Please pray for Matthew and his family!

Hi everyone!

If you've been reading this blog for very long, you've prayed with us for Matthew through the various developments of the court battle for his custody with Troy and Lori.

I ask for your prayer again today and tomorrow.

You see, they have invited the birth father to come and visit them for two days, and this could be the opportunity for many many many positive developments. You can read about all the details right here.

Thanks for praying everyone! Be sure to leave Lori a comment so she can be encouraged!

Costa Rica Story #5: The Drive to the Beach

Costa Rica Post # 5 of 14:

December the 27th, at O-Dark-Thirty in the morning,

we put our groggy selves in the car, and headed...

...to the beach!

On the way, we saw your typical road-side farm life:

And got your not-so-typical road-side snack.

This is me happy as a clam, drinking my favorite Costa Rican thirst-quencher (fresh cool coconut milk) and reading.

It doesn't get much better than that!

Danny slept till he was tired of sleeping, and then entertained himself:

Hee hee! Almost there!

Costa Rica Story #4: Visiting Cousins in Santa Ana

Costa Rica Trip Post # 4 of 14:

The day after Christmas, we made a trip out to Santa Ana (just outside of San Jose, Costa Rica) to Ale's Tio's house.

(This is their yard decorated for Christmas.)

What did we drive?

Why we drove his mom's 1975 VW Bug of course!

Danilo met more of his billions of cousins and his Tio Abuelo Chito.

And then...

We had Christmas tamales! Yummmmm...

And the next day... We headed off to the beach!

Costa Rica Story #3: Down Time...

Here's story #3 of 14... Keep comin' back! They'll post every couple of hours!

_______________________________________

During our visit down south to the our tropical home country of Costa Rica, we did have some relaxing-hanging-out-giggling-and-doing-nothing-down time.

Gustavo and Angie are just the cutest newlyweds EVER.

Gotta' love it when Mami plays with our hair! I could sit for hours while someone touches my hair. That's half the reason I go get hair-cuts.

Danny and his Abuelo got some sun.

And then headed inside after sun turned them sweaty.

Gustavo practiced feeding the moving target of our six-month-old's mouth.


We taught Danilo how to play cards and dice.

Great. He'll be takin' the kids' change on the kindergarten playground.

But mostly, we laughed. :)

Updated: Sarah finished the marathon! Way to go!!

__________________

Hey, everyone, I just found out about this and had to share it with you: Sarah lives in my home-town of San Diego. We went to church with her. Here we are when I saw her last..

I love it! Sarah is just gorgeous, on the inside and the out! Please consider supporting her! Here is what she wrote to me:

I'm back. This is last minute, but I'm doing it. 2009 stretched me in ways I've never experienced before. I'll be experiencing the aftermath for a while. I stopped training altogether but I did get back in to swing dancing! I signed up for the Carlsbad marathon (half), thinking that would motivate me to start running again. I want to get back into the things I learned to enjoy just recently in life.

Well, it's four days before the event and I haven't trained. But you know what? I'm going to try. I'm not in it for a personal best and I won't be pushing myself real hard. I might even stop and eat a taco when I get hungry. But I've got a friend flying out from Denver to support me, and another friend driving from Arizona. What's so important about this event that they would go to this length to join me? We all have diabetes. And we're friends.

I'm running with a team of about 60 diabetics this weekend at the Carlsbad marathon. Our team is Glucomotive. One fella is blind. A blind diabetic runner. Ponder that. Seriously.

How is it we all get this privilege and opportunity to learn from each other, push each other, and bond? insulinDependence.org This organization has changed my life. I have been passionate about it since they came to San Diego just over 2 years ago. I was even on staff (voluntarily) early last year. This is a young organization with a huge heart and high but very reachable hopes. This is a necessary organization for the diabetic community. It has been missing far too long.

I went with insulinDependence to Costa Rica last year. I did not fundraise for that trip. (Now that I think of it, I didn't fundraise for anything 2009! Whoa!). 12 strangers met and at the end of the trip we left as family. One gal had never seen the ocean before. She surfed. She didn't even want to go - her sister signed her up for the trip!

I can't tell you how often people have connected to this group with trepidation and anxiety. Adult diabetics who had never met other diabetics. Personally, I can't imagine. This disease is too hard and frustrating to figure out on your own. What an opportunity to have available for that individual. As a diabetic, we have to be our own advocate - in the doctor's office, with health insurance, and for the future of progressing in treatments. As an educator, I often tell people that with this condition you are forced into being a scientist. Because of insulinDependence, the synergy of self-advocacy and experiential science allows us to share solutions that work when dealing with diabetes and exercise. More than that, it allows life-long friendships to form. A social network that can be tapped into for multiple reasons - even if it's for a laugh or a need to vent.

