8 months in Mexico yesterday and only 2 months until I am back in the states

Yesterday marked 8 months here in Mexico. Some days it seems like I just got here and other days it feels like I have been here forever. Just like with other things in life : ) 2 months from today, I will be heading back to the states. Please be praying for my emotions the next couple months. While I am excited to head back home, it will also be sad to leave my family and friends here. Pray for strength to finish strong! 

God has been so faithful on this journey, so I know He will get me through these last couple months! So thankful that He is always with me and He knows exactly what each one of us needs. Thankful for his love that is never ending and that His mercies are new each day! 

Last Saturday, I was able to spend time time with Liz and her family to celebrate her birthday. We ate, visited, played cards and ate some cake. So glad we were able to get together and celebrate before I left for vacation. 

Saturday evening, Ricardo brought Michelle, Norma and I to the bus station and we rode the bus through the night. Thanks so much for your prayers. We arrived safely Sunday morning to Puerto Vallarta. We arrived to the resort about 9:30 that morning and visited with Sarah and Lisa a little bit. We also enjoyed a walk on the beach.

The rest of the gang arrived to the resort about 12:30. It was so great to see family and friends and hug them in person. We had a total of 13 people that spent 5 nights at the resort. We had a few dinners together as a group, but never did get a photo with all 13 people. I did get a couple group pictures, but with one or two people missing. 

It was so great to have my family here in Mexico meet some of my family and friends from back home. As Jenny and Stacey said, my worlds collided : ) They both asked if it was weird to have my worlds collide and I said no, it's fun to have them collide.  Lots of pictures to look at : ) 

Besides great company and relaxing week, I enjoyed watching and listening to the water. I also enjoyed having a little freedom with when I ate and what I ate : ) While I enjoy the food here in Mexico, it was great to have some American food. They had the best french toast at the breakfast buffet. I also enjoyed some fresh french fries a few times. 

We spent time reading and relaxing in chairs, lots of eating, played some bocce ball, pool volleyball, tennis, walks on the beach, cooling off in the ocean and pool and $25 massages. My friend Jamie went and checked out the massage huts on the beach and said they were worth it. I was able to do a relaxing massage and a deep tissue massage before we left. I love massages, so this was great! 

It was so great to take in all of God's beautiful creations from the ocean to the beautiful plants. We had a beautiful view from our balcony. We were able to walk the beach and shoreline to enjoy other views as well. So much green and lots of sunshine. 

Some of us enjoyed a night of Karaoke. Michelle and Norma even sang : ) Some of us also enjoyed a show of singing and dancing our last night there. They even had a guy that did some stunts on the trapeze. They had live music each night, but I only made it one or two nights for that. 

Lots of choices of things to do if you wanted to be busy at the resort or you could just relax. The great thing about this group is you could be with people if you wanted to and if you wanted some time alone, you could be alone. People wouldn't be asking where you were or why you weren't there. 

One day at lunch, Stacey was sharing with me how much Michelle, Norma and the people here love me and how much of an impact I am having here in Mexico. She was saying how Michelle was saying I was so kind and sweet and just had such nice things to say as well as Norma. I knew how much Norma loved me and what she thought about me, but I was honestly surprised by how much Michelle had shared. Michelle doesn't say much to me and I sometimes feel like she thinks she is too cool for me. I was reminded that you never know the impact you are having on someone. Thank you Lord for those reminders. 

Stacey is a college English teacher and shared it's just how that age is. She said her students act like they don't care of don't even know you, but then at the end of the class share how much she has had an impact on their lives. 

Then another afternoon, my mom was sharing how much Michelle and Norma said they would miss me when I left. Again, I was surprised at Michelle's response. Norma has shared with me how much she will miss me, but Michelle is more quiet. Again, don't underestimate the impact you are having on people! Even young teens or young adults that may act like they don't care of aren't paying attention. 

One morning at breakfast, I was sharing with Jenny and Margie how generous and "crazy" Norma is. She is always doing whatever she can to help the school and others. I give her and Ricardo money each month for rent and I am pretty sure they have given almost all that money to the school. I was sharing how much Norma and Ricardo have helped the school financially and just how neat it is to see their giving hearts. They are always helping others when they can. I was also sharing how much they have blessed me since I have been here.

Jenny said I think this has been a good season for you to receive as you are always the one giving. She calls me a rare unicorn : ) Her and Margie were saying how I am just like Norma. I said, but I am not quite that "crazy". They both said yes you are. Thank you Lord for friends that remind me of how "crazy" I am, but also for this season of receiving. 

It has been a HUGE season of receiving, as family and friends supported me to come here and serve. I do pay for some things while I am here, but many people don't let me pay for things, so I often just say thanks. Thank you Lord for generous and loving people here in Mexico and back home. 

