Hugs for friends

So, now I am truly an at-home-mom... because my van's brakes are kaput... and with $1100 needed to fix them, it's just going to sit in the driveway for a couple of months.
So, I stay at home. Literally.

I enjoyed it the first week. It kind of took the pressure off to do things. The second week was alright, too- I cooked A LOT. Now, I think I am getting a little blue.

It's not that I am sad about not going out... I don't have many friends yet to miss seeing... but being inside is getting depressing. And with temperatures over 100* regularly that don't go away even when the sun does, it's hard to get outside.
And besides my turning Smurf-y, my little girl is (right this moment) playing with pine cones inside like they are dolls... she could use some inspiration.

It's time to get off my keester and start doing this thing called life, even if it means within the same 4 walls everyday.
It's time to shake it off and step up.

And to add to the misery a little, I just wish I could give some of you hugs. Some of you are going through things that are unfortunate and although I believe firmly God has a plan to rescue us all, the thing I wish I could do most is just give you a hug. So consider yourself HUGGED... with a little tight squeeze. God is our Redeemer. He will see us through.

Jeff's parents are coming down this weekend for a day and a half. It will be nice to see them. And my dad comes September 6th. I can't wait!!! The door is always open, guys. Myrtle Beach is a perfect vacation spot!



I am working out in our living room a lot these days... but all the cooking I have been doing is hindering my losing pounds capability. I go shopping this weekend, so I am going to buy gluten-free and healthy staples in which to cook with so I can start actually making headway with all this yoga and hula dancing. Phew!


Lots of love....
xxxOOOOOOOOOOxxxOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOxxxxx

PS I am making 4 different kinds of brownies for my aunt's 50th birthday party tonight... my poor hips!!! ;)

Things we have been up to....

Boy, it's a good thing I didn't title this Blog something like "Daily Writings"! Because I have neglected it a little bit, and people may have been super sad to see me not write daily! (which is very saddening when someone does that... say, with photographs, even ;)

But, we have been super busy down here in these parts.... and I have pictures to prove it! :)

First, we have been renovating my mom's kitchen: (turn your head to the left, then right... those are walls missing! And then rebuilt)





And now we are VERY close to getting it finished! (Praise the Lord! Cupboards!!)





In other busy happenings, I had my cousin's son over for the day and we had lots of fun making a mess with shaving cream (props to Angela Bezilla for her influence here) and construction paper shapes. Bella was particularly *disgusted* with the shaving cream gig, which she very sincerely and honestly gets from her mom, but Troy was ecstatic! He even made a smiley face :D






We then played with construction paper shapes, which Bella clearly enjoyed more!







:)
more to come....

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love you ;)
b

Random 'us' stuff

My loves
:)
Things are falling into place down here for the Poms Family. Jeff begins working full-time at a chiropractor's office today (thank You, Jesus!). Today also marks the fourth day of an intense 90 day Extreme Workout Schedule that my mom and I started. (Ok, really? My mom started it, but I am going along for the ride- today it was walking/running at 6:15am. Ouch.)

Last night was the second week in a row that we visited with some new friends from our church. It was so wonderful! Brian (the first friend I made down here) invited us to a woman's house to hang out on Sunday nights. Dawn is the owner of a beautiful house that she opens up to almost anyone every Sunday evening. People from all kinds of Christian backgrounds come and eat dinner and dessert. There is something so powerful about meeting with other Christians... it's like extended family gatherings. They totally embraced us and the first night they just kind of listened to us talk about our overseas missions trips and stuff like that... I left completely embarassed to have talked so much, but they all were like "Hey! Jeff, Bianca!" when we came in last night that I think I am beginning to feel right at home.

God totally put me in my place yesterday with the sermon at church. I hope you are being challenged by God's Word in your church. It's scary, embarassing, shameful and mysteriously wonderful to know that God is in your life to grow you and make you more like Him. And you are never done. Thank You, Father, for being there yesterday. The Word was definitely for me!


Bella is doing very well. "She sounds very smart", my dad said over the phone. I say she is getting a bit of a smart mouth, if you know what I mean! (Praise God for 3 year olds!) ;)
She's also having a, um, good influence on her cousin, Troy?









Now I am off to landscape my grandma's yard.

LOVE YOU GUYS!
b

What's that sound, Bella???

Procrastination and organization

Ok, these seem like opposites, but it takes a truly gifted person to perfect the art of doing both, at the same time. Enter ME the last week and a half.

Things on the list to do:
1. catch up on sleep (yeah, right!)
2. clean house
3. sow clothes
4. go to beach (yes, it actually needs to be planned, despite the illusion of a free schedule)
5. cook
6. do the bills
7. make a missions update/thank you letter
8. mail said letters
9. call a million people from back home that I miss
10. watch Pride and Prejudice (what can I say, it's just been on my heart....)
11. research home schooling in South Carolina

Things accomplished:
1. reading everyone's blogs and getting "caught up"- I LOVE YOUR BLOGS!! Keep blogging!
2. researched home schooling. quit after it seemed like it would rule my life
3. found a chore list on a home schooling site- organized my potential life
4. took a nap (on Sunday)
5. not much else.... :)

So, while I am WAY behind in things I should be accomplishing, #3 on the accomplishED list seemed to make me feel quite confident the rest would work out some day.

I miss my friends.
I miss my mission trip teenagers.
I probably miss you if you are reading this. Since calling is on the list of things I haven't accomplished... I miss you. I love you. Call me? :)

I miss my Mac

Just thought I'd share.

I am trying to create a "tell all" missions letter to share the incredible whirlwind that was Guatemala with those who supported me through prayer and donations. It's just that I now work on a, what is this thing called... acer? Acer? Can that really be it? Maybe the name is listed somewhere else... Acer?
Well anyway, I just miss the speed, creativity and ease of my old Mac.


Hmmmm.... my Mac.

Hopefully God will give me another one.

Back to life in the slow lane...

It's amazing the fast pace of life as a missionary on a week long trip! So much happened to impact eternity in such a short time! The teenagers we lead were AMAZING! Truly! I was SO impressed! Nearly half the team came down with varying stages of the Big D and only one stayed back at the hotel to recoup for half a day (and quite unwillingly! Yea Dean!).

San Pedro, Guatemala is probably the most beautiful place I have ever been. I have never been surrounded on all sides by such beautiful, lush mountains (and volcanoes!). I miss looking up and seeing the wonderful landscape of mountains.

My sister has been visiting and just left today. I am cleaning, reorganizing and trying to rest, so more details and stories from the trip later. (Including a miraculous recovery of my passport...for real!)

I love you guys, and thanks for reading and keeping in touch!


Another Wonder of the World: San Pedro, Guatemala











This one was for Jeff: (what sweeties!)