Please support this organization with me. You can make a donation through my campaign page. My goal is $500 in the next four days. Pretty awesome, huh? Let's make it happen.

Just to forewarn you, I will be sending another fundraising letter next month as I campaign for the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure. Yes, I'm going to be riding my bike again! (FINALLY!!) Want to join my team? Think about it.

Thank you for your treasured consideration.

With Love and Respect (and exogenous insulin and calloused fingers),
Sarah Jane Johnson

You can contact Sarah by emailing her at healthydiabetics@yahoo.com,

or you can email me and I'll contact Sarah.

Costa Rica Story #2: Danny's New Moves

Here is Costa Rica Post #2 of 14

While vacationing in Costa Rica, Danny learned all kinds of new skillz.

Yup. I said skillz.

It was just plain crazy how many new things he did in two and a half weeks. So here we go...

First, he fell in love with vertically falling water. (Uh huh, I did just post a picture of my husband and son in the shower on the World Wide Web.) It was SO FUN to watch him try to grab it! Next, he sat up! All by himself. No help. (Ok, well, he didn't get into the sitting position on his own. But he stayed there on his own!)

The continued fascination with his feet helped. :)

Danny has been grabbin' at those toes for a while. But since they spent the majority of the trip bare......he decided to taste them!
He also showed interest in toys that are way beyond his age... like this little tamborine.
And this elephant whose tummy spins.

I love how he concentrates so intensely!

Oh, and he grew these! This picture was taken on January 19th, so they weren't that big in Costa Rica... This was just the first opportunity we had to snap a shot of them.

Oh, and plus he said his first word!

And then... as if that wasn't enough, well, just take a look:

(sorry, the video is distorted because it was originally

shot sideways - a forgetful habit of ours)

He decided to stand!

Ok, slow down kid.

Lastly, he figured out how to make that funny noise that Papa makes when he puts his hand over his lips while he makes noise:

There ya' go, folks... All of Danny's new moves.

(Ok, actually, he's got more new moves since we'v been back... stories and pictures soon!)

Costa Rica Story #1: Christmas Eve

*******Updated... actually, they were whittled down to fourteen posts...*******

Here you are!!! Coming your way are no less than seventeen posts, complete with pictures, from our Costa Rica trip! They'll post every few hours over the next few days - and hopefully I can keep on top of posting them for you! I hope ya'll enjoy!

______________________________________

After three plane rides and a overnight in Miami, we finally made it to Costa Rica in time to relax for the afternoon on Christmas Eve... and prepare for the middle-of-the-night fiesta that takes place at midnight on Christmas Day.

As I was remembering here, in Latin America, Christmas is not celebrated in the morning when all the tiny tots wake up and run downstairs looking for evidence of Santa's attendance... rather, they celebrate with fireworks in the street at midnight, the moment it is officially Christmas.

And then everyone sleeps until noon on Christmas Day.

So where was our little one when the clock struck midnight?

...cozy in his Christmas pajamas, his soft Christmas blanket and his international travel bed, sawin' off logs and dreamin' his sweet little head.

Admitedly, I was a bit jealous. :)

Meanwhile, we had just finished Christmas dinner, at about 11:30 p.m. Yes, we had dinner at that hour of the evening!

And since Christmas trees are not as common in Latin America - evergreens just aren't your run-of-the-mill tree in the tropical rainforest - the presents were piled on the living room chair, equally eager to be opened as if they'd sat under a tree with tinsel and lights.

It was fun to enjoy the giving among new and old family members.


We gave the new parents their first of many diapers to be changed!

It was an evening rich with memories and the spirit of a long-awaited family reunion.

Ok, it may be January 20th, but I just gotta' say it...

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Lookie what I got!?

Just by coinkiedink... I had taken this picture with my Mom's most amazing new camera that she brought with her on her latest visit.

(I am seriously scheming how to steal it from her... or get all three of my readers - ahem - to donate money to me so I can buy this very-cool-camera-that-I-want-oh-so-much... Hey, my birthday's comin' soon!)

Anyway, as I was saying before that very important side note, I'd taken this picture and immediately thought of it after reading MckMama's guest post called Lets Look at this From a Different Angle, written by her friend Kelly.

