Our tree decorated in the Party room of our apartment!


Scary Clouds approaching!



Puppets at the South American Museum in Sao Paulo

Indian headdress at the museum

Mary Cavese's favorite tree. They did not decorate it for Christmas this year.

They said the light's were harming it.

Hanging reindeer at Iguatemi Mall












Snowman family made from the bottoms of 2 liter cokes







Other decorations at the hippy market made with the same bottoms of the 2 liter cokes

Carrefour right by our apartment. Blue building behind is our apartment.

Christmas gift from the wonderful people that work with John

Last night I was laying in bed and I heard wonderful music coming from somewhere. I finally got curious and went to the window. There was a car driving through the streets playing Christmas Hymns at 9:00. They were in Portuguese but the tune was the same and very heart-warming. My favorite was Silent Night. I decorated the Party Room downstairs at our apartment for Christmas. Everyone seems to enjoy all I did. It was a lot of fun. The tree doesn't have lights but I may bring some back for next year. We also went to Iguatemi Mall last weekend and I took pictures of some of the decorations. They are just amazing. They had a parade last weekend that culminated with a concert and then afterwards there were the most wonderful fireworks and they were all green, red and gold. It was great to watch. I am putting a picture on the blog of tree ornaments from the park and the snowmen. They are made from 2 liter coke bottle bottoms and spray painted white or red. We thought this was brilliant.

The new Carrefour grocery store has opened and since it is 50 yards from our apartment it is very dangerous. John has already found some very good bread. We think it tastes like Shirley Reeves' homemade yeast rolls so many of know how dangerous that is. I'm putting a bunch of pictures on my blog as well as a picture of the gift we received from John's people. It is a treasure.

John and I visited our wonderful dentist, Rute. We were both in and out in 45 minutes. No bookkeeper, no receptionist, no hygienist and no air conditioner. We love her.

They have been putting new handicap ramps on all the sidewalks here in Cambui where we live. This has made it extra important for us to watch carefully where we are walking. You never know what is around the corner.

Some other news!
Reagan has said her first word. It is very symbolic as it is also Meredith's favorite food - CHEESE!
The people of Brazil use Hall's Menthol cough drops for candy.
Sandy and I fried our curling irons at the beach. Did not know the plug was 220 volts!!!!!

Sandy and me with her Santa made here!

Reagan with her new giraffe riding toy from Aunt Betsy & Uncle Alan.

John and Dale Walley a good friend from Clemson days
Reagan so precious

Katherine and Jim in their new den!

Well, we've been back in Brazil 11 days and this is the first time I've had a good chance to sit down and think about what we've done since November 1. It has been a really good 37 days. It was fun to travel with John instead of being by myself. We both survived it all and didn't kill each other.

We were #14 and #15 voting in the election. We thought the polls opened at 7:00 but they did not open until 8:00. We had good conversation while we waited. It is a real privilege to vote. We spent the next couple days in Texas tending to some business and seeing wonderful and forever friends. What a treasure. We were also treated to a wonderful homemade meal with the Rodgers' family in Texas. We LOVE their new home. They all seem to be adjusting quite well to being back in the United States. We certainly miss them in Brazil.

From there we went to South Carolina and visited with more old friends, went to our wonderful church and ate way too much good food. A BIG congratulations to Kevin and his family on his election. He is a good man! No visit to South Carolina is complete unless you drive through Clemson. I believe the campus gets prettier every time we go. We stopped in Columbia and shared a meal with John's sister, Katherine, and her husband Jim and then to North Carolina to see Meredith, John and Reagan. We were both shocked at how Reagan had changed. Walking and jabbering and just busy, busy, busy. What a joy she is. We got to see their beautiful new home and Aunt Betsy and Uncle Alan (they brought a new giraffe riding toy) and a good friend from John's Clemson years, Dale, came for a visit too. Wow! It was terribly hard to leave.

We returned to Tennessee to visit more with Mom and to get some things done to the house. We are both so proud of Mom. She stays busy with bingo and Bible Study and has made really good friends at her new home. It was very cold and you just aren't used to the cold after living in Brazil. It was quite an adjustment. I actually wore a coat. Many of you know I don't wear coats so it HAD to be cold.

My wonderful friend from childhood, Sandy, traveled back to Brazil with us. It was a real joy to show her all the places she has heard about. We made a short trip to the beach and even though it was cloudy and rained a lot we still had a relaxing time and enjoyed the beautiful view. It was hard to say good-bye. It was nice having someone to walk around town with. Thank you Sandy for coming!

