It's amazing to me how people can impact one another. How a person who is basically a stranger can bless you so deeply that it impacts your whole day, week, month...etc. Maybe I'm a wimp, but I have been known to cry with a stranger walking on the street who stopped to share a story about her son. Yup - that happened shortly after we got here with a neighbor whom I'd just met on that day. Good news is, she still greets me and we have sweet chats fairly regularly. I had another moment like that today. I have to give you a little background.
About three or four months ago, we were standing in church during worship. At our church here the kids always participate in the singing part of the service. Jonathan was standing next to me. Out of no where, he walks away from me, walks across the isle to stand next to a gal in the neighboring row. He immediately grabs her hand and assumes same posture of looking forward as he was at my side. Jonathan had never interacted with this woman. We knew who she was because she's a member at our church, but had never exchanged more than a good morning with her. It was odd. Quick thought ran through my head, "do I go get him? Should I go stand next to them...?" Not really sure what to do, I decided to stay put. The gal looked up at me with a huge smile. There was joy beaming from her face. "Whew...at least she doesn't hate children!" I thought. Jonathan remained next to her until the children went up to their classes. At the end of service the woman, Raquel, came to me and said she loved Jonathan's gesture. Our exchanged ended there. Since then our greetings grew warmer, but no more significant interactions. Until today.
After church Raquel came to find me. She said she'd been wanting to share for a long time why the incident was so significant for her. She shared that she and her husband have been praying for a long time to get pregnant. I could see the longing on her face for a baby. Immediately I tear up. She went on to say that God used Jonathan that day to calm her heart. She said by my little man going over and grabbing her hand, God spoke hope into the situation and gave her peace in His control. Really...my spunky little electric ball of energy had that sort of impact? Yes, the innocence of a child, used by the hand of God Almighty. It was a beautiful thing to hear. What she said next was what I am certain has marked my year. She said she's noticed an intentionality in my rearing of the boys. She said parenting is discipleship (that's my heart) and that God is honoring my efforts. She said God was using our diligence as parents to use our children in His purposes. This is were I lost it. Tears flowed.
What Raquel didn't know was that this year has been the most externally challenging year of parenting for me. Raquel had no idea that I've felt discouraged and isolated many times as a momma. Feeling my choices in parenting are so different. I've ignored many strange looks at choices we make in parenting. I've heard our family be called "radical". I've felt disrespected an misunderstood. Raquel had no idea the impact of her words. It was as if God Himself had opened her mouth and said, "My child, keep on keeping on. I'm using you. I'm using your children. This is so out of your control. Keep walking with Me. Keep guiding those boys towards Me. I've got you."
I got to share with Raquel some of this - I had to. There were tears pouring out of my eyes and snot coming out of my nose!!! She needed an explanation! I think it blessed her so. Raquel's no longer a stranger. She's a woman used by God in my life to give me the encouragement I've needed to validate the last 7 months of life. It only took those two interactions. But for all intents, she was someone I knew nothing about. She knew nothing about me or my family. But my oh my - how our lives were divinely marked by one anthers.
Stranger Blessings.
So grateful!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Many adventures
This will be my last post on our trip to the country side. I couldn't end this little mini-series without posting about our many adventures. From fishing, to riding horses, to hiking, to swimming in the most unlikely places, there was a ton of joyful memories made!
Birds
My aunts uncles have birds - lots of birds! We got to feed, play with, and talk to them. This one even went swimming with the boys (opps!)
"Pesca e Pague" (Fish and Pay)
My parents took us on an outing to fish. Unfortunately, we got caught with a ton of rain.
But that didn't keep us from having fun!
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| Stuck under cover, but everyone's smiling! |
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| Our "view"! |
What did we do with our "Christmas in Eden" goods? Made homemade Guava Jelly! Yumm!
Random findings in my Grandmothers neighborhood!
"Exercising" with Vovo and Mema!
Water fun with Vovo and Mema (and Daddy)!!
On the Farm!
One of my aunts lives on a farm. This was a big highlight. Beautiful scenery! Awesome place to hike. Not to mention the animals and more water to enjoy!
