What's Up Wednesday - September

It's the last Wednesday of the month, so I'm doing my 2nd edition of What's Up Wednesday.

What we're eating this week.......

This week we are eating leftovers of baked ziti and Mexican casserole and will probably be ordering pizza too!

What I'm reminiscing about............

Community Bible Study in Memphis; I really enjoyed that & was so thankful for a great study and great group of women each week.

What I'm loving..............

Avery being home from Africa!

What we've been up to.................

entertaining guests;  In the past 2 weeks, I've had 2 days where I didn't have guests in our apartment.

What I'm dreading.................

missing the Huey Lewis concert next week in Memphis :(

What I'm working on.................

preparing for English tutoring Thursday night and Fill Your Cup Friday morning

What I'm excited about.............

going to NYC in October!!

What I'm watching/reading.................

The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (Avery and I watch this every morning)

What I'm listening to...................

I am always listening to traffic, which includes the sound of honking horns!

What I'm wearing................

It's Bogota, so of course I am wearing a sweater!!

What I'm doing this weekend..................

The girls begin fall break, but also have a virtual day of school, so probably will be focusing on that and our team retreat next week.

What I'm looking forward to next month................

We have a team retreat, my trip to NYC, and Brook turns 11!

What else is new....................

My niece is going through rush this week and I sooo wish I could be there with her on bid day, but am so excited to hear the news next week.  

Thanks for reading along!

Weekend Wrap Up, A Day Late

It's Tuesday, but here is our weekend wrap up! Our weekend was spent with our friend, Larry, who was in town visiting.  He is on his way to Memphis this morning. Here are photos from his visit to share with you:

Friday, we had lunch at our mall and ate patacones, which are my favorites here.  They are fried plantains and you can choose your toppings from the restaurant.  We also visited the girls school and went out to dinner while Isabella had youth group.  Larry quickly got use to the time we spend in taxis here!

Saturday, we to Usaquen for some artisan shopping, a market to look at the different fruits here, and then ate at Crepes and Waffles.  This was my dessert:

Sunday, we went to church, had lunch at home, then the Floyds met us and we went to Andre Carne de Res (the girls stayed home to do homework).  This was only our 2nd time there, but it was even more lively on a Sunday night.  It is quite the sensory and food overload.  As a reminder, this is the restaurant with a 60 page menu!  It is located about 10 minutes outside of Bogota in another city, but it takes about an hour to get there.

We were quickly serenaded by performers.

We were given Colombian sashes!

I had my normal fresa juice, but then I ordered lulo juice.  It is good too.

They gave the guys bibs to wear as they ate, which is very common here.

This was my tomato soup.  We also had eaten empenadas, yuca, and arepas before this! It was a good place for Larry to try Colombian food.

Our group

One view inside the restaurant

After returning to the apartment, we went to the rooftop on the 20th floor to watch the lunar eclipse.

Monday, we went to Monserrate while the girls were at school.

Afterwards, we went to get traditional Ajiaco soup.  

We also got the typical Colombian hot chocolate, bread and cheese plate.

It was a great visit with Larry and we enjoyed good food along the way too!

We now return to our regularly scheduled program! :)

Friday Favorites

I love that I have personal hair and make-up assistant in my home!  I asked Brook to braid my hair before I went to the airport to pick up Avery Wednesday night.  This was the beautiful result!

I had a meeting at the girls school Wednesday morning, so I had to leave before the girls did.  The traffic was terrible.  I know that gets old, but it was worse than the normal terrible!  It took the girls 1 hour to get to school.  I was upstairs and saw their van arrive.  It is one of those you see on the other side of the parking lot.

I caught the girls coming into the school and both were smiling!!  School is hard, but they both really like school.  I am so proud of them.

Here is Brook with Annie, our friends daughter who is in pre-K.  She is on the same bus with the girls.  You can see Isabella in the background going upstairs to class (with the peach backpack).

