Visit from Friends

This past week, we got to host some truly wonderful people for a few nights. Aimee is a dear Canadian friend from our days in Arequipa at language school. While we were only together there for a few months, we cultivated a lasting friendship. That's why I was so excited to hear that she was marrying her Ecuadorian friend, Abner. When she left Arequipa, she was moving to Guayaquil, Ecuador to serve her mission there, living with Abner and his family. Well, God had obviously planned that out because they were wed just a couple weeks ago in Ecuador. Only a week after the wedding, they came to visit and stay with us on their way back north for their Canadian wedding.

We had so much fun with them, mostly just chatting, catching-up, and getting to know Abner, who speaks English fluently. After their month or so in Canada, they are going to live in San Jose, Costa Rica - Aimee will be working with Youth for Christ and Abner will be finishing his degree as an architect for the next couple years. Needless to say, we agreed to visit them while they are down there. (c:

Noah misses them and asks about them. We extended an open invitation to them as well, wherever we end up in the States. Congratulations, you two! And thanks for the sweet time of fellowship!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was hosted at our teammates, Jim and Sara Ward's house. While it was mild enough for a pool party, Sara went all-out making the house feel like Thanksgiving with all the pumpkins and decorations. Everyone brought their family's traditional dishes and desserts. Sara cooked the turkey for all twenty-five of us.

We had the pleasure of inviting our dear friends, Todd and Stephanie Edgar, who were in town from Pucallpa - you may remember pictures of them from my visit to their home in June with Noah and Annmarie. They were here looking for a new car for their growing family (Stephanie is due in January) and doing some shopping, while Todd competed in the Peruvian Amateur Motocross (dirtbike racing for those who are unfamiliar with the sport) race and won first place! Congratulations Todd!

There was even a tackle football game...at least a tackle-Michael game.

Stephanie, Amanda, and I with our bellies!

Over dessert we all sat around in a circle on the patio, sang songs, reflected on God's graciousness to us over the past year, and prayed together. We will likely not be here for next year's warm weather Thanksgiving celebration, so we soaked-up the uniqueness and the sweet friendships that we are so grateful for when family is so far away.

Tradition

Just have to write really quick here, to say we are doing one of my favorite activities all year - decorating for Christmas. Just as last year, it feels a little strange, since we wear shorts to go outside, but just as special to be together, trimming the tree and listening to beautiful music. Noah understands and loves it much more than last year, and it's amazing to see it through his eyes. Merry advent!

Lessons Learned

Sooooo, this morning Noah woke me at 5:30, soaking wet - must have had too much to drink before bedtime last night. This, however, didn't matter to him, I had to discover the wetness part after I had already helped him into our bed...I was doing a lot of laundry early this morning.

Since I was already up and Noah was not going back to sleep, I thought I would let him play quietly in his room with his music, paper, and a new found joy - markers! The other day I was SO impressed because we were sleeping in and he had found the markers in the drawer, colored very nicely with them on paper, and even returned the proper caps to each one. From then on he had won my trust with caring properly for markers - all that changed this morning....

I had decided to have some of my own quiet time, reading, journaling, praying. He was indeed very quiet and when I went to check on him this is what I found....

I was so shocked to find him there like that! He had a very proud smile on his face and inside I was dying of laughter, but wasn't sure how to react - this of course, is NOT taking proper care of ones markers. So I told him to go wake-up Daddy. Michael was a little more serious about the whole event (of course stifling laughs as well - who wouldn't?). Somehow, that gave me a brief moment to laugh to myself, while Michael played the role of disciplinarian. I had to capture it all in pictures - it's just one of those times that I know I'll always have in my mind of Noah! It wasn't until I removed his shirt that I found his tummy all colored too! Considering this, I'm surprised the shirt wasn't more colored! I even found green marks in his ear. He got his belly button really well too. Noticing the marks around his lips, I asked him if he had put them in his mouth, to which he nodded affirmatively...needless to say he had a bath before school and I had to do some serious scrubbing. The water was a lovely aquamarine.

Arequipa Revisited

What a privilege it was to return to Arequipa for the weekend! I arrived around 6am on Saturday morning to a sunrise with CLEAR skies - a sight I haven't seen in Lima in months! Bob Rich graciously picked me up from the airport, believe it or not he was already up taking his wife, Noel, to the pool, as is her early morning routine. (c: He brought me back to our old apartment, right beneath theirs, at the church they pastor. Noel prepared breakfast for me and soon after I was asleep in our old bed - gotta say it was really strange to be there without my family. This was the apartment that basically welcomed us to Peru - most of my first impressions and memories occured in this place. Noah learned his first words, Spanish words, here. It was all so familiar and easy to feel at home again.

