Wordless Wednesday

Look! New Link!

A direct link to our mission's blog (one that has been updated a few more times than this one, recently) ... Ecuadorian Adventures

thirteen questions

From Tiffany's blog, originating for this one:

1. What was your favorite game as a kid?
Probably playing with Barbies. Don't judge me.


2. If you had to pick reading or watching tv and movies for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Continual access to the internet above all else.

3. What is your favorite non-blog website?
Our bank's Home Banking website, xe.com exchange rate watch, CBC news... Can you tell we aren't in country?

4. What was your favorite book as a child? What about now?
Don't know what it was when I was a child. Nor now. But Ephesians is wonderful.

5. If you had a weekend sans all responsibility and an unlimited budget, what would you do?
Take my husband to Paris.

6. What do you *really* think of Twilight?
I'm trying hard to not Google what that is.

7. If you could go back and name your kids again, would you pick the same names? What if you could change your own name?
We don't have kids. I like my middle name, Ebony, but apparently Latinos aren't really able to pronounce that, so Candice works for me!

8. If you could buy one thing today, no matter the cost, and not another thing for an entire year, what would you buy?
A large-sum grocery store gift card so I wouldn't go hungry for the rest of the year....
I'm smart, I know.

9. Look to your left. What do you see?
A parking area for the Hospital Vozandes Orient ambulance.

10. What word do you use too much?
"Cómo se dice ...(the word that goes here often changes).. en español?"

11. What is your favorite body part on yourself?
The colour of my eyes and the fact that they look like sunflowers when I'm in the sun is kind of cool.

12. How often do you wash your hair?
Every 3rd day. Day 1 takes time, day 2 is the best, day 3 is just laziness, and if I left it 'til day 4 it gets kind of itchy.

13. What would be your ideal job? Are you doing it?
Stopping world hunger.
I'm trying.

Wordless Wednesday

Blog debut

I was going to call this post 'two timing' but I thought with the last title, I should go for a little more taste.

Alright people! I'm tired and pressured on time, so this may not be elegant. Here it go anyways.

We invite you to our new blog (don't roll your eyes yet!), check us out at candiceandtom.com . We figured we needed something a little more generic to keep all of our ventures on instead of making new blogs every time we ventured out.

This one will still be active and be our 'personal' blog site.

Why do we need two, you ask? Well, that's a whole 'nother post. In short, I like my freedom in being able to post things like this, and not have to worry about people pulling our support thinking we're heathens.

Apparently things get political, whether you like it or not, when you become agents of organization such as, well, a church.

Sleepin' around

From April 1 to May 29

1. Our house - Tuis
2. Ronald's house - The Jungle
3. Our house - Tuis
   
4. Hector's house - San Jose
   
5. Resort - Pacific coast
6. Hostel - San Jose
7. Our house - Tuis
8. Clem's house - Atanis
9. Tom's parents - Winnipeg
10. Candice's parent's house - Dauphin
11. Comtois' House - Winkler
12. Friends' trailer - Minneapolis
13. Tom's parent's house - Winnipeg
14. Tom's Uncle's - Vancouver
15. Tom's Grandma's - Victoria
16. Candice's cousin's - Nanaimo
17. Tom's Grandma's - Victoria
18. Tom's parents's - Winnipeg
    
19. Candice's parents' house - Dauphin
20. Candice's brothers' house - Winnipeg
21. Tom's parents' house - Winnipeg
22. The Lehmann's house - Montreal
23. Tammy's house - Montreal

That's an average stay of 2.6 days in one location.

Good thing we like traveling?

The Plains of Abraham

Little did I know I would be learning all about Quebec's history this week. Or that we'd be house sitting and watching over two young adults. And, come to think of it, it was only a little while ago that we found out that we'd be heading to South America really soon.

I am continually reminded that God's plan is always bigger and better than anything we can dream up on our own.

For he is good. He is faithful. He is omnipotent.

10 things I did this week

1. Began blogging again. I've been longing for this for a while and finally found the time after our presentation was executed. Anyone want to hear about anything in particular? It will help with where in the world to start.
   
