Puerto Vallarta

Hola!

We're back! Got back Saturday night around midnight. I actually wrote the majority of this post on Sunday but I was waiting for my sister-in-law to send me pictures. She hasn't so I'll just post anyway.
Instead of jumbling together random highlights from our trip I thought I'd share a bit from each day.
We stayed at the Sunset Plaza Beach Resort and Spa in Puerto Vallarta and it was all inclusive. The food was really good and the people were very kind. My husband and I were saying that we would certainly visit there again and stay at the same place. The resort is about five years old so it's very new and they are planning an expansion- or so I've heard. We went at the tail end of 'low season' so we had a lot of freedom and had many things to ourselves. All the rooms come with an ocean view and we got to see beautiful sunsets, sunrises, and a fantastic lightning storm.
People kept thinking I was Mexican or at least that I spoke Spanish- neither of which is true- and they were always surprised when I couldn't understand. While I don't speak fluent french my vocabulary is still really good so I picked up on a lot of the similar words in Spanish.

My Thursday morning at 6:30

Friday morning around 6:50

Day 1- (Friday, November 4) Travel day. Flew out of Seattle around 6:50 am, had a layover in Orange County for about an hour then continued to Puerto Vallarta. We arrived around 4pm local time and got to the hotel around 5. My husband, son, and I had been up since 6:30am the day before (Thursday), and hadn't slept properly in over 24 hours. We were duly exhausted so we ate, let our son play in the pool for a bit, went up to the room, ordered room service, fell asleep waiting for it, ate, then we all slept for 12 hours.

The top one

Arriving in Puerto Vallarta

Ocean view from our room

City view from outside our door

Sunset by the pools

Day 2- (Saturday November 5) woke up refreshed and happy. We had breakfast then my husband and I hit up the local Walmart because neither of us had bathing suits or flipflops and we wanted to get our son a floaty device.
It was a Walmart like all Walmarts we've been to. We found what we were looking for then went to pay. There was a woman bagging our purchases and I noticed money on the counter under her. I wondered if we were supposed to tip her but we didn't and I had to go to the washroom. When I came out my husband said 'I think we're supposed to tip the baggers'. There was a line of them sitting on benches wearing blue vests. I promptly went back and gave the lady all our change. We felt terrible that we hadn't tipped her right away so I ran back to her. She looked rather sad but she cheered right up when I gave her the money. My husband and I figured they make all their money from tips.
We took the taxi there and walked back- it was about ten blocks from our hotel and it was nice to leisurely walk (holding hands!) without having to wrangle our son. We sat at Starbucks (obviously) to cool down for a bit-

my 'I found the starbucks!' photo I sent to my dad

Once we got back  we ate lunch and hung out in the pool.
There are five pools there. One little one in the children's area, one separate adult's only pool, and three of them interconnected- a children's pool, a giant pool with underwater seats and a bar, and a lower pool for lounging. The children's pool is the perfect height for our son, small enough to play in, and deep enough for any adult to sit comfortably.

We got our son a little jetski- he LOVES it

We spent the rest of the day relaxing and after dinner we hung out with my sister's-in-law and nephew playing dutch blitz.

Day 3- (Sunday November 6) I woke up early and tuned in live to Bible Baptist Church's morning service. I was right in time to hear the preaching. They were having their annual 'King James Jubilee' (their revival meeting) so I got to hear a different preacher preach. He preached on this passage:

It is better to go to the house of mourning,

than to go to the house of feasting: for that

is the end of all men; and the living will lay it

to his heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the

sadness of the countenance the heart is

made better.

The heart of the wise is in the house of

mourning: but the heart of fools is in the

house of mirth.

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4

He spoke on verse three about how sorrow is good for your heart and the things it does to your heart. It was a good message with good food for me. 

After breakfast we all got into the pool and stayed there until mid afternoon. My sister-in-law and I went to get our nails done in the Neptune Plaza. We were going to do them at the hotel spa but a lady told my sister-in-law about a great place that costs less than $10 for either a manicure or a pedicure. I ALWAYS get pedicures on vacation- or whenever I can. I just love them. The last time I had a pedicure was in Lincoln City, Oregon last year for my mother-in-law's 70th birthday. So we went and with tip and everything I spent around $10. Since we were walk-ins and it was a Sunday we had to go one after the other. I went first so while my sister-in-law was getting her nails done I explored the plaza a bit-

Frappucino in hand, turquoise toes

The marina, just behind the plaza- really beautiful place

After dinner we played in the pool until it was time for bed.

