Have you ever had dear friends?  A group of friends with which you can share just about anything?  They know your secrets, your struggles, your chocolate addictions, and your need to sneak out to late night movies to feel like a normal human being again without three little people hanging on your hems... They know the struggles of living in a place that feels so much like home but is so far from the place you call home by name...  They were there at the moments you knew that life was growing inside you, felt the first movements your children made in the womb, indulged crazy cravings, were there in the first hours of your new one's life, and fed your family and your nursing body in those first days as a new family... They shared their children with you, their stories, their imported coffee, their ministry ideas, their dreams and their visions... They opened their hearts knowing that your friendship was a safe place to share it... They traveled away at times, as did you, but when you came back together, it was just as it was before, just as it should be... They were so different from you, you looked, acted, and sometimes even believed such different things, but you sharpened each other, grew each other in wisdom and appreciated all that you brought to the relationship because of the differences you shared... I had that, and was blessed beyond measure by the hearts of some amazing women!  I'm still searching for that on this side of the equator... I thought in my heart of hearts that I could hold on to what was... maintain that intimacy no matter the miles.  And while I know that if I stepped off a plane tomorrow I would find beautiful faces to meet me, I also know that life has gone on... their's and mine.  So I'm learning to come to peace with the idea of being grateful for what was, and knowing that in those years of friendship plenty, God showered me with such love, such kindness, and such grace in the hearts of my amazing friends that I will forever be grateful and blessed for the memories of wonderful years and for the lessons that I take with me on my journey...

(Sometimes it still hurts so to know that the life you left is slipping farther and farther away... tonight is one of those nights... Thank you Father for the bounty that you bestowed upon me, help me to always remember with gratitude and not disappointment).

My amazing Grant :)

Four years ago tonight you, my dearest second born, came into our lives and we've never been the same. You Grant Thomas, were the opening to the flood gates of my heart, the one who taught me what it was like to bond at birth with my children, to love you gently and fiercely all at the same time, and to receive that love back from you :)

Tonight my dear one you turned four, and I'm amazed more and more everyday by you and who you're growing up to be. I'm amazed that it's actually been four years since I walked through the door of our apartment on Calle Venezuela with you tucked in my arms... amazed at how well you slept and how happy you were (and still are :)... amazed at how you taught me what it meant to have a good eater in our house... amazed at how much laughter you bring into our home :)... amazed at how you taught me what true and genuine mama love is... amazed at how you've grown into such a strong and yet tender little boy... amazed at how gentle you can be (not that you always are :)... amazed at how you keep Nathan humble :)... amazed at how you've grown into your role as Joshua's big brother and how when you're not bugging the snot out of him, you're protecting him and watching out for him... amazed at how just last Sunday as Joshua sat sleeping in my arms at church you kept reaching over to pat his hand or rub his arm... amazed at how perfectly your chubby little fingers fit through mine as we pray together... amazed and grateful at how you still let me get in lots of snoogles and snuggles :)... amazed at how you're still excited at the end of everyday to meet me at the front door with a HUGE bear hug... amazed at how well you've weathered the changes in your little life my international baby... and amazed at how much I love you! I cannot imagine my life without you, and cannot imagine my identity without part of it being your mama... you are a joy, a treasure, and a blessing beyond words! I love you Grant Thomas, more than my next breath! Happy 4th Birthday sweet boy!

Seeing things...

I know that people always say the body and the mind are really great at self protecting, allowing themselves only to see and process what they can handle... I believed that theory, based on what others had told me, but now I can say I believe that theory, based on my own experience.

We've been back a little over a year now... and I'm officially seeing things. No, not in a creepy Sixth Sense way, but in a sweet memories flooding back in way... This past week I've walked up to the ticket counter of the Cine Center and bought an entrada... I've ridden the escalator upstairs (or walked the stairs if the escalator was, as it more than not, out of order :) and ordered popcorn, mitad salada, mitad dulce.

I've bought a 6 pack of 2 liter water bottles to keep in the pantry as a back-up for emergencies from my favorite corner store. They've asked me why I don't have the boys with me, and how they're doing. I tell them crazy as ever and together we laugh :)

I've walked across the street and bought eggs from Patricia and stayed for half an hour as we talked about the boys, their schools, and our families far away, her's in Chile, mine in the states.

I've walked El Prado to the Conexion Cristiana and hugged Gabi's neck (our amazing team secretary) and distracted her for far too long as we talked about prayers needed, prayers answered and everything in between.

I've walked the market, smelling the fresh fruits and vegetables... buying kilos of this and that, carrying them home by the bag fulls to wash, clean, cook and enjoy.

I've walked around the corner for a scoop of pistachio ice cream from my favorite heladeria.

