Junior/Senior Retreat Time

Joanna (David and Chase's youngest sister) is living with us this semester. -- Not sure if I told the wide web this important piece of information.-- She is studying this semester at NCA as a junior.

I'm real impressed that she would leave the comforts of American life - air conditioning, mom's cooking, good friends- to live in Nicaragua for 1/2 a year. Especially as a 16 year old. She's having to adjust to living with a baby, people speaking Spanish all day, having limited privacy, etc. So yeah, I'm impressed with her.

But that's not what this post is about.

Every year at the beginning of school, the junior and seniors go on a Spiritual Leadership Retreat. They leave on a Wednesday afternoon and return Friday afternoon. So it is in the middle of the school week - meaning they get to skip their classes. I think it's great that NCA puts such a high emphasis on building leadership skills and maturing in faith. So much so, that they are willing to have their student miss classes.

This year, because Joanna is a junior she got to go as well! She said it was good!And everyone knows that when you go on retreats, hiking trips, mission trips that you bond with people and get to truly know them. So I'm thankful she had this time!

Here are some pics of her time there.


Jo in the pool!


Every good retreat has to involve some sort of nasty dare. This one was blending up a McDonald's happy meal.


The victims of the dare.


Soccer must be played - we're in Nicaragua for crying out loud


Worship time. We have some really talented students here that can lead their fellow students in worshipping the Lord.


Just a cool shot of Danni spending time in the Word.

A Day in the Life of a 16 month old

Beckett is 16 months old today. In honor of this big occasion, he thought he would share with you what an average day looks like for his 16 month old self

Today I woke up around 5:30ish, but Mom didn't get my out of bed until 6:00. So I just sang a song, looked at some books, and banged on my crib. I knew she would get me out after that!

We ate some breakfast, which consisted of oatmeal with apples and a little bit of a bagel. Some days, I'm an awesome eater and some days I much rather play than be bothered with putting a spoon in my mouth.

Because I am getting ANOTHER new tooth, I was a bit cranky. Do you remember getting teeth?? It's no fun. NO. FUN.


I then played with ALL my toys. I mean ALL. (I do realize that my pajamas don't match. My Daddy dressed me last night and he doesn't really care all that much!) My new favorite thing to do is dump all the toys out and then sit in my box. It's a blast!




Around 9:30, Mom put me down for a nap. I intensely protested for about 2.5 minutes and then promptly went to sleep. (I showed her!!) I was exhausted because I woke up so darn early!



After my 2 hour nap, Mom and I went to Subway to get Dad lunch and then we ate with him. I said, "Dada" all the way there and back! I L.O.V.E. my dad. I talk about him all the time!



After we ate lunch, we came back home and I wanted to play outside, so I let my mom know by pointing to the door and signing please. But mom said no, because it was raining. It's been raining a ton here lately, which is a bummer for me. I decided to sit on the couch and play some more!




I can be real focused on a toy sometimes.


After that, I was exhausted, so my mom made me take another nap. I keep fooling her though - somedays I need 2 naps and somedays I need only 1! She never knows which is which! Today, this is what I did instead of napping!


I was showing her the horse, my fav animal these days!



After waking up, I was ready to go! And this is my favorite part of the day! All my friends are outside and I just "run" and "run". I like to push toys, splash in water, eat random leaves, and sometimes go look at the horse! I live such a great life!


The end of my day is so fun too! My Daddy comes home and we eat dinner, play some, and then I take a bath. Time with Dad is the best!




He likes to get me way hyped up before I go to bed! He's fun that way! (Again, with the non-matching pajamas??? Come on, Dad!)


And then it's off to bed!

So, that's my day as a 16 month old boy!

Pictures

I know, the header looks horrible! Still working on it! But here are some pictures while you wait! :)


I asked Beckett, "Where's your tongue?" This is what he did.


A mama and her boy. (I had just been walking - at 5:30 in the morning, mind you - so I don't look my best.) He's so cute!


We are way into putting on other people's shoes. And by we, I mean Beckett.


Look at those cute legs!

Workin'

I know! The blog doesn't look too hot right now! I'm trying! Designing a blog is not my strong point. Especially while trying to do that in the short time Beckett takes a nap - as well as clean up, shower, finish a Bible study, eat, etc.
It will be back to normal soon! Be patient with me!

Ok, I'll blog.

It's a been a while, I know. I didn't blog while we were in the states and I've had a lack of motivation while being back in Nicalandia. But things have changed my friends and I'm ready to get back to it!

So here is 1/2 of the low down of what all we did while in the States. I can't post it all because it would take forever and I must pick up our house and shower. You know, important things.

1. My mom got married! In Las Vegas! If you know my mom, you probably think that is hilarious.
It was a really special, intimate wedding and I'm so glad David and I could be there!


And no, Elvis was not there.


2. We hung out with David's fam over 4th of July in Austin. It was tons of fun! We also got the blessing of seeing the New York Russells and of course, cute baby Hudson.




We also played some water volleyball. I won't lie - when I played, my team won. I love winning, especially when you're playing against trash talkers. It's the best.


(stole these pictures from Julie's facebook!!)

3. Beckett and Hudson became friends!




4. Had a baby shower for our sweet friend Sami. I love that my friends are having babies! It's the best!


This is all the Russell girls (minus Joanna)!



And this is all the girls that are pregnant - in order from least pregnant to a 1 month old.

So that's 1/2 of our time in the states. More to come soon! Get excited and yes, I'll put up pictures of Beckett soon! :)

They're coming!

Today is the day!!

Our friends from our church are coming today!! We can hardly wait!



Here they are at the airport! Aren't they cute?!?

I stole this picture from their website.

http://woodcreekchurch.com/twenties/nicaragua-10/

Follow them to see what they're up to!

I'm kind of sick of the title....

.... but not of the idea.

I have been a terrible, TERRIBLE blogger as of late. I'm blaming it on pregnancy. It makes you so blasted tired. All the time. So when I have a free moment, aka Beckett is sleeping, I'm usually taking a nap too!

So when I look back at my blog, I see Thankful Thursday, Thankful Thursday, Thankful Thursday. That means I haven't been blogging very much! So I'm a bit sick of the title, but not the idea.

So this is a Thankful Thursday blog, without that name. There you go!

We are so, so, so thankful for this guy! He makes us beyong happy, joyful, blessed. It is an amazing thing to think that the Lord loves me (and you) like I love Beckett. And even more so. It's hard to imagine. What a great God, He is.


Ah, a sleeping baby. Nothing cuter, right?

I'm also thankful for this. It just makes me happy.



We, David and I, are also thankful for summer break. He just finished grading his last exam! Don't get me wrong, we love teaching here at NCA! But it's great to have a break, to rest, reflect, and rejuvenate!

We're also SO excited that our church is about to be here! OH, how we love them! Not for one second, do we take for granted the blessing of them coming. We know that they are sacrificing money, time, good U.S. food, and much more to be here. We are so thankful they would come serve here in Nicaragua!