One Year Together Today

“Mommy, are you content?” (which really does not translate well, because "content" in Spanish can be almost ecstatic)

Me, “Yes, I’m very content Angie. Are you content?”

“I’m more than very content!!” she confirmed.

This conversation took place soon after Angelica found out she was officially on the road to having the best daddy ever, Sunday morning when we told her Jon had proposed on New Year's Eve.

A little later, “Mommy, I can’t quit smiling.”

At bedtime, “Mommy I can’t stop being content.”

“Well, you don’t have to stop being content, but you do have to settle down enough to go to sleep.”

One year ago today, I arrived back in Bolivia after a two week holiday visit to the States. The trip where Jon and I decided to make this work, regardless of the 4,000 miles trying so hard to separate us. And one year ago today after dropping off my luggage, brimming over with US goodies, I picked up Angie from Talita Cumi and we started our life together.

It’s been a roller-coaster of a transition for us, with about a 12-day honeymoon to start but then a tumultuous first 7 months, a few sweet months of calm, followed by December marked with change such as summer vacation, her English entrance exam to enter yet another school, Christmas visitors, and Christmas in general all contributing to some stress, leading to some melt downs. But since I’ve had this gorgeous ring on my finger, 2.5 days now, it’s been pretty smooth sailing. It’s gonna be like this from now on, right??

No, I know it won't always be easy, and I know this change will bring its own challenges for her and for all of us, but I also know God has been leading us down this path for some time, and He's as excited as we are to complete this little family. Well, "complete" for Angie would include at least three little brothers and sisters, but one thing at a time child, one thing at a time...

The pictures on the left are from one year before their counterparts on the right. For more details about the latest, very handsome, addition to our growing little family, check out my February prayer letter, or following blog posts if I can't wait that long to tell you all about him, but today Angie and I are celebrating our first anniversary!