I Got Plastered in Mexico

I wish the picture showed it better, but on the front of my shirt covering most of the southwest is a huge blob of plaster.  Yes, I walked into a house in La Mision, Mexico that was being mudded and taped and knocked the spatula tool right out of the guy’s hand.  It hit me on the way down and also coated my shirt, sunglasses, jeans, flip-flops and feet.  NICE!  It’s the first time I’ve ever been able to say that I was plastered in Mexico.  Literally.

We had a GREAT time this week.  I was asked sort of last minute to go with the youth on the missions trip.  Sooooo last minute that I neglected blogging for three days before we left…. and now we’re home.  Thankfully, my husband was left with the secret blogging MSJ password so he could let you know what was going on.

It was quick 5 day trip but was filled with ministry in many locations in the lush coastal valley of La Mision.  The “city” lies an hour south on the border on the Pacific Ocean between Rosarito and Ensenada.  And can I just say that it was a blessed relief to be in cooler temperatures in July and away from Phoenix.  We left our windows open.  We wore t-shirts and capris day and night.  We sucked in the ocean air.  We loved on the people of La Mision.

Here is the Reader’s Digest version of what we did in our three full days there:  purchased basics for 15 food boxes, distributed the boxes to needy homes and prayed for the families, put up dry-wall on the ceiling in a 1,500 sq. ft. room of the daycare, helped with the children at the daycare, went door-to-door handing out fliers for two events, visited an orphanage, performed street ministry with drama, had a “gratis comida” Night (free food!) where we BBQ-ed 160 hot dogs, put in a wooden floor in a mud-floored home, distributed clothing, bedding, shoes and toys to many families, played soccer every night (and were severely beaten by the locals), cleaned a yard of debris (that filled the back of a wide work truck), laid a stone path and spoke at the local church.  It was awesome and I’m exhausted.

Besides the plastered story there are several other entertaining bits including a horse lying in the road, the Sandlot dog experience relived, a bucking-bronco van ride, boiling water rituals, the burro video, eternally cooked beans and mucho more!  Please stay tuned.

How to be an Awesome Parent!!!

Hello, Rick here again.  Linda gets back later today and she can write about something other than Hockey.  But I thought I would share a couple of thoughts about what I think is important on being a Dad.  I just finished an email to the parents on Austin’s hockey team.  I wanted to make them aware of what is really important this coming Hockey season.  The following is the body of what I wrote but it doesn’t just apply to Hockey moms and dads…it applies to all parents, grandparents as well as anyone who wants to make or keep friends.  The art of conversation seems to be taking a back seat in our culture and it is because we are letting it!

“Travel Hockey is a long season but the reward will happen along the way as well as at the end of the year.  The progression of our hockey players will definately be noticed come March but the reward along the way will be in the form of a closer relationship with your girl or boy.  The travel time to the rink is such an important time and I feel it should be used for our benefit as parents and the benefit of our kids.  What I have tried to do especially last year was to turn off the radio and not allow Austin to play his iPod while we travelled.  This in turn, forced both of us to have to dialogue with each other.  At first there was a lot of dead air but as the year progressed we talked in depth and I learned more and more about my son.  Don’t get me wrong, there were times when all I wanted to do was to go to my “empty box” (as my wife, Linda calls it) and veg!  I began to realize that he had goals and dreams that I had no clue about.  It was fun to get closer to Austin on a level different than that of hockey.  When we as parents take the lead and put our focused time and effort into our most prized possessions, the year won’t feel so long and we will have fun a long the way!”

So hang up the cell phone, put away the iPod, read that book when they are in bed, get off the computer, exercise before they get up, take them with you when you go places, have them cook/bake with you, have them fix the car with you, take them out for some one-on-one time, take them to church, schedule time at the end of the day to tuck them into bed and talk to them, read the Bible to them, if you are doing something and they ask a question stop what you are doing and look at them in the eyes and listen, don’t let your mind wander when talking with them, don’t be impatient, answer softly, pray with them, hug them daily, kiss them daily and tell them you love them constantly!!!

Hockey Season Begins!!!

