Isn't it cozy?
One week from today, Javan Mesnard, good friend to Jon and member of Voices of the World is coming to spend a week, including Thanksgiving with us, and we could not be more excited! How nice to have a ‘touch of home’ for the holiday. The patients in Oncology are eager to meet him as well… our first visitor!
In preparation we’ve gotten our guest room ready, so go ahead, contact us about when you’d like to come visit!
This year will be our very first Thanksgiving where we get to be the hosts. How fun! Jon is happy to have Javan to assist with his turkey preparation and baking. He will be preparing a bacon wrapped turkey = Yum! My list for cooking/baking is quite long, and I plan to do as much in advance as possible. Our guests, besides Jon and I, will include 4 Americans, 3 Portuguese, 1 Brazilian, 1 South African, and potentially 2 Mozambicans. We’ll update afterward to let you know how it all goes down. =)
25wks
In other news, Miss Anaya is growing quickly and healthily. We have an appointment this week, which I love! Since we get ultrasounds at each appointment, I am always anxious to see my baby girl. I am feeling pretty good these days, though the heat seems to make me a bit more tired. Standing up and looking down, my toes have disappeared. =/
I have already had one Skype baby shower from our Arizona friends, complete with games, gifts, laughter, tears, and prayer. What a blessing that was for me. Our Corpus friends are doing something for me, but I cannot know yet… only that something is happening. AND my church here is having a tea/shower for me and my friend Bibiana, who is due the same week as me, early in December. I really feel overwhelmed with love for our family.
Silly Dad
As for our other ‘baby’, Gasher is growing and becoming a regular member of the family. It is already a little hard to imagine life without him… even if that image seems easier. =) We’ve settled into a nice routine with him, and if we can get him out for a nice walk/run in the morning, he tends to be quite pleasant. The digging, eating my welcome mat, shaking his messy jowls all over, stinky toots, etc. just come with package. Ha!
The Lord is good.
These moments of joy, life, and happiness are such an encouragement to me. Anaya kicking in my belly, while I am visiting at the hospital. Laughing and dancing in the kitchen with my husband, while the dogs barks in confusion of the ruckus. Phone conversations with my family. An upcoming visit from a friend.
Thank you Lord.
So glad Javan is coming to see you! He will carry all the love from the United States with him (Hopefully this doesn’t mean he will have to pay extra for baggage!). Kevin and I don’t live across the world, but we have lived across the U.S. from our family and have spent most Thanksgivings collecting friends and “orphans” to join us at our table. Many memories.
I love the room, love your tummy and love the energy the Lord gives you to continue. For the past week I don’t have that energy anymore, so enjoy yours. Hope you enjoy your visit from your friend and that the visit to the doctor this week will be a blessings as well. Love you guys and miss you terribly.
Oooh — the guest room looks wonderful — I can hardly wait for my turn to use it! We are so excited that Javan gets to visit you all; how wonderful! And it really does feel as though we are sending you something very special, just because we get to “send” him :-)
This is such a happy post it makes me smile and smile :-) See? there I go again :-)
Love you!
soo thrilled that you are doing so well and having so many wonderful things to look forward to! We are especially thankful during this season for your hearts, passion, and service in your “little” corner of the world. Abrianna is hoping that you are due Dec. 11th – that is her birthday. :-) You are much in our thoughts and prayers. :-)
p.s. note my new e-mail – mbbraaksma@gmail.com – your letters keep getting lost in my old e-mail. :-)
Love it!! The room, you, and Jon w/Gasher :) Ya’ll are going to have SO much fun with Javan!!
Blessings on ya’lls time together :)
Layne! The room is beautiful – I can’t wait for our turn too!! Your so cute with your tummy growing..Thanks for mentioning Gasher’s stinky toots, makes us feel connected;)
P.S. Jon’s hair is AWESOME! Love ya’ll..