tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74110007507367303282024-03-05T17:00:35.714-05:00The Drake FamilyElliott and Lindsay Drakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03864395927423205739noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-89188719369602092302012-03-30T12:25:00.000-04:002012-03-31T14:45:20.681-04:00Enjoying Spring!<div style="text-align: justify;">Spring is here in Denver!! When we moved out here, I was bracing myself for cold, snowy days into May....but, thankfully, it decided to warm up in March! The past few weeks have been in the 60's and 70's and full of warm sunshine. The trees are starting to bud and bloom, and the grass is turning green again. Colorado is really SO beautiful! It is beautiful when it is white and bare, and it is beautiful when it is green and blooming. I am well aware that we could still receive some more snow and cold, but for now, I am enjoying the warm days we have been given. Thank you Lord!</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We have been spending LOTS of time outside. There are days when we play outside all morning, have a picnic for lunch, come in for naps, and play outside again until it's time for dinner.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We have...</div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"> fed ducks by the river,</div><div style="text-align: center;">thrown lots of sticks in the river and watched countless ripples, </div><div style="text-align: center;">gone on walks, </div><div style="text-align: center;">spent hours in the sandbox (Lucas' favorite place to be),</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>played with friends,</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">splashed in puddles,</div><div style="text-align: center;">discovered new parks,</div><div style="text-align: center;">collected pockets full of rocks,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and hiked!</div><div style="text-align: center;">The kiddos' hair gets "whiter" by the day, and their cheeks are rosy and sunkissed!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZ8g2PGBnwJX_-5DtuQIWIMrce1gxCj5OtgBp7MVACjS4G_NtN1VkneEd80uJHYMKxDjpX-UDph-E6lDEGVjBCZEbziSF-Rg3zMCmhqGzTv-X-2TlTE19FK7_mOKJqfx8n8-QSpxEJ8Yo/s1600/DSC_0524.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZ8g2PGBnwJX_-5DtuQIWIMrce1gxCj5OtgBp7MVACjS4G_NtN1VkneEd80uJHYMKxDjpX-UDph-E6lDEGVjBCZEbziSF-Rg3zMCmhqGzTv-X-2TlTE19FK7_mOKJqfx8n8-QSpxEJ8Yo/s400/DSC_0524.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726128314614687746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CZc3etZyAkbuPCgUL3c8_8GSYw5EL4BkujYpbjLa8Tv6AF2356Ys2nxqQCI7czsUAC4IiyWyXaZPq5L5XUFjf-jxHI7jYqPV2xSlVhYzdiF58dbtCAjYH95V0oMgdEVuNqQDc0LD_5Gv/s1600/DSC_0518.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CZc3etZyAkbuPCgUL3c8_8GSYw5EL4BkujYpbjLa8Tv6AF2356Ys2nxqQCI7czsUAC4IiyWyXaZPq5L5XUFjf-jxHI7jYqPV2xSlVhYzdiF58dbtCAjYH95V0oMgdEVuNqQDc0LD_5Gv/s400/DSC_0518.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726128311064158786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXGyg5mVnaJU76mV01_-IREoft0sy0QAXyUs85a4x4h4ye79GCo5sUpeArqMrWydYeLn3TjjfoPWAe-TQiCLFv-29umzq7S4Zp950nvJsJM_HjHXZjj_KRx7G1nQQme-ukbGPB6VAA3LU/s400/DSC_0537.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726130085076638082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px; " /></span></div><div>Buddy boy is pulling up on everything and starting to cruise around! He entertains himself for long periods of time cruising around checking everything out. </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZ7K413EEX1-pKXVQjfnuqALnThd1QI49BXe0MJ6MVunv7kpPUTUCcf4DOPLwr_4kMuKThwy4Mzf6fcc8iywxepkWfUSf0z1igPKCvmYqUuHYFsWcwhchqaSATmoJXA2rrTN4dg2ZSWtP/s1600/DSC_0534.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZ7K413EEX1-pKXVQjfnuqALnThd1QI49BXe0MJ6MVunv7kpPUTUCcf4DOPLwr_4kMuKThwy4Mzf6fcc8iywxepkWfUSf0z1igPKCvmYqUuHYFsWcwhchqaSATmoJXA2rrTN4dg2ZSWtP/s400/DSC_0534.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726128308382693522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px; " /></a><br /></div><div>On Sunday we did the most beautiful hike in Reynolds park. We only brought our little point and shoot camera, so the pictures don't quite capture the beauty we saw at the top- Pikes Peak is in the background. Sadly, this is near the area where the forest fires have been this week. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBJon6KkA2mf-gK9Ul4vnEYr-sflYzJoHct_wciekmZc6WybCouO6SNwcn6PFwLNBBGdQ2N2xrvQu8C_G8uw6NAp2PVkQR2EY8hpwGpHaG5JyOcPLDLoKAXHwf9DN65V3wuEUX8FVDlfY/s1600/DSC03545.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBJon6KkA2mf-gK9Ul4vnEYr-sflYzJoHct_wciekmZc6WybCouO6SNwcn6PFwLNBBGdQ2N2xrvQu8C_G8uw6NAp2PVkQR2EY8hpwGpHaG5JyOcPLDLoKAXHwf9DN65V3wuEUX8FVDlfY/s400/DSC03545.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726128303918101426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB98b4ZcCVZ2gnqLuE0cNwg_-d8GwGccvYNDIhdtKOQbkJ0yDQplVzzq3fBqbmzliOOfGexUmBHVhCwonA0eN1rz4jjSKuGt64w_ACePG3Y02n37qYIoEH2_dGkzvPkFLkY7aAq6UssseD/s400/DSC03549.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726128293208014226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">This week, two baby lambs were born at the Littleton museum, so we went to meet them! They were so cute and little. </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vyJFRPdTBOvSv7OEq-un2OUXuJp2ymxVL8UrPbKIqJDrDVqBY-eZUhf0MAZAy8IlWSoJxrX0pwvVdLDjOGffhfbKtyX-EKzNel8sQNolDkK2Yx5eQCfHcm1YDQhhDqxnuO1ce7xtxqtj/s400/DSC_0568.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726127228272515970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Avery with the mama sheep.</div><div></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><div></div></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVRsbJVmHFNg7Dh3halhL-FEm4TIs2vwtOrFMZXY5LbY8tZcsqqIjl2_2nJXOPlIWlrAaxuy7viLD8288jDKqNcbFMGPONVvZxytleVQCnRe8XSTsrMMCJq_VgRLXy-eZYrmrk-QgZ-rf/s400/DSC_0570.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726127225683886962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px; " /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKq-sAGMrmjuxMgRcqGMmXB7h7nf9VM_F2EBtIxtKvPhYVdNveo_-il752ZgSnBSaLs5JOyiMB8c3vz9mfzhjQPt6RiDCfnw_cVwUeWCqlJlSlZe_vFUE4JU4TwnYtTcVwtS_4zP-ckzs/s400/DSC_0571.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726127222814244338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYFbLOKJg1cQTFNogF6SeNY9BI41ICdiCgYyBSfn6F7lBxvMX19ndCpFM3pfAMVQ1VrgGs0EAh-_HxwQKmHLl3kSANVg-UjxVPZ5Aa_IawOmCvxfwxPSDuj0p_hkqF8XPGjKatFHXh-tC/s400/DSC_0573.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726127211945445250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-65272341212179856702012-02-16T23:26:00.008-05:002012-02-17T00:04:27.101-05:00Free Days<div style="text-align: center;">The past few weeks we have taken advantage of the Free Days around Denver and have visited the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and the Firefighter Museum.</div>One of the things that was hard about having kids in the DR, was that there just weren't all that many fun things to do with kids...so we just had to stay at home most days (unless we took a big outing to McDonalds for Aves to play in the occasionally air-conditioned Playplace). So needless to say, we have been loving all of the different things to do with kids here in Denver, and the fact that they have days you can go for free is SWEET!<br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XoSMf4w8p-fdTkZu_vamOaDLQsBF_x-XcxEFiHDbOPqkPs9QJZEFFiW5JOkZUX2h2QpbsgtswHdGZmlkWjNFJmIXgvkvRU-dZqdckQNLlTFa40VP7C7asRwvR1QbHMMy1nfl2d4LskYp/s400/DSC03487.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709958842156428370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">and....this guy is not so sweet....what in the world? Glad these things aren't roaming around anymore. </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0EgUE8zXRtxCHIk7UrnpmIIA7CUxMwC13OmVk4TquVFEKK1d13jDIdraheeOa2cb4n4iJXrs8dfR1i6eLTXhzwG0EvtrX9q0q273Xl9tK0XoKDt6uU5_KdbhYNP2WeGcUuoMWQ-WH3jU/s400/DSC03483.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709958834115991682" /><div style="text-align: center;">Avery with her new friends and neighbors!! They are so cute together.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNH62ksiJziY5xuA9o2kMhKrI2PLCCFJ9AZTdkxN4bgT139JZtg01u3WYTjNjJGq35kDq8wCxl9-WBH4mzpXxlKLkEKuNvJbIFGiM2iHSBAPSPrFJhwTdPW4SlG3Vns9GcQKvu9I5TpIUU/s400/DSC03471.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709958812549930610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Avery's favorite thing at the museum was this big fan that you throw scarves into and watch them fly around. </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmr6ohy2xKYg36rd2LY4lctl5cBVjiUEdHGPNCy41yRSH0zVCCm86qZ2efxxYT3e5D3ReFYE5ft99OySQmXjo8n_z6nJnh6D4UQsi7657c2hTsleCFGUO3_umOLjNhTzebZ0ALlkpBjjt/s400/DSC03470.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709958805993215330" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">She was a little bit scared of the big bear, but I had to get a pic. Sic 'em Bears!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtXISvUNt5YpFcdihdiPYlaMollYE0piYeAt1K_oaFHAKDliVp2DS77RcFRAEMMwhAuvlpwJkBzaJixwnfgS5zyLits76nGtUh5g8_FdvyIDtVo7lALiNTSNy4zD7WoK0nSnH6e5oPhlL/s400/DSC03498.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709960816810977426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The museum had an awesome rooftop deck overlooking downtown Denver, so we went up for a little graham cracker break.<br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36Vs37F0FEAlm7LzoJVirrVur1Iu0uKO5sfLe1S5mQ-PlVjUZpzo_oul8hUEswAVbSiXblfYpjjnzCIP5wFmfMqybkyQPDoDN-LBlwUoIqb0XWLltpEjR8uYUISS4vOqBkJ50cNKTXkBD/s400/DSC03491.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709960813173027554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I live here!! What? So, beautiful!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then, on Saturday, Elliott had the great idea to take the Light Rail into downtown and go to the Firefighters Museum. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The train ride was AWESOME. Avery loved it and thought it was so special. Lucas liked it so much, he took a little snooze :) It was neat to see the city from another perspective, and see things and people that you don't normally see or notice when you are driving in your own car. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHYWGOrp6yA25oat4LcnoFKuNnp0YPBp8jJS4Q9NQDxvg9O8tjqmmLbTaElqzZQfygCTcuYAh5UtI5rhNu3iVSjUdnkmiUwUC6G1empqEHv0oi8R1-OsLuEft73y1B-9T_a82UDi6faYp/s400/DSC_0024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709961951115022290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Poor Lucas was pretty cold after waiting outside for the train to come.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiksnHcobk2TGcmDmfYatbt66eDhfkd5afzeFMHq1zpo_8QkxTq0Ai9SLVcy7cKm_7JnS5USFNKipPFJ6rArbzSc7OfC6WRoQBov8mmDtgRbtfUjdQWJz_L5i3uhZqEygpU9QdJYmTC7DL/s400/DSC_0028.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709961961122405666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 342px; height: 400px; " /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOcwQA_d191ryAcOt-6P8_WrSgO994HBQGPPDtUSNV_S07HViPFqtNd1KPOoBgsxVyFVQa6tYfx3lFEwdAbHYByZavOdrQ9nU5i4pDz4sMJVq63GsRzSJr56TNCgfgupBsqH_aMihl-Zk/s400/DSC_0027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709961973393555010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div>Once we arrived downtown, we walked a few blocks to the museum (or zoo-zeum as Avery calls them). We got there late in the afternoon, so we had the place to ourselves.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwzN98UL88SIYJ1ylW3WJO5zLKIF4Uyg4bVmG5OMr0Dn71D3ROzsImk8dVPZvd-Bfwh92HLx_WQQtO8PcEgepLRRPONfty2rUVOenaViQ5sk8RhqKj3-5DaHD_LIpnJl1Bn0RkaszEXra/s1600/DSC_0040.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwzN98UL88SIYJ1ylW3WJO5zLKIF4Uyg4bVmG5OMr0Dn71D3ROzsImk8dVPZvd-Bfwh92HLx_WQQtO8PcEgepLRRPONfty2rUVOenaViQ5sk8RhqKj3-5DaHD_LIpnJl1Bn0RkaszEXra/s400/DSC_0040.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709963953545585298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">All suited up!!</div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBKEFTA6Z7TB_8Qpkuy7vJKptldMG_JlieLOmgAdzrwx9H9Qlk4qvTYZGFRvUNWWpyeWE1566da1cU2FWSfy-bVtrEGyQeZ1652ZA-StzLjtmCIPeZ-oCeGovTzLrlbxmKZ5dY6T7Y2vG/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBKEFTA6Z7TB_8Qpkuy7vJKptldMG_JlieLOmgAdzrwx9H9Qlk4qvTYZGFRvUNWWpyeWE1566da1cU2FWSfy-bVtrEGyQeZ1652ZA-StzLjtmCIPeZ-oCeGovTzLrlbxmKZ5dY6T7Y2vG/s400/DSC_0033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709963948869169970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 346px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThljZWD8gPyWCS69fJWGWGIuvbjTjHunifWahnJ1VbP1qia3VCS6mvAV-mFycg-kYzF0wBXea7ZYHmjJIxdouDh9Qb4CgXdocsC8PCgGe7TtfDQPry20LkZB9qeSXtkZf9eTWdMQqU20t/s1600/DSC_0045.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThljZWD8gPyWCS69fJWGWGIuvbjTjHunifWahnJ1VbP1qia3VCS6mvAV-mFycg-kYzF0wBXea7ZYHmjJIxdouDh9Qb4CgXdocsC8PCgGe7TtfDQPry20LkZB9qeSXtkZf9eTWdMQqU20t/s400/DSC_0045.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709963928794212914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Fireman Lukey to the rescue!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTK2Gpyt5dBSN-TFHVmzDCGDLXtnLkbqfeSAo0RKHETfeBzcHyN9gL1yU3VUW2rmhnLwG1varTKZGkkC1tMij7y4x3CugiFDl2eEHogcigttEr1i6NA4hMXT0KzNyerbvQEkhA2QpFLuA/s1600/DSC_0065.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTK2Gpyt5dBSN-TFHVmzDCGDLXtnLkbqfeSAo0RKHETfeBzcHyN9gL1yU3VUW2rmhnLwG1varTKZGkkC1tMij7y4x3CugiFDl2eEHogcigttEr1i6NA4hMXT0KzNyerbvQEkhA2QpFLuA/s400/DSC_0065.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709963923886734018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-70991793449474074302012-01-23T23:13:00.009-05:002012-01-24T00:10:00.652-05:00Life in Littleton<div style="text-align: left;"> It is hard to believe that it has already been close to 2 months since we made our loooong westward drive to Colorado. Here are some rambling thoughts on our time thus far:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>We are really loving life here, and feel like we "fit" Colorado life pretty well....we are trying to take advantage of our beautiful, and fun "backyard"- the Rockies. We have been on some really great hikes in the foothills and on Saturday ventured a little further into the Front Range and hiked through a beautiful pine forest- spectacular views.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>It has been wonderful to settle into our own place after being on the move for nearly 9 months. And, although we made a wonderful home in the DR, there is something about having your own "stuff" that makes life feel more comfortable and settled. We had a blast unpacking boxes and boxes of nearly unused wedding gifts that had been in storage- and are really enjoying using them now!