Hello everybody, Rick here.  I thought I would write a quick note to let everybody know that Linda, Larisa and Austin are in Mexico on a youth missions trip.  They are 3 hours south of San Diego helping out in a daycare center as well as doing street ministry and helping the locals with whatever they need help with.  They return on Friday night.  Keeve and I are holding down the fort by going to the movies and frequenting “In-n-Out Burger”…what a great place…a Double-Double with grilled onions and cheese, fries, a strawberry shake and 2000 calories to burn off before nightfall!!!  Cool!!!

Well it has begun.  While Linda, Larisa and Austin are in Mexico, Austin’s Bantam hockey team had it’s first practice.  I am coaching Austin’s team again!  The thing that is so strange is that I have never started a season so early before!  Even when I played while growing up we would always start in September…not July!!!  Austin is really doing well and becoming quite a well rounded hockey player!  Last year he finished second in scoring and was one of the most consistant body checkers on our team…and he’s got some wheels too!  So here we begin another fun year of ICE HOCKEY…God’s gift to mankind!!!

The following is a funny blog Linda wrote last year about one of the teams we played from Tucson.  Enjoy!

Big Foot FOUND!

By rixgal

Yes, all that nonsense a few months back about the dead Big Foot in the deep freeze was nothing compared to what we witnessed today at the hockey rink.  Big Foot hales from Tucson!  He’s only twelve years old and not all of his full-body hair has grown in yet.  He is quite talented on the ice… not like some awkward kids beasts who grew too fast and have yet to develop coordination.  I even have untouched photographic proof for you to witness right here at MSJ. 

I appologize about the photo quality of the action shot.  Seems I don’t have a Sports Illustrated quality camera. I did get a few clear semi-still shots.

Here is Big Foot pictured with my son who is 4′11″ tall.  See???  When the kids from our team would try to check him, they just bounced off and down on the ice they went.  Austin tried to check him and take him down, but he said it was impossible.  I suggested some Three Stooges moves where one player goes down on his hands and knees behind Big Foot and another player pushed from the front.. but no one listens to a mom behind the glass.

Unfortunately for us, Big Foot’s team took the first place ribbons at the tournament.  We took second.  But we did give them a good ride. Now don’t go thinking I’m prejudiced about larger-than-life people.  I would love it if Big Foot was on our team!  And if he was my kid, I’d cheer just as loudly when he pushes the little kids down and lays on them…. paralyzing them on the ice.  He has a hard slapshot that rang the beegeebeez out of the boards and with some accuracy practice would inflict even more pain on opposing teams. 

Austin did us proud and emerged unscathed, except for a few bruises and sore spots from encounters with Big Foot.

If you want to call the National Enquirer, I’m available for blog interviews about my Big Foot sighting starting tomorrow.

 

Broken Glass

It would seem that we are in a current trend of breaking glass dishes on the tile floor in our kitchen.  We’ve lived in this house for four years and I think we have broken more glass items in the last month than the rest of the four years added together.  Here are just a few examples.

The night we were leaving for Lake Tahoe, my Dad came over to save me from my husband’s wrath, by bringing a back rest for Rick to use on the 14 hour drive.  Rick HAD a back rest for 20+ years, but it had seen better days.  I had already repaired and replaced the cover of said back rest.  But wear and tear had produced yet another hole in the cover and there was a chunk of the actual foam worn away too.  I’m sure it smelled horrible too, but I didn’t actually check.  No thanks.  The old, worn, tired and sad back rest ended up in the loft where I sew.  On a day when I was overwhelmed with junk piling up and projects up to my ears, I threw away the back rest.  Rick found out the night we were leaving for Tahoe.  Dad to the rescue.  All that to say, I ate a quick bowl of cereal before we were about to leave and went to hug my dad with the bowl in my hand.  Down the bowl went… and our trip was delayed for another ten minutes.

I have Fiesta dishes in my kitchen and matching salt and pepper shakers on the table for everyday use.  Twice now, one of the shakers has given the kiss of death to the beautiful brown tile.  Presently we only have pepper on the table.  I’m waiting impatiently for Fiestaware to go on sale at Kohl’s.  I even have a coupon…..

