Monday, September 29, 2008

After almost 2 years of wanting to come visit me in Guadalajara, my friend, Adrian, finally got to come down last week. She is a photographer (her blog is over on the right -->) and she was able to come down to document some of the ministries here. We had such a great time running all over and letting her take pictures. Of course, we found time to goof off a bit as well!
Adrian found a lil time for a nap one afternoon:
Saturday night, we went to the Ostertags to celebrate McKenzie's birthday. My camera batteries were dying by the time it was time for cake, but I was able to get a couple of shots. I love the look on her face. She was definitely up to something...
The birthday girl with some of her balloons:
Kaitlyn had fun dressing the dog up in a matching lei:
Adrian, Laura and I stepped outside to try to take a picture together. Apparently Laura wasn't too happy about that:
I guess Adrian and I got bored waiting for Laura to smile. Haha!
The birthday girl and I:
Sunday morning Adrian and I rode out to Santa Fe for church. I was so glad we got to go. They were celebrating their 3rd anniversary that morning. I'll post more about that tomorrow. One of our favorite things to do when we go out there is to stop for ice cream bars on the way home. One thing we noticed while Adrian was here is that she's not so good at taking pictures sometimes....it seems she likes to try to take over and block everyone else out. For example:
We drove up to a look out next to a catholic church in Santa Fe before the service.
Even Landri wanted a picture! Isn't she beautiful? I love her red hair!
Sunday night, after our English class in Los Cantaros, Laura, Adrian and I walked down to Dairy Queen with Izzy. Izzy's not so great on the leash and it looks like Adrian might've had just a lil more than she could handle:
Laura and I decided to imitate Adrian in a picture. Haha!
I can't even tell you what a joy and a blessing it was to have Adrian here. It was hard to believe that we hadn't seen each other in over 2 years!

Friday, September 26, 2008

Puppies, puppies everywhere!! Last week the Haynes went to Missouri for a missions conference and I house-sat for them. The best part of them being gone though, was getting to spend a week with 3 dogs! I took Izzy with me and she had a blast playing with the Haynes' dogs, Bella and Spencer (her mom and brother, respectively). They did wear themselves out though and spent a large portion of the week asleep on the couch. You can see below just how much they love to cuddle though!

September 16 marked Mexico's Independence Day. Laura and I celebrated by attending a party at the C.E.B. (Baptist Student Center) once again. We had a great time hanging out with friends, but the highlight for me was the group of folkloric dancers who performed. They were great and so much fun to watch! Just check out their costumes. How could you not enjoy that?

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Several weeks ago, all of us were over at the Haynes for dinner. Mackenzie just loves Izzy and so was glad that I brought her. She had quite a great time giving her kisses and Izzy was more than happy to oblige!

Saturday, September 06, 2008

One year ago today (September 6) my grandmother passed away after a quick but intense battle with pancreatic cancer. These pictures are from the last time I saw her before she got sick and I just love them. She was a beautiful woman and full of life until the very end. She was an incredible person and taught me so, so much. Everyone loved her and she loved everyone! One of my favorite memories of her is all the Friday nights I spent at her house growing up. We would always sleep with our heads together on her L-shaped couch and often, she would wake me up in the middle of the night (or so it felt like to me when I was 7 or 8, it was probably only midnight!) and tell me to "Get up baby, we need to eat us some ice cream!" I will miss Nanny every day for the the rest of my life, but I know she is with our Lord and that one day I will see her again. Maybe we'll even eat some ice cream....


When I Get Where I'm Going (Brad Paisley)

When I get where I'm going

on the far side of the sky.
The first thing that I'm gonna do
Is spread my wings and fly.

I'm gonna land beside a lion,
and run my fingers through his mane.
Or I might find out what it's like
To ride a drop of rain

(Chorus:)
Yeah when I get where I'm going,
there'll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles,
I have carried all these years.
And I'll leave my heart wide open,
I will love and have no fear.
Yeah when I get where I'm going,
Don't cry for me down here.

I'm gonna walk with my grandaddy,
and he'll match me step for step,
and I'll tell him how I missed him,
every minute since he left.
Then I'll hug his neck.

(Chorus)

So much pain and so much darkness,
in this world we stumble through.
All these questions, I can't answer,
so much work to do.

But when I get where I'm going,
and I see my Maker's face.
I'll stand forever in the light,
of His amazing grace.
Yeah when I get where I'm going,
Yeah when I get where I'm going,
there'll be only happy tears.
Hallelujah!
I will love and have no fear.
When I get where I'm going.
Yeah when I get where I'm going.