Priscila opens presents for Stella with family and friends!

I couldn't resist buying this stuffed animal for Stella!

Bunko is a real treat with friends in Brazil!


Kyle & Me!

Jane making Wendy and Susan laugh as usual!

A crazy group of friends!

Nectar with Mieko!

We lost a dear friend, Charlie Arendale, in November and just found out. Charlie and Becky Arendale took us under their wings when we moved to Jackson, Tennessee in 1981. He was such a fine, Godly and humble man. He met with John at 6:00 AM once a week for years while we lived in Jackson for Bible Study. He became a second father to John and gave him wise counsel and help many times. Our last time there we spent a long time together in prayer and it was comforting to all four of us. We will miss him with our whole hearts.

It has rained here for over 50 days except 3. We see the clock ticking towards 3:00 or 4:00 and we know it is coming. Since I am a fairly intellectual person you would think I would remember my umbrella every time I leave the house but you are wrong. I have come home soaked many times. Most of the time it doesn't start with just a sprinkle. It starts with a major downpour so there is no hope. The stores are really good about letting me duck in and stay until it passes. After the rain comes then comes the evil mosquitoes. John says I must be really sweet because they like me so much. My poor legs are evidence of that.

I have told you about our dentist here, Rute (pronounced hoochie). Dental health here is of great importance. EVERYONE brushes their teeth after meals. There is a floss and a mouthwash machine in most restaurant bathrooms. It is common to have to wait to wash your hands because someone is busy with their teeth. I believe it is why everyone here has sparkling teeth.

The Americans here have an adopted daughter, Priscila. She first started coming to the rug store with Nancy and has continued for almost 4 years. We love her very much. She has helped us with many things and driven me many times instead of letting me get a taxi. She and Meredith (and Reagan) became close friends while they were visiting here. She also introduced me to beet juice. I tried it and will never try it again. Well, Priscila is expecting a baby sometime soon. I won't be here for the birth. Mieko and I threw a baby shower for her and we had such a good time. Everyone brought food and we had it in the party room. She got many things for her little girl, Stella.

We had a going away party for Mieko this week. Gosh, I will really miss her. She has amazed us all with her ability to go from English to Japanese to Portuguese in one sitting. She lives close by and I will miss having her meet me for coffee or at the rug store. We had a going away party for her and it was such a great time together. It was also Jane's birthday and we surprised her with a cake. Jane has such a quick wit. You can always count on her to make you laugh. It is an attribute I think is amazing. Most people do not have it.

We also had Bunco at Wendy's this month. Her home is so beautiful. It is just like being in the States with all her special touches. The food was so wonderful and we took a good picture. I will attach many pictures on my blog. We have been really busy the last two months.

Wedding invitations here are creative and inventive things. They are so personalized that when you get one you feel like WOW we are special! They work very hard to make them special and ALL of them are hand-delivered because they only send them to special family and friends. We have been honored to receive five wedding invitations here in Brazil. We count the weddings as very special memories from here.

Recycling is also very important here. Most places have the garbage cans with different slots for different things: paper, plastic, aluminum. When you throw things away you always ask yourself "which slot???"

I have finished two rugs the last couple months. One is a rug I had painted of a photo I took at the Brazilian Consulate in Miami. His name is Romero Britto. He is Brazilian and it is lots of wacky colors. The other is a rug for John Basel. I am sad they are not made yet but will get them on the blog as soon as I get back. I have been at the rug store a lot and they have really helped me with my Portuguese. One of the funniest things about the rug store is it is HOT as blue blazes here but the overhead fan never stays on unless I ask. They feel it gives them colds. Many times sweat with be pouring down my red face and I will wonder "WHY!!!" Thank goodness John is not that way about the air conditioner in the bedroom. I would never sleep.

Campinas now has a Sam's and a Wal-mart. Don't think for one minute they are similar to the States but it is nice to see the signs and feel like a part of the U.S. is here with us. Also, I've just started trying the cheese bread here. John has begged me for years and I finally tired it and I've really just fallen in love with it. Pierre told us the best is the gas station by the Catholic Church here in Cambui. I would have to agree with him.