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Christmas was really special this year to celebrate in our new home, just the 4 of us (although we missed our families greatly). We attended a Christmas Eve service and then came home and had a delicious meal. We started the tradition that on Christmas Eve the whole house (apartment) is candlelit- no lights except for the tree. It was a great way to settle our hearts for the coming of our KING! Christmas morning was fun watching Avery open her gifts. This year she asked for "Chocolate toys." It was fun to see how our family got creative in giving her just what she wanted- chocolate makeup, a dirt pudding kit, and chocolate santas! Lucas liked chewing on all of his new toys too- even though they weren't chocolate like Avery's!</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dzuXWUPv7m3Yj1pIu9TbosNcHX0pO8Q37NpbCu0MclQBgM5sO33ek4mLuUGoAiuGnYbGPYgr-F6EDkWemU0BCoVQY6losjwKuEnbV56B9ACRMfqPp3I8y2bC613ZjG5ktd3a8RZrOp6g/s400/DSC_0361.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701054849051309346" /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilknFncu3W3JZkOhA5s3kcie0b02uhKspQzQAiiyuMzT1EnE56l-sy9xOnLbEQoNCTkW9GZzkYopPCVuL2IvO9R7RX44raUgfSJGLGS9XJ0-z4dESyuT9TQ6iRACQld4vArjX4CfIaObuv/s400/DSC_0355.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701054845350325282" /></div><div>My parents came out to visit a few days after Christmas and stayed through New Years. We had a great time showing them around Denver (and exploring it for ourselves). We went on a beautiful hike, ate lots of great meals (of course), celebrated my mom's birthday, went shopping, El and Pops went to a Broncos game, and had fun hanging out in our apartment.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiQqm-EHCtP2eb5DpC_B9l03EXLReWttb0TmUyi2i3G5tavv7_72LChEm1hqLdkzGxw9l5od4RVayqq3VDocdIi53rcq0OHQWRTPKwYluWg1tG2ucFL3bhkdOacCnHqH7UX4UsIZ8CJ6l/s400/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701057237215303266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LgSzOrYEwiOgVDcrES662zCBLrhnfMKYDx6VySy_PneiaETm6Rp9SVt1_-aYc-btExe6qvSlD1ffGB9IGiCgd7T0shfxq013lg-YjgESVEfNJgV-QGLDCYue6lqy3mm2VWDCby4ffxY6/s400/photo-5.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701057236033192274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpilKIhGcCV-l4-tQCcsnjGVGb0paojqoHHCMDonm0XzYNcn8ceLiYGM68B8jR88ufWAr0OgFAKIM-Og9vo2_oYGLnas8QPspUhT_UjNBIkhRtM5nqthuJPFeBrBWW-V2BTm5t7m6Jaj1m/s400/photo-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701057266649999826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGGbrfYYN5U-XPpT1a5WlYeSxo5mOdeUx2mEj2MbMTd8l2bdE7GJoHyZLswB1Ged_8i6LRDGZTdyhKaWATVEhbYIRBkFnVO-_WtCjVKOQ9f-_T4zncZiPJCeluJlWuje4oVAcQjYnsCYo/s400/photo-3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701057244393420082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QejL_SFDpl1U7JPsJ8VO_7_af9d5alXN3h2mV9wwuGerihdSIoVr0P5WHtZtoznPXOzdzmbMoon3JrvmfQZS4GZpP3At-b8NJPTDQBvxBe9ozm5iSCqWEMgu9kq2fNqtYqtsu64lOPpe/s400/photo-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701057253553663426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>Avery and Lucas have both adjusted well, and I think they both feel a sense of home here, and know that our long nomadic journey has ended (for now, ha). Avery is finally getting used to wearing layers of clothes, coats, gloves, hats, and boots, after living in shorts, and flip flops for the first 2 years of her life- we are now down to just one minor meltdown when suiting up to leave the house...progress! Avery looooves to play in the snow and go sledding with daddy. They have even gone night sledding after dinner and used Elliott's head lamp for light. We think Avery is going to be very social- she has fake conversations with people on the the phone or on Skype all day long....she also has a few imaginary friends, Wawa and Su-si. She also likes to play church and sing the doxology (thanks to Mia). Her favorite story in the Bible is Noah's ark, and she thinks that Noah's name is "Noah's ark."</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKT3hsO5niNILGKURBkwW8VK6dmAws-NHRZvmPmBp5w4PXHlGV9tptQ9fjsgkmszamBtl5ndD6KlRxgahjQtm65c_nIIixHIrp1n8nVWzOpVZ2IJTiC99W2mEPyX_FvpQTveSjxCWEvFV/s400/DSC_0443.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701058887320744994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zACaD7F7zM2p3k7QHvWLAdHx8MiKbGEAQbpkYkIIMqH5sxkdOWxTkXlayDCcY0yKfMrtVvvNsQnln84U9JmVmjirq4L3OO0HIK87r38cum9ULIEBLhfaFzACLuJeVb3bipqLNm_5BdR4/s400/DSC_0423.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701058881993208850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Daddy made Avery a cardboard house (it is beautifully decorating our living room right now).</span></i></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><br /></div><div>Lukey man is getting so big and turned 8 months this week. He realllly wants to crawl, but can't quite figure out how to get moving. Sometimes when he is on all 4's he just hops his legs forward until the reach his hands and then he tumbles over. He just learned how to put both of his arms up in the air when we say "SO BIG," and wants to do it over and over once you start doing it with him. He is a big eater, and seems to eat more than Avery at some meals. He is a babbler and loves to talk and make loud noises- he says da-da, ba-ba, squeals, screams, and has a husky giggle. <i>Everyone</i> who is around him, even for just a few minutes, always comments on how smiley he is. We are still waiting on some teeth.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Vz1dwvDrD8UdAw_IfEVSUpYarA3vBdF_HwvBTshRCHnTAkifFT3Vo0w8FFTJtpeJG6DKKpCIj7rBwQjcLKegUcJtMJsf50JVfmo8I68sMbd1rl-dI5cPlc0MSLTKZ7VxnSenQZetOl2f/s400/DSC_0438.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701055337980333618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Go Lukey, go!</i></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZuDDvHJL3HdNvTKD1A481FqKd2nYTkaTQW0w55kvdMM8Izwz7XLKH2-fzO71AdMuROxVkR_WovS0n_o4CQyalDu7V7QywRkffXKZYi2cDDcqCJaaDM1suwNMWBWednYGYf1CyjlmCXJy/s400/DSC_0463.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701055338767139634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>Elliott started class today, so the seminary adventure has officially begun! </div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-64673673185385717832011-09-22T16:36:00.000-04:002011-09-22T21:55:03.255-04:00Lookout Mountain<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We are LOVING our time on Lookout Mountain. We say just about everyday that we want to live here some day! It is so beautiful here- the leaves are starting to change, the air is crisp, and it always smells "minty fresh" outside. The days go by slow, and I can feel my soul beginning to "breathe" again after 6 months of crazy transition. </div>
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Here are some pics from our first month:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw1uSJRU4HBz47wMrAlXjjw2ru4ITpTtGZf_TMJrsXnADhX4Vdo0qt3luCQ_f3zsCUPBj7GfEH0aqxx9QW9DKU5h83z9DP4JYtkrQU87upHlXj6F5QY3aZ2rthQ5wZzXYVnBD-9qMoFve/s1600/DSC_1404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw1uSJRU4HBz47wMrAlXjjw2ru4ITpTtGZf_TMJrsXnADhX4Vdo0qt3luCQ_f3zsCUPBj7GfEH0aqxx9QW9DKU5h83z9DP4JYtkrQU87upHlXj6F5QY3aZ2rthQ5wZzXYVnBD-9qMoFve/s320/DSC_1404.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery and Lucas enjoying the fire! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIqNGCk2XAQTrRd0IX8XwlIwrOxk3mPi-tO0PelF3yDRrRketIZxAzpaGRy1Lz_s6gdQfPGTaFrRby73FsnZVPDLgLTISmT6U6JGJ0p3FaXsHnrJq7TUtGCiTyH8TfQIfgas2L938h7_U/s1600/DSC_1407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIqNGCk2XAQTrRd0IX8XwlIwrOxk3mPi-tO0PelF3yDRrRketIZxAzpaGRy1Lz_s6gdQfPGTaFrRby73FsnZVPDLgLTISmT6U6JGJ0p3FaXsHnrJq7TUtGCiTyH8TfQIfgas2L938h7_U/s320/DSC_1407.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery's 1st Smore with an oversized marshmallow. She wasn't the biggest fan- she is our "I don't really like being messy" girl, so gooey, sticky, white marshmallow all over her hands and face isn't her idea of a yummy treat.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><blockquote>
Sweet Smiley Boy!</blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sidewalk chalk!!</td></tr>
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Aunt Annie and Hap came to visit for one night. We had the best time! We hung out on the back porch, jumped on the trampoline, sang lots of songs, and played with Pinktail the kitty.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oatmeal on a chilly morning</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Aves</td></tr>
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Little Lukey is getting so big! He loves to lay under this thing and watch the star light up- he likes to have conversations with it :)</div>
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Avery does not like to have her hair done, but she finally let me put her hair in pigtails! She loved it and felt like such a big girl. We even made it to the grocery store and back without her taking them out- what a record!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She wanted me to take a picture of her making this silly face- she thought it was so funny</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1O-a86D4Nks9TwdxqxT0JVI_9Q55tVSqigK2Q-NaZ3UvF2EIXCnORUKE9owsTHdwBFVI2-CCgrZU5aCjCF9GW7CF6MrEeGvoPtR-USCDxguvcxNnsbks5C6nsIGAFtOv-EC9a7CkL_TmG/s1600/DSC_1496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzSoSkWnekLxPxDeKDZwb1qn8EQUVsCuQxuPfX8VloZfFP5nIe2CDGX94k1uKVBarLgZmi-TCmdocaMnDNafZ4QeBMcvsDOpYfPt8Wnib6Q4Hv-OBpxo1HMULIvEtGf_dIQ2XxpnKWLOI/s1600/DSC_1497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzSoSkWnekLxPxDeKDZwb1qn8EQUVsCuQxuPfX8VloZfFP5nIe2CDGX94k1uKVBarLgZmi-TCmdocaMnDNafZ4QeBMcvsDOpYfPt8Wnib6Q4Hv-OBpxo1HMULIvEtGf_dIQ2XxpnKWLOI/s320/DSC_1497.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lucas turned 4 months on Monday and tried rice cereal. He loved it at first and then decided that he would just rather drink some more milk. We will keep trying, but I am hoping that it helps his reflux as he still seems pretty bothered by it even though he is on medication.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 months old and already cruising around with Big Sis <br />
(the car really doesn't go anywhere, Avery just likes to pretend to drive it). </td></tr>
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Elliott started his first audio course through Regent College (where he will be starting full-time in Jnuary): Systematic Theology taught by J.I. Packer. Here he is looking all scholarly on the front porch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtSJ6nztZaxTVDpoRyKNbgLWrFuYcU74qeqTS0BHSRPIEF510HkaC_zXigl5rIcpXbLjKpz4b1Fz4J5DpMzpMLDdxnH4kaKDoV-KpkUycRHTsbxniV8UNxzmea9XWBxwMTAun8rujy94V/s1600/DSC_1508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtSJ6nztZaxTVDpoRyKNbgLWrFuYcU74qeqTS0BHSRPIEF510HkaC_zXigl5rIcpXbLjKpz4b1Fz4J5DpMzpMLDdxnH4kaKDoV-KpkUycRHTsbxniV8UNxzmea9XWBxwMTAun8rujy94V/s320/DSC_1508.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtSJ6nztZaxTVDpoRyKNbgLWrFuYcU74qeqTS0BHSRPIEF510HkaC_zXigl5rIcpXbLjKpz4b1Fz4J5DpMzpMLDdxnH4kaKDoV-KpkUycRHTsbxniV8UNxzmea9XWBxwMTAun8rujy94V/s1600/DSC_1508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>More to come from the mountain soon....</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-91614846393342358932011-09-01T14:00:00.001-04:002011-09-01T14:00:44.385-04:00Avery EinsteinAvery and I were having fun on the trampoline and a little static electricity came to play with us....<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-5773109605950688412011-08-30T20:41:00.026-04:002011-08-30T22:09:16.315-04:0010 Month Catch-up...<div>Life has been really crazy the past ten months and blogging got left behind. But, now that I have finally come up for a little air, Drakesinthedr is back! (even though we aren't even in the DR anymore). Here is a recap of what we have been up to....
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<br /></div><div>We felt the Lord was calling us something "new," so in January we began the process of selling our things in the DR and preparing to move back to the states. It was VERY hard to leave and say goodbye to so many woooonderful friends that had become so dear to us over the past three years. They were three hard, challenging, and stretching years, but also three fruitful, FUN, and adventurous years! Our life in the DR was full of so many blessings and we</div><div>experienced the Lord in new and fresh ways being outside of the comforts of US living. </div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirz10xpMMlperVVCTBTUIs6ENQjjKMc9gbES7DzeTBBphUUC6gRbuKQt4et9_1M_2v9ehxK0S5JpVFjf29EDnW3CjXRBe8BqsYYAwXOrzXY_ykQbZLv0zFscbg3SnACq9g0zZlijYgLp75/s400/DSC03010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646816229470742290" /><div style="text-align: center;">Saying goodbye to Marlene, her husband Paco, and their kids Drelin and Paco Jr. I met Marlene on my second trip to the DR when I was 12 years old!</div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTGlE6eYEXmDhX_DEeGKxH4sKh9Yl8DUJLnj0t6lrUd_54G-pDyPIv2bHCo-cbGT-Y9RKPAxnnh_J3c-aELP1YiIV25X4BZeVJh4AIzdpzQZbD0qIllP2Tf7IA_gFZPQfr3cIW07_1Nvo/s1600/DSC02897.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTGlE6eYEXmDhX_DEeGKxH4sKh9Yl8DUJLnj0t6lrUd_54G-pDyPIv2bHCo-cbGT-Y9RKPAxnnh_J3c-aELP1YiIV25X4BZeVJh4AIzdpzQZbD0qIllP2Tf7IA_gFZPQfr3cIW07_1Nvo/s400/DSC02897.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646817899878440898" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">One last trip to the Santo Domingo Zoo with our friends the Salmonds.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGDzCpEskbgTx0qP49M7xOV9ZS6vupypaEn-AExkySz4ckFEzH0lMNcGDECgK9MsnthwkVBJOJjUbP0qEAKvEhfYvKPt2kW3ZwC7nHVxxiH2WowBCFhmqRU_I5JTekis7IBbJZ-sfH1_j/s1600/DSC02862.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGDzCpEskbgTx0qP49M7xOV9ZS6vupypaEn-AExkySz4ckFEzH0lMNcGDECgK9MsnthwkVBJOJjUbP0qEAKvEhfYvKPt2kW3ZwC7nHVxxiH2WowBCFhmqRU_I5JTekis7IBbJZ-sfH1_j/s400/DSC02862.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646818596594763394" /></a>The Women's Bible Study I was so blessed to be a part of. </div><div style="text-align: center;">These ladies truly showed love to me and accepted me as I was. It was so wonderful to be a part of a group of ladies that were of all ages and from all walks of life. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEMJb6BV6CJT0GIIVUpW3tc2wIpNWncas17ya81PveRifplp7nMSnmlqpjtSNx9lLmpM5cgbrAc3iVtP7VHfAHxCz02GfEyoQq2tsm6JIkwU3fITGclvyFXttVlOrX-nB358MGvhLlDTr/s1600/DSC03057.