2. Did a major presentation on Sunday... Jammed it together on Friday and Saturday. Videos to be posted on the LEC-CR site.
   
3. Flew back to Montreal. I guess that's inherent to the above.
   
4. Took my computer in to the Mac store. I nearly hugged the guy that authorized it to be fixed under warranty even though that ended last month. I told him he made my month! A broken hinge where all the do-dads are for the screen is not a cheap fix. And now is not the time to be computer shopping.
   
5. Staying at amazing friends' house for the time being. We could live here for a while. Hope they're cool with that.
   
6. Agreed (someone disappointingly, see #5) to house/teenager sit for a friend when she's off the east coast this Thursday for 9 days. We first had to turn down the offer to go with them on the super budget-friendly trip. Sigh.
   
7. Signed up for Spanish classes; suppose to start this Thursday. Four hours of Skype a day with a teacher in Ecuador. Cool, eh?
   
8. Been told a number of times that I don't have a tan. Yeah... I guess we didn't spend enough time laying around on the beach to work on it. Ugh.
9. Phoned Costa Rica a few times when preparing for the presentation. Seeing all of our friends' beautiful faces without being able to talk with them is heart breaking.
   
10. Thought of yous a lot. Especially Sonya! Could someone please up date me!!!
    

We're home!!

I was surprised as anyone on the plane last week when I squealed with glee as we pointed our nose to the east and the pilot threw on the jets.


We were returning to Montreal!


Why has my heart kept skipping a beat when I see familiar sights? Friends? Church family? Why did my inners feel all warm while cruising through downtown Montreal on Friday night? Or when we sat and watched the city lights sparkle from on top of Mount Royal?

Because we made it!
Full circle.
We're back.

Tom has the best metaphor to sum it up: It's like we ran a race, and just crossed the finish line. All we have left now are the 'interviews'.

And we've been doing them. I did a speaking engagement at a women's breakfast this past Saturday morning and Sunday evening we had a 2 hour presentation on LEC-Costa Rica. Then an intro to Ecuador...

Lots of people here are really excited that we're back. Some somewhat sad about us taking off again right away. To be honest, at times I dream of just being able to stay... Grab an apartment, set up shop, make a home-cooked meal from my very own fry pan and call it a night. But I know God has other plans right now, and following His is far more important than my fry pan.

Besides, the place we're crashing right now has some super fantastic pans!

And, as per usual, after praying for plans to be revealed at just the right time, God shows us a gleam of something we never imagined would be in our future. Well, at least not this soon*.

Sometimes I'm really glad we don't own crystal balls.






*No, I'm not pregnant.

More on Ecuador

Alright, we're still in Victoria (meaning we're down to chisling Internet access from Starbucks) and because the laptop we brought decided to break on day number 2, you'll have to bear with me, Starbucks connection, a latte, and my iTouch, which = short poorly composed blogs typed with one finger. More details to come after arriving back in Winnipeg on Friday, or after getting back into Montreal next week. But until then...

- We fly to Quito June 5th, 2010... Yes, that's a month away.
- We'll be in there for 6 weeks
- We'll be working with HCJB (http://www.hcjb.org/) a phenominal Christian based humanitarian organization that has 2 main ministries: radio and medical
- Tom will be working with the engineers on transmitters and cool stuff like that, while my work will focus on nutrition and health aspects working in their hospitals.
- We will primarily be based out of Shell. Shell is a rural town on the edge of the amazon. It also has an interesting history (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_Mera?wasRedirected=true )
- We are VERY excited about this opportunity to put our professional skills to work, in a full time manner, in the mission field. We have been in dialoge with HCJB for a few years and are thrilled to have worked things out to take this opportunity now. So are the people on the ground, apparently.
- I will be back in Spanish lessons, via Skype, starting in about 2 weeks, to focus on medical Spanish. I really want to hit the ground running.

- Any questions???!

Let me know your thoughts! If you have any. You are more than welcome to call us nuts.

