My Baby Goes to Camp...Sierra and the rest of the 4th grade from Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro left this morning on a 5 1/2 hours bus ride to a ranch outside of Sao Paulo for a week long retreat. They will return on Friday afternoon. She was so excited, so in a state of anticipatory, that she woke 3 times in the middle of the night, thinking she was about to vomit. I am afraid to report that she has my anxiety gene (I get terribly nervous the night before "firsts"). This morning she was a little nervous and a little uneasy, but overall excited. A quick hug and kiss, with her pillow sticking out between our bodies, and she was off on her first week long adventure away from home or family or a computer or the phone or... ME!

I'll update again when she returns most likely full of stories on Friday afternoon!

As I feel sorry for myself, for being sick and sleeping the majority of the last 2 days, wanting to go back to bed yet again as the fever doesn't seem to want to break, I was reminiscing about our wonderful holiday in Ilha Grande. I revisited the pictures, filed safely on the computer, and came across this one again of Sierra and Sophie playing near the water as we waited for our boat to arrive. Ahhh, the sand the sun the feeling of health...one day it will return.

Sisters...Rain rain go away!

One thing you can't control is the weather. We all know this. It's inevitable that when you plan something that depends on good weather, it rains or storms or is too hot or too cold. That is exactly what happened for half of Dana's visit to Rio--home to one of the most famous beaches (Copacabana) in the world. When people come to Rio, they anticipate endless days of sunshine, walking the beaches amidst people skantily clothed in efforts of keeping cool. However, it has been raining in Rio since Feb 3rd. Almost nonstop.

A little rain, however, does not interfere with the fun Sisters can have when together. Because no matter the weather, the location, the event, Sisters know how to enjoy being together. We manage to fight our way through a crowded blocos during Carnaval in Rio, in the rain, dripping with sweat. We manage to go to watch the SuperBowl on one television, in an overcrowded bar in Rio, hearing more English than imagined possible. We manage to spend an entire day playing cards and drinking beer on the veranda in Rio. We manage to drive to one of the most beautiful beaches--Grumari--on a cloudy, overcast day in Rio. We stay out the rain in anticipation for 4 days on an island, cruising through the waters in a private boat, eating fresh seafood.

Because Sisters don't need sunshine in the sky, we have sunshine between us and within us and through us. And it is that sunshine that eventually comes through in laughter and smiles and the creating of happy memories. Sometimes you just have to create the sunshine!

OR...We find any sunshine we can! Dana and Sierra emit sunshine where ever they go! They even brought out this sunshine the overcast day on Grumari.

And when the rain in the city doesn't stop, Sisters drive...far enough away...chasing the sunshine on the horizon...to a beautiful beach...ready for adventures.

To an empty beach just waiting for us to pull up and drop anchor.

To the beach waiting for us to swim ashore, search for shells, shuffle our feet through the sand, bask in the sunshine, burn to a crisp, work up an appetite...search for somewhere to have lunch...And Sisters continue to shine as they are guided to the most adorable beachside restaurant. With a pool for the kids to play in while the adults experiment with exotic drinks and equisite seafood dishes...Sisters laugh in the evenings, when crab hunting is a fun way to pass the time and an exciting way to build courage.Sisters laugh, no matter the situation. Even when we get stalled in the middle of the boat passage, in shark infested waters, Sisters still laugh...Sisters jump in the water and try to paddle the boat to the marina with their own feet in order to refuel and continue their adventures...because Sisters know how to find the sunshine!Sisters find the beauty in the simple things. The simple places that most people pass by without a second glance.The comfort things that only Sisters appreciate in the same way.

The only bad thing about Sisters is having to say goodbye because they live their days thousands of miles apart.
The only way to say it is using an expression in Portuguese: Eu tenho muito saudades pra ela!! And my Sister has only been gone 2 hours.

Hangin out and havin fun!!!

Ela Chegou!! (She arrived!)

I am happy to write that my sister arrived safely yesterday afternoon. This morning it is raining, but the clouds appear to be breaking up, so when we leave home in the next few minutes we will put swimwear under our clothes just in case...

Many fun days ahead!

Joe took these two pictures last night while we were waiting to eat. With it being the same angle of our faces, I realize how much we look alike!

Here's me (duh!).

Here's my sister. Scary, isn't it?

Visa worries, crazy travels, and one sister on her way.