This is a clearer picture!

Our friend, Larry, arrived last night and brought us this suitcase from home.  We love visitors and goodies from home! This is a good start to our weekend.

Happy Weekend!

Bogota Bridges

It's Thursday and Avery is home!  Today, I have a blog post at www.bogotabridges.com.

Happy Fall Y'all!

Welcome to Fall Y'all!  

Here in Bogota we are blessed with fall weather year round.  I really do think that is my favorite part about living here.  At the same time, I have realized I do miss seasons.  I was talking with some ladies about fall and how it "always is fall in Bogota".  We eat a lot of soup here and drink a lot of hot drinks, such as coffee and hot chocolate here, so to me, those are also associated with fall weather (& winter). When I said the main thing I missed about fall were the changing of leaves, the colors and falling, they said but we have beautiful blooms all year long. That is true.  Beautiful flowers can be seen year round.  At the same time, I remember the excitement of seeing the first bloom of spring.  So even though Colombians here don't know what fall is, I will be pulling out some fall decorations, which I have realized having some holiday/seasonal decorations are very important for me here.

Walk, enjoy, the colors and falling leaves and take a photo for me.  Actually, just say a prayer for me please :).

Weekend Wrap Up

Monday, monday.....I am glad to see a new week come.  This means some exciting stuff around here, and I assure you, I am in need of it.  I've had some of my roughest, loneliest moments the past 2 weeks.

This Wednesday night, Avery returns home from Ethiopia!  I will be glad to have him back home. Thursday night, we have a very good friend from Memphis coming to see us, which also means I will receive a suitcase from home my parents have been busy working on packing for me.

Now for a little weekend wrap-up......

Friday morning, I spoke at Fill Your Cup ministry on dating your spouse.  I spent the afternoon with some teammates and we went to dinner that night.  Brook went home with a friend and both girls had youth group that night.

Saturday, was a day of relaxing some at home and Isabella went to a quinceanera.  According to wikipedia, here is the definition:

Quinceañera (pronounced: [kinseaˈɲeɾa]/[k̟ĩn̺s̺e̞äˈɲe̞ɾä]; feminine form of "fifteen-year-old"), also called fiesta de quince años, fiesta de quinceañera, quince años, quinceañero or simply quince, is a celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday in parts of Latin America and elsewhere in communities of people from Latin America. This birthday is celebrated differently from any other as it marks the transition from childhood to young womanhood.

These are a huge deal here. We went to one in May for Cielo's 15th birthday.  Isabella went to this one for a classmate at school.  It was strange to send her off by herself to a party.  And she didn't get home until 1:50am!!  I knew it was going to be late though, it is just the tradition here.  I set my alarm for 1am to wait up for her and there was much relief when she came home (a friend's parents brought her home). She had a great time!

Last weekend, we bought her a new dress for the occasion.

While Isabella was out, the Floyds were here with Brook and I.  Angela made pulled pork (which I have never done here) and it was delicious. Instead of a sandwich, I served mine over salad with tomatoes, avocados and BBQ sauce.  It was very good.

Most of Sunday was filled with homework.  Yeah, basically, Friday's are the only day off of homework around here these days :(.  

Today I am headed a to a meeting about tutoring Colombian kids with their English homework.  This is a new outreach that will begin this week.  Not all Colombian kids study English in school, but those who do struggle with homework because their parents do not understand English and the kids don't have anyone to practice with at home.

Happy Monday and week to you!

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday folks!

First, 2 prayer requests:  

~ Isabella has an Algebra chapter test today.  Always need prayers!

~I am speaking to a group of ladies at our moms event on the topic, "dating your spouse". 

Not so much a favorite thing because we miss him, but part of our week was saying so long to Avery as he traveled to Ethiopia.  Here we are on the elevator to walk him down to a taxi for the airport. He is doing well & Saturday is his birthday. 