We bought a new air conditioner yesterday. Lightning hit our TV, washer & dryer and air conditioner. John bought a new washer and got the rest fixed but the air conditioner started making noise last week. We did not want it to get hot without one so I am grateful we did it. John would have survived since the heat does not bother him like it does me but he knew I wouldn't.

John with the Brazilian Olympic Volleyball Team
He is the one in the middle.


Dapper Pierre at a wedding in Italy of his Nephew

31 pizza's ready to be baked at a party at Adriana's.

Gemstones for sale at a party!

Sometimes in the morning I will just sit and stare at my computer and enjoy the beautiful pictures downloaded from everywhere we've been and of special people especially Reagan. I find myself talking to her and I'm so glad no one else is in the room. They would be concerned.

I have spent a lot of the last two months at the rug store. The more I spend there the better my Portuguese gets. Today I learned I have been saying a word wrong for 3 1/2 years. I am so glad the people here have patience with me. When we do leave here and I do not have the rug store to go to every day I think I will have withdrawl. Everyday is a blessing. I watched Sylvana today make fringe for a rug. Something we would buy in the states by the yard and she carefully measures and makes it by hand. It is amazing to see.

Today when I went to Romana's to have my normal Brazilian bread, fresh orange juice and coffee there was hardly a table. There were so many people there talking, reading the paper, doing business or just eating something before going to work. I was amazed at how busy they were. I always see someone there that speaks and makes me feel like I am home. I also sit and watch the people parallel park their cars. I have never been good at parallel parking so it always amazes me to see it done. I believe they learn how to do it at three years old. They whip their cars in so fast and perfect too.

I attached four pictures. One is of John with the Brazilian Beach Volleyball Team. They spent the afternoon at a meeting with Owens Corning. John is the one in the middle. = ) The second picture is of our friend Pierre Coudry. He went to Italy for the wedding of his nephew. If he isn't dapper I don't know who is. We attended a birthday party for someone who works with John this past weekend. It was a pizza party and all the pizza's were made and sitting on the counter when we arrived. Some of the selections were: Heart of palm pizza, boiled egg, onion, & green peas pizza, olive pizza, spinach & olive pizza. John and I stuck to our plain cheese pizza and did have a ham and cheese pizza. There is a picture of all the pizza's. I also went to a gem show and attached a picture of the way we see the stones. It is a wonder to behold.

I have a new blog. AOL has discontinued their blogs.

My blog currently under construction is: http://www.anamericaninbrazil-kathy.blogspot.com/

Our Carrefour Grocery Store August through December 2008

The Third stage of building

The night stage of building. They usually stopped at 10:30 at night.

The beginning stage of building.

This is the view from our apartment and all the building that is going on right now.

John moved our bed to the front of the apartment because there was an apartment being built in the back and it was so noisy. NOW we have three things being built in the front so there is NO sleeping past 7:00 in the morning. Not that I ever did anyway!

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September 11, 2008

It is football weather in Brazil. Sometimes in the day it gets pretty hot but lately it has been cooling off in the late afternoon with a nice breeze blowing making the apartment so comfortable. I remember football weather so well. Even in high school in late September and early October there would be a discussion if we needed a sweater. You only need a sweater here maybe a week out of the year here.

The sounds around our apartment are really picking up. We have birds that start singing at 6:00. Sometimes I can put my pillow over my head and go back to sleep but then I know the construction for the new Carrefour (grocery store) is going to start across the street promptly at 7:30. I can't believe I will be able to walk across the street to a grocery store.

There are three types of horn honking here in Brazil. The first honk is a courtesy tap to let you know he is coming, the second honk is a long tap telling you to get out of my way, and the third is a constant honk which means "I'm mad and I want everyone to know it!" Living in an apartment in the city we hear a lot of all three of them and the third one seems to be mostly in heavy traffic. Like I've told you before the Brazilian people are wonderful and patient UNTIL they are behind the wheel of a car.

John has been working way too much and has been late getting home. Since his Portuguese Teacher Maria is waiting downstairs for him at 6:00 he has called me many times lately to go down and talk to Maria. This means she will start teaching me. I do need it but I think John is doing it on purpose so I'll get better at my Portuguese. Pray for him. He is very tired. Pray for me I AM NOT SLEEPING. Although I do have my rugs to work on at 2:00 in the morning. = (

We had digital TV put in and it has been exciting for us because we can change the stations from Portuguese to English. I was able to watch Monday Night football in English and it was so nice.