I posted a few months back "ode to my sister" (I don't know how to do the fancy links, so you'll have scroll through several dozen posts to find it again). Well, the subject of that very post is currently enroute to--Rio!! After several stressful weeks waiting for her passport with visa stamp inside to be returned, she is actually boarding the first leg of her journey as I type this email.
See there were a couple of mix ups with the processing of the visa. The first, her error (and quite understandable for someone acquiring their first Visa to an international destination). The second, I feel the consulate website error (they increased a fee by $30 and didn't publish the increase until after the first of the year and after she had sent the paperwork through). The final stage really wasn't an error. Rather, it was a very clear example of how things get done (or not) in Brazil--SLOWLY! Her flight left VA this evening. For the past 3 days she has been greeting her friendly mail carrier awaiting the necessary passport. For the past 3 days, the passport has not been amongst the other items delivered.
Feeling rather frazzled, my beautiful sister hounded the post office and the Brazilian Consulate in Washington DC trying to determine what day the envelope in fact left DC. Come to discover, the envelope was sent in the mail on January 30th! Did I mention her flight is today FEBRUARY 1?
At 10 this morning, my sister sped across town, to the Post Office, to personally pick up her mail for the day. Sped back home to complete her packing that was put on psuedo-hold in the absence of the passport, trek to the airport only to find...
The flight to Newark to connect to the international flight has been CANCELLED!!
Have I ever claimed that traveling is easy business? If I have, I apologize now for misleading you. It is not easy. It is not stressfree. There are no guarantees.
Well, "No problem" says the friendly Continental airlines ticket counter employee, we'll re-route you through Houston.
"There's a flight leaving for Rio tonight at 9:05, let's get you checked in all the way through."
But wait. Hold on. "You'll need to check with the gate attendants when you arrive in Houston. It seems that flight is full."
"We'll just check your bags all the way through."
Dana calmly replies; "Ah, ok. I guess." and proceeded to the departure gate designated for her first leg.
It was about this time that I phoned Dana to find out her status and her ETA. She was rather calm considering. Then again, after the stress of the past few days waiting for the mail, connecting to an all ready full flight is small potatoes.
In thinking about our 10 or more flights back and forth since moving to Rio, I remembered that a "Full Flight" almost always means One Vacant Seat. At this rate, it's a good thing she is flying alone. I don't really think they would have put her through to Houston with unlikely chances. Do you?
By this time tomorrow, we should all be jumping in the streeets, enjoying the blocos of Carnival in Rio and looking forward to many sunny days on the beach. Keep your fingers crossed that when the plane arrives in Rio tomorrow at 1, she is in fact on it.

An afternoon of good company and the closest to Tex Mex one can find in Rio.


A little mojito (or two) to wash down the tortillas and guacamole! Thank you Rota 66 for coming to Leblon, within walking distance from our house.

Brazilians take their soccer seriously!

This is a TRUE Flamingo fan!

Is he not one of the cutest things you've ever seen?
Meet Nicholas Cael. Son of our friends Alvaro and Liana. He makes me weak; he's so darn cute!!

What do you get when you combine water, dish soap, plastic and a few dozen fearless kids?

Play this video to find out...

We're Home Safely
And still thawing out from our MN winter vacation. It was bittersweet leaving on Tuesday. We had a remarkable visit with Mom and Dad; we were blessed with three days of play with Joe's brother's family; we relaxed and read good books. We are settling back in and catching up on missed sunshine.
Will post new pictures of our next adventure(s) soon. Today my task for you is to kiss and hug your loved ones an extra time. It could never be too much.

Birthdays...Babies...Old Friends...
We are certainly enjoying our time here in MN for our "winter vacation". It is hard to believe we will be leaving in four days. The time has gone so fast. Some days it feels like I have just gotten out of bed and the sun is going down--that may be due to the fact that it sets at 4:30 and I've been sleeping until 10 every day.
For the past 15 years Vicks and I have celebrated our birthdays together. Her birthday is the 7th of January and mine is the 8th. We have cut it up many-o-times. This year was no different.We started the evening with dinner at my favorite Minneapolis restaurant--Figlio's. Emab has joined the birthday festivities in the past 8 years as her birthday falls a couple of weeks after mine and Vicks', so Em and Stefan, Vicks and Chad, and Joe and I enjoyed dinner before heading to Nordeast to meet the rest of the gang for cocktails.Some things never change. Vicks and I toasted the night with commemorative Rolling Rocks and continued to laugh and joke and more or less create mayhem until bar closing when Vicki found it necessary to inform the Karaoke singer developing his own redition of "We Built this City", "You Suck!" Poor guy had no idea what was coming. That was about the time that I kindly escorted Vicks toward the door to her husband and the waiting car ride home. The night was not void of Vicks letting Joe know how awesome he is. I have known this group of friends since my first year of undergrad, and it is not always an easy group to put up with...not because any of them are unwelcoming, but because the "newbie" could easily choose to resist the temptation of involving him/herself with such a cracked group of individuals. Gotta love 'em though!!
The time spent with mom and dad has been priceless. Mom is feeling really good, and it looks like she won't start chemo for about 2 weeks after we leave. This has been selfishly wonderful. She tires quickly and rests part of most days, but her resilience and spirits are unsurmountable. And the wildlife around their house is always a surprise. Last year it was the box turtles scuttling across the yard. This winter it is the flock of wild turkeys that come in almost daily to feed off what the birds knock down from the feeders. It is so quiet out here. Such a change from our big city living in Rio. It is welcomed respite.
Sierra and I also took advantage of a warm day (35 degrees fahrenheit) to build a snowman and have a snowball fight. It think we did a pretty good job given the fact that neither of us has built a snowman for at least 3 years. We named her Mustang Sally.
And when the sun goes down, the air turns chilly...build a fire and roast some hot dogs!
We may live thousands of miles away on the other side of the world, but coming "home" is always a joy. We have amazing friends here, and we have been lucky enough to have some time to visit many of them during this trip. Here are two former colleagues of mine, Julie and Sarah, enjoying happy hour last week. They are both amazing women, mothers, teachers, and friends. I am so grateful that we have maintained our friendships despite the time and distance.
Karen and Liv are veteran teachers, mentors of life, and dynamite women. And they enjoyed the pink lady shot that Julie ordered in honor of my birthday.
Sierra loves babies, and she is happy to take care of any baby in her presence. We visited new baby Dixon one day while Joe was up at Lake of the Woods ice fishing, and Sierra was more than willing to feed and change this little three month old fella--even when he was crying.