When I had caught up on my sleep a little, I was ready to take a stroll through town, seeing all that had changed in a year. I enjoyed lunch at one of our favorite little cafes and did some handicraft browsing. In the evening, I visited Concho's home. Concho was the woman that cared for Noah and cooked for us while we were in school - in other words, she became family to us. My main reason for coming to Arequipa was to celebrate her daughter's big birthday, but the party fell through after I had purchased my ticket. Concho still made it a special visit by turning it into an early Thanksgiving Day celebration. I was the only non-Peruvian, however, and this celebration had almost nothing to do with food. She and her friends like the American holiday and celebrate it by sharing all the ways that God has been faithful over the previous year. I was delighted to get to participate! Most of the 10-12 women were new faces for me, so I made some new friends quickly as we shared over scriptures the ways God has been teaching, working, and providing for us. It was one of the most special Thanksgiving celebrations I have participated in. Concho did also provide dessert at the end of the night.

After a great night's rest, (and even getting to sleep in until 8 am) I got ready for church and left early, having a chance to read in the park across from it until church began. I started a new book called "The Emotionally Healthy Church" by Peter Scazzero (I hope to blog about it when I finish - it is a fabulous book emphasizing the importance of ministering to the emotional health of the church body). I attended the church that most of our language teachers attend - it was so refreshing to see everyone again, but also to be able to worship freely, without also needing to focus on Noah during the service. It was neat to be able to worship in Spanish at this church - I remember when we would come before and I could only pick-up about 1/2 of the sermon and worship songs. But this time, I completely understood the sermon and even recognize most of the songs as ones we sing in our own church.

Following church, Miriam and Julio (2 of our teachers) invited me to their home for lunch. While there I met two missionaries who are living with them right now as they attend language school (they are ALWAYS hosting missionaries in their home). After lunch and a little rest, we went for a little tour around the outskirts of Arequipa, got "buñuelos" (Peruvian donuts, served with honey) in Tingo, and came back through town to visit another teacher, Edgar. I had mentioned that I wanted to see his new baby, so they gladly took me by. It was a blessing to see his whole family and catch-up briefly. That evening I returned in time to attend the evening service at Bob and Noel's church - also a very special visit, getting to see more friends.

Miriam, missionary Christie, and me

You don't see this in Lima!

Monday, I had breakfast with Bob and Noel and got to visit the school where Noel teaches English and Bible classes. They had just purchased the three homes directly adjacent to their church, and have been using them for this school year, but they are in need of a lot of work to actually make it into a fully-functional school. They've just made bedrooms into classrooms and doorways to connect the 3 properties. I took a bunch of pictures and hope to help them publicize the needs they have through a video and/or getting them into the hands of people that are interested in helping in some way.

The church is yellow, the 3 following homes now belong to the school

Then it was off to school, taking my old bus route, to get there - the bus ticket price had gone up by 10 centavos ($0.03). I got to celebrate a birthday with them in the institute, so it was fun to see all the students that are currently there - from Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, the US, and Australia. They all sang "Happy Birthday" in their own language/style.

With all our teachers

Concho met me there and we had some time to go out for empanadas and catch up on life. It was so sweet to hear how God has sustained her and her family even though she's been out of work since April. You can see in the picture below the pretty necklace and earrings she made for me! She's so talented.

I made it back to have lunch with the Riches and then I was off for a few more hours on my own before my flight. I returned to a couple artisans for a little shopping, but hurried to get plenty of time at the Monastery of Santa Catalina - what I think is the most beautiful spot in Arequipa. being there all by myself I was able to truly take in the beauty of all the colorful passageways, designed to point you to the glory of Our Creator. I had our iPod with me and was able to worship through song, journaling, and reading the Bible. I felt SO spoiled to be able to have such a retreat! It was also fun to just wander around capturing pictures - trying to grasp the beauty around me.

I was able to take my last stroll through town as I walked back to the Riches to catch my taxi to the airport. My uneventful flight arrived in Lima around 7pm and I was joyfully greeted by Noah, who came running to me with open arms, yelling "Mommmyyyy!!!" We all had dinner together at the airport and shared a little about our weekends. What a rejouvenating time it was for me! Thank you, sweet Michael, for encouraging me to take this trip, and to all of those who made it so welcoming and special for me!