Thank you Lord for this time to get a break, but also to be with family and friends and to have my worlds collide. Other than a some scheduled meals, we had no agenda, so was just nice to go with the flow. 

Ricardo was able to find an earlier bus ride home on Friday, so we didn't have to travel in the night. Thank you Lord for added bus trips. We arrived back home about 10:00 p.m. Friday night. We had a bite to eat, visited a bit and was off to bed. 

Saturday, we slept in, unpacked and did a little laundry. Ricardo was working on a pipe while we were gone, so we came home to limited water. We could use the washer and get some water from that faucet, but had to fill buckets of water for flushing and washing hands. Praise the Lord, Ricardo got it all fixed and working Monday afternoon. I have a much greater appreciation for water : )

Sunday, we went to church. It was a great Easter service! Thankful that google translate picked up the message. We spent the afternoon and evening with Norma's mom. It was good to be with family here, but also made me miss my family back home as I would've been spending Easter with them. 

I shared a few pictures with my family here of kids coloring eggs and their Easter baskets as that's not a big thing here. I did see they have plastic eggs and some Easter stuff at Wal Mart, so some people do it here, but not very many.

Easter is one of the most important holidays in Mexico, next to Christmas. Much of the Mexico population is Catholic, so they focus more on the religious part of Easter.  Easter is celebrated over the course of two weeks. The first week, the week before Easter, is called Semana Santa or Holy Week. The second week, the week after Easter, is called Semana de Pascua. 

Aside from the religious significance, many families throughout Mexico have days off during the Semana Santa and Pascua. Most schools are out for one or both of these weeks and many businesses are closed.

Families flock to the beaches for vacation. Many families often bring their own colorful beach umbrella and have a picnic on the sand.  Many vacation destinations in Mexico also have lots of non religious events going on in town during Semana Santa and Pascua. You can find soccer and volleyball tournaments, car shows, concerts, art shows and more.

Some hotels in Puerto Vallarta have adopted American and Canadian traditions such as the Easter Bunny and Easter Egg Hunts, but these things are not very common in most of Mexico, as the holiday is more about the last days of Christ. 

Monday was a very lazy day at home. Norma and I did go walk at the park and use the exercise equipment. I did some reading, took a nap and then we played a few games Monday night. I love lazy days at home.  I was really missing home on Monday. I think because everyone had went back home, Easter was on Sunday and Monday was a quiet day, so just extra time to think about things. 

Yesterday, Norma and I went and walked and worked out a little. She's all about being healthy : ) I did some reading on the patio and enjoyed a shower not from buckets of water : ) I also enjoyed a singles devotional with a small group of missionaries via computer. We have been focusing on abiding. That was the word God gave me for this year : ) We ended our night going to the movie and then watching another movie at home. 

Today, we had our weekly prayer time with our Mexico missions team. It's always good to see each other via zoom and take some time to share praises and prayers. Norma and I went walking and working out. I made some french toast, scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast. A little piece of home : ) 

I am heading to Joe and Corinna's this afternoon for a few days to hang out. It will be good to see them and catch up. Hoping to make some Chicken Wild Rice Soup, so that that will be another little piece of home. 

I am so glad I was able to see family and friends, but I feel like I have been missing home a little more since they all left. I also think Sunday was hard as I knew I would've been spending the day with my family eating some of mom's delicious food. Like I said before when I have more down time, I tend to think about things. Plus I just had my period, so I am extra emotional. 

Thankfully those hard days don't last long and the good days outweigh the hard days. It's so crazy to think at this time in 2 months, I will be on the plane to Kansas. 

Please be praying for me to keep my eyes on the Lord and His plans for me. To be open to what He has for these last 2 months in Mexico. 

As I shared earlier, be praying for my emotions as these next couple months could be quite the roller coaster of emotions. I imagine the roller coaster of emotions will continue when I am back home.

Pray for strength to finish strong.

Pray for the transition home to go well and all the details to fall into place. 

Continued prayers for the school-financially and with construction. Praise that mom was able to bring a couple donations for the school and I got another donation from a friend at the beach. 

Rafael, the husband of the director at school, fell and broke his arm and a rib, so be praying for a speedy recovery for him. Be praying for Rosa as she takes care of him. 

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness, love and that you are always with me!

Thank you for safe travels for everyone to the beach and back to home. Thank you for the earlier bus ride home.

Thank you for time with family, friends and relaxing. Thank you that my worlds were able to collide. 

Thank you for reminders of the impact I am having here in Mexico, especially to Michelle. 

Thank you for this season of receiving.

Thank you for faithful prayer warriors, supporters and encouragers. 