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEMJb6BV6CJT0GIIVUpW3tc2wIpNWncas17ya81PveRifplp7nMSnmlqpjtSNx9lLmpM5cgbrAc3iVtP7VHfAHxCz02GfEyoQq2tsm6JIkwU3fITGclvyFXttVlOrX-nB358MGvhLlDTr/s400/DSC03057.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646818602940136978" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Saying goodbye at the airport to our dear Ana and her daughter Tata. Their family became a part of ours and my heart aches each time I think of them- I miss them so much. </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We arrived in Orlando to stay with my parents on March 19. I was 8 months pregnant. Elliott stayed a week and then had to return to the DR for a month to finish up some final work. We missed Elliott ALOT while he was gone, but we also managed to have some fun... :) </div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhav_pvBEsaVHo-d1p-E9TyqgAmX27RofOtT5LgNjVR-j5Y6MCS4CsqlH-fChRXXAtoyMu7pInfJrDX-AvbsUZkSGFo-aRCU70H2zLDdBVzy0wvQtXfhR1g6XLcBsOGvqHlD4ajsiXb92kM/s1600/DSC02424.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhav_pvBEsaVHo-d1p-E9TyqgAmX27RofOtT5LgNjVR-j5Y6MCS4CsqlH-fChRXXAtoyMu7pInfJrDX-AvbsUZkSGFo-aRCU70H2zLDdBVzy0wvQtXfhR1g6XLcBsOGvqHlD4ajsiXb92kM/s400/DSC02424.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646821456714066962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We went to the beach...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVo5jmuQ4uLJkcbdiyxCxsrEpUbavOVBdWcP-MibZlhKGcF0BBK5Tr1XIxECGxKZQ7jFrZ0fqHMUwB81mEya4mLevasKUjYhxJ4g7ExMmYEIX4R9ByNQVutDlATDA0wBoKLdlS1bb3VOv/s1600/DSC02465.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVo5jmuQ4uLJkcbdiyxCxsrEpUbavOVBdWcP-MibZlhKGcF0BBK5Tr1XIxECGxKZQ7jFrZ0fqHMUwB81mEya4mLevasKUjYhxJ4g7ExMmYEIX4R9ByNQVutDlATDA0wBoKLdlS1bb3VOv/s400/DSC02465.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646821461231246066" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">we went to the park...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1NE1o-kl-XKX6KFJT93FnKyqN79Qf8HQ7bljMlfKogm7-4Qw-dAzEqTGMh-Aub39fai_sK3cfCmadXx5RYLxr8A3s8puqPghyphenhyphen07zUoythTkAtTFtOtMuK5hDApBt3sjQ8MeaumyjvhZC/s1600/DSC02476.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1NE1o-kl-XKX6KFJT93FnKyqN79Qf8HQ7bljMlfKogm7-4Qw-dAzEqTGMh-Aub39fai_sK3cfCmadXx5RYLxr8A3s8puqPghyphenhyphen07zUoythTkAtTFtOtMuK5hDApBt3sjQ8MeaumyjvhZC/s400/DSC02476.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646821467325663090" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">we swam in the pool...a lot...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZzpwktICF1yxd6F9I5WQq6TwhycQpbecLiVcXQy3oLLIfPOvk-2rYhpGvCqeV337XZsDfSPg0hKteOLkYc3IBjNzrfgqco0D4vjP8DNghj79i-B3BWMkqzgdW0gAtRqhyphenhyphenhVEsbGS1qn7/s1600/DSC_0912.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZzpwktICF1yxd6F9I5WQq6TwhycQpbecLiVcXQy3oLLIfPOvk-2rYhpGvCqeV337XZsDfSPg0hKteOLkYc3IBjNzrfgqco0D4vjP8DNghj79i-B3BWMkqzgdW0gAtRqhyphenhyphenhVEsbGS1qn7/s400/DSC_0912.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646822371136400994" /></a>and Avery baked with Mia!</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Elliott joined us on April 19!! We were SOO glad to be reunited as a family of 3 (almost 4!).</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLw4ddG4_kqIxvCJb73Y3gjoaFtc5C0ae8dVhGmMLgkOXKYp9NjbQTqnXRczJ2KYBihvtMt43S3BLOzfr3rIZSUxr-OpNselGhcIzfG5qo8DJF48V0jw4dpeQVxtVSkIlIXOcjcbsF4p3u/s1600/DSC02565.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLw4ddG4_kqIxvCJb73Y3gjoaFtc5C0ae8dVhGmMLgkOXKYp9NjbQTqnXRczJ2KYBihvtMt43S3BLOzfr3rIZSUxr-OpNselGhcIzfG5qo8DJF48V0jw4dpeQVxtVSkIlIXOcjcbsF4p3u/s400/DSC02565.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646824213562098882" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Easter</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjt71d1lwWqzQbnG5Nj2PF5ngSCbi1_RBpY5nPCERuzu3Efx4DCq8xmC1sv5Hico2dw7FjDNy5SjuFvTA4_Jn6OiO_f2R4J8QRYfh9dhZ7mqoKWFFqyRFq8pOxdDxVQbdug52NpASCfnls/s1600/DSC03111.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjt71d1lwWqzQbnG5Nj2PF5ngSCbi1_RBpY5nPCERuzu3Efx4DCq8xmC1sv5Hico2dw7FjDNy5SjuFvTA4_Jn6OiO_f2R4J8QRYfh9dhZ7mqoKWFFqyRFq8pOxdDxVQbdug52NpASCfnls/s400/DSC03111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646824223791892962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Avery loves bubbles.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then on May 19 at 6:11am Lucas Elliott Drake was born. He weighed 6 pounds 7oz. He came 8 days early and I had a relatively quick and easy labor. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6kvRm5aOf1O0GgBYthXSOT8AQh5ITMQwFmCh4NB77gPF80QeThlpT-mcvb3WYh5-b5G-uqEUkRcNkjBAs11gnlrP_pgmOu4f99kqOlmxdQFff9yNX6yGYUDQac-Uu_azHf0tqLLRGEjm/s1600/DSC_0657.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6kvRm5aOf1O0GgBYthXSOT8AQh5ITMQwFmCh4NB77gPF80QeThlpT-mcvb3WYh5-b5G-uqEUkRcNkjBAs11gnlrP_pgmOu4f99kqOlmxdQFff9yNX6yGYUDQac-Uu_azHf0tqLLRGEjm/s400/DSC_0657.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646825518524756450" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWyA73Y6bIoWSKP_RtWhnDcBRP6Z_UxqF90E9LV4wOMZ0OncrX0Rx-Zb7UGJ9YA3tdXzyMuLN3Ut2PDC971aKRKuiee97wrfJfYx_7YbZqDUyIEnneUDhkIlKY-OThgM82vbt6JK6-Cr1/s1600/DSC_0701.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWyA73Y6bIoWSKP_RtWhnDcBRP6Z_UxqF90E9LV4wOMZ0OncrX0Rx-Zb7UGJ9YA3tdXzyMuLN3Ut2PDC971aKRKuiee97wrfJfYx_7YbZqDUyIEnneUDhkIlKY-OThgM82vbt6JK6-Cr1/s400/DSC_0701.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646825522742351490" /></a><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWyA73Y6bIoWSKP_RtWhnDcBRP6Z_UxqF90E9LV4wOMZ0OncrX0Rx-Zb7UGJ9YA3tdXzyMuLN3Ut2PDC971aKRKuiee97wrfJfYx_7YbZqDUyIEnneUDhkIlKY-OThgM82vbt6JK6-Cr1/s1600/DSC_0701.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmzm85l9B2iQNLlkK8v38SaRR1YmR7lfvfbnNH_A1FyVS3SwfLlVI3B_GSbAL2HN4WHttaQn8Mp3CBjaHNCxI7DcukePoRLdOMCkIUsOZ0rqB1WvlWWlS17zAfysMz5x5VisVMgOYqrR7/s1600/DSC_0682.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmzm85l9B2iQNLlkK8v38SaRR1YmR7lfvfbnNH_A1FyVS3SwfLlVI3B_GSbAL2HN4WHttaQn8Mp3CBjaHNCxI7DcukePoRLdOMCkIUsOZ0rqB1WvlWWlS17zAfysMz5x5VisVMgOYqrR7/s400/DSC_0682.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646825523790754946" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Avery came to the hospital with her Big Sister shirt on and was VERY excited to meet her brother "Lukey."</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On June 4 Avery turned 2. We had a simple little party for her with my family. My sweet grandparents and aunt drove down from north FL to celebrate Avery's life and meet Lucas. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31hA87__Xa29IZMjdzk3ayS96OeDAeUrT953q8ej0rDgrPdy1rSxiOcVVi25UoRiasGeGxIoOPfkXQ1U_ZmdxEZnRIZLeD7Ra2INlAGMTyuN5yV4SYmZKFVEBLtRD-kcy-Hj1BW-ZHJKy/s1600/DSC_1096.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31hA87__Xa29IZMjdzk3ayS96OeDAeUrT953q8ej0rDgrPdy1rSxiOcVVi25UoRiasGeGxIoOPfkXQ1U_ZmdxEZnRIZLeD7Ra2INlAGMTyuN5yV4SYmZKFVEBLtRD-kcy-Hj1BW-ZHJKy/s400/DSC_1096.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646827824018241250" /></a>Avery loved her new Elmo camera. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTQ6fFkTb3Faqg_is0igEU-WmkqYnsps8tUs1wq5aRLg0A2zFJT9FjxRqixnR-jhV0bbE6S0_kCCrEOrn-3xrkRBBipH-sFrIRP04K5wYrhZIEFJAZMnn5Jicy9q2DjODfBeMwlEELWcy/s1600/DSC_1104.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTQ6fFkTb3Faqg_is0igEU-WmkqYnsps8tUs1wq5aRLg0A2zFJT9FjxRqixnR-jhV0bbE6S0_kCCrEOrn-3xrkRBBipH-sFrIRP04K5wYrhZIEFJAZMnn5Jicy9q2DjODfBeMwlEELWcy/s400/DSC_1104.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646827816597264514" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WWaVsq9e-NwFjzsh_Ua9WXZom6VbIRqPJNNhQSE01Fv-24qCKNRWD5s7p3U5FJmQ_taujSlUxN36Xw_mIjio0vBiu0t5T7iYgmbvB8XmBOlLv8MSc8f4xJuToyr0-iZ2s9WseLTqm12E/s1600/DSC_1174.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Elliott's mom, DD, came to visit us in Orlando and meet Lucas. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WWaVsq9e-NwFjzsh_Ua9WXZom6VbIRqPJNNhQSE01Fv-24qCKNRWD5s7p3U5FJmQ_taujSlUxN36Xw_mIjio0vBiu0t5T7iYgmbvB8XmBOlLv8MSc8f4xJuToyr0-iZ2s9WseLTqm12E/s1600/DSC_1174.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WWaVsq9e-NwFjzsh_Ua9WXZom6VbIRqPJNNhQSE01Fv-24qCKNRWD5s7p3U5FJmQ_taujSlUxN36Xw_mIjio0vBiu0t5T7iYgmbvB8XmBOlLv8MSc8f4xJuToyr0-iZ2s9WseLTqm12E/s400/DSC_1174.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646828716034053250" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSuAhcLZQszKnp17DqrzNA_qYLnhns7rzZQwm5W0r7WUF8xE_MRrZDfKrLynVKDkPKiXqPBsUNC75LGRawm-iL4rmbZcCZdmQAGsaLJguyjNEcXs8npCqwTVlH3zL3x47Yhs5sKAD2i93/s1600/DSC_1191.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSuAhcLZQszKnp17DqrzNA_qYLnhns7rzZQwm5W0r7WUF8xE_MRrZDfKrLynVKDkPKiXqPBsUNC75LGRawm-iL4rmbZcCZdmQAGsaLJguyjNEcXs8npCqwTVlH3zL3x47Yhs5sKAD2i93/s400/DSC_1191.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646829043827922162" /></a>
<br />John and Kate came to town and we got to spend the week together at New Smyrna Beach.
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7huR3Ih3nww3UtYY2F-_dUpjz4xRj3fYjjD-JM8Yrf0JzccNsY5XVZ72VqTwjtgtTJDSoRNeKO-GIQ_UhDHcf7KDFxevQrBUb_WPRm5_jYcPJyV0ZZke2yDmRQP2ObyAUZMn8pNQ9-BH4/s1600/DSC_1278.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7huR3Ih3nww3UtYY2F-_dUpjz4xRj3fYjjD-JM8Yrf0JzccNsY5XVZ72VqTwjtgtTJDSoRNeKO-GIQ_UhDHcf7KDFxevQrBUb_WPRm5_jYcPJyV0ZZke2yDmRQP2ObyAUZMn8pNQ9-BH4/s1600/DSC_1278.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7huR3Ih3nww3UtYY2F-_dUpjz4xRj3fYjjD-JM8Yrf0JzccNsY5XVZ72VqTwjtgtTJDSoRNeKO-GIQ_UhDHcf7KDFxevQrBUb_WPRm5_jYcPJyV0ZZke2yDmRQP2ObyAUZMn8pNQ9-BH4/s400/DSC_1278.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646830035560744658" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7huR3Ih3nww3UtYY2F-_dUpjz4xRj3fYjjD-JM8Yrf0JzccNsY5XVZ72VqTwjtgtTJDSoRNeKO-GIQ_UhDHcf7KDFxevQrBUb_WPRm5_jYcPJyV0ZZke2yDmRQP2ObyAUZMn8pNQ9-BH4/s1600/DSC_1278.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">
<br /></span></u></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibu4Z98EEZPtk2U6DSodkd5jDHlJTsHLIAhTF8SJ25Vx98q5mfyecRERogsZ6veq4YXA1azEeWzuoeSDrvESpW1qjlBD_wnd7gGqq1Aq1mMusKEX5R91TTAWvvn6a9eRg_WCkYGrJEdxO/s1600/DSC_1247.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibu4Z98EEZPtk2U6DSodkd5jDHlJTsHLIAhTF8SJ25Vx98q5mfyecRERogsZ6veq4YXA1azEeWzuoeSDrvESpW1qjlBD_wnd7gGqq1Aq1mMusKEX5R91TTAWvvn6a9eRg_WCkYGrJEdxO/s400/DSC_1247.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646830443850035842" /></a>We officially became "mini-vaners"</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nM73VY2AbEC1jGxgBzkmXAFUQmGZQfTtULCjFKOBJ2R5gZXkhsOOzB5ZTPzOpt6DRZBvzoQjapY72N14RlWIyMMvx3b5_R8smOJOrGpNvfih34Kj2NuQcRgGGpGNlig3OeN0Z8M01X5l/s1600/DSC03153.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nM73VY2AbEC1jGxgBzkmXAFUQmGZQfTtULCjFKOBJ2R5gZXkhsOOzB5ZTPzOpt6DRZBvzoQjapY72N14RlWIyMMvx3b5_R8smOJOrGpNvfih34Kj2NuQcRgGGpGNlig3OeN0Z8M01X5l/s400/DSC03153.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646831023611491906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We found this "choo-choo track" in the neighbors trash a few days before we left Orlando and it quickly became Avery's new favorite past time. </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKT3DGiX8d-jPyPXCVixgDIvO5gn2haj06ibzA_SK0Y-3QDawOPKSx8Y8XCdY10bVHt_2bSBox5ec57S1p5J91YJ_phN6FLnIEFqjS4AdGXZvypkbq6yny_0wzMMCFUb8_-O_UdHPnL4n/s1600/DSC03208.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKT3DGiX8d-jPyPXCVixgDIvO5gn2haj06ibzA_SK0Y-3QDawOPKSx8Y8XCdY10bVHt_2bSBox5ec57S1p5J91YJ_phN6FLnIEFqjS4AdGXZvypkbq6yny_0wzMMCFUb8_-O_UdHPnL4n/s400/DSC03208.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646831513743212722" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">On August 5 we celebrated 5 wonderful years of marriage! </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On August 9 we packed up the van and drove to NC to spend time with Elliott's family. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKnD9xmfheZwgM91tT1MN3IEuaiTJoue91-fkJ3x4BUlhaeQ3X140e1a2y55A1B9cqNBHO0IAlV4RTBLzgu8pSnci2HLCjWMBCYOQ1CWBf0xN7HbI8IChzEdpLefdTtbnE2D2j7A_mqs1/s1600/DSC03246.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKnD9xmfheZwgM91tT1MN3IEuaiTJoue91-fkJ3x4BUlhaeQ3X140e1a2y55A1B9cqNBHO0IAlV4RTBLzgu8pSnci2HLCjWMBCYOQ1CWBf0xN7HbI8IChzEdpLefdTtbnE2D2j7A_mqs1/s400/DSC03246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646832295775404786" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Grammy got the family together for a Clam Bake! </div></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We left NC and flew to Colorado to attend a Debriefing and Renewal program at MTI, where we did our <a href="http://drakesinthedr.blogspot.com/2008/01/in-co.html">pre-field training in 2008</a>. It was a wonderful week of processing all that we learned and experienced in the DR. It was so refreshing and "validating" to be with others that had lived and served all over the world and were going through many of the same things we are. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NdLHBeG_m0L9NVXpVJPSZ2arjvzxVd478Dvt7B56jkKY3u6U5ohO1sxgHFSkHQySPpFLf9ptbctwjf91EpfTl4mUVdm2IqyXd9LcQFkFR_3kOPlkZ17xTJG1O7jvs3tnXNrhtZveTQ3G/s1600/DSC_1341.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NdLHBeG_m0L9NVXpVJPSZ2arjvzxVd478Dvt7B56jkKY3u6U5ohO1sxgHFSkHQySPpFLf9ptbctwjf91EpfTl4mUVdm2IqyXd9LcQFkFR_3kOPlkZ17xTJG1O7jvs3tnXNrhtZveTQ3G/s400/DSC_1341.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646832657140722050" /></a>Lucas was a little more excited about the flight than Elliott. </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And last but not least, we are now in Lookout Mountain, GA for the next 3 months. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcKeLEBLToY1bQTLsyUhgil89M6lXiKU1AMRB1irMsU4CLevpy_epiClar5i-jDCHUUpwXa3KRTCIAhNmpjwGG6QLdTfu4GyBGkA8oEobLYzvve1y9s1sAv2zlz-3bjJkTbwZOSYuV-qV/s1600/DSC_1308.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcKeLEBLToY1bQTLsyUhgil89M6lXiKU1AMRB1irMsU4CLevpy_epiClar5i-jDCHUUpwXa3KRTCIAhNmpjwGG6QLdTfu4GyBGkA8oEobLYzvve1y9s1sAv2zlz-3bjJkTbwZOSYuV-qV/s400/DSC_1308.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646834555985912978" /></a>Making cookies with the kiddos.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQ2Wj2vwr7GoATS4CN3z8cS0lxgOJiKlavexhdegKrmfE5IBIqn3ENyb3odxaYHlyXP7jKdAZea2pdt_PQKB3uS3BJOuJR2TOZpTU0N2maX8bwiO6I67KJ8w2o_V3BlmW4lORHMH4QvMG/s1600/DSC_1320.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQ2Wj2vwr7GoATS4CN3z8cS0lxgOJiKlavexhdegKrmfE5IBIqn3ENyb3odxaYHlyXP7jKdAZea2pdt_PQKB3uS3BJOuJR2TOZpTU0N2maX8bwiO6I67KJ8w2o_V3BlmW4lORHMH4QvMG/s400/DSC_1320.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646834786144364258" /></a>Lucas loves it here!
