I love routine. My routine seems to change every month or two, but that feels good, too.Every morning (recently at least) I get up around 7 to spend my first hour of the morning with God, reading the Bible, praying, and just being with Him. After that I take the dogs for a walk and pick up my groceries for the day-- a couple of vegetables, bread from the lady with a cart on the corner, sometimes flour, sugar or rice. If Tim is up, he takes one of those two jobs (groceries or dogs).
At 9, my housekeeper arrives and Tim and I sit down with breakfast (coffee and fresh bread with smashed avocado and salt) to read the Bible together and right now, to listen to an audiobook on marriage: Rescue Your Love Life by Cloud & Townsend. It's my favorite part of the day-- a quiet refuge before I dive into fixing lunch, doing errands, or preparing materials for work.
Tim is generally wary of routine (something about the responsibility it requires I think). January 1, nonetheless, he joined me for the first day of my Bible-in-a-year reading and has quietly slipped into the pattern. I think he's glad. For 2009, we're reading from the Message version, at least for this half hour in the morning.
I'm grateful today for these steady and full blessings-- fresh bread, cheap avocados, time to read the Bible together, a husband who loves me and loves God. Things are not always easy down here, but they're generally good.
I love this post. You're right. It can be hard here, but its the most simple things that make it good. I recently started a "Why I Love Living in Peru" list. Its a work in progress but it includes fresh bread and walking. Cant wait to see your home this week!