Surprise Visit

JEFFERSON

One Thursday night when the Casa Gabriel boys were coming over to our house, Lizandro and Jean Carlos (Jefferson's younger brother) arrived very early.  I had just started cooking dinner, Casey was not home yet, and the kids were upstairs playing Wii.  Lizandro told me that he had a surprise for me - he wanted to show me something.  He had a silly grin on his face and told me to close my eyes; Jean Carlos led me to the front door, and then they both told me to open my eyes.  I opened my eyes and there was Jefferson at my door.  Never saw that coming...I screamed, gave him one of those huge hugs, and then the tears came.  Jefferson had left Casa Gabriel almost one year ago, and I had not seen him since.  He lives in Manta, a coastal town in Ecuador with his mom. 

What fun it was to be in on the surprise for the rest of my family.  Casey, Luke, Jordan and Molly were so excited to see him.  The kids were like me with the screaming and hugs.  Casey did not scream, but he gave Jefferson one of those big, long hugs.

It was so sweet when Molly saw Jefferson.  She ran and jumped in his arms and gave him the biggest hug and would not let go.  She stayed by his side the whole evening.  I had to bribe her away from Jefferson with cookies so Casey and Jefferson could talk.  We praise God for Jefferson and for the greatest surprise to get to spend an evening with him.

San Valentin

Casey made Valentine's Day very special this year.  He created this delicious Oreo ice cream dessert and helped the kids each make a gift for me.  So sweet!

I am so thankful for Casey, Luke, Jordan and Molly, and I praise God for each one of them daily.  We usually do not celebrate Valentine's Day very much but this year was different.  Even though I have said that Valentine's Day is not that important to me, I will admit that I enjoyed all of our celebrations this year.

Last December we celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary.  We began dating when Casey was a senior in high school, and I was a junior.  We both went to Texas A&M and after 5 years of dating, we were very excited to marry one another.  Let's see this would be our 18th Valentine together.  I have now spent more of my life with Casey than without, and what a beautiful life I have with the man I love and admire the most.   

2 Special Evenings

For Valentine's Day, our husbands got together and cooked a delicious meal for us.  Our husbands then shared their stories of how they met their wives.  After a sweet and special time together, us wives had a surprise for our husbands...

LASER TAG!!!  We had so much fun!  Men against Women and it was an even tie!  It was such a fun night to be with good friends, eat delicious food, remember how we fell in love with our husbands and play and laugh together.   

A special Valentine evening with our Inca Link family

We went to a fun and delicious fondue restaurant.  Here we went around the table and shared a memorable time in the past year with your spouse.  Casey shared about our wonderful trip to San Antonio last summer together -  spending 3 days on the Riverwalk enjoying being with one another and catching up on lost time with yummy Mexican food.

Rich and Lisa - They are the directors of Inca Link.  We are so thankful for them as our leaders and dear friends. 

David and Lucy - David is a youth pastor at La Luz, and we are so blessed to have them as the house parents at Casa Elizabeth.

Fabian and Mabe - Fabian is also a youth pastor and beginning very soon he is going to be the director of Casa Blanca.  Casa Blanca is where we host retreats and short-term teams.  Mabe also serves at Casa Elizabeth.

Pedro and Dani - Pedro is a local business man who helps with the finances of Inca Link and serves on the Inca Link board.  Dani serves at Casa Elizabeth.

Juan Carlos and Courtney - They work with Youth World at El Refugio and they are also a part of Inca Link's MP3,  pastoral training and encouragement.  Courtney serves at Casa Elizabeth.  We have been blessed to have them as friends since we moved to Ecuador.

Here is Mabe cooking her food and Fabian picking out just the right seasonings.

Feliz San Valentin!  Casey and I are so blessed to serve with a wonderful team that is like a family to us and to have dear friends here in Quito. 

April 2011 Newsletter

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Bryans-Update---March--2011.html?soid=1102184300729&aid=jf018vzE53Y

Here is our latest April newsletter.  Of course, it says March 2011 update:)  Read to see what God is doing here in Ecuador.

Bible Study Ladies

Every other Wednesday night, I get to be with these wonderful ladies.  Last semester we did a Beth Moore study, Stepping Up and this semester we are studying different women in the bible.  Our group has experienced loss, joys, sadness, happiness, healing, disappointments, frustrations, tears, and lots of laughter together.  Our goal is to love one another, pray for each other, provide encouragement, live life together and always point one another straight to Christ.  I thank God for these beautiful friends He has provided here in Quito.  I am truly blessed.

Mari, Katie, Linsey, Kelley, Alaina, Carla, me

(not pictured is our sweet friend Beth who is in the States on HMA)

Cumpleaños de William

 

That night after Luke and Jordan's birthday parties, we also celebrated William's birthday.  The Casa G boys come over every Thursday night for dinner and bible study.  This Thursday night was special as we celebrated the life of William.  What a blessing he is in our lives!

William has the biggest and most beautiful smile.  I praise God for what He is doing in William's life.

Feliz Cumpleaños William!  Estamos muy orgulloso de ti y te queremos mucho. 

Birthday Parties (a little late)

Luke turned 11 on November 23 and Jordan turned 9 on December 29, and we finally had their birthday parties right before February started.  Luke and Jordan each invited three of their friends and we celebrated at Minicity, a super fun place in Tumbaco.

We had lunch and cupcakes before we headed to our party destination!

Opening presents

Here is the crew at Mini City.  As if this place is not awesome enough, there is also an indoor soccer field and the boys had to play.  3rd grade boys standing (with Molly) and 5th grade boys sitting.

The way Mini City works is you have to earn money by doing jobs then you can spend money.  Here are some pretty cute postal workers delivering mail to other stores.

Here are 4 serious guards protecting the streets of Mini City

Molly is guarding the grocery store, Supermaxi.

Jordan checking out groceries at Supermaxi.  Supermaxi is like our Brookshire's and Megamaxi is like our Wal-Mart.  Great names, huh?

Jung Woo and Jordan as mechanics

Driving the Aero-Gal airplane and answering safety questions earns you money, too.

After working, it is time to play!  Here are Luke, Nick and Luke dancing on TV - they had some great moves. 

Now Nico, Dylan, Jung Woo and Jordan are the movie stars.

Jung Woo driving, but first he had to go get his driver's license.

Molly walking the tight rope - the circus was definitely everyone's favorite!

Jordan made it all the way to the top of the climbing wall!

Nick working in the KinderJoy factory

Great teamwork in the pharmacy

Feliz Cumpleaños Luke!  11 years old - Wow!

Happy 9th Birthday Jordan!