Sad Goodbyes

Jorge and I have both had our fair share of heartache over the last few months.  In 8 months three of our family members passed away.  It still seems very surreal to realize that they are no longer on this earth with us.  We miss them so much and continue to work through the many emotions that come with losing someone you love so much.  We are very thankful and blessed by the fact that we were able to spend time with each one before they died.

My paternal grandmother, Sylvia Davis, passed away on August 23, 2014.  She was 93 years old.

Jorge's dad, Antonio Silva Garcia, died on September 19, 2014 at the age of 86.

After a 2 year battle with esophageal cancer, my father, Kenneth Weeks, passed on April 17, 2015 at the age of 71.

My Handy Husband

I so appreciate having such a handy and hard-working husband!  What a blessing that he could make several ramps around my dad's house to help him get around easier in his wheelchair.

Christmas & New Year

We spent the Christmas holidays in Florida with my dad, his wife,Ying, and their friends who were visiting from China.

Home Renovations

One of our big projects since being back in the USA has been to help my mom get her house renovated.  She has had renters in the house for the last 15+ years but will now be moving back in so she wanted to take the opportunity to get some repairs and updates done while the house was empty.  Here are a few before, during and after photos:

KITCHEN

GUEST BATHROOM

LAUNDRY ROOM

LIVING ROOM

BEDROOM

MASTER BATHROOM & CLOSET

MASTER BEDROOM

FRONT ENTRYWAY

A Great Thanksgiving!

We had a really great Thanksgiving this year...made special for a few reasons:

1.  House renovations were completed and mom and I got moved in and ready THE DAY all our company arrived!  Phew!!  Check out mom's beautiful new kitchen!

2.  Jorge got back from Colombia in time to spend the holidays with me!!  It was so good to have him back after 2+ months apart!  

3.  After many, many years of being far away from family on Thanksgiving, it was so nice to be TOGETHER for this one!

4.  Good eatin'!

5.  Kurt, Lucha and Sam visiting from Colorado! (My brother and SIL)

6.  Our friend, Nini, visiting from CHILE!!  We first met Nini when she came to Bocachica with a team from her church and then we met up with her again on our 2012 trip to Chile.  Now Nini is studying in a Master's program at Duke University, just a few miles up the highway!

7.  Our newlywed friends, Mariceli and Rob, visiting from Charlotte.  Mariceli recently moved to the USA from Colombia and she and Rob JUST got married a few days before Thanksgiving!  We first met Rob many years ago when he led outreach teams to Bocachica from the YWAM-Denver base.

8.  Having an international gathering right in our own living room!  Over the weekend we had five countries represented:  USA, Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Brazil!

and...

9.  Being with my Mama!!

Weekend in the Mountains

The only thing more perfect than spending a long October weekend in the North Carolina Mountains is spending it with life-long dear friends!

Mom's birthday on the Great Smoky Mountains Railway!  Celebrating the big 7-0!

Mom and Carole, her BFF from way back!

Picnic lunch along the Nantahala River.

Perfect Fall weather!

Visiting my BFF and her family in TN! 

April and I go back all the way to Kindergarten.

Seeing another of my childhood buddies who now lives in Asheville

Ginger just opened her new business, Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn in Asheville so we went to check it out!  Super yum!!