Day 4- (Monday November 7) After breakfast and the pool my sisters-in-law, nephew and I took a cab to 'Centro' or downtown. We walked along the pier, in and out of shops.

Pretty walk on the pier

I loved how it looked up the alley. I love the architecture
and how many people have
plants spilling from their windows and balcony's.

I bought a few t-shirts and an adorable Mexican outfit for my son-

This picture was taken our last day there.

We had lunch at a beautiful sea side restaurant then took a taxi back to the hotel. I walked into our hotel room to find my son sitting on the bed eating chocolate cake and watching a movie.

It was late afternoon so I brought him down to the pool to swim and promptly dropped my phone in the water. Up until this point I had mostly left my phone in the room so the one time I actually brought it out I drop it -.-

My phone didn't suffer the effects of being dropped in water until the day after. My home button doesn't work, and my lock button is kind of shoddy but everything else seems fine. The home button makes a big difference so I'm going to have to fix it somehow and at some point.
We played in the pool then took a walk down the beach where my sister-in-law was playing beach volleyball. The waves were huge so my son and I stood in the water and let the waves splash us. I had to hold him with both hands to keep him from getting pulled in.
After we got back to our room we got a call saying they were releasing turtles on the beach.
These sea turtles are extinct so scientists keep track of them and watch the mothers lay their eggs. Once shes done and leaves the nest the scientists take the eggs from their nests to a nursery to protect them. Once the turtles hatch they release them into the sea. The hotel we stayed at has their own nursery and there were more than 100 baby turtles so everyone on the beach who wanted to got to place a turtle on the beach and watch them crawl toward the water.

My phone died just as I was taking this video.

After this we ate dinner and spent the rest of the evening in the pool.

Day 5- (Monday November 7) I woke up really bummed about my phone so my husband took my son down to breakfast and I was able to get a few minutes to myself. I finally felt better and went down for breakfast and some pool time.

It was this day they told me that they ran out of strawberry syrup for my virgin daiquiris so I tried the tamarind and got hooked. This was mostly a pool day. My husband got a bad headache near the end of the day so I kept my son occupied out of our hotel room for the most of the day.

Day 6- (Tuesday November 8) Election day was bright and beautiful in Puerto Vallarta. Everyone was a little on edge. 

We spent the morning in the pool and went up to our room after lunch. We wound up falling asleep waking just in time for dinner.
After dinner I was anxious to watch my favorite political commentators live stream election coverage. I'm not that into politics but this election cycle was a good distraction for me and I learned a lot from the people I listen to. As a Canadian I can look at the US election with amused indifference. That's all I'll say.

Day 7- (Wednesday November 9) We got up late, picked up pastries at the hotel deli and took the bus to Sayulita, Nayriat. It was about an hours bus ride up through the city then into the jungle. I'm not that fond of the city but I loved how a short bus ride took us into a jungle.

That video is a little bit of the drive- when it started getting really scenic. Outside our hotel room I could see lots of green mountains and I wondered what they were like up close. I got to see what they are like on the road to Sayulita. I didn't get any pictures of it but there was lush green foliage all along the road and branches reaching over the road creating a beautiful green drive along a dusty road.
We finally got to Sayulita- a beautiful little sea side surf town. The bus dropped us off by this random fork in the road so we walked two or so blocks along a dirt road into Sayulita. In the town itself are small rocky streets with close shops. I could see houses along the slopes from the beach- big beautiful sanctuaries overlook the hippy beach town that is Sayulita.
I feel like there were more tourists there than were staying at the resort I was staying at. I could see many tanned locals who looked like they came from another part of the world to settle there. The tourists were one thing and the locals were quite another. There was a distinct style among them- a kind of yogi, beach, hippy, artist style that was being promoted and sold at almost every shop.
The artistry there is beautiful. We went into many shops where the owners made everything themselves from clothes to jewellery to tiles to dishes to accessories and more. There was lots of embroidery, pompoms, beads, and so many clothes- all of which I love. The exorbitant prices (in my opinion) told me that these people weren't just selling their art, they are selling a life style and a culture. There were bits and pieces I would have loved to purchase but they were all things that would be odd one ofs. I left Sayulita to Sayulita. Maybe one day I'll go back and create something in my own life from there.

