So, what do you put in a blog?

Ok, so this question has gone through my head sooooooo much. I have a blog and I don´t even write in it. How lame is that? (Don´t answer that.) Well, honestly there really isn´t anything all that interesting happening. I am proud of myself though. Lately, I´ve been REALLY tired. I mean REALLY tired...so I haven´t been up to much housecleaning. I´ve done minimum housecleaning for a while. You know, dishes and sweeping, and putting stuff away. Well, today I swept and mopped all the floors, super cleaned the kitchen, AND super cleaned the bathroom. Christian just might be surprised/or notice when he gets home. I asked Amy one day what I should put in these blogs...she just said ordinary stuff. Sometimes I see all these blogs with kids in all the pics that I just don´t know what to put. So, as far as ordinary stuff goes...its kinda like this. Yesterday, was National Strike day in Peru. Something about the mines and the money it produces here. Crazy stuff, huh? Its insane how often there are strike...basically when this happens NOBODY works unless its in a calm area and you can walk there. Transport is completely down and its kinda like a holiday...at home...within walking distance. So, yesterday was kinda weird. We woke up to sirens just to look out the window and see a teenager running as fast as he could and the police right behind him. Well, the police started knocking the crap out of him and some of the neighbors started yelling at the police for them to stop. I guess I´ve gotten kinda used to it...but its definately not something I´ve seen in the U.S.A. The rest of the day was beautiful. The sun was out and we just kinda hung out. I think I know why Peru is considered a 3rd world country. Well, for one there´s always some sort of strike. This year alone there´s been at least 6. Nobody studies, works, or anything. And they don´t have things like "bad weather days" where they make up the days. So, if nobody is working and everybody´s always mad at each other its kinda hard to progress. But, there´s nothing really all that dangerous or unpleasant unless you go to the center of the problem. We just stay away from it. So that´s probably the news in Peru. How´s that for a new blog. Hope it puts me back into the blogging world.

Photos?

So, I´m sure you are all waiting for photos. Well, so am I. Don´t worry I have taken photos of our various activities. However the usb port isn´t functioning. Meaning that downloading photos from the camera to the computer is a bit difficult. We have two options, call a technicion or buy another computer. So, until then it´ll have to be online pics, old photos, and just plain words until its fixed. Sorry.

That Darn Cold

Well, I have to admit, I´m not at the top of my game. I´ve had a pretty nasty cold for the last couple of days. It hasn´t been fun. I´ve gone from a lil scratchy voice to no voice at all to congestion to headaches to sleepiness to sneezing to basically all the cold symptoms you can imagine. But don´t you worry I´m working on getting myself better. Let me just enlighten yall to medicine.

This is the traditional medicine that we all know.

This is the typical medicine that we take. But I´ve been taking other stuff...for migraines and now for the cold symptoms. Its called homeomedic. Its basically little dissolvable balls that are elements in the periodic table of elements that help train your body to overcome the problem on its own. There is a delicate balance and it helps.

So, look it up. Its actually quite interesting. They´ve been using stuff like this in the eastern world (Asia) for centuries. The Western Hemisphere is just a lil behind on medicine.

The New Look

Well, its finally happened. I cut my hair...and it turned out cute. Photos yet to come...don´t you worry. Ok, so I have to admit I was really nervous. The thing is my mother in law told me to go to a specific salon, because they apparently do really good haircuts. BUT, the last time I went there I was butchered. I mean literally butchered. It was too short to do anything and then Christian (my husband) had to help me fix it. What a nightmare! So, several months later I´m going to the same stylist. You´d think I had learned my lesson. I was set on how I wanted it cut...until Lucy (my sister in law) and I started looking at magazines. Well, I found one I liked. So, it about 5-8 minutes I was done. It wasn´t exactly like the pic...it was better. She cut it more or less the same style...just adjusted it to my type of hair. The thing I did like is that she asked me before she started snipping. So, now I´ve got a new hair cut. AND, might I add its very managable. I only have to form or blow dry the front 2 strands (I´ve got some major wave there) and then everything else air dries right where it should be. The other part of the "new look" is that I have lost weight. I doubt any of you have seen me this weight since 8-9th grade. It not too extreme, however...I have gotta eat more and do some weight training. For so many years I had tried not to gain weight but stay healthy and here in Peru I don´t have to do anything and I lose/maintain my weight and eat healthier than any other time in my life. Crazy, huh? So, what was that quote...oh thats right...The only thing constant is change.

