Happy Birthday Brooklyn!

Our oldest daughter Brooklyn turned 12 last week.  Feels like yesterday I was going to the hospital in the wee hours of the morning to be induced.  She was a week late and I couldn't take another day of pregnancy.  Contrary to popular belief, I don't enjoy being pregnant.  Although all my pregnancies were healthy ones without any complications and my Doctor told me I was a 'baby making machine', I did not like the discomfort of being huge, hot and irritated.  (Looking back now, I think the irritation came from not being able to drink caffeinated beverages.....Coffee solves a world of problems!)

I remember hopping around the house, be-bopping up the steps to our little townhouse just a few days after giving birth, my family amazed at my 'quick' recovery.  I told them that I felt better the day after Brooklyn was born than any day of my 9 month + 1 week pregnancy.  And every baby afterwards was the same situation.....recovering from child birth was so much easier than walking around pregnant for 9 months.

So, today I'm celebrating 12 years with that little, dark headed, jaundiced bundle of joy!  She's been a delight to help raise and I feel priviledged that God would choose me as her mother.

She celebrated her birthday this past weekend with 2 of her closest friends. The pijama party was a lot of fun and different for the two girls invited.  PJ parties aren't very popular here....but they had a great time.

So, here goes my top 12 reasons I love Brooklyn:

1. She helps me the most with improving my language skills.  (That's after I've embarrassed her by butchering a language she speaks so beautifully!)
2. She's an excellent student that cares about her grades and her performance in school. (Opposite of me!)
3. Although she's not the best at keeping her room tidy, she has amazing organizational skills.
4. She's the typical bossy oldest sibling, but does well when needed to care for the younger ones in our absence.
5. She recognizes when I'm down, when I need a hug, when I need someone to volunteer to wash dishes, when I need time alone....she's sensitive and aware of others around her.
6. She makes a mean fiesta chicken.
7. She says, "Thanks Mom" a lot.
8. She taught me how to listen.
9. She taught me how to put someone else's needs before my own. 
10. She still holds my hand when we walk around in public. 
11. She has the love of Jesus in her heart.
12. And last but not least....you all know what's coming......She's MINE!  Thank you Lord!

"Happy Birthday Brooklyn Malena! I Love You!"
Love, Mom

Heat Waves, History and Homeschool

The Portuguese Summer Heat has set in. Projected temperatures are frightening when considering we have a few fans and nothing more to keep us cool. Even the little kiddy pool out back with it's mysteriously developed hole offers no hope of reprieve from the heat. One of the advantages to such heat is that when I hang out a load of wash, by the time I'm done with the last article of clothing, the first one I hung out is nearly dry! Which means I can get lots of clothes done in record time. I just sweat like a dog while doing it!




4th of July was fairly uneventful here. We didn't even see a firework, or smell the delicious aroma of grilled hamburgers and BBQ. But we did enjoy watermelon....



..and we tossed around the football.



This morning, in between going out to hang out laundry and blogging, I'm being a very mean mother. Summer school is in full force.



When we discuss what we do in the summer with our friends here, I am always met with frowns and disbelief. Other parents cannot believe I 'make' my kids do school work in the summer! After all, 'children are not machines', we've been told.

However, much to my shame and embarrassment, my 11 year old could not accurately tell how many stars were on the American flag when asked by a Portuguese man at church on Sunday. This man knew the correct answer and she did not. He also knew what the 13 stripes represented...and again...she did not.

Now, to her credit, she can correctly conjugate just about any Portuguese verb thrown at her and she fills me in on the history behind each of the 2,000 Portuguese holidays when I wonder why the stores are closed again for the third time in a week. This was one of the concerns when we prayed about whether to allow them to attend a Portuguese school, or continue to homeschool. The decision was made to go to school and to supplement during the summer with American history, English and any other necessary American teachings that they lacked. They actually enjoy it....other parents don't believe me though.

We've been told by another American missionary family who raised their children here and sent them to the schools that one day one of their children (teenager) came to them and asked, "Dad... now is Denver a city or a state?"

Don't laugh...hearing something like this hurts a parents heart. It's one of the struggles families raising children in a foreign country experience. This family shared this story with us as a way to encourage us. They told us to not be surprised when something like this happens cause it will happen. Well...I had my day on Sunday when Brooklyn could not tell or even guess how many stars were on the American flag....on our day of Independence no less......

