Quiet Fun

Bruce said the other day that no one will think he's been working here since all we post are pictures of the traveling and fun times.

"But 180 pictures of you in a dress shirt would be boring," I replied.

He does work a lot, just to put that on the record.  This weekend though, he was off AND we had nowhere to go.  As it turns out, it was one of my favorite weekends here- just hanging out around town.  We started Thursday night with a session at the Manila Temple with Chris and Jen.  We had to leave by 5:15 for the 7:00 session even though the temple is less than 5 miles away because of the traffic.  The temple is (maybe!) just a little bigger than our stake center at home.  We rented all of our clothes for 70 pesos ($1.60) total, and could have kept them for 72 hours.  There was no chapel to wait in- we went right to the room where we were doing the session and waited there- it fit about 35 to 40 people. I was chatting quietly with another couple while we waited, telling them about the 100 child Primary at home, and that it was the smallest Primary in the stake, to which the husband said, "It sounds like a factory."  It kind of is!  It has been good for me to be away from Utah and experience the church in a different way- it's not always been easy to be in our little branch, but I've learned a lot. 

Going to the temple is always a good way to start a weekend.  So was the long run Jen and I went on Saturday morning.  We are getting into a really good routine with our runs and I look forward to them all week.  When I got home, Kate was ready to run too, and I didn't have the heart to tell her I was pooped, so I sucked it up and went another couple of miles on top of the dozen I'd already logged.  I must love her, I guess.  The weather has been beautiful- in the 70's or 80's all the time with these lovely breezes blowing through- so we enjoyed a walk to Jamba Juice on Saturday then went to a movie and home to swim.  Sunday was church then naps then a most enjoyable dinner with friends.  It almost seems like God went a little overboard when He blessed us in friendships here, but I'm not complaining.

I feel lucky that we are living in Fort Bonifacio- it's one of the nicest and cleanest areas in Metro Manila.  There are a lot of things for us to do close by and more green space than most other places.   

On another note, I've realized looking back that I have written tons about Kiki and life here- she's an easy subject because she lives life in such a large fashion and has thoroughly embraced almost everything Filipino.  Kate is not so easy to tell about...she is terribly homesick and cries a lot of days.  She has made friends here, but everyone lives so far apart that weekday playdates are difficult to negotiate and so I think she is a little lonely.  I've also noticed that the hustle and bustle of city life really seems to intimidate her.  She's always been a quiet kid, but when we go out and about here she CLINGS to me.  She always has to be touching me or hanging on to me, and I realize that life outside of familiar surroundings is overwhelming and scary to her.  I feel bad that the experience here, while allowing Kiki to expand in her personality, has done the opposite for Kate.  She seems to be shrinking.  When we are with friends, she is her old self, which is a comfort to me, but a trip to the mall or grocery store is stressful for her. and unfortunately those kinds of things are just part of everyday life for us. 

I wish I knew what to do.  I pray that when we get home she will be back to her old self.