Last weekend John and I went to the Flower Show in the Holland village called Holambra. The flower displays were just unbelievable. They also had a performance of the children dancing in their wooden shoes and many wedding displays. Here in Brazil thetop of the wedding cake is always funny and cute. I will try to put one of them on my blog.

Ben has started back to school taking one class. Meredith and Reagan will welcome John home this week. Mom has been in pain but she is still very happy in her little apartment.

Two more rugs

The first rug is John's anniversary present. We Three Kings!

The second rug I call the "Ball Rug". It is very different but I like it. I learned a lesson with the ball rug to always get the same dye lot on my rugs. You can see from the picture that there is a dye lot change in the black background.

Brazil Update-August 21, 2008

The last 2 1/2 months I have been 26,390 miles in the air on three continents.  Needless to say I am pooped but it has been such a great joy.  I got quality time with Mom, Meredith and Reagan.  I got to see lots of family and friends, beautiful places and eat wonderful meals. 

 

First of all Meredith and Reagan arrived in Atlanta and she got to see good friends from Clemson.  It was a good and refreshing time for her to see them.  I got to visit with friends in Anderson for a couple days and then we went to Chattanooga to introduce Reagan to my Mom.  They had a good time together and Mom taught Reagan to wave bye bye.  It is a special thing.  Ben got to come and while he was there Aunt Betsy & Uncle Alan and Aunt Katherine & Uncle Jim came also.  It was a great reunion but we really missed John and Jay being there.  There were even promises of a pony from Aunt Katherine.  We were grateful to see everyone.  Reagan LOVED her Uncle Ben.

 

From there we went to Brazil where Reagan wooed people everywhere she went.  She has the most wonderful personality and during all the travels gave us no problems.  The Brazilians loved her blue eyes and while she was befuddled by the language you can see kindness in any language.  She went to a pizza party at Nancy & Curt's home, visited the rug store and Romana's and got to meet all my Brazilian friends and even got to go to my ear doctor here.  Through it all with a good attitude.  Her favorite thing was crawling out on the balcony (which is very safe).  She would look back to make sure we were all watching.  Papa Wells so enjoyed having her here.  It was hard to leave him.  She also got her first haircut here.  Not a totally happy experience but her hair is surely growing now.  She was also rocked to sleep many times by the bumpy sidewalks.

 

From here we went to England.  It was a easy trip mainly because Reagan got to use her car seat.  The planes were not full.  This was a huge blessing.  We met up with Ann and Morgan Bryant in London and saw everything.  Even went to a jousting match at Warrick Castle.  They had wax figures dressed in period costumes and I did not believe they were wax and stood and starred at them waiting for them to move. We ate at pubs, walked and walked, and talked & talked.  It was a lot of fun.

 

I was supposed to return straight to Brazil but my favorite tree fell in Mom's yard.  It mostly landed in the yard but did do damage to my car and to the house.  It is now gone but I have wonderful memories of that tree.  People would stop in the fall to take pictures of it all the time.  It was a glorious mixture of color.

 

I am back in Brazil.  I've missed the cold weather here and returned to heat.  Lots of changes in the family.  Meredith, John and Reagan will be moving to North Carolina in November and Ben is going to his TEN year reunion this weekend in Anderson.  Hard to believe.  Isn't it?  Time flies by.

Brazil update - May 24, 2008

 

One of John's fun jobs, when the kids were little and sleeping in the same room, was he would tell them bedtime stories and sing them to sleep.  Many of you have sat near John at church and can testify Ben and Meredith must love their Dad very much to listen to him sing every single night.  John sang many songs every night and one of them was We Three Kings (all five verses).  For our 31st Wedding Anniversary I had the rug store paint me a beautiful wall hanging the We Three Kings to make for John bringing back wonderful memories of him falling asleep between Ben and Meredith while singing to them.  I have finished it and I'll put the picture on the blog when it is finished being made.

 

I walked with John to get his hair cut last weekend.  This is a very different experience from the states.  In this wonderful place the men are upstairs and the women are downstairs.  There are 12 barber chairs and on this day 8 were busy.  There were many overdue haircuts being done and manicures.  Yes, Manicures!  There was someone constantly sweeping up the hair on the floor, someone always offering everyone coffee or water,  and someone always greeting you.  It is a most pleasant experience.  Probably why I go with him. 