A gift from the heart

In all the activity following the election, there are many questions to be answered, first and foremost among them being, "What kind of dog will the Obamas get?" In his acceptance speech, Barack mentioned a promise made to his girls, and the canine world is abuzz.

Never lacking in concern and generosity, Peru is here to help. The head of the Peruvian Hairless Dog Association has offered the president-elect and his family a puppy of the national breed. We see these creatures around, and they are the oddest looking dogs you have ever seen. Even Noah laughs at them. But Peruvians are proud of their dog, and it meets the hypo-allergenic criteria for the Obama girls. Imagine what this could do for U.S-Peru relations!

Here is a picture taken in our neighborhood, and some links below for more pics and information.

Do you think they should take it?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/12/peru-offers-national-hair_n_143228.html

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/10266

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2008/11/peru-offers-bal.html

Guys Weekend

Noah and I have the house to ourselves for the next 3 days, as Laura has left for Arequipa! She was going to attend the quinceañera (15th birthday) party for Concho's daughter, but that was postponed, and Laura already had her tickets, so she's just going to visit friends from our language school days and soak up the bright mountain sun. Meanwhile the guys have intense bonding planned, including running in the park, visiting the pet store, and going to Chili's for lunch with some visiting missionary friends. We'll keep you updated on our progress.

The day is here

As a final post before tomorrow's beautiful exercise in democracy, I have some election videos to share.

First, a wrap up of the whole campaign (up to a week ago).


The candidates have said all they want to say....many times


So now it's up to you, and you can vote however you like!



Go vote! Have a great election day; we'll be watching the returns on CNN here.

Celebrating!

First of all, today is my parents' 39th Anniversary! Congratulations! Hope you are enjoying your night away in Williamsburg with friends, Mom and Dad!

Secondly, last night before going to bed, our neighbors below us asked me to pay them a visit. She, Maria, was going into labor with their first little baby girl. I had visited her several times throughout her pregnancy, as she had some complications, and lots of questions (naturally!). The doctors here really don't explain anything to their patients. I walked her and her husband through a brief anatomy lesson, regarding how her body was created to give birth and what contractions feel like. With those aforementioned complications, she believed she would have a C-section, until just yesterday when her doctor said she could deliver naturally. So, Michael woke me up at 1:30 to tell me that she wanted me to see her again. Once I really woke up, it was like I was back into OB nurse mode, coaching her and instructing her husband on how to help her through contractions. I encouraged them to pack their things and prepare to go to the hospital, something they really hadn't done yet. I prayed with them and left to return to bed around 3, knowing they would have a long night/day ahead. I returned from a meeting this morning to hear that they had their baby just a couple hours earlier! It's been a real delight for me to use my professional skills again.

Lastly, Noah and I attended a birthday party this evening for a friend of his at school, Gonzalo, who turned 3. Now, I've been to some pretty incredible children's parties here so far, but this topped them all. The parents rented a preschool to host it. There were probably 100-150 adults and children there. They had one of those moon bounce slides, a little train ride, a trampoline, a tent, a popcorn and cotton candy machine, waiters to pass appetizers, a videographer, a magician, and a whole line-up of favorite characters in costume: Mickey Mouse & Goofy, The Lazy Town crew, and Thomas the Tank Engine. To lead them all was "Bubalina" basically the emcee, who made sure to embarrass the parents of the child and other friends, which is the tradition at these events. I cannot imagine how much money they must have spent for this 3-year-old's party. After they broke the piñata and we sang "Happy Birthday" (in English and Spanish, also tradition), they asked the kids to line up to receive their goody bags and box of cake. Noah got lots of sweets and a really cool battery-operated car that can flip over and keep going if it hits something. When the whole thing was over, Noah said he really wanted Mickey Mouse to come to his house...we'll see about that.

Noah liked playing in the mouth of the shark

He loved being the conductor! There was even a little bell to ring.

There's the birthday boy with his parents - a little dazed, if you ask me.

Noah was trying to take it all in

Happy "Olowen"

("Olowen" is just the way Halloween is pronounced here among our friends.)



With all the cute blogs we've seen of our friends' kids amidst pumpkin patches, I had to share my excitement for the season's festivities from afar. I was delighted to find real pumpkins here at the store! I'm not sure where they get them from, but Noah and I have had fun selecting them - one for each member of our family. (c: Noah loves to carry them around. As you can see, he placed them on his bike and told me he was going to Arequipa. Then he told me he was going to "can them for next winter" - a direct quote from one of his favorite books, "Blueberries for Sal." Indeed, I would like to cook them up and use them for some fun "Fall" treats.