10 things I've done this week

1. Panned for gold in the Nanaimo river. We did actually find some!
   
2. Visited with Tom's 93 year old grandmother. She is too cool.
   
3. Rented a car and drove the Malahat with my handsome hubby. Chemainus fudge rocks!
   
4. Drank a number of Starbuck coffees, simply to use their wireless. I've done worse things for less
   
5. Bought a big thick woolly jacket to keep my behind warm. Most our stuff is in storage in Montreal
   
6. Felt really homeless and really free, usually at the same time. Our new term is 'with out residence'
   
7. Ate Chinese food
8. Studied nutrition terms in Spanish
   
9. Discovered my suitcases need replacing
   
10. Booked tickets to Quito, Ecuador
    

Wow, what a time it’s been since returning. It’s hard to believe that we’ve only been back in Canada for 2 weeks. It seems like Costa Rica was a million years ago, but at the same time we seem to still be struggling to ‘fit in’ here and it’s a constant reminder that we’ve been gone a while. Our mind-frames are different… Our outlooks, passions, and desires for life seem to clash with the norm, making light conversation less than light, at times.

As can be expected, everyone has questions… Some are harder to answer than others. And the ‘hard’ part is the fact that we don’t have answers.

We’ve kept busy over the past 2 weeks, which has helped distracted us from the fact that we are no longer in Costa Rica. Although sometimes I feel that our hearts are still there. We’re still a little displaced yet.

We flew into Winnipeg on April 14th and spent a few days there, then spent a few in Dauphin. On the weekend we skipped town and headed down to Minneapolis with two of our bestest friends. The trip to Mini was probably the best thing we could have done. Spending a few days with close friends that understand missions (they went to Haiti a week after the earthquake in January), marriage without children, wanting to dedicate your life to serving Christ, and uncertain life plans due to feeling a call towards ‘non-normal’ careers, we could talk to them about anything. So therapeutic! (And don’t get me wrong, the shopping didn’t hurt either!!! Nor did dressing up western style, taking in a benefit concert, catching a movie, or camping.)

And now? Now we are now out west. We flew to Vancouver after returning from Minneapolis. Tom has family here and in Victoria; I have family in Nanaimo. We’ll be around these parts for about 10 days. Wish us luck when we go panning for gold on Saturday.

Life has been fantastic in many ways since returning back to home turf (we love traveling!). But it’s also been difficult in other ways. A part of me wants to suppress all feeling and live it up while we can… But my more mature side is encouraging me to take this time to process. Processing after a major life event (which Costa Rica was, for us) is natural, normal, and needed. And sometimes processing results in a non-smiling face… Which sometimes results in misinterpretations by those you are staying with.

Sigh.

But for those of you that may be wondering, we do have some life plans ahead of us. After returning from the west we will only have a few days left in Manitoba, then we’re heading east. But only for a few weeks… Because we are heading back out to the mission field!!!

Anyone want to guess where?

Blog Stalker

We went to Winnipeg Evangelical Church today. It's always nice to stop in and take in a sermon from Pastor Ron in the ol' familiar church Tom and I started in. It's the church I went to when I became a Christian, and both Tom and I were baptized there (nearly 3 years ago!).

As per usual sometimes, because we attend so infrequently, and often before or after big events, we were asked to rise; this time to accept an applause from the congregation for our work in Costa Rica. We love WEFC, we feel at home there, and quite supported.

After the service people often come over to say hi. It's really nice, but sometimes it's met with a challenge... Sometimes we can't remember people's names :I (We justify this by thinking that because Pastor Ron announces our names, they remember ours.)

But today, today was a bit different!

After the service we were saying hi to people and saw a young lady coming towards us. Tom said 'Uh oh, here comes the challenging part... I have no idea who this is."

Then the young, beautiful lady announces, "I'm your blog stalker!"


It was awesome! It was really nice to meet her (you!) in person. After she delurked on my blog a little over a year ago (over a crock-pot recipe), I started following her's. It was great because it was like we were old friends! We knew stories of each other, and where we were at in life.

Really cool, and the first time that's happened to me; meeting a virtual friend in real life.

When we parted she said "I'll be sure to follow you on your next adventure!"

How cool is that?!?!

That's It!!!

Back!

A ton processed.

A ton to do before leaving in 6 sleeps.




(which is really too bad because I have A LOT of blog fodder going on right now...)

Retreating...