Change

You know its interesting how life changes. I´ve been thinking about these changes in family lately. I have fond memories of playing Rummikub Sunday evenings with my parents and siblings. I remember getting home late at night to jump in my parent´s bed and tell them about my exciting excursion out. I remember going off to school and sitting in a little nook talking to my parents for hours. In the mission I almost couldn´t sleep a wink the night before Mother´s Day and Christmas. I know I´m weird. The interesting thing is that the lives of my siblings have changed too. I suppose I thought that I could go about changing my life and that everybody else would stay frozen in time. Anyways, it appears that people did not freeze in time. I just haven´t been around for all the changes. Two and a half years since I left for the mission. One brother: Divorced and remarried. One sister: 2 babies and moved to Arizona. Brother: Returned from the mission and is studying at BYU. Sister: Studied at BYU-Idaho and now a missionary in West Virginia. Brother: About to graduate High School and does all sorts of extracurricular activities. Mom: Working Full-Time (she never worked outside of the home much while growing up). There´s been lots of changes. The biggest and best change was when I was married and sealed to my eternal companion, Christian. I never would have thought that my life would change so much marrying him. Its a wonderful change. My friends lives have changed and keep changing. Somebody once told me the only thing constant is change. I believe its true. Remember, THE ONLY THING CONSTANT IS CHANGE!

10 things I absolutely love about where I live!

Well, I was thinking about how important it is to just love life and everything life has to offer. So, what better place than where you live, where your family is, and where home is. 1. Panaderos...the bread is always made fresh and its delivered right to your door in the early morning and at 5:30 to 7:30pm. 2. Costal climate. Its never really unbearable. There isn´t need for heating or air conditioning...cheaper electric bill. 3. Liquid Condiments. Can you just imagine all the freshness of ground garlic or cilantro or fresh salsa at 20 cents. It one of the best and easiest ways to cook fresh. 4. Ventas. Its basically a little one-stop store, but its one every street...not just the busy avenues. They sells all the basics. That means that if you forgot to buy something, don´t you worry you can buy it right next door. 5. Little Doors. Everybody has a main front door, but nobody uses them...they just use little half size doors to go in and out. The big doors are just for looks. 6. Latin dancing. Now I can´t say that I´m all that good at latin dancing, but I sure do like it. Everybody dances here...when there´s a party or birthday you can count on everybody dancing. If you don´t know how do dance you might as well not be social. 7. Pirated Movies. Ok, so maybe occassionally to picture isn´t perfect, but we are talking about movies that are still in theaters and older are for 1.50 soles or 40 cents (dollars). 8. 2 hour lunch break. Lunch is a sacred hour here. Nothing is open between 1-3pm. So, you just get to eat and hang out with the family. 9. Mototaxis. They are basically motorcycles with a lil buggy behind for people to sit. They get you whereever you gotta go. They are a lil bumpy. 10. My husband, Christian. He makes everything worth it. I love him. He makes me smile and laugh and helps me be the "real" me.

You wanna know about my husband?

How did you meet your significant other? 1. Where did you meet? In Santa Cruz, Bolivia as missionaries. 2. What was the first thought that went through your head when you met? Well, he sure is excited about the Work! 3. Do you remember what he/she was wearing? I´m sure white shirt and tie. 4. Where was the first time you kissed this person? In the Lima Peru Airport the moment I got off the airplane. 5. How did he/she ask you out? Well, first he said, "So would you like to go to Macchupiccu?" over the phone. 6. Where did you go for your first date?Cusco and Macchupiccu, cool first date, huh? 7. How long did you know this person before you became a couple? 11 months 8. Has this person ever proposed to you? Yes 9. Do you and this person have kids together?Not yet, but hopefully in the near future 10. Have you ever broken the law together?No 11. When was the first time you realized that you liked this person? Admire and like are different...I suppose I began to admire him when he helped some friends of mine. 12. Do you get along with any of the ex's of your partner? I've never met them 13. Do you trust this person?Yes siree 14. Do you see your partner in your future? Por tiempor y eternidad 15. Whats the most expensive thing this person has given you? uhmmm, trip to Cusco or engagement ring. 16. What are you attracted to the most about her/him?His love for the God and the Gospel, the pure love he has for people, and his desire to make things better than they are now. 18. Where do you see each other in 15 years from now? With kids, teaching them correct principles in a home full of love and wholesomeness...whereever in the world. Ok so my answers are kinda cheesy...but its true...Thanks Amy.