Friday Favorites 2016, Week 4

It's finally Friday!  We are looking forward to our not-too-busy weekend. Even though it is the last Friday of the month, here is the first installment of Friday Favorites 2016!

Spending time with Edwin and his girlfriend, Laura, was a highlight for us.  They even gave us a salsa lesson!

As posted on Instagram this week, I am so thankful for my health where I can walk home with a rolling cart of groceries (even if I do have to go at least 3x a week) and for clean drinking water delivered to my door every week.

Since Avery has been out of town this week (he comes home tomorrow),  I had a few projects to do.  Last summer, our playstation quit working properly and has just been sitting around since then. This week, I hooked it up again and got it working!  The girls enjoyed playing Just Dance one night this week.  We can watch Netflix now on our tv instead of our computer!

This is Isabella's new shirt:

"It's Colombia not Columbia"

And this is another new purchase this week I found at a store here.  I haven't tried it yet, but hope to this weekend.  I often have leg cramps, so I am hoping this gadget will help.  

My brother called me this week just to say hi.  This is for sure one of my favorite things.  This meant so much to me.  Other than my parents, it is rare for anyone to call me just to say hi.  

Last but not least, we've been receiving Christmas cards this week!  Thankful to receive one from some of our favorite people....the Janovich family.  Love them so much and truly miss doing life with them each week. Please keep them in your prayers during these next 6 weeks.  The 3 year anniversary of their husband/father's death is approaching and it is a hard time for them.  

Hug the ones you love, don't come unglued about the little things, forgive quickly, savor each moment.

Bucaramanga

Last weekend, we took a family trip to Bucaramanga.  Avery is still there attending the Colombian Presbytery general assembly.  Photos from our weekend are on http://bogotabridges.com/blog/.

Here is a bonus video I didn't post on the Bogota blog:

What's Up Wednesday ~ January 2016

After a weekend out of town (which I will blog about at a later time) & a busy day of bible study and catching up around here, I am back to blog with What's Up Wednesday!  Hard to believe it is already the last Wednesday of the month!

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

This week Avery is out of town at the Colombian Presbytery General Assembly, which means it is just the girls and I.  We snacked our way through dinner Monday night, but Tuesday, I made an easy chicken taco recipe.  I have two easy crock pot chicken taco recipes, but the one I used tonight calls for frozen chicken breasts, 1 package of taco seasoning (I make my own), and a jar of salsa.  Just add all ingredients to the slow cooker, cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6.  Then serve on tortillas with toppings of your choice!

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

Since the holidays, I've thought a lot about when the girls were younger.  Brook told me this weekend she had a very happy childhood (you know she is 11 now :)). That made my day.  Miss these little cuties!

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

I have spent my time since returning to Bogota organizing our apartment.  I am loving knowing where things are around here!

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

Well, the girls are back in school, so that means one thing.  You guessed it....homework. We've also been spending time planning for Isabella's big quince party next week.

What I'm dreading......

4 more months of school

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

I am working on party planning for Isabella's party.  Today I hope to organize party stuff so I can make sure the little things are done.

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

I finally upgraded my Colombian cell phone!

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

I've started reading my new book I received for Christmas:

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

I have just downloaded some 70's music to a new app called Deezer

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

After looking at these online for 2 years, I finally bought these books while in Memphis.  They can be tall boots or booties.  They look cute and it feels like your are wearing slippers!  They are made by UGG, so they are also good quality. 

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

I will be doing party preparations and Avery comes home Saturday.

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

Isabella's party

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

My bible study resumed yesterday and it seems like we will have a stronger semester together as a group and a better study.  I am meeting with Fill Your Cup leadership Thursday for planning for this semester. Pray for that opportunity to minister to young moms.

And the bonus question for this month is.....

What is your favorite Valentine treat?

This is an easy one for me.  I cannot get enough of Strawberry Pretzel Salad.  

Look up this recipe on pinterest, all recipes.com, google, or wherever you can.  Make it next month. It is delicious.

Happy Wednesday y'all!

Memphis Wrap-Up

Happy Friday Y'all!

This week has been all about our Memphis Christmas 2015.  Here are some highlights and a few more photos:

First  ~ We are extremely grateful to the 30's community Sunday School class who brought us home for the holidays.  This class raised money for all 4 of our plane tickets.  

Second ~ I was able to spend some time with a few friends I had not seen since prior to moving  and with some friends I hadn't spent any time with outside of church.  I also was able to spend a little more quality time with a few other people.

Third ~  It was great to be with my family the days leading up to Christmas Eve and being with them all on Christmas Eve. 

Fourth ~ As I mentioned before, Isabella went snow skiing with our home church.  It made my heart so full to know she was having this experience and she did great.

Fifth ~ I was able to spend time with a few moms of teenage girls, which was golden for me.  I really miss this pocket of people in my life here, so that is always something I look forward to when in Memphis.

I really enjoy wearing my "real" wedding ring when stateside.  

Trips to Target are always a hightlight of the trip too!

Last night hanging out with my sister

And mhy parents

The girls spent their last week in North Carolina with Avery's family, and I met up with them in Atlanta to board our flight back to Bogota.  It made leaving Memphis a little easier for me and it was easier for the girls leaving as well.

We are over Colombia, but Memphis was still on our travel map!

It's always such a late night when we arrive back to Bogota. Brook had reached her limit, and I was pretty tired too!  We have stayed on the go for the most part since arriving back to Bogota, so that has been good.  Thanks for re-living this Memphis journey with me!

Sweet Friends

We always love spending time with sweet friends while in Memphis.  This time, I was able to visit some other friends I haven't seen since before we moved to Colombia.  There were many people I saw where I didn't take a photo (hard to believe with as many as I do have), but here is an overload of friend photos!

We stayed at our friend Larry's house and had some friends over for dinner one night. 

Avery gave Pearce a truck and a boat

Sweet boy asking lots of questions about his new toy!

All this friend visiting will wear a girl out!  Brook took a power nap one afternoon in the backseat of the car.

Time with Tona & Mallie at the mall

Me & Kaitlyn....still love this girl

And we love her little girl too!

My sweet friend, Julie, came in town from Austin, so I was able to spend some time with her and Layce.

Brook & Catherine

Maylen & Brook

Ellie, Kate & Isabella after returning home from their ski trip.  Yeah, Isabella went snow skiing for the first time with the senior high group from our church!

Ellie & Isabella

Jennifer, Ellie's mom, and I went to lunch and then church and showed up in basically matching outfits!

I had to go see my girls from school.  Love them so!

We met up with some MTW missionaries who live in Mexico, but were in Memphis during our same time. Of course, we had some Memphis BBQ!

New Year's Eve dance party with the Janovich and Thomasmeyer kids!

Welcome 2016!

We spent the first part of New Years Eve at Ashley's house, then went to another friends house.  Everyone in the photo above met while working at SOS (except Avery & I).  And another side note, our girls were flower girls in all of these couples weddings!  It was such a fun night.

Gardner & I

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas morning at my parents house.  It was a nice Christmas morning.  After opening Christmas morning gifts, some of my first cousins came with their kids for a Christmas brunch.

Brook's Christmas

Isabella's Christmas

I also prepared a stocking for my parents

and for Avery too!

Santa came!