Sometimes Life is Easier in the DR

I know, I know..."sometimes." Come on, Ann, you don't have to clean your house or cook lunch 4 days a week! Yes, domestic help is definitely one of those bonuses to living here, but most of the time it takes a lot more effort to get something accomplished in the DR. I think part of that has to do with Santo Domingo's population of 3.5million and the other part is that it's just NOT MY COUNTRY. Maybe someone from the DR who has moved to the States has the mutual feeling about life in the U.S.

We experienced an "easier" moment this weekend when Matthias' bug bite turned purple as well as the surrounding area. I called a doctor friend instead of my pediatrician (although all doctors here give you their cell numbers and expect you to use it!), and she recommended what I expected - to give him an antibiotic. Step #2 is call the pharmacy and order the product. Step #3 wait for the pharmacy to deliver the drug. Yes, you can get an antibiotic without a prescription. Yes, I was able to avoid seeing a doctor. Yes, you can get drugs delivered to your house.

Matthias' fever subsided today, after 2 days of fever, sleeping lots, and refusing food, but thankfully drinking lots of formula.

I had my first doctor's appointment today. My body had been telling me that I was probably farther along than I originally thought, and today's ultrasound confirmed that I am a touch over 12 weeks and due March 9. Wow! Tears rolled as I saw our blessing for the first time on the screen.

I am seeing a new doctor this time and I asked her if she would do a home delivery. She said she would think about it! She wasn't suppose to say that! I will see her at the end of September and a decision will be made then if we will go forward with a homebirth here instead of returning to TX to deliver at the midwife clinic. Everything went perfect for Matthias' birth, including our 3month stay at my parents', but traveling with the 3 by myself plus Scotty not having much vacation time is what makes a homebirth here appealing. Please pray that the Lord will give us wisdom concerning this.

Recommendations

When you find something that you and/or your family enjoys don't you just want to shout to the world how good it is??? This post is dedicated to recent buys or gifts that we think are worth owning.

Our first recommendations are for parents/the family -

Paul Tripp - Getting to the Heart of Parenting. We had a foundation for some of Paul's words since we have read his brother's work, Shepherding a Child's Heart, which also centers around reaching your child's heart. We are watching the video series and we don't want to stop! Here's a taste:

The family is a Learning Community that consists of: Theological, Sociological, and Redemptive Communities.

The 5 Heart Questions:

1. What was going on?

2. What were you thinking and feeling as it happened?

3. What did you do in response?

4. What were you seeking to accomplish?

5. What was the result?

James Dobson - Bringing up Girls. I discovered through Dobson what I probably should have known long before now as a woman and a Christian woman. He helped me understand more how I and my daughter are made as well as how to grow a closer relationship with Adeline.

Children's Books & CDs

Antshillvania - This CD includes narrative and song to encourage your child to always listen to wisdom from above. The main character is an ant who takes off for fame and fortune. The wisdom from above that his father taught him is what he eventually must return to in order to survive. My father-in-law made a cd off of their old record copy a couple of years ago, and although we have been listening to it steadily for a year and half now, it has currently become very applicable and enjoyable for my kid's ages (5 & 3).

SEEDS Family Worship - If you haven't been able to find Bible verses set to music that your kids enjoy then you don't need to look any farther!! SEEDS has made memorizing Scripture so enjoyable and fun for kids. We have the Character and Purpose CDs and while both are great, we enjoy the Character one more. Thank you Miss Mommy!

God's Little Princess: Gigi The Pink Ballerina - Sheila Walsh. Gigi is determined to learn her memory verse and glorify God through it, but unfortunately she isn't the best dancer (Let them praise his name in dance. Ps 149:3a). What makes this story worth mentioning and buying is the message at the end - Gigi is God's little princess because He chose her, not because of anything she does. If you have a princess in your home this book is worth the investment.

Devotion Book

God with Us: Light from the Gospels - Carol Ruvolo. I've had way to many nonChristians tell me who they think Jesus is and in order to stand firm in my apologetics I needed a study that would deepen my knowledge of Him. My favorite part of the study is how Ruvolo summarizes the primary passages of study for each chapter. For example, chapter 4 is entitled New Wine and the Primary Passages of study are Mark1:16-3:19, Luke 4:31-6:16, & Mt 10:2-4. Her summary -

Jesus Christ

disrupted religious traditions,

enraged religious legalists,

and changed common people.