Enjoy some pictures. Most of them are from vacation, so if you are my facebook friend, you may have looked at most of them. 

Liz, her mother in law and I at Liz's birthday

The birthday girl

Liz lighting her candles

Getting ready to blow out the candles

Cake and jello-they seem to have jello with cake instead of icecream

The first bite of cake : ) 

Family selfie at the bus station before Norma,                                                                 Michelle and I loaded the bus

Our bus : ) 

Jamie, Margie and I getting ready to hit the tennis                             ball around

I was swimming in the ocean and Margie snapped a few                                                                                pictures. I didn't know she was taking pictures, but she got some fun shots 

Cooling down in the pool with Lisa, Sarah and                     Angie

I got two amazing massages in this hut on the beach for only $25

Group photo before dinner one night, missing                                                             Jenny, Michelle and Norma

Lunch with our server Joe

Selfie with Oscar and Joe-great servers

Norma, Michelle and I arrived to Puerto Vallarta

Few photos of our uber ride to the resort

We made it to the resort

The Sarahs : ) 

Just chilling in the chair until the rest of the gang                     arrives

Selfie! So great to be on vacation!

Beautiful tide. I love listening and watching the                        water

Next few photos are walking the beach

So much green 

Walking the beach with Michelle and Norma

Birds swimming

Few photos of the resort

Mom and Norma visiting while the rest of the gang                                 gets checked in

My American mom and Mexican mom : ) 

Sarah and I hanging in the pool and visiting with                                                         mom, Norma and Michelle

Chilling on the beach

Trying out my new shades : ) 

Lunch with both families : ) Margie is our adopted                sister

Dinner table 1

Dinner table 2

Group photo, missing Lisa

Listening to the waves come in early in the                                                                             morning. No one else on the beach

Tried to catch the sunrise, but I missed it, so got a                                                 few pictures of the resort

Jenny and I played an intense game of bocce ball.                                                                     They had to get the tape measure out

Jenny and i won : ) 

Pool volleyball-fun times : ) 

Night view of the sign at he resort : ) 

Dinner table 1

Dinner table 2

Parts of both families : ) 

We added Margie, the adopted sister : ) 

Michelle and Norma dancing

Few views from the balcony

Few photos with the sisters

And our adopted sister : ) 

Margie and I 

Angie and I 

Jamie, Angie, Lisa, Sarah and I

Me in mn MN will always be home sweatshirt : ) 

Stacey, Margie and mom chilling by the pool

Norma and Michelle cooling off in the pool

Jenny and I participated in a ping pong tournament

Ready or not, here we go

Some serious moves

Jenny caught a great expression here

Jenny ended up getting 2nd place

Next photos are enjoying the sunset on the beach                                                     with Michelle and Norma

I caught some of the gang catching the sunset

Mom and her daughters

Group shot after sushi dinner

Mom and her fun shirt : ) 

Group photo, missing Michelle

High School friends

Class of 2000 with Angie : ) 

Jenny was being silly and getting close ups

Mom and I, big tide in the background : ) 

And the tide is settled

Margie and I

My phone did this stylized photo, beautiful

Couple shots of the water. I love the sight and                                         sound of water

Margie and I after our $25 massages. They were amazing!

We were in the second story of the hut, near the                                             ocean. So relaxing!

            

We went for a little walk along the shore

Can you see the lizard?

More photos of our walk along the shore

Margie took a few pictures of me in the ocean

The waves snuck up on me and got the back of                                                                                            my legs. Margie caught a good facial expression!

Beautiful plant

Mon and Jenny after their massages

Lunch with friends

Enjoying the sunset from the window at dinner

Dinner our last night there

Trapeze fun

Dancing and singing our last night there

I got some photos of the resort our last morning                     there

Few pictures of our room. Lots of space

Baclony

Few pictures of balcony view

Jenny and I in our shirts we won from Bocce Ball

Chilling and waiting for the taxi

The Minnesota and Wisconsin people waiting for                                                                                          their taxi. Jenny & Stacey had already left. Michelle                                                 and Norma were packing up

View from the massage place

I went and got one more massage after family and                                                     friends from the states left

I worked so hard and the water washed it away

Another try : ) 

Good bye Mexico

Love the water in the background, so pretty

Last time enjoying the ocean

Few selfies on the beach before heading home

Selfie on the balcony

Goodbye Barcelo Resort

Few pictures on the bus ride home

Margie surprised me with this colored picture and notes : ) 

My family brought some of my favorite treats : ) 

Sweet Jenny brought some more cards for                                                                                         encouragement and to help finish strong

We played Lotteria and had some snacks Monday                                                 night. It's like Bingo : )