Tuesday, January 30, 2007

April 29th

"What's April 29th?", you might ask.

Well, April 29th is 90 days from now.

I (Holly) started our favorite workout videos today - Power90. So in 90 days, I will have achieved a "total body transformation." Not really what I'm going for - just want to get some excercise without jogging around the muggy streets of Rio San Juan. (Said muggy streets are also filled with mostly benign & well-meaning, ogling, cat-calling, shirtless men.)

Will there be before & after pics? I don't think so. But I'll post again on April 29th and let you know how it goes.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Aqui Estamos

We're back!
For the last week we have been settling back into our life here in Rio San Juan, reconnecting with the kids in our area and getting excited for some of the new ideas we have for the ministry. But before the ministry can begin, there was the unpacking of the exactly 275 pounds of batterychargers/twinkies/DVDs/ministry material that we managed to sneak through customs without any taxes. (Holly just smiles at them and they wave us through.)
After that, we set to cleaning the apartment, upon which had descended a fine, yet disturbing layer of mold during the month we were away. With the pillows thrown out, we think we got most of it and I will stop sneezing soon, surely.
The kids were excited to see us, as well as the few mothers/Gmas that we have met- one told us last night that her daughter-" she make me crazy to ask about TJ and Holly"! It made us feel good to know we were missed.
After a long, long Sunday night, Holly and I sat down to watch an episode of the TV show "Alias" that we borrowed from our friends, the Thompsons. Needless to say, we are hooked beyond healtiness, and are glad to escape Spanish every once in a while to be CIA double agent spies with Sydney. (Except that Holly says I would make the worst spy in the history of spies- I can't keep secrets and she always finds her birthday presents before I give them to her.)
Other than that- lots of good ministry news coming down the pike- we will keep you updated! Love you guys and thanks for your prayers and comments.
TJ

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

DFW. It's a love/hate thing.

Our dislike for the Metroplex stems from trifles - too many BedBath&Beyond's, and taking highways to get everywhere. But our love for the city is well grounded - it's home to some of our favorite friends. Our trip to the States wouldn't have been complete without a trip to see them.

Here are snapshots from our day - we drove from one corner to the other, but it was more than worth it.



We went to ACU with Jim & Kelly, but really got to know them in Nashville 2 years later. Jim & Kelly moved to Dallas after Jim finished law school, and they are dearly missed at Otter Creek. Our life group at OC is jealous that we got to meet their brand new little girl before they did. We're so happy for you, Jim & Kelly! (They made me promise not to post the picture of the three of them - they thought they looked tired. But we think they look great & I'm sure they don't have time to read blogs right now, so they'll never know!)



We met Blair on our first day of language school in Guatemala. Antigua would not have been nearly as wonderful without her sweet company. We studied together, shopped together, travelled together. TJ & I spent lots of time speculating on/contriving to get Blair & Brad together. They are dating now, though probably not due to our many pseudo-double-dates. Blair spent a few months working at an orphanage in Guatemala, and now she's back in Dallas.



Jarod was one of TJ's roommates at ACU, and Rachel & Holly were roommates all 4 years. It was so good to see them again! We stayed with Rachel & her husband in Frisco. Our time there included a shower mishap, talking until 2am, and an early morning encounter with a man-maid! I guess adventures continue even after college.



We had ate dinner with Matt, Christine & their son, Jack. We were friends in college, and Matt & TJ were roommates in the nastiest house on Ambler. (Seriously. There was squirrel fur coming out of the vents). It was great to be with this sweet family, and seeing them with Jack makes the whole parenting idea a little less abstract & intimidating.


That's it. The end of our adventures in Dallas. Now it's your turn to come see us!

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Livin' on Tulsa (Jenks) Time...


This week we are enjoying spending time with the McCloud family, meeting with our Missions Committee, and the Park Plaza eldership. Activities include; great food, mexican train dominoes, a screening of "Dreamgirls" (which rocked our socks off) and some laid back family time around the hardest puzzle in the world.