A Fun First

We have been planning for months to have a wiener roast, and finally had the opportunity to do it. The boys were so excited. They had never cooked a hot dog over a fire or roasted a marshmallow! Can you believe that!? They were so deprived!

My mother-in-law had brought back some marshmallows from the States the last time she was there, and she had them hidden in the back of the cupboard, saving them for this occasion.

I don't know how much dirt and ash the boys cooked onto to their food, but they survived and had a great time.

Yet Another Battle Wound

Our middle child tends to be very accident prone. He has, on more than one occasion, just fallen out of his chair unexplainably. He almost always has some kind of bruise or mark on his head. Living here where everything is tile, marble, and concrete certainly hasn't improved the situation.
His most recent feat was falling while running up some marble stairs in the front of a church. I happened to be walking out the door at the moment he fell, and saw it happen. I knew he hit hard. When I got to him and pulled his hand away from his face, I saw how badly he had hit it. He hit right on the eyebrow, and right on the edge of the step resulting in a bad gash. Now I for one don't handle the sight of blood really well, especially when it is one of my own kids, and you know how cuts to the head bleed! I was thankful that both Jeremy and his Mom were there to help patch him up. I was sure it needed stitches, but they thought a butterfly bandage would do just as well. (I tend to overreact!)

So here he is with his newest bandages. He sure gets a lot of attention. (Notice the bruise on the other side of his forehead still lingering from the previous fall and bang to the head!)

Here are a few shots without the bandages. It is right on the eyebrow, so it blends in and doesn't look too bad in these photos.

Each time these things happen, I am reminded at how much I have to trust in the Lord to take care of my children. I can't possibly protect them from everything. Bad things will happen, but I am so thankful that I have a great God to lean upon. His strength is sufficient!

Psalm 28:7  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him. 

Downtown São Paulo ~ September 2010

Reminder

Jeremy is continuing to share stories and pictures of his trip to the Amazon on our website, BraziltotheUttermost.com. If you are interested in reading more and seeing some photos, click here to read his blog.

Independência do Brasil

While I was studying in language school, we learned a little bit of Brazilian history along the way. It was interesting to me to see the similarities between the United States' history and Brazil's history. They were both inhabited by Indians, discovered by explorers, became colonies of other countries, and eventually became independent nations.

However, when Brazil desired its independence, it was (more or less) just handed to them. Dom Pedro II declared Brazil independent from Portugal...and that was about it! Well, there's a little more to the story, but they never had to fight for their country like the United States did. It was just given to them. That spirit of patriotism and pride is missing.

September 7th is Independence Day here in Brazil, but it is nothing like the 4th of July in the US. Now, I realize that is partly because I am American and somewhat biased, but even Brazilians agree that there is not a sense of patriotism here...until there's a soccer game going on that is!

On Sunday, we had a special day at church celebrating Brazil. We all wore our Brazilian colors and had a lunch at the church. It was a nice time of fellowship and, of course, delicious food.

Here is our family dressed in Brazil's colors

The boys sang a special with the children

Brazil is a great country with much to offer. We feel privileged to have the opportunity to live and work here.

MISSING: Two small front teeth

Small reward offered

(via the Tooth Fairy)

Why Knot?

Judson has always been...unique!

This is how I found him today...

On more than one occasion he has called me from his bed because he has tied his socks in knots and can't get them undone. There was even a time when the other boys were calling because he had tied their socks in knots and they couldn't get them undone! With Judson, you just never know what to expect.

Let's look on the bright side...he should be a quick study when it comes time to learn to tie his shoes!

I Finally Did It!

I finally got up the nerve to go to the hair salon here. I know that probably sounds ridiculous, but I was just really nervous about trying to communicate with them. I had a hard enough time trying to say what I wanted in English! Anyway, I hadn't had a good haircut since we came here and my hair was really beginning to be very sad, so when I couldn't stand it anymore, I decided to just wing it.

And the results....

I was really happy with the way it turned out! I figured I should take a picture, because it may never look like this again!! I am convinced she had a magic hairbrush, because I have never been able to do with my hair what she did. It's a little shorter than I had anticipated, but I like it. However, I haven't left it curly yet, so I'm not sure what that will be like! If I have to, I'll just keep straightening it for a while until it grows out some.

Not being sure if I could just walk-in at the salons here, I left the house saying that I was going to try to get my hair cut. I came home and walked in the door, and Josiah said, "Did you get a haircut?" Such a man!