It's not super creative or anything... and I'm no professional, but I thought it came out pretty cool!

And can you even believe that Danny has two teeth!

On the Mend

His hoarse little voice (left over from the sick and the runny nose and the sobs through the night that have filled the last three days) is still the sweetest thing...

...dare I say even sweeter?

He's been extra cuddly these days. He's taken to wrapping his little arms around my neck, grabbing a fist-full of the back of my hair, and burying his face in my collar bone.

Now I understand why moms enjoy it just a little bit when their babies need extra tender loving care due to the sniffles. I certainly don't enjoy the sniffles. But the extra-tender-loving-care part is better than hot chocolate on a snow day.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Lunch Time!

We went to Olive Garden and had a delicious lunch. And what better to have for desert!?

(He's feeling better, as you can see... Grammy medicine does that.)

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Raining and Pouring

When it rains, it pours. And here, it's pouring.

If you follow me on Twitter, then you already know that since 2 a.m. this morning, we have had to take not one, but two of the members of our household to get medical attention.

That's why I'm pretty much comotose right now.

We started with a trip to the E.R. with my feverish, congested six-month-old. :( He did not care for the rectal temperature-taking experience and well, I don't really blame him. He REALLY didn't care for the catheter in order to get a urine sample. Man, kid, did you scream bloody murder! And the "Mamamamamama!!!" through snot and tears that followed just about ripped my heart in half.

But all said and done, it's just a virus and we just have to keep the temp down and help him get lots of sleep. For those of you not following the train of thought, that translates into little to no sleep for Mama.

Uh, yeah... that would be my spot on our bed.

After we got home, I took care of both my hurting boys and crawled into bed to sleep by 7 a.m., just in time to sneak in 45 minutes of blissful rest ragged half-sleep before waking to help Alejandro wade the virgin waters of a workman's comp case and find an urgent care facility to care for his pain-filled left eye. (Yesterday he was whacked in the eye with a piece of a metal screw he was cutting at work.) Despite the screaming pain that he's in, he's going to be just fine, and I can't sing the praises of his boss enough for how great he treats always his employees.

So most of the day was spent alternately napping and nursing the sick and hurting in my house.

Anybody wanna come take care of me? (Whimper whimper)

And then I said to myself, "Self, suck it up and quit whining. It'll be over before you know it. And one day, you"re actually gonna miss this."

Besides, Grammy's coming... So it will all be better soon!

Danilo, Meet Your Querida Familia

Here they are! The first pictures from Costa Rica! These are taken at the airport, where Danilo met his Querida Familia (Dear Family) for the first time...

¡Aquí están las primeras fotos del viaje a Costa Rica! Aquí Danilo conoce a su querida familia por primera vez...

Is that face not killer? Oh, I just love it. It says, "I love you so much already I could just eat you and I could not possibly be happier about being Abuela!"

¿Que buena expresión, verdád? ¡Me fascina! Dice, "Te amo tanto ya que pudiera comerte y no es posible que yo pudiera ser más feliz por ser abuela!

...and pretty much after that, we didn't see him for two weeks... ;)

...y después de eso, ya no le vimos a Danilo por dos semanas... ;)

Here he is with Tío Gustavo and Tía Angie:

Aquí está con el tío Gus y la Tía Angie:

And his Abuelo. These two were the funnest to watch! Danny and his Abuelo would hang out together and it was striking how much they look alike! (I'll share more of that resemblance later.) Freddy just fell in love with his grandson, and his great affection for our little one took us all by surprise. What a joy!

Y aqui con el abuelo. ¡Que diversión ver estos dos! Danilo y su abuelo pasaba tiempo juntos y era un basilón como se parecen. (Compartiré esas fotos más adelante.) Don Freddy se enamoró con su nieto, tanto que nos sorprendió. ¡Que gozo nos dió!

And these two... Equally enamored with eachother.

Y estos dos... totalmente enamorados.

True love at first sight.

Amor a primera vista.

I just realized that poor Danny's a little squished sitting

the wrong way in the baby carrier. Oops!

Me di cuenta ahora que Danilo está mal acomodado

y un poco apretado en el kanguro. ¡Oh oh!

stream of consciousness

So because I adore MckMama and copy practically all of her stuff... and because this stream-of-consciousness writing (with no editing or stopping to re-write) is a quick and easy way to get lost of information out all at once, I thought I'd try this.