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hopefully the next post will be ALOT shorter and sooner :) Thanks to anyone who actually made it to the end. </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-15949254549722938162010-10-29T11:05:00.009-04:002010-10-29T14:57:51.821-04:00Long Avery UpdateWell I realized that I have been terrible about updating the blog, and I also haven't been so great in writing down all that Avery is doing these days, so I thought I would tackle both at once. This post is more for my own records and for our families back home, so feel free to skip to the pictures :) <div><br /></div><div>It is so hard for me to believe she will be 17 months next week- I feel like we were just having her first birthday party last week. Time is flying!<br /><div><br /></div><div>- Loves to play outside. Every morning after breakfast she grabs her red ball and baseball hat (ha) and stands at the front door waiting to go out and play. She loves to run, run, run, run and is pretty good at kicking a ball. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xwU_TEGtjtElFogcKfYyva7n7KQ0lBF8PPrukJdKLnkQHidHv-nRnZN-ifyOEJ2ua0DoNhc68X5tYWC1hNIgWdhsWeoRz5NzVvjwXpoppm-lfRZMegexAUfh1MhVCsucyuJ8AZQwWqPn/s1600/DSC02095.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xwU_TEGtjtElFogcKfYyva7n7KQ0lBF8PPrukJdKLnkQHidHv-nRnZN-ifyOEJ2ua0DoNhc68X5tYWC1hNIgWdhsWeoRz5NzVvjwXpoppm-lfRZMegexAUfh1MhVCsucyuJ8AZQwWqPn/s400/DSC02095.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533536235455579170" /></a><br /></div><div>-Loves, I mean LOVES, shoes. It is her favorite word to say and she always points out peoples' shoes. Every morning after I get her dressed, she runs straight to her closet saying shoes and insists I put on the pair for her that she picks out. She also loves picking out my shoes. Same thing- after I get dressed she runs to the closet and comes out with a pair of shoes. She is actually pretty good at coordinating my shoes with my outfit- If I have on running clothes, she brings out my running shoes. If I have on a dress, she brings out my flats. If I have on shorts and a tshirt, she brings out my flipflops.</div><div><br /></div><div>-Ridley is her best friend. She follows him around all day and loves to lounge on him. She now likes to pat him on the back and say "good boy" (It sounds more like bo-boy, but she's got the right inflection when she says it). </div><div><br /></div><div>-She is starting to talk more and more. She can say: no, eyes, nose, hair, hat, hot, brrr, dog, bear, bird, boo-boo, uh-oh (her new favorite phrase- says it all day long), aww, shoes, boom, poop (she is always very insistent in letting me know that she has a poopy diaper), cheese, please, Dad...and others I know I am forgetting. </div><div><br /></div><div>-Very affectionate- she loves to give hugs and kisses. For kisses she puckers up her lips and says mmmmm-mmmm until you kiss her. When she gives hugs she says "awwww."</div><div><br /></div><div>-She still doesn't say any words in Spanish, but it is so cool to see how she understands it. If I ask her to give me a kiss in Spanish, she puckers up and gives me a big smacker. </div><div><br /></div><div>-She goes to bed between 7-7:30 most nights and wakes up at 6:45 or 7 in the morning. She takes one nap around 11 and sleeps for about an hour and a half. She is finally better about going down for a nap and falls asleep pretty quickly. </div><div><br /></div><div>-Her favorite foods are grapes, oatmeal, broccoli, cheese, yogurt, goldfish, smoothies, and tofu. </div><div><br /></div><div>-Loves to sing and dance. </div><div><br /></div><div>She is so much fun and brings us so much joy!! We love you sweet Avery Elizabeth Drake!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias_JTeeWdumVXQR_TvUhAaNQoz3qrWcReJOqalJCv3UP8XRH_skWBhPSax7FatSFFYIv3qDkSrZzSfkx1gbd9JCBqaZGTWudvA7tk5ECp2XyVFqQqE0o2r8elMerjJlCZZi4Z2Z46ZsGk/s1600/DSC02102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias_JTeeWdumVXQR_TvUhAaNQoz3qrWcReJOqalJCv3UP8XRH_skWBhPSax7FatSFFYIv3qDkSrZzSfkx1gbd9JCBqaZGTWudvA7tk5ECp2XyVFqQqE0o2r8elMerjJlCZZi4Z2Z46ZsGk/s400/DSC02102.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533505976256373154" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgxdYQvh-XlJjABCOQyXLbnfrH6zrsDCwyqIHtO-LhzSN7lLhq8gZXcywxgpkQnsHop94qdkZZy5yuyKwy0msoRAJLQRpIGi73aMyB6hfbMd-8h5rgT7_VMUogs8Q7JRoaxTwMbSX4GMk/s1600/DSC02094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgxdYQvh-XlJjABCOQyXLbnfrH6zrsDCwyqIHtO-LhzSN7lLhq8gZXcywxgpkQnsHop94qdkZZy5yuyKwy0msoRAJLQRpIGi73aMyB6hfbMd-8h5rgT7_VMUogs8Q7JRoaxTwMbSX4GMk/s400/DSC02094.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533538469915719794" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Avery with her Taiwanese friends at Para Te</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtFEffSuzxJDbhyphenhyphenu232tPRaNNFl7PCqQa-tr-JkKbxfi0zNiM68Prws2cymehyZ-XA__3RQdyn65kDlTSd9DF-iAH3sRXn1JnKx0MABGsMQt_CWcRZw8PKZOfNJjhQoHcYKUyJP877gcw/s1600/DSC02091.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtFEffSuzxJDbhyphenhyphenu232tPRaNNFl7PCqQa-tr-JkKbxfi0zNiM68Prws2cymehyZ-XA__3RQdyn65kDlTSd9DF-iAH3sRXn1JnKx0MABGsMQt_CWcRZw8PKZOfNJjhQoHcYKUyJP877gcw/s400/DSC02091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533539727432157474" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Playing in the park</div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vL24QvT8cLPaOY6BMpZ3lOgDQoZQF-hBhFEzlnjOVhV4A4zcJKOJLm0mnVKeYTFwyQqNUeY_ukm9xWQBHjEOazaBlJf4L3EfxiU83Y7jeuirX4rVBxsEc65EcRQcGwSryRQE_koJTUnw/s1600/DSC02050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vL24QvT8cLPaOY6BMpZ3lOgDQoZQF-hBhFEzlnjOVhV4A4zcJKOJLm0mnVKeYTFwyQqNUeY_ukm9xWQBHjEOazaBlJf4L3EfxiU83Y7jeuirX4rVBxsEc65EcRQcGwSryRQE_koJTUnw/s400/DSC02050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533540787539676322" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Avery at the beach with the Breul boys. They buried her and she loved it. </div><div style="text-align: center;">This was right after a big wave came and splashed her.</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-73855257252773482932010-10-20T11:36:00.002-04:002010-10-20T12:09:39.783-04:00How Avery is currently napping<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_rTXhg6z0q82Z-dTkwAc6QiXZxisKiKEMSUX5buCKwIsATUA_8208qFSNhJkaBooo4R5cfWU2FgF_HoZFZOnJk2NmNgHGd4Heuws3Oi65RqmJkh2QwQdpc8VnwBjCWwcL1HDzdz8dVnv/s1600/DSC02052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_rTXhg6z0q82Z-dTkwAc6QiXZxisKiKEMSUX5buCKwIsATUA_8208qFSNhJkaBooo4R5cfWU2FgF_HoZFZOnJk2NmNgHGd4Heuws3Oi65RqmJkh2QwQdpc8VnwBjCWwcL1HDzdz8dVnv/s400/DSC02052.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530160957465204866" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-27281601702978655002010-08-02T11:01:00.006-04:002010-08-02T11:44:41.533-04:00Fishy FishyOn Saturday we went to the National Aquarium. It was such a fun and relaxing little family outing!! The aquarium is on lots of property right on the ocean with a beautiful view of the blue, blue water below. Avery loved the fish and would point and say "dat, dat, dat" every time she saw one. The aquarium has a new play area for kids and Avery enjoyed toddling around and playing. Then we found a nice shady spot under a palm tree, ate some Bon Popsicles, and watched Aves run around in the grass. Large areas of <i>mowed</i> grass are a scarcity here in the big city of Santo Domingo- so the three of us were loving it!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYC9k4-VPE18dl67dUpT9lw3HFJbwP0RxTLFvMx05BvZMCCh7Mkjlr3UwWpe8px_ReD4y84g3bFHyqJlvW7wtOgTNBWXD1QPdmwW64tYywVyL1JGpq44Fb8u5e8BeOuprrqJPB_-O126c/s1600/DSC01825.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYC9k4-VPE18dl67dUpT9lw3HFJbwP0RxTLFvMx05BvZMCCh7Mkjlr3UwWpe8px_ReD4y84g3bFHyqJlvW7wtOgTNBWXD1QPdmwW64tYywVyL1JGpq44Fb8u5e8BeOuprrqJPB_-O126c/s400/DSC01825.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500838200249337714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFs1P5RsFnS9y_aORixdiImPqXgThGMO6HP8pyu-9TOZzfUqLrOhcfDKozLS3POW2h1bcPzLXhfTeEb2R8lsxHwwIcjINLhyphenhyphenr0GDSe7CJJG4RjyIFb6WHFSv1dX1pwNOJRwfj82yAwkRp5/s1600/DSC01829.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFs1P5RsFnS9y_aORixdiImPqXgThGMO6HP8pyu-9TOZzfUqLrOhcfDKozLS3POW2h1bcPzLXhfTeEb2R8lsxHwwIcjINLhyphenhyphenr0GDSe7CJJG4RjyIFb6WHFSv1dX1pwNOJRwfj82yAwkRp5/s400/DSC01829.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500838189065180162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JCRyIpfo33NKIqkF03q-u7LBzmAzfgCABvZYg-GyjVOxebB2L3rqcGq__qxhya8H2hxazQyCq4oiLx0SYX4KF7gjL5QHNTOfF1rQEmKc5BZYf6gnacK4sV_5qdoP5BEid2L3hfmM9oCU/s1600/DSC01834.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JCRyIpfo33NKIqkF03q-u7LBzmAzfgCABvZYg-GyjVOxebB2L3rqcGq__qxhya8H2hxazQyCq4oiLx0SYX4KF7gjL5QHNTOfF1rQEmKc5BZYf6gnacK4sV_5qdoP5BEid2L3hfmM9oCU/s400/DSC01834.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500838183465317074" /></a><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Look at Avery's little crossed feet- cracks me up.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjag9IoIta7iKEMqvq5y9Nxu-sTCRcw4XSxcNIG_hw_UlIloLSiBRlV8TSOwQZ8iCy0lreMqGbGj3vkQuaJ26gNmIBYGu-o3PcXRa3ndMg9kuhfePpp7MQIujgVay6Z4NlYGh5oVUebfkPO/s1600/DSC01844.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjag9IoIta7iKEMqvq5y9Nxu-sTCRcw4XSxcNIG_hw_UlIloLSiBRlV8TSOwQZ8iCy0lreMqGbGj3vkQuaJ26gNmIBYGu-o3PcXRa3ndMg9kuhfePpp7MQIujgVay6Z4NlYGh5oVUebfkPO/s400/DSC01844.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500835538704036578" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Such a big girl!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaiIdRRACs07fR8ZjIC1UDzoI8lRxs-OxXk5sfsbeSCHtmmfG4Q4hzoWXSYhFh54GHIUYKqOOO0SivasJxk0QSK9v6LFQy15mMhtCeOERmy4TI3LQaj0ETP2IqQDv0w-llnlfTAkFUvET/s1600/DSC01845.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaiIdRRACs07fR8ZjIC1UDzoI8lRxs-OxXk5sfsbeSCHtmmfG4Q4hzoWXSYhFh54GHIUYKqOOO0SivasJxk0QSK9v6LFQy15mMhtCeOERmy4TI3LQaj0ETP2IqQDv0w-llnlfTAkFUvET/s400/DSC01845.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500835535804178370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzYkh31XSCKuMJXeUeh6eO0QBGyJvj4py5iSwhBEnq0zfmNw7xe_gjL6PhHp_RdGIyDUn9XJcz3PnySS4Idi9eXucU7oMKe8PvwSqKlrufCOriZsMGh6x8bgHtbHkhBKTQK6lwUMybNvz/s1600/DSC01846.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzYkh31XSCKuMJXeUeh6eO0QBGyJvj4py5iSwhBEnq0zfmNw7xe_gjL6PhHp_RdGIyDUn9XJcz3PnySS4Idi9eXucU7oMKe8PvwSqKlrufCOriZsMGh6x8bgHtbHkhBKTQK6lwUMybNvz/s400/DSC01846.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500835526818878370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVFVAwDG3O_2eSUJeC_humcWz8jqIkAUB8fOM9PpoBqMUhpZoZ7q5_UdZI8WDr2sxL40lCcprKBmGrOSIx5mf0Flfz40QyL66UlpNfiFH61c5mEHABgu3a5QmABl7S-vUoFNoBn33HXap/s1600/DSC01847.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVFVAwDG3O_2eSUJeC_humcWz8jqIkAUB8fOM9PpoBqMUhpZoZ7q5_UdZI8WDr2sxL40lCcprKBmGrOSIx5mf0Flfz40QyL66UlpNfiFH61c5mEHABgu3a5QmABl7S-vUoFNoBn33HXap/s400/DSC01847.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500835516908392994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-1z0wbmoBiWpeKPFU3moj8GUhRF97NJuNVcPv33azJR2i6VHuX4uOdMBSrOOAywOgN4uK5zdeswe8BJP_bDhKFffhGPrmVX9j6n5DpZppjw6dUDTQOqbCBNYHZnSIEg3mK94_FWt810i/s1600/DSC01850.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-1z0wbmoBiWpeKPFU3moj8GUhRF97NJuNVcPv33azJR2i6VHuX4uOdMBSrOOAywOgN4uK5zdeswe8BJP_bDhKFffhGPrmVX9j6n5DpZppjw6dUDTQOqbCBNYHZnSIEg3mK94_FWt810i/s400/DSC01850.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500832673498319170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHFHA-Y1UJ2tFvpgExIbjoj3Dgxs84NcxelXv26iLkP9ezdRwQjKbca1vGZPpXEmMSmn2w2lwrJLrx_hTmR84MEyHK9dfz69nK7oZbhOCMaxVYLu4cLZapCvqVRSVqkb98hmT3PysTMBc/s1600/DSC01856.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHFHA-Y1UJ2tFvpgExIbjoj3Dgxs84NcxelXv26iLkP9ezdRwQjKbca1vGZPpXEmMSmn2w2lwrJLrx_hTmR84MEyHK9dfz69nK7oZbhOCMaxVYLu4cLZapCvqVRSVqkb98hmT3PysTMBc/s400/DSC01856.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500832672906729490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrsX5Ywgnz2r3SqeMyCNKHlfQ-t7z2oB05l5B4DNOfX0bzC473MtZnDqCxXnRFCxx1zsD6-_FVzzB-ilDDmd-8gdhbxCOEx05OowL0-yF7leCETlc4ipDIxMoFoifYbDwSrrea7DLi2MM/s1600/DSC01865.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrsX5Ywgnz2r3SqeMyCNKHlfQ-t7z2oB05l5B4DNOfX0bzC473MtZnDqCxXnRFCxx1zsD6-_FVzzB-ilDDmd-8gdhbxCOEx05OowL0-yF7leCETlc4ipDIxMoFoifYbDwSrrea7DLi2MM/s400/DSC01865.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500832662110813458" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">There was a little group of special needs kids sitting next to us and they all wanted to come over and take pictures with Avery. They were the sweetest little kids ever. The little girl, Brittany, was so good with Avery and kept kissing her on the head. It was such a special moment to see Avery with these precious children. I felt the Lord smiling down.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Z4LSFT2KivjjsOXvY2JYPO4G_ZS0aFX4BZ6vpAh_PtVq3yagYdvvWNPv7v7GyvMzUc5JJ2Nhrh3-VroGpOoyFCVWW7PZrk1fH6NESi_x4vRrf0N7WHRvwD5ttSHCBlwr3eneB6QEVpGI/s1600/DSC01869.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Z4LSFT2KivjjsOXvY2JYPO4G_ZS0aFX4BZ6vpAh_PtVq3yagYdvvWNPv7v7GyvMzUc5JJ2Nhrh3-VroGpOoyFCVWW7PZrk1fH6NESi_x4vRrf0N7WHRvwD5ttSHCBlwr3eneB6QEVpGI/s400/DSC01869.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500832654045106050" /></a><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-11565034372327795292010-07-21T08:04:00.001-04:002010-07-21T08:11:33.524-04:00PEACE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAH_XWolLqPQbIaIcVfRbJ8xzCGk8qH5RAqVhq4NlD4jy9cGzGfHFurVn2T47yJMvtHIHKnuS_q81GhUqyqfryLu5o8R6NU01YfqozJH4gLhw9u8N2swgIOQQNEmE7-idfMtvJniD5Ea9/s1600/DSC01799.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAH_XWolLqPQbIaIcVfRbJ8xzCGk8qH5RAqVhq4NlD4jy9cGzGfHFurVn2T47yJMvtHIHKnuS_q81GhUqyqfryLu5o8R6NU01YfqozJH4gLhw9u8N2swgIOQQNEmE7-idfMtvJniD5Ea9/s400/DSC01799.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496330925977565714" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-90429097056127029582010-07-07T12:45:00.005-04:002010-07-07T13:54:44.400-04:00Summer Fun<div style="text-align: center;">We just got back from a WONDERFUL time in the states!! First we went to Dallas for my brother's wedding. It was a beautiful, Christ-honoring wedding, and we loved getting to spend time with John, Kate, my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and everyone else that traveled to TX for the wedding. I am SO excited that Kate is my new sister!!</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuazKnLaC9PWpI9ZUDSAg2cs_XTtp1HFd54XGY-Duh6TDI-PnTy28LlpDEc8Oey4jxUcu_f_FzODnV34v6zk60jZpUrzdeg_KKVeYGJamoxKvErI1a7upQNbBRAOLvTndPxkl26sIhgrE/s320/34037_763432967143_9220976_41503078_1213086_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491209441191226482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px; " />It was also so much fun spending time in TX because I hadn't been back since college. I got to see some of my dearest college friends and two of the girls that were in my K-Life small group!!