Time Travel... JULY 2009

Oh how could I forget July... it was the month that I discovered this:

So, July 8th was the day I discovered I was going to be a mama! It was early morning and I was getting ready to go on a trip to Colombia to see my dad and my little sister that day. Brooks was on his way out the door to work and due to lack of time of coming up with a "cutsie way" of telling him that we were going to be parents I just handed him the pregnancy stick. We were so surprised and it was a memorable moment that at the time felt so surreal!

Colombia was beautiful- my dad took us to a piece of land he bought in a rural town where we visited an orphanage. Our little baby in m y belly experienced many things that trip including horse back riding and repelling waterfalls. It was an amazing trip and so fun to spend time with my little sister Mandy and my dad!

Time Travel... JUNE 2009

Time travel back to June...I had turned 27! Three years away from 30!!! Yikes! We had the privilege of spending my birthday at the country club with my family in El Salvador! I loved my cake!!


We also were in El Salvador for my cousin's graduation and what a party it was! We spent the day getting our hair and make up done and spent the night on the dance floor! It was awesome!

Study. Graduate. Play.

Ok. I know. It has been some time since my last entry but with good reason. My life has been INSANE since I last blogged and I have a feeling it is just about to get more so in the upcoming year! Hmmmm Lets see... lost months in review:

MARCH:

I studied. That pretty much sums it up.

APRIL:

I took the National Board Exam along with my oral and written comps. This is us in Pocatello (over Brooks' 30 birthday weekend) before our exam..I am kissing the ISU rock for good luck! 2 months later I found out that I passed. :) That gray hair and stress for nothing! Really I found a gray hair after that test...not cool.

MAY:

After THREE LONG years...I graduated with my Masters of Counseling...then wedding season began. See photoblog.

Words can't describe (this photo does however) how stoked I am to be done with school (for now)! Brooks told me that he is happy to have his "old wife back"...no clue what that means?? I couldn't have been all that much of a stress case for the last three years could I have?? Now it is time to celebrate missed birthdays and FREEDOM!!!!

More of these photos on my photoblog

JUNE and JULY trip photos to come.

Tukuko, Venezuela

Well, I finally have access to the world wide web...por fin...we are back in Maracaibo, Venezuela... it is super late here so I don't have too much time or energy but a quick update for now. Last week we have been in a town close to the border of Colombia called Tukuko where we have been filming and taking photos of the indigenous Yupa tribe and the problem with Hepatitis B. It has been a whirlwind since the moment we set foot here. We arrived back in the city now beginning the interviews of the doctors. Tomorrow we head back to Caracas for more interviews and a day or two of editing and of course shopping...there are like 10 Zaras in Caracas;)!

The people gave me these awesome neclaces along with weaved baskets.

The simple way of life.

They danced and sang for us in their language.



We thought this girl was eating worms... it turned out to be pasta!

I couldn't get enough photos of the cute kids...I have plenty more of those photos to come!


Things I have missed in the last week:
-hot showers
-drinking water from a tap
-AC
-paved roads
-soft pillows
-cell phones
-keeping in touch with my family
-my dog El Guapo


Things I have learned to appreciate and will miss from Tukuko:
-quiet and peaceful nights
-the sound of kids laughing when I show them the photo I just took of them
-the homemade gifts given to us
-the passion people had when they speak
-the people's kindness and gratitude
-the nun's yummy food
-the phrase "Tranquilo"
-the concept of living in the present moment
-not worrying about being late because everyone else is running late too!
-the simple way of life