Our New Place!

Our Apartment is located in Sudoeste.  Here is a Google Maps link.  Point A is our Apartment (SQSW 101) and Point B is the School ("Via W Cinco").  I don't know about you, but I LOVE to play with Google Maps... so I thought it might be interesting to you! :)  You can even get "STREET VIEW" :)

You can see that HUGE Green area between the Apartment and the School... that's Parque da Cidade: City Park.  We LOVE it there!  This is where Chris trained for his full marathon when we were here last.  The whole city goes out there on Saturday morning and excercises.  Roller blading, bicycles, beach volleyball, soccer, running, walking... you name it!  And they also do this really cool combination of Beach volleyball and soccer - it's volleyball with only their FEET!!!  

You can also see Lake Paranoa.  It is a man-made lake to help with the dry air during dry season.  Its not Lake Ouachita or Lake DeGray, but its nice!  
Also notice how "Planned" the city is!  Everything fits into perfect little Quadras. Brasilia was built from NOTHING back in the 60's.  It is a "planned" city in the shape of an airplane - which when you live here... TOTALLY messes with my N,S,E,W brain!! All the major streets CURVE!  But... the city out grew the plan... so the outer areas aren't the same.  

Anyway...  thought you might find this interesting!  :)


View My Saved Places in a larger map

WE ARRIVED!!! (a week ago... :)

We made it!!

It was a long journey, and a long week… but the Lord is Faithful!

Suitcases finally all packed!!

#LoveDelta

Our flight to Atlanta was tough… Sarah-Bethany just could not get comfortable.  We felt so badly for all those sitting around us, but we really couldn't do anything about it.  We had a delay on taking off and a delay once we landed while waiting for the gate.  It was TOUGH!  We had 30 minutes to get from Terminal A in Atlanta, onto the subway, and down to Terminal E!  Praise the Lord we know the Atlanta airport so very well!  We made it just in time to board.

I’ll have to admit… once we got on our airplane in Atlanta… REALITY SET IN!  Big Time!  My eyes popped open and my jaw dropped to the floor….. “Baaaaaaaaaabbbbyy…  We’re going to BRAZIL!!!!”  That moment didn't really clear for about an hour!!  I just kept looking at my babies and looking at Chris and saying… “AND we’re taking THREE Children!!!” 

Not really sure why it hit me so hard…  I guess in all the planning and “Do-ing” it hadn't really hit me that THIS IS FOR REAL!!

I sent out an All-Points-Bulletin to some Awesome Prayer Warriors saying “PLEASE pray for Sarah-Bethany to SLEEP on this plane!”  AND… Sleep she did!  Praise the Lord!  She slept a little restlessly, but SLEEP SHE DID the WHOLE Way!  Oh… and can I just give a Shout Out to Delta Airlines for their FREE Economy Comfort upgrade!  That 4 inches is MIGHTY HUGE with a baby on your lap and a 6ft 3 husband!! 

We made it to Brasilia early in the morning.  It was So Sweet to get off that plane!  The boys did AMAZING!!  Handled everything like PROFESSIONALS!!  Chris MASTERFULLY piled up ALL 10 suitcases, plus 4 OVERsized carry-ons onto 3 little carts for Custom’s Inspection.  Caleb and Negash each had one, and Chris had the BIGGEST one.  Sarah-Bethany CHARMED our way AROUND the Custom’s Official… One quick look at her, and he just let us move on! :)

Jeff and Paulo were at the airport in the Kombi (Big VW Bus) to load up!  Thankfully we *KNOW* they had seen WAY more luggage than our 450 pounds!  And away we went to our NEW Apartment!! 

Saying Goodbyes...

It's always hard to say Goodbye... but this is really more like "See ya in June" for us! :)  Which makes it easier!  But still very necessary to see as many people as we can fit into our schedule before we go.  Here's some pics from our Goodbye's and Other FUN activities in April/May!

Chris and the guys!  He is really missing these guys!!!  

The wedding of the decade!!  Ashley and Eric!

at the wedding

With Joe and Susan

With our Fellowship Family

Greg leading prayer over our kids and the Kennedy kids who are all leaving.  We LOVE Fellowship Downtown!!

Amy and Dale and the kids all came up to see us!

Awesome Kids - Lifelong Friends!!

MIMI!  - LOVE HER!!!!!

Sarah-Bethany and I will miss our Wednesdays with TiTi Wanda!!

The boys with Aiden at Chuck E. Cheese!  Gonna miss our outings with Julie and Aiden, too!

Learning to Skateboard at the Shafer's!

With our Fellowship Memphis Downtown friends!

Brooklyn (boys' cousin from St. Louis) got to learn to Skate too!

Negash's favorite part was the Trampoline!

One last visit with Dr. Tsiu before we go!

All of this AND...  Bowling with Ashley and Eric, Lunch with the entire Fryar family & Birthday party for little Parker and William, Dinner with Trevor, Coffee with Laura, Soccer every Saturday, Dinner with my West Clinic Girls, Going Away parties at school for the boys, Dinner with Laura and Parker, A Jewelry Party, and a final GNO @ Newks with my Adoption Group!

Shhhooooooooo....  We're tired!  All of that, plus at least 5 other things I'm forgetting!!

We had an incredible last 6 weeks!  Thank you to ALL of you who loved on us and helped us!!  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!

*See you in JUNE!*

VISA'S HAVE ARRIVED - And other Praises!!

Praise Report:


- The VISA'S Arrived!!  On Friday!  Just like last time... just in the NICK of time! :)

-The boys had a great day at school! Their teachers really helped the class process all of it! They came home happy and excited!  I love that their sweet classmates were so precious to them.  I really love that my babies have left sweet little footprints on others' lives! 

-We have gotten a lot of packing and sorting done!!  We are DRIVEN to NOT wait until Monday night at 3am to finish! :)  The HUGEST Blessing OF ALL in this is that we do NOT have to move out of this apartment right now... that was the big stress last time!

- House Update:  We have taken the house off the market to sell and listed it with Crye-Leike's Rental Management Company.  We are hoping to gain a bit more equity before needing to sell again... or just moving back in when we get back... whenever that is!!! :)  *Of Note... My sweet Aunt and Uncle were career missionaries to Taiwan for 40 years, and rented their house the entire time! :)  ...no... we are likely not talking about 40 years in Brazil... but... NEVER PUT THE LORD IN A BOX!! ;)

Now... back to packing before Chris has my head on a platter! 

Good Night! Love you all!!