I know that it has been a few weeks since I posted anything. It seems like life has been crazy. We went to Georgia for a couple of weeks. It was great to get to see friends and family. We got to do a lot of things and see a lo of people, which was awesome. Jaime and I were able to go out on a few dates and that was great especially because we didn't know how long it would be beofre we found a trustworthy babysitter here.
It is weird that Brazil actually felt like home when we got back here this time. I think that it is a mindset thing. I now know that we are here to stay for a while. I think God is showing me literally that home is where your heart is. I am home because Jaime and the kids are here. I am cherishing all of our family time here. I am loving having Jaime home every night. That is such a change for me and the kids love having him home more.
I am trying to think back on everything that has happened in the last few weeks. The kids are back in school. I have decided that the school they are in at the moment isn't the right one for them. It was the perfect school for them to come to because the teachers and staff are really loving, but it doesn't quite measure up to what I want out of a school academically. The new school year here starts in January so for about 2 weeks I did major school shopping. I visited all kinds of school and thank God I found one that I think is going to be perfect. Starting in January Gabriel and Isabella are going to be going to Notre Dame. It is farther from the house and we are going to have to contract a school "minivan" to to pick them up and bring them home everyday. I am still deciding on what to do with Santiago. He is still only 3 yrs old and going to school 5 days a week from 7 - 12 is really long for him and he gets really cranky in the afternoons. I think that I have decided to keep him home with me for part of the time and send him to a small school that is closer to the house. They want them to go everyday but I plan on sending him 3 days a week. Life is too short to start school too early if you don't necessarily have to . :)
Gabriel had his first play date last Sat. I am gathering that play dates are not common because both parents usually work here and the kids are in afterschool activities most of the afternoon. We went' over to one of his friends houses on Sat and had a good time. I keep having to remind myself that it is draining for the kids to have play dates because of the language aspect. I think that it just takes a lot of work. Isabella also had a play date. I invited the pastor's daughter to come over and play. That was great for all of the kids because they lived in Georgia for a few years and so she speaks great English. The kids had a blast talking English all afternoon.
Yesterday in Brazil was Children's Day, which Jaime and I quickly found out is basically like Christmas. Kids get presents from parents and relatives. We gave our kiddos the option of a present or a movie and being the good Carreno's that they are, they picked the movie. We also went to a country club to have lunch with Gabriel's friend, Joao's, family. The kids had a good time and we got to see the club. It was beautiful and it is something that Jaime and I are considering for the future.
My goal for this week is to find Portuguese classes for Isabella. Her teacher suggested that she start them because 3rd grade is very demanding and she needs stronger Portuguese in order to do better. I am hoping that this will not only help with school but also with hanging out with friends. I have noticed as the kids get older, language plays a bigger role, especially for girls, so Isabella told me yesterday that she was waiting to invite friends from school over for when she talked Portuguese better. I think that this transition has been the most difficult for Isabella. Our trip back to the US didn't help because she noticed how many friends she was missing and has and how she is starting all over again here. Pray for her. Pray that she will make "good" friends and that she would start feeling more comfortable here.
Jaime and I are excited because we found a babysitter. We found a nanny from one of the kids in the apartment building who is going to come once a week and let us go out. Not only is this going to give us some much needed time off, but hopefully will help us be able to meet more people.
I guess that this is it for now. We find out this week if our things can be shipped in a couple of months or in 8 months. I am hoping for the shorter time period. Pray that as we are in my favorite time of the year, fall, and getting closer to the holidays that we would be able to enjoy our time here and not be thinking about friends and family that we are so far away from. The kids have off from Dec 14 through the end of Jan. That is a really long time to not be in school and be going through the holidays for the first time without family.
Jaime's job is going well. There is still a lot of red tape that he is having to go through before everything is up and running. He is keeping busy with all of that and he really looking forward to when things kick into high gear and he can do everything that is possible.
God has placed us in Brazil for a reason. He is ministering to us daily and we are seeing Him in a whole new light. It is such a different experience when you have to daily lean on Him for everything. I think that I had such a tendency to try so much on my own when I was on Georgia. I now know that I can only do it with and through Him.
