Back to our regularly scheduled program of summer highlights, and on to the (hopefully) obvious summer highlight - spending time with friends and family. Seriously, what an amazing blessing it was to have 6 whole weeks to relax and spend time with these people.  This is definitely a perk of being a school employee's wife!


First we had 3 weeks in Reno to spend time with my parents, my grandparents (who came to visit for a few days), and the many friends who we came to love so dearly during our 5 years in Reno.  Then, we headed off to the other coast to see Dave's parents, siblings, uncle, a few friends still living in Maryland, and some very generous friends who made the trip to see us while we were closer than usual.  Of particular importance to me was the chance to spend a long weekend in Virginia with five of my closest college girlfriends, who were willing to make their way from 4 different states when I could be there.

It was so good for my heart and soul to be able to spend time fellowshipping with ever single one of these individuals.  I loved watching them love on my kids, was overwhelmed with their generosity of time and resources toward our family, soaked in the conversations, prayer, and laughter, and was just genuinely thankful for each of them all summer long.

Thank you , thank you, thank you everyone!  To those we missed or didn't get to spend as much time with as we had hoped 1) we'll be back, let's find a way to make it happen next time and 2) you are always welcome to come visit us in Mexico...seriously.  We hope to see each of you again soon!

In case anyone was curious about my lack of posting lately - sadly my lap top bit the dust this week.  It was a hand-me-down (thank you so much to my sister-in-law, Sarah. It was great while it lasted) and had a long and useful life.  We'd been expecting it for a while.  However, I didn't fully expect the void not having a computer for a couple of days would leave me feeling.

I have become more reliant on technology than ever since moving to Mexico.  Conversations on Skype, Facebook, E-mail and Google Messenger have become so incredibly important to me.  They are how I stay connected with friends in the U.S. and around the world (hint, hint I'd love to hear from you).  It's part of my sense of community.  Without these connections I found myself feeling a bit lost.  How did people handle it back when they had to rely on waiting for written letters?  Even now it takes a good 3 weeks to get a package or card here from the U.S.. In the end I guess I'm just spoiled.

Anyway, I'm once again relying on an in-law hand-me-down computer until we figure out the finances for something new (perhaps an iPad!).  Thanks to my brother-in-law, James, I have a rather cute and tiny little Dell laptop mini to keep me connected to the outside world for a little while. I'm definitely blessed to have such generous in-laws!  And thank you to my amazing husband who spent last night getting it set up just right for me.

So next week you should be able to, once again, expect a post or two from me.  I have some things in the works and my fingers are beginning to get used to this little keyboard.

Thanks for checking in!

I have asked myself this question many times.  Every instructional piece I’ve read on blog writing states that in order to have a successful blog you must know your purpose and your intended audience.

Well…

I write this blog to share with friends and family who do not live here in Mexico about what is currently happening in my life (and show off a few cute pictures of Eli). 

I write it to keep my mind active and share my general thoughts on life, parenting, and faith.

I write it largely because life in Mexico has been a bit lonely and I feel like this is just one more way to use social media to somehow feel connected with the rest of the world.

None of these are the clear, concise mission statement or specific audience the blog-writing experts tell me I should have.  I’m not there yet.  Maybe one day I’ll sit down and actually pen a mission statement and make sure that every entry on my blog fits my stated purpose from then on, but for now you’re stuck with whatever I come up with from day to day.

However, as I was pondering this question I came across the following quote in Eugene Peterson’s autobiography, The Pastor: A Memoir

“All language, all true language, is not so much communication, getting something said accurately and persuasively, adding to the information and knowledge that can be put in a library.  True language has to do with communion, establishing a relationship that makes for life: love, and faith and hope, forgiveness and salvation and justice.  True language requires both tongue and ear.” (pg. 243)

I’m still pondering this.  How do I create true language in a blog?  Is it possible to actually establish “a relationship that makes for life” through short entries read on a screen?  Probably not, if this is all the relationship consists of…so this brings me back to the same question….why blog?