I loved these colourful banners but they were mostly decorated
with skeletons

We explored a lot, didn't buy anything except lunch- we sat at tables on the beach while our son dug in the sand with the silverware (so classy) and had the most delicious margarita pizza. We left Sayulita in the mid afternoon. Our bus going back was a rickity old thing that bounced a lot. My husband, son and I sat in the back and boy was it bumpy. Our son slept the whole time so my husband and I relaxed and enjoyed the ride together. It was really, really hot and in most circumstances I would be uncomfortable and grumpy. In this case, however, my husband and I had so much fun sitting there and laughing together- we loved the experience. I think our Mexico trip would have been incomplete without that bus trip. We got in the shower right when we got back then went into the pool.

Day 8- (Thursday November 10) After breakfast my sisters-in-law kindly watched our son while my husband and I went to shop for things. I wanted to get a Mexican dress but I couldn't find any that I loved. I got two dresses- one an off white linen dress with crocheted details, the other a yellow maxi. My husband got a Mexican shirt that matches my son's and I got some little souvenirs for some people back home. We were able to shop within four blocks of the hotel so even though it was hot and sunny, we were very relaxed. I did sort of wind up with a Mexican dress but it was bought by my father-in-law for his wife and it's too big for her so she gave it to me. I would only change the embroidery on the front and it would be absolutely perfect but I'm grateful for it anyways.
We got back and I went to play beach volleyball with my sister-in-law while my husband took our son out of the sun for a while. Beach is my favorite form of volleyball and I can't remember the last time I played it. It was fun and I wish I could've gotten out for it a few more times.


Day 9- (Friday November 11) At 7:30am we were in a taxi and on our way to the marina to take a boat to a beautiful private island called Las Caletas. The boat ride was about an hour and the day was cloudy so we got a nice breeze as we travelled.

There were caves in these islands and blue footed boobies flying over top

We went with a tour group so they provided us with breakfast and lunch. We were able to explore a bit of the island and we had activities like snorkeling, paddle boarding, zip lining, kayaking, and many more available to us. There were lots of hammocks swinging over the water which we promptly took advantage of.

Screen shot of a pic my sis-in-law took

For the first little bit I collected lots and lots of shells.

Some of the shells I brought home

I decided to go paddle boarding- I've always wanted to try it. I loved it and its one of those things I think I'll always do whenever I get the chance. My husband, son and I went in a kayak after that and saw beautiful little fish in the water.

While all this was going on the tour group has photographers taking pictures of you. By the end of our day there they had taken 131 pictures of us- they loved our son- and we all chipped in to purchase a USB of all of them ($80).
After kayaking my son and I played in the water for a while

Then it was lunch time and we were served a buffet of authentic Mexican food. The spicy salsa was actually spicy, and we got to see our tortillas hand pressed. They were probably the best tortillas I've ever had.
Once lunch was over we walked around and got to see some of the animals that live there- monkeys, macaws, hawks, flamingos, parakeets, and snakes. I got to hold a monkey and a parakeet. My husband got to hold and kiss a macaw.

Before we left I managed to get this family picture-

It was a great tour and I highly recommend it. I beleive the company is called 'Vallarta Adventures'. They take great care of you- you always feel safe.
My son and I went straight into the pool when we got back then we had a leisurley dinner for our final night.

Day 10- (Saturday November 12) Woke up bright and early, finished packing, had breakfast then spent an hour and a half in the pool with my son. We checked out around noon and flew out of Puerto Vallarta around 2pm local time. It was a smooth trip and we got home around midnight.

