Celebrate!

We made it! One year in Brazil!
It has not been easy. It has not been without struggle.
This past year so much has changed. We are not the same family that left the USA 366 days ago.
Most important God has made us a little more like Him.
Hard to sum the past year up b/c we have experienced so many different events and emotions.
We have met so many wonderful people. So much of our time was spent frustrated b/c we couldn't say exactly what we wanted. Days went by when I thought, how will I ever be able to not be stressed out when someone asks me a question. I want to understand people and I want them to understand me. But still people were our friends! Amazing! They had so much patience with us.
I still get angry when I find a new recipe that sounds so yummy and when I read the ingredients I realize we don't have about 5 of them. (Side note: There is campbell's soup here for only $5 for one can, ha.)
Anyways, I have to end with this... Most days I love Brazil! But there are days that I wonder what my life would be like in the US.
I look forward to this next year! Making our home here finally, sharing the Gospel, and having friends and family visit are just a few goals.

Life at the Mansion

Technically it's not a mansion, but it feels like one to us. Especially since K can play outside while I'm cleaning the kitchen. Our friends are kindly letting us live in their home while they're visiting family. We are up to our eyeballs in apartment hunting. Finally, today we have a hopeful prospect.
We also purchased K a crib today! I can't wait to put her in it. Her very own bed. Perhaps soon she'll also have a room. The same room at least for a couple years.

Diggin for Gold

Only b/c it's cute right now am I posting these. One day soon it will not be cute.

Fun with the camera.

Enjoy.

Seems as if the rain is slowing.

The weather is a great superficial subject to talk about. It's comfortable and easy. When I sat down to write this blog and the whole week since I wrote last, many subjects have run through my head. Most of which I will never blog about. Moving on...

So it's official we know where we're moving next. Huge praise because we are certain this is where the Lord is leading us for the next 2 years. If you want to know the city and more specifics just ask. Our goal is to leave here within the next 3 weeks. We're excited about working with a couple whom we admire and have a lot of wisdom. Also we're super excited to be working with some wonderful national brothers and sisters.
Currently we are learning about the specific neighborhoods that we have been advised to live in or around.

Two more things:
One, I've been looking back at 2010 and ahead at 2011 these past few weeks. The hardships of 2010 are behind me and concurred. The biggest one being the fear of learning a language. After the first 6 months of struggling each day and being extremely tired I actually enjoyed learning. To top it off I actually achieved the language level to "graduate" language school in 9 1/2 months. Only by the grace of God, because I wanted to quit so many times.

2011- I am trying a new Bible reading plan for this year. The one I tried to do last year did not work. Obviously I know I was the problem. However, I am much more excited about this layout and think I can actually complete this one. Lord give me daily desire!

Crib Advice Needed

First, I failed at my attempt to stay awake last night... I made it until 2am- a little into the 3rd quarter. It was exciting this morning to watch the highlights.
War Eagle!

We are finally needing to purchase a crib for our "baby" aka toddler. Our lives are so crazy... Karis is almost 15 months old and we've never owned a crib.
All the stores here carry the models that the side drops down, but it makes me nervous to purchase one of those. Is this a valid concern? I think companies in the USA can't even produce these?

Also what about the convertible style? Is this a good idea? What if God gives us another baby and Karis is already sleeping in the crib that's been converted into a bed? Is it cost effective? Or could we purchase a crib and little girl bed for the same or cheaper than a convertible?

Thanks in advance for advice!

An Attempt to stay up WAY past my bedtime.

ponytail
molar
box of goodies
ready for the game
War Eagle!
Auburn University's (American) football team is playing the Oregon Ducks. The game is being played in Arizona and starts at 11:30pm my time.
Since I'm an alumni I really want to watch the game! Oh man, it's so late though... I drank some coffee earlier, but I think I'm going to need more to make it through the whole game.