The sun is coming through the clouds and it looks nice and inviting out but it is cold. That cold that makes your eyes water! On Wednesday when we were out it smelled like snow, you know when there is a strong cold and a smell of wood smoke all around you. There was no snow just cold weather though! I never thought it would be so cold in Brazil. So hard to imagine when all the other times I have been here is was boiling hot and humid like no other!
     Well, enough about the weather. My babies are sleeping and I love the quiet but I miss them. I am busy when they are awake and I have not time to write or sit still I watch the clock for nap time and then when it comes I lay them down and the quiet comes over the house, my ears strain to make sure that I am not missing any sounds that they may be making and I miss them. A sadness and a loneliness comes over me and I ache for there little sounds, for talking, running balls bouncing and building with blocks! The amazing beauty of motherhood.
     Hannah is happier this week. For the past month I was having a hard time with her, she was yelling whenever I was not holing her. Finally after getting frustrated with not being able to help her Nando said that I was not holding her in the sling as much as I did with Isaac.  I thought about it and found that he was right. So I began slinging her with me nearly all the time and she became much happier making the whole family happier! So good to have observant daddies!
     Yesterday Nando's parents took The littleones and I to one of the parks in town! There was a small pound with turtles and ducks which Isaac liked watching very much! Then while at the playground I met another mom very sweet and got her contacts so that we can meet up with our littleones and let them play together! Her English is very good making it a lot easier for me!
       Well, I have not mentioned that Nando and I have goon vegetarian during the week. We started the Daniel Diet both for spiritual and health benefits and found that we are feeling so good eating like this that we want to continue. Only bringing meat into the menu on Fridays and Shabbats! So we are happy and feeling very good! It is something between Vegetarian, Vegan and Real Food! Lots of veggies, Fruits, Whole grains, and beans. We have been juicing in the morning and generally eating a lot less I think that is a big key. Also the only sweetener that we are using is Honey so that is great! It also takes our grocery bill way down which is very helpful since food is so expensive here!
     Well, I thought that I would have more interesting news to write about but this is it for now. I have some research to catch up on while I finish my tea then off to prepare for Shabbat!
    Shabbat Shalom!

The house is quiet and still. My babies are sleeping and Nando is off playing football giving me a few moments to think and listen. I am listening to some new great music that I have found and love! David Nevue  such music for the soul!
   I have a lot that I have been thinking about today alot that I want to change in my life. I want to be a better mother and a better wife. I want to be more couragouse and go out and do things that scare me. I want to plan more for the future and see not just for today but to see what is coming in 5 years in 10 years. I want to put myself to the test and see that I am a good person.
   
 

I have made myself a cup of mint tea and I am sitting in the brick colored arm chair that I have quietly claimed a mine. I sit in the corner and if I look out at only the lower windows I can see trees and I can imagine that they surround our apartment.
    Yesterday I did not write but I though about it through the day. I thought about writing and what I would say the thoughts that I would put down. The moments that I would record and how it would look afterwards.
   The moments that Isaac asked Nando and I to dance with him to Chris Rice's The Power of the Moment song. How Hannah got sooooo excited when she saw that it was bath time and she would play with Isaac her beloved brother! How I organized our closet and now I feel that I am almost out of the moving step, for now. We have a few boxes being shipped to Nando's grandma and they should come in next month!
     That brings me to the thought that we don't need all the stuff that we gather in our lives, that we have things that we cannot even love and then we get stressed out by our stuff. I like having things but from now on I want to make sure that I will be able to love and enjoy the things that we bring into our house. This is my life, not the life of my things.
     This morning Isaac got out his stacking boxes and built towers! The joy and excitment when we clapped for his was so sweet to watch. How do I capture these moments and keep them forever. Pictures don't keep the look in his eyes, the sound of his little hands clapping and the look of wonder and bewilderment on Hannah's face trying to understand the energy in the room!
      That makes me want to try and tell you how Hannah looks at me while nursing with the most trusting look that says," I love you mommy." I look that lets me know that I am her world and that I have the challenge and the joy of raising her and being a hero to her. She looks, smiles, and then her sleepy eyes slowly close and she goes back to nursing and napping!
       There are these moments in motherhood that make all the hard times worth it. I love being a mother I only strive to be better at it.
      I am reading two more Blogs now....Ann Vaskamp's and ColdAntlerfarm! 

     There are so many things that I could write about, Ireland, Clouds, Laundry, Cooking, The Daniel Fast, Playing with egg cartons, Colds,Civil War reenactments, Dreaming of huge trees, wearing slippers,and all the work that I need to get done! On that note I will have to write more later. Till later, remember to live in the power of the moment!

Attending births is like growing roses. You have to marvel at the ones that just open up and bloom at the first kiss of the sun, but you wouldn’t dream of pulling open the petals of the tightly closed buds and forcing them to blossom to your timeline.

~ Gloria Lemay

Well, this is the first entry in my blog and I am going to try and make this a habit! 

  

   Today being Shabbat was a nice and easy day! I got up with the babies and let Nando sleep in ( he was not feeling too well the night before). Had a nice morning with the little ones and while they slept Nando and I watched Back to Eden, Paul Gautschi's garden movie! It is such an inspiration and I cannot wait to have a garden again!

   After naps and lunch we went down to the park for a walk and to let Isaac run off some energy! It was a nice afternoon. While in the park watching Isaac play I observed the other parents, my soul quieted down and I watched the different ways we love our children, no matter what country we are in love is love. Some people know how to love with an open heart and some are afraid and some are still learning! 

    Once back to the house supper for Isaac and Hannah showers and bed! I did clean up the house and now we even have time to watch a movie! 

        Day 1!