Earlier this week, Michael and Noah brought home a chess set from the market. Noah was so excited to sit with his Daddy and learn about the game, or at least move the little magnetic pieces from square to square.

Just for fun, here's the belly shot at about 6 months...

...and our little "Punkin" in his Daddy's old suspenders

Last week

Just one week until the big day! Everyone here asks about the U.S. election too. Tonight I'm finishing up Faith of My Fathers, by John McCain, and during the next 7 days, I'll be reading Obama's bio, Dreams from My Father.

And a sign that Virginia should play a key role in next Tuesday's results - I can hardly believe it; Obama actually held a rally at our dear alma mater JMU today! The last time a presidential candidate appeared in Harrisonburg? Stephen Douglas, running against Abraham Lincoln.

Is it really almost November? Has it really been almost 3 months since we left here for our visit to the States? Time goes so fast here, and we know our remaining months will fly. Our personal prayers are still to grow in: our love for Peruvians and the country itself, appreciation for its way of life, understanding of its language, and patience in its frustrations.

At the same time, if I am honest, I often long for home. I find myself craving consistency, reliability, and honey-nut cheerios. We look at housing prices in various cities, excited by a friend's mere suggestion of a job opening, desperate to believe we could actually have a yard one day. I suppose these are normal feelings for those living abroad. We certainly, though, see a difference in perspective between those staying for the long haul and others (like us) only short-term. Being here longer would make us dig in more, turn our eyes from the tantalizing comforts of a stateside future, and deepen relationships and commitments to our adopted community and country. As it is, we want to do that as much as possible over the next nine months, risking the pain of farewells and rebuking our ease-seeking hearts. But we cannot do something so unnatural. Christ, who left his home to dwell in the flesh (incarnate) must do it in us. He who "for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame" must teach us to be happy in the pain of incarnation.

Election Fun

This has been quite a campaign, ¿no? I really have enjoyed it, so much so that in about 12 days I'm going have a lot more free time on my hands. I admit to being hooked, but why not, with such high stakes, such major issues to tackle, and for the first time since I started voting, I don't feel like I'm choosing between the lesser of two evils. Actually we already voted, dropped off our absentee ballots at the embassy last week, bound for the great state of Virginia.

I'm certainly glad there have been humorous moments dispersed throughout, both real and internet-created, to cut the tension and keep everyone sane for at least a few hours.
Here are some of my favorites:

It's nice to see these two can take a break from taking themselves so seriously...




or linked here from one of my favorite blogs.

And who knew the Penguin could deliver such insightful commentary?

A little preview...

We just returned from our 4D Sonogram of our little guy! It's incredible to see all of his little parts so clearly already! The best news is that he looks completely healthy and so do I. I've been having a lot of contractions already - some pretty strong ones, so we checked to make sure that I'm not in danger of going into pre-term labor like I did with Noah. So far, so good. But I still think I need to slow down and let others help me more than I'm used to. I've got about 3 more months to go!

With today's visit, we also got a DVD of the whole thing, which unfortunately I can't access enough to download it here, but Noah will enjoy seeing it after school today!

Dolphins?

Noah and I had a wonderful opportunity last weekend to accompany the Berrys as they celebrated Taylor's 8th birthday. We went to a hotel called "Los Delfines" (the dolphins), and sure enough, they have two dolphins that live there and perform regularly for an audience. The tank is outdoors with a bridge for spectators to stand on during the show. Now, don't expect Seaworld here - the trainers were not in the tank with them and did not ride on them, but we were close enough to them to see their bellybuttons when they turned over for us. They did some good tricks too, splashing us, talking/singing, jumping, and spinning in the air. It was especially fun to watch Noah's reactions to them - he had never seen anything like it, but of course now talks about it a lot. For the next two days, he asked to pray for the dolphins.
After the show, we went inside the hotel and enjoyed chocolate cake with the birthday girl, with a view of the dolphin tank. It was an afternoon to remember!

Yaku and Wayra

Taylor, the Birthday Girl!

Indian Cooking

One thing that Michael and I have truly missed here in Peru is access to Indian food. In the DC area there were several locations to fulfill this occasional craving and here in Lima there are none - nor is there the ability to make it because the spices do not exist.