 

There are many beautiful names here in Brazil especially for women.  Fernanda, Fabiana, Cassia, Ana Clara and my favorite Camila.  The reaction on people's faces when I tell them my name and the name of my daughter and grand-daughter is always amusing.  Cynthia Kathleen & Meredith all have TH in them.  They do not have that sound in the Portuguese language and it is so difficult for them to say.  I am called Catchie here.  Meredith is called Mereditch.  Then when I tell them Reagan's name they really give me this blank look.

 

The follow are things I have learned in Brazil after three years:

*I have learned to watch my every step when walking the sidewalks of Cambui.  All are uneven, different and can break an ankle in a second.  I have turned my ankle many times.  I'm sure orthopedic doctors here are very wealthy people.

*I have learned to just close my eyes in heavy traffic.  John does a great job but it scares me so bad especially the motorcycles that really do not have any restrictions.  Also, Brazilians are laid back, easy going, patient people BUT put them behind the wheel of a car and they become crazy.  I have also learned to watch with awe as Brazilians parallel park.  They can whip that car in the tiniest space without blinking.

*I have learned to hold my breath when walking through the fish section of the grocery store or the Saturday Market.  The smell is a killer.

*I have learned not to expect to see the doctor on time.  For doctors here in Brazil it is quality of time instead of being on time. 

*I have learned to not talk about politics here in Brazil.

*I have learned apartment living is just heavenly.  Secure & safe with guarded entrance, no yard, and no pool to worry about.  Everything is taken care of.

*I have learned that the three things I will miss most from here will probably be Bob's Ovaltine Milkshake (Bob's is a Brazilian Burger King), the sweet popcorn at the movie theater and the delicious coffee at Romana's (Starbucks can't touch their coffee).  Plus, you add the service you get and it is an extra bonus.

*I've learned the hardest word to say here in Brazil is hair dresser - ca be lei rei ro.  I just can't wrap my tongue around it.

*I learned that the nicest people are the chauffeur's (drivers) that are waiting for the children at school, ballet or English Class.  They always help me with directions and have pity on my poor Portuguese.

May 17, 2008 New pictures

These are some special pictures I've taken this month.

Thought you would enjoy.

April 2008 in Brazil

Every single time I go out here in Brazil I should take the camera.  We have been here three years and every day there is something that fascinates me enough to want a picture.  It seems one of the sentences I say to John more than anything is:  "I wish I had the camera!"  It may be a blooming tree, a fence covered in a fragrant flowering bush, a bird, something crazy or something sweet but it is always a memory that I want to capture.  Yesterday it was this beautiful palm tree at the mall and they had planted orchids in the grooves of the tree and the orchids were blooming.  Maybe I just need a smaller, lighter camera that would be easier.

 

It has been gloriously cool the last 5 weeks.  We have only used the air conditioner 3 times since I've been home.  You all know how hot natured I am so this is good.  The past couple days have been very cold.  The Brazilians have brought out their boots, scarves, and heavy coats and think I am a lunatic in my regular clothes.  To me this is just heavenly football weather.  I did wear a sweatshirt one day but had to take it off while walking.

 

The dear Rodgers Family (serving The Navigators here in Campinas) will be moving the end of the month back to the States.  All of you know how important they have been to us here and how both John and I will miss them.  We have watched their children grow up before our very eyes into amazing young people. They have sowed many seeds here in Brazil along with Harry and Robin with their time, football games & other sports, Bible Studies and meals in their home.  They probably won't know their impact until they reach heaven but I know there are many Brazilians that will greatly miss them and I know many have been truly changed through their love.

Snowmen in Brazil

Snowman family 2007

Sandy & me with snowman family 2008

Seth and Jan Rodgers were here looking at my pictures on the computer and they saw the picture of the snowmen above. They went on to tell me the snowmen and all the other decorations were made of attached bottoms to big soda bottles. There were probably at least 50 of these snowmen families scattered throughout the city and hundreds of large hanging ornaments hanging from the trees and someone somehow attached them all to make these Christmas Decorations and then sprayed them white. Now that is recycling!!!!

Mom's new apartment

I have returned to Brazil.  I don't think I will ever get used to the trip.  It is so very hard on me.  I guess this is #13 so I should be used to it by now.  I watch these people sleep through the whole trip and just don't understand it all.  For me it is like being in a torture chamber for 10 hours.  I wish someone would hit me over the head with a sledge hammer and wake me when I have arrived. 