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvhWC7aq8BnXB8mkflqlO7WH5GxZmhmapnsGR7MhQbD2wr8VwcYlK4L21Nd0oF0YaZOKb6fvjixngfo34yYknDZOQxZV3hiNW8gThwl4_Ae-edBf-HQHN1Wp4vdDbXZzbuxhWQNpFFTrV/s1600/IMG_1978.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-thLa90sSYnk-Hq_XG_XEGWIrHvHT6ICZTtRBa7eyOnsfv3gnkW0meLa9OMBJNlPX5M_Fbh2sYs0HuFCdV9Wj9gbYNkXMu_KDAcrjX-e5pyrxZ4FdPatZ-lp5rzQYDGNiWao7-KCoXaDi/s1600/IMG_1941.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-thLa90sSYnk-Hq_XG_XEGWIrHvHT6ICZTtRBa7eyOnsfv3gnkW0meLa9OMBJNlPX5M_Fbh2sYs0HuFCdV9Wj9gbYNkXMu_KDAcrjX-e5pyrxZ4FdPatZ-lp5rzQYDGNiWao7-KCoXaDi/s320/IMG_1941.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491209450288453810" /></a>My college roomate and best friend Elizabeth and her precious little baby girl Reese came to the wedding!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After all the wedding festivities were over, we drove to Amarillo, TX to spend some more time with Elizabeth, her husband Mark, and baby Reese! It was so great to finally be able to visit Elizabeth and Mark, see where they live, and get a little glimpse into their lives. They were amazing hosts and made us feel so loved. We spend most of our time just watching Avery and Reese :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1QO7OGgXcQ8sh5MZdvLJkZcB3swfsWnn1i_XJmSlcwM9hQtBlFoimX7ABAXaos5WYCK2MjoyPu6BUcHAV9BYwxOao_Y00HcQFxNkgjw8jZ30keF1LmYIxGrEgfNpJ6KLwq3cgQtr3vUZ/s320/IMG_2142.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491211949136898578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Avery loved kissing Reese's toes!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CAquD8c-p1YgQGpxPIKpGGAg57wphUxaGroWRePXnCFLR3IPmv-vQ_jFEBKPzIC0sWzHKVUqDFLxDB0R5PfDxrTAuN4PvuEfjmgA9aYaTH1TyXxgj7a0I3ixFAB-FuYhjWddJgFvjDoN/s1600/IMG_2034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CAquD8c-p1YgQGpxPIKpGGAg57wphUxaGroWRePXnCFLR3IPmv-vQ_jFEBKPzIC0sWzHKVUqDFLxDB0R5PfDxrTAuN4PvuEfjmgA9aYaTH1TyXxgj7a0I3ixFAB-FuYhjWddJgFvjDoN/s320/IMG_2034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491209487431300770" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;">We drove about 30 minutes outside of Amarillo to Palo Duro canyon to Mark's aunt and uncle's cabin to have dinner, watch the sunset, and look at the stars. It was so beautiful and quiet!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CAquD8c-p1YgQGpxPIKpGGAg57wphUxaGroWRePXnCFLR3IPmv-vQ_jFEBKPzIC0sWzHKVUqDFLxDB0R5PfDxrTAuN4PvuEfjmgA9aYaTH1TyXxgj7a0I3ixFAB-FuYhjWddJgFvjDoN/s1600/IMG_2034.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvhWC7aq8BnXB8mkflqlO7WH5GxZmhmapnsGR7MhQbD2wr8VwcYlK4L21Nd0oF0YaZOKb6fvjixngfo34yYknDZOQxZV3hiNW8gThwl4_Ae-edBf-HQHN1Wp4vdDbXZzbuxhWQNpFFTrV/s1600/IMG_1978.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvhWC7aq8BnXB8mkflqlO7WH5GxZmhmapnsGR7MhQbD2wr8VwcYlK4L21Nd0oF0YaZOKb6fvjixngfo34yYknDZOQxZV3hiNW8gThwl4_Ae-edBf-HQHN1Wp4vdDbXZzbuxhWQNpFFTrV/s320/IMG_1978.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491209457977252914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Elizabeth <i>MADE </i>matching dresses for Avery and Reese. We dressed them up and did a little photo shoot!</div><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvhWC7aq8BnXB8mkflqlO7WH5GxZmhmapnsGR7MhQbD2wr8VwcYlK4L21Nd0oF0YaZOKb6fvjixngfo34yYknDZOQxZV3hiNW8gThwl4_Ae-edBf-HQHN1Wp4vdDbXZzbuxhWQNpFFTrV/s1600/IMG_1978.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-thLa90sSYnk-Hq_XG_XEGWIrHvHT6ICZTtRBa7eyOnsfv3gnkW0meLa9OMBJNlPX5M_Fbh2sYs0HuFCdV9Wj9gbYNkXMu_KDAcrjX-e5pyrxZ4FdPatZ-lp5rzQYDGNiWao7-KCoXaDi/s1600/IMG_1941.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-thLa90sSYnk-Hq_XG_XEGWIrHvHT6ICZTtRBa7eyOnsfv3gnkW0meLa9OMBJNlPX5M_Fbh2sYs0HuFCdV9Wj9gbYNkXMu_KDAcrjX-e5pyrxZ4FdPatZ-lp5rzQYDGNiWao7-KCoXaDi/s1600/IMG_1941.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-thLa90sSYnk-Hq_XG_XEGWIrHvHT6ICZTtRBa7eyOnsfv3gnkW0meLa9OMBJNlPX5M_Fbh2sYs0HuFCdV9Wj9gbYNkXMu_KDAcrjX-e5pyrxZ4FdPatZ-lp5rzQYDGNiWao7-KCoXaDi/s1600/IMG_1941.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUApOB6ICQPmBw4GmvsFXUu4YjxhNyRypzNHsBkt41s4vWpZksRFtaqJg5AozGNXyv1zBQ2y_sXDqYJK1H1C45Km4t3SztahtF9dBV3iA2CJwUHz15ZWQZXN4H6CX6PVB8AMAgs9icQjv/s1600/IMG_2091.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUApOB6ICQPmBw4GmvsFXUu4YjxhNyRypzNHsBkt41s4vWpZksRFtaqJg5AozGNXyv1zBQ2y_sXDqYJK1H1C45Km4t3SztahtF9dBV3iA2CJwUHz15ZWQZXN4H6CX6PVB8AMAgs9icQjv/s320/IMG_2091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491211938880204562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/com=" _rloddpwpo2a="" tdsx8yj4qui="" aaaaaaaaaku="" uvbyd5yit9a="" s1600=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span><span><blockquote></blockquote></span></span></span></a></u><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42hpZy7NHzFJPjvG-kVGqb4TUFYWsItAlKsc63ZNwi2O_g46TXKYeRxKVDkTspt56N4hrW_f4ytxOZqKVLcUJzajkISWsBGuRd_HbLzCT67EgzH7Oor3i41arOr5bYEZ5eVbMbhllqEMK/s320/IMG_2073.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491209496505658082" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42hpZy7NHzFJPjvG-kVGqb4TUFYWsItAlKsc63ZNwi2O_g46TXKYeRxKVDkTspt56N4hrW_f4ytxOZqKVLcUJzajkISWsBGuRd_HbLzCT67EgzH7Oor3i41arOr5bYEZ5eVbMbhllqEMK/s1600/IMG_2073.JPG"></a></div><u><u><u><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><u><u><div style="display: inline !important; "><u>After a sad goodbye in the Amarillo airport, we flew to NC to spend a week at the beach with Elliott's whole extended family. His grandmother rented 2 beach houses for 2 weeks and invited all of the family to come whenever they could. At one point there were 25 of us there at the same time!! It was so much fun getting to see Elliott's mom, dad, brother, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, and his cousin's kids! The beach was beautiful and we were blessed with amazing weather all week. Avery loved the water and the waves, she would charge into them as soon as we would put her down- no fear in her.</u></div></u></u></u></div><u><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNLIiWEJLmkwEGNx9DWOg9lzejfcYsRVJpwyntkFgblZPv8FcB2P3j_CSIjGScope7B3vzAQ1a6Wxohbpqe3l-Z2YEdqwZHIjuURZZmI7xaJwRYj4L__dfIMv1lzm_FbUH9aRst8yEq_a/s320/DSC01777.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491211955578888082" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwujGG5jiqWpcSj8SwXHZIBOxbhGOK1ww8csoDEcxFXbhFtrk40RWwL8TmZNjbSfvonmvCTQsoo3wiLGjyevP9I9QvkDP9BCTGSrx0VT8lH748tMB429A3bZ8uifGQurGpFq-S66NZhjkW/s320/DSC01781.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491211959924715410" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><u><u><u><div style="display: inline !important; "><u><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42hpZy7NHzFJPjvG-kVGqb4TUFYWsItAlKsc63ZNwi2O_g46TXKYeRxKVDkTspt56N4hrW_f4ytxOZqKVLcUJzajkISWsBGuRd_HbLzCT67EgzH7Oor3i41arOr5bYEZ5eVbMbhllqEMK/s1600/IMG_2073.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Avery is walking-walking-walking now</span>.</a></u></div></u></u></u></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDDNLQt5RLXgrhWtyDijRw3ZRL2eB7oq_3bMY9tgLU3NCPTmxHIP7O8UH-1FaZpbSKEmp3De54K6wfm6aWgYSl6C-VxE4p9Y3ousZJyIkg7UJHqzhlMNkc3i8c0UK3oLEjsGsxArmSpkj/s320/DSC01794.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491214609015397010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></u></div></u></u></u><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXvTU2z3ACeOWaoQJ7ay_o-0U_fvvDvZQYM7MBx56glbOdAlh3yojjPXBWsTWjrVLe41u-y_rt-9zv_39QWHnu-F8yXTtCjQFSU8W4TKJcdQ8Ze_35ru8mJ4BMcs57hZROTqa-cGFS1xY/s1600/DSC01793.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXvTU2z3ACeOWaoQJ7ay_o-0U_fvvDvZQYM7MBx56glbOdAlh3yojjPXBWsTWjrVLe41u-y_rt-9zv_39QWHnu-F8yXTtCjQFSU8W4TKJcdQ8Ze_35ru8mJ4BMcs57hZROTqa-cGFS1xY/s320/DSC01793.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491214594348064850" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Elliott's cousin, his wife, and their four children came all the way from Montana!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-33377228454905842872010-06-06T21:12:00.007-04:002010-06-06T22:43:35.180-04:00Great Weekend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://deregresoalacruz.com/wp-content/themes/spanish_theme/images/logo.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 324px;" src="http://deregresoalacruz.com/wp-content/themes/spanish_theme/images/logo.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />This weekend our church here in Santo Domingo put on a conference and invited <a href="http://desiringgod.org/">John Piper</a> to be the main speaker. We got to go to several of the sessions throughout the weekend- and were soaking everything in like sponges. It was so refreshing and filling to listen to a sermon in our "heart language," English, and to receive from one of God's servants that shares our culture. <div><br /></div><div>Before we moved to the DR, I remember someone that had lived in the DR for a number of years telling me how RICH the US was- not just rich with money, but with spiritual recourses as well. In the US we are exposed to so much- preachers, books, musical artists- and there is so much variety in all of these things. I found that to be so true this weekend. I don't think I realized how spiritually dry I had become (even though God has been working in my heart in new and different ways because of our circumstances here), and how much a I needed to be challenged, encouraged, and filled by the hearing of the word of God. So praise God for the RICH weekend were were able to experience in Him. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our good friends Jake and Kyla came down from Jarabacoa on Thursday night to go to the conference with us. Their son was born 5 days after Avery and they are already great little buds. Here is a little video of the two of them together! </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#645F5E;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:10px;"><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12351345&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12351345&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/12351345">A&J</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3988605">Lindsay Drake</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p></span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-86656634930556646622010-06-02T20:59:00.005-04:002010-06-03T21:39:41.637-04:00Tomorrow!!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDA6KTXSQuYpvhLkXLwoW8zBdGpN4Y0Ys_3YLe7PRRv6TwnYVOzpzPgfGNoPH7TrvK7ukHq8nS5kFxuu5IGaY6SKNSC_yKBV3_CRLzFqy_9BkRr3HvOa0_Btx6g8Iv-ubV1pv_nKzyk2V/s1600/DSC01446.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDA6KTXSQuYpvhLkXLwoW8zBdGpN4Y0Ys_3YLe7PRRv6TwnYVOzpzPgfGNoPH7TrvK7ukHq8nS5kFxuu5IGaY6SKNSC_yKBV3_CRLzFqy_9BkRr3HvOa0_Btx6g8Iv-ubV1pv_nKzyk2V/s400/DSC01446.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478362780500207090" /></a><br />Tomorrow- Avery turns ONE!!! We welcome the day with so many mixed emotions- so excited for all the new and exciting things ahead, and sad that the "baby days" of bottles, carrying her everywhere, etc., are over. The year flew by, but then again it is hard to imagine life without sweet Aves. <div><br /></div><div>Here are some Avery updates for all of our friends and family at home (keep in mind that she is the first and only grandchild and the grandparents want to know all the details!) :</div><div><br /></div><div>The biggest news is that she's walking!!! She took her first steps a little over a week ago (and loved it- didn't want to stop). She would go back and forth between Elliott and me...over and over and over. Yesterday, she started letting go of things and setting out on her own. I was so surprised when I looked over and she was in between the table and Ridley- walking towards him. Then she dove right into him and gave him a big kiss on the nose (I think that was her way of celebrating her big accomplishment). She also loves to push her little car around. She just smiles and looks from side to side to see who is watching her. </div><div><br /></div><div>Her little personality is really starting to show. She is really friendly and waves to everyone and says hi with a southern drawl- "haah." She can also say da-da, Rid, Ana, milk, dog, bye, mas (spanish for more) and the occasional ma-ma. She had picked up on some signs really quickly and signs for milk, more, and all done. </div><div><br /></div><div>She LOVES to look at books. It is so cute when she crawls over to her books, chooses one, and sits by herself, flipping through the pages making little noises. In one book, when I ask her where the dog is, she flips to the page with a dog on it! </div><div><br /></div><div>She loves to blow kisses and give wet slobbery ones too. It is so cute because she is starting to give us kisses out of the blue- El and I can't get enough. </div><div><br /></div><div>We just recently finished the "playroom." When our neighbors just recently moved (soooo sad), they gave us their couch, and we got a few things from IKEA and set it all up. It is so nice to have a place for Avery to play where she can get into whatever she wants- she is into everything these days. And I must admit, Elliott and I are really enjoying the playroom too! </div><div><br /></div><div>I will post more pictures of the birthday soon- the internet is loading them really slow and I'm losing patience. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, I think that's it for now. Sorry I have been a bad blogger. We are headed to the states in a few weeks for my brother's wedding and then a family reunion with Elliott's family. We couldn't be more excited!!</div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-57822596302496263252010-05-10T20:24:00.013-04:002010-05-10T22:41:07.165-04:00Villa Pajon<div>This weekend Elliott and I escaped to the mountains to celebrate his birthday and sweet little Avery had her first weekend stay with her abuelos (the De la Cruz family). We dropped Avery off at the de la Cruz house (along with just about everything she owns- ha) and set our for Valle Nuevo- the highest valley in the DR at 8500 ft. The drive was absolutely beautiful- high mountains overlooking valleys and lakes. We passed through the city of Constanza, which is one of the major farming cities in the DR, and then drove for about an hour up a rocky, dirt road to Valle Nuevo. <div><br /></div><div>Valle Nuevo was the antithesis of Santo Domingo- quiet, clean air, secluded (we were literally in the middle of nowhere), and cold (40's at night and 60's in the day). We stayed in a little cabin with no electricity- at night we lit a big fire in the fireplace and used kerosene lanterns for light. It was so much fun. Here are some pics and a recap of our time.</div><div><br /></div><div>On our way!!</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA6aoSJMkmBjehUN6Or9xfE2y4PO3PH5WgoIj8r1Hi2E-KkAWIotB4Iei9ln1cIwM98yEl48VlQV17OGlV-4bXNq0wQza0B22wFXqcPpFJHhw6m_ewaUofDRP88Wsh4kIf9jOsq_byT_4/s1600/DSC01466.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA6aoSJMkmBjehUN6Or9xfE2y4PO3PH5WgoIj8r1Hi2E-KkAWIotB4Iei9ln1cIwM98yEl48VlQV17OGlV-4bXNq0wQza0B22wFXqcPpFJHhw6m_ewaUofDRP88Wsh4kIf9jOsq_byT_4/s400/DSC01466.