Well, after seeing a podcast from Cooks Illustrated, we were inspired to ask for someone to bring us the spices so we could try it ourselves. A recent team that came, graciously found us the coriander, cardamom, and garam masala that we needed to get started, and last week Michael took on the task of recreating a long-missed dish Chicken Tikka Masala. While we did have to make some substitutions for things we can't find or are very expensive here, the dish was spectacular. We even found some basmati rice to go with it. Although Noah said it was "spicy" with a big smile on his face, he still said he liked it and asked for seconds. I'm grateful to have a husband that is willing to put in the effort needed to cook dishes like this - right now I'm a pretty practical and lazy cook. I can't wait till he finds time in his busy schedule to make it again.

Just so you're not in the dark, here's the recipe:

Chicken Tikka MasalaCooks Illustrated - 9/2007

This dish is best when prepared with whole-milk yogurt, but low-fat yogurt can be substituted. For a spicier dish, do not remove the ribs and seeds from the chile. If you prefer, substitute 2 teaspoons ground coriander, 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper for the garam masala. The sauce can be made ahead, refrigerated for up to 4 days in an airtight container, and gently reheated before adding the hot chicken. Serve with basmati rice.

Serves 4 to 6

Chicken Tikka

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp table salt

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts , trimmed of fat

1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt (see note above)

2 tbsp vegetable oil

2 medium garlic cloves , minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)

1 tbsp grated fresh ginger

Masala Sauce

3 tbsp vegetable oil1 medium onion , diced fine (about 1 1/4 cups)

2 medium garlic cloves , minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)

2 tsp grated fresh ginger

1 fresh serrano chile , ribs and seeds removed, flesh minced (see note above)

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 tbsp garam masala (see note above)

1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp table salt

2/3 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1. FOR THE CHICKEN: Combine cumin, coriander, cayenne, and salt in small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of chicken with spice mixture, pressing gently so mixture adheres. Place chicken on plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes. In large bowl, whisk together yogurt, oil, garlic, and ginger; set aside.

2. FOR THE SAUCE: Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until light golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, chile, tomato paste, and garam masala; cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, and salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cream and return to simmer. Remove pan from heat and cover to keep warm.

3. While sauce simmers, adjust oven rack to upper-middle position (about 6 inches from heating element) and heat broiler. Using tongs, dip chicken into yogurt mixture (chicken should be coated with thick layer of yogurt) and arrange on wire rack set in foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or broiler pan. Discard excess yogurt mixture. Broil chicken until thickest parts register 160 degrees on instant-read thermometer and exterior is lightly charred in spots, 10 to 18 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through cooking.

4. Let chicken rest 5 minutes, then cut into 1-inch chunks and stir into warm sauce (do not simmer chicken in sauce). Stir in cilantro, adjust seasoning with salt, and serve.

Not a good week for Peru

A rough couple of days for this country.

On Thursday, the president's entire cabinet resigned amid a corruption scandal.

The Shining Path, who terrorized the country in the 80s and 90s, is still making deadly headlines in the jungle.

And the national soccer team just lost 3-0 to the only country in South America ranked lower, Bolivia.

Our Trip Home - Part 4 - On the Farm

Monday morning, the grandparents played with Noah while I finished gathering and packing things up for our trip (this time just Noah and me) to North Carolina with my parents and nieces Marlea and Harmony. It worked out that on our way down, Annmarie was just getting off work and would be off the next 2 days, so we stopped just outside of Richmond and waited for her to catch-up with us before caravanning down.

Our first morning there, we got a call saying that my uncle's sailboat (the one which my Dad helped sail from Alabama to South Carolina) would be arriving that morning on a big truck. Sure enough, it came and is now firmly grounded in my parents' yard for the next couple years while my Dad and Uncle John rebuild it. Later that day my sister, Cindy, came down on the train and my cousin Corrie, her husband Dan and their 3 boys (Tyler, Joshua, and Samuel) joined us for a mini-reunion. What a sweet time it was, again, to be with so many loved ones! We went swimming at the hotel where Dan and Corrie stayed the night and had dinner at the farm that night all together, with my Aunt Terri, Uncle John and cousins Michael and Stephen.

The next day, we took my parents' boat out on the river and let all the kids (some grown-ups too) go tubing! Noah even came with me on it and had a blast! After lunch we said good-bye to Dan and Corrie for their drive back to Charlotte. Later we said bye to Annmarie - what a treat it was to get some time with her and have her there to see and meet so much family!

