Moving...

August has been a busy month for us.  We had a team and moved from our house to the base in the same week.  I decided that Mario could do all the packing and moving, since he likes to do it and when we both try it gets kind of stressful.  That meant that I could actually enjoy the move a little more.  Well, by enjoy I mean be in denial of... yeah, that is more like it.  I really don't mind moving, but I think I might have gone through one too many big life changes so far in my 27 years and a move from a house to a room wasn't something that I was really looking forward to.

So thankfully Mario did EVERYTHING.  I mean he did it all.  He packed the kitchen (which is still in boxes since we don't really know what to do with the stuff), he packed all the rooms, he moved all the furniture.  He is basically amazing and my hero for doing all that work for us.  I really appreciate him. 

Not only did he move everything, but he also prepared another room for us at the base so that we would be able to have a little living room area.  There used to be a patio outside our room at the base that he put a roof on and cleaned up to be our living room.  Here are some pictures of the work in progress (I will have to take some pictures now that it has furniture in it and post later)

He might be enjoying this a little too much...

This too...

The new roof (this is before this area got cleaned out)

Another view with a new paint job thanks to my man

Yet another view with the lamp that Mario installed

So if you aren't getting the picture Mario is pretty handy to have around!!!  I am so so soooo thankful that he is in my life because he is much more than just a handy man! 

We are not settling into our area and have made it our own- just in time too, because the DTS starts September 12!!!  We are getting really excited and even a little nervous about the school.  We are realizing more and more the responsibility that it is to disciple people and I think that is what makes us most nervous but we know that God's grace will be something that we rely on daily.  Would you be praying for us as we step into this new area- both physically and spiritually?

 Last but not least I want to leave you with an almost real life picture :)

Thanks for reading!!!

Missing

I live in Guatemala.  I have lived here for almost 3 years now.  None of my family lives in Guatemala.  Most of my friends don't live in Guatemala.  Most of the things I grew up with and know and love aren't in Guatemala.  This situation is something that I overlook the majority of the time because I know the reason I live in Guatemala is because God has called me here.  But there are times where me missing all the previously mentioned things adds up and I just, well, I just am missing it all!  Here are 10 of the specific people/things I am missing right now (*disclaimer- this list is by no means exhaustive):

1. My mom, who recently "put on her big girl panties" and made some very important life changes.  She is an amazing woman and although I get to talk to her often, it is just not enough sometimes. 

2. My friend Layne.  You see, it is Friday night.  Friday night used to mean that Layne and I would get together and talk about our work week, plans for the weekend and life in general at Mauricios Mexican Restaurant.  We did this EVERY.FRIDAY.NIGHT without fail and I miss it and more than missing the routine, I miss the company.

3. Outback Steakhouse.  Guatemala needs to learn what a steak is and until they do, I will continue to miss eating it.

4. Warm summer nights in Bakersfield.  Now, I know those of you who are in Bakersfield right now probably think I am crazy, and I probably am for many reasons, but right now it is probably low 70's and raining in August and that just seems wrong to me.  I miss riding my bike around the neighborhood and then going for a dip in the pool.  I miss the magical feeling that summer brings.  I miss BBQing and getting together with people just because...

5. My niece and nephew.  They are probably the only ones in the world who will go to Sno Shack with me as often as I want to.  My nephew is going to be in kindergarten this year and my niece in 3rd grade and I just hate that they are growing up without me there!

6. A dryer.  Yes, a dryer.  Although I don't mind using the amazing (and free) power of the sun to dry my clothes, sometimes I just wish I had a towel fresh from the dryer when I get out of the shower.

7. Tuesday nights.  In my family Tuesday night means family dinner at my Grandma Irene's house.  It is a time for us to hang out, check in with each other and eat some good food (especially when it is Aunt Lynnie's night to cook because she always either brings pizza or tacos).  I love my family and cherish them even more now that I am so far away from them.

8. Being able to go out by myself.  I don't really go out very much by myself here because it is not too safe.  I miss the freedom of getting in my car and going wherever I want to go by myself.  It is not that I don't love having Mario go with me everywhere, but some days I just wish I could have that independence.

9. Watching TV in English.  I miss those shows that marked summer life for me like So You Think You Can Dance.  My sister and I would watch it together and then try to recreate the dance moves in her living room.  We were pretty good, too and if I had stayed around I could have seen us auditioning as a couple.

10. English.  I miss speaking it.  I miss hearing it being spoken.

Okay, so there you have it.  The 10 things I am missing right now.  Please don't take this post to mean that I am unhappy where I am or that I want you to feel sorry for me.  It is by no means that.  I love where I am, what I do, who I am with and most importantly the calling on my life too much to let some nostalgia shake me up.  It just feels good to get it out sometimes, so this time I decided to share it with you. 

Thanks for reading.