Thursday, December 20, 2007
21st century Christmas Card - final attempt
I'm not sure if we'll end up getting a Christmas card out this year or not, so in the event that we don't, here is a quick Christmas greeting and photo from us. I suppose it is evidence that we're living in the 21st century if we can post our Christmas Card on our blog and get away with it!! We've made many attempts at getting a good picture of all of us with Davy looking at the camera with her Santa hat on - here is the last and final attempt of the evening. Merry Christmas!
Rain, packages and puppies...
This month has been insanely busy, but filled with good things to say the least. I just finished filling a stocking for each of the children here that they will open at midnight in Christmas Eve. It's been so fun to be a part of the hustle and bustle here at New Hope! I've been blog-challenged lately because we've been so busy, but thought I'd quickly jump on and mention a few highlights from the week.
RAIN!! Yesterday we had our first real rain since we arrived in August (though "real" doesn't mean what it does in Colorado!). It was a steady sprinkle for about an hour, enough to create small puddles on the sidewalks and get the puppies to notice that there was something falling from the sky and getting them wet. It was so refreshing! As soon as I heard it on the windows I ran outside and stood on the patio, taking in that fresh rain smell and soaking up the cloudy skies. I know our friends, the Culps, in the UK would probably kill for a sunny day about now, but without a drop of moisture in 5 months we welcomed the rainy afternoon!
PACKAGE!! After months of checking our PO Box and pestering the postal services staff, we had given up home that a package from my sister would ever show up. We've had countless problems with the mail system and just recently received a big bundle of mail that had been collecting over the past few months instead of being delivered. When the package wasn't included in that bundle, we continued to check for another week but were assured by the postal staff that the package was good as gone. Just when we thought all hope was gone, we opened the PO Box on Tuesday to find the package - Chips A'hoy cookies, peanut M&M's, Kit Kats, letters from home and sweet pictures of little Nora, our niece. I was so anxious to see what was inside that I ripped into it as soon as Tony came out to the taxi. I made myself car sick by looking through everything as we zipped along the city streets, but it was definitely worth it. Thanks Jon and Lin!
PUPPIES!! Lastly, I just have to say how much fun our puppies add to our lives on a consistent basis. We love having them with us to run around at the orphanage and play with the kids, and then to provide us with mindless humor and affection at the end of a long day. Here are a few pictures for those of you who can appreciate puppy love.
For some reason Davy finds the wooden spool of our chairs to be a comfortable resting place:
Here they are at our front gate, anxiously waiting for Tony to return from the store across the street:
Hope you're all enjoying this busy week before Christmas! Merry Christmas to you all!
RAIN!! Yesterday we had our first real rain since we arrived in August (though "real" doesn't mean what it does in Colorado!). It was a steady sprinkle for about an hour, enough to create small puddles on the sidewalks and get the puppies to notice that there was something falling from the sky and getting them wet. It was so refreshing! As soon as I heard it on the windows I ran outside and stood on the patio, taking in that fresh rain smell and soaking up the cloudy skies. I know our friends, the Culps, in the UK would probably kill for a sunny day about now, but without a drop of moisture in 5 months we welcomed the rainy afternoon!
PACKAGE!! After months of checking our PO Box and pestering the postal services staff, we had given up home that a package from my sister would ever show up. We've had countless problems with the mail system and just recently received a big bundle of mail that had been collecting over the past few months instead of being delivered. When the package wasn't included in that bundle, we continued to check for another week but were assured by the postal staff that the package was good as gone. Just when we thought all hope was gone, we opened the PO Box on Tuesday to find the package - Chips A'hoy cookies, peanut M&M's, Kit Kats, letters from home and sweet pictures of little Nora, our niece. I was so anxious to see what was inside that I ripped into it as soon as Tony came out to the taxi. I made myself car sick by looking through everything as we zipped along the city streets, but it was definitely worth it. Thanks Jon and Lin!
PUPPIES!! Lastly, I just have to say how much fun our puppies add to our lives on a consistent basis. We love having them with us to run around at the orphanage and play with the kids, and then to provide us with mindless humor and affection at the end of a long day. Here are a few pictures for those of you who can appreciate puppy love.