The next several days were spent just hanging out at the farm and going on the boat nearly each day. One afternoon boatride included seeing dolphins right there in the river where we were waterskiing! Yes, I did get a chance to waterski - I hadn't done it in years, but it was a nice gentle ride and in no way harmful to the baby (c:

Some of Noah's other highlights included going for a tractor ride with Papa, playing with Molly and Maddie (Baba & Papa's black labs), trying to play with their cat, playing with Marlea and Harmony, driving Annmarie's car around the farm (with a little help), playing in the pool and "Slip'n'Slide," and just being there with Baba and Papa.

I enjoyed meeting some of Mom and Dad's friends and neighbors, making memories together on the boat and the farm, finding my maternity clothes and some other items for the new baby that my parents are storing for us without a lot of searching, sitting on the porch swing while a storm was brewing, attending church with Mom and Dad and feeling so cared for by their members, and best, spending time with my parents - just being together and a part of their lives for about a week.

On Monday, we all headed back to VA so we could catch our flight on Tuesday morning. We had one last night all together at Michael's parents' house and then my parents and Dottie came with us to the airport. We said good-bye, but my mom was able to accompany me through to the gate, helping me with Noah's carseat. Off we went, but I must say that it was much easier saying good-bye knowing that both sets of our parents will come and visit in February after the baby comes.

Noah did great on the (8hr) flight! He was so excited to see Daddy when we arrived - he jumped out of his stroller and ran with arms open wide! Then we saw that Elita and her children, Jimmy, Tito, and Elsa were all there to meet us too! What a sweet surprise - we felt so loved upon our return. In the taxi on the way home, Michael sat between us and Noah just wanted to hug Daddy's arm the whole way home - he had such a contented look on his face. We were all back together again.

Current Update...

I wanted to take a detour from our trip home briefly, and let you know how things are going right now. We are now feeling more settled back into our normal lives here in Lima, especially since Noah has finally reestablished his regular naps and earlier bedtimes without having to have us in the room with him, singing him to sleep. It was a LONG and difficult fight to recover the schedule he had before we left for the States. We had no idea what effect keeping him up late nearly every night, laying down with him (because we were constantly in new places), and often skipping his naps would have on him. All we have to say is we are glad to have our more cheerful and easy-going son back.


He is becoming quite used to the idea of having a baby brother. We got him a (boy) baby doll. When I asked what his name would be, he replied "baby brother!" This doll goes everywhere with him and he is so sweet to watch as he cares for it when it cries.

Here I am last Sunday, 19 weeks pregnant. Our friends say I'm finally showing, so I thought I would let you all know. This little guy is kicking a bunch now. Michael felt him kick for the first time a day before we took this picture. I'm feeling great - my appetite and energy have returned for the most part, but I'm always better off when I have an afternoon nap. I must say that having Noah already sure makes the time on this pregnancy pass quicker!

Our Trip Home - Part 3 - The Wedding!

On Thursday, Michael and the rest of the groomsmen spent the day hanging out in NYC, making Matthew a street musician. He carried with him a guitar that read, "Will play for tips and marriage advice." He made nearly $100, with which he bought some flowers for his bride and drinks for his groomsmen.

Meanwhile, Mom, Dad, Noah, and I drove up from Virginia and arrived in the late afternoon, just in time for me to take a train into to the city to meet up with the bachelorette party in midtown. Mom and Dad were so gracious to take Noah for the night and allow me the night out with the girls. We had dinner at a seemingly normal Italian restaurant, and then we found out why a lot of bachelorette parties go there...anyways, we went to a low-key club afterwards. I met up with Michael at Grand Central Station around midnight and we took the train back to the hotel in White Plains. Haven't had a night like that in a LONG time!

Friday, the family arrived! I saw my parents for the first time in a year and a half! It was a sweet reunion for all of us. Lots of Michael's relatives and parents' friends arrived that day too in time for the rehearsal dinner that evening. We went to the rehearsal, where Noah met the flower girl, Emily (4-yr-old cousin of Kerry's). He was immediately enamored with her, and most willing to hold her hand down the aisle! On the way to dinner, the ONLY thing he could talk about was Emily. Emily seemed to be okay with him too. They were the perfect match.

That evening, my Mom took Noah back to the hotel and put him to sleep so that Michael and I could stay longer and spend time with folks there. After the dinner, a lot of people returned to the hotel to keep hanging out in the hospitality room that was reserved for us to use. That was another great opportunity to visit with friends and family that had just arrived.

Then it was Saturday. Michael played tennis with his cousin, Gabriela, in the morning while Noah and I went out to breakfast with my parents. We returned in time to take a dip in the pool before getting changed and ready for the wedding at 3. Noah and I got to accompany the groomsmen to the church in the limo!

