Friday Favorites

We are coming home to the USA this summer!!  We booked tickets to travel this week & it is a good feeling to get that behind me (I know it sounds crazy but it was a day's work to book the tickets after weeks of contemplating dates).

See you in May!

There is a store (I may have mentioned it before) in Bogota called Price Smart, which is similar to a Cosco.  It has many Colombian products, but also has some American products too, which is so nice to see here!  This was only my second trip (it opened the end of October) & I enjoyed it just as much this time as I did the first.  I was able to take the bus there & a taxi back with all of my goodies.  As you can see from this picture, I got Kraft Mac n Cheese, Goldfish, crackers, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, & many other items.  There are definitely items sold there that are not sold in other grocery stores.  This was a half day event & a treat for all of us.  

I found a great deal in Bogota at our local grocery store.  They often have a sale table, but 9 out of 10 times, it isn't really discounted or anything I need.  Last week, I went & found this.  I needed a piece to put in our guest bathroom.  Y'all, this item pictured below was $1.00!!! I was happy.

And speaking of good deals. Have I shared this photo yet?  Last week we got 22 red roses for $2.  Flowers are cheap here (if you buy them from street vendors).

I shared in January I have a personalized calendar.  This month's family members with birthdays include of course Isabella, Fred, and Ricky (Sara's husband).

This weekend for us consists of youth group for Isabella & we will spend Saturday with Edwin. 

Happy Weekend!

Valentine's Day

I skipped my What's Cooking Wednesday edition this week due to the recipe I was going to share didn't go over too well with the family, although I liked it :).  Today I will share with you our Valentine's Day decorations here.

Valentine's Day is not an official holiday in Colombia.  Some private schools here who teach English will have celebrations, but that is all.  There are no Valentine cards or candy in the stores...seems a little strange to not go from one holiday to the next here (for instance, Christmas to Valentine's to Easter items in the stores).  In the fall, Colombia celebrates Amor & Armistad Day, which is love & friendship day, but it doesn't have the same commercialism that we have in the states with holidays, some of which is fun, and some of of which is over the top.  I do enjoy decorations though, so here are a few items we have in our home.

For this simple decoration, I cut out 4 heart shapes from scrapbook paper that I had brought to Colombia with me.  I folded them in half & glued them back to back, used a hold punch in the middle & put string through it.  I hung it on a kitchen cabinet door, but I think several of these would be cute hanging from a light fixture (we don't have any hanging light fixtures in our apartment).

Candle decorations

(sorry I didn't light them all for the picture :)

I found a copy of this subway art online & had a local print store print this for me, since we don't have a printer her.

Cookie cutters in wine glasses on our kitchen counter for the look of love

In our office area, I hung up 2 past decorations Brook had made when she was younger that I brought with me here.  Isabella didn't make these same projects in her school class when she was younger.

Again, I cut out hearts, but this time tied them with raffia string & hung them.

I turned these ingredients....

into this...Red Velvet M&M Brownies!

We also made some Valentine Chex Mix.  We are sharing brownies & chex mix with our Spanish teachers, our empleada, & the ladies in my book study group.  We will also share some with Edwin, who will spend Valentine's Day with us.  

**You can find these ideas & recipes on my Valentines Pinterest board..

**Thanks to my parents for sending the candles, & ingredients for the brownies.  Valentine M&M's are not sold here! 

Book Review, 3rd Edition

Today I am continuing with some highlights from the book, The Power of a Woman's Words. (eventually I will get to one of my other books, but I will probably finish this one first).

My reading these past 2 weeks from this book has focused on the power of a woman's words to her children & to her husband.  

First, I will share some thoughts from the chapter on words to children.  Oh my, there was a lot in this chapter that brought conviction as I have often struggled in this area.

The first thing that struck me was how terrible it is to be a part of a family where the only thing noticed are mistakes.  Lord, may I look for & acknowledge the right things my girls are doing every day.  They also mentioned that kids are not miniature adults.  

"Our words can do more than just make our children feel good.  Our words can make them feel like somebody who can accomplish great dreams or like a nobody who is destined to be a loser."

"We should never be stingy when it comes to speaking good words to children, but rather sow them profusely.  Scatter compliments!  Plant affirmation!  Sow courage!  Water with kindness! Fertilize with prayer!  There will be plenty of other people along life's journey who will sow weeks of doubt, dread, and discouragement."

