roatan march 2012

thanks only to wells and austin... jason and i were able to enjoy a "pre-spring break" trip to paradise! roatan, the bay islands, honduras. look it up! it may be the most beautiful place on earth!

we had the best time celebrating our friendship and enjoying our friends company at the beach. here's a quick peek at our very first couple's vacation:

highlights: (in no particular order)
- kisses from dolphins
- seeing your best friends walk through San Pedro Sula's airport terminal, and no. it wasn't a dream!
- oceanview, double suite with balcony overlooking the infinity pool
- delicious food...breakfast, lunch and dinner
- margaritas, cuba libres, pina colada's and anything else you can think of from a swim up bar, Caribbean side
- sun set walks along the beach
- constant, friendship deepening conversations
- laughing together...especially with austin!
- perfectly refreshing crystal clear water to swim in
- warm sun to bask in
- fish tacos...with real fish
- sleeping in and waking up to the sound of ocean breezes
- watching austin eat more meat than i previously thought humanly possible
- performing CPR on the beach, and knowing you helped to save a life "salva vida!"
- showing your friends a little window in your world, living in honduras
- feeling the love, support and understanding from friends... we have certainly missed that these past several months


here are a few shots to document our time... thanks to Wells and Austy for the sacrifice of time, resources, and getting our of their comfort zone just to be with us! we'll never forget our time together! we love you both more than words can say!!

flying to paradise

leaving the mainland

the view from our balcony

our beautiful caribbean sea

getting ready to swim with dolphins

getting suited up

mr. french (i think) showing off

anthony's key

all smiles after swimming with dolphins

sunset, seaside walk to a delicious dinner

caribbean photo shoot

infinity bay resort

infinity pool + ocean view = INCREDIBLE!

the smallest plane we've ever flown on

sorry jas...i just think the hat is so darn cute on you

wells' photographic masterpiece. adios roatan!

spring-ing about...

this spring we were blessed and privileged enough to travel (quite a bit!) here are some pictures and brief descriptions of our adventures in 2012 so far...

we began the spring traveling season with our first long road trip with our wonderful neighbors and their trusty Toyota. on friday, february 3rd we drove to Gracias (de Lempira), where we enjoyed the thermal hot springs, a traditional Lencan dinner, and an adventure into the mountain villages near Celaque National Forest.

We also made a stop in La Campa, the Lencan pottery capital of Honduras...souvenirs galore! we drove home on monday, feb 6th since EIS was celebrating an all school "reading day" holiday. pretty sweet...we definitely read, um... some. :)

the following weekend jason and i trekked ourselves to a beach town, Omoa, on the northern coast of honduras. it's a short hour and half bus ride (give or take a stopping, animal crossing, bus mishaps, and traffic). we stayed at a lovely bed and breakfast, Suenos de Mar. although it rained the vast majority of our traveling and our time in omoa, we made the best of it. we toured La Fortaleza San Fernando de Omoa, a spanish fort built in the 18th century, and finished the night with a seafood dinner at sunset overlooking the caribbean.

we learned a little bit more of honduras' history, but mainly enjoyed the sun while we had it with a good ole' fashioned photo shoot.

the following weekend, from feb 19-26, eric witte came to visit us and volunteer his physical therapist services at the local "CURE" hospital. it was so good to have a friend come to visit, especially someone coming from jason's circle of relationships. we enjoyed long conversations, reminiscing and even a short trip out of the city.

knowing eric loves the great outdoors, and is always up for a new challenge, we took him (via chicken bus) to Panacam Lodge near Lake Yojoa. the hour-ish chicken bus ride took us to the base of the mountain, and then we miserly counted our lempiras to see what our remaining options were. somehow we mis-communicated about who was in charge of taking out cash, and we only discovered on the bus ride down that we had about L300, or $15 for the weekend trip. guh. not a great feeling. rapadito micro-bus to the rescue, for $0.40 we took the bus about half the distance (4 or so miles) and then set off on foot for the remaining miles...it was a long, hot walk...but leave it to honduras to provide a bit of entertainment. wild horses, curious honduran children following us for a portion of the walk, a friendly futbol game and exuberant greetings from passer-bys helped the time to go more quickly.

our time was mellow and relaxed. that it until the morning when we hiked up and down the Cerro Azul mountain range. 7 km and 2.5 hours later we were exhausted, refreshed, inspired and awed all the at the same time. after a delicious lunch at the lodge, we embarked on our trip home for the LOUDEST bus ride to date. jason's sound measuring app registered up to about 80-90 decibels. the max on our counter was 110. you do the math ;)

the week with eric was wonderful! we are so grateful for his sacrifice of time and resources to visit us...love you eric!

a few weeks later we went with our friends david, lisa and their daughter natalie to La Ceiba, where they have friends from home teaching in another international school. they generously hosted the five of us overnight, until we all went to the next beach town "Sambo Creek" for some fun in the sand... we stayed at another lovely hotel, Villa Helen's, a very short hop, skip and a jump from the beach. after a very sketchy cab ride when i was screamed at and threatened, "Helen's" was just the right medicine for the fear and hurt i felt from the "us vs. them" experience the cabbie was creating. i'd love to soon forget this exchange, so i won't go into too many details here...arriving at helen's reminded me of the security we have in walking God's will each and ever day (as well as the countless, caring honduran relationships we have developed over the course of the past 8 months.

more to come...roatan with wells and austin & guatemala for semana santa with liz. we are blessed indeed!

returning...

my faith is like shifting sand, changed by every wave. my faith is like shifting sand. so i stand on Grace.

a lifetime ago, while driving to sing on the worship team at church, the words of this caedmon's call song resonated throughout the car. today it reminds me of the countless times i have felt hopeless, weak in my faith. this morning, as i sat serenaded by the crashing Caribbean waves, i thought back to the many seasons my faith suffered. my need for acceptance, but not finding it. my need to understand past and present disappoints, and if they'll work themselves out in the future. my heart broken, mended, depleted and broken once again. as i gazed into the vast and mysterious waters, i couldn't help but wonder. who am i in this? am i the seashells. broken by the long, arduous journey. yet still full of wonder and excitement for any who has the privilege of discovery. am i the birds, gracefully riding the gentle currents, content to just be. until the tide rolls in and thwarts their peace. they're off in no time, flying swiftly to escape danger, or even simple discomfort as a little water soaks its feathers. or, am i the sand? seamless co-existence with the waves. refined to smooth, tiny granules throughout the dance of wave after crashing wave. finally, the shore arrives, and the sand settles in to place, at times to bake in the warmth of the Sun, yet other times as well-trodden ground for the passerby. who am I?

in my absence from blogging, i have been reflecting much on the patterns and themes that continue to work themselves out in my life. this isn't the time or place to discuss in detail where i've been. this has been a season of lowest lows. if my past does anything well for me, it reminds me that on the other side of the low, He is there. actually, i know theologically, He is always there. my thoughts deceive, and my feelings cause doubt and fear to take over. but my heart knows He is there. so...i plan on returning.

returning to times of quiet, when i can hear the words He speaks only to me. returning to places of humility, where He wants to refine and purify the deepest parts of my heart. returning to hope which stands against the circumstances which threaten to destroy it. returning to gratitude, which i believe speaks honor and worship to His name. returning to the Light, so that my life can to shine the love of God to the world around me. i am returning to Grace.