A Goodbye of sorts.

This is it. This is the last post.

Aaaaah! On this blog of course! Did you think I would quit writing? Nop. No. Well, I mean, I am pregnant with Wee #2 so come July, I may decide to quit writing for a few years, as I have no idea what it is like to juggle two cutie pies. Oh my. I have a feeling that a few months (or days, or minutes) into it I will yell out, "What was I thinkinnnnggg?!?!?!" Haha. You can laugh at my expense. Go ahead. I won't know if you do. (actually, I will. I can sense these things....I hear you chuckling Dad...I hear you).

So. Back to my original subject. Mi lindo esposo Jason and I set up a new website where we have centralized all of our online endeavors including blogs, and yes, even upcoming delightful stores. One will be for my jewelry creations and the other for some organic skin products we will be exclusively providing to the States United. (Steve and ShaSha...you got that right...Bioland!)

To be honest, I am really nostalgic about moving on to a new site. I have been around these parts for almost five years now and I am most definitely not a sucker for change. I like staying put. I like the comfortable, the familiar. While not a rat packer by any means, I will hang on to that comfy set of lounge pants just because...they are comfy. Isn;t that reason enough?

But it seems that right now in my life is a huge moment of change. We have moved houses. We are getting ready to welcome a new Wee (or two) into our little family. We are embarking on new ministries in our community. I'm trying out a new hairstyle. I quit painting my toenails for a while. You know. Lots of changes. So it makes sense to move on here, as well. Don't be mad at me. Just move on with me. Shall we?

The New site: mysmithereens.com

The direct link to my blog: sarah's new blog

Thank you for following my musings here. Let's continue over there. Ta ta now.

Ahem.

Rather than bore you with all of the reasons why I have completely ignored this blog for three maybe two weeks, I'll just pretend no time has past. No. No time at all. And besides, who wants to read my blog when you are off having family fun and ripping into presents and stuffing your mouth with delectables anyway? It is a known fact that during Christmas and New years I do a poor job at writing much of anything, so now I will stop rambling and move on. Shall we?

Why yes.
Thank you.

Two days after moving (yes, you read correctly...moving. But more on that later) we missed our flight to go to the States United to spend Christmas with Jason's family. We have decided to not waste any more of our little gray cells dwelling on the fact that we missed the flight. But I will tell you that after practically begging, bursting into tears, pouring out my heart, paying a fortune sweetly talking to the head Honcho at a certain airline we dislike, we caught another plane and actually made it to Miami, where we spent two too short days with our beloved friends Daniel and Tessa, and their adorable little princess, Tessa Isabella. Long story short, TI and Luka fell in love and had a blast together.

We then checked in early for our flight to New Orleans, only to wait for a long, long time for a delayed flight to the big Easy. Go figure. Goooo figure.

Sigh. but we are here, and we have been here and we are blessed to be with family and friends and we have been blessed with an abundance of kindness and generosity from everyone we encounter. God is so good to us.

He looks at her...

She looks at him...so this is love.

BeeGee and his grand babies.

Wild bunch

All excited about their matching PJ's

Me-EE-rry Christmaaas!

No need to faint. There were a lot of us. Hence the big pile.

Sleepy Christmas morning faces.

Poor baby was so sick, but he managed to open one present, at least, and watched bleary eyed as we oohed and ahhed over the rest for him.

The New Christmas Day tradition. Home. Made. Apple Pie.
Made by Moi, enjoyed by all.

Andy and Jill's engagement party
Congratulations!

Tis the Season....

...to share. It doesn't necessarily have to be a beautifully wrapped present or spare change dropped into a jingling can. Time, smiles, meals, a hug, a head pat, a back scratch (take note everyone, I particularly enjoy being on the receiving end of a back scratch), a big wave, a good wish, sincere prayers, tidings of great joy, all count in the beautiful art of sharing. Or, you could make ornaments together, but be prepared to still be cleaning glitter for at least a full year. We did just that. Two Saturdays ago we took a little afternoon trip to a Big City to purchase a REAL Christmas tree and all of the shenanigans that come with it. We did not go fancy on the shenanigans, but kept it simple and color coordinated. Last Sunday, Jason, Luka, our intern Dave and I had a little Christmas decorating party, along with small, cold boxes of non-alcoholic eggnog and some cheery Christmas music to tap our feet to while we wound lights around our sweet little tree and made a questionable star to top it off with.
Tuesday night we gathered with our friends to sip some coffee, munch on cookies and study God's Word together. Only this time we had a surprise birthday party awaiting Fanny, one of our Refuge workers and friends, and we made Christmas ornaments for our tree. We all had a verse related to the story of the birth of Christ to make into an ornament, and it was cool to see the different and creative ideas that were put into shape. What we had to work with:

• Shiny red card stock
• one pair of scissors
• one bottle of glue
• two sharpie markers
• colored Popsicle sticks
• green glitter
• silver glitter

Imagine trying to share all that among 15 people or so. Whew! Somehow we all ended up alive and well, and with an ornament to scribble our names on the back of and a lot of good laughs. Our tree now has a lot of character, and the cool thing is that the people who come into the cafe read the verses on the ornaments.
I love Christmas. I love what it means. I love what God did so long ago for mankind, and for providing for us so that we can enjoy all of the fun traditions of lights, decorations, gifts, pies, carols, candy canes and so on, which really have nothing to do with what God did, other than to spread more of what was deeply in His heart on that night when he sent His hope and redemption for all who would receive Him: Love. So go give your gifts, give your hugs, scratch a few backs, smile wide with a twinkle in your eye...even at someone you don't know. Spread His love as much as you can and maybe there might just be a little more peace on earth and goodwill toward men.