Noah and I waited for Kerry to arrive and then once the wedding was about to begin, I took my seat and Noah stayed with Kerry and Emily. The pair of them came down the aisle, hand-in-hand without any problem, preparing the way for Kerry's entry. The whole wedding was beautiful. Michael and Jeff Heck (groomsman) sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness" on piano and guitar, and I read from Romans 12. Noah stayed with us the whole time and was only slightly distracting when he ran up and held Daddy's hand next to Uncle Matthew near the end of the service.

Soon after, we all fit into the limo with Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Salvatierra and went to the reception, on the grounds and in the fellowship hall of a beautiful Orthodox church. Noah had fallen asleep on the ride, but eventually was aroused for some bridal party pictures. The weather was perfect and the scene just right - we can't wait to see the professional shots taken!

The reception was a lot of fun, as you might imagine, when you put together the families and friends of the Salvatierras and the Houlihans. When ceremonial events and eating were not taking place, most people were dancing. It was a blast! Again my parents sweetly took Noah home and put him to bed when he got tired. We are so grateful for their willingness and joy in taking care of him over the weekend. Michael and I enjoyed celebrating with everyone, practicing some Salsa dancing along with the bride and groom, and trying to make the night last as long as possible before we'd have to say good-bye in the early morning before his return flight to Lima. When the end came, Matthew and Kerry slipped out while the party went on and they were off for their honeymoon the next day to Costa Rica.



Early Sunday morning, Michael took a taxi to the airport and returned safely to Lima that evening. Our Moms, Michael's Dad, and Noah drove back to Virginia. Now, my Dad and I had a date - thanks to the help of Kerry's Dad and his sister, I gave my Dad tickets to the Yankees game for Father's Day this year. This was particularly special for several reasons: I hadn't been with my Dad in over a year and a half, this is the Yankee's last season playing in the historic stadium, and my Dad - growing up in NY and being a life-long fan - had never once been to a game there. We arrived just in time to sing the national anthem, to which my Dad always proudly sings the bass line. Surely he didn't notice the others around him start to join in when they heard him. I was trying to sing, but the whole scene was too much for me - being home, hearing our anthem, seeing our "home flag" (as Noah calls it), and being with my Dad, I was fighting back the tears. The Yanks played a great game, defeating the Royals 15-6, with a grand slam homerun, and several other great moments. We sunned ourselves in the upper deck for the afternoon - it was a real treat. The Houlihans even welcomed us by name via the jumbotron during the 3rd inning! That night Dad and I had plenty of time to catch-up in the car as we sat in traffic for much of the way home, but it was a terrific memory made together.

Our Trip Home - Part 2

So after getting some Jaz kisses, Noah began to explore Grandma and Grandpa's house of surprises. They had prepared the house for Noah, with several of the rooms containing toys - some we had left behind, others Grandma had picked up for him. They also had a jogging stroller to go for long walks in the woods, a Radio Flyer Tricycle, a big wheel, AND a Little Tikes Police Car! Sorry we only have one grandchild for you right now to play with all those fun things. (c: Their sweet neighbors had been looking out for things they could use while Noah was visiting - the result? Noah had an absolute blast with the constant choice of activities - and so did Grandma.

We're pretty sure he remembered their house, since we lived there for seven months before leaving for Peru and he always sees himself in pictures there. It was so wonderful to be home again, returning to a house that hadn't changed too much while we were gone. And aside from the gargantuan, misfit house being built across the street, the neighborhood hadn't changed much either.

Saturday, we had the chance to visit and have lunch with Alicia, a Peruvian friend. She made Lima's speciality for us, ceviche - a tangy seafood dish that, during this pregnancy, I've been craving! Our time with her was helpful in connecting our life in Peru with being home, as we have visited with her family several times in Lima.

On Sunday, we got to return to our home church, Alexandria Presbyterian. How sweet it was to worship with our church family again and share with them about our lives in Lima. They hosted a lovely reception for us after the service, which gave us a chance to catch-up some with friends. That evening, we got to spend time with old friends, Brett and Krista Miller, Jacquie, Justin, and Nora Prather, and Seth and Jess (soon-to-be) Blanchard. Dad grilled out for us and we had such a fabulous time just laughing and being together again.

Monday, Noah stayed with Grandma and Grandpa while Michael and I took a road trip to Richmond and Charlottesville. We got to meet up briefly with Matt & Kristen Purdy and their boys, Owen and Baxter. So fun to see them in their new home in Richmond! It was a great day of being together, just Michael and I, talking, thinking, and dreaming together as we drove. Please pray with us as we seek the Lord's direction in the next step to take.