First of all, I know some of you are chomping at the bit for pictures and stories from Costa Rica, and I've gotta' just be totally honest: I've been procrastinating because I want to write it well and there is SO MUCH to write that I am a bit overwhelmed. But I'll get over it. A story is coming tonight. Promise. ;) We did have a fabulous time there, and although we now need a vacation to recover from our vacation, it was restful (at least until the last three days when we realized all the things we still wanted to do).

The past few days we've been sleeping, cleaning, doing laundry, catching up, hanging out with The Franks and The Valentes and doing fun things like eating sushi with them and stuff. Tomorrow we're going to Focus on the Family headquarters and I can't wait! ...even though I am a little overwhelmed at the thought that I'm taking time out of my work schedule to do so, when I really need to catch up.

On a totally different subject - I worked out this morning and then needed a two-hour nap to recover! Oh, two and a half weeks without working out is painful.

On another unrelated note, (and the REAL reason I wanted to write tonight) somebody (who is a total sweetheart) made a comment about me having a beautiful baby and a picture-perfect family, and it sent me down a train of thought that I haven't been able to shake. And that is this: I know we look picture perfect. There are no two other guys on this earth who are as beautiful to me as my husband and my baby boy. But the thing is that we're really NOT. And that is somehow, VERY important to me that you all know.

Because I talk about Jesus lots. And Jesus TRULY carries me through all things thick and thin. And there's a lot of the thick. And if someone didn't know that we're not picture perfect and if someone didn't know that we have a lot of thick to deal with and if that someone didn't know Jesus for themself... Well, then, they just might be turned off by the whole idea of God and stuff, because they might think, "Well, that's wonderful for her and her perfect family, but me... Well, I'm NOT so perfect and Jesus wouldn't want me."

And well, it also important to me that you all know that we have stuff in our lives, because I think there are WAY TOO MANY other small families out there (with kids or without), who are much like us, and who also seem to have it all together from the outside looking in, but who just might feel like they're dying inside and if they don't get help right. now. they just might crumble. To those people, I want to say, "Please reach out to help. RIGHT NOW. To me. To your church. To anyone." We would be lost if it weren't for the support and help we received from many through the years. So often I want to just spill my guts on this blog and share with you ALL the junk that we fight and find victory over (and sometimes defeat) a little at a time and in daily doses. To encourage you. So you know that you're not alone. But that would be unwise and indiscreet.

(Yes, I know I'm using italics way too much, but it helps me feel like I'm expressing myself.)

Anyway, I feel like I got that off of my chest, and hopefully some of you are encouraged.

Ok, I also just went back and re-read, which is kind of contrary to the stream-of-consicousness idea, but it's because it seems like there should be some sort of polished ending to this. But really, there's not. Maybe that's all Jesus wanted me to say tonight.

No wrap-it-up-and-tie-a-bow-on-it-at-the-end-of-the-half-hour.

Life's like that. My life is like that. It's messy and difficult and never accordng to plan. It's two steps forward and one step back, and with that step back, a Still Small Voice that says, "Patience, my child. My timing. My work. Just breathe and be and know that I Am."

I hope that if you feel life is messy tonight, you know that you're not alone. You're not stuck. You're not a failure. You're not hopeless.

And from my small corner of this little world, I'm praying for you.

I Am That Woman

Confession time.

I've become that mom.

You know, the one that obsessively checks to see if her child is breathing every night before she goes to bed. Yeah.

I used to say it was just because I like the sound of his breathing. Which I do. I said it was only every now and then. Which it's not.

Then tonight I actually asked my husband if he would check for me.

And so it is now proven beyond a reasonable doubt that I am that woman.

And I might as well just admit it right now.

I'll probably be doing it until he's 16.

Infant + Public Bathroom - Baby Changer = Disaster

Alejandro was retreiving the car seat from the flight crew storage so Danilo and I headed off to the bathroom.

Uh oh. No stalls with baby-changing tables in them for me to put him down. This oughtta be interesting.

Ok close the door and hang up the diaper bag. Now take him out of the carrier and hang up the carrier.

No sweat.

Now hold him up with one arm and pull down the jeans with the other. Scootch down the right leg. Scootch down the left leg. Scootch down the right leg. Scootch down the left leg.

Now, to put the seat protector on the toilet seat. Adjust the baby in one arm. Gently pull out the cover...

Crap. That one broke.

Try number two. Gently pull it out so it doesn't break. Now to lay it down: let's see, if I fluff it up in the air so it floats down slowly as I guide it onto the seat...

