Snapshot Memories from Perú

One evening, I taught Amanda how to play Go Fish - much to her delight! After that, we ate breakfast together each morning and played another round or two at her request. I haven't had so much fun playing Go Fish in years. :)

Madyson developed a fascination with the Windex bottle and went around spraying various things that she thought needed to be cleaned including my bunk bed and the wooden floor downstairs. Very cute to behold!

On Thursday, I gave Becky the day off from preparing lunch, the main meal in Perú. I had brought lasagna noodles with me from Bolivia so Italian food was on the menu for the day.

Abbey was my amazing "Sous Chef" who went shopping me with at the grocery store and helped me prepare the whole lunch.

She was so helpful and tons of fun to work with!

We had a great time cooking together while Big Band music played in the background.

This was my first time to make lasagna in years, so I was a little apprehensive about how it would turn out, especially since I made up my own version of cottage cheese with the ingredients I had to work with in Perú.

Once again, allrecipes.com was my faithful friend, providing me with a great lasagna recipe! I also found a homemade alfredo sauce recipe on cooks.com that we made to go over fettucini noodles for the family members who aren't big lasagna fans. I was very pleased with how both recipes turned out!

My sidekick.

Lady of Leisure

(who later helped us out in the kitchen and did the dishes!)

Amanda's creation

Mandie and Mady

While the lasagna baked, some family twirling was taking place in the other room.

Mm-mm! Smelling good!

Almost ready...

Somebody's hungry...

Lunch Time!

I have decided that Amanda is my favorite six year old on the planet. We had some hilarious conversations this past week! She makes me smile!

A little something from Bolivia for Justin's belated birthday.

After lunch, while Justin and Sarah were supposed to be cleaning the kitchen, a wrestling match took place instead.

Go Sarah!

Pin him down!

Oh no you don't! I am not going to be dragged into this match. This is totally between you two!

Friends again.

Adopted sisters are wonderful.

Fun times in Perú!

Touched and Teary-Eyed

As I sit here in the La Paz airport on my way back to Cochabamba after a special week in Peru, I am enjoying the free Wi-Fi and the opportunity to catch up on some of my internet blog reading. As I visited Ann Voskamp's page today, this post brought tears to my eyes and struck a chord in my heart. So often we don't realize how the seemingly "little" gestures of life make an eternal difference...

A Sunday in Peru

For more years than I can remember, my family has had the tradition of decorating the door of the birthday person and leaving little gifts. When I came to Peru in 2004 to live and work with the Earnhart family, I shared the tradition with them, and they have faithfully kept it up!

Sarah got both a door and a wall decorated for her birthday!

Teaching ladies' Sunday school at Iglesia Bautista Calvario.

It was my first time to teach a ladies' class (usually I teach teenage girls or children!) and it was my first time to teach in Spanish! Praise the Lord, it went pretty well!

Can you figure out from the board what my topic was? :)

Singing to Sarah in church. Feliz cumpleaños!

New friends and old

Sarah and I in our "matching" purple and black (no, it was not intentional)

Walking to lunch afterward...

Quick pic with Becky and Madyson!

Friends Forever

The photographer at work

Cutie-Pie Amanda

Evening church and smiling faces...

Fellowship with the ladies

Sarah and Mari

Basking in the birthday glory :)

A little person looking so Peruvian!

Cheers!

Gift opening time

Passing along my new favorite book to one of my favorite people!

Surprising Sarah

I absolutely love surprises! (Both giving them and receiving them.) This past Saturday, God worked it out such that I was able to fly to Perú for a 6-day visit as a surprise birthday gift for my "adopted" sister, Sarah Earnhart. I will never forget the look on her face when she walked into her room and saw me sitting on her bed! Abbey photographed the whole thing much to our delight!

Just a normal Saturday afternoon...or so it would seem...

"Hey! Did I hear someone was having a birthday tomorrow?" - Katrina

Shock.

I don't believe what I'm seeing!

No way!

I can't believe you're here!

Is it really you?

What are you doing here?!

Big hugs.

Happy Tears.

Not wanting to let go.

"Yes, it's really me, Sarah!"

"It's not everyday your younger sister turns 20."

A very happy Becky delighted that we pulled off the surprise without her finding out!

I can't believe you're really here!!!

"Yes, I'm really here!"

Another hug!

This one knocked me to the bed. What a warm welcome. :)