Tuesday, we hung out for most of the day with Cindy and the girls at their house, letting the cousins get to know each other again. Wednesday, we all went for Nana's (Noah's Great-Grandma) music thearapy session where she lives. She looked wonderful and was doing really well that day! We had a lot of fun singing old folk tunes with her. The thearapist brought extra percussion instruments so that everyone could play along. Noah LOVED it! Following this, Michael and I ran errands, trying to find all those coveted items that we can't get in Peru. During this and several other times that Noah was with Grandma and Grandpa, they did all kinds of things together - going to the woods, playing in the creek, going to the library, the pool, the school yard's playground, or just playing with all those fun toys at home.

That evening, Michael drove with Daniel Harlan (another groomsman) to NYC for the start of the wedding celebration festivities.

Our Trip Home - Part I

As things are settling down a little here, we're finally trying to catch-up a little on all the blogs we haven't written.
Matthew and Kerry picked us up at the airport at 3:30 am and right away we drove to the Long Island Beaches. Mom and Dad were waiting with open arms when we arrived at the beach house at dawn. What a happy reunion that was! Noah was ready to get out and play with Grandma and Grandpa after his snooze on the plane and in the car a little. The rest of us slept in for the morning.
Our time at the beach with Kerry's family was a real treat, but admittedly a big shock as well. Coming from cold, cloudy, dirty, impoverished Lima, straight into the apparent perfection of Sag Habor and the Hamptons was especially difficult for me (Laura). It was absolutely wonderful to be there with family, to relax, and make so many precious memories together, but it was just SO different from the world we now know. (I'm happy to share more of the cultural challenges I encountered - just shoot me an e-mail.) That week we rested, went to the beaches on the ocean and the bay, had lots of tasty meals with family, and met a large part of Kerry's family. Grandma and Grandpa were such a big help and were delighted to wisk Noah off to play at the bay, in the yard, or go on excursions together. It gave Michael and I some good times together to process transitioning back to being home. Being the end of my first trimester, I was just beginning to get over my food/smell sensitivities, but was still tired and not a very willing chef in the kitchen. So, THANK YOU Mom and Dad, for doing so much cooking that week for us and bending over backwards to make our transtion easier!
The week flew by and on Friday, we all crammed in the car (Mom, Dad, Michael, Noah, and I), with all of our bags, and TOYS that Grandma had brought for Noah to have at the beach (c: We arrived in Arlington in the afternoon and Noah right away wanted to see Jaz (Michael's parents' dog). Little did he know how many more surprises would await him at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

what a weekend...

Forgive us for a terrible delay in our blogging. Noah and I returned to Lima safely a week ago and we were off and running! Unfortunately, on Saturday, we think due to something we ate, I began a serious bacterial intestinal infection which took me out for the next 2 days. Michael had to skip a few ministry events to care for Noah, while he himself was also not feeling very well. On Sunday, after church, Tito came over and played with Noah so that Michael could take me to the clinic. There I received an IV and fluids immediately and they prescribed me some medications that would be safe to take with my pregnancy. By Monday morning I was feeling so much better, Noah started back to school, and then Michael got hit really hard by a similar illness. Yesterday afternoon, he took himself to the clinic and got the same routine, but his exams revealed a viral infection! By God's grace, I was on the mend enough to take over with Noah and Daddy was done for the night (aside from watching an "Office" re-run).

Then today, Elita came early to watch Noah while we went to my OB appointment with Dr. Garcia. I'm four months along and officially able to determine the sex of the baby. So, like we did with Noah, we made a little note and envelope and asked the doctor to circle which one it was. Then afterwards, we went out for a lovely lunch together (this time it was ceviche!) and opened it together. She had sealed it well, placing inside a sonogram picture of the evidence and a list of Spanish baby names, which we discussed over lunch - but the jury is still out on that. Then we came home and told Elita and Noah, both of whom were delighted. If you want to find out (I know some people like to wait 'til the kid is born), you can watch the video of Noah.

(Forgive the un-candidness of Noah's reaction, that was the 3rd take)

After all this excitement, I noticed on Noah several little red bumps on his neck that had grown in number since the weekend, then found more in other parts of his body. We called the doctor right away and got an appointment to rule out chicken pox. Thankfully, it was just an allergic reaction to some bug bites. Being in and out of doctors' offices four times in the last 48 hours wears on you.