100 Posts

We just hit the 100 posts point.  We have learned and seen a lot since that first post.  Here is my top 100 list of things learned and observations made in no particular order.
1. Ecuadorian people are hard workers
2. Ecuadorian people are generous
3. To get a seat on the bus, carry a child
4. Don't judge the house by the wall around it
5. Take time to really listen to your kids
6. Be thankful for time with your loved ones when you have it
7. Technology is awesome
8. Ecuador is beautiful
9. There is no Easter Bunny in Ecuador
10. Mail can be VERY slow
11. Soup is soup no matter what you put in it
12. You really can eat soup and rice twice a day for five months
13. There are never too many bananas
14. Old men are usually hard to understand in Spanish
15. There are five different words for everything
16. There are also five ways to pronounce each one
17. The bus can take you anywhere
18. The bus is so cheap
19. It can be 40 degrees in the morning, 80 degrees at 1 and 45 degrees at night
20. The sun can come up at 6 and go down at 6 EVERY day
21. My kids are very adaptable
22. Lucas can hike for 5 hours at 5000 meters above sea level
23. A cold can really put a damper on your ability to walk up hill here
24. A 10 minute walk really means a 25 minute walk with kids
25. You cannot use a stroller on the sidewalk here
26. Exercise can be defined as walking up hill for 40 minutes
27. And if you are carrying a 30lb kid you can work out your arms too
28. You can make friends even though you do not speak the same language
29. There is no maximum capacity for the buses here
30. Having company is the best
31. Physical Therapy is much more laid back here
32. In fact everything is more laid back
33. Cars, computers, toys and clothes are really expensive
34. Food and gas are cheap
35. Pizza never tasted so good
36. Kids pick up language faster than adults
37. Potty training can really stink
38. I love having time to read books
39. You need to drink more water to be hydrated here
40. Milk tastes like cream
41. You can keep milk in a bag on the shelf for months without it going bad
42. Guanabana and pear juice are delicious
43. I don't hate beans as much as I thought
44. A cold shower is never a good idea
45. I love hot water
46. You can give a child a shower with water from the tea kettle
47. Peanuts covered in sesame seeds are like candy
48. Homeschooling is difficult for me to make interesting
49. Melayna is a love bug and a princess
50. Lucas is a great big brother
51. New situations are scary, but totally worth it
52. Kids do not need a bunch of toys just the right ones
53. All kids need hugs and affection
54. Being a single mom is very difficult
55. People here are very affectionate even in front of others
56. Everyone "kisses" to greet one another
57. Never underestimate a comfortable couch
58. I miss meat and never thought I would say that
59. Ice cream is cheap
60. I like mango because it is so good here
61. Parks in the city are a blessing
62. The kids here wear lots of layers of clothes even in hot weather
63. Carnival is a lot of fun
64. You may have to jiggle the key a lot to get the key to even budge let alone open the lock
65. The light switches take some jiggling and it may or may not ever come on
66. Lucas loves sports now and is getting a lot better at soccer
67. You will never get Lucas to walk faster
68. Lucas cannot do anything else while watching TV
69. There is usually a 15 minute window after a set time when you will be met
70. Chocolate tastes different here
71. Your whites will never be white again
72. A thin mattress is better than a sagging one
73. Sagging mattress are good for catching Melayna when she falls out of bed (it only happened twice)
74. Melayna can consistently nap for 3 hours a day
75. She can go 5 days with a very minimal nap also
76. Lucas cannot sleep past 6:45AM (usually 6:15AM)
77. Lucas is addicted to Angry birds
78. Melayna can do the same puzzle 10 times in a row and still want to do it again
79. I love Sudoku
80. The sidewalks are covered in land mines of dog poop
81. Dogs go wherever they want
82. Everyone has dogs
83. Wet shoes really stink in all manners of the word
84. It is awesome to see your child learn to read, but also a trial in patience
85. I need a date night with Matt
86. Kids can watch the same movies over and over and still enjoy them every time
87. The fruit cheremoya is delicious
88. People can live with very little and still be very happy
89. You have to put your heart into things if you want to get anything from them
90. Kids are very forgiving
91. Being served dinner has its benefits and its drawbacks.  I will take cooking for myself.
92. You have to try to see the good in some people and in others it overflows and you can't miss it, but nonetheless, there is always good there.
93. A smile can go a long way
94. Compliment people often
95. Thank people even more often
96. Take lots of pictures
97. Let your child take pictures and you may be amazed by what they see as picture worthy
98. Write to people when you are apart because it can make their day
99. Answer God's call to do something in your life, whatever it is, it WILL be worth it
100. Your mom with NEVER stop worrying about you and that is an awesome feeling

So thankful for everything we have learned.