I know I dont blog very much these days....and thats mostly because I never get comments which makes me feel like no one reads...so whats the point to blog n post pics if no one cares???......but then I thought, maybe its just a good way to get things off my chest....so who knows...

First off, Id like to say that I am SOOO blessed beyond what I deserve. God is my rock and shield and he is my everything. I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for him. He is my best friend and the only person I can ALWAYS count on to be there for me, be a listening ear, and offer advice and guide my footsteps. Often timees we, as humans and especially Christians, get so comfortable in our life. God didn't put us on this earth to always be comfortable. Thats why I was so willing to move to Brasil to support my hubby in his career. Of coarse I didn't want to leave my friends, family and life I've always known, but at the same time I knew I needed to STEP OUT OF THE BOAT. I knew I wasn't put on this earth to just live comfortably. I prayed through it all and to this day, thank my Heavenly Father for his continued guidance, love, support, care, concern and help to name a few. Its not easy moving to a whole new country with whole new beliefs and ideas and ways of doing things. Speaking a new language. Driving amongst the chaos. Always having to watch your back and purse and belongings. Being careful not to say something in their language wrong so they dont get offended or confused. Sitting in church trying to worship, but not really knowing whats being said or sang. Meeting new people and trying to talk with them and get to know them and build relationships with them, but being frustrated because you just CANT get the right words out. UGHHH! I just want to KNOW Portuguese already!!!! :)

Its also so hard to be away from friends and family and even with all this new technology, they just seem too busy to pick up a fone and call or email or write. I know I know I know...I dont work, have school, have kids etc....so my life is WAY less stressful. TRUE. I totally agree. BUT at the same time, I just wish EVERYONE would have a chance to move to another country and be alone....and see how it feels...even just a scheduled once a week or once a month phone call would be nice....My other American friends that are here get phone calls, emails, mail, care packages etc and they are so blessed and grateful for them! I just have to think.....that would be nice.....But I know everyone has crazy busy lives and their own families and thats SOO important. Thats why I never say anything, but just wish they all knew what it was like to live in a far away land and not have family close. Its hard. VERY hard. My heart breaks to not be a part of the things my friends and family are. To not see my nieces and nephew grow. To not help my bro n sis in law with their new house. To not celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, births, holidays, weddings etc. ....BUT through these hard times I HAVE to rely on my Heavenly Father or else I'd go crazy.

With all of that said, I truly am blessed here. God put me here for a reason and put that desire to share his love in my heart for a purpose. I have made a lot of "friends" or acquaintances you could say and have been really trying to let Gods light shine in me and through me. Its hard not having a  b i g vocabulary, but I know God is still using me. I have met so many wonderful people at the gym, grocery store, mall and just anywhere. Some still stare at me and follow me around....maybe cause they've never seen a real live, blonde blue eyed American....but through it all my goal and purpose is to bring people closer to Christ. God has blessed me with wonderful friends and family here from church and Jairs family and I am so appreciative of them too. Although I wish I could TALK more with them.....and see them more often. They are all busy here too. But God has also allowed Jair and I to come across some American Missionaries that are starting a new church here. We felt God calling us to help them in any way we can. So far we have been attending their at home bible study. Jair goes to the study and I help in the childrens study with one child who we think has autism. My job for now is to just hold him and keep him quiet so his searching mom can learn more about the bible. I hope to learn the songs and bible study lessons too, as they are all in Portugeuse and what better way for me to learn than to learn like a child!! :) So we have been really blessed by that. And we are also a part of their small at home church on Sunday nights. We go between the Fowlers house and the Kings house and once a month we all go to another city about 45 min away to worship with their church. So God trully has been blessing us. Its ESPECIALLY nice to have some American friends close by to speak English with, celebrate both Brasil and American holidays, learn from, grow from, get new recipes from ;) and just be encouraged by!! I have also been able to start a little bible study/prayer group with some of my Brasilian friends and that has been a goal of mine! This last week I was also invited to the Kings house to help teach them how to teach their son the alphabet etc....so I was able to use some of my expertise and teaching skills and give ideas which is something I have REALLY been missing.....teaching and kids. GOD IS GOOD!

So all in all, we (I) am blessed. God has protected us, kept us safe, worked out details with doccuments etc, brought new people into our lives, taken away others (lots of my old friends that lived here have basically all moved away or gotten married and moved or went away to college....kinda sucks, but thankful for the new ones:). Hes blessed us with a home and slowly putting things inside of it, given us opportunities to travel, kept us both pretty healthy (except for Jairs triglyceroids which we are finding out runs in his family), provided a car that is AMAZING (and I recently put some scratches on from parking too close to a concrete pole....grrrrr) and allowed us to grow spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally. God loves his children and wants what's best for us. We need to be open and aware of HOW and WHERE God wants to use us! That may mean outside of your world or it might be right in your backyard. But dont let life get in the way of you living this short life for Christ!! We have and will continue to pray about the possibility of Jair transfering to Texas (I would prefer CA....but there isn't an oil field there) in the next few years, but even with this move I hope we can be the light of Christ and share it with others. If you want, you can join us in prayer about this. I, personally, dont want to start a family here for MANY reasons....but we both know that if it happens GOD IS IN CONTROL and he will guide us!!

If you made it this far, thanks!! It feels good to get some things from my head and heart to paper...or a screen...I really do love and appreciate everyone God has placed in my life and I am SOOO grateful for the few who try their best to communicate!! Thanks Dani, for our constant chats. Even if we are both busy its just the "Hi, how are you doing" that makes a difference. Connie B., Thanks for our random skype dates/chats. You are a blessing and I know you are busy with Emma and Tyler and it means a lot. Im thankful for the few times Ive gotten to skype with Jay n Jess and my parents and see how they are all doing and chat with my sweet n adorable Gav n Cora. MISSING THEM LIKE CRAZY. And I am thankful for a few of my friends who skype once in a while or chat or leave me comments on FB. Its nice to know you aren't forgotten.....cause alot of times it feels/seems like I am. I am so blessed with you all and love you dearly. God bless and have a wondeful Fall/Thanksgiving and Christmas. EXCITED to prayerfully be coming in Dec!!! GOD IS GOOD!

One of my theme verses while living here in Brasil:

Philippians 4:4-9

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.