Pura Vida. . .

There is a saying here in Costa Rica, "Pura Vida." It means "pure life." We've been told it's really only said in Costa Rica, it's sort of a national motto. We've heard it everywhere here--from taxi drivers, locals on the street, venders, and some of our teachers say it. It's usually in a harried moment, when you are asking directions, or feel a little stressed about something, or are thanking someone for something, or you're apologizing for something. You see this huge smile light up their faces and then they say, "Pura Vida." Like all is well, no problem, no worries.

This morning, it hit me that this is what I have. My life in Christ is pura vida. Being a wife to Tully and a mom to seven precious children is pura vida. Our life here and this opportunity to study and learn to share with others the good news of Christ is pura vida. The hilariousness that God would call a couple who are all set with their children and life in America to a foreign country for His Name's sake is pura vida. It's good stuff. I love it!

We need to start our walk to school between 7:00 and 7:15 am.

This morning, 6:35 am--I'm showered, dressed, have done the girls' hair, and am helping Luke, Timothy, and Trey review their espanol for a huge test today and tomorrow (today is oral, tomorrow written). They only have two exams in their Spanish classes, these at midterm, and the final in December.

As they are eating breakfast, I'm picking up dirty clothes and taking them to the laundry room, straightening up, answering questions, taking lunches to the stroller--this is a job because the girls tend to want to go and get stuff out if we put them in the stroller one second too soon. Then we have to go around and look for wherever they left it or replace what got eaten.

Dawn: "Okay, Luke, what is "to sing?" Elijah, did you get your blanket and put it in your backpack?"

Trey: "Cantar."

Dawn to Trey: "Are you Luke? I asked Luke. Luke, what is "to go down?"

Elijah: "Yes, ma'am." (from somewhere way off--it occurs to me that I haven't seen him in the last few minutes to make sure he's dressed and has shoes.)

Dawn: "Elijah, have you dressed and brushed your teeth?"

Luke: "Bejar."

Timothy: "No, that's something else, it's subrir."

Dawn to Timothy: "Are you Luke? Subrir is to go up, BAjar is to go down."

Luke: "Okay, ask me another one."

Dawn: "Okay, count by 10s to 60 for me. Did everyone get their water bottles and umbrellas?

Skip to 6:55--

Dawn: "Tully, should I call for a taxi?" (for Trey to get to school with his hurt knee.) Meanwhile, the girls come in, one with shirt and no pants, the other with pants and no shirt, one with shoes, the other without, but they've had breakfast already. Yay!

I called for the taxi--it was pouring rain, so everyone else in San Jose was ALSO calling for a taxi--no answer there. A few minutes later, thank you, Lord, the rain let up, and Tully started off with Trey, Elijah, and Luke, walking towards school to get a taxi. (One of the boys' friend's mom picked them up before they got very far.)

I got the girls completely dressed and loaded into the stroller, with the rain cover on it, and . . .

7:15 a.m. off we went for another day of language school.

Pura Vida!