Crap. That one fell in.

Try number three. Gently pull out. Fluff up. Guide as it floats down. Don't let go of the baby. There. Just in the right place.

By now I'm dancing to keep from having an accident.

Repeat with the second seat protector. Call me a germophobe. I use two seat protectors.

Alright. Turn around. Sit down and balance the baby on one leg. No, don't pull my necklace. Ew don't touch that. Woah, don't lean too far that way. Here, play with your toes. They're your favorite right now.

Over-sensitive automatic flushing toilet.

FLUSH.

Splash!

Nice. :|

Deep breath. Next step, toilet paper. Attempt number one resulted in about half a square because the paper tore.

With attempt number two I yanked the roll so half the paper ended up on the floor.

Sooner or later I managed to yank and rip just at the right time while holding Danny far enough away from the wall so he wouldn't touch the hand rail. At least I had enough sense to use the handicap stall.

I'll save you the shenanigans I went through to get my jeans back up.

Baby back in the carrier. Bag on the shoulder. Out the door.

That has to make me super mom or something.

I think next time I'll hold it.


Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

On Our Way

We're on our way!! Just waiting at the airport here in Costa Rica.

Check out my new necklace! It doubles as entertainment for Danny while he's in the carrier!
___________

¡Ya nos vamos! Estamos esperando en el aeropuerto de San José, Costa Rica.

¡Vean mi nuevo collar! ¡También a Danilo le gusta!



Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Stuck Between Two Worlds

Home.

It's a ceramic tile kitchen that smells of cilantro and beans. There's a cool tropical breeze that wafts through from the street and goes out by way of the indoor patio replete with all kinds of ferns, leafy plants and tropical flowers. Music is playing gently from the other room, which always seems to match my mood, and sunlight that spills in from the garden lighting up the air with a happy warmth.

Home.

It's a wood floor living room with a cozy carpet and a fire burning steadily. Snow falls gently outside creating a quiet that surrounds the house and wraps it in peace. Curled up on the couch in a wool sweater and fuzzy blanket with hot chocolate and a good book. The smell of cookies baking in the oven fills the house and my big black dog sleeps on my feet, putting them to sleep.

14 bazillion miles apart.

Two homes. Worlds apart. No matter which I'm in, I miss the other.

Leaving

Leaving Costa Rica is never fun. Every time I come here, no matter how long we spend, regardless of how well we planned or how ragged we ran ourselves to do so much... I always leave feeling like I only did half the things I wanted to do.

This time in particular, there is one person, who I'd like to spend a lifetime getting to know. Pouring in to her. Ministering. Teaching. Mentoring. Be-friending. Loving.

But we only had a few days. Hopefully the time we spent gave her a glimpse of a Big God living in us and a Peace that she can trust to carry all things she can't.

Angie thank you for opening yourself as much as you did. I'm so excited to have you as my new sister-in-law. Love God. Love Gustavo. Love that little one inside you.

Many Blessings,
Renee
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Only in Costa Rica...

...do you see a motorcycle drive by with a ladder and construction tools tied to the back.

Ha!

Guess What Danilo SAID?!

I was going to post all the happenings here in chronological order, but I couldn't wait for this one...

On New Year's Day, I was watching a movie while Danny hung out with his relatives. Suddenly, Alejandro's cousin came running in saying, "Renee, Renee, he said Mama!"

Faster than a pistol I hurried in to the other room. It turns out that Angie (my sister-in-law) thought Danny looked like he wanted to say something, so the cousins and aunts and his Abuela all started saying "Ma-ma" to see if he would imitate them. And he DID!

He said it a second time once I came in the room, and I'm pretty sure my heart stopped and fell through the floor.

The third time he said it, it was so loud and clear, there was no mistaking his intentionality. He'd work on forming his little lips and then blurt it out to our utter delight!

How fun! Danny's first word!

History... His Story

Since I'll be in Costa Rica when you read this (which is where my handsome husband and I met), I thought it'd be appropriate to tell the story of how Alejandro and I met way back when.

Ok, it hasn´t been that long. But it sure feels like it! I mean, it was eight whole years ago and I have a whole new life now!

Anyway, here goes...

I had just graduated from college at PLNU and was working as a camp counselor at Forest Home Christian Conference Center in the San Bernadino Mountains of California. Yes, I realize I have had the privilege of living in some of the most beautiful places on earth. Anyway, I had recently broken up with gotten dumped by the guy I thought for sure was my one and only forever. In other words, I was lonely, depressed and totally miserable.