It is a long way there.  This was his 12 hour flight from JFK to Dubai.  That doesn't include Bogota to JFK or Dubai to Ethiopia.  A long way!!

This is  Avery with a missionary who spent many years living in Ethiopia.  He is now retired yet goes back there to visit a foundation he started.  We met he and his wife a few years ago in Charlotte, NC.  They are friends with Avery's parents and attend their church.  They are very nice and we have kept in touch a few times via email.  He happened to be in Ethiopia for one more day when Avery arrived so they were able to see one another.   Very cool.

I have had a Magic Bullet for approximately 4 years and it finally almost literally blew up last week.  So I wanted a blender/food processor but they are so expensive here, but I did manage to buy a blender.  I made sure to buy a US brand so hopefully it would have instructions in English!

"Your hope is an anchor for my soul."  Hebrews 6:19

That sums up my week.  I am so thankful for hope that is an anchor, especially in the disappointments and frustrations of life.

Facebook Funny Fotos, 2nd Edition

Happy Thursday.  We are so glad for Thursday because that means Friday is coming.  Our Friday will be a busy one tomorrow, but it's still Friday!!

Here is the 2nd edition of where I post funny fotos I have seen on Facebook (or Instagram) this past week:

I don't do this laundry pattern on a regular basis, but I have been guilty of this in the past!

Those truly were good times looking back now.

I liked this saying and the image of family & friends gathered around a table.

Amen.

Yes, love this!

Thanks for praying for Avery!  He has made it to Ethiopia and I think is doing well.  I have only texted for a few minutes, but he is there safely.  

Who's Coming to Dinner?

Before jumping into today's post, just wanted to acknowledge my heartbreak and prayers for those affected by the shooting yesterday at my alma mater, Delta State University.

Thankful member of graduating class of 1992

In addition to that notice, I give you today's prayer requests:  Isabella has an algebra quiz and science quiz  She needs to do well on both!  Brook has a science test today.  And Avery is flying on his way to Ethiopia all day long!

Today's Show and Tell Tuesday theme is dinner party guests.  

Well, I love my family and I love having dinner with friends, but I'm making this a celebrity style edition!! And all of these celebrities are still living today.  In no particular order, but this first one is not going to be a surprise if you know me well.

Huey Lewis

~ my favorite singer; I would enjoy conversation, but maybe I would just let him be the entertainment!  I love me a Huey Lewis concert.  Never gets old.  

Jim Gaffigan

~If you don't know Jim Gaffigan, find some of his comedic work and get ready for a good laugh.  This guy is funny and I hope to see a live show some time.  In the meantime, he has a tv show on TV Land network.  

Jimmy Fallon

~host of the Tonight Show; He seems down to earth, and also a funny guy who could keep a dinner party going!

Reese Witherspoon

~my favorite female actress; I like her and she's from the south.  I think we could be friends.

Faith Hill & Tim Mcgraw

~These powerhouse country music singers are some of my favorites, even though I really don't listen to them too much these days.  I still am a fan.  I've always like the similarity that she is from Mississippi and Tim is from Louisiana, just like me and Avery!

Amy Poehler

~Actually, If I could have dinner with her character, Lesley Knope, from Parks & Recreation, that would be fun.  I felt a connection to her and really liked that show.  She definitely seems like a fun person.

Beth Moore

~great bible teacher and fun personality!

 Last, but not least in honor to have a favorite for my family (because they will of course be at the dinner party!!).....

Jennifer Lawrence

~This is Brook's favorite actress, so she is coming for Brook.

Vince Vaughn

~This is one of Avery's favorite actors & I am a fan too. He's a funny guy & he & Reese Witherspoon are friends, so they would make a fun pair at dinner!

Last, but certainly not least......

The Royal Family

~I'm a fan, but Isabella is a bigger fan.  How cool would that be to have dinner with these people and those adorable kids!

I do feel like this list could go on for a while.  Many others come to mind, but I was trying to keep this simple from one category of people!!