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469809044923880402" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2cclFNNyS-A28Uz4Vn1KPB2spYf5PNbD_vqhYpCjMAc5bkmyHBfPnLRkBSA3eXWsAk9eiSSSAxHCZ9CFOYbKyeYHOI7w27qgMFIP9bauMsDx7IfBo3IiWxUniWb8g3fazjCd50Z7xrU2/s1600/DSC01472.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2cclFNNyS-A28Uz4Vn1KPB2spYf5PNbD_vqhYpCjMAc5bkmyHBfPnLRkBSA3eXWsAk9eiSSSAxHCZ9CFOYbKyeYHOI7w27qgMFIP9bauMsDx7IfBo3IiWxUniWb8g3fazjCd50Z7xrU2/s400/DSC01472.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469810690506332194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">So glad to be out of the city and in the fresh air.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsZun4buuDYExf4tgAd692nH_A7rOXVMaO1MQUz9v4uUmIQtTVC8XOt9eIkWDPXChYE2vr9BXLmChWznr-MYU3ORpVohtBsPhezR9Ofuxbkr9R8U8iGUzyEfWzxHcSwS-9ufx7TQhG5JD/s1600/DSC01478.JPG"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsZun4buuDYExf4tgAd692nH_A7rOXVMaO1MQUz9v4uUmIQtTVC8XOt9eIkWDPXChYE2vr9BXLmChWznr-MYU3ORpVohtBsPhezR9Ofuxbkr9R8U8iGUzyEfWzxHcSwS-9ufx7TQhG5JD/s1600/DSC01478.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsZun4buuDYExf4tgAd692nH_A7rOXVMaO1MQUz9v4uUmIQtTVC8XOt9eIkWDPXChYE2vr9BXLmChWznr-MYU3ORpVohtBsPhezR9Ofuxbkr9R8U8iGUzyEfWzxHcSwS-9ufx7TQhG5JD/s400/DSC01478.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469812389299501042" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our cabin</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBshXGuowDGsEeVwXNyNA2djD9Cg6N0SO63Q9qC8A4HfTmqVTfAIvLL34OauLd8bIg_g0ItYoNILFEik2OiD5vjkGrkA3J9zTVdirNz6IPJhnt2KgSuxyQIsrcbbP1rm5l5kI1GEAY5I0/s1600/DSC01490.JPG"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBshXGuowDGsEeVwXNyNA2djD9Cg6N0SO63Q9qC8A4HfTmqVTfAIvLL34OauLd8bIg_g0ItYoNILFEik2OiD5vjkGrkA3J9zTVdirNz6IPJhnt2KgSuxyQIsrcbbP1rm5l5kI1GEAY5I0/s1600/DSC01490.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBshXGuowDGsEeVwXNyNA2djD9Cg6N0SO63Q9qC8A4HfTmqVTfAIvLL34OauLd8bIg_g0ItYoNILFEik2OiD5vjkGrkA3J9zTVdirNz6IPJhnt2KgSuxyQIsrcbbP1rm5l5kI1GEAY5I0/s400/DSC01490.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469814349456689842" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The view from our cabin</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOdHXw0E5B9hn4dD8O0vWYOKEWibUwqTqHtq3T1LL8iBsGfsHT2oqPiUL7J_VzjK5tS4tcPHo_LCdVDu4juIqrBRtuZWxwLN6K3fCwc7tSE3mCq3NQZOlhLRSBdFFzWJoM27Py6PknvOP/s1600/DSC01483.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOdHXw0E5B9hn4dD8O0vWYOKEWibUwqTqHtq3T1LL8iBsGfsHT2oqPiUL7J_VzjK5tS4tcPHo_LCdVDu4juIqrBRtuZWxwLN6K3fCwc7tSE3mCq3NQZOlhLRSBdFFzWJoM27Py6PknvOP/s400/DSC01483.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469816676886786818" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrIHcx-Sn4E8gM9KDG4cvwgGliLJ2KKwhgHfTzrRWcOi6gjszyfHTqZjcUtVAeo6wPSO3Zwt-fml-uZfJsdot8U1t1KY6h7nLm87CbJtttDezWT5QzpI1XRsz6o8wrm4v2by9gfodBBJ1/s1600/DSC01487.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrIHcx-Sn4E8gM9KDG4cvwgGliLJ2KKwhgHfTzrRWcOi6gjszyfHTqZjcUtVAeo6wPSO3Zwt-fml-uZfJsdot8U1t1KY6h7nLm87CbJtttDezWT5QzpI1XRsz6o8wrm4v2by9gfodBBJ1/s400/DSC01487.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469818333077479378" /></a><br />The first night we grilled steaks and zucchini. Yum! While Elliott was cooking the steaks, I was inside building a fire. El had to come inside to get something and when he came back to the grill there was only 1 steak...a dog came and stole a steak off the grill!! </div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaOwmdS_i4DmLZLWC7xur_W-jZ4xriuyscXLqb2nRZ0-3gwuz8oJBxs7tWEVT5XFfMRN3b43h7VUeCaULgM7esvnqe8kE73j_bfqSLqKJa6IYozPY1PZXLi2HiaEwflT_sLVCBd4xzlmT/s400/DSC01526.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469829954080171586" /><div style="text-align: center;">As the sun set, the clouds and fog set in over the farm fields.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9USGJfvM76HrgQ2Ena5s9ReSzxx9UGVbtz7NcZF1wOme-OdoJ35a-qAiONc05I-l5NnA-rg4G4MoxHiB-I9a74hN6CdAs-4pIBX9ojSu53b00NVPA5MgCnciC4H2H0KtjnO6bTbiJhs9/s1600/DSC01507.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9USGJfvM76HrgQ2Ena5s9ReSzxx9UGVbtz7NcZF1wOme-OdoJ35a-qAiONc05I-l5NnA-rg4G4MoxHiB-I9a74hN6CdAs-4pIBX9ojSu53b00NVPA5MgCnciC4H2H0KtjnO6bTbiJhs9/s400/DSC01507.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469832940516848946" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0a8i6Q8x8HisyPHpcGkpED5_3YG6fJ19Eo5sxv8jscD8Z_JIRxK1adERxRmk21wMwtMRWP8TffKt15Wow63Stf_3qkl3j-ySQVlTYPg5yHlfB23ICBTvU4MEBoSj0fxzquu4CTF-PfyM/s1600/DSC01573.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0a8i6Q8x8HisyPHpcGkpED5_3YG6fJ19Eo5sxv8jscD8Z_JIRxK1adERxRmk21wMwtMRWP8TffKt15Wow63Stf_3qkl3j-ySQVlTYPg5yHlfB23ICBTvU4MEBoSj0fxzquu4CTF-PfyM/s400/DSC01573.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469835962036166242" /></a><br />Saturday morning- Happy Birthday Elliott!!!</div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5oT8ppS_YXhTl0DkcjN26O6hsntT4BkhXrTcOYE4tqCTZEJk4TONYt6cDIR_42IjXzGF5Wp3pQ2tY21-zV6ZF39l-1nf0pnj9rBY-xiGdX5bQxanYWNMxNzA56o6CXe9DfvDEyeQWur6/s1600/DSC01535.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5oT8ppS_YXhTl0DkcjN26O6hsntT4BkhXrTcOYE4tqCTZEJk4TONYt6cDIR_42IjXzGF5Wp3pQ2tY21-zV6ZF39l-1nf0pnj9rBY-xiGdX5bQxanYWNMxNzA56o6CXe9DfvDEyeQWur6/s400/DSC01535.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469829966580365458" /></a><br /></div><div>The place we stayed is also a working farm. When we woke up on Saturday morning the farmers were out harvesting the potatoes. It was interesting to watch the whole process...the digging, the bagging, loading the truck, and then the workers that came back at night to glean the field for leftover potatoes. </div><div><br /></div><div>We hooked up our hammock between 2 trees and spent the morning reading and dozing off. </div><div>In the afternoon we went on an awesome hike to this field filled with huge boulders- who knows how they got there?? It was crazy. </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nfNOME16_1BMyOalSOTguV_v85wy8Otqx00b3PCbVC3vHEMap5FzizuMBfkCzcjOr2LGxDZDBQbNnnkC7nq53vijgEPFS987icIVbslVF2quyLlEW98KNQwI92ZGZiI-P7jt4QmSISBa/s1600/DSC01561.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nfNOME16_1BMyOalSOTguV_v85wy8Otqx00b3PCbVC3vHEMap5FzizuMBfkCzcjOr2LGxDZDBQbNnnkC7nq53vijgEPFS987icIVbslVF2quyLlEW98KNQwI92ZGZiI-P7jt4QmSISBa/s400/DSC01561.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469835952154210482" /></a><br /></div><div>Elliott said that he got about a weeks worth of rest in 2 days....I agree. I want to book for this weekend!</div><div><br /></div><div>And then to top off the great weekend, I got to go pick up my sweet little girl and be with her on my first mother's day! The De la Cruz family said she did awesome and that she smiled and laughed alot and didn't cry when she got passed around to everyone at church- I wish I had a video of her weekend! </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-11521186388822775122010-05-09T19:51:00.002-04:002010-05-09T20:07:41.591-04:00teaser<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had an AWESOME weekend celebrating Elliott's 32nd birthday!!</div><div><br /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78KbkHQihZY_KhOB68Wwxkx7CjS7E7lD5icHdjYKNDk_x2DQ_aNS6NNr-ngOLImq4DQVIL1gwj0pyfnla9jh0GQgJuQTlNNWlARiCgStVB5604nVt9WBBmR7O4j1n2pCJBQDLdRPEzNwX/s400/DSC01480.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469426185782805042" /></div><div>More to come tomorrow...</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-7994415148598284782010-03-17T13:36:00.004-04:002010-03-17T14:18:37.296-04:00Para TeSo there is a little jewel of a restaurant right down the street from our house named Para Te- it is heaven. Elliott and I stumbled apon it while house-hunting, and then it turned out to be right down the street from the house we decided to rent. It is a Taiwanese, vegetarian, tea spot with the tag line "Jardin del Descanso" (Garden of Rest). If you know me, you know that these rank among my favorite things...good ethnic food, I always say I could be a vegetarian, I love, love, love tea, and after spending 3 months in Guatemala I fell in love with little garden restaurants. And, to top it off, I can walk to it- another one of my favorite things.<div><div><br /></div><div>The restaurant is in the Taiwanese family's yard, and they have made it into a little garden complete with a fountain, soft music, and bonsai trees! They have green and red tea- and then you get to combine that with just about anything you can imagine- raspberry, apple, orange, grapefruit, jasmine, lavender....(even prunes- haven't tried that one yet). Our personal favorite is Te verde con Jasmin poco azucar- green tea with jasmine, easy on the sugar. We have ordered it so many times that when they come to take our order they ask "te verde con jasmin poco azucar?" The food is awesome too- my personal favorites are the dumplings, and noodles with peanut sauce. Mmmmm. And to top it all off, the most expensive thing on the menu is 100 pesos (less than $3)!</div><div><br /></div><div>I go every Wednesday with some other American moms. I am so blessed that the Lord has finally provided me with some American friends.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCSRJtSGb3PVtAfyW2O-10YZr2V-_sacxsPyy9T-ZAarra2q7ecJC_E52ahbaH8oMVvdKyY4DFbVMQPwTfFliWgMt9SznJXhyphenhyphenK7uLQ2ZxT_JdkTKLrQEXXdwNmKVtInErzDThxMg-bGbu/s1600-h/26500_1262354396495_1158765852_30646959_2056604_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCSRJtSGb3PVtAfyW2O-10YZr2V-_sacxsPyy9T-ZAarra2q7ecJC_E52ahbaH8oMVvdKyY4DFbVMQPwTfFliWgMt9SznJXhyphenhyphenK7uLQ2ZxT_JdkTKLrQEXXdwNmKVtInErzDThxMg-bGbu/s400/26500_1262354396495_1158765852_30646959_2056604_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449662975078471362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2udE9xIumbyfXn4NZ9v1q1q-S2Uup9YZqJV592BMztZxJpUVtbT8sKFmKzzVosykbE5wJdBvueGUS0TB1grgG7DVIWC7HgCvf5H51F9adplMtjAXiG7_xAEJVpeyloqE8J5VATf1oe1pK/s1600-h/26500_1262348636351_1158765852_30646955_6074252_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2udE9xIumbyfXn4NZ9v1q1q-S2Uup9YZqJV592BMztZxJpUVtbT8sKFmKzzVosykbE5wJdBvueGUS0TB1grgG7DVIWC7HgCvf5H51F9adplMtjAXiG7_xAEJVpeyloqE8J5VATf1oe1pK/s400/26500_1262348636351_1158765852_30646955_6074252_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449662967746301586" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"> Katherine (on the left) had her TWIN BOYS on Monday!! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Avery and I have been sick all week...my neighbor (who is more obsessed with Para Te than I am) just brought me a green tea with grapefruit juice, and a frozen orange juice drink ....I am feeling better already!! </div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-21502152634473743982010-02-23T10:00:00.004-05:002010-02-23T10:35:43.236-05:00B&K in Haiti<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Two Saturday's ago we had the awesome privilege of having our new friends Ben and Katie stay with us. Ben and Katie moved to Haiti to teach at <a href="http://quisqueya.org/">Quisqueya Christian School</a> just a few weeks before the earthquake. A few days after the quake, I was blog-hopping, and came upon their blog. Turns out, Katie went to Baylor, and we had met once through a mutual friend. My heart was drawn so much to them because I know what it is like moving to another country....the adjustment, the highs, the lows, missing family and friends, adaptation...and then on top of all that, a MAJOR earthquake??? I can't even imagine. So, I sent them an e-mail and told them if they were ever in Santo Domingo, or needed to get away, they were welcome to stay with us. They took us up on it!!! Their school had a week break for Canival, and they were headed to a beach just outside of Santo Domingo, and needed a place to stay the night before they checked in. We had SUCH a great time with them...they are such an amazing couple. It was such an encouragement to see their faith in ACTION, on the front lines. God is truly filling them each day, so that they can make it to the next. They are excellent writers and update their <a href="http://www.benandkatieinhaiti.com/">blog</a> often. Check it out! It will help you see what is going on in Haiti, and give you names and faces to put everything together. They wrote about our time together <a href="http://www.benandkatieinhaiti.com/2010/02/stirred-not-shaken.html">here</a>. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>God really used their time here to give me a grateful heart. It is so easy for me to compare everything to the states, and start to feel sorry for myself....we don't have Target, it's hot and we can only use our AC at night, constant noise, it takes forever to get the simplest thing done, terrible driving and traffic...on and on and on. Through hearing what they have been through, learning what Haiti was like even <i>before</i> the quake, and seeing how big their eyes were in Jumbo (a Wal-Mart-like store), God was saying, "Be grateful!! You have SO much. I have provided you with so much...and even if you didn't have these things, you would be <i>fine</i>." </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>What a blessing they were to us! Come back soon Ben and Katie, and in the meantime, you are in our prayers. </div><div><br /></div><div>(My camera is semi-broken, so unfortunately we didn't get any pictures together)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-51788421201485960032010-02-04T15:13:00.001-05:002010-02-04T18:57:11.331-05:00Eight<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Avery is eight months old!!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUF4YVuHaxQMJzX_Lh_RefujqMPRgBBVdQS3oTiYsRKs4xHNVOR4CDWj1CXFFhXZauD0yQtNW2dULSmSk2GRurqR32PW2wHZSjto_uprfeSRErOkpl92sED4AF5ciQTPAcUROnYjNH4Cc/s1600-h/DSC_0635.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUF4YVuHaxQMJzX_Lh_RefujqMPRgBBVdQS3oTiYsRKs4xHNVOR4CDWj1CXFFhXZauD0yQtNW2dULSmSk2GRurqR32PW2wHZSjto_uprfeSRErOkpl92sED4AF5ciQTPAcUROnYjNH4Cc/s400/DSC_0635.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434481999056778498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga95fAroIvWWfvKq8QwACJevVSJWGPrTP1F_U6ji0r7IACGsAlLeTtLPL_vkdE0hVemnkcLz0CWwyjbSZjh0qr_YahlDVqCzHabhMOLbuPfYyx8QbMu5V7OThB-_z4s54o8xtv0xIoB1mZ/s1600-h/DSC_0634.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga95fAroIvWWfvKq8QwACJevVSJWGPrTP1F_U6ji0r7IACGsAlLeTtLPL_vkdE0hVemnkcLz0CWwyjbSZjh0qr_YahlDVqCzHabhMOLbuPfYyx8QbMu5V7OThB-_z4s54o8xtv0xIoB1mZ/s400/DSC_0634.