Thankful Thursday (Late Night Edition)

This week, I'm thankful for sleep. (Jet lag is lingering still).

I'm thankful for God's specific provision for something José and I have been praying for since just before we left for Spain. It's always a sweet moment when we realize that it was GOD at work in the details of our lives.

I'm thankful for the great surprise of coming home from Spain to a newly sealed deck! How wonderful!! (Thanks Jack!)

I'm thankful for having had the opportunity to reconnect with college friends in Spain as well as to see their work.

I'm thankful for having the opportunity to experience life in Spain through the eyes of a Spanish man who graciously opened his home to us and spent hours talking with us and answering our questions.

I'm thankful for a God who is never late, always on time, and who loves us more than we can ever know.

Wonderful Wordless Wednesday - La Puerta de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain

Spain, Jet Lag, and other thoughts

After an exciting and amazing 16 days, we're back from Spain! We left on July 10th and arrived in Madrid on July 11th. Talk about messing with your mind. On the plane on the way there, they told us that we should close our blinds because it would get light early. I woke up around 2am Ohio time which was 8am Madrid time, and it was bright, amazing, and we were above the clouds. I still can't fathom how it works, I mean I know the world rotates and the time is adjusted accordingly, but on Saturday, we had pretty close to 20 hours of sunlight. We got back home around 4am Sunday morning Madrid time (10pm the Saturday night before, Ohio time). See what I mean. You're falling asleep, but it's not late enough yet, so you try coffee or anything really to try and stay away just a little longer. It's working pretty well so far, and we're finally unpacked, clothes clean and everything put away. Now only to get started on emails and pictures! We'll be probably keeping odd hours this week (jet lag tends to last 1 day per hour of time difference, which would be 6 for us). So, until later! Thanks for praying! We'll be sending glimpses of our time in Spain in the next days and weeks!

Thankful Thursday

Wow, what a whirlwind week! There seem to have been a lot of those lately. It's nice to sit down and take a few minutes to be thankful. We heard a sermon on Sunday (by my amazing husband) on remembering the good God has done, so this week, that's what I want to focus on.

I'm thankful for God's provision in all of the details for our trip to Spain.

I'm thankful for friends who will take care of our little doggy, Diego, and water the plants.

I'm thankful for both José and I being in good health.

I'm especially thankful for God's miraculous healing of José's arthritis. (He is completely well!)

I'm thankful for the growth that intensity in life brings.

I'm thankful for Jesus who has already won the victory for us on the cross!

Here are a few links you may be interested in:

José's sermon: http://www.northmarchurch.com/sermons/July%205%202009.mp3
Victory song "The Desert Song": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QemZQKKJbRU

Thankful Thursday with LOTS of pictures!

Well, it's Thursday again. Funny marking my weeks with a day in the middle.

I'm thankful for the rain. I know, weird to say in rainy NE Ohio, but it's really made the basil, spearmint, cilantro, garlic-y-chives, thyme and oregano grow like crazy and it's delicious!!
I'm SO thankful for the wonderful flavors of the basil, chives and cilantro (which are ready to cut and eat). We had a delicious tomato, onion salad last night with chives, cilantro and a little basil topped with a squeeze of lime juice and salt. YUMMY!

I'm thankful to have had a wonderful time with missys during last week's Missions Impact Weekend (that went all week long). It was great to connect and we were encouraged as I pray were they.

I'm thankful for a good friend who helped me (with MUCH patience!!) sew a dress and a shirt (I'm working on a second shirt which isn't yet finished yet). THANKS Heather! I seriously couldn't have done it without you!

I'm thankful for being able to learn a new jewelry technique last week (I skipped a week, so I figured I'd stick a few more in). I went with another pastor's wife and we learned how to do metal stamping! Yes, it's also addictive, but best of all, very stress relieving as you pound on a piece of metal. The pearl/copper necklace has my initials. :) It was a LOT of fun! And the second necklace with the copper washer has the words: AMOR, COMPROMISO, LIBERTAD which José and I also have inscribed on the inside of our wedding rings. (Notice also the butterfly and the GREEN swarovski crystal). The bracelet with the faith pendant is still a work in progress. Here are they are!


I'm thankful to be packed for Spain. Only days now! I'm excited we're able to take this trip together and am anticipating great things from God during our time in Madrid and Barcelona. Notice the confused puppy who's wondering what's going on!

I'm thankful for a great team going to Spain!

I'm thankful also for good friends who will watch and play with Diego while we travel!

Thanks for reading! It may be a little while, but I will be posting Spain pics as I'm able!!!