One week down: feeling far away, a smile that saves, letter from an angel, familial ties, social butterfly and machetes...

It's been a long fabulous week living in the jungle- hence the title! The kiddos have done so extremely well! 
My first dose of feeling far away came when I heard news that a dear friend back home was diagnosed with cancer! I just wanted to be there, at that moment, to help and for the first time in a long time I cried. I felt so isolated and alone. Still upset I walked to the grocery store and saw a woman paying at the register who I met once before, briefly. Instantly she saw me her face lit up, her smile stretched all the way across her beautiful face and she says "Kristen,  we have M&Ms. Here let me show you!". My loneliness melted and I knew at that moment that I was going to be okay! I know that I have people here who care about me and my family!
That night Hannah was upset about an incident at school and she asked me how to deal with bullies? I said the best thing, for that situation, is to ignore them and we role played on how to do it and how and why it works (note to self- follow up on said incident). Shortly after I crawled into bed and swiftly fell asleep- easy to do when the rain basically sings one to sleep. Mike woke me up and said "you should read this" and handed me a letter. The letter was from Hannah. She must have placed it next to me while I was sleeping. It said "Dear mom thank you for the advice love Hannah". What a sweet angel! Again saved by the reassurance of non-failure.
So the random coincidence of my familial ties are creeping in. Hannah came home from school and said "mom, I made even more friends today; a girl named Phillipa but everyone calls her Pip". Pip was my Papa's nickname and when I was pregnant with Mason we struggled to find a name for (Mason) our second to nickname Pip. The next oddity was picking a book at the library and the first book we see is I Spy. The exact same book that my mom read to Hannah and Mason since always and forever. Coincidence maybe but I will take lovely-family-reminding smiles any day!
In our transition of this journey Mason has turned into this amazing, outgoing social butterfly! He can't play with any new kiddo fast enough! Coming from a kid who wouldn't even let you take his picture but a couple weeks ago! Successful non-failure again!
Our adventure hasn't been without weary moments. The mine has been shut down since the collapse and has caused various issues. One was the Union threatened to strike which threw us (me) into a slight panic. I had to buy extra water and food just in case. There was also talk of tribe members coming into town armed with machetes (yup totally just said machete). Which apparently did happen but it's what they wear (right to bear arms comes to mind) and they just want production to start!
Ahhhh apparently life will never be dull in the jungle!
As always to be continued...

Accents...

My humor of the day is Hannah developing an accent- an Australian/English one. She says she just can't help it! I understand completely as I find a random accent slip in my conversations every once and a while! However,  I remind Hannah that we too have accents to everyone and she says that she wants to be different (different from who she is a similar to those around her). We remind her that she is different and special especially being a kiddo from Colorado- I think there is four total (a really high percentage)! Either way she will progress through being who she is,  fighting against who she is and settling on who she always has been!
I wonder how Mike's first day went, speaking of accents? I made reservations for dinner tonight and had a very short conversation and struggled tremendously! My five minute convo must be so miniscule to Mike's ten hour day of "accents"! There was an interesting comment made from people we met here who giggled about how almost everyone here speaks (broken yet appreciated) English which is fabulous and definitely not expected but when you go to the US people only speak Spanish- interesting comment.
As always to be continued. ..
(Pic from the mountain today)

Jungle kids go to school. ..

Hannah and Mason became International students today! They both had an amazing time! Mason played with the big boys as there aren't many little boys. Hannah made another new friend named Ruby - Ruby from Bali who's mom is from England (not sure of the complete validity of that) but add that to South Africa, Canada, USA, Australia and Scotland.
Hannah had a play date at a new friends house and Mason helped me pick out some new plants from two teachers who are moving to go teach in Vietnam. Pretty cool stuff!
Today will be my first day of being solo as Mike goes to work so wish me luck.

To be continued. ..

Surprises and letting go...