A master revolutionary

bent on destroying God's law?

No, rather a mater restorationist

bent on producing receptacles

fit to receive His

new wine.

Wow! How beautifully did she capture that thought/teaching! Another part I would like to share with you is her description of the Sermon on the Mount. The italicized are the words Jesus used in His sermon (Mt 5).

Heirs of the kingdom are poor in spirit because their eyes have been opened to their sinful inability to save themselves. They mourn over the sin that separates them from God and humble themselves under His absolute power. God's gracious regeneration of their inner beings stimulates a hunger and thirst for righteousness that He alone can satisfy. Satisfaction of that thirst encourages them to share the mercy they have received, strive for purity of life, and bring peace to those around them. The heirs of the kingdom know what it means to rejoice when they are persecuted for righteousness sake.

Again, wow! I have never read or heard a more manageable (for my mind) interpretation of the Beatitudes.

Recipe

Homemade Protein Energy Bar - I have been making these bars since shortly after my pregnancy with Adeline after my sis-in-law recommended it. I buy my spirulina from Bulk Herb Store, but that's mainly because I've never lived somewhere that has a store that carries it. I alter it by using whole oats, regular cocoa powder, tad under 1tsp spirulina, and I don't use all organic products. If you do add more spirulina be prepared for the color of the protein bar to be pretty disgusting....but still oh so yummy!

I hope you and your family enjoy recommendations from the Geer household!

Matthias Laughing

Am I Really Homeschooling????

The time that I thought would always be far off in the future has arrived. We are officially a homeschool family. There is a perfect spot in our home on the second floor for our schooling. We are working on Math through the Shiller Math program. LOVE IT! Alongside your basic math programs Shiller introduces simple logic. For example, you are given 3 circles and 1 square. The student is asked which one is different and then asked "why." The program uses manipulatives and music and most importantly Adeline is enjoying it.

Our Phonics program is Phonics Road to Reading and Writing. Again, LOVE IT! What sets this program a part from say Leap Frog is you learn ALL the sounds of the letters. For instance, "a" and "o" both have 3 sounds each instead of just the short and long vowel sounds. "G" has two sounds as in "give" and "giraffe."

As you can see from the picture we are now on our vowel teams. To give you examples of this, the sound "er" has 5 spellings - er, ir, ur, wor, ear. The vowel team "ou" has 4 sounds as well and to help the student remember the sounds you remember that this vowel team sounds like you are in pain - /ow/ round, /o (long)/ four, /oo (long)/ group, /u (short)/ touch. [I can't mark the sounds correctly which is why I indicated in parenthesis the sound.]

The English language, a combo of German, French, and Latin, is crazy! I think that Phonics Road has broken it down to a very easy way to learn our language. This approach will actually teach Adeline how to spell before she reads.

We are also going through the shortest catechism and have currently covered the first 3 questions and answers.

Who made you? God made me. What else did God make? God made all things. Why did God make you and all things? For His glory.

The biggest challenge right now is making sure I am prepared to also include Darton. He can work alongside us when he's willing, but most of the time he is too much of a "busybody" and enjoys connecting different objects with rope.

Spanish School Year has Begun

Another school year in Spanish began on Wednesday for the kids. This is Darton's first year "full time," which means only 2 days for us - Monday & Wednesday 8a.m.-1p.m.

This could very well be Adeline's last year in Spanish school since this is her last year of pre-school (although in the States she could be sent to Kindergarten this year).
Darton and Professora Elizabeth
Their Montessori classroom includes house objects to learn confidence and independence with things in the home.
Adeline's classroom even includes a real iron and ironing board!
The first week in August I also began homeschooling Adeline. The camera has been giving me a hard time and I have yet to take pictures of Adeline in her classroom at home. The camera is good to go now and I'll post soon about our homeschool time.

Adeline is 5!

We celebrated Adeline's 5th birthday yesterday! I'm much more emotional about this birthday than any before!

We invited all her princess friends and greeted them with tiaras and scepters. Please note the correct spelling for princess in Spanish is "princesa"! oops

I didn't make one pom-pom...they are left-over from a baby shower at my house!
The girls painted princess masks and made beaded necklaces.
Everyone was asked to wear whatever made them feel like a princess!
We played Pin the Gem on the Crown and Pass the Apple (same concept as musical chairs).
Scott and I put our heads together and came up with the castle cake.