Genevieve Marin, soon turning three! It is hard to believe so much time has passed since her arrival to this world. She is currently the youngest of five, but will not be the youngest for very much longer as mom, Becca, is expecting baby number 6 in a couple of months! I could learn a few things from Becca in the patience department. I feel blessed to have her in my life and typically try to soak in her wisdom whenever I am around her.
The girls enjoyed an afternoon playdate that only concluded near midnight. A warm fire, a blessed home, remarkable spirit of friendship and a good game of buzz word kept the day rolling.

Although we are all anxious for our return home to Rio, it is somewhat bittersweet each time we leave. What a gift to be able to return to what will always be home so frequently. Life is beautiful.

More Holiday Greetings! We are finding ourselves competing for sweaters and scarfs, mittens and hats as we attempt to stay warm in the frozen northland. All is good though. We are enjoying a wonderful visit with Mom and Dad, and we were able to take in some sledding with Joe's brother and family yesterday. Thought I'd post a quick update of the past week. Here is the fruit basket we prepared for our porteiros before leaving for the airport Christmas day. They were thrilled with the gift and dug in immediately. It feels so good to give!
Sierra adjusted to the colder air by wearing a warm hat and sweatshirt to the dinner table.
Joe and I found a new way to take in our morning coffee. Yes, those are snowflakes falling around us.
We decided to warm up in the hottub.
And cool off in the snowbank!! We jumped right back into the hot tub after this photo op! BRR!

Happy Holidays!!

Here's my 9 year old on Santa's lap (with her friend Luisa at her side). This is the real thing folks. NO synthetic beard, NO fake twinkle in this fella's eyes. And look how tall my baby is next to sitting Santa! Unbelievable.

However, remember this holiday season--HE is the reason for the season--no, not this wonderful mood brightening icon Santa who is great in his own way. Give thanks and praises to Jesus. Remember that every day is a gift, each relationship you have a blessing, and every moment an opportunity to live in His way. May the new year bring good health, calm spirits, and plenty of laughter to your days.

Sunrises and Sunsets
The life of a teacher is filled with beginnings and endings. Twice a year there's an end. Twice a year there's a beginning. It's an interesting perspective to live with. The psychological impact it has is interesting too. You can sense the approaching "end" in the air. The upcoming start to something fills you with anticipation and glee. I don't think I would choose a different way of life though. It's stimulating. It keeps me on my toes. It helps me appreciate the moments one at a time. It makes the progression from one phase to another more apparent in my thinking. I like it. It's a good life.

Too many shoes?

Is it possible? What did Imelda Marcos do? I think I am outgrowing my shoe closet space. You would think with a stash of shoes this size I would not have a concern of what pair to wear--ever. Unfortunately, right now one of my biggest concerns is what I have for shoes in late Dec. and Jan. when I visit my parents in Minnesota where wearing flip flops or sandals isn't exactly comfortable this time of year. Hmmm, I guess that sounds like a great reason to HAVE to go shoe shopping! What do you think?

Sierra is taking after me quite nicely. She has begun building her own stash. This picture doesn't include all of her choices! In all honesty, ladies, shopping for earrings and shoes is one of the greatest things we can do, for shoes and earrings NEVER make your butt look big!