Two days ago we were gathered around the kitchen table eating ice cream while having family devotions.  Just as Austin read the first verse, Keeve’s elbow took out a glass and it shattered on the floor.  Immediately all five of us lifted our feet.  I asked, “Who has on shoes?”  No one.  We were all barefoot.  So, brave and mighty Rick (the furthest from the most glass shards) got up from the table and went to find shoes.  He came back to the table wearing shoes and announced, “Why don’t we just finish reading the Bible and then I’ll clean it up.”  We were all straining our tummy muscles to keep our feet from touching the ground… and said, “No!”  But Rick was determined to finish devotions, so we all placed our feet sideways on other chairs and continued listening about not loving the things of this world while the glass waited on the floor.

I’m hoping the trend is now over.

Knight in Sweaty Armor to the Rescue!

No, this is not my husband using the hammer to fix the broken air conditioning in the van.  (Thank God!)  I did get a bit nervous when #1 son came in the house to get the duct tape for his father, who was indeed fixing the air conditioning in the van.  Mr. “Your wife is dumb” Mechanic quoted $600 to “remove the whole dash board” to repair the malfunctioning air conditioning pump.  Um, no.

I suggested we save money and remove the dashboard ourselves and then take it in.  I was joking.  Obviously my comment caused some mental motion on my husband’s part.

My thrifty, brilliant, and college educated husband whipped out the owner’s manual for our 2002 Dodge Caravan and studied up on A/C repair.  It seems that the A/C fan motor is quite easily accessible if you simply remove the glove compartment from the dash board.  Rick purchased a new blower motor for a mere $90 and then gathered the necessary tools to complete the job.  Keep in mind it was about 112 degrees yesterday when all this transpired.  The tools:  the heavily padded moving blanket (for his knees on the driveway), my eggshell foamy mattress (to lie on the floor of the van), a screwdriver, a large glass of ice water and the portable trouble light on an extra long extension cord (to see in the dark crevice under the dash.)

A few hours later, and a few pounds of sweat soaked into my foamy mattress (ewwww), VOILA!  the new blower motor was installed.  One minor glitch: the blower he bought was not functional, but he didn’t know it until it was installed.  Bummer, dude.  At that point Rick came into the house and offered $10 to any kid who would remove it.  We had one taker, Austin…. and it took him 10 minutes!

Blower motor #2 was purchased and installed and today I had sweet cold air blowing on my face.  Ahhhhhhhh.  Thank you, my sweaty Knight and Austin!

Women Don’t Sweat Part 2

Yes, it happened today…. you’d think I was telepathetic or something.  All five of us were comfortably riding home from church in the van with the air conditioning blowing freezingly in our faces when the “beep” warning sounded, signaling that we were low on gas.  So we pulled into Costco to fill up.  THAT’S when it happened.  The gas was poured, but when the key was again turned, the a/c silently laughed in our glistening faces.  I was secretly glad that my husband was in the van this time!  (Don’t tell him!)  He sort of chuckled when he heard that I had to drive for almost an hour last Thursday with no a/c.  

We flicked switches.  We turned knobs.  We turned off the car and restarted it… twice.  Nada.  As we were driving away from Costco, Rick resorted to slamming the dash board several times on the top as well as the side by my legs.  Slamming things with his fists has never fixed anything in the past, that I can recall, but who knows?  It could’ve worked this time, but no.

I began my tirade of all the things the mechanic had said… in mocking tones, of course.  “The fan is working just fine.”   “I didn’t do anything to it.”  “I turned on the van and it worked, even after I drove it around for a while.”  The thudding noise was my first clue that the fan wasn’t operating properly.  The lack of cold air blowing on my face was my second clue.  I’m no dumb bunny, even though the mechanic thinks otherwise.

As the perspiration beadlets were forming on my handsome husband’s face, I reached up and pushed the button to see the daily temperature.  Like I was prophetic or something in the last blog… it was 117 degrees!   We only had a 15 minute drive home, but my husband practically melted before our eyes.  (Think Wicked Witch of the West.)  I’ve only seen his top lip sweat after consuming blazing hot salsa, but today no blazing salsa was needed.  Sweat dripped down from his forehead past his cheeks and off his chin.  I rather enjoyed the show…. being that he took the mechanic’s word over mine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I’m melting!”

 

So tomorrow morning we are taking the van back to the mechanic who said nothing was wrong with the a/c fan. I’m driving our other car with air conditioning this time.    It is at least 90 degrees already at 9:00 in the morning!  muuhhuuhuuuhaaahahahahahah.  (Super hot weather brings out my mean streak!)

