My pride and His all-sufficiency

Piggybacking off my last post: every child is different - even out of the womb. As much as our 3 girls look alike - they all looked very different to me. There were differences in how they wanted to be carried (Eliana wanted to be carried facing forward), how they went to sleep (Michaela loved to be swaddled), eating habits. And Jana has her own set of preferences. Lately, much to my dismay, she's been refusing to nurse. She wants the bottle!

With Eliana, I shot myself in the foot because I didn't make her take a bottle from an early age - and she never did take one, and the switch over to a sippy cup was a battle. With Jana, I have pushed both the pacifier and the bottle (for my ease, and also because of the fact that we'll be traveling so much this summer). And I think that's part of the reason she has decided she likes the bottle better.

But I also think my body is tired after 3 pregnancies in 3 years and I'm not producing the milk she needs. I noticed a change in sleeping habits - waking up more frequently. And then the other day Jana wouldn't (or couldn't) nurse and cried and cried. I finally mixed some formula for the first time and the poor kid drank it like she was starving. Since then, I've had to give her at least one bottle a day.

I'm one of those moms who really enjoys nursing, which has been the hardest part of all this. I enjoy the physical closeness, the knowledge that my milk is best... and let's get real, the fact that it's only something mommy can do - at this age, I'm everything to my baby. And that's where the pride part comes in. I like being able to tell a Bolivian that my baby nurses (most assume if you're rich that you automatcially will have a c-section and give formula). Pride.

But the reality is - I can't be it all for my children. That's where His all-sufficiency comes in. He is everything to me - and I have to turn over everything to Him, even my children.

I thank God I live in a day and place and am on a salary where I can buy formula for my baby. I know she will be healthy. And so I cried about it some, and then gave it over to God - asking Him to be it all for me - and for my baby.

May His all-sufficiency be obvious in your life as well.

Gifts and Personalities

It's amazing as a parent to watch your children grow and learn and to notice similarities and differences between them. Of course, you always hear how every child is different, and you know it cognitively, but to see it in action... well that's something else. And of course, you always doubt if, as a parent, you're reading too much into it because, well, they're your children, so of course they're talented. But, at risk of looking foolish, I'm going to go out on a limb and say I think my children have certain talents even at this young age. Eliana is our musical child - she loves music, dancing, and rhyming words. She's learned some words and phrases solely from the rhythm. And Michaela is our artist. She loves painting, coloring, and lately - drawing on the magna pad my parents sent for her birthday. The other day she came to show me what she drew, and I have to say - I thought it was pretty good for a 3 year old. (Remembering back to my art class in college and kid's development stages, she is very advanced for her age!) Anyway, I took a picture to preserve it and here it is below. And in case you can't see it - it's a person - complete with eyes, mouth, nose, body, arms, and legs!

Visit from Matt

We were blessed this last month with a visit from one of Josh's good friends from college and grad. school days. Matt Bogard came down for about a week to visit the work here. He's searching for God's direction in his future and wanted to see what work in Bolivia was like. We enjoyed our time with him (especially Josh!) and did a variety of things that would help him see what daily life is like here in Cochabamba. And of course, no visit to Cochabamba is complete for a first time visitor without a trip to the Cristo statue. Here's our newest family picture overlooking the city. Unfortunately, we don't have one picture with Matt! How terrible is that!

Prayers for Bolivia

One of the blessings of being on a team is the fact that each person brings their own giftedness to the team. Jeff Forbess has the gift of linguistics - both in English and in Spanish (and I'm sure whatever other language he put his mind to learn). He just posted a blog that requests your prayers for political peace in Bolivia, and because I know that I will never be able to put it as well as he has, I ask you to read his blog post and join us in prayer for this country. Thank you!

Fun with Family

Jenny and Erik and Zion came to visit us this last week from Sucre. I am thankful to have at least some family living in the same country with us! We had a good time visiting about our different works, about kids, and everything else under the sun. We did some shopping and even had time to go for an ultrasound for Jenny to find out if they're having a girl or boy. We celebrated Michaela's 3rd birthday with them too (more on that to come!). Here's some pictures from their visit.

Can we say "mug shot"? I don't know why they were so serious. And the mark on Zion's chin was from learning to climb the ladder on the slide.


We went to a place called Langostura about half an hour from Cochabamba that has paddle boats, a play ground, a zip line and serves good fish.


How precious is this picture?! Jana with her Aunt Jenny.


All together now... And I promise that is NOT a beer bottle in the foreground. It's a type of juice called Jugo de Valle that comes in bottles here.

Pictures of Jana

I've been trying for weeks to get a picture of Jana smiling - and can't seem to get it timed right. The following picture is the best I could do...


We also went to get some professional pictures done. We had some done for Michaela at 2 weeks; Eliana was a month; Jana... well, we didn't get around to it till 2 and a half months - but they turned out super cute. Don't worry, grandparents! We ordered you guys some copies that we'll distribute on furlough...

Cross Cultural Moment, Anyone?

For all of you who have ever lived or spent much time overseas.... Have you ever had one of those moments when you're walking down the street and see someone wearing something that you wish you could just go up to them and ask if they REALLY know what their clothing says??? Well, one of the sisters at church just gave Jana the sweetest little outfit - and I'm quite sure that she didn't know what it said. When Josh and I opened it up, we nearly died laughing! I just don't know how I'm ever in good conscience going to put the following outfit on my baby!

The 3 Amigos

At risk of being redundant - I used the same title as Laura did on her blog - but it just seemed too perfect. I still can't believe we all have babies born within a month of each other! It'll be just as fun watching these 3 grow up together as it has been watching our other "3 amigos" (see previous blog) grow up together.

Church and Team "Happenings"

I realized lately that our blog has become slightly family focused. Perhaps that's because mom, who is in charge of the blog, is here at home - and so that's what gets posted. Which is not to say that the work doesn't go on - and that Josh is very busy with a variety of ministry activites. Here's some highlights from what's been going on.

- The youth and the young at heart begin playing volleyball as an outreach on Saturdays in January.
- Maggie and Palmira were baptized in February!
- End of February, Roland Bowen, a member of the missions committee at our sponsoring congregation of Austin Ave., makes a visit to help out with preaching and teaching responsibilites while all the new daddies are still getting back in the groove. Thanks, Roland!
- The youth have an outing to welcome their new members at a local pool in March.
- We have a team get-to-gether on Good Friday to spend some time in prayer and give the kids a chance to hunt Easter eggs.
- We celebrate Easter Sunday with an evangelistically focused service, inviting lots of friends and canvasing the neighborhood. The kids and youth perform some special skits, and the fellowship meal afterwards allows us to visit with the many visitors (we had about 80 in attendance!)
- Our small group, which usually meets at the building, decides to rotate the last Tuesday meeting of every month in members' homes to allow for a little more familiarity.
- And please be praying for this coming weekend: Josh is teaching a weekend course(the last weekend of March, April and May) at the contact center on preaching and Bible exegesis, which is open to churches across Bolivia. He's expecting 10-15 students - and they'll have lunch at our house - my first big hospitality event since Jana's birth.
-The first weekend in April marks the men's annual campout as well. Please be praying for that too.

Saturday volleyball


Palmira's baptism


Roland preaching


Our old red Chevy is well used during events like the youth outing!


Easter egg hunting


Josh preaching on Easter Sunday


Our CAFE group