We're off for a few days to do some major processing (and have a few meetings in San Jose). We'll probably be back on Friday.

Wish us 'luck'.

Salivation

Making lists of things we are looking forward to helps ease the ever-increasing pain of having to leave. And, because making lists of things we are going to miss makes us cry...

Anyone want to sign up for any of the following?

• BBQ'ed meat (sounds like we have a taker already... Anyone else?)
• Indian food
• Sushi (home made would be wonderful... hint, hint)
  
• BBQ'ed corn
  
• Parmesan cheese. Not from the shaker. (You know who you are!)
• Ukrainian food! Specifically: perogies and, if possible, beet-leaf buns (yeah we know we're pushing our luck!)
• Thai green curry anything
  
• Non UHT treated milk
• Rice wrap spring rolls
• Sweet chili sauce
• Salmon. Salmon. Salmon.
• Memories of Thialand light peanut sate sauce (or the homemade equivalent)
  
• Spinach salad.
  
• Jalapeno Havarti on a trisquit
• Activia yogurt.
  
• Chicken or portabello mushroom burger.
  

To be continued... More than likely.

Happenings

• Tonight we went to a dance class. Learning the salsa and meringue was 'fun'. I don't think we'll do that again. I'll wait 'til Tom reads this to find out that I don't have a huge desire to go back either.
  
• Last week we played hockey with the youth. Tom and Ben hunted down wood, sawed-it 'up to make hockey sticks, and learned the children how to play. The kids loved it... So did the audience that grew around them wondering what in the world they are doing playing soccer with sticks.
  
• When I was putting the slide show together over the last few days I was really impressed that there were so many pictures of us working and smiling. Did you notice them too?
• On Saturday we went for a long hike to process some thoughts (and get some exercise, and enjoy a few moments to ourselves...which sometimes we have to run away for, and enjoy the non-scorching heat... Although I still managed to get a sunburn). And after those few hours, we still aren't ready to answer questions about our life plans. May God's will be done. That's all I ask. We're trusting. It's a fantastic place to be.
  
• We still don't own any flights from Manitoba to Montreal. I think we've truly gone Costa Rican... Tranquillo! We'll buy them and make a plan tomorrow.
• In a feeble attempt to ease some of the strange feelings we get when trying to process not living here, we've been listing things we're looking forward to doing/seeing/eating when we get home. Anyone want to volunteer to cook us a piece of red meat? For a nearly-vegetarian girl I can't believe this is amongst the tops things I want. I must be lacking sufficient hemoglobin to provide adequate oxygen to my brain. (heehee, smart jokes) Honestly, I'm willing to gnaw on a piece of iron right about now.
  
• We introduced some of our friends here to green beer in celebration of Saint Patrick's day. Seven of us shared 4 dyed beers in true Costa Rican style... 3 days after Saint Patties day.
• The fact remains: grease is hard to remove from dishes without hot water.
  
• I'm sure if we checked our blood levels, Tom and I would be way over the safety limit for ByeGone... The brilliance in a bottle that is about 12 times stronger than Raid. We love the stuff.

The calm(ish) after the storm

Wow.

Lots has happened over the past few weeks.

And this evening we find ourselves, for the first time in a long time, with an 'empty' house.
No house guests.

No drop-ins.

No gigantic bugs threatening to take over the place.

And man, have we been productive!

Neighbors visited, moms called, reports written, videos assembled, and blogs written! Check out my thoughts on Chirripo and the new video posted on the LEC-CR site. I hope I at least captured a taste of our adventures in Chirripo for you. Let me know what you think.

So many things

Where do I begin?



I really don't know.



The truth is, I haven't started.



 I'm not necessarily in denial, but just haven't started the process.There's just....



So many things.

So much to say.

So many lessons learned.

So many things to process.

So many things to plan.

So many things to do.

So many things to wrap up.

So many things to look forward to.

So many things that can make you feel sad.

So many things to dream about.

So many things to remember.

So many things to forget.



There's just.... So many things.


Once this process starts, it may not be pretty. 

If you act silly, someone's bound to take a picture.

Photographing Love

I had the amazing opportunity to be the photographer in three weddings this past week!!!