From Puerto Vallarta to LAX

It was a good vacation and I am very thankful for it.
Neither my husband nor myself had ever had a vacation like that before- to a tropical place, staying in a hotel with everything provided. We agreed we'd definitely go there again and stay at the same place. Almost every night we went for family swims in the pool. All the things I wanted to do I didn't do because I was mostly playing with my son. I didn't take many pictures because I didn't want to feel obligated to. We took a break from pretty much everything.
I think we probably had the best time of everyone who went with us and I think it's because we went just to be happy and free and enjoy the blessing of being able to go. We had no burdens on us- we left those at home. The lust of the flesh and the pride of life that enslaved others and made them miserable did not have power over us. Even though going away meant we were away from our troubles and free from our usual restraint we did not have the means to let our flesh run rampant and control us. We did not have the flesh to take over and ruin the things God has done. This trip showed me how God has worked on us and the things that we unknowingly have become under the pressure we have faced.
Everything God does is for our good and His glory. I don't think I could have had the time I had and the satisfaction I continue to enjoy from it if it wasn't for the past few months we've had.
People at work today kept saying, 'I'm so jealous you got to go away'. I doubt they're serious but it made me think about something I always think about when it comes to jealousy and envy: you don't know the cost.
Sure I got to go away on an all inclusive vacation to a tropical place but would you be willing to go through the last six months of my life to be able to do that? If I described those six months to you, I bet you wouldn't.
During this time of pressure and change I've often looked at others- like in Costco sometimes when people's carts are bursting with food, books, and toys- and envied them for a moment. Then I remember that I don't know what they are going home to, what they will face tomorrow, what they have faced, and whether or not they will go to heaven. Even though our cart has just the basic necessities in it, I wouldn't trade places with them for the world because I am right where God wants me and I am going to heaven for sure.

Suck It Up

So in case you haven't noticed, things have changed a lot for my family and I since the beginning of September.
We're adapting the best we can and it helps that our son is very flexible. All the changes mean he's been going to bed between nine and eleven o'clock most nights then getting up early. He's been a trooper about it. We've also been unable to attend the things we would normally attend which is kind of a bummer but it's just the reality of our situation right now.

People keep asking me how I feel about going back to work and I've been telling them that I'm still figuring out my feelings on the matter.
When it finally sunk in that I was going back to work I was absolutely wretched about it. It meant I had to leave my son and not be at home to take care of everything. As the time approached I began to be excited about the change- curious about what it would do to our family and interested to see what it would reveal about me. When work finally started, I found it very restful to be away. We were opening a brand new store which is very busy and exciting. Now that excitement of opening has died down, I find work a lot less restful and a lot more to worry about. We're having staffing issues so I'm unable to spend as much time in the backroom as I need to. There's also Christmas coming up and I hate Christmas in retail.
Part of me is pretty whiny about having to go back to work. Frankly it depresses me that I'm working again. When I left my job in January 2013, a month before I gave birth to my son, I intended never again to go to work. My 'job' would be taking care of my husband, baby, and home.
Now I'm back in a retail store, having to smile at customers, NOT looking forward to the craze of Christmas, and trying to do everything to the best I can do while many of my coworkers don't.
The fact is I don't want to work at all.
The other part of me, whenever I get complain-y in my mind, is ever there to chime in 'suck it up'. Working outside my home is not what I want but it is what is necessary right now. There are two women in my life right now that work out of necessity for their families. Every time I look at my schedule and heart drops at the hours I have to put in, I think of those two women- they do so much more than I do. We do what we have to do for our families and it does take self sacrifice. I'm very fortunate that my husband can watch my son most times and my sister is there to watch him when neither of us can (thanks so much, Aber).
I'm incredibly grateful for the women in my life and the way God points things out about them to me to give me perspective on things going on in my life. It's not a physical struggle I am going through with this. This is a mental struggle wherein I need to control my thoughts and keep my mind. The most helpful people when it comes to things going on in your mind are the people who don't really say or do anything to help you. I was down a little while ago and I was with a woman from church and she just told me about her experiences. She didn't advise me and tell me what to do. She just told me what had happened to her. It was all the strength I needed. When it comes to the ladies that are most helpful in getting my mind in the right place- they have never said anything, they just go quietly about their business serving God. They may never know what a blessing it is to me, how their sacrifices helped more than just their family. The biggest blessing about it, is that they're doing it when no one is watching, for no other reason than that its the right thing.
It is seriously the worst when people come up and give you all kinds of advice and all their 'knowledge' on things they really don't know about- because no one ever knows anything about what's going on with you. Inevitably when things are going wrong, people question whether you're in God's will or not or think you sinned so you're being punished. It makes it harder when you yourself keep asking those questions and God gives you an answer and you're sure of it. The woman who helped me on my down day told me one thing and it had nothing to do with me- 'we were right in the middle of God's will but we were struggling'. No one knows the recesses of someone else's mind. No one can know the deep dark thoughts, the questions, the tears, the struggles you go through just to get through a bad day. Yet they see small part of it at some point or another, put on the 'Holy Spirit' suit, and try to tell you what they think God wants you to hear. You. Don't. Know. You don't know the passages of scripture we read, what we pray for, the way God answers, the way God leads.
Unsolicited advice is never heeded- as I like to say and as many like to say. Just shut up and do right and you will encourage and influence the people who need it most.