We should be specific in our praise of our children.  The most important traits we can praise are when our children display the fruit of the Spirit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

Next, here are some thoughts from the chapter on words to your husband.  Words can break, debilitate, & devastate a man.  Be careful ladies.  Words can also make, motivate, & captivate a man.   There are scriptural examples of both. Words to avoid....(these apply to children & spouses)

   "You never........"
  "You always......."
   "I told you so."
   "You should have thought about that before."
   "I don't know why you do......"
   "How many times do I have to tell you."
   "You just don't think."
   "You should or you ought..."

Words to say....

   "I trust your decisions."
  "Thank you."
   "I am sorry for...."
   "You are a wonderful husband & father."
   "I believe in you."
   "How can I pray for you?"
   "What can I do for you today?'
   "You make my day brighter.  I love spending time with you."

There are so many other things we could say & things we can avoid.   Just a few verses to share as a reminder to us wives:

 "A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping." Proverbs 19:13  - I know I've sounded like a constant dripping many times nagging & repeating myself to Avery just to get my point across.

"Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife." Proverbs 21:19

Proverbs 11:22, Proverbs 21:9, Proverbs 25:24, Proverbs 27:15-16

I challenge you & myself....think before you speak. We don't have to speak our mind.  Think about if what we are saying will build up or tear down our spouse or children.  This is a huge prayer of mine.

   

Weekend Wrap-Up, Week 5

This may have been our first weekend in Bogota where we had plans outside the house for Friday & Saturday night.

There was a marriage conference held at United Church of Bogota (the English speaking church in Bogota) Friday night & Saturday morning.   The couple leading the conference was from California & they did a great job presenting their story & leading couples with helpful, biblical information. Isabella babysat for some friends who attended, so Brook also went with her.  We were able to ride with 2 other couples to the church & it was nice to be around other couples for the conference.

  

After the Saturday conference, Avery & I came back home for only a few hours before we all left the house again.  Some team members have a daughter who turned 1 year old on Saturday.  We went to their house for homemade pizza & cupcakes to celebrate their daughter & Isabella's birthdays.

Isabella & Evie Jude

Brook with the birthday girl

Laura Kate made the crust & provided the sauce.  We provided the cheese & Kroger American style pepperonis.  We were pretty excited about our American pepperonis!!

Sweet girl enjoyed her cupcake :)

We attended church on Sunday, ate lunch at the mall, then came home for the rest of the day.  I was glad to spend time at home catching up on things here.

On the top of my to-do list today...call a travel agent about booking tickets to the USA!!

Friday Favorites

This week's Friday Favorites will all be favorites from Isabella's birthday.  I will resume with other favorites next week.

Wednesday, we started the celebration early with lunch with Clara at Crepes & Waffles.  

Birthday decorations for when Isabella woke up Thursday morning.

New birthday plate :)

Dessert our housekeeper brought for Isabella

This is Isabella seeing her William & Kate card.

She loved it!  My parents found this card & sent it to her.  Kate & William say a message in the card.

My sister's students made cards for Isabella.  Preciousness.  Love, love these kids & miss them so much.

Isabella was surprised by receiving 20 birthday cards.

We went for lunch at our favorite pizza place.

I took Isabella to get a manicure....less than $4 USD!!

Avery took Isabella to Starbucks.

While she was gone, Brook helped me make dessert.

And we decorated the table for dinner

Birthday cookie brownie bars

She spent the evening talking with grandparents & cousins & then watched the movie, "The Odd Life of Timothy Green.  She had a great day & felt very loved!

Isabella's 14th Birthday

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Isabella, happy birthday to you!!

Today we celebrate Isabella's 14th birthday.  Our plans totally got changed for the day (click here to see why), but we are making other plans.  Today I will highlight photos of Isabella, most of which were taken when she was 7-8 years old.  Sorry I don't have any baby pictures on the computer!

Nothing I love more than showing my favorite city in the world to my girls!

midnight Black Friday shopping :)

7th birthday party

baseball game

8th birthday party

St Jude 5K

church choir

11th birthday with Kate Middleton

12th birthday

Last years celebration for her 13th birthday in London...here we are at Buckingham Palace

We love you Isabella & are so thankful for your life!

And a tribute to my grandmother, Moutie, who went to be with Jesus this day 7 years ago.  I miss all of my grandparents and am beyond blessed to have had such awesome, loving grandparents.