The local mission hosted a community wedding to wed those who have been living together and have since come to the Lord, and want their relationship to be bonded in Holy Matrimony. Three couples were wed... What a testament!

The community chipped in to make the wedding possible... Often people here don't get married simply because they can't afford it, and a few of these couples couldn't. Wedding clothes were rented, borrowed, or sewn... All guests brought food to share, everyone chipped in for the cake, lawyer costs, etc.

It was amazing. A real community effort to help these couples become husbands and wives!

Tom and I offered to be the photographers for the wedding... Our gifts to the couples are printed photos of their special day... I can hardly wait to share these with them!

And this was Sunday, February 14th... How romantic!!

Wordless Wednesday

More to come...

The convo went a little something like this...

Tom: (Just after hanging up the phone...): "Wow. Guess who's translating at the woman's conference you are going to this week?"

Me: "Who?"

Tom: ...


























You.

Because I needed to get that photo off the top of my blog!

Wordless Wednesday

The belated version.

What's eating you this morning?

Not too sure...



Just one of the joys of working in the tropics.

Celebrations

Nope, it didn't hurt as much as last year, and it was super neat that we didn't have to crank the apartment thermostat!

Who toyed with the comment section?

It's at the top now!

Who did that?

Update (from Tom): I think I fixed it. Blogger kept fighting to change it back, but it seems to be staying now.

January 27, 2010

Happy Birthday Candice!!!

January 2010

Do you ever get to the point that there is just so much to blog about that you can't settle on one topic to blog about, so you don't blog at all?

Me too.

Let's recap the highlights of the past few weeks, shall we?
Picture style!

(I shrunk 'em all down to bits so it wouldn't take 6 years to load - I apologize for the lack of photo quality).

Let me know if there's anything in here that peeks your interest enough that I should pelt this site with more words and pictures,



Here we go:

Honorable mention: Hours, and hours, and hours of Dutch Blitz!

There also was the mandatory border hop.
A 16 hour bus ride to (then back from)...

... beautiful Panama City!

We stayed in a super cheap budget hotel...

With a decent(???) view.

Until a friend of a friend got us the hook-up
with a sweet room at a fancy shmansy hotel!!!

With a bit of a better(???) view!

We toured the canal...

And also took our friend's friend up on his offer to take
on-the-house tours at his other resort.

(Jungle Tram)

(Private boat ride to Monkey Island!)

We also spent a good part of an afternoon sunning and swimming
in the private executive pool on the 21st floor of our fs hotel...

Panama City was amazing.

After a week back at work (read about it here)
it was time to take a vacation with my parents!!

We went to a (somewhat) local restaurant.

Had a Youthnite Bonfire... Complete with S'more lessons!

Then we were off to La Fortuna. Couldn't miss the Baldi Hot Spring.
This place was fantastic.... So was the infamous Suicide Middle Slide.

We repelled down a waterfall...

...and had an amazing time zip-lining.


Check out the video Tom captured on one of the cables!

We hit the beach in Puntarenas

Swung from a Tarzan vine at the Montezuma waterfalls

Had a romantic dinner watching the sun set over the Pacific ocean in Malpais

And I got to go scuba diving with my dad at Tortuga Island

Then the four of us snorkeled with the fishes!

Plus, our local volcano is acting a little loco.
Read more about it here.

We're now recharged and ready to dive deeper into our work here!

And plan for the huge youth party this Friday at our house (fondue and everything!)
Cuz it's someone's birthday this week ya know.

Gone Again

We're off!!

Hopefully I'll get a chance to post something throughout our adventure. If not, see ya on the flip side, hopefully with some great stories and a bit of a tan!

two truths and a lie

Check out the sidebar for a poll as to what you think didn't happen during our trip to Panama.

1. We stayed at a fancy-shmancy hotel. We even had an executive room.
2. We stayed at a budget-friendly $33/night hotel. We had diner and drinks for $10.
3. The border, which we arrived at by bus at 5:00am, took nearly 2 hours to cross!

Not in Kansas, 3rd edition

Be sure to check out part I, check out Part II, and enjoy part III.