Ernie Craun

We lost a dear friend this week. Ernie Craun died on January 12. We have many special memories of Ernie and June Craun. He loved to talk about his family. He would light up when he spoke of them. One of our most special all time memories is at the wedding of their daughter Melanie in Nashville. Ernie, with his wonderful booming voice, sang Sunrise, Sunset before his daughter walked down the aisle. We remember his voice filling that beautiful church and we knew how special his daughter was. He, too, was a very special person.

Sunrise, Sunset
Is this the little girl I carried? Is this the little boy at play?

I don't remember growing older. When did they?

When did she get to be a beauty? When did he grow to be so tall?

Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?

Sunrise, sunset Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly flow the days

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers

Blossoming even as we gaze

Sunrise, sunset Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another laden with happiness and tears

What words of wisdom can I give them? How can I help to ease their way?

Now they must learn from one another day by day

They look so natural together just like two newlyweds should be

Is there a canopy in store for me?

Sunrise, sunset Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears

Kathy and John AND ELTON 1-17-09

John's brother, Jay, has a friend that is head of the lighting crew for Elton John. His name is Kevin (Stick). Jay arranged with him for us to have tickets to the Elton John concert in Sao Paulo. Most of you know John and I never stay up past 10 so this was a real stretch for us. We stayed at the Holiday Inn right next to where the concert was. This was really a blessing. We saw the crowds lining up when we arrived at the hotel at 2. We later found out that most of them SLEPT on the sidewalk because it was a standing concert. 30,000 people standing from 6:00 (when they opened the gate) until 12:30. Towards the end of the concert they started passing out like crazy. I am sure it was due to exhaustion, excitement and maybe a bit too much alcohol. Thanks to Kevin we had the only two seats in the place. He was a wonderful host and for this we are most grateful. The first person to perform was an Englishman also. His name was James Blunt. Then Sir Elton John. I was amazed that at 61 years old he could perform for 2 hours and 15 minutes. His jacket was of the Amazon with the brightest colors of green, yellow, orange and blue. The Brazilians sang along with James Blunt and Elton John on most of their songs. Many times Elton John would stop singing to listen to them. Kevin even got us drumsticks signed by Elton's drummer of almost 40 years. We had fun on our adventure and enjoyed stepping "out of our safe surroundings" for a night. Thank you Jay and Kevin!

(Pictures: #1 some of the crowd of 30,000 #2 Kathy & Kevin, #3 Kathy in one of the two seats #4 Kathy & John #5&6 view of Sao Paulo from our hotel room)

The wedding of Rosana & Rodrigo

They had large sandwiches of many different kinds. This one made with beet bread. Mr. & Mrs. GuhMe with Claudina!

The topper to the cake!

John and me with the beautiful bride.

Saturday, January 10, we attended the wonderful wedding of Rosana and Rodrigo in Sao Paulo. It was just a perfect day. We traveled down to Sao Paulo by bus. Mr. Guh had gotten a bus for 12 of us that were traveling to the wedding. We were glad he did. The Church was in downtown Sao Paulo and even on a Saturday it was crowded. The church and balcony were packed and the bride so beautiful and elegant as was her whole family. Most of the service was in Portuguese but three of my favorite songs were in English. Two of them sung perfectly by the groom. As they were leaving the church and walking down the aisle he was singing and everyone was clapping and cheering. It was incredible. Then we went to the reception in the back of the church. From the outside of the church you do not know there is also a courtyard in the back with trees and tropical flowers. It was a perfect place for the reception. They had many different very large sandwiches made of different breads. There was beet bread, pumpkin bread, spinach bread, sesame bread, and pesto bread. The fillings ranged from ham and cheese to chicken salad to tuna to pepperoni. Then they had chocolate cake with ice cream for dessert. We left here around 12:30 and got home around 8:30. We had such a memorable time.

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.