I’ll keep pondering this.

In the meantime, here’s a picture of Eli pondering as well:

I grew up as the daughter of a pastor and church planter, thus church has always been an integral part of my life.  The church has always been a place I call home, but it has never been specifically defined by a building.  Growing up I was part of church plants, which met mostly in schools.

Early in high school my friend Bonnie asked me to fill in for her regular baby-sitting job one week when she was ill.  The family was very friendly and the evening went well.  As the father drove me home that night he asked me how I knew Bonnie.  I explained that it was through my church.  He asked which one and then said, “Oh, that’s the one that meets at the high school and doesn’t actually have a church.”  A very indignant 14-year-old me looked the man straight in the eyes and said, “No, we have a church; we just don’t have our own building.” 

To me church has always been defined by the people - a group of individuals joining together with a common purpose: to worship God, spread his love, and serve the world.  I realize that this is not the church that many people know.  Sadly, to many people in the world the church is a place of rules, persecution, and limited perspective.  I have been lucky not to grow up in that church.  I have been known, loved, cared for, and supported.  Yes, these people are human and therefore sinful.  Yes, individuals and groups within the church have come and gone, discouraged, and disappointed me at times, but overall I have had a very positive experience.  I wish I could say that this is who the “Christian church” is in general.  I wish I could point anyone who was interested in having this same experience to any given “Christian church” and expect the same results.  But I can’t.  What I can tell you is that it exists.  The Biblical example of church; a group of people who follow Christ and seek to live out his example of loving and serving others is real and alive today.

Here in Mexico we are part of a house church.  It’s a different experience of church than I have ever had before.  Everything is in Spanish and I’ll be honest I probably only understand about 25% of what is said.  I admit it can be pretty frustrating at times.  The Sunday morning experience is exhausting for me as I struggle to focus my mind and translate as much as I can.  But, what I know is this: I have been welcomed with open arms into a community of believers, they are loving and supportive, and they seek to serve their community.  This is the body of Christ.  This is how the church should be known.

I keep thinking that I would love for this blog to become something a bit more interactive.  I am not under any delusion that I’m the only one with interesting things to say. (And let’s face it - I don’t always have something interesting to say.)

A couple of days ago I shared three of my “hot beverage stories.”  Do you have a hot beverage story?

Maybe your first date with your spouse included an amazing conversation over a hot beverage.

Maybe you struck up a conversation with the guy next to you in Starbucks and learned about someone you might never have known otherwise.

Maybe your grandma shared stories about her childhood while teaching you to make mulled cider.

Maybe your kid said something hilarious or profound while you were sharing a cup of hot chocolate.

The possibilities are endless.

The only requirements are that hot beverages must be included and the conversation must have impacted you in some way.  Sometimes I think writing these things down (or typing them, as the case may be) makes them more real and impactful to the very person who experienced them.  And, who knows, you might impact someone who wasn’t even there.

So come on, grab a hot beverage and tell me your story.  I have a cup of tea in my hand right now…I’m ready.

The International IB school expat world – it’s a unique slice of life.  It’s like college all over again.  I moved to a new place.  Lots of other people moved to a new place at the same time – from all over the world.  We’re the freshman, the newcomers trying to figure it all out.  We’re committed to be here for two years.  Some will stay longer and some will decide that it’s not the right place for them before their two years are up.  There are those who have been here a while, the upper classmen if you will.  They know the best places to eat, they know where to shop and how to get your laundry done.  Some of them have lost a little of the spark – the excitement for the new adventure. It’s no longer a new stage of life for them.  But the freshmen are constantly trying to make connections and build a community for themselves.  There are dinners together, ultimate Frisbee games, weekend trips and holiday celebrations.  All with the same vision – to connect with others and make this new place home.

I’m a freshman by association, because I’m married to a teacher.  I’m in the same boat of trying to build a community – a place of connection in a foreign land.  It’s learning about new people and letting them learn about me.  It’s being open and vulnerable.  It’s what building friendships is all about.  It’s part of the adventure.