I've sat at the counter of a dear friend, over a cup of coffee made with love. We talked of the struggles of living life as missionaries, far from "home". We talk of new things we've found around town, new things going on with our children, new things going on in ministry, and we share a moment between friends who know the blessing of friendship that God places in our lives' for a beautiful season, to teach us and show us His loving kindness!

I've sat in the fellowship of those that I love, looking around me at the faces, those I've known for years now, and knowing there are new ones I pray one day I'll meet. I heard the gospel in a language that once was difficult to follow, but that now my heart misses feeling on my tongue. We sang the songs that at first were so hard and frustrating to me in a different language, but that now I use as lullabies for my babies, letting their lyrics and music transport me to their bedroom in our home on Calle Venezuela. It's been a bittersweet week...

And I know that had this week come a year ago, six months ago, or even six weeks ago I wouldn't have been ready. My heart, my mind, and my God knew that I just wasn't there, not ready to go back, even in my imaginary world. But apparently it's time to continue on this journey of letting go of one "home" to re-enter the old one...

I miss the feel of Cochabamba streets under my feet, the sound of the city, the kisses on the cheek and the way the hours passed with friends with no one rushing around. This week reminded me that it's ok to miss those things... only means that they really happened, really captured my heart, and really still live there for me to draw on when my heart is lonely for Bolivia. Cochabamba, Until I can walk your streets in person, I'll keep walking them in my heart...

Letting Go...

Tomorrow I will put my first born on a bus.

It will be early morning... we will have rushed around trying to make it from Brownwood to Brady... I will be sipping coffee trying to clear the morning fog from my brain... he will be ecstatic with the promise of a field trip with his friends to a pumpkin patch (he's been counting down the days)... I hope that on the outside I will be cool as a cucumber because I know that on the inside I will be freaking out...

In my head I know that the bus driver is licensed, safe and will take good care of my Nathan... that his teacher will be there every step of the way to make sure he is well cared for. I know it all in my head, but my heart keeps having flashbacks... the memories of two years ago, the international phone call, the news of a tragic bus crash, the loss of three precious and beautiful lives', the mourning, the tears, the lives' cut short, and all the knowledge in my head can't keep my heart from free falling into panic...

Buses crash, people die, and hearts are broken... I'm praying with every fiber of my being that the God who saw us through those dark dark days, will watch over my son, the firstborn of my body and my heart, and that he will step off that bus tomorrow afternoon filled with excitement over new experiences, the promise of watching God's creation and the amazing way that He grows things in this world. But most of all that he will step off that bus... safe... and... sound...

Lord, I know that he's your's first, that he's only mine for a short time... watch over him, place your hand of protection on him, bring him home safely, and please Lord, give me your peace and comfort as I wait...

What color are you?

I remember sitting in the conference in Brazil. It seems like so so so long ago, and yet not even a year has passed. I was missing my boys and Gary who were miles away, but having wonderful fellowship with other missionary women, and trying to get a handle on all the changes that were coming our way with our move back to the states.

I remember hearing someone describe perfectly what I felt as a missionary wife. So many people have asked how we are, how we feel, how we're "settling in"... this is the best way I know to answer that question... Close your eyes and imagine yourself colored blue. I think some people see a little cartoon person, a paper doll cut out type, but for some reason I see a dot person. Kind of a cross between the M&M man and the dot people from the Ranger's games dot races :) don't ask, who knows why my imagination goes the direction it goes, but I digress...

So you're blue, and you board a plane bound for yellow land. You get to yellow land, you feel like you stick out kind of like a sore thumb oh wait, you do... you're blue. But even though you stick out, you grow to love yellow land. Parts of yellow land even rub off on you and you begin to look... yep, you've got it, green. So in yellow land, you don't stick out quite as badly as you used to. Green does at least carry an element of yellow in it.

But then the time comes for you to go back to blue land. It's been awhile, and it's time, it is after all where you're from. But as you're getting off the plane in blue land, you realize there's enough yellow that's rubbed off on you that even in your "home" land you don't look blue anymore. You're still that bright shade of green.

And Green is good. Green carries an element of BOTH blue and yellow within it, but it's still green... it's NOT blue, and it's NOT yellow. And in that moment, you realize you don't fit, anywhere anymore. You might go through resentment, moments of regret that you let the yellow rub off on you, moments where you wonder what life would have been like if you never left blue land... and then in the very next thought, moment, or breath you realize how grateful you are for every shade of yellow that you now proudly carry. You're grateful for the ways it has changed your perspective, your life, your family, your children, your marriage, and changed you for the better, forever... but no matter how you look at it, no matter how hard it was to leave blue land in the first place, or how hard it was to adapt to yellow land, how hard it was to leave yellow land after the roots you put down there, or how hard it was to come "home", or how grateful you are for all that your experience in yellow land has added to your life and heart, the truth remains the same... you're GREEN and you don't seem to fit anywhere...