Life; an adventure, a journey with Jesus

Evenings with the family...
We usually have quiet evenings here at home, with the city night lights glowing against a black sky right outside our glass sliding doors. The peaceful evenings pass quickly when we are reading, playing computer games, or board games at the dining room table.

With the children being on summer vacation, we have recently been hearing our names called from the street below early in the evening. “Papa Don & Momma Joy” are called over and over again until we go out to the balcony and wave to the kids from Pat’s Place. This week they have extended a few invitations to ‘lunch’ at Pat’s Place around 6:00 p.m. Lunch consists of buttered rolls, or for a treat they may have an avocado spread on them, and a drink. The Peruvians enjoy their large meal at noontime each day. Lunch is a relaxed time with lots of conversation and it is amazing how quiet a house will become when nine or more children stop playing and start eating! After lunch, out come the board games.

Don can proudly claim the title of grand winner this past week! First there was the night we spent playing Disney Princess Bingo. I was elected to call out the numbers and it was good practice for me to do so in Spanish. But to make it a learning experience for all of us, I alternated calling the letters and numbers in both English and Spanish. The mothers and children were able to practice their numbers as well! Don won three games that night!

Another evening was spent playing a checkers tournament. One after another challenged Papa Don but he was definitely the man to beat. He played five rounds, and on the sixth round (his second game with me) he was finally defeated. At one point in time there were five people helping one of the children, but Don still remained focused and was able to pull it off.

We have taught some of them how to play UNO, they love playing musical chairs and really enjoy relay races where you dress up in adult clothes, run the course, and return to take the clothing items off and pass along to the next one in line. So, when we spend an evening with our extended family they are filled with old-fashioned fun and laughter.