Oh well.....

I think that I need to learn how to say, Oh well, much more often. Today I went to the grocery store. We are trying to eat all together as a family with Joel every night around 6 or 6:30, yes I know that might be late for a one year old, but Jude gets home around 5:30 or so, so sometimes it can't be before then. Anyway..... I have been really homesick today and was a little extra emotional. I tried a different grocery store because all my friends have been telling me that the grocery store that I go to is really expensive. (Oh well, much more to come.) So, with good intentions, I thought well I can at least give another grocery store a try and see how it goes. On my way, Joel was in the back seat very peaceful and I was listening to my Watermark cd, very peaceful..... The peace ended there. Out in front of my little car, pulls this lady with giant sunglasses in her giant fancy black car, talking on her cell phone, I honked like any good brazilian, and she gave me a dirty look (which I of course like any good missionary, did not give back, hahaha, ya right) then she pulled in front of me more and turned right on her happy fancy way. (Oh well) Go ahead lady! Then I missed the turn to the cheap grocery store parking lot. (Oh well.) Then I went to turn around at the next street. when I was turning around, two bikers biked in front of my car on a very busy street. I have nothing against bikers by the way...... (Oh well.) then I found the parking lot , of the cheap grocery store, what seemed like an abandoned dirt lot behind the grocery store. I entered with Joel, wiped down the cart because of swine flu among other things, which Joel then proceeded to chew on, (Oh, well, at least I wiped it down first.) I found a few things, then moved on through thinking, it is dirtier than our grocery store. (Oh well.) then when I went to check out, I discovered that Joel's diaper had leaked..... (Oh well.) I wiped down the seat where his diaper had leaked, checked out and thankfully an angel of a lady pushed the cart out to my car where I changed Joel etc. then I came home unloaded the groceries and cleaned Joel off better, fed him his snack, put him down for a nap, and washed and put away the groceries. We had a great dinner, and have really been enjoying Joel sitting down with us and eating and being content to just be with us and eat and all be together. He is quite the mover and the shaker, so to find something that works for us has been great. Not to mention that he likes eating some of what we are eating. Since I started typing this update, I have killed 4 or 5 mosquitos with our mosquito racket, and taken out the trash because the ants, who love our apartment almost as much as we do, were eating a few strands of spaghetti in the trash bag.(Oh well.) I am thankful for today and for all that God has given me in, Joel, Jude, family, friends, and mostly in my relationship with Him. He has saved me from so much, sin, death..... and even beyond that He has shown me His amazing love in more ways than I could have ever dreamed of. Not only am I saved, I am loved. Thank you Lord. No matter how many oh wells happen in my day, at the end of it all I have SO much to be thankful for. Somehow it just helps to get things out there, so there you go.

Plunger Anyone?

Funny story. So, my parents and niece came to visit us a couple of weeks ago. The project was going on a two week winter break and we were holding our annual Vacation Bible School so it was a good time for my folks to visit seeing as how Jane and I were going to have some down time. Their journey from Texas to Rio was a long one...San Antonio to Dallas, Dallas to Miami, and then a 1o hour overnight flight from Miami to Rio, not to mention the hour long car ride from the airport to our apartment. So, when we got home they were in need of a little rest...and a bathroom. Well, in my excitement to have my family making their first visit to Brasil, I failed to mention a few basic house rules: don't leave the windows open at night (mosquitos), don't drink the tap water..oh yeah, and don't put toilet paper in the toilet!! OOPS...too late. Does anyone have a plunger? You would think that Jane and I would have a plunger considering the size and frequency in which I make a deposit, but as hard as it may be to believe, we don't. So, I make a quick trip downstairs to talk to the maintenance guy from our building. He doesn't have one either. However, being a typical Brasilian, he is certain he can find a way to fulfill our plunging needs. The picture below was his solution...a broom handle and a coke bottle. Don't laugh...it worked!!!!

Mom, Dad, and Trinity at Camboinhas Beach.

Trinty trying coconut water.

Blogging Behind

Well, after 4 months who knows where to start. We are feeling more at home in Brazil than we have since we got here. I remember reading that missionaries have to really be in a place for 3 years before they know how it will be. As this is our third year here I see how true that really is. Just now do I feel as if we are getting used to some things, and figuring out other cultural things, and realizing that other things will never change, we just have to get used to them. The last months have been good, but we are glad to have some things behind us..... such as the process of getting a drivers' liscense, and the months of nightime feedings. Joel is sleeping through the night better than he ever has, praise God. Who knew that I needed sleep SO much. We are looking for a car, and I believe that when God opens that door, it will be a weight lifted off of us. Waiting for the bus and counting on public transportation with a baby (and all of his belongings that come with us in the baby bag) is not as easy as it was when it was just Jude and I, not to mention that there are some places, relatively close by car, that we can't get to because the bus doesn't go there, or we would have to take 2 buses and walk a long ways just to get somewhere 15 minutes away or less by car. Side note- the bus is a $1.10 each way, so that adds up and I am always amazed that the bus is so much in a place where the majority of the people make so little. So, that is in God's hands, and for the mean time, we are thankful that Niteroi has a great bus system and that we have friends who don't get tired of giving us rides. Praise God! As always, we enjoy seeing how Joel is growing up, and here are some pics of him at 7+ months, the more recent ones are still on the camera. He is almost 9 months! More to come later. Joel loves bath time, and I love playing with his Alfalfa hair, which sadly I just got the courage to cut off, now he looks like a little boy. Picture time with Mommy....

Back In Brasil

We had two new bathrooms installed at the Project while we were on Christmas break.

We also had 6 new sinks put in for the kids to be able to use to wash their hands and brush their teeth.

Here's Big Boy enjoying his walker that we brought back with us from the States.

Bia is one of Jane's former students that she has been discipling. She stayed over one night and she and Joel had a blast together.

We've been back in Brasil about three weeks now and already so much has happened. I have started full time as director at the Project and there is ALOT to be done. Jane has been taking care of Joel at home and will go back to teaching English classes at the Project twice a week here in the next couple of weeks.

Bath Time!

While we were back in Texas, bath time turned out to be one of the most anticipated events of the day. This is Jane's mom and sister, Michelle, taking turns cleaning up Big Boy.

Texas Trip 2

My sister Ginny with her new baby girl Kendal.

Jane's Aunt Nancy and sister Julie with Joel.

My aunt, uncle, cousins and grandmother came in from Louisiana.

My sister has the cutest kids doesn't she?

Date Night! Our first night out without Joel!

Texas Trip 1

Cousins!

Checking out the Sports page with RP.

Great Grandma

Hangin with Mama on Christmas day

Chattin' it up with Papa

Our trip to Texas was just what we needed...time to relax, time with family and friends, and the chance to show off our little (ok, not so little) Joel.