• Your alarm clock is as natural as a rooster crowing. Except it's a crow that hops on your hot tin roof, resulting in a BASH BASH BASH from up above. You try to laugh at the obscurity, but it's hard to laugh at 4:30am.
  
• At the neat little coffee shop you found in town, you order the house special. It tastes quit yummy! Espresso, ice cream, blue goo, and something you just can't put your finger on.... Then it hits you like a dizzy spell when you stand up, and the waitress smiles and says "Whiskey!"
  
• The border patrol is more interested in the morning paper than the vehicles he is suppose to be inspecting. He even gets a little annoyed when the driver beeps his horn to ensure he can really drive into the country un-inspected.
  
• You come home from a short trip and you hear that the local volcano blew.
  
• You get to study in a hammock.
  
• The locals talk about the unusually cold mornings. 15-20 degrees Celsius makes news here.
  
• Yes, 15 is cold.
  
• Skype saves sanity.
  
• Dutch blitz is taken to a new level. 8 people, a million hands, and swear words held back in two languages.
  

LOA... Not MIA

After tomorrow's planning meeting in the morning regarding the next few months here, Tom and I are off to San Jose, to catch our bus to Panama City, to spend a few glorious days off while fulfilling our visa requirements of being out of the country for at least 72 hours.

We plan to see the canal, and hopefully get to see the old city.

We're so not prepared (the way we usually are) for this.
And not even panicking.
No ticket home yet.
We're sort of convinced that we may have everything we need.
But we'll most definitely have to go tot he store before leaving.
Not exactly sure how we are going to get around.
But I'm pretty sure I remember our hotel's name.




Are we turning local????

NY'sRs

As for New Year's Resolutions, which I have never really been a fan of, I'll be making a new list shortly. Last year I found that it really helped to blog about them. There's just something about writing them down for others to see (and hold you accountable to) that helps as a reminder to evaluate them through the year.

First, let's recap last year's, and see how I did.

1. Exercise - Although this one started off a little slow, little did I know I would be ending the year in nearly the best shape of my life. But that only happened in the last 2 months of the year. The threat of dying in the remote Chirripo mountains was enough to get my behind to the gym (yes, we were going to the gym in Costa Rica) and go on challenging practice hikes on the weekends. But now? Oh, the band-wagon is long gone and we're sitting on the side of the road waiting for the bus. Ugh. I think this one is staying on the list for another year... I felt so good when we were training for Chirripo. Definitely more physically, emotionally, and mentally fit. So... Quasi-check?
   
2. Read More Scripture - Again, I'm pretty sure this one wasn't unique to my list! As for non-bible bible books, Purpose Driven Life and Jesus Wants to Save Christians were great tools for learning. I highly recommend them both. Through the year we have been in The Word especially during the first few weeks of being in CR. We clung to it, but I need to sadly admit that, just as in Canada, time spent in the word has become suffocated by other obligations. I now realize that this has led to some suffering, by me not being prepared when taking on challenges, not being rooted where I should be. So...Quasi-check?
3. Get Involved - Boy howdy did we ever! This one may not be on the list this year because, as I've come to learn, once you start getting involved you realize what a good thing it is to be involved. For many, many reasons. Then the feeling of obligation of involvement evolves into willing, then wanting, then it becomes the natural thing to do. So... Check!! Yay!!
   

And you? How did you do on last year's NY'sR???
Wanna re-cap for us?

2009 in review. The thing to do.

So, word on the streets of blog-land has it that a review of 2009 is in order.

Alright, I'll oblige, but it may be more facts that feelings.


The count-down to 2009 took place in a friend-of-the-family's living room in Winnipeg. It was were my mom, Tom, and I were staying while my dad recouped in the Health Sciences Center's cardiac ward. The man recouped, we were able to stay in Manitoba until he returned home, then we returned home to Montreal.

In January we already knew we were heading back to Costa Rica later in the year, we hadn't really broken the news to many people, as we weren't exactly sure how or when, but we knew.

Having no idea what we were actually getting ourselves into, we volunteered to join our youth pastor and adult leaders in supervising a youth retreat early in the year. What we thought was going to be a one-time deal, turned into life-changing relationships and invaluable lessons over our remaining time in Montreal; just fast-forward from that youth retreat to 4:00am October 17th, and you'd see it too.