And so, I am working because God put me there. The way the job came up, the way it was offered, the position I have, the experience that I have, have all clearly been designed by God.
There are three things lately that have put me in rough spots, spots I do not like, would never approve of, but God has given me the wisdom to see the good those things have done and the benefit to our family.
He always gives you the grace to do His will, and if you look at it His way instead of your own way, He'll teach you things and show you why you're there.
Over the last few weeks I've been able to spend lots of time in my backroom talking to my stock people and I've been able to share the gospel with three of them.
Going in, I knew my focus had to be winning souls and I forget where I was when this verse was read to me- either in church or a ladies bible study I've been going to:

For even the Son of man came not to be

ministered unto, but to minister, and to give

his life a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45

I'm not comparing myself to Christ and I'm not saying I'm giving my life for the people I'm working with.

When this was read to me I heard 'came not to be ministered unto, but to minister' and it occurred to me that that's why I'm working, I'm working where I'm working, and I'm working with the people I'm working with. I'm there to minister to others. 

I hope this helps you in some small way.

The Testimony of Non-Christians

A good man leaveth an inheritance to

his children's children: and the wealth of

the sinner is laid up for the just.

Proverbs 13:22

He that by usury and unjust gain

increaseth his substance, he shall gather it

for him that will pity the poor.

Proverbs 28:8

Those two verses, and probably other ones that I can't think of right now, tell me that God uses the unjust to give good things to the just. Today I want to take a little time and share some things that I've learned and blessings I've received from people who do not claim to be Christians.

The first one that comes to mind is a former co-worker named Andrew. This man absolutely rejects the Bible and though we never spoke of it, there was always that between us. Despite this, he was always kind to me and God used him to bless me.
My grandmother taught me how to knit when I was very young. I knitted a tiny bit through high school but forgot about it for the most part. I never thought about knitting again until God brought Andrew along. He brought his knitting to work one day, showed me the pattern he was working on, gave me a great hat pattern, and I've been back to knitting ever since. God has used knitting (eventually crocheting and sewing) mightly in my life and I am so thankful God used Andrew to get me back into it.
The other thing Andrew did was give me his old pasta machine. I'd always wanted to make pasta but I would never had tried if it wasn't for him just randomly asking me if I wanted it. I could really use a new one but I'll use this one until it falls apart or we can get a new one.
Lastly, Andrew has given me recipes that I will use until I die. He shared Michael Smith's cookbook with me, where I got the apple pie recipe from, he shared Jamie Oliver's most amazing pizza dough recipe, and best of all, he gave me the best ever banana bread recipe. Those are just my top three recipes, he's shared many others.
Most christians would look at Andrew and say 'nope, not talking to him'. Though we each knew where the other stood, we were kind to each other and he was used of God to give me things I will enjoy for the rest of my life.

Next is Graeme. Dear Graeme. I'm actually not sure how to discribe my relationship with Graeme because according to him we were dating, according to me we were seeing each other but not dating. I don't know. However, Graeme taught me something very important.
We hung out for a few weeks and in that time I learned that he was an agnostic and very interested in things that a bible believer laughs at. He liked philosophy, psychology, he believed the world is over populated, you know things that we find ridiculous. I really wanted to be with him but one day he told me that he couldn't be with me because I did not believe like he believed. After the flurry of emotions that followed, reason eventually prevailed but I was brought very low and was very emotional about it for a long long time. What made me the most sad and pained me beyond measure was that he- who did not know for sure that anything he believes is true- had the strength to say we did not belong together. I was not strong enough in my faith- that I know is absolutely true- to leave the pointless relationship.
I've always known what I believe. Even back then (2009, I was 20) I had a firm foundation and I was not budging from it. However, I had been so lonely for so long that even this unbelieving person was better than being lonely. Even though I knew he was wrong for me, I did not want to let go, I did not have the strength. I had allowed myself to be controlled by my emotions and not by what was right. Realizing all this made me heartily ashamed of myself. Up until that point I was willing to hang out with anyone- Christian or no- who was interested (there weren't many). This business with Graeme put a stop to that immediately. I repented and resolved to ignore non-believers who were interested in me. (Six months later I met the christian man who is now my husband, seven months after that we were married.)
While this has mostly to do with dating, it's something I constantly remind myself of when I am out in the world. If a non-believer has the strength to make the right choice and do the right thing, how much more strength should I have to do right when I have direct access to the One who has immeasurable strength.

