So, I realize it's now Thursday night, last weekend was awhile ago and we are fast approaching a new one, but I still thought I'd post a few pictures. Though my roomie, Laura, was, sadly, gone all weekend (she said she had a "work retreat" at the beach...but I didn't see any pictures of work...), I wound up with a pretty busy, pretty fun weekend! Saturday evening I got to go to a welcome back party for the missionary family I am working with (they just returned to Mexico a couple of weeks ago after 7 months in the States). It was hosted by one of the churches they've worked with and I had a great time getting to know some of their friends and other members of the church. Everyone was so friendly and, like any good church function, they had a great potluck! However, I did, accidentally wind up eating tongue (cow tongue that is)! I was being brave and trying different things without asking what they were and someone pointed at a pot and said it looked good. Not always such a good idea to not ask what it is...even if it looks like innocent meat! When I told Becky (the missionary I work with) that it was really good and asked if she'd tried it, she just started laughing. That was when I knew I was in trouble! Oh well, life here is always an adventure!

Sunday night I got to go with the same family to a Superbowl party at their neighbor's house. It was a blast and felt almost like I was at home. Most of the people there spoke at least a little bit of english and someone had just returned from a trip to Chicago, so there were tons of actual "Superbowl" decorations. The only difference was that the game was broadcast in spanish and we didn't get any of the fun superbowl commercials. Oh well. We did have some other entertainment. These three little boys kept us rather entertained during commercial breaks by dancing and singing for most of the evening!

Monday was a holiday here (something having to do with the constitution, I'm not sure what exactly) and everyone had off. So, that meant we were off to another party! The same church that had the party Saturday night had a cookout on Monday. We went out to someone's "hacienda" (a ranch-type weekend home outside town) and played soccer, grilled hamburgers and basically just hung out and enjoyed the day. It was great and I, again, really enjoyed getting to talk to the people there. They are a really great group! Here are a few pics of the place we were at:

the setting sun looked so gorgeous on the hills!

Landri and I in the van getting ready to go home.

Though I haven't been to any more parties, this week has been good. The kids "experimented" with balloons to learn about electricity the other day:

Later that afternoon, Laura and I stopped by and they were selling "bolis" (popsicles). Here they are, working hard!

This weekend we have a women's retreat for all the missionaries in central Mexico. It's being held here in Guadalajara and led by some ladies from David and Becky's home church. It should be a great weekend and I'm looking forward to getting to know some of the other missionaries in our region. Also, on Saturday a group from my aunt and uncle's church in Missouri is arriving. This is the group I came down with last year when I decided to pursue the Journeyman job. I'm looking forward to seeing some familiar faces, including my uncle! I'm planning to spend the majority of the week with them and can't wait! I hope everyone is doing well. I'd love to hear from you all!

i just came across this picture (somehow i missed it when i looked at our pics from Christmas before):

this makes me laugh! if we ever decide to record a rap album together maybe we could use this as our album cover "simpson sista gansta christmas" or something maybe...or maybe not. regardless, it makes me laugh and miss my sisters. they are so much fun and i'm blessed to have sisters who are also some of my best friends!

Barney-dog

So, my new friend Barney-dog is still around! If you're wondering where we got the name, I don't really know. It somehow just seemed appropriate for a dog like him. My dad asked if it was because he displays characteristics similar to those of Barney Fife, which he does now that Dad mentions it... ;) Anyway, we're having lots of fun w/ him and he seems to be enjoying the food we put out for him! Here are a few more pics of him:







Also, today was my first day actually teaching. Everything went great! Luckily for me, the kids still think I'm cool and it's fun to have me teach them instead of their mom. We'll see how long that lasts, but it works for now! :)

New House!!!

My roommate, Laura, and I moved into our new house today! It's still a mess and not at all unpacked (and void of most furniture, as it won't be delivered until friday!), but we are excited to finally be in. We've spent the last several days shopping for furniture and pretty much everything you need to furnish a house. I love shopping and we've had a blast, but it's been just about exhausting! However, very conveniently located just down the road from our house is a Starbucks and a Dairy Queen. So, tonight, we decided we needed a little break from all of the shopping, moving, and unpacking. Here are a few pictures of our "break." Hope you all are doing well!!

My first trip to Starbucks since I left the states...I don't think I've ever enjoyed a drink so much!!

Laura, Chris, and Angeles hangin out at 'Bucks. ;)

My newest friend, "Barney." He lives just outside the gate to our house and I've decided to adopt him. Tonight I fed him my left over gordita from lunch because he's pretty scrawny and needs to be a lil "mas gordo", if ya know what I mean!

I live in Mexico now!

Well, after a crazy last few days at home filled with packing and saying goodbyes, I made it to Guadalajara, Mexico a little over a week ago. My roommate, Laura, and I have been busy finding a place to live and getting to know the other missionaries in the city. Hopefully we will be furniture shopping in the next few days and moving into our new place very soon! We are very excited to have our own place and to be able to get settled. Here are a few pictures of our time here so far:

What city would be complete without a statue like this?

Gotta love the giant chair!

Chasing the mouse in our apartment. We have yet to catch him...

Making jamaica! It's a really yummy drink, brewed like tea, but from dried flowers.

Laura and I with the cake we made to celebrate our birthdays and Laura's being on the field for three months!

As promised, a real update, complete with pictures! The past few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind, but so much fun. I've had a blast getting to spend tons of time with friends and family.

My sisters and I seem to have a difficult time taking "normal" pictures, so this is what we wind up with:





A couple of days after Christmas, we got to go see "A Christmas Carol" at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC. It was a great show and interesting to be in such a historic theater. Afterwards we went to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner and somehow got this "normal" picture!





The day after that, Dad and I drove out to Missouri to visit my grandparents. It was great to see everyone!

I even found a sign pointing me to Mexico! (Mexico, Missouri that is!)

I pray you all had a wonderful Christmas and that your new year is off to a great start! I am so excited to see what God has in store in the coming year!

I'm sorry I've not been so great at updating this! My time at home has been wonderful, but also crazy. I have been enjoying tons of time with family and friends and am trying to just soak it all in even as I try to finish getting everything ready to leave. I promise I will post more of an update soon (with pictures and everything)...it's on my "to-do" list for the next few days. Tonight though, I will leave you with a song. I first heard this sometime in early October, before I left for Orientation and it has meant a lot to me these past few months. I don't really even have words to describe how much I love this song, except to say that this has been a lot of what I've been thinking/feeling these past few months. Enjoy.

Painting Pictures of Egypt
Artist: Sara Groves
Album: Conversations

I don’t want to leave here
I don’t want to stay
It feels like pinching to me either way
The places I long for the most
Are the places where I’ve been
They are calling after me like a long lost friend

It’s not about losing faith
It’s not about trust
It’s all about comfortable
When you move so much
The place I was wasn’t perfect
But I had found a way to live
It wasn’t milk or honey
But then neither is this

CHORUS:
I’ve been painting pictures of Egypt
Leaving out what it lacked
The future seems so hard
And I want to go back
But the places that used to fit me
Cannot hold the things I"ve learned
And those roads closed off to me
While my back was turned

The past is so tangible
I know it by heart
Familiar things are never easy to discard
I was dying for some freedom
But now I hesitate to go
Caught between the promise
And the things I know

BRIDGE:
If it comes too quick
I may not recognize it
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?
If it comes too quick
I may not appreciate it
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?