopeful; Stephanie and Dennis, my prayers are with you today.

I realized this week that I have become a miserably apathetic prayer-er. my prayers as of late have become not much more than a verbal (or mental)discipline. As I was praying a couple of days ago it dawned on me that I would actually feel surprised if the friend I was praying for called me up to let me know that my prayer had been answered - - not because I think that my God isn't capable or willing, but because I was so disengaged mentally and emotionally as I was praying, ! didn't necessarily expect God to answer.
sigh.
I have purposed today to, whether I am praying on my knees or (the more likely) with my hands in the soapy dish water, be more engaged in my requests to my listening God.

Hebe asked today if we would plan a coffee give-away for this up-coming friday morning. Please pray (passionately!) with me as week seek to communicate God's love in a practical way to the individuals waiting in the information line at the immigration office.

my suitcases are unpacked (uh . . . well mostly) and I'm back into Spanish housewife cleaning mode. look at my new cleaning tool:


(it's a broom, and it can be washed!) I saw it at my friend Marian's (Marian is balanced home keeper - - not too obsessive) house and asked her how she liked it - - she said she loves it. and then my friend Jeru (a bit more of the obsessive peruasion) said that she has one too, and that she's had it for the past eight years! maybe this is the cleaning tool that will make my house sparkle . . .

oh my! so much has happened since my last post . . . we have been to Texas, California, and back. Our trip was wonderful; we got to see many people that we love dearly (although there never seems to be a way to see everyone that we want, or to spend enough time with the ones we do see!) While I can't write about everything on our trip that was so lovely and is still buzzing in my head, I thought I would just share some images that I think communicate some of that lovely buzzing . . . .

we have been spending a lot of suitcase time together as we pack up for our trip to the US for Abi's (my sister) wedding. I need to stop by Malachai's school tomorrow morning to write down the address; I promised Malachai we would send his class a letter. I am hoping that we will even get two off - - maybe one from texas and one from California. I am trying to think of what a class full of three year olds would like to see pictures of . . . maybe some things that would be unique to Cristmas in the United States and with a Christian family . Any suggestions?

I ran out of the house this week to do some errands. I could only find one of Josu's shoes but I was running late and decided it would be best to leave - - even if that meant errands with a half-shoed baby; well, I must have had 7 lovely Spanish ladies stop me to ask me if I knew that Josu's shoe was missing (experienced mamas! they know how much those suckers cost!) I almost took his other shoe off too so that I wouldn't have any one else stop me!
It was very nice, actually, to have so many people watch out for me . . .

Malachai told us today that he loves Josu. Why?
apparently it's "because he is so, so, so little, and so sweet!"

we've been having cold, rainy days. this is what my kitchen has been looking like lately; makes cooking and cleaning a bear.

I talked with Malachai in Spanish about Thanksgiving on the way to school this morning; I want him to have the concepts and words given to him in Spanish so that he could repeat them to anyone who asked (or didn't . . . ) It's a funny thing - - learning in another language . . . . I find that if I want to communicate an idea in Spanish, it is much easier to do so if I have read or talked about it first in Spanish. Having to take an idea that was first formed or introduced to my mind in English and then try and translate it to Spanish can be a bit cumbersome.

I found pecans at my local grocery store; they never have pecans! of course, to make the pecan pie I'm also supposed to have corn syrup, and they didn't have any of that . . . but we will substitute honey (maybe it will turn out better that way!)

yeah! a care package!
we love flaming hot cheetos! we love craisins! we love friendly, encouraging little notes!
most of all we love the people who sent it all; thank you Pace Setters bible study!

Thursday we had family day and went downtown to get some roasted chestnuts . . . it's one of our favorite cold-weather-customs here in Pamplona.
On our way home I remembered that Malachai had is first school outing - - taking a bus to "observe the fall" in a nearby town the next day, and that I was supposed to pack a lunch for him; it was late when I remembered this but I had peanut butter and jelly at home, and I could send him with that . . . after a family pow-wow, however, we decided we should send him with chorizo on a baguette - - like all the other kids would have, so we swung by the grocery store, and went a bit over the grocery budget . . .

we're still working on fitting in!