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434481991934719026" /></a><div>She has such a fun little personality and a great sense of humor. She is always laughing at something...if I move a certain way, make a funny face, up on dad's shoulders, jumping in her jumper, dancing with dad, chasing people with Pops...she giggles and giggles. I love it! She loves to give wet slobbery kisses and even says "mmmmwa" (kinda- more of mom and dad's interpretation that actually knowing what she is doing). She is a really really good eater and eats most everything I give here. For some reason the DR only sells fruit baby food- no veggies. And the fruit they do sell has sugar as the second ingredient listed. So, I have resorted to making my own baby food, which has actually been quite fun. She loves auyama (a Dominican squash), broccoli, green beans, peaches, apples, and pears. But, her absolute favorite thing to eat is Cheerios- I never leave the house without them. She can even pick them up and feed them to herself. She is still a pro-sleeper at night, and now takes 2 naps a day (sometimes three). She sleeps with her little frog-blanket that Elliott has affectionaly named Maco (frog in spanish). She's still not crawling yet, but getting really close- although she can cover some serious ground by scooting backwards on her belly. Her hair is starting to come in more- I finally have something to wash when I give her a bath.</div><div><br /></div><div>We love you so much Avery and can't wait to see how you grow and change this month.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4Gq2Mk3rNl4Oymka7GKQp7lk3qLVrbaaw2FxNgTq9Ih2_gHiITOSZtoCvNGB3S4qdEXg5ZIijejT9k5JSI3NZtlwj6sQEj_n5SksMCWiiYgbxNXibmYmNdvBbW69_NygzBTpCKTY-650/s1600-h/DSC_0629.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4Gq2Mk3rNl4Oymka7GKQp7lk3qLVrbaaw2FxNgTq9Ih2_gHiITOSZtoCvNGB3S4qdEXg5ZIijejT9k5JSI3NZtlwj6sQEj_n5SksMCWiiYgbxNXibmYmNdvBbW69_NygzBTpCKTY-650/s400/DSC_0629.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434481376678554578" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">So proud that she can stand up in her crib.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndgm2XMrtawyvcnbnvhOtgbNS-MLuJ5zD55UIM2aTLDGm4Cx9d7ReHge2EUh8FlIgM2MIv3c27UP-BAYYmTu-ZKxzvr0sHkk_qQl8SBOK5tI-0x1-pwoQ0eF_gdjM6EVGRQSrakyWzJ4n/s1600-h/DSC_0628.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndgm2XMrtawyvcnbnvhOtgbNS-MLuJ5zD55UIM2aTLDGm4Cx9d7ReHge2EUh8FlIgM2MIv3c27UP-BAYYmTu-ZKxzvr0sHkk_qQl8SBOK5tI-0x1-pwoQ0eF_gdjM6EVGRQSrakyWzJ4n/s400/DSC_0628.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434481367589028930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf_BU1ib0c5oTkeGguJrkrMkpcloeVJULk0mo7jLOEqwLejB8o5etPQIzg1M-TzTWngla8TSk__EwJAKJMPXl-FX3dwLo-x_YiMypNL9xzNMk2oItCZV-t5hbFaS9fLA5yElgxLSezhb0/s1600-h/DSC_0620.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf_BU1ib0c5oTkeGguJrkrMkpcloeVJULk0mo7jLOEqwLejB8o5etPQIzg1M-TzTWngla8TSk__EwJAKJMPXl-FX3dwLo-x_YiMypNL9xzNMk2oItCZV-t5hbFaS9fLA5yElgxLSezhb0/s400/DSC_0620.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434481363012225362" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-23991471649198834132010-01-18T13:33:00.009-05:002010-01-22T15:29:51.156-05:00Dania's Quince<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPnGP5NYKHsn51BfLP6lg7AMLU5c409j4DfaFWPvlcLTr7ss7hHEUmqWFslqx2fUy7ij4KDWNtPOLyONLS6MY6622F2U3LswgH9c-grQl6EfZ_r7zH7LKKH55GrgOeeOo52f6ofNDFdEm/s1600-h/DSC_0453.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPnGP5NYKHsn51BfLP6lg7AMLU5c409j4DfaFWPvlcLTr7ss7hHEUmqWFslqx2fUy7ij4KDWNtPOLyONLS6MY6622F2U3LswgH9c-grQl6EfZ_r7zH7LKKH55GrgOeeOo52f6ofNDFdEm/s320/DSC_0453.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429579067352983026" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">On Saturday night we celebrated our sweet friend Dania's 15th birthday. In there DR (and most Latin countries), turning 15 is the BIG birthday. It is the coming of age, going from a little girl to a woman. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We hosted the Quinceañera at our house, and they invited about thirty of their family and friends. The party was "supposed to" start at 6:30. One of their friends has a minivan and offered to bring everyone from Cielo. The first group arrived at about 7:20, and then he had to turn around and go back for the second gruop. The second group got here around 8, and then we were ready to begin the celebration. Dania was upstairs getting ready, and stayed hidden from the guests. We gathered everyone around the stairs, which were lit with christmas lights and decorated with white confetti. Elliott announced her....Ana Dania Martinez Ortega...and she gracefully came down the stairs, curtseying her way down! Everyone applauded and shouted as she came down. Her little brother Gregory was waiting at the bottom of the stairs to receive her. He then escorted her around to greet each guest. </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixFc30Ad_r_BNn4pQCQJJZn5JYE8fWV3oAQFqUiC41A-cGmgFQLCVr1b5JhvXajRFKLka6Hhyphenhyphen34FBIp_86Tfej-eI6wuMko6ADoJVx1hNrnpFCO0tCkvJ9b1wZI4DMDvEX5f4bEuMlS23/s320/DSC_0475.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428473164405352882" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMg3VeGBfEvNf2a91HJBxGmXDX4DT85ZyKlmHIGXFagReCUFgxC3ySaBss753wxPzFFg_Gb85G4CyQWkDf9Htn0bA-UMwo8JRp-To4YQ0sZeSJBB3Wp2cf5hZFJ0RgUUS1MmybudM2hDqT/s320/DSC_0488.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428473168462217602" /><div style="text-align: center;">Then it was picture time!! Dania posed for some individual shots, and then took a photo with just about every combination of people possible. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafdvqWBnBEr_Pob6gyM-33UwzAmRphfDxBBOvB86durHcTp1hE-xJ7HSyMCDv_5bLubTBPrwxpCHkVAypMelWLHTDXqJtirbkcun-TJB_hRtecsiJXdkjWr8IRekx1A6NaFK2o_MIHlNd/s1600-h/DSC_0508.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafdvqWBnBEr_Pob6gyM-33UwzAmRphfDxBBOvB86durHcTp1hE-xJ7HSyMCDv_5bLubTBPrwxpCHkVAypMelWLHTDXqJtirbkcun-TJB_hRtecsiJXdkjWr8IRekx1A6NaFK2o_MIHlNd/s320/DSC_0508.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428473160162981794" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><i>Gregory, Ana (mom), Dania, and Altagracia (grandmother)</i></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZP2ad-h8Tn1yE9devzECW39T3jkkzNYdOSsR0AJC6flXnhHaJiFiIEbpkr5zJg-fOA66bw3610SvZrTAGGJaCyGOauPD627iEnu7gPsrB7EFYJ1h7dRUjcp5mmppSSOKh8Pe0I-l34rwe/s1600-h/DSC_0558.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZP2ad-h8Tn1yE9devzECW39T3jkkzNYdOSsR0AJC6flXnhHaJiFiIEbpkr5zJg-fOA66bw3610SvZrTAGGJaCyGOauPD627iEnu7gPsrB7EFYJ1h7dRUjcp5mmppSSOKh8Pe0I-l34rwe/s320/DSC_0558.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428473153552360594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseJF2CZI7nPla4vRiQe11Ky7QoOZ4NIZ47HvAbf62QlrOn9TBps5bLPhmOqeDOzm1K_OMdY5aJLq1EhyphenhyphenyFt4S9hdrqq4rodK3Ij-uFyr69oY2UyAC38i7Q1NgHo7a5ujMDwrp2AEBgF8x/s1600-h/DSC_0562.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseJF2CZI7nPla4vRiQe11Ky7QoOZ4NIZ47HvAbf62QlrOn9TBps5bLPhmOqeDOzm1K_OMdY5aJLq1EhyphenhyphenyFt4S9hdrqq4rodK3Ij-uFyr69oY2UyAC38i7Q1NgHo7a5ujMDwrp2AEBgF8x/s320/DSC_0562.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428472454018299362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><i>Avery stayed up for the whole party...oops. She was in her PJs and all ready for bed when the doorbell rang...once she found out there were people here, there was no getting her down.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">After the big photo shoot, came the food. Not a crumb was left! </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvJ_PcHCuf2iHbkcWCCQgRcdNOOKcUEXCZBLvVQLWwpH7GkHUH4c8-bZKJ9RqTgHPsUUb0QQSxYG59Rj4L7NOZMIPEkrer_ef6JzDZ6-2mygLFzPYehAgCO2B3JhdhKMxDFSRFETsYEAI/s1600-h/DSC_0571.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvJ_PcHCuf2iHbkcWCCQgRcdNOOKcUEXCZBLvVQLWwpH7GkHUH4c8-bZKJ9RqTgHPsUUb0QQSxYG59Rj4L7NOZMIPEkrer_ef6JzDZ6-2mygLFzPYehAgCO2B3JhdhKMxDFSRFETsYEAI/s320/DSC_0571.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428472448917762258" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Then it was time to sing Happy Birthday and cut the cake. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7MrM57WXACK4zmdnEn7L3d1j7E0ta0bNrnieJu6SEYbuZYS1NmsW8ohHFr-ZCjm4wd2gdedm6jicZG_xURX9OMwATsdqBIdkdk77Ooogkypd9xqGsefMDVQKdGL1nllplf8GdaSMcBON/s1600-h/DSC_0602.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7MrM57WXACK4zmdnEn7L3d1j7E0ta0bNrnieJu6SEYbuZYS1NmsW8ohHFr-ZCjm4wd2gdedm6jicZG_xURX9OMwATsdqBIdkdk77Ooogkypd9xqGsefMDVQKdGL1nllplf8GdaSMcBON/s320/DSC_0602.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428472446504522786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeshVlb497jBcDjhgpXiQVYxldP_IuH_BMINhueL-T2st60CwV-odLrvSpwC7qVbeF8tAKvFNdiNaUD9itbrP43kPlPXiA8-HXzTZPMDKlXVdyb9FsFH3t3DCDBz0warmyXEYuC4fsZ1k/s1600-h/DSC_0605.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeshVlb497jBcDjhgpXiQVYxldP_IuH_BMINhueL-T2st60CwV-odLrvSpwC7qVbeF8tAKvFNdiNaUD9itbrP43kPlPXiA8-HXzTZPMDKlXVdyb9FsFH3t3DCDBz0warmyXEYuC4fsZ1k/s320/DSC_0605.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428472435109575522" /></a>We had an awesome time. We were so honored to be able to celebrate Dania and her family in this way. Her mom told me that it was a dream come true for them all!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-12080669189525977702010-01-14T10:13:00.006-05:002010-01-14T11:06:45.871-05:00Earthquake in HaitiFriends, thankfully we as a family are fine, yet we mourn for the destruction in our neighboring country Haiti. We also mourn for our Haitian friends and neighbors living here, the majority as refugees, in Santo Domingo. Most have family and friends living in Haiti, and of course a great percentage of them hail from Port au Prince.<div>As Mission Emanuel, we are striving to be a conduit through which food, water and medicine can be delivered quickly and efficiently to both Port au Prince and to the current and future refugees living in our small community of Bayona here in Santo Domingo. If you feel led to give financially toward these efforts you may contact Mission Emanuel's US office at (877)422-9200.</div><div>Several of our Mission Emanuel teammates plan to drive three truckloads of goods (boxes of nonperishable food, water bottles from Mission Emanuel's water purification plant, and first aid supplies and antibiotics) on Saturday or Sunday, depending on when we can access the medicines and the accessibility of the <a href="http://www.maplandia.com/dominican-republic/independencia/jimani/">Jimaní border crossing</a>. Personally, we will probably not be traveling on this first trip to Haiti, however we do want to be conduits for the love and provision of God in our community. Please pray for us to know our role here in Santo Domingo in making the love, compassion and sovereignty of God known to a scared and mourning Haitian community.</div><div>Of course, please continue to pray for all Haitian people, especially those living (and dying) in and around Port au Prince. May the God of all grace, who calls us to his eternal glory in Christ, heal, restore and redeem this situation and these loved people.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-20140245044059731562009-12-16T09:27:00.006-05:002009-12-16T09:38:43.516-05:00We Made ItBarely. I came down with dengue fever on Wednesday (from a mosquito bite), and was in bed until we left early Monday morning. I had a really high fever, headache, and bad pain behind my eyes. El was super dad and took care of Avery, ran errands, and packed for us. But, now we are home, I'm finally feeling better, and we are loving being back in the good 'ole US of A. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdesqi_Ole99rBg1wPqnzwRdPX9ouixn6Au1y9tOTbBT2ptDq5XiLSBKDt83WX6FGf2suj_rzJyY77uoSXDnRZiPxj3NcyQ-8eEA0HwneTD46CwMZ6m5Xfwp4b75u9cJQqas2oVBs5RPj/s1600-h/DSC_0487.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdesqi_Ole99rBg1wPqnzwRdPX9ouixn6Au1y9tOTbBT2ptDq5XiLSBKDt83WX6FGf2suj_rzJyY77uoSXDnRZiPxj3NcyQ-8eEA0HwneTD46CwMZ6m5Xfwp4b75u9cJQqas2oVBs5RPj/s320/DSC_0487.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415842430298958834" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Avery opening her first ever Christmas gift; a pretty red Christmas dress from Hap!</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaPW9viNrbhQORdTzZmSA-yIbQTd3-N9_Pj_s3BVffUZQA6-o78app5RH57rQJru0dCJ5IWtrD-T1O1NxJPoxKsorF8LF_yy49RKXjAgFwx52RYB_8XidPZmEv7dpBl1ocK9fN8TX5vd2/s1600-h/DSC_0516.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaPW9viNrbhQORdTzZmSA-yIbQTd3-N9_Pj_s3BVffUZQA6-o78app5RH57rQJru0dCJ5IWtrD-T1O1NxJPoxKsorF8LF_yy49RKXjAgFwx52RYB_8XidPZmEv7dpBl1ocK9fN8TX5vd2/s320/DSC_0516.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415842054942907858" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Glad to be in the US for the first time!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSPVGjm_lrY1rGkwk9g70MikXC5neSmCfdxqXNhXKA2RnVOCAOPc-GQcYTAFr3SdMFgEN973a2UzMwQAI7UUHqlZdCS2jt1OFw9UHzEjSyXX08G5MlSvuAYe73MpD4CCpgSIeBfaO2FQX/s1600-h/DSC_0529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSPVGjm_lrY1rGkwk9g70MikXC5neSmCfdxqXNhXKA2RnVOCAOPc-GQcYTAFr3SdMFgEN973a2UzMwQAI7UUHqlZdCS2jt1OFw9UHzEjSyXX08G5MlSvuAYe73MpD4CCpgSIeBfaO2FQX/s320/DSC_0529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415842051865209106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4U0ZABxpE-LqiI65OlTuQwb4PX4nvEmK5t7pi5Xrl9SsdVYeQDXMWFkSfDjgFRQoJMJWiZMod_tzXatz8rxRn2GBl0OPijU-YB1Zk75hzKytkvGmaVu0nHp6pTHTomBsuw608LoksMnD/s1600-h/DSC_0533.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4U0ZABxpE-LqiI65OlTuQwb4PX4nvEmK5t7pi5Xrl9SsdVYeQDXMWFkSfDjgFRQoJMJWiZMod_tzXatz8rxRn2GBl0OPijU-YB1Zk75hzKytkvGmaVu0nHp6pTHTomBsuw608LoksMnD/s320/DSC_0533.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415842047277172546" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-76347281642682151332009-11-13T08:28:00.005-05:002009-11-13T08:51:40.485-05:00The BeachSaturday we took our good friend Ana and her two kids Dania (14) and Gregory (12) to the beach. It was Dania and Gregory's FIRST time ever at the beach. They absolutely loved it!! We picked them up at the bus station and they were grinning from ear to ear. They piled in the car and off we went! We went to the Guayacanes beach that is about 45 minutes outside of Santo Domingo. It was a gorgeous day. All three were like fish and barely left the water...except to bury Dania in the sand, of course! They thought the salt water was soooo strange, and very very salty. <div><div><div><br /></div></div></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWy7K1IcpSwPIhh6LqYjZdLxeBqXFGpGUeRtJxe8IosHjY32xg8Gdr2jAUIiiSMecadkgd5XQWdX7hKcUpqVhPyOJD85DYB9uEPxXfFysAEGsiva9XDT55bbp3XyyMscmcQVGRnYaJxiI/s320/DSC_0387.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403583224904008722" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOi0qKG-PVr72d54PH1VX8v9PQvZ23tgHrHhFX0-rHSxujB_Ct-LV4JiyYRAoN_byipkErNffX0cYNsZ_KwpLuoNKpaH-SVbBsGVGxx9DlXkXs_P-sfnR0S0NMfMhhoZdjiG3r7sdKZiYG/s320/DSC_0399.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403583230654131090" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOINPEBUWsXxOoqzu2CCC8e-239piWSwZkxpEVG23hfvwnbaKJGj05oDgqnBTbJVK8rv8sLvsZtYjjDMAZpBy4xqW3bTsyKAOndS5BImhsPz8Lco6SwJsC818RcG9A50Rk5TL_V8UdOnRl/s1600-h/DSC_0402.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOINPEBUWsXxOoqzu2CCC8e-239piWSwZkxpEVG23hfvwnbaKJGj05oDgqnBTbJVK8rv8sLvsZtYjjDMAZpBy4xqW3bTsyKAOndS5BImhsPz8Lco6SwJsC818RcG9A50Rk5TL_V8UdOnRl/s320/DSC_0402.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403583229101209250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy9TNUmpTr_QKf3MECwTenZxHX7iKAmZzA9oW-zseKEyf00I3pG6X387DbepKTe3Y6nv-eFkhuS4nwzWHXspOPf9FSrsF0M2OlLMSqXxUs_-IlKm2YOGRwkyOK0fQRfm7ZvWrVH0LHVpd/s1600-h/DSC_0383.