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

Thanks for making me a wimp MOM!!!

If you know my mother you know that she will cry at an AT&T commercial, if someone else is crying (or should be) or ... well if you know her you know, almost anything.

I would like to publicly thank her for making me a boob! 

Today some good friends of ours left for Africa.  I was sad that my husband was losing a good friend but even sadder that my daughter was losing her friend. 

The family headed for the airport before the kids even got home from school so I went over to say my good-byes.  As I hugged my daughters little friend tears came to my eyes because I knew that it would be years if not longer until these good friends got together again. 

I would like to point out, no one died, they have only been friends for 7 months and I was not even saying good-bye to my own friend.  But because my mother gave me the wimpy cry genes this is what happens to me when an AT&T commercial come on the TV, at the end of a particularly sad Grey's Anatomy or when I have to say good-bye to a 10 year old that my daughter loves.

As usual .... it is all my mother's fault.

My Birthday Wish

     I know it has been a couple of months since my birthday but my mother is so dang funny I thought I would share her humor with you.

     So admittedly I know I am terribly difficult to shop for.  There are very few things I want that I don't need.  (Things that I need I just go buy and don't wait for my birthday to come around.)  But this year after just having a baby I am struggling to get the baby weight off.  So when asked what I would like for my birthday I told my mother I would like to lose 40 lbs.  "Do you think you can arrange that for me?"

     So when my birthday came I got this very sweet letter explaining just how much my parents love me and how they would go to the ends of the earth to get me what I wanted for my birthday.  I open the gift and this is what I find.

Yes!  I believe she does stay up nights just thinking of ways to crack herself up!

MY MOM!

So on this day a long, long, loooong time ago the world was given the gift of my mother.  I know many of you may of missed it or been unaware of her influence on the world but let me assure you she has changed the lives of many. 

My Mom is one of those people who they make movies about.  She was born into a home that had many trials, yet she found a way to prevail.  Not only did she make her life better but she managed to make every moment of my life (and that of my sister) memorable.   I have often noted that it was not until I was an adult that I realized that not every mom was like she is.  She never missed an event in my life.  She attended every performance of the school play, every band concert (even when the most exciting song was hot cross buns), and never failed to chauffeur from place to place when I needed it. 

She taught us how to give even when we didn't have a lot.  And she taught us to find joy in serving others. 

And now, just when you would think she would rest she has become the nearly perfect grandmother.  Never failing to think about my kids and the many exciting events in their lives.  She attends every event she can make it to and makes the most out of those visits (seeing Emma's school play 5 times even though her part was only 5 minutes).  She sends letters and "just because" gifts so the kids will get something in the mail.   And there is no doubt in my kids' minds how much they are loved by their Sweetie Pie. 

So to My Dearest Mother:  I love you!  I miss you!  I can't wait to see you!  I hope you have a wonderful birthday and can feel our love all the way from here!  We love you to the moon and back, to infinity and beyond and no matter what, where ever we are, you will always be in our hearts!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!