I turned a quarter of a century. We went to upstate New York.

On a last minute deal we flew out to meet up with Tom's parents on Vancouver Island, and
I was able to meet Tom's grandmother in beautiful Victoria.

Winter in Montreal was snowy and I was in my last semester of classes at grad school. I was busy writing a literature review, essays, and giving presentations. Tom and I enrolled in weekly Spanish classes at the college across the street. We were officially accepted by Lakeshore church to serve in Costa Rica for 6 months; a true answer to prayer.

We flew to Manitoba for a grand 60th birthday in April. We also used the trip to officially announce our missionary plans and start our (what seemed to be never ending) fund raising initiatives.

Two days after returning from Manitoba I had eye-ball surgery.

May was jammed packed with statistics work. Boy-howdy am I glad that's done!!

In June I had an 'exploratory interview' with World Vision, we toured Toronto and visited Niagra Falls while we were in the area. I had never been to the Falls before. We fell in love with Cambridge, Ontario.

The summer flew by, jammed with thesis prep, defense prep, CR prep, moving prep... and then implementations. We spent many summer nights walking along the board walk in beautiful Ste-Anne's. My mom flew in for August long weekend, which was a much needed and lovely break from everything. My brother also visited.

I saw my first live rubber-ducky duck race.

We leapt from the SRL to the micro 4/3 world.

On August 27th I defended my master's. On the 30th we moved out of our apartment.

We lived with friends in Montreal for a few weeks then went to Manitoba for a gloriously long visit after Tom finished up work mid September. We helped on my parent's grain farm and had plus 30 degree weather. We spent time at Tom's parent's cabin. I did my first ever scheduled 'photo shoot', with glowingly pregnant Lyla, but had to drive through a snow-storm to get there. Oh Manitoba weather.

The first load of good-byes came when we had to fly back to Montreal. Which was followed by two sleeps and another load of good-byes. I had never fully grasped the size of our family before that week.

We landed in beautiful CR a few short days before our 2nd anniversary. I was terribly ill, which was the beginning of (what seems to be) a string of health issues. We jumped right into Spanish lessons, serving within the community, and preparing for what would-be an amazing trip to remote Chirripo.

Our good friends Bob and Erica joined us for a short while late November. We visited a volcano. The four of us did, indeed, survive Chirripo.

Bob and Erica left.
Crystal left.

Combating loneliness, which seemed to be sneaking up on us as Christmas approached, we clung to our Costa Rican family. We headed to beautiful Punta Uva playa as an early Christmas gift for them. We ensured to busy ourselves with all sorts of Christmas activities.

Celebrating Christmas away from our (blood) families and traditions changed me a bit. As have many things over this past year. It has been a year of change, I guess. I'm done school, for the first time in over, gulp, 7 years. Tom left his job. We moved. Etc. We do fight feelings of rootlessness; no home, no jobs; but at the same time we feel so liberated by being bill-free, root-free... Well, home-free!!

God has brought us a long way in 2009. It was an amazing year, full of challenges and amazing experiences.

And, as I sit here reflecting on the past year, sitting in my cocoon hammock gazin' out passed the palm trees and listening to a man a few meters behind me chopping down a banana tree with a machete, I wonder where were we will be a year from now. The funny thing is, I draw a balnk, because I have no idea. And I've strived hard to get to that place: Peace in knowing we have no plans, but comfort in knowing God will reveal them in good time.

If this doesn't say "Fun!"...

It's a small world after all!

We may be separated by a few thousand kilometres, and about 50 degrees celsius, but sometimes a little technology can make things seem a little closer.





A little video-conferencing magic. Gracias a Dios.

A Christmas message for everybody.

Pictures!

For those of you not familiar with our other blog, give it a look and find a link to a ton of pictures.

Not in Kansas, part II

If you've missed Part I, read it here.

