happy valentine's day

My parents are too good to me. Not only did they love me, support me, and encourage me throughout my childhood and into college, but they continue to show their love for me in so many ways. I so appreciate their skype messages, their emails, their expensive-to-mail boxes of school supplies, how proud they are of me, and their prayers. They are really incredible individuals, and I respect their love for the Lord, for each other, and for others.

After a pretty stressful week last week, I got a call from the school office saying someone had sent me flowers from an international company. I picked them up and, after deciphering a sweet message gone awry by a non-English-speaking writer, I realized my mommy and daddy had flowers delivered to me for Valentine's Day! I recalled those special Valentine's Days as a child of heart-shaped biscuits for breakfast, sweet cards, and little gifts packaged in red and pink, and remembered those as small examples of how much my parents showed their love for my sister and me. Among those precious times, this special delivery will make this year's a Valentine's Day I will never forget.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for being so thoughtful and loving. I love you. With a love that "crosses the Atlantic Ocean and scales the Andes Mountains..."

risky business

I think since I live in Bolivia, I generally take more risks. Like when food falls on the floor, extending the 5-second rule. Or taking aerobics classes hardly knowing any Spanish. Or biking the Death Road. I'm definitely not a daredevil, but what my friends and I did a couple weekends ago would be classified as pretty risky. First, we ate at a Chinese restaurant called "Love City." Bear in mind, Bolivians speak Spanish. However, the restaurant with the sketchy name served very tasty Chinese cuisine. So all the while I'm wondering why it's called "Love City." And then, as we're leaving, I see it: Love City in all its splendor. Ice caves, a disco ball, multicolored lights and lots of mirrors to watch yourself dance. I wish I had photographed the inside of this "discoteca." It was a hoot. Keep in mind, the food was really good. So we all ate a fair amount.

Next destination: Galaxy Park, an amusement park chock-full of sketchy, old, other-countries'-reject rides. There were a couple times I literally thought I was going to die. Like on the squeaky ride with a rusty metal car that didn't seem to be closed all the way.

Or the ferris wheel when the guy running the ride stopped it to tell us to press the metal bar. Too bad Sarah and I don't know enough Spanish to understand what "Push the metal bar and...flip upside down" means. I almost wet my pants. The guy died laughing. Among others, we also rode the dreaded "Kamikaze" (the one that flips you and holds you upside down). I had never been on one of these in the States, so my bright idea was to get in a 30-year-old one that just recently got shoulder straps put in. I guess I figured if a Bolivian I know survived without shoulder straps on a sketchy ride that goes upside down, I'd be okay.

And I was. I had a blast. Minus a little, well a lot, of nausea I felt there at the end, I'd do it again. My friends without tummy aches braved the food and got a stick of chocolate-covered marshmallows. Love City and Galaxy Park, however, were not so loving toward me.

If you're reading this, sorry, Mom. What you don't know until afterward won't hurt you. :)

overdue post

A snippet of my lovely Christmas vacation...how quickly it passed, but I know that from now until June time will fly as well. As I continue to consider my conflicting feelings of missing friends and family and wanting to be in NC with loving life, even though it is difficult, here in Bolivia, they are all reminders to savor every moment...

On the plane to Miami with my roomie, Sarah. I'm so thankful for her! Can you tell we're excited to be going home?!?!

Incredible view of Mt. Ilimani from the plane. Sometimes I'm still astounded that I live with this in sight every day!
Welcome home! My beautiful sister and niece, wearing a homemade shirt that reads "I love my neen neen." (That's what Maddie calls me.) Along with Charlie, my parents, and the surprise of 2 other friends, I felt so loved and even happier to be home!
My oh-so-precious niece and my granddaddy. It was such a blessing to be with family.

I've always been awfully fond of my family, but distance definitely makes the heart grow more appreciative.

These are some of my dearest small group girls from my days at Covenant...it had been so long since I'd seen them. They are amazing, and I got to catch up with them a little over dinner at one of the many Mexican places I ate at when I was home. (Bolivian food is NOT the same as Mexican!)

One of my sister and brother-in-law's Christmas presents was tickets for my sister and me to "A Chorus Line" in Raleigh, which was so much fun. As was staying with my sweet friend Sara in Cary. I miss you all! There were so many lovely times, but since I am not great about remembering to take pictures, these'll do. I'm so thankful for the people God has put in my life.
"I thank my God every time I remember you..." --Phil. 1:3