A few photos for you

This would be our dining room. Three long tables are almost completely filled during lunch and supper. Breakfast occurs in the house, and we have two similar tables in there. However, breakfast still requires that at least one of the helpers sits on a bench away from the table because there's not enough room for all 23 of us! At every meal we recite a character trait and a verse that goes along with it. Right now we're learning Salmo 112:5 (Psalms 112:5). After reciting the verse, Julie or Victor prays over our meal. At breakfast and supper we have a family devotional, and
the kids tend to fight over who gets to read the passage and say the closing prayer. In addition to all of this, every morning we gather around the piano after breakfast to sing a worship song!







Meet Joce, my sweet little sis who speaks some English.  I caught her this morning before chores since we were having breakfast together.  Saturday breakfasts are on your own, rather than with the family, so everyone can sleep in a bit if they so choose.

 

Hey Angie!  The oldest of the children, Angie's actually older than me.  She speaks English very well, and she's been a great friend.  The other older girls, Diana, Martita, Martha, and Lolis, have also become good friends, and the whole family likes to pick on me, so it's always a fun time around here!

  What a place, huh?  This past week I started going outside for JAM sessions.  I found a great seat by the house, and when I got out there by 7:30 or so, I had an amazing view of Popo as it slowly faded away.  The downside was, however, that the younger kids like to go outside before breakfast.  As I've said, everyone picks on me, so the kids would try to scare me mid-song.  A couple of days ago, I found this place.  It's back behind the school, and I have a great view of both buildings, as well as a reminder of how great our God is!  Mountains can be seen everywhere, and there's so much green and blue!

Welcome to the kitchen!  Rosa is usually doing something in here, and with the school right around the corner, we always get to smell some tempting aromas from her daily concoctions!  I love how laid back everything is around here.  See the string of bananas, and the crates under the table/counter area?  All fruit that we can grab on the go when we need a quick pick-up!

We have our own park!  I have yet to actually go down here with the kids, but I did check it out one morning for JAM.  There's a hike downhill, but it's gorgeous down there.  I love how you're just surrounded on all sides by natural walls of plant life!

Like our Sunday ride?  Last Sunday, we fit 22 people in this van.  Church is a good hour's drive away, but it's worth it!  I'll admit, I'm not too fond of the Sunday school hour.  I have to watch the little kids for an hour to an hour and a half while Julie teaches Sunday school.  However, the kids have a movie to watch, and the older kids keep themselves busy.  Come 12:30 though, it's time to worship!  We spent nearly an hour just worshiping, and then the pastor gives a message for about another hour.  Service at Dayton will seem like nothing by the time I get home!

Miguel, Carol, and Ruth are just a few of the kids who love to skate!  This morning Ana fell because she'd been skating, but that won't stop her for long!  Seems like I'm always dodging a kid on wheels when I'm at the house.  David and Danny have even gotten caught up in the fun, and they're the youngest of the children (3 and 5, respectively).






Overall, I'm falling in love here!  I just realized the other day how nice it's been to never feel like I have to check my phone for texts or missed calls.  I'm adjusting to the idea that things can wait, especially contact with the outside world.  We have our own little microcosm here, and I've been welcomed into it as easily as if I were a part of the family.