Home Sweet Home

Howdy Neighbors!

This blog is called Adventures in Chaos, and that's exactly what missionary life here in Tegucigalpa is like. Thankfully, we have DeeAnn to help orchestrate all that chaos. She's our Honduras Field Treasurer and lives in our building. In addition to handling all the field finances, she's been our welcoming committee! I don't know what we (or anyone else for that matter) would do without her.

DeeAnn also has a little miniature schnauzer mix that is extremely curious about her new neighbors. Sasha also makes me feel a little more at home because I love dogs and she reminds me of my mom's little schnauzer. DeeAnn and Sasha have made settling in to our new life just a little sweeter and we have already been blessed by their ministry to us!

Tonight we get to dog-sit! Yay!

We're Legal!

Going to the immigration office in Honduras is a lot like spending the day at the DMV in the States. We were whisked away this morning by a lawyer to a crowded office, where we passed from one station to another. And finally after a couple of hours, we had our carnets (residency papers)!

Now we just have to do the whole exercise again on Thursday for Nick.

UPDATED!!!! 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

30 Things We Want to Do DID Before We Leave

These last months have been busy, stressful and exhausting. But that doesn't mean we didn't have a little fun along the way. We finally finished the checklist that mattered the most.

Click on the "photo" link beside each item on our list to see a picture.

1. Eat at Pablo's  photo
2. Make a snowman photo
3. See a movie at a theatre photo
4. Have pizza delivered  photo
5. Eat at Mr. Pig Stuff photo
6. Enjoy fall foliage  photo
7. Go bowling  photo
8. See a baseball game photo
9. Go for a bike ride  photo
10. Eat at Taco Bell  photo
11. Spend an afternoon all alone  photo
12. Take a bath photo
13. Have a root beer float photo
14. Eat Nana's No-Bake Cookies photo
15. Eat pumpkin pie photo
16. Pet a dog that doesn't growl or bite photo
17. Play Mario Kart  photo
18. Drink hot chocolate  photo
19. Appreciate the dishwasher  photo
20. Lie on the carpet photo
21. Have a snowball fight photo
22. Wear shorts  photo
23. Enjoy the a/c photo
24. Eat a glazed donut  photo
25. Eat a bowl of cereal other than Corn Flakes photo
26. Go skiing photo
27. Knit something  photo
28. Go geocaching  photo
29. Watch t.v.  photo
30. Eat Grandma's pancakes  photo

We're Soaked

The packing and moving is done. The hours of time on the road has come to an end. And we've spent this week learning how to adjust to life on the field with a group of some of the most inspiring and passionate people we've ever met. We're more than exhausted. We're soaked.

It's raining in Indiana this week. And as the snow melts, it has revealed muddy earth that is the consistency of a soaked sponge. And that is a fitting environment for these last hours in the U.S. Our minds are overwhelmed with the information we've been taught and with plans that need to be executed in the coming days. And our hearts are full with a renewed passion for God's global plan and the love of the new relationships we've developed. At the same time, it's difficult to ignore the family and friends we're leaving behind. There aren't really words that capture all that emotion.

Tomorrow a new chapter begins. But today we're just like the ground in Marion, Indiana. We're just soaked.

We may be bound for nations around the globe, but we are forever connected in a very special way.

#2 Make a Snowman

#2 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

We had a little help from some other MK's to accomplish this one.

#29 Watch T.V.

#29 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

Nick arranged a viewing of Star Trek and Superman in the conference room at the WGM headquarters in Indiana.

#23 Enjoy the A/C

#23 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

#18 Drink Hot Chocolate

#18 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

#24 Eat a Glazed Donut

#24 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

Yes, it's a bear claw. And yes, he ate the whole thing!

#19 Appreciate the Dishwasher

#19 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

#28 Go Geocaching

#28 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

It was a little cold search, but victory was Nick's!

The Packing Saga

In addition to packing up our apartment to move out, we've also been packing our suitcases. This is the fun part, but it can sometimes feel like a jigsaw. The trick is not just fitting everything in, but making sure every suitcase weighs no more than 50 pounds. Steve is a genius at making all this happen, but even so it has taken several attempts and a lot of compromise and sacrifice. And since we had to pack over a week ago and we're too afraid to upset the careful balance, the three of us been living our of just one suitcase for the past two weeks. It will feel like Christmas when we finally get to open and unpack the other suitcases!

This could be the reason it required a a Suburban to get the three of us to Indiana for Orientation Camp.

#17 Play Mario Kart

#17 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

Apparently, Wii (and thus Mario Kart) is "so over". PlayStation 4 is so much better...at least according to Nick and our nephew, Tyler!

#10 Eat at Taco Bell

#10 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

#7 Go Bowling

#7 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

Bowling with our nephew Tyler and Nick's girlfriend, Kaitlyn. Don't let Tyler's bored face fool you. He had a blast beating us all!

#4 Have Pizza Delivered

#4 of 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

Just so you know, the Pizza Hut guy said he wouldn't have his picture taken because "there's policy against doing that." Really? Just how many delivery guys get asked to to get a photo with their pizza?!?!

#11 Spend an Afternoon All Alone

#11 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

As you might imagine, alone time is often scarce on the mission field. Spending an entire afternoon with the house to oneself is quite a luxury. Who am I kidding? It's a luxury at our house not matter where we live! So it was a special treat for Steve when I took Nick shopping for an entire afternoon last week.

I asked Steve to snap a selfie during his alone time and this is what I got.

#12 Take a Bath

#12 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

I'm more of shower person anyway, but Steve is going to miss his time in the tub (and probably his ducky too!)

#13 Have a Root Beer Float

#13 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

Root beer floats and Settlers of Catan—what could be better? Sharing it with our good friends, Katie and Lori!

#22 Wear Shorts

#22 from 30 Things We Want to Do Before We Leave

OK, this one can be confusing. Yes, it's hot in Honduras. And yes, kids can wear shorts. But generally, unless they're playing soccer, wearing shorts is not very common, especially among missionaries and their kids. But Nick got to wear his all day on Jersey Day at school last week!