We're BBAAACCCKKK

After my magical disappearing act of 6 months I have finally decided to re-appear! I can’t believe it has been 6 months since the last time either I or Jenn have blogged. Since Alana Sophia’s birth (by the way Jenn had her baby!) things have been a tornado. Sofi (her nickname) was born on November 5 and she is such a sweet babe! She is all smiles and quite the screecher...er, I mean talker. She is a doll!!!!

There is so much to catch up on since then! We have had visitors a plenty which has kept our extra time filled. I have LOVED having familiar faces here. I didn’t realize, until Jenn’s mom came, that it really means a lot to share this world we live in now with others. To share with those important familiar faces in my life, to talk about the sunset shadow cast beautifully upon Mt. Misty and for others to know EXACTLY what I mean and visualize it as I describe the bright pinks, yellows and purples of the light. To share the beautiful market place with others and show off Jenn’s Spanish speaking skill when she orders her perfect coffee at Starbucks (I know, I know not very Peruvian). We also spent the summer with the boys and spent a month in the US, reconnecting with friends and enjoying our family. It was a much needed break.

Although our past 6 months have been busy and going back to the U.S. was refreshing I am so glad to be home. Arequipa is our home. There was something so wonderful about knowing what we were getting into when we got on that plane back to Peru. Knowing what school would be like for our children. Knowing what work would be like for our husbands. Knowing wonderful people and growing our community…yup that was what I was most excited about.

You see, something else happened these last four months. Something life altering. We started to build our community. The Lord opened the doors for us to finally start to get to know two specific couples (Edgar, Veronica, Claudia and Andrey…that is you I’m talking about!). He gave us a chance to start a study with our dear friend Lucia. He opened the doors to allow us to be more comfortable speaking Spanish and building relationships. I am blessed. I am blessed beyond measure by the people here and I genuinely look forward to what is next.

My dear friend Jenn gave me a card for my birthday. One that she has had for years. Every year around my birthday she would search everywhere for it but could never find it…until now. The words are so true for our lives today. The card reads:

We came here. The Lord called us here. Be. Dream. Love. Thrive. Always.