In between Selva Negra and our city of Matagalpa, there is a community down in the valley, off the main highway, called Pasilia. What makes this community so different from others is that the people here are…white, with blue eyes and sometimes red hair.

Where did they come from? How long have they been here? Nobody seems to know. It is a great mystery. However, since the Spaniards came to Nicaragua in the early 16th century, it is quite possible that a small group of Europeans made their way inland and settled here, never marrying with the Nicaraguans and keeping their customs. The way they farm, do business…even the houses look different. They remind us of the Amish in our own Lancaster County. It’s like entering a new country, inside a country. How mysterious!

If you look closely, in the left hand side, you can see a white church built into the mountainside.



Below, our beloved Matagalpa in the distance

Ahhhh…it might have only been 22 hours, but it was the FIRST 22 hours we have had without kids in 20 months. We have not had a night away without the kids since July 2008…unbelievable, I know! We had planned on going away while I was pregnant with Sebastian but being on semi-bed rest prevented it.

A fellow MCCer, Beth, came up with her roommate, Alicia, and spent the night with our precious bundles of joy and energy. Thank you for making this happen! We had thought we were going to have to wait until I was done nursing Sebastian to get away, but I had just spent the previous three nights doing the old “pump and dump” trick as I was on strong parasite medication. So Sebastian was used to not nursing as usual and had taken a cup with formula without any complaints. The timing was perfect!

We decided to stay close, we wanted to relax as much as possible and not spend time traveling, so we chose Selva Negra, a mere 20 minutes away. A perfect place for a much needed getaway! It was quiet, cool and the food was delicious. We enjoyed listening to the howler monkeys while we ate. I must have been very tired, because I barely made it through supper and back to the cabin when I fell asleep, at 8:30!

We woke up briefly at 6 am, as usual, but were able to sleep for another 2 hours before heading to breakfast. One of the best parts of our time away was the incredibly comfortable couch in our cabin. We even thought about hauling it away on our Jeep  We have never felt such a comfortable couch anywhere here in Nicaragua…we had almost forgotten they even existed. All you who live in the States…don’t take them for granted!

Steve enjoying THE couch


Below, Steve stands in front of the tank that marks the entrance to Selva Negra. The tank is left over from the civil war in the 80's.


It’s SO important to take time away; away from the kids, work, the daily routine and grind of life. We hope to get away once a month until we leave Nicaragua. As we look ahead to the end of our time here and to the rest of the year, we realize that we have a lot of changes, and extra stress, coming our way and know that being refreshed will help ease the transition.

11 months...

Sebastian is now 11 months old and quickly developing more of his personality. Lately he seems to be stubborn and independent…a sure transition into toddler-hood!



One way he shows off his independence lately is by feeding himself. That’s right!


At 11 months old, he is quite determined to get the food from his own hand to his mouth. Let’s just say that he could really use the practice! He is quite the sight…all bathed in whatever food that had been in his bowl only minutes before. And he seems quite proud of himself, mess and all. As you can see here, he is working on some refried beans, which he enjoys, although not as much as papaya or avocado. I don’t even bother trying to wipe him down. I untie his bib, gently lift him out of the high chair and keep him at arm’s length, then whisk him away to the bathtub. And then the next struggle begins, keeping him there long enough to get cleaned up before he explores the house in his dripping wet birthday suit.

If we aren’t quick enough about getting him out of the high chair, then he sees to it that he gets out himself…and gravity helps him get there quickly. This first happened the other day. I had just finished giving him his breakfast, and had gotten up to go the kitchen. From the kitchen I can see the high chair. I turned my back and only seconds later, heard a loud thump! (which could be many things, neighbors, an accident outside, drunk at our door, etc.) so I didn’t give it much thought until it was followed by Sebastian crying. I look over to see him on all fours, as though he is about to crawl away.

Huh, I thought to myself. Wasn’t he just in the high chair?...Yes, yes he was. And now, he had landed like a cat, thank God! On all fours.

Only a little red mark on his forehead revealed any contact to the hard ceramic tile floor. My mind ran the gamut of possibilities, the much MUCH worse possibilities of falling from a height of 4 feet and headfirst, into a tile floor. Ouch! I’m so glad God protected him and kept him from serious injury.



Overall he is a happy baby, only fussing when hungry or tired. He seems anxious to grow up, trying to get involved with his brothers activities whenever he can. It is amazing the physical resemblance between Sebastian and Nathaniel. We look at photos of Nathaniel around 10 or 11 months and we cannot tell the difference between the two! It is fun to watch him grow up, and will be interesting to see more of his personality develop as he gets older, and if he keeps his twin-like appearance with Nathaniel.

Knowing that we have about 16 weeks left here in Nicaragua has motivated us to proactively travel and see more of the country, or even areas in our own city.



A few weeks ago, we visited a much loved, and different, park near our home. The park is called Santa Julia Billiart, named after Santa Julia (the park and school are Catholic). This park is different in several ways: you have to pay a small fee to enter, there is never any trash lying around or sketchy characters, and it is made especially in mind with those who have handicaps. There is also a small school, funded by an organization from the States, that works with these children, teaching them and also various rehabilitation techniques. It’s a park like I’ve never seen, either here or in the US.



There are special swings, made so that a child in a wheelchair can get on, ramps to access every area of the park, a small pool for therapy, bright colors, a small “house” that is wheel-chair accessible, and all sorts of monkey bars in the forms of animals.


A truly inspiring park.


Our boys enjoy it thoroughly. And we enjoy giving money towards such a good cause, especially considering how few and far between are the resources here for children with handicaps.