Living in the Clouds

I have been blessed to live in many beautiful places in the world. Usually, I could find the silver lining in the clouds no matter where I lived. Ok, dry hot Texas was a bit of a challenge but who can complain about the hill country. I even joked when I lived in New Jersey that it was the "promise land". Before retiring, I had dreamed living out west somewhere in a rural community enjoying God's amazing creation. Well, Costa Rica is not exactly out west but God's creation is certainly on display 24 hours a day.

One statement Lori hears several times a day, hey, come look at the clouds, or check out this view. There are many challenges living so far from home, so far from shopping centers, dealing with the heavy rains and mud, language barriers but finding the silver lining in the clouds here is very easy. Ps 19 says, the heavens declare the glory of God. How true that is.

Technically I have been told we do not live in a rain forest due to the actual amount of rain we recieve but we live in a cloud forest. A cloud forest is a very good description of our little piece of Costa Rica. At times we live in the clouds, above the clouds and there is never a day without clouds.

One early morning

Another cloudy morning, but who is complaining

Most of the time our view is "clouded" over, but not this day

Sunset in Paso Marcos

Dirt and Dust

Moving into a new house is exciting. We have been blessed way beyond we could imagine. Jonathan, our son-in-law designed a comfortable, smart house for living in a cloud forest. The house is more beautiful than I could have dreamed cradled high up on the mountain side with an amazing view of the river valley and volcano. Believe me, I (Dan) am like a kid on Christmas morning excited to see what beautiful sky scrape God has painted for us each day.

One little drawback is we were living in a partially completed house. We moved when the two bedrooms and bathrooms were done. We had to wait an extra two weeks before we had hot water in the showers. We washed our plates in the laundry room or outside. One hassle with moving in early was dealing with the dust and dirt of daily construction. The worst was the highly refined dust from sanding the fibrolit (dry-wall). Slowly and surely more and more work has been accomplished. Kitchen cabinets were delivered, kitchen sinks installed (what a happy day that was), additional doors and windows made, extra bedroom/office completed and the cupola sealed and varnished.

Other niceties were when the railing around the house was finished. The dogs could no longer play and tramp mud over the covered porch. Additional stairs were built up to the patio, and we put down sod that has really helped with the mud.

Construction is almost complete. All the little details are slowly being completed. We have made little corrections like adding more downspouts to keep up with the heavy down pours that are common. Our prayer is this house will be a place of peace, joy and God be glorified in our house.

Living while under construction

Here, Lori is trying to keep our one room free of dust.

Before we had cabinets and a kitchen sink.

The railing keeps the dogs out of the house. AMEN!