The weather has turned warm and sunny here in Mexico City.  The first glimpses of summer (even when they come during winter) always remind me to be thankful.  I am thankful for the warm sun on my face - the grace of God shining down even on little, undeserving me.

I have had my up and down days (even hours) since moving here to Mexico.  Too often I’ve forgotten to be thankful for all that I have.  But bright blue skies and warm weather always seem to lift my spirits and remind me of all that I have been given.  I look at Eli and am so thankful for his precious smile, I hear his sweet baby laughter and pray that somehow I can preserve it in my memory for a lifetime, I look down at my growing pregnant belly and am I reminded of the amazing miracle God is creating in me, I feel Dave’s arms around me and remember how blessed I am to have such a loving, steadfast man in my life.  All of this is only by the grace of God.

I’ve had this song by Jenny & Tyler playing on repeat.  I think I’m trying to pound into my head to remember the sunshine and just how blessed I am.

If you need the reminder too the whole album just happens to be free on Noisetrade right now.  Just click here: Jenny & Tyler, Faint Not.

As an added bonus, if you purchase their cover of The Sound of Silence from their website or iTunes right now all of the profits go to International Justice Mission (IJM) and their fight against human trafficking – go ahead do little something to make a difference int he world!  Learn more about it here: The Sound of Silence and IJM.

It’s a dreary, gray day in Mexico City.  Reno spoiled me with its 158 days of sunshine a year.

 We’re warding off the chilly day and putting on a happy face with a nice warm, healthy breakfast.

If you’re interested, you can find the recipe here: Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas

And put on your own happy face.

Anyone else have a delicious recipe for a warm, healthy, morning pick-me-up?

Now don't get me wrong, Mexico is bursting with color.  Colorful produce and crafts line the streets. Homes, underpasses, and sculptural designs throughout the city are emblazoned with color.  What I'm missing are fall colors - the yellows, oranges, and reds of leaves gradually changing and then making their way to the ground.  Mexico City has a Utopian temperate climate right now, the 60s and 70s weather that people in Arizona and Alaska dream about this time of year, but I'm missing the nip in the air that autumn brings.  This is the first time I've lived in a climate without four distinct seasons, and I can't help but daydream about the days of this:

So let's start with the easier news: Dave has officially embraced his balding state and buzzed his hair.  I have to say it actually looks pretty good.  Pictures will have to come later though, because...

Last night, we had our second major rain shower with hail since we've been here.  Marble sized hail came pouring from the sky while we ate dinner last night.  Dinner ended when I looked down at the floor and saw water streaming in through the front door from the garage, across the living room, and into the dining room.  FLOOD!  At this point the garage was already filled with at least 6 inches of water and it was streaming into the house fast.  Lauren and I (with Eli strapped to me in the Baby Bjorn) went to work mopping water out the front and back doors while the guys frantically tried to save what they could from the stuff stored in the garage and the lower storage space under the stairs (the places most of our stuff has been stored while we're staying here).  Most everything has been salvaged, but several books (including a sweet copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar) and Eli's crib mattress have been ruined.  We'll be mopping, putting the downstairs back together, and assessing the damage most of the day today.

I have to say, at this point I'm pretty excited about the 5th floor apartment we'll be moving into this weekend....