Now to my family members:
My father's sisters. Frankly both of them hate the Bible and God. There has been contention in the past (as always in families) but now that I am a wife and mother I see them in a different light.
To be honest, better servants I know not. They're always doing things for others, they're very helpful to their mother, and they watch out for their siblings' children like we are their own.
When I found out my sister was pregnant one of the things that occurred to me was that if I was half as kind and helpful to my sister's child as my father's sisters were to me, I would consider myself a successful auntie.
They're understanding, forgiving, and patient. While we don't agree on everything, they do look out for us, help us with things we need and welcome us into their homes. They have been just as nurturing as my own parents.
Maybe everyone's aunties are like this, I don't know, but I'm sure grateful for the examples my aunts are.

In the last little while I've spent a lot of time with my husband's elder sister. She has one child- a son- and I love their relationship. He's twenty now, but he is close to his mother, he confides in her, and he said himself that she is the most compassionate person he knows. He is not an outgoing, effusive person. He's a man of few words and he's one of those people you just don't touch. However, his love for his mother is clear as day and he cares for her greatly.
When we discussed this she told me that it was always very important to her that he knew she loved him no matter what he did. She did not turn a blind eye to disobedience but she would discipline in love and do her best not to overreact.
The things she has told me and the things I have seen have already effected the way I treat my son and has forced me to consider the things I have been doing up until now. I hope I can have a relationship with my son the way she does when he is twenty.

My father's mother is one who has been a tremendous testimony to me. I haven't always treated her the way I should have. I've done very poorly by her in the past. Whatever the past, however, she has always been very generous with us.
She has never brought up things that I've done and ways I have wronged her. She has always moved passed those things and never held them against me. For that alone, I am so blessed and thankful. A lot of women I know are bitter about the past and have trouble letting things go. I do it too but somehow my unsaved, aggressively atheistic grandmother seems to have no trouble letting the past be the past and moving on. I think that's incredible and as I've recognized it, I've been very convicted about it.
I don't know if I could write enough about this woman. I think she's amazing.
She's always loved the arts and continues to paint/draw, write, and collect beautiful things. All her grandchildren are artists in some way or form. I'm seriously the only one of her grandchildren that can't draw to save my life. However she did bless me with her enjoyment of needlework and I am the only one that pursues it. She gave me everything- knitting needles to last me forever, sewing supplies, crochet needles in every size, she passed on her embroidery things, patterns she's collected over the years and her big sewing box is now mine. I also have some of the needlework her mother did- it's beautiful and I'm almost too scared to touch it. She bought me a sewing machine when I was young and I use it to this day.
She passed on her love of reading to almost all of us. She was the one who introduced me to some of my favourite reading materials as a child and was always buying me books. She knows my taste very well and she and my husband enjoy lots of the same books.
When we were young she would often buy us disposable cameras and develop the pictures for us. We took pretty stupid pictures but she never cared.
She helped us a last year when my husband was out of work and we were just barely making it by. She has bought my son some of the nicest gifts any two year old can ask for. She has always been very generous- she likes to give and to share things that she likes so others can enjoy them.

She always has chocolate around for everyone. She knows what we all like she keeps newspaper clippings of articles we may find interesting. She thinks about others and gives them good things.
Her home is always full of interesting things. Yesterday my son spent a good while looking through her collection of shells. She taught him to listen to them and how they move when a creature is living inside them.
She may not love the Lord, but she loves us and God has taught me a lot through her. Probably the biggest thing is that she encouraged us and gave us the tools we needed to pursue our passions and hobbies.
Besides the things she's given me I am a lot like her in many ways. I hope to take the good things that we share and the things her life has taught me along with godly charity to be a good testimony and a blessing to my children and my children's children.

God uses everyone- just or unjust. He used the Egyptians to give jewels and gold to the Israelites in Moses' day, he used greedy and conniving Balaam to bless Isreal three times (Numbers 22, 23, 24), he used Caesar Augustus to call for a tax just as Jesus was about to be born.
While people reject God, He still uses their freedom to accomplish His will in their lives and ours. Don't be above learning things from unbelievers. The things you learn and the blessing you receive at their hand may be just the tool you'll need to eventually win them to Christ.