 

Mom is nestled in her new little apartment in assisted living.  She is just remarkable.  I am so proud of her and the way she has fought back from such a life-threatening illness.  We went to see her doctor before I left and he told her he never thought he would see her again once he released her to Hospice.  It was a hard month for me getting her moved, settling everything with all the places she has been and cleaning out the storage building but all was accomplished by the time I left.  My friend, Shirley Reeves, also survived her very serious heart surgery and is on the road to recovery.  I am so grateful that God allowed these two special women to remain here on earth for a bit longer.  Thank you for your prayers for them.

 

Reagan continues to grow and be cute.  I go through my pictures many times a day and drive my friends crazy showing the pictures to them.  I am grateful everyone puts up with me.  I can't believe she is already 5 months.  Meredith loves being a Mom.  I believe she is in her perfect place right now.  They had snow in England on Easter Sunday and there are new pictures posted on her blog listed below.  Ben continues to work very hard in California.  I am grateful to hear him talk of moving back east.  The cost of living in California is just so hard on him.  Maybe he will even consider school part-time too.

 

My friend, Sandy Barber, and I saw four movies while I was home:  Fool's Gold, Definitely, Maybe, Miss Pettigrew lives for a Day, and Tyler Perry's The Browns.  I lost my fingernails to Fool's Gold.  I can't say I would recommend any of the four.  Of the 14+ movies I have seen with her over the last 10 months in Chattanooga I would have to say August Rush is my favorite.  I know it is PG13 but it has a very good story.  My other favorite would be the Chipmunk movie.  It reminded me of my childhood.  I used to have their Christmas Album.

 

I will be having elective surgery on April 9.  I would greatly appreciate your prayers on that day.

 

http://www.manyroadstotravel.blogspot.com/             Meredith's blog

February 17, 2008

It is Sunday Morning at 6:30 and I am wide awake and John is still asleep so I decided to walk to Romana's and have my usual breakfast.  This particular early morning walk was cool with not a soul or car on the street.  I have never gotten there this early so it was a totally different experience.  The shift is changing in waiters so it is really busy.  Finally, I start recognizing "my waiters".  I place "my usual order" but I am there so early "my bread" is not ready.  The smells of bread baking are unbelievable.  At 6:30 Romana's is filled with people having breakfast after leaving wedding receptions from the night before.  They know how to do wedding receptions here!  They are still in their beautiful gowns and suits and sitting around talking and having fun.  I did notice the girls had changed from their extremely high heels to flip-flops for comfort.  I left just as the people were coming in for breakfast before early Mass across the street at the beautiful Catholic Church across from Romana's.

 

We attended our first Brazilian Soccer game this past week.  It turned into quite an experience.  Pierre's favorite team is Ponto Preto which means Black Bridge.  We only saw maybe 5 minutes of soccer before the sky opened forth and released rain that was quickly flooding the streets.  We were with two other families and Marina and Pierre.  We got outside the stadium and Pierre and Chuck went to get the cars.  By the time they got to us water was at mid-calf in the street.  John picked up one of the kids and helped them to the car and we jumped in absolutely soaking wet.  The fans remind me of the Duke basketball fans jumping up and down during the game.  It was quite an experience.  Since we had already had 24 straight days of rain we should have realized we would have rain that day too.  They did not stop the game even with horrible lightning and torrential rain.

 

The United States should do their elections like they do here in Brazil.  You announce your candidacy along with the others.  You have TWO months to campaign.  You are required to vote in Brazil.  If you do not vote you must have and report your reason for not voting.  You can be excused as many times as you need BUT to keep and renew your passport you need proof that you have voted in the last 2 elections.  Each candidate will be able to make a short speech, at no cost to the candidate, one hour on TV and one hour on radio.  The time is divided among the political parties according to their percentage of representatives in the Congress. 

Can you IMAGINE just two months of campaigning???