Plus, I was throwing a hum dinger of a pity party for myself.

Several of my friends were either going to or returning from an extended trip abroad - which was something I always wanted to do - and it occurred to me that then was as good a time as any. One evening in the middle of worship, I realized that God wanted me to take a trip like that, and open myself to be stretched physically, emotionally, culturally and spiritually. So right then and there I pulled out my journal and committed to leave in the next 6-12 months to go to a Spanish-speaking country in order to serve - somehow. I really didn't have any more specific direction than that.

The summer ended and I returned to San Diego to start my student teaching and to settle into a little apartment with two other college girlfriends. Still being heartbroken and still enjoying that pity party, I remembered that that guy had always talked with excitement and enthusiasm about a biology trip he took to Costa Rica as a part of his pre-med studies in college. I got on the Internet and Googled "Costa Rica Missions."

I found the site of a Christian elementary school established by missionaries that professed a commitment to academic excellence and teaching of faith in Christ. After the application process, phone conversations, research and lots of prayer, I decided to go. It was a fit.

In January of 2002, I moved to San Jose, Costa Rica, and rented a room from a family who lived a few blocks from the school I worked at. Alejandro lived two houses down with his family. He'd recently returned from a trip to Kansas, where he lived for 8 months, studying English.

I passed his bedroom window every morning as I walked to school. And he'd check me out.

He worked at the internet cafe, where I'd go to write home. And I'd check him out.

One day I found myself very lost in downtown San Jose trying to find the bus home (kind of like being lost in San Diego and trying to find the bus to one of its suburbs). Through my broken Spanish I tried to ask for directions and ended up across the street from the bus stop I needed to be at, unbeknownst to me.

Alejandro was at the front of a very long bus line at that stop.

Jumping at the chance to come rescue me, he got out of line and came across the street to where I was. The conversation went something like this:

"Are you lost?"

"Mmmmhmmm!" (nodding yes)

"Would you like some help?"

"Mmmmhmmm!" (nodding yes)

"Are you going home?"

"Mmmmhmmm!" (nodding yes)

"Would you like get on the bus with me?"

"Mmmmhmmm!!!!" (emphatically nodding yes)

From that moment on, we were more or less inseparable. We quickly fell head over heals in love with eachother, although everyone recognized it but me. Alejandro (despite his shy nature) asked me twice if he could court me according to the Costa Rican tradition, with my host family serving as my supervising parents. Both times I gave him a flat out "No."

I'm from California. He's from Costa Rica. How could it possibly work?

Plus, I was pretty sure that as a missionary to the country, I was not supposed to date one of the natives.

Anyway, Alejandro obviously won. (Praise God!)

We were hanging out very late one evening and Alejandro said to me (again uncharacteristicly of his shy nature), "I'd really like to kiss you now."

"No." I said. (I know. I was really mean. But my limited Spanish didn't allow for a whole lot of explanation.)

"Are you sure?" he asked.

My insides were a mixed mess! "No, I'm NOT sure!" I wanted to say. "I'd really like to kiss you too, but I shouldn't, because I'm a missionary and I live in the United States and you live here!"

Funny how we try to put God in a box and make His plans fit into ours.

I tried to explain. "No, I'm not sure...." I began. But in my pause to find the words to explain, (you guessed it) Alejandro kissed me.

I quickly decided not to finish my sentence. (Ha!)

And that, folks, is how the story began. It's not the holiest of beginnings. And actually, God had a long way to bring us until we were ready to get married. He still has a long way to bring us to make us into the Godly husband and wife we'd like to be. But God has a way of starting with his broken mislead people and working his Glory through them anyway.

I'll continue the story another time... but for now that's all.

May God bless you this day, and remind you that no matter where you are in the midst of your journey through His Will for your life, He can always bring greater good than you could ever ask or imagine from what seems like chaos and confusion.

Just wait on Him, and let him delight you.

Oh the blog posts to come...

I can't wait to get back and share with you all the experiences and pictures!

New Year's Eve with Alejandro's family - just a small gathering of 30 people (and that's only half the family) and enough fireworks to light up the whole block!

Danilo's new moves.

Falling in love with Abuelo and Abuela.

The beach, the ocean, and the pool!

Great food...

...and SO MUCH MORE!

In the mean time, here are some pictures to enjoy! See ya'll soon!

Come back tomorrow afternoon... I've got a fun little story from the past scheduled for you.