Stubborn Moth

This morning, while getting ready for school, I hear Sierra scream, "MOOOOOMMMM! Come here please." I entered her bathroom to find this lovely fellow inside her cabinet.Joe spent some time today trying to evict the visitor from our apartment, to no avail. He shooed it from the bathroom only for it to fly back into the house through Sierra's bedroom window. He chased it around a little more, managed to shoe it back outside only for it to fly back into the house through our bedroom window. He gave up. Obviously, this refugee moth requires respite and shelter. Who are we to kick it out? So, here it perches, on the ceiling in the hallway between Sierra's bathroom and bedroom. I think she's scoping Sierra's earrings and necklaces!

One of Sierra's favorite passtimes lately is to go to Youtube.com and find videos from High School Musical 2, Ashly Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, and countless other tween stars. One night, when she had earphones connected to the computer, she serenaded us with her wonderful singing! She even throws in a move or two now and again. I do love listening to her sing. Joe and I joked that we were graced with our very own Brazilian Idol in our apartment.

A Saturday at the beach!
We had plans to spend the day on our friend Alvaro's boat near Angra and Ilha Grande--about 2 hours out of the city, but the rain has been coming and going, sometimes pretty forceful. It's just part of the season. So, at 6:30 a.m. Alvaro called the Marina only to receive a report involving fog and rain--not exactly conducive to boating. In turn, we slept in and brainstormed rainy day activities. Throughout the time of brainstorming the clouds broke up, and the sun was shining in the city. Plan B: Visit a beach in the city we haven't been to. The result: this adorable little beach between Sao Conrado and Barra, only 15 minutes drive from our house. It has a name, but I can't remember it.Here are Sierra and her friend Luisa as we arrived and scoped the beach below. There was a quaint little walk down the hill to get to the sand. Only a few people speckled the beach and several surfers bobbed in the water beyond the waves.
The girls posed for a second shot with the full ocean in the background, and a couple of motorcycles.
The decent to the beach was interrupted as Alvaro paused to notice 4 children in the water near some rocks. We all stopped, and Alvaro suddenly said, "I think those kids are in trouble." The current near the rocks creates a dangerous undertow, and the kids appeared to be stuck in the undertow. We watched for about 5 seconds before Alvaro started yelling to the surfers in the water and those ascending the rocks near us, "There are 4 children! They need help! They're in trouble." Soon, a surfer who had been heading up the hill handed me his car keys, asking for me to hold them for him. He proceeded to put on his fins and jump in the water with his board. There had been one of the 4 kids who had drifted from the other 3 and that poor little boy's body kept bobbing under the water more frequently! The lump in the pit of my stomach was huge as I watched the events unfold. In what seemed like hours, but was actually only a minute or two, the surfer who handed me his keys reached the bobbing boy and 3 other surfers from in the water reached the other 3 children and placed them on the surfboards to pull them to safety, away from the rocks, beyond the waves and back into shore. Praise God!
We all five watched the entire process of events with worry and fear and prayer. Once the kids were safe, we completed our descent to the beach, quietly. I returned the keys to the good semaritan surfer when he reached the beach, acting as though he had not done anything special. I wanted to hug him for his actions--but I refrained. Sierra and Luisa didn't really enter the water until we had been at the beach for at least an hour; I think they were a bit apprehensive--with reason.
The experience provided a great opportunity to discuss the dangers of the ocean. Alvaro grew up on the ocean, both surfing and boating. He has been the rescuer surfer more than once. He said he was ready to ask those surfers on the rock near us for their board if they hadn't moved when they did to rescue the kids. We concluded our conversation over lunch/dinner with the girls, explaining how important it is to always be cautious of the waves and the tides and where you are at all times. The ocean is majestic but its powers are greater than ours. We must respect its forces.

The holiday season...

You always know that Christmas is near in Rio when the Christmas Tree goes up in the Lagoa. The city assembles this enormous metal tree full of lights and holds an official tree lighting the first of December every year complete with fireworks. We can see the tree from our verandah for most of the holiday season.

You also know that Christmas is near in Rio when you hear Christmas carols blaring from the street. As soon as you peer out to find where it's coming from, you see the caravan of semi's lit with Christmas lights and advertising the holiday coke can.

For me, I always know that Christmas is near when an annual "Girl's Weekend in Buzios" is planned. This weekend was the third I have been on since moving to Rio. I guess that's more of a bi-annual thing then, huh?

Mara, Tati, and Suzanne posed for a nice shot at our favorite crepe restaurant, Chez Michou. (Suzanne's eyes are ALWAYS closed in pictures.)Tati taught us the proper way to drink a caipirinha. Plenty of water while drinking keeps the headaches away.And, we had a wonderful room with a fabulous veranda for our comfortable weekend of relaxation. Today was back to work, a nice tan, plenty of rest and ready to face the week.