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| This deserves a pause for the background story. Before traveling to see my family, Austin was CONVINCED he was going to get to ride on TOP of a horse. I assured him that we'd see horses, but was not sure if he'd get to ride on one. When seeing the horses at my aunts house, he saw this as his perfect opportunity. The man caring for the horses had told the boys that he would set up the carriage for them to ride. Upon getting back to my aunt's home, Austin promptly told me that he wasn't going to ride on the carriage, but rather, he was going to get ON TOP of the horse. When the time came, I pulled the boys aside and told them that we were not going to ask for anything more than what was offered to us. I explained that we were going to be thankful for whatever the man allowed them to do. They both shook their heads and repeated, "We aren't going to ask for anything. We are going to be thankful!" Now - the picture you see of the boys leaning up against the fence... after our little talk the boys ran to the fence and watched the man caring for the horse. Austin says (as loud as he could), "DO YOU THINK HE'S GONNA OFFER FOR US TO RIDE ON TOP OF THE HORSE?!?" I'll let the rest of the pictures tell the story! |
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| And they were really worn out by the end of it all. But please note, we didn't put Jonathan to sleep on the hard tile floor. That was their choice. They feel asleep like this as Austin loved on his bro! This goes down as one of my all time favorite mommy moments (and yes, we did put Jonathan back on the matters) |
A Day in Taiuva
Another one of my Aunts lives in a neighboring city.
We got to spend the day there. What sweet sweet memories!
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| Yup, just in the side of the street for any curious kiddo to climb on! |
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| 2nd cousins having a wrestling match! Not sure who had more fun! |
TRACTORS!
The beauty of small town life, is you see something you want to do, all you have to do is ask.
Chances are you'll be granted a fun opportunity!
Owl Sightings!
Grand Finale - New Years on the farm!
We spent the 31st and 1st back on the farm. Most of the family came to celebrate either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day with us. It was the perfect way to end an incredibly memorable trip!
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| Preparing with my cousins! Loved everything I learned in the kitchen with my aunts and cousins :) |
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| Hiking to the 100 year old Fig tree! |
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| Last Sunset of 2012! |
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| And a Rainbow! How appropriate to saw hello close out 2012 and bring in 2013 with a reminder of God's promises. He never fails! |
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| Happy New Year! |
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| Adventures don't have to end just because you have to go to sleep! This was the new years mask. Jonathan was convinced he was Batman! Oh this kid brings so much richness to our lives! |
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There's no words to describe the significance of this trip! Thanks for bearing with the pictures, the stories, and the unending posts. I am well aware that this opportunity is very rare. I am also keenly in tune with the fact that the boys are only 2 and 3 years old. Chances that their little memories will retain any of these adventures are slim to none. However, it's so important to me that they know all their roots. They are privileged little men who have a rich heritage. Hopefully these posts will tell them the stories when they no longer tell it themselves. For now, they still talk about all my family and these many adventures. In hearing them recount the stories, the trip continues to bring us joy!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Love from the Family
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| Meet my Grandma - Luzia |
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| My mom (right) with her sister Selma (left) - that's right, she's blond with blue eyes. Many of my family members look more like Aaron than like me :) |
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| Mom (far right) with her brother Alemao, wife Sandra, and daughter Pamela (missing my other cousin Junior) |
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| My Aunt Bernadete with her brother Nene and his wife Fatima (left to right) |
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| Me and my cousin Dayana - everyone says we look like sisters! |
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| Me and the boys with my cousins (who are sisters) Dayana (left) and Daniela (right) |
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| Boys with Drausio (Daniela's husband- pictured above) |
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| My aunt Zilda with my cousin Andre Zilda lives with my grandmother. Andre is one of 4 boys. I only got a picture of him :/ |
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| My cousin Leticia with her son Matheus (Leticia is Selma's daughter - pictured above with my mom) |
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| Me and my cousin Rosemarie |
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| Jonathan having a blast with my 2nd cousin Igor |
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| Left-Leah (cousin's wife, Igor's mom) Right - Rosemarie (cousin) |
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| Ruberlie my cousin (married to Leah, father to Igor. Also has another son whom I didn't get his picture!) |
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| My cousin Roselie (Rosemarie's and Ruberlie's sister) with her son Gabriel |
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| Stefane (my cousin's Rosemarie's daughter) |
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| Boys with Tayla (my cousin's Rosemarie other daughter) |
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| My aunt Bernadete, her husband Penguin, and two daughters |
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| Me and a few of my girl cousins :) |
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| Last but not least, us at the breakfast table with my mom, dad, and Grandmother - or "Bisa" as the boys called her (meaning great-grandmother) |
What's most amazing in all of this is the incredible love we received. It's wild that they had not seen Aaron or me in 6 years. They had not met the boys. Yet the love the shared with us was beyond abundant. They gathered us with open arms as if we were a part of their day to day. They delighted in playing with the boys. They hungered to spend time with Aaron and I. We invaded their homes, their lives, and their time. In turn, they blessed us with overflowing love!
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