So...with this all said...we keep on....We teach when we see opportunities. We encourage when they get frustrated. We smile and laugh when we don't know what else to do.......

So goes the Life of a Missionary Wife.

The 'Pox' Lives On....

Last week it was Justice.

This week, Brooklyn.

Next week, I'm predicting Faith since she feels like Brooklyn did last week....run down, head ache, low grade fever and sore throat.

Motherhood....I tell you what......it's been a while since I've had a Mama Fit!

Chicken Pox

A spot. A spot. Another spot.
Uh - oh! Chicken pox!
Under my shirt. Under my socks.
Itchy, itchy chicken pox.
Don't rub - don't scratch.
Oh - no! Another batch!
On my tummy. Between my toes.
Down my back. On my nose!
Lotion on. Itching is gone - just for now.
It comes back - Owe!
One and two and three and four.
Five and six and more and more.
Daddy counted my itchy spots.
Lots and lots of chicken pox.
Itchy, itchy
I feel twitchy!
I rest, I read, I eat, I play.
I feel better every day.
And then . . .
No new spots. Hooray!
I'm okay!

Author Unknown

I've not been able to attend a church service in 2 weeks. And I won't be going for another week now that I have another one that requires Mom's love here at home. Pray for us all please. We have a busy weekend planned with activities at the church and Michael will be preaching for a fellow missionary on Sunday. I hate that he will go alone, or at least without me. It's never the same he says, when I'm not there. I guess you pastor's wives understand what I'm talking about.

Brooklyn has had the varivax vaccination that's supposed to keep her from getting Chicken Pox. Any of you had kids that still got them after the vaccine?

Ichingly Yours,

This and That

It's really very cool that the schools here in Portugal will allow you to bring a cake and celebrate your kids birthday. Brooklyn wanted me to make a giant cookie for her birthday party, but I had to make two of them because those kids LOVE my desserts! It's the sugar....the desserts here in Portugal aren't nearly as sweet as the ones we Americans make!





I always try to make something different. The kids loved the giant cookie. They said they'd never seen a cookie so big!






We celebrated mother's day the same day as you guys did in the States. Here are a few pictures from Mother's day at church.








This week has been so nice. The weather is absolutely beautiful! I'm having a hard time staying indoors.

However, I'm mothering a very sick boy that has the chicken pox....he is so pitiful. Would you say a prayer for him?



Hope you guys are enjoying your week......

Friday Photo Flashback

My first three children were born very close together. Then there seemed to be a little breathing room before #4 and eventually #5 were born.

Having those three baby girls was so much fun but equally as much work......wow...those days were almost a blur!


This was one Sunday after church. They were sitting on the guest bed. I believe it was a weekend when their Mimi was visiting us. We were living in Georgia.



This was taken at our favorite Pumpkin Patch, just outside of Atlanta. We loved that place!!



And here was the first day of school 2004.

Tonight I'll take them all to basketball practice...they sure grow up fast!




Hope you guys have a great weekend!

Happy Birthday Brooklyn!

Saturday was Brooklyn's 11th Birthday. We had a pic-nic planned, but the weather was nasty, so she decided she'd like to go get a hair cut instead. So she and I spent a few hours out together at the salon and then a cafe for pastries and coffee.

She'd recently gone shopping and had purchased some really cute dresses that make her look, well, like the pre-teen that she is. So I think she wanted a new hair cut to go with those dresses.

These are her 'after' pictures:






Last night at church we had a party to celebrate a few birthdays. Trinity and Brooklyn were included. Here is a picture of them praying after we sang happy birthday.....



well....we were supposed to be praying...Trinity looks like she's getting ready for bed.


Anyway...in honor of Brooklyn's 11th birthday, here are the top 11 reasons why I love my precious daughter:

1. She's considerate and sensitive.
2. She's an excellent student and always does her best in whatever she attempts to do.
3. She's maturing into a precious, young christian lady who loves to hear the story of her birth.
   