But momma I want to dig my fist into that cake. Isn't that reason enough to let me?

No, I'm not licking icing off my finger. Why do you ask?

Surprised! Hee hee.

The glitter station

"Does anyone know where the scissors are?"

Luka found the glitter...with his mouth.

Diego got fed up with his inability to get his hands on the art supplies and even less of a clue as to how to make an ornament. He had been twisting the verse paper while he waited, and decided it was just as well to glue it on like that. Hah! When he put it on the tree, he stuck one of the lights through the paper. It added a nice highlighting touch and quickly became one of my favorite ornaments.

Feliz Navidad!

The Bracelet

Remember me talking about that bracelet I've been dreaming about for years? Be forewarned, this will be a shallow, frivolous post. If that's not your cup o' tea, have a lovely day and I'll see you next post. XOXOX

Now, for those of us who take delight in beautiful things, let's continue, shall we? So. The bracelet. One of my "to do" matters while in Honduras was to find the bracelet and explore the possibilities of purchasing it into my loving care. I found it and ogled over it and then did the unthinkable and asked about the price. It had gone up. One. Hundred. Dollarrrrs. My sparkly little dreams casacaded around me, to put it lightly and I turned away with a "thank you" and a wistful little smile. Oh well. It would have been nice.

Then....

On one of our last days, we were running around completing errands and one of our stops happened to be right next door to a renown jewelry shop. I slipped in quietly, looked around and my eyes landed on the beauty portrayed above. All I wanted to do was try it on. That's all. Just try it on, admire, and walk away. But then I just had to do it. "Excuse me Ma'am, what is the price of this gorgeousness? Really? Well, that's not bad." Not bad at all. I think I could care for you pretty bracelet. For ever and ever, and then pass you down to someone special. And besides, I just got a nice order for jewelry to make that would pay for you (except for $10...but who cares about ten little dollars anyway?)....And then the lady removed all need for argument in a few short sentences. She informed me that the bracelet was made of Israeli silver that was special ordered for each unique design, and it was actually half off of the original price. SOLD.

It may not be the Mayan design I had originally wanted, but it is Israeli silver. And it's beautiful and I am really enjoying it. So if you happen to be around me and your eyes get dazzled by a pretty shiny thing, now you know the story behind it. And now our brains have been slightly expanded with a little bit of fluff.

round two

This post is for everyone, of course, but goes dedicated to my family, as it will most likely mean the most to them. The most of the post. Okay....I will now stop being ridiculous...

33 years ago marked the start of a journey that my parents embarked upon which took them down wild roads they most likely never dreamed of encountering. By a direction only God could give, they ended up fresh out of Spanish language school smack in the middle of a people and culture they knew nothing about, but had the heart to embrace fully. They had two little tow heads tagging along catching the rapt attention of anyone they passed, being admired for their bright yellow hair and blue eyes. They were in Honduras, and they were there with a mission: To share the good news of God's love and redemption for man. Now. Where to start? They knew no one. My Dad, being the great lover of sports that he is and a talented athlete, decided to join any and every sports team he could. Even a soccer team, which he had never been a part of. They made him the goalie, because he was bigger than anyone else that had ever, or would ever step foot on the field. He played soccer, baseball, basketball, golf, bowling....who knows what else. I'm sure he would have surfed if there'd been a beach close by. He played and he played well, and soon became well known around the city, making friends wherever he went. My mom, being the talented baker that she is, concocted delicious cakes and treats and soon they were hosting get-togethers and Bible studies in their home with all of their new friends. Over the years, these gatherings blossomed into what would later end up being one large city church, five village churches, a Bible institute, and a Christian Bilingual school. And three more tow heads were added into the mix...me being the cutest of all. Hee.
Part of our trip to Honduras a few weeks ago was to celebrate the 33rd Anniversary of the large city church, and my parents, who now live in the States United, were invited to come and be a part of the celebration. It was so exciting to witness so much of the fruit that God has produced through their lives and everyone else that has been involved over the years. I think it would be safe to say that thousands of people have been touched or changed in some way through what God has done through my parents. What an awesome heritage to have and what a standard to live up to! Thanks Mom and Dad, for being such a solid example of faithfulness, love, generosity and selflessness.

Yeah, I know. A very blurry picture. But hey now, there was a lot of movement going on in the kids section!

Don Allan is the pastor who is leading the church

* Disclaimer: This story is told as my own version, taken from snippets I've heard here and there throughout my life and is most likely flawed and missing a lot of details.