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy9TNUmpTr_QKf3MECwTenZxHX7iKAmZzA9oW-zseKEyf00I3pG6X387DbepKTe3Y6nv-eFkhuS4nwzWHXspOPf9FSrsF0M2OlLMSqXxUs_-IlKm2YOGRwkyOK0fQRfm7ZvWrVH0LHVpd/s320/DSC_0383.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403583237219301330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuvoAhTodFif4va7SjRanzJwDDLVgre11jU3vHjeHmCppWGzoiTGhJc0ypeJwzE8O5bliMH0BBW94ywTp9Y4dMECVIfo2gGv7CtDbVUFvLSknB5d26cWVgHqUc1jatMueXGAO-ijjKPUm/s1600-h/DSC_0403.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuvoAhTodFif4va7SjRanzJwDDLVgre11jU3vHjeHmCppWGzoiTGhJc0ypeJwzE8O5bliMH0BBW94ywTp9Y4dMECVIfo2gGv7CtDbVUFvLSknB5d26cWVgHqUc1jatMueXGAO-ijjKPUm/s320/DSC_0403.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403583236379930706" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzhDtSo2ZAy-zA1FouSYGsmRrlIhpi6LhvGlGMh02_njaTD43RtueIfRKBFD39wM-rKR3HrNcqxw2umKdIYom6GjQ8gnYwJIPXhUIhCxtNeaQTyWNQfDYRsQ3ZJ3VcWydwaZ-GtzbAQtD/s1600-h/DSC_0392.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzhDtSo2ZAy-zA1FouSYGsmRrlIhpi6LhvGlGMh02_njaTD43RtueIfRKBFD39wM-rKR3HrNcqxw2umKdIYom6GjQ8gnYwJIPXhUIhCxtNeaQTyWNQfDYRsQ3ZJ3VcWydwaZ-GtzbAQtD/s320/DSC_0392.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403584421829362930" /></a><div><div><div>Being with them at the beach was a reminder of how privileged we are....getting to travel, see new places, and experience new things. Can you imagine living on an island, being 45 minutes away from a beautiful public beach, and in 14 years never having the chance to go? </div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-16834986693380285392009-11-06T07:23:00.006-05:002009-11-06T08:16:02.175-05:00LatelyHere are some things that have been going on around here....<div><br /></div><div>- Avery turned 5 months this week! It's really hard to believe. Her little personality is shining through more and more each day. She found her feet and loves them. Anytime she is laying on her back or sitting in her carseat they are in her hands or in her mouth. She learned how to roll over from her tummy to her back. She loves to make funny noises and blow air and bubbles through her lips. She is in the 50% for weight (13 lbs) and 25% in length (I think her chubby cheeks and legs push her into the 50% in weight!- ha). She loves evvvverything to be in her mouth...even my hair...and cracks up everytime because I think it tickles her tongue. So cute! </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAPIjCIsrvajNTztqhhTUn7kXOpzGAuEMw4k9kNXEg0DbtUxVWpARJnkNgvbmJWsX8YOpyUcZIsxb0qy6X185gsV6JWPLP79ocG36ERq0N9k3BzpLX9owVE0F_yEf6GV-3JdNW0DcDSiB/s1600-h/DSC_0209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAPIjCIsrvajNTztqhhTUn7kXOpzGAuEMw4k9kNXEg0DbtUxVWpARJnkNgvbmJWsX8YOpyUcZIsxb0qy6X185gsV6JWPLP79ocG36ERq0N9k3BzpLX9owVE0F_yEf6GV-3JdNW0DcDSiB/s320/DSC_0209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400973537615961010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRf_d420aDvj0oN_-GrvjuL-x1Arg7DGlK8Vb8w37ooxW8oI9XIH7elCqJ-REyxTVb6TTvgElDzKfFFrQO_cVsOdicnr2D831zqvispN4WEViNJcPJJ3uhi5cdyCPIIyEYBCStUv_vq0c_/s1600-h/DSC_0343.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRf_d420aDvj0oN_-GrvjuL-x1Arg7DGlK8Vb8w37ooxW8oI9XIH7elCqJ-REyxTVb6TTvgElDzKfFFrQO_cVsOdicnr2D831zqvispN4WEViNJcPJJ3uhi5cdyCPIIyEYBCStUv_vq0c_/s320/DSC_0343.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400973539521290962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsGVti37DYhVDFUsWm_4gLqKaV9dfP2A4uCvdrB-bQxr8kWveEGk0KPafWVsZZQkGvpJ33sW89FLMl4vVXZgYn936xO3vC8UtlHw4WBcGQP3BPjgucmXjwSMNAbVUtYXL7V1AXwgko5zM/s1600-h/DSC_0259.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsGVti37DYhVDFUsWm_4gLqKaV9dfP2A4uCvdrB-bQxr8kWveEGk0KPafWVsZZQkGvpJ33sW89FLMl4vVXZgYn936xO3vC8UtlHw4WBcGQP3BPjgucmXjwSMNAbVUtYXL7V1AXwgko5zM/s320/DSC_0259.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400973533307205122" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Daddy's girl</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz_ZuFb_Vc9DPnBQ-fndcj-6rBDLrERfdH3MOI-TJQASedTGmhi7vVnMhf1bnn2OoxEo-mCwK2sVGAfRXEHVQONrKpVC4JR5qyeyIW8PM468rljdV-OSHfVIdVKvHWhodc3ham_MH1rnZ/s1600-h/DSC_0269.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz_ZuFb_Vc9DPnBQ-fndcj-6rBDLrERfdH3MOI-TJQASedTGmhi7vVnMhf1bnn2OoxEo-mCwK2sVGAfRXEHVQONrKpVC4JR5qyeyIW8PM468rljdV-OSHfVIdVKvHWhodc3ham_MH1rnZ/s320/DSC_0269.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400973530200908258" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Some of our new friends let Avery borrow their swing. She loves it!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrfrm4VfWdBz1WKqj3bWMMsuL3CblUvbrhHxHI-8iEGqDbLiXzkkuXuoQAj0siKk95Nwb-KNorLJp1-a7XS5HElSLVunoK46XTArxyiSLJpJIo4MWpT2bKSAfqIxT5KoNWszRmQYS6gIV/s1600-h/DSC_0289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrfrm4VfWdBz1WKqj3bWMMsuL3CblUvbrhHxHI-8iEGqDbLiXzkkuXuoQAj0siKk95Nwb-KNorLJp1-a7XS5HElSLVunoK46XTArxyiSLJpJIo4MWpT2bKSAfqIxT5KoNWszRmQYS6gIV/s320/DSC_0289.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400973992592536082" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">This is her new face that she does ALL the time. </span></div><br /></div><div>-The cultural retreat we went on last month up in Jarabacoa was really great. They taught alot on the history of the DR (and the whole island of Hispanola) and showed how it still influences the way Dominicans live today. We also learned practical tips about driving, how to dress, how to greet people, etc. They taught us things that we do as Americans that can be offensive and/or send a message we don't want to send. For example, when offering a visitor a drink/food, you just bring it to them and then they have the opportunity to say "no thank you." Whereas in America you normally ask someone if they want a drink/food first before bringing it to them. Here, if you ask first, it sends them the signal that you really don't want to give them anything.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyaoSMJrxitKM53pIMj6e-h-YZUFd8J1bKVfLS0ZRdytauRZfaBclPY3RYw8F39pAHAXlXF9O_K2zPy77_tH0vmoiq7Estq1Mp0i3xmRilq_2WcjsglxCEyiS-F4NrL7_ln0UCkkTs8VE/s1600-h/Jarabacoa+012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyaoSMJrxitKM53pIMj6e-h-YZUFd8J1bKVfLS0ZRdytauRZfaBclPY3RYw8F39pAHAXlXF9O_K2zPy77_tH0vmoiq7Estq1Mp0i3xmRilq_2WcjsglxCEyiS-F4NrL7_ln0UCkkTs8VE/s320/Jarabacoa+012.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400971320976738914" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Dominican culture is very formal (style of dress, style of furniture, way of greeting), so they had a formal dinner for us the last night. After dinner we learned how to dance Merengue and Bachata! (El and I still have a LOT of work to do on our new moves- ha)</span></div><div><br /></div><div>-2 weeks ago Elliott had the opportunity to speak at the Young Life/Vida Joven leader retreat at Juan Dolio beach. He did wonderful job, and we had a great time spending time with the Young Life staff. Avery liked it too because she got to play with our friends' baby, Judah, who was born 5 days after her! </div><div><br /></div><div>-God has been really generous and gracious to us over the last few weeks in providing new friends and new fellowship opportunities! This had been a prayer of ours for over a year. He is faithful to provide. </div><div><br /></div><div>-Things are finally cooling off here (a little bit). I made chili and cornbread this week out of my excitement....we were sweating (in out shirts and shorts) all the way through dinner. Oh well! </div><div><br /></div><div>-Monday is Constitution day here in the DR. Yay for Dominican holidays! I think we might head to the beach one day this weekend. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think that's it for now. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-53103598093796177232009-10-07T10:45:00.005-04:002009-10-07T11:36:14.108-04:00Avery<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiud5Egu5Xy9B5p3C0rrJvSVJTGQvMRckudXRgufanbNLT3vHYmM3GwQiYnmOrQltdEtt3QO8Nar9_8a0AV8eCkI90Y4fpgSZW4fupSlXl5MlZnrIxjZp_MzqyYumxtLHxUXJJ9U771JQ/s1600-h/DSC_0174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiud5Egu5Xy9B5p3C0rrJvSVJTGQvMRckudXRgufanbNLT3vHYmM3GwQiYnmOrQltdEtt3QO8Nar9_8a0AV8eCkI90Y4fpgSZW4fupSlXl5MlZnrIxjZp_MzqyYumxtLHxUXJJ9U771JQ/s400/DSC_0174.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389872490122092386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0xgYWagzrFhmncb6ZzmhKmkiusYMijFhTEWUsDcfv78cu5rU2hAe7RuX5VQVd8R0fSFhm1_pEBaJ6SCNkIpBNFRQgZbpZVFwTXUWoppvMNN8n3HSG7FLppmc9ckZa3FYzM0XrMSIxA/s1600-h/DSC_0180.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETjXmRM2iohSCHtLhCkUFHREioSftJTNaNHskuhNdEvHa9XHBSbEsX35fK0D8tYajj-TpPaPO88hbsumNQ_Gfp4eqQZ8Hp2m0nF4bjHmcbU3ShkNgrHT1FC0gHPXgvlQfjllSIn1TCA/s400/DSC_0176.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389871685154215922" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cUqCERkD5TOZjsuoQiEWyO5paxyz8MGAiOZFTNm1uxNTQwVBRKG2oeR6AlczTbVRgMpncPhs0vs2E8sGdChNbZsn-DUPi5jzH9le7P7mcR3uKlt5U2nxVl4ash5l47nT1VbhEzrfYg/s1600-h/DSC_0173.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><br /><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cUqCERkD5TOZjsuoQiEWyO5paxyz8MGAiOZFTNm1uxNTQwVBRKG2oeR6AlczTbVRgMpncPhs0vs2E8sGdChNbZsn-DUPi5jzH9le7P7mcR3uKlt5U2nxVl4ash5l47nT1VbhEzrfYg/s400/DSC_0173.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389871680890559634" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0LfzpqaSHqYilCw-FaE9Cgh5k3Wns1k_ZDtcvb4-zQZMHeVN99TKZMqc2y4Ymp8Cr9I6NHOg5CYoDpfRDIs3VUo7rUr8Mwa0mNuPtSXlN20XiObnm6MVRVNZ2ujUWBgqBmX7fYq-sA/s400/DSC_0172.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389881813400776786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiud5Egu5Xy9B5p3C0rrJvSVJTGQvMRckudXRgufanbNLT3vHYmM3GwQiYnmOrQltdEtt3QO8Nar9_8a0AV8eCkI90Y4fpgSZW4fupSlXl5MlZnrIxjZp_MzqyYumxtLHxUXJJ9U771JQ/s1600-h/DSC_0174.JPG"></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiud5Egu5Xy9B5p3C0rrJvSVJTGQvMRckudXRgufanbNLT3vHYmM3GwQiYnmOrQltdEtt3QO8Nar9_8a0AV8eCkI90Y4fpgSZW4fupSlXl5MlZnrIxjZp_MzqyYumxtLHxUXJJ9U771JQ/s1600-h/DSC_0174.JPG"></a></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWRUOZENUuRObIL-IPrlYV2bCU2fc1jTTYKqTl6jUiofjTKBMnP9vCWpLhcHpldkP4Ubvj0HfjeUU2IULOcsHiSbxAVEhDkTvNOmyPbTG8uvM_nIM031kUZT7GASgAro-bFp87S_-Xw/s1600-h/DSC_0171.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWRUOZENUuRObIL-IPrlYV2bCU2fc1jTTYKqTl6jUiofjTKBMnP9vCWpLhcHpldkP4Ubvj0HfjeUU2IULOcsHiSbxAVEhDkTvNOmyPbTG8uvM_nIM031kUZT7GASgAro-bFp87S_-Xw/s400/DSC_0171.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389871665117185266" /></a></div>Elliott and Lindsay Drakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03864395927423205739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411000750736730328.post-28880844730555235362009-10-05T12:44:00.005-04:002009-10-06T20:26:36.168-04:00Long time no blogSorry it's been so long since we last posted...here are some updates from our lives in Santo Domingo. <div><br /></div><div>1. We moved! We found an awesome house about 15-20 minutes away from Bayona. Our time living in Bayona was SO worth it. We learned so much about the people and culture we are serving, and built relationships that would have been impossible had we not been living "with" them. But, it was time to move. We love our new home, and it's location! It has provided us with a place to rest, be together, and get away from the stresses of Dominican life. We are so grateful that God provided just what we needed. </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTkJoT6DE_gSOaieU5fnDnFPxp_Kzrt3OEz8W-dWRuAM7KYKSf5phdIVAlJqJBNb3iNygqsf6i5Tc8fUTCnx5ErmooENFFeFauZuvYgZp70D3kvCPHjFP2WpgoX18N8hHhk_mFZzE_A/s1600-h/DSC00579.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTkJoT6DE_gSOaieU5fnDnFPxp_Kzrt3OEz8W-dWRuAM7KYKSf5phdIVAlJqJBNb3iNygqsf6i5Tc8fUTCnx5ErmooENFFeFauZuvYgZp70D3kvCPHjFP2WpgoX18N8hHhk_mFZzE_A/s200/DSC00579.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389175401654270562" /></a></div><div>2. Avery is 4 months old! She is still a little thing weighing 11lbs, 11oz (but chubby, chubby). She LOVES to make noises. It seems like she babbles all day long. She is still a really good sleeper. All I have to do at night is put her down in her crib, and she's out for the night...no rocking to sleep, and no crying, she just goes to sleep on her own!! (unfortunately its another story for naps). She loves Ridley....everytime she sees him she smiles or laughs. Whenever he is in the room, she watches him and follows him around with her eyes. She loves to grab her toys...and they go straight to her mouth. Last week, she had her first little cold, poor thing. She ran a fever and was really congested and had a bad cough. She was a trooper though, and was still as sweet as ever. </div><div><br /></div><div>-I have gotten stopped about 10 times by people thinking that I was carrying around a babydoll. Then when they see that she's real, they are shocked. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Even those that do know shes a real baby call her Muñekita (little babydoll). I think its the blue eyes, chubby cheeks, and white skin. </span></div><div><br /></div><div>3. Her passport and birth certificate got delivered today! YEAH! A little guy brought it on a motorcycle in his backpack. Now we can actually leave the country....I feel like I should be boarding a plane right now to celebrate :) </div><div><br /></div><div>4. God is doing some pretty awesome things through Elliott. In May he became the Ministry Director for Mission Emanuel. He is now in charge of the 9 Dominican team leaders. It is so cool to see all of the ways he is growing in this new role. I know its hard for him to see the impact he is having down here, but its HUGE. Needless to say, I'm a proud wife. </div><div><br /></div><div>5. We are going on a cultural retreat this weekend up in the mountains. It is taught by an American woman that has lived in the DR for 26 years. She is going to teach on Dominican culture and values, and how to grow personally while living here. Even though we have lived here for over a year, I think we are going to learn a ton, and that it is going to help us minister more effectively and deeply. I'm also excited to get to spend a weekend in the mountains....cooler weather, I hope!</div><div><br /></div><div>6. We are missing fall big time. It's still as hot as ever here. We miss the crispness in the air, leaves changing colors, college football, wearing long-sleeves and corduroys, and making chili and pumpkin spice muffins. So, please enjoy those things for us :) </div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><img src="webkit-fake-url://EAE3D09E-1EA6-4F89-B1FA-44A4E38A9E44/bxp33257.jpg" alt="bxp33257.jpg" /></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, I think thats it for now. Thanks for reading! I'll post some new Avery pics soon...my camera battery is dead and I'm waiting for it to charge. </div>Elliott and Lindsay Drakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03864395927423205739noreply@blogger.com0