This and That

Well, life just seems to be clipping along.  Lots of little things.  A couple of big things too like

• We bought our tickets to go to Michigan for the winter. A little surreal really! We haven't been back to Michigan in 2+ years.  We're just a mix of emotions about it.  On the one hand, we are thrilled to have Christmas with our families for the first time in 2 years, to experience the winter with the boys (I think Forrest is the only one who really remembers snow) and to be with people we dearly love and miss.  On the other hand, we are so sad to miss six month of life here!  We feel like we are just getting into a grove with Church and School, and we have friends and well, life keeps going while we aren't here.  Sigh. This living in two places is hard.

•  Our weeks are full with all sorts of things.  Last night a young guy Noah has been meeting with came over for dinner and some time with Noah in the Word.  Thursday I haven Moms group, and I will probably be bringing two other moms and their kids with me.  Today Noah has chapels at school, Saturday night he's at Church, and well, yeah, the weeks are full.  And it's a good type of full!

•  It's a good type of full, but we are still working on the balance for ministry and family.  It's a different pace working with church.  Camp has ebbs and flows, church flows from now until Jesus comes back.  So pray for us, for wisdom for when to say no and when to say yes.

• Rainy season is at it's height.  We have mostly clear mornings and then the storms come in the afternoon.  Yesterday the boys were zipping in the midst of a cloud.  So strange!

This and That

Yep, we're resorting to bullet points.  Don't judge.

• After two days of working on letters and sounds, Elliot became a reader!  Love this kid!

• I have been working on tons of projects for church!  We have a picnic coming up in a few weeks, so we've been painting and building outdoor games, sewing buntings, and figuring out relay races.  

• I am also neck deep in fabric to make new table clothes for church.

• We're working on plans to give the kitchenette at church a make over.  Fun stuff!!

• I started tutoring for my Spanish again.  It's been painful, but good.  This language learning, it's a life long process I tell ya!

• A few weeks ago, we found a desk for a steal!  After way too long of using the kitchen table as a desk, I have one again!!

• For Mother's Day (August 15, yep, it's different) the boys and Noah got me a hose and a nozzle!! So excited!

• Our neighbors, can I just tell you how wonderful they are?  Not only do they go along with almost every hair brained scheme we come up with, they take our kid to school, and bring us food, they also have a sweet fire pit and understand the importance of living in community and taking time!!

• We've started to think more about getting ready for our Home Ministry Assignment (furlough) that will start in December.  I've got really mixed emotions about that. On one hand, we're all very excited to see family and friends we haven't seen in over 2 years.  On the other hand, we are going to desperately miss our friends, church, and neighbors here!  Sigh.  This living with your heart in two places is hard. 

• Speaking of being in MI, if you know of anyone who has a car/van/something that will hold a family of 5 that needs to be driven, we're looking for a vehicle for that 6 months. 

Goodbyes

Way back in August of 2011, we were able to help Will and Elaine Savell and their (then) two kids move to Costa Rica from Tennessee.   It seemed crazy at the time.  We had only been here about 3 months ourselves and we were giving advice on what they should pack, what to expect once they got here and just overall being a person on the ground that could help with their transition from the US to Costa Rica for their time in language school.  At the time, they thought maybe they would end up in Honduras (we did too).  Their son is Forrest's age, so they were in the same class together at school.  

While we went back to the States to have Quinn, they were brave and had Ally here!  Quinn and Ally are about 4 months and 8 pounds apart.

Well, as often happens in Missions, we get to have people for a time.  In 2 weeks, the Savells move back to Tennessee.  God has put them at the center of a ministry that provides incredible theological training for poor pastors through tablets of all things!  This means that Will is traveling around Latin America (and maybe the world even) and they need to be the face of the Grace Institute in North America.  So, for the second time in two years, they are moving internationally.  Pray for them!  That's a lot on a family and they've added a little person to the mix since last time.

As Tennyson said, ""Tis better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all"  and so in the spirit of that, Saturday we had a Despidida here.  And what a party it was!    We knew there were going to be tons of kids, so we planned some fun games for a friendly competition over cookies.  There were sling shots and tin cans (because what guy, big or small, doesn't want to shot a sling shot at tin cans?)

bubbles (yes, even the adults got in on the bubbles.  It might have helped I weighted the point structure to be heavy on bubble blowing!)

bean bags and  ring toss

and an oh so hipster photo booth!  This was sooooo fun!  We made sure everyone stopped by the photo booth and wrote a message to the Savells.   I am going to put it all together and send it Will and Elaine (via something electronic, because they don't need to pack one more thing!)  Such fun stuff!

 My kids, however, didn't think it was fun. Whatever.  Other people's kids thought it was fun though.

  And I told Elaine this needs to be their new prayer card!

We grilled, everyone brought something to share and we just had a blast!  The only thing I wish I had done was made coffee for 45 people.  It dropped to the mid 60's that day and was rainy and damp.  Oh well.  Next time.

 We were able to pray with the Savells for this next time of transition, which was a sweet time of other people who understand all that it means to live internationally, be transformed by that, and go back a different person. 

The rain let up a bit and the boys decided to do what all Latin American MKs do...play fútbol.  In the rain. In and amongst banana and mango trees.

It was hard on Forrest when Jack gave him a hug just before they left. He started to cry because Jack is his first friend here in Costa Rica.  Sigh.  This part.  It's not fun.  But, like we told Forrest, we can go visit Jack some time in the States, and who knows what will happen in this life!

We love you Savells!  Thankful for the time we've had with you and so excited to see what God is going to next with you guys!