Davy and Cayma have become inseparable - they usually nap and sleep through the night together Davy's giant kennel.
For some reason Davy finds the wooden spool of our chairs to be a comfortable resting place:
Here they are at our front gate, anxiously waiting for Tony to return from the store across the street:
Hope you're all enjoying this busy week before Christmas! Merry Christmas to you all!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Feliz Cumpleanos
Our time here in Peru has been full of "firsts" - and yesterday was another day of firsts as I celebrated my 27th birthday here in Arequipa.
The best one was my first chance ever to play several hours of outdoor tennis on my birthday - not to be bundled up and battling the cold and/or snow in Colorado. It was glorious! It was also my first birthday to get a sunburn - not so glorious. : )
It was my first birthday to be away from family (aside from Mike and Dana of course!) but my first birthday to celebrate with our Peruvian friends at the children's home that have become like family here.
It was the first time I've been sung 3 separate versions of "Happy Birthday", including the standard English song but sung with a Spanish accent (Hoppy Bertday to you...).
It was the first time I've ever savored the taste of my cake so dearly - treasuring each bite of our Betty Crocker yellow cake with Betty Crocker chocolate frosting. We found these treats in Lima two weekends ago while visiting Tony's sister. Yummy!
It was the first time we've ever had a fancy candlelight dinner in an excellent restaurant for $18 USD - appetizer, main courses for both, followed by Queso Helado dessert.
It was not the first time I've been excited to receive clothes for my birthday, but it was definitely the most excited I've ever been to get new clothes.
Lastly, it was the first time I've ever had awesome "Feliz Cumpleanos" candles like this on my birthday cake. Thanks Mike!
It was a wonderful day and I'm so grateful for all that God has allowed us to do in this past year. We look forward to the coming year with great anticipation, anxious to see where God will lead us and how he will continue to teach us about himself. I'm so incredibly thankful for Tony and the countless ways that he loves me so well and the deep friendship that we share. Thank you all for supporting us in this adventure and for your encouragement along the way. I look forward to sharing with you all that happens between now and next December 12!
The best one was my first chance ever to play several hours of outdoor tennis on my birthday - not to be bundled up and battling the cold and/or snow in Colorado. It was glorious! It was also my first birthday to get a sunburn - not so glorious. : )
It was my first birthday to be away from family (aside from Mike and Dana of course!) but my first birthday to celebrate with our Peruvian friends at the children's home that have become like family here.
It was the first time I've been sung 3 separate versions of "Happy Birthday", including the standard English song but sung with a Spanish accent (Hoppy Bertday to you...).
It was the first time I've ever savored the taste of my cake so dearly - treasuring each bite of our Betty Crocker yellow cake with Betty Crocker chocolate frosting. We found these treats in Lima two weekends ago while visiting Tony's sister. Yummy!
It was the first time we've ever had a fancy candlelight dinner in an excellent restaurant for $18 USD - appetizer, main courses for both, followed by Queso Helado dessert.
It was not the first time I've been excited to receive clothes for my birthday, but it was definitely the most excited I've ever been to get new clothes.
Lastly, it was the first time I've ever had awesome "Feliz Cumpleanos" candles like this on my birthday cake. Thanks Mike!
It was a wonderful day and I'm so grateful for all that God has allowed us to do in this past year. We look forward to the coming year with great anticipation, anxious to see where God will lead us and how he will continue to teach us about himself. I'm so incredibly thankful for Tony and the countless ways that he loves me so well and the deep friendship that we share. Thank you all for supporting us in this adventure and for your encouragement along the way. I look forward to sharing with you all that happens between now and next December 12!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Sunset in the Andes
On the days that stories like Brayan's overwhelm me, or when the cultural nuances lose their charm and make me feel so far away from home, I am often encouraged simply by the beauty that surrounds us here. Arequipa is located in a valley between three major peaks of the Andes Mountains. We have amazing views of two of the peaks - Chichani and Misti - from our office at the children's home. Each day as the sun sets I catch these amazing views out the window and am reminded of the majesty and omnipotence of our God. Thought you all may enjoy seeing them as well...
Chichani, with a view of Pachacutec
El Misti, the well known volcano peak
with a view of our across-the-street neighbors
with a view of our across-the-street neighbors
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