Turmoil in the Middle East, but Tranquility in Paraguay

So I got an email from my Dad today begging me to call my mother.  "We are concerned and your mom (and I love the wording here) is a nut case." 
I found this article and although it was not written by my mother, it very well could have been.
As I'm sure most of you know, the safety and security of our diplomats in the Middle East is cause for concern.  But please rest assured that thus far our family has been blessed with the tranquility of being surrounded by good people in a small and stable nation.  Even when there were questions several months ago by the ousting of Former President Lugo and the Embassy asked Mission personnel to stay clear of downtown and congregating crowds and protests, there was still relatively little violence throughout the country. 
So if you called my mom wondering if we are alright, thank you so much for your concern.  We are doing great!  Next time you are worried about us, feel free to give us a call.  We still have the same phone number we have had for 10 years.  -- If you have lost it, call my mom; I'm pretty sure she still has it. 
PLEASE NOTE!!!  You do not have to wait until there is tragedy in the world to call us.  We would love to hear from you anytime.  (Please just check the time zones we will soon be 4 hours ahead of mountain time.)
I would like to take this moment and thank my family who has been so supportive of our adventurous journey.  Sometimes it is easier not to say anything, to fail to acknowledge the sacrifice we have forced you to make.  I'm sorry, I know this is hard for you.  I know that it is times like these that the sacrifice seems amplified.  Others can't possibly know how you feel (well except possibly the mother that wrote that article, maybe you should facebook friend her), not even us.  I wish there was something I could say that would make the distance between us feel justified.  But there isn't, so please just know, I appreciate that you support our decision, I love that you worry, and I'm grateful that you visit. 

4th of July in Asuncion

     Sorry this post is not coming to you until 6 weeks after the 4th of July.  I can blame some of it on family fun, and getting ready for back to school; but some of it just boils down to being lazy.    

     So I think the best way to tell you about the party is just to show you how much fun we had.  This was our first 4th of July overseas as a family and I didn't know what to expect.  It was a lot of fun.  However the party for families actually occurred on June 30th.   

Friend Fun

Balloons

Food

Family Fun

Statue of Liberty

Egg Toss

Long lines for bouncy slides

Soccer (futbol)

Cheaters in the 3 legged race

Super Cute Babies

Dancing

Music

Cartoon Artists

Tug-o-war

Still got it!

Egg Toss

Prizes (we had 7 tickets and won 3 prizes!)

Uncle Sam

      



  




Best of All FAMILY!!!

 The following pictures are pictures from the actual 4th of July.  There was a more formal party at the Ambassador's residence later in the day that I do not have pictures of, but was a very nice event.  I was an interesting event as the change (ousting of the last president) of political power had just occurred (a week or so ago) here in Paraguay and the Embassy didn't know if they should expect the old administration, the new administration, some of each or none at all.  I'm going to say it was a success, although my Spanish leaves something to be desired so I could have missed something.  But I enjoyed myself and they had peanut butter cookies.  What else could a girl ask for?

Marines with the flag

Raising the flag



Star Spangled Banner

Ambassador speaking