Raúl and I at the Ark Encounter in Kentucky
It's been a month of immense love, honestly. We feel so blessed. Here is a rundown of where we've been, who we've seen, and what we've been up to:
Some Time at Home:
Towards the end of June we spend some much-needed downtime with my family, going to the river to play and cooking out as well as just living life together. On of the things Raúl loved was when my dad took him to see some car races in a nearby town. My husband loves all things adrenaline, and this was right up his alley. In the midst of that time, unfortunately, my mom had a fall and broke a bone in her ankle. So, her summer has taken an unexpected turn that has been difficult, but on the flipside of that, it's also meant that we've seen more of her since she hasn't been able to work. During our time at home, we had a small get together for people in our area who have been faithful supporters or who have had an interest in what we do. We're always so blessed by the people who follow our story and take the time to listen. It was a blessing to spend some time with those people and see them face-to-face.
Visiting with My Grandmom:Our next stop was to spend some time with my mom's mom. We enjoyed playing Chinese checkers with her and grilling out. We walked around her yard and got to see her handiwork and plants in bloom. While we were there, Raúl was ever eager to be of help in some physical capacity. So, he built a ramp for her shed and did some maintenance work on her house. I know it can be hard for our loved ones to receive his help especially since he is such a quick and eager worker, but he always feels so much more blessed, fulfilled, and connected to others when he's been able to help in some way. I really enjoyed my time there and my talks with her.
A Fourth of July with Nannie:While it was a short trip, Raúl and I headed back to my Nannie's to spend the 4th of July. We went to the state's largest 4th of July celebration to see the parade. Parades aren't necessarily my favorite, but Raúl loved seeing the motorcycles and decorated tractor trailers. Later that evening, we headed to dinner at my aunt's house where we had some delicious Thai food she had made. And, in the evening, Raúl enjoyed watching the fireworks that my uncle set off. All in all, I think it was a good first 4th of July in the US for Raúl.
A Trip to South Carolina:The next day, Raúl and I headed to South Carolina to see our dear friends, Beth and Chris. They came to our wedding, and we hadn't seen them since then. We felt spoiled with love by them all weekend. Chris took Raúl skeet shooting, which he loved. And we just enjoyed their company and kindness over steaks the size of our heads, delicious tomato sandwiches with tomatoes from their garden, and peach cobbler. No one does Southern hospitality like they do. One of the most precious parts of our trip was getting to meet their foster son. Watching them love on him and care for him was truly beautiful as I saw so much of Jesus' love in their service. They are amazing parents, and I am so proud of them. It was such a delight to see them; they always make us feel like family.
The Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum:The day after driving back from South Carolina, Raúl and I packed up again to go to Kentucky with my parents. My dad had long wanted to go see the Noah's ark replica there, and we were happy to go with them. We went to the Creation Museum the first day where we saw an amazing 3-D depiction of Creation and saw another video in a planetarium showing visually just how vast space is and how small we are in relation to all that is out in our universe. The wonder of God's grandeur is just so humbling. My problems and concerns seem so ridiculously minuscule when I consider the grand scheme of things, but at the same time, God doesn't minimize my problems and takes interest in the details of my life. That kind of love is beyond words. The following day we went to see the Ark, which was huge! It was cool to see something from the Bible come to life, and I also enjoyed the practical information about how Noah could have organized the care for so many animals. It's fascinating to consider just how advanced in engineering they could have been in Noah's time. As a bonus, we also made our way to the kitschy Jungle Jim's International Market near Cincinnati, Ohio. It's a huge grocery store that has a vast section of international foods from nations like Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Italy, Hungary, the UK, and many more.
Now we're back to home base for a while, and as our time is dwindling down, we're overwhelmed by how well people have loved us and how blessed we've been. Saying goodbyes will be hard. As far as conditions in Honduras, things seem calmer. There are still the isolated, occasional roadblock or protest, but it seems like there has been a shift away from some of the more dramatic incidents that had been occurring in past months. Thank you for your prayers for Honduras and for your prayers for us. We value all of you so much.