• You find a cat lounging on the shelf in the store... And he is in no way startled when you pick up the item next to him.
• When you buy candy, it must be weighed at the candy section, receive a sticker for the price, and then you can proceed to the till. The same process occurs when you buy a pre-packaged and sealed bag of candy; it must be weighed, and receive a price sticker (Why must they weigh a bad that states 450g??? Why don't they price them before hand?)
• In the middle of the day, when sitting on your couch, you may hear a random tuba rocking to Ricky Martin, as a rooster crows and a dog howls.. All at the same time.
• To the question of "Do I bring an umbrella?" The answer is always yes.
• Shopping involves English, Spanish, and charades.
• Lawns are mowed with a weed wacker... Or a goat.
  
• Oranges grow on trees.
• Real lemons cannot be found. Anywhere.
  
• While writing a post about not being in Kanses, a cockroach runs across the living room floor.
  
• Sigh.
  
• Christmas festivities include a two-man donkey, men dressed up in old lady outfits, and Christmas carols that are based off of "Noel Noel", in English, which of course is from French, but in Spanish.
• While you are studying at the dinning room table in your house, a bat flies by your head.
  
• Seriously, while sitting IN your house.
  
• You have a house with a wall decoratively missing, so you can see the great outdoors... And the great outdoors can be attracted to, and apparently join, the bugs that are free to fly in and hang around your lights bulbs.
  
• You've experienced 3 earth-trembles in less than 3 months.
  
• Garbage bags are sold in "Lemon Scent"... Because a hint of lemon will make all that nasty garbage odor disappear (?)
  
• When you look out your window, onto your lawn, there may be a horse on it. And you don't know who's it is.
  
• There is no such thing as house numbers. Or street addresses. Which can make receiving mail a little tricky.
  

More than likely to be continued...

Hasta luego, mi amiga!

My bestest friend in Costa Rica, who just so happens to not be Costa Rican at all, returned to the states with passed week.

We will miss you dearly Cristal!
What a blessing you have been to our time here.

I can't thank you enough.


Here's my attempt at a farewell and thank you.



Te amo.

Aiy!

My husband's turning into a serial killer.

By necessity.











It was a matter of self defense, people.

Que Es Esto!?!! (What is it!?!!)

Chirripo Trip

If you'd like to read about our latest adventure...

Please do from someone else's perspective

or our perspective.

Enjoy!

You know you're not in Kansas anymore when...

• A sugar cane 'train' passes you on your walk to school
• Men carry machetes
  
• Ants crawl over produce, cookie bags, etc at the store. And no one seems to mind.
• Eggs sit on top of the fridge not in the fridge
• You whistle at the bus driver to get him to stop.
  
• Car insurance is a concept only known and appreciated by the wealthy. Why? "Most Costa Ricans simply can't afford the $300 a year."
  
• While driving you need to swerve around cattle, horses, quads, stray dogs, pedestrians, and whatever else is using the road that day too. Which takes us back to the car insurance thing...
  
• When an open-box delivery truck passes you on the road, you know what he's carrying by the smell it leaves behind. Chilies burn the nose!
  
• Meetings, events, or anything else can be canceled or moved, without notice or reason. Not only can this be done by the person leading the event, but also by people attending the event.
• When you go to someone's house for a 30mintue project, you must spend 2 hours having coffee and treats before the project can happen. Then have lunch after.
• Roosters have no idea what time it is. They'll crow in the morning, evening, afternoon... they really don't discriminate.
  
• Dogs make noise at any hour, too. And no one seems to care. Not even at 4:00 in the morning. Nope, no need to tell your pooch to cork it!
  
• Insects can be so large that you think of them as an animal, so you refuse to hit them. (But do encourage and assist in getting them out of your house.)
  

Stay tuned, I'm sure we'll be adding to this list...

Because pictures are worth thousands of words

And I've been lacking a good quantity of them on our blogs.

Enjoy!

Month 1

(Click on the photo to view more of them)

1 Month Update

Check here for an update video for our 'monthiversary'!!

Earthquake!

I kid you not, the house just shook!

I'm in the hammock, which hangs from the rafters that just vibrated, and the tin roof trembled.

How awesome is that!!

Compleaños Feliz!

It's hard to believe it's been a year since New York City.

But what a year's it's been!





Happy Birthday Mom.
I love you!