Más Construction

The guys have been working SO hard to build this thing. Here are some recent pictures:


Just a picture of a plátano tree. Can you see the purple flower in the center of the tree? That's where they begin growing. It's a big flower, hopefully that means lots of plátanos.


They are starting to put the block and cement in the footings (I sound so confident...I could be totally wrong)


Avile standing in cement while mixing it.


Can you see what it will look like when it's finished? We can't wait

The Hard Times

So my blog is generally a pretty happy one and filled with fun stuff because, let's be honest, my life is filled with fun stuff. Not everyone gets to live on an island and hang out with cute kids all day. Though living on an island is not my favorite (it has to do with not liking sun, sand or salt water) living in an area a beautiful as this is wonderful. There are a few downsides to living here, though. One is being so far away from Target (kidding!). But really, it's hard to live so far away from friends and family. I grew up close to my family (lived on the same street most of my childhood with my dad's side) and the friends I made during my college years are a big part of my life. Not to mention that my church, The Austin Stone, is my community of believers that encourage me so much and I can't attend it while I live here.

All that to say, while life is filled with lots of funness (not a word) there are some hard parts. And I'm going to share a few with y'all now.

Over a year ago we found out that my grandad had lung cancer. I found out over here and it was hard to not be near my family. It was hard to be there with those who would understand the specific situation. He then started treatment and had a hard time recovering. His speech got slower and he lost all of his beautiful white hair. I would cry everytime I talked to him on the phone or would go home to visit and see him. It was hard...


Fast forward 6 months or so and you come to the summer. That's when we found out that my dad has MS. I sobbed. Again I found out while in this country. That one was tough to hear and process while away from family and best friends.


Fast forward another 6 months and I find out that Grandad not only has lung cancer but also Parkinson's. I don't think that I cried as much, probably because I was thinking, "Bring it on...I was just waiting to see what else would happen..." Good attitude to have? Absolutely not!

For now, both Dad and Grandad are doing well and taking medicine. And I'm done being angry/upset. I still don't like that people in my family are sick and I don't like having to be here when finding out things like this, but, as cliché as it might be, Jesus is peace and I just have to keep running to Him when sadness and anger take over.

Sorry if this is a depressing post. I just felt like sharing with my blogging world some emotions beyond those joyous one that I normally have.

Visiting the Suh Family

I got to visit Halim, Angela, Malachi, and Evangeline twice! It was so much fun. The first time the Carters, Fabs, Ronnie and Leslie Peck came over to eat steak & potatoes and hang out. I loved it! And the next time Anna and I went over just to hang out and we got to see Yuna! Here are some pictures:


Oh my, doesn't he just melt your heart??


Malachi loved the strawberries that I brought over


I didn't realize that I had taken so many pictures of him. But, honestly, how could I not?


Angela and Fabs enjoying the lovely weather on their porch


All the kids playing outside


Here she is: Evangeline Piper Suh! SOO precious!!!


She's only 6 weeks old and has that much hair!! It's so soft...aahhh, she so cute.

I just love the Suh family. Halim and Angela have been and continue to be very encouraging. Before I moved here (2 years ago!) I had the chance to go to Israel with the Melvins, the Carters and the Suhs. While on that trip I got to spend some time just with Angela and Halim (in the mall's foodcourt...after a crazy taxi ride) and they were so honest and encouraging about me moving here and the hardships that would be faced and the work that it would take. I haven't ever forgotten that. And it's been true. And now every time I go back to Austin I see Angela. And though we do funny stuff (3 CVS runs in a day) she also just listens to me and points me back to Jesus. That's really who they are in my life: People who remind me to look to Christ when I so often want to be focused on myself.

Thanks for spending time with me and encouraging me and continually pointing me in the right direction!

A trip home

I took another trip back to Austin the last week of May and saw lots of people! Here are just some of the pictures:


Robert, my brother, with Garrett, my cousin


the landing....


The Jester side of my familly (minus Aunt MaryBeth and Bryan)
L-R: Robert, Garrett, Erin (Robert's wife), Gramma, Uncle Dan, Mason, Mama, Jay


I got to visit with the Inks family as well (minus Aaron, Adam, and Riley, the recent college graduate [CONGRATULATIONS!!])
Ticki and Grandad, with Walter, the puppy in the front
Bruce, Aunt Jeanna, Thomas, Mary, Uncle Bob


Myself with Ticki & Grandad and Thomas & Walter


I got to meet precious Ainsley Bean! She slept most of the time but I still got the chance to hold her. I spent the evening with Bradley & Amy Bean and Aaron & Shauna Mullins. I really just love both of these families and cherish the little amount of time that I do get to spend with them when I'm in Austin. I'm also very appreciative that the make time to spend with me!


And I got to see my "niece" Sophia Mae! I arrived on Friday and the Jaspers were due to move to Dallas on Saturday. So after arriving and hugging Gramma, I jumped into my car to get to see the Jaspers. We spent some time catching up and then spent some time watching/playing with Sophia Mae. Oh man, I'm sooo going to miss seeing Annie during my trips home!!

I drove to Houston the first weekend that I was in town to go to my stepbrother's wedding! It was absolutely lovely and I so enjoyed spending time with my daddy and Georgene. Here are some pictures:


Georgene and her mom, George Ann


Me with my daddy and Georgene


And the bride and groom: Christi and Brandon. It's the only pictures I got of the wedding...sorry I don't have more!

I also got to stay at Camille's house but I don't have a picture. When she emails it to me I will definitely post it.