Women Don’t Sweat

It’s true.  We glisten.  We perspire.  We sparkle.  But we don’t sweat.

Well, I broke all the rules yesterday.  It was a mere 117 degrees and the fan stopped working for the dash air conditioning.  Ca-put.  The a/c in the back worked, but not well enough at 117 to keep the people in the front of the van cool.  Or even moderately comfortable.  It was a 20 minute drive to the mechanic.  Not fun.  A few people saw me sweat.  Even the fronts of my shins were glistening.  Ewwww.

Today the mechanic called and said the fan is working fine and he didn’t do anything to it.  It was not working fine yesterday.  In fact it made a loud thudding noise before it stopped blowing freezing air on my face.  I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I do know how to work my air conditioning… HELLO!  We live in Phoenix…. across the street from hell.  It’s hot here.

So we picked up the van tonight and since the sun was down and it was actually below 100 degrees, OF COURSE, the fan worked.  Yes, it was free of charge because the mechanic didn’t fix anything.  But am I going to be happy with him next time it’s 117 and the fan stops again?  NO!

Anyway, I’m happy the van is temporarily cool.  I pray we’re not transporting lots of people or traveling a long distance across the desert the next time the loud thudding occurs.

OH!  I’m so thankful for air conditioning.

Jennie Lynne makes her appearance!

This is Jennie Lynne.  She is a Doll for Zaza…. meaning: she’s for sale on the Bags for Zaza site, but she’s not a bag.  Something new.  Something different.  The perfect Christmas gift for the little lady in your life.  Initially I made her for our Zaza, but then I decided to make Zaza’s with darker skin, brown eyes and black hair.  So this fair Scandinavian beauty is up for auction to help bring Zaza home.  There are many more pictures that you can zoom in on at www.BagsForZaza.blogspot.com.

Please share the news and help bring Zaza home!

Campbell’s Soup Cures Back Pain

It’s true.  I found out today at the chiropractor!  Factual Information, I’m telling you.  It doesn’t even matter what flavor your choose.  It can be cream of mushroom, split pea or tomato.  Your choice.  You simply lie down flat on your back on the floor.  Put any Campbell’s soup can under the curve of your neck and tip your head back until it touches the ground.  Stay in this position for 20 minutes per day and VOILA!  your back pain will be cured.  My understanding is that the can puts your neck in the proper traction position and it pulls your spine in line.  (rhymey bimey!)  I started today.  I thought it was one of those wive’s tales… maybe it is?  But after 15 minutes, it really started to put pressure on my neck.  Weird, I know.  I’ll let you know if I’m cured of back pain in the next few months.  Here’s my other tidbit of advice… put the dog outside before you lie on the carpet.

Help is on the Way!

Today at church we spoke with a family who just returned from Bogota on Thursday, not for adoption though.  All her family still live there AND she offered a nephew to help us when we get there!  SCORE!  Also the kind lady said that she would be glad to come over and narrate a video of our home that we plan to show to Zaza once we arrive.  I told her I’d call when the house is clean…… yikes!  I’ve read that watchinig the video over and over REALLY helps the child adjust to their new home when they know what to expect.  The book I read suggested starting from driving up to the house and entering the front door.  Then going room by room and pointing out different things in each room.  Another family that made a video said that upon their return home, their new daughter ran straight to her room to “get at the Barbies!”  So adorable. 

Zaza’s Barbies are in a box in the garage and in a drawer in her dresser……  a doll house is definitely needed. I asked my 12 year old son if he would build a doll house when he finishes his summer program (next week!) and he said he would!  I just need to locate a plan online for him to follow.  He’s a whiz with all his power tools.

I also did the travel immunization calls this last week.  OK, I’m not real good with getting needles.  Even that picture makes me cringe.  Everywhere I called it was $165 for the five of us to get in the door and then from $30 up per shot… and we need ELEVEN.  So, for those as great with math as I am, I used the calculator and that’s $495+.  So before completely freaking out, I called our health insurance and found two “approved” shot places that only charge our $10 deductible for each person.   Period.   Thank you, Jesus!

I’m thanking God every day for providing what we need when we need it.