Home Sweet Home

Well here it is...our new home sweet home in Boa Vista.  Jeyson searched all over the city and found this home for us.  The neighborhood is far from pretty, but the home is really pleasant and refreshing.  It even has a coconut and mango tree!  

Kitchens here don't come with any appliances, but this one actually came with a few cabinets, which is unusual!

 The past few days we've been staying with friends from the mission and going to the house during the day to clean (it is covered in dust and dirt!!!) and shopping for a fridge, washing machine, and stove, which are the very basics to be able to move in.  This afternoon Jeyson went over to the house and worked on setting up our dressers, beds, etc so that Elijah and I could even be comfortable and unpack a bit.  Before, we were at a standstill since we had nothing to unpack INTO.  Jeyson stayed overnight so he could work late into the night and get a jump start tomorrow.  Tomorrow Elijah and I will join him and hopefully we'll finally dig into our boxes and put things away a bit.  It's going to be a slow process, especially with a toddler underfoot, but at least we're finally in the getting settled process.

The last major surprise moving hoop to jump through (we hope!!!) is that our car that we sent from Anapolis has not arrived yet.  As you may remember, we sent our old VW bug to Boa Vista which Jeyson will drive around the town and we'll in the coming months pick out a car that will do better on long distances and that I will drive day to day.  Anyway, we were basically waiting on the car to arrive (was supposed to happen Friday) in order to move in so we could still leave the house when needed without depending on others to get us, etc.  Then, the car was supposed to arrive Saturday.  No problem. Then today (Monday), ok can handle this.  THEN, today we got word that the truck hauling our car, which was on it's last leg coming from Manaus (7 hour trip), broke down.  Our car is now on another trucked headed BACK to Manuas only to get sent later in the week.  This is going to make it a challenge to move in, but we really want to get a bit settled before I leave for the wedding on Saturday and we are just sick of transition so we're going for it and moving in even without a car.  We'll have to take a cab or whatever around town and there's a tiny market near the house so we should be able to make it work.  Jeyson has been amazing, walking all around town even when needed in order to resolve stuff.  It's in moments of trial and stress that I realize all the more what an awesome, hard working husband I have!  Not to mention he has the job of keeping me calm :)

So, we had a very weird mothers day.  We went to our house and worked on cleaning it up for 3 hours.  Then we snapped a few pics, had lunch with our friends, took a nap, walked over to an ice cream shop for a scoop, and went to church at night with our friends.  

The transition of the past few weeks have been hard on Elijah.  He's slept in so many beds and eaten at all different times and all different foods.  He's a bit thrown off so I can't wait to get him settled and give him a better day.  He is the sunshine in our lives though and we are just so incredibly thankful to God for entrusting his precious life to us.  Here's a few pics from last year's mothers day and this year.  Where has the time gone?  

I thought I'd swat down for a picture so that with Elijah standing up, we'd be the same height.  So much for that plan....when I squatted, so did he :)

Finally Some Pics

What a week of change this as been....SO SO much change.  At least we're seeing light at the end of this huge transition though!

Monday we kicked off the week with a sending off moment from our base in Anapolis during the devotional time.  It was really interesting to hear them tell a little of our story of our time at this base.  It made me really think about just how faithful God has been over the past 8 years here (counting Jeyson's  years before I joined him) and just how clear His leading has been when looking back on it.  

Left, Jeyson's main flight instructor and right, the director of operations

 Monday we ran after last minute items and Tuesday we met and oriented the couple who will be renting our home.  Tuesday afternoon Jeyson headed to Boa Vista.  Elijah and I stayed in our house wrapping things up until Thursday.  I had some help and together we scrubbed our house and emptied out last minute things that were bought (fridge, dressers, etc).  I even sent last minute things in the fridge along with it since I no longer had anywhere to store them :)  Anyway, Thursday afternoon I headed over to stay with a friend in Anapolis and we had a few days to say last minute goodbyes and wrap up miscellaneous and endless to-dos.  Although I was sad to leave our home, it was kind of a relief in a way.  I feel so light traveling just with a suitcase and having everything done.  Now I'm over at my in-laws in Goiania relaxing with Elijah.

Meanwhile, Jeyson is calling regularly with updates on house hunting.  He has seen about 10 houses and at this point doesn't have any leads on any others.  We're down to two main options, both of which have pros and cons.  We're praying for wisdom to choose between the options and would really like to make a decision tonight so we can move forward with closing the deal tomorrow.  Elijah and I are arriving Friday and we'd all love to go straight to our new home, especially because I"ll be leaving for my sister's wedding in just 11 days!

Although I'm relaxed over at my in-laws, I feel like it's hard to let my action stance down.  I've been running 100 mph and know it will start again soon as I get to Boa Vista, so it's kind of weird and hard to just relax for a few ays in the middle, but we're trying our best!  Just talking with Jeyson on the phone I'm happier than ever that he went ahead of Elijah and me.  Really, Elijah being here playing is SO much better and easier than driving around in sweltering heat after home options.  Plus it allowed us to close up our house much more calmly.

These few picks are not from this week, but here are a few things that have gone on.

My super good friend, Camila, (who is also with Asas but serves in another base) came to town to visit her frailly for a few days.  It was so fun to catch up and encourage each other and so fun to see our boys, who are only a few weeks apart, play together

The other day Jeyson was washing his motorcycle to sell and Elijah joined in.  He loves his dad and wants to do all of the manly things Jeyson does.  It's so fun to watch

This little boy has been such a blessing in our lives!