Calling all Prayer Warriors... again

HUGE Prayer Request to follow... As many of you know I'm planning on heading to Brazil next week. Continent of Great Cities is putting on a women's missionary conference (much like the Come Before Winter conferences). It will be so much fun, assuming we can get there. That is where the prayer request comes in. The four of us ladies traveling to the conference from Cochabamba chose to go with Lloyd Aereo Boliviano (airline) because they were almost $150 cheaper. But now are wishing we had chosen otherwise because our flight has been cancelled and we're at a loss as to what to do. Our travel agent is going to try and get us on another airline, but 3-4 days before travel, and with everyone getting bumped from their flights, that might be a miracle. And I have all faith that God can make it happen. I have been so looking forward to this chance to get away and fellowship with other missionary women and learn from their experiences while getting to share our own, but feel a little attacked by Satan right now. So I'm asking for prayers that we can find seats on another flight, or that another solution will show itself. Thank you for praying with me for a miracle!

Queen of packages

I have to say that my mom has earned the title of Queen of packages hands down!!! Since my first days in college far from home she has always out done herself. I remember countless packages during my days at Harding filled with yummy snacks, Clinique (hard to find in Searcy, AR), and one time even fall leaves from the east coast that I was sorely missing in the non-existent fall of the South.

This week my mom maintained her title (and brought my sister along as runner-up :) sending not only Valentine's Day packages, but Birthday goodies too! And when I say goodies I mean goodies! Mom, thank you for remembering not only the big things, but the little things too! As I sit here watching my new Everybody Loves Raymond season, and my American Idol Best and the Worst DVD savoring my gummy peach and grapefruit candies and drinking my Starbucks coffee (hey why wait, you might as well enjoy it all together!) I am reminded of how blessed I am to have a family that loves me dearly and knows me well enough to know what will bring a smile to my face across the miles :) I also have to say a huge thank you to my Dad, who through his countless hours of work, continues to support my mom's habit :) and through his words always continues to affirm me. You three are a treasure of a family, and I am and always will be blessed to be your daughter, sister, and friend!

Where did it go?

My precious Nathan is growing up. I watch him changing day to day, growing taller and taller, talking more and more, mimicking everyone around him :) (for better or worse :) and think how amazing he is. I thought to myself just today, there is no way that beautiful little boy can be mine... that I would be so blessed to be his mommy!

Every night Gary spends bathtime with Nathan and then passes him off to me for the dirty work of putting him to sleep :) Usually he drinks his milk while we sing songs and say prayers (which I have to get better at remembering to do!!) and as the songs continue on, his little eyes get heavy and we rock in the rocking chair until he's down for the count.

But tonight after songs and lots of rocking my little man was still pretty wiggly, so I said good-night, received a very wet and slobbery Nathan kiss and put him in his bed. As I leaned down to kiss him good-night one last time, thinking I would rub his back for a little while, or continue on with our night-night songs, my precious baby looked up at me with sleepy eyes and says... chau (aka in English, see you later mom... what did you think? that I was going to say that he said I love you mommy? One day :)

So needless to say I took my leave. And as I sit here listening over the monitor to my big boy rolling around in his bed, putting himself to sleep, I have to think to myself, how did he grow up so fast? Where did the time go?

You know you're in Cbba when...

You know that you are officially in Cochabamba when you sit in your car at an intersection, stopped, and yet cars in your lane of traffic, cars coming the other way, and cars crossing the intersection continue along their merry way. And as you sit there watching the continual flow of cars, you think to yourself, man I sure didn't think I was color blind... because last time I checked, that traffic light is RED! :)

What is it about a haircut?

Well in true Bolivian fashion I waited 45 minutes today at the salon for the man who cuts my hair to arrive - even though I had made an "appointment" :) I put that word in quotes because time is used so... how should I say it... loosely here, and I still struggle to adapt. When I make an appointment for 4:00, and at 4:45 Fabio (yes I know I had to kind of chuckle the first time he introduced himself as well) finally arrives, I have to remember, this is life here. Adjust Laura, take a step back, read a magazine, talk to the people around you, and take a deep breath. Today it worked. I wasn't mad, I wasn't irritated, and I was even in a good mood when we left. All that to say, maybe just maybe, this time driven, schedule oriented, list making, organizational crazy woman is learning to adapt to her surroundings :) So I walked out of the salon not only feeling great about my haircut (I so love getting my hair cut!) but also feeling good that maybe just maybe today was a sign that I'm growing. And hey, a great haircut for 30 Bs. (not even 4 dollars) is worth the wait :)