4. She loves her Daddy and will defend him till she is red in the face.
5. She recognizes when I'm stressed out and offers to help without pointing out that she knows I'm stressed.
6. She's easy to please and grateful for what she gets.
7. She reads better than I do...In two languages.
8. She shares her room with her 3 year old brother without fussing....well, without much fussing.
9. Although she misses friends and family, she thinks living in Portugal is pretty cool.
10. She tells me how skinny I am.
11. She's mine! Thank You Lord!

Now, aren't you jealous you don't have a cool 11 year old like this living with you?!

;)

Have a great week ya'll!

I've Created a Monster

Portugal Rocks!



Brooklyn, my oldest daughter has started her own blog, Portugal Rocks.

It didn't take long for her to start competing with me over blogging topics and her daddy even bought her 'her own' pen drive to keep pictures on specifically for blogging. She races to my computer yelling, "I thought of it first" when she has an idea for a post, and even laments when we forget to photograph certain events she would have loved to blog about. Apparently she's like me in the thought that all posts must have pictures!

Anyway....how about going on over and saying "hi". Encourage a young blogger.

Thanks,

Birthday's, Cherries and Lefty's

*****WARNING: Picture Post*****
If you don't like pictures, skip this post!

The cherry tree in our yard has never given fruit before. Well, now it has!


"Trinity's Garden"


Justice likes to concentrate with his tongue.


And prefers using his left hand.


My birthday girls. Brooklyn turned 10 and Trinity turned 5.


Brooklyn receiving traditional birthday kisses from her teacher.


Brooklyn's classmates.


Her friends at school singing "Happy Birthday"


I baked 50 red velvet cupcakes.


Her best friends, Ines and Jessica.

Brooklyn's Day, Bridal Teas and Birthdays

Aren't weekends supposed to be for relaxing?

Well, it never works out like that for me.

This weekend I:

• Had a Mother/Daughter evening with Brooklyn.

• Washed an entire weeks worth of dirty clothes.

• Baked for and attended a bridal tea.

• Went to dinner at a friend's house.

• Went to church twice, baked for a birthday party and shopped for Valentine's Day dinner supplies ---all on Sunday.

And I guess I'll spare you all the "little" details that fill a mother's day and always seem to be the most time consuming.

Bridal Tea:
Larissa is a precious young lady in her early twenties. She speaks English very well and has a way with children. When we first arrived in Portugal she was the only "friend" my children had. She would do a little Bible study with them in English in the small classroom during preaching time and after church would play hide and go seek outside the church. Counting in English of course. Now, almost a year later we're sending her off to New Zealand where she will be married in a few weeks. The bridal tea was a sad/happy time for me. Larissa helped my children (and me) adjust to our new environment and we will always be thankful to her for that.
Larissa and her niece, Sarah


The food table.


Praying for the Bride.


Ms. Dawne, our coworker, explaining the rules to a game.


Some of the food.


The grooms name in an acrostic.


I introduced them to cheesecake!


Sarah playing Peek-a-Boo.



Mother/Daughter Evening:
Friday night, after a quick pancake supper for the rest of the family, Brooklyn and I slipped away for a Mother/Daughter evening. There's only one store in Portugal that she's interested in and that's FNAC. Do you guys have these stores in America? It's a music store/book store/computer store all wrapped together surrounding a coffee shop. (I could spend hours there too...the coffee shop I mean)

Mom and Brooklyn

She went looking for a Mozart CD and the book Through the Looking Glass. She came home with the book, but no CD because the one she wanted wasn't there. At least it wasn't there for the right price I guess I should say.

You see, every Mother/Daughter day each girl gets 10 Euros (13 dollars) to spend as they wish. They may choose to carry their dear Mom out to eat, or eat at home and spend the money buying things instead. It's been interesting to see how each girl has chosen to spend their money. To watch them budget and try to get the most for their money.

• One has insisted that we eat out together, regardless of the cost.

• One didn't care what we did as long as I bought her a cheap toy so as to not "use up" all my money.

• One 'let' me eat at home, so she could eat out AND buy herself something.

• And one has been given a night out with Mom, only to give it to her sister who had not yet been given a turn. Thus making herself the last.

I'm learning a lot about their character, desires and their hearts. They are so precious in their different levels of maturity. Conversation has been a hoot as I have listened to each one specifically without interruptions. I recommend something similar for you Moms with more than 2.5 kids!


Mom and Brooklyn