December 18-February 5

When Eleanor Roosevelt saw Falls Iguassu she exclaimed, "Poor Niagara!"  I would have to agree with her.  Falls Iguassu is second in the world to Victoria Falls in South Africa.  They are just majestic.  Jan Rodgers told me I would definitely feel the presence of the Lord there and she was right.  Standing there you feel very safe in His hands.  If he can create this he can surely take care of me.  We walked for 2 1/2 days and I hope our legs recover.  We rode a boat up the river and into the lower falls and we flew in a helicopter over the falls.  I even went up into the observation deck which about did me in.  The difficult part for both of us was the stairs to everywhere.  I know we climbed 1,000 steps.  My legs are telling me so today.  To our amazement they said the water was very low.  I can't imagine it being more.

 

Our room was nice but not an American hotel room.  We are very spoiled in the U.S. by the way our hotels take care of us.  We had critters in our room the first night and I watched them crawl on the ceiling all night.  I wanted to be ready if one dropped on me.  I fell asleep around 3:30 and one of the critters did not drop until 6:30.  John captured the grasshopper and took him out when he woke up.  They don't kill anything here.  At Ritz Carlton prices you don't expect to have critters in your room.  We had a wonderful taxi driver who took us everywhere and got us across the border to Argentina.  We preferred the Argentina side view of the Falls.  There is a Sheraton there facing the Falls.  If we go back we will stay there.  I am so glad John talked me into going.  He has wanted to go since we moved here.  There was no ESPN in the room either so NO Super Bowl. 

 

Carnival has been going on this weekend.  It concludes tonight.  Everyone is to be to work at Noon Wednesday.  It is definitely a wild time here in Brazil.  I am glad we have been away for most of it.  When I went to the meat market this morning they were drinking beer in the restaurants already at 7:00.  I can't imagine beer at 7:00.

 

We spent Christmas and New Year's with the Rodgers' Family.  It was such fun and their kids are amazing.  Instead of being with their friends they played games with us and watched the fireworks on New Years Eve from our balcony.  If you do not have the game Apples To Apples.  Buy it today.  It is so much fun.  Lauren graduated from high school here on December 4 and Seth did unbelievably well on his testing for the high schools here that he received one of two scholarships.  His courses were Advanced Math, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, History, Geography, Literature, Composition and English – and all of this except the last one – in Portuguese.  We were very proud. 

 

I am working very hard to finish all the rugs I have started.  I finished and presented my South America rug to our Portuguese Teachers, Marina and Pierre.  I just can't stitch fast enough.  I've put many pictures on my blog and will give you the address at the end.  We have two new friends that have moved here.  Shawna and Nectar.  It is neat how the Lord moves people out but he always moves new people in.   

 

I have a new favorite breakfast food.  It is called bolinha de fuba.  It is sort of a cornmeal roll.  It has little sugar in it so it is ok for me.  PLUS, it is hollow in the middle and you can squirt whipped creme in them for desserts.  I can't believe I just said that!  As I sit in Romana's almost every morning I often wonder what all these people do that they are eating breakfast or just sitting around having coffee at 8:30.  Do they have jobs?  They pull up in BMW's and Audi's.  How do they have the money for these cars if they are not working.  It is my interesting question for the day.

 

We lost our air conditioner in our bedroom.  It was removed with a promise it would return the next day.  It did not return the next day and we are still waiting.  Fortunately for us the weather has been heavenly at night and we haven't needed it for the last three weeks.  We had 16 straight days of rain and storms to the point water was pouring down our street.  I have been grateful for many rides home as I would be soaked if I walked.

 

Meredith has many new pictures of our beautiful grand-daughter, Reagan, on her blog and I will attach her address at the end.  They miss John a lot.  Serving our wonderful country means you have to be away sometimes.  I believe they are all glad they moved on base.  Everything is very convenient.  Meredith also has many friends that have helped her out for which John and I are most grateful.  Ben continues to work hard in Santa Ana.  We are grateful for your prayers for both of our children, John, and Reagan.  Please never stop.  Mom is doing great in Chattanooga and wants to either go home or to assisted living when I return in March.  Her e-mails are funny and happy so it has made it easy for me to me here.  Please pray for her too.

 

We lost a dear friend, Dave Hunter, last month.  Dave and Sally were with us in Jackson, Tennessee and moved the same week with us to Anderson.  Dave was one of the most beautiful men on the inside and outside.  They helped us along the way so much and Dave was especially helpful to John at Owens Corning.  We are so blessed in our lifetime to have crossed paths with Dave Hunter.

Map of South America

This is my latest completed rug.  This rug is special.  I made it for Marina and Pierre, our Portuguese Teachers and our friends.  It will hang in Pierre's office at the school.  It was definitely my hardest rug so far.