Been in the jungle for 72 hours and I am pleasantly surprised by many things! One being the things you can buy here! I am clearly aware that things you can buy today you may never ever, ever see again but it's here at the moment. I have been told by several people that if you see something special and unique you buy all of it and you don't feel bad about it! Strange feeling for me!? Not sure I can pull it off? Taking all the milk or something and thinking that a little one here needs milk or would enjoy that item too?  I might leave at least one for my own conscience. Ask me in 6 months if that's still the case!
I am also surprised about the little things- we bought a cute, random scrub brush that we found because the kids say it looks like my sisters and me in one little item! I also found in my luggage, a spoon my mom gave me that, to be honest, holds wayyyy more importance and significance than before.
There is also this immediate necessity of letting go. Letting go of control, clean and orderly bathrooms, other peoples' body oder and my all important, overly-used bubble. That bubble is loooonnngggg gone!  And I am better for it and wouldn't have survived with it!
The kiddos get to go to school tomorrow manly just for exposure and fun!
Our journey to get here was tough but most worth it! There will be many more adventures to come....

As always to be continued. ..

Home sweet home!

We finally arrived to our new home! It's been such an amazing journey and the real fun and adventure is just beginning! We have been here 48 hours and feel like we've been here for awhile now- just completely immersed right away into the community! I love it here! There are so many layers and dynamics that it freaks me out a little! I am smiling as I am laying here typing because a chopper is flying overhead- radical!
The people are so fabulous here. We weren't here but an hour and had visitors to welcome us and make sure we were ok. Our "condo", as Hannah calls it, is HUGE! More space than I know what to do with! However none of our stuff has arrived yet and fear it will not be necessary once it does!
The kiddos are doing so well!  They did incredible on all the flights and enjoyed their first helicopter ride! They have met a fraction of the kiddos here and already have made friends! We hope to get them in school this week as it's the last week before break and then almost all the Ibu's (wives) and children leave for holiday until August.
This is not an ordinary place- obviously! We all had to get fingerprinted and the guy took our passports for, yet again, more processing and that totally made me panicky! But it's the way it goes when you a) live in another country b) live in a compound in another country  c) live in a jungle and d) live in another country in a compound in the jungle.
We will keep very busy here as the community is very close and highly social- I think I am going to have a hard time :) ha ha there are lots gatherings and events! You would think I dreamt this place up!
The view is to die for!  Pictures don't do it justice! I didn't remember it being as beautiful as it is! There are more eyesores, however,  than one would like but it's just part of the deal and it seems the company is working on it!  I have to remember too that this is a work site not a resort!
Today we will be going to the Lupe (the restaurant) brunch and hope to have a play date at the park.
As always to be continued...

Official little international travelers!....

We made it to Hong Kong! My kiddos are officially international travelers! They are loving it! They did so well! I met a beautiful 84 year old woman on the flight and she said she has never seen such good kids on a long flight like that before (not screwing them up too bad yet).

Now enjoying the lounge and will eat, wash up and head to flight #3. 

On our way...and holy sh....

After months and months of waiting! We are finally on our way to our new (temporary home (clause for my family as we will be back)). 

It's been a process to say the least and one I know will be worth it and pay off! 

It's amazing how much we, as a family, have changed! I am so very proud of my sweet husband and sweet angel children! They have been so amazing through this process! 

We arrived at DIA after many tears and goodbyes- THE.HARDEST.THING.EVER! Hannah asked me on the way to the airport "mom, why aren't you sad?" And I said "Hannah my heart is sad but I know I need to be strong for you!" (hero-wanna-be enters stage left :) ) 

So we arrive at DIA to check-in with 5,000 bags and probably 2,000 short :) as we are checking in there seems to be a problem (they must know me) and we aren't allowed to check in or board the plane unless we have a return flight (my mom must have called them!). The gal (at unsaid airline) says "most people in these situations just buy return plane tickets and then cancel them for full refund" I wanted to express to her with my fists that if we could afford return tickets from the jungle on the other side of the egging world I may not be here right now. I am not a violent person but given the situation I may have had to hulk it out! So Mike's amazing company figured it and we ran all the way to the gate with 10 minutes to spare! 

Ahhhh now on 1st class on United Airlines (said :) ) and the kids are settled right in, almost to LAX, a few mixed drinks down and this is going to be amazing! 

As always, for sure this time, prayers appreciated, to be continued!!