Training you sweet Adeline has stretched me and continues to stretch me! You are a loving big sister. One lady described you as someone with a character that demands respect yet mostly others describe you as timid. HOWEVER we saw you come out of your shell with our Nevada visit! It was then that I realized growing up in a country that doesn't speak your language isn't easy for you either. You do a wonderful job though willingly going to school, ballet, and Sunday school.

You have a very sensitive spirit and can sense a need to serve. You love a good cuddle yet have a hard time being praised. You forgive me lots as I'm learning to me your mommy and you LOVE all things sweet. May the Lord bless you to be a gentle, kind, and patient godly young lady.

God made you specifically for our family and I am so thankful He did!

7 years & Saturday Entertainment in our Home

Our baby boy is 8 months old and crawling and climbing all the time. We now have to close all potty lids!

Here are Adeline & Darton at 8 months.

Matthias LOVES LOVES the water.
He can climb stairs.
He can teeter on the edge of the jacuzzi!
Most of the rains have subsided, so we were able to enjoy our pool and the outdoors this weekend. Adeline is learning how to observe using a magnifying glass. Here she is looking at orchids.
Scott and the kids discovered a spider's web. This spider makes his web in the shape of a funnel! They threw insects into the web to see the funnel work. Once the prey is caught in the web, the spider shakes the web to make the prey fall into the funnel where he has his dinner.
We celebrated 7 years of marriage on Sunday. We enjoyed a meal at Chili's as a family and we plan to enjoy a date soon!

Simplicity and Leisureness

God so many times meets me where I need Him, as I'm sure He does for you as well. All this week He has encouraged me or convicted me through the words of Oswald Chambers' Utmost for His Highest.

"A Christian is one who trusts the wits and wisdom of God, and not his own wits. If we have a purpose of our own, it destroys the simplicity and leisureness which ought to characterize the children of God. "

Really??? Simplicity and Leisureness as a mommy?? Being pregnant with number four and then the thought of trying to raise four children does NOT bring thoughts of simplicity and leisureness. However, Chamberss words convicted my spirit that that is exactly how my spirit & mind need to be characterized. I can rest in the God's control and absorb God's grace for me moment by moment.

Be encouraged.

Una Sorpresa

Ps 127:3-5 "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord.

The fruit of the womb is a REWARD.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior so are the children of one's youth.

HAPPY is the man who has his quiver full of them.

They shall not be ashamed but shall speak with their enemies in the gates"

God has blessed my womb again and our 4th child is due next March. This came as quite a surprise with Matthias only being 8mths old. We are keeping Ps 127 in mind as well as the verses below. The challenge is that we thought 3 was a "quiver full of them". :)

Prov 16:9 A man's heart plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps.

Is 55:8 My ways are not your ways, nor my thoughts your thoughts, says the Lord.

Ps 128:3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house; your children like olive plants all around your table.

6wks in Review - Part Four continued

Before Andrew and Steph left, we celebrated Adeline's 5th birthday

My parents and our 5 headed for the mountains to the town of Jarabacoa. We stayed in a nice villa on the mountainside that included a cook!We ventured out to find a coffee field and just when we had decided to turn around after an hour into the higher mountainside, behold there was the beginning of a field!I don't know if you can see the green berries (or what is to become coffee) on this coffee plant that will eventually turn red.
Lunch stopThe jacuzzi at our villa.
A horse ride before heading out of town.

6wks in Review - Part Four: DR w/the Needums

Gdad & Grandmommie with their 4 grandchildren.

Andrew, Stephanie, and Colten stayed with us for 8 days and we enjoyed going to the beach a couple of times. The cousins are finally getting old enough to truly enjoy one another.

6wks in Review - Part Three: Texas

We spent a week in Celina with my family after Scott returned to the DR. A farmer was growing sunflowers and we got a few cute pictures.

We visited with my dad's mom. On July 14 we heading back to the DR but the bonus was that my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and their son came with us!Matthias taking a snooze on the plane on Adeline's pillowpet. She's been wanted one of theses for over a year now and my parents got her one for her bday. She LOVES it! Baby dolls really aren't her thing, we've learned. She'd much rather give a bottle to a stuffed monkey!