V.I.P. VERY IMPORTANT PLACE!

So there is this mall right?........and in this mall are some stores........some really cool stores....some really cool stores that perhaps you have heard of.......Tommy Hilfiger....Kenneth Cole.....Hallmark... ..Payless... .Aeropostale.....Converse....and many more well known stores. Well friends...this mall makes me happy. They even have a Cinnabon! But... above all these things there is the most amazing thing invented. A theater!
Now....I know...I know....you're like "really, a theater?" I'm like....YES because this.... dear ones is no ordinary theater that smells like feet and 3 yr old popcorn with greasy butter and a cold hot dog on the side....o no.....this...is ....the.....V.I.P.!!

I must do some explaining. When you enter the majestic courts of this theater, the feeling of stepping into another world floods your emotions! Inside the theater is a stadium for the rich! They have leather recliners with cupholders and TONS of leg room. While you wait for the movie that will be in English a handsom tico (costa rican) comes and waits on you on bended knee. You have a menu that consists of sushi....cocktails(i didn't try those) and the famous caramel popcorn. You can also order the regular popcorn and nachos and hotdogs...but why? Not when you are treated like royalty! There are all kinds of desserts and sandwhiches and you are served...at your seat! INCREDIBLE! A crew of us went and saw 2012. Didn't care too much for it but it was totally worth being in the VIP. Well...here are a few pics from the evening. We were all under dressed! You should come visit me and I PROMISE to take you there!

Trying to decide what to order...

Tia Maria and her daughter Rachel(Honduras)

The Waiter taking the Pruitt's order

little Pruitt's

Becca and I

Family

By the way.....in the middle of the movie I happened to loook over to my left....and I saw Becca....and I was like....O...i forgot I was in Costa Rica...it was  a weird but very real moment. O well! Love ya Becca!

WORD OF THE DAY : si puede

                  How I see it: (you can do it)

Turkey Day!!!!

My Delicious Plate

Ahh...I'm still full from an awesome day yesterday. I am going to give you a play by play of my Thanksgiving.

I kicked they day off by watching the Macy's Day Parade! Then I headed to kitchen to make my first pumpkin pies, and my green beans especiales!!

                                                 

Thanks to Deborah's Tree Ministry

They mailed me some easy No Bake Pumpkin Pie Mix

I made a Pumpkin Mousse and a regular.

Muy delicioso!!

     We had Thanksgiving dinner at 2:00 at the school. We had a great time. I did tear up a little while we prayed. I missed being with the fam in MS and frying turkeys. But I made new memories with my other family. The food was great! Some highlights on my plate: broccli/cheese casserole...tomato/basil bread...Susan's SOUTHERN dressing(these Northerners have no idea!!!!)...my green beans (off the chains)...Tia Maria's turkey(it wasn't fried..but it was JUICY)...SWEET TEA!                     

                                                                                                              Josh cutting the bird!!          

After we stuffed our faces we played games and hung out. Here are a FEW things that I am thankful for at this moment. Besides the obvious ones that everyone always says.....

1. Cincelians

2. My Neighbors (met them on Thanksgiving...call me of you want to hear the cool story)

3. My Computer

4. Deodorant

5. The English Channels on T.V.

6. My iBible

7. Deborah's Tree Ministries

8. Mail

9. Umbrella

10. Hot Water

11. My Guard (Francisco..he's the best)

12. MK's (those are missionary kid's)

13. State Farm Kleenex

14. My awesome teachers

15. Peanut Butter

16. Mexican Train

17. Measuring Cups

18. Hillsong

19. Closed Toe Shoes

20. Water

*Please know that these are in no specific order and I tried to stay away from the mushy stuff! Obviously I am VERY thankful for my fam, friends, house...etc. But I am also very thankful for my relationship with the Lord and all that goes along with it. (my call...grace...friendship...love...mercy...growth(it hurts)...peace...strength...protection...and so much more) It has been an awesome here in Costa Rica and that my friends I am thankful for.

MK's writing what they are thankful for.

The MK's chowing down..missing the Pike kids......

The youngins!!

Lisa Sears(El Salvador) Dawn Amsler(Dominican Republic) Rebecca Johnson(El Salvador)

And now...for the AMAZING Green Bean Especiales Recipe:

3 cans whole green beans

                                                     Approx 10-15 slices bacon, cut in half

                                                                      1 c. brown sugar

                                                                      1 c. melted butter

                                                                   1/2 tsp garlic powder

                                                                      1 dash soy sauce

                                                               Wrap 4-6 beans in bacon

                                                                Place in 9x13 baking dish.

                                                                    Cover with marinade

                                                                    Refrigerate overnight.

                                                                  Bake at 350 for 30 min.

I didn't make mine in bundles since there were so many of us, so you can just mix it all together in a baking dish and prepare the same way except cook the bacon a little before mixing and cut in bite size pieces!        Enjoy!

WORD OF THE DAY: LLENA (full)

How I see it: (Bustin at the seams!)

Va a Panama?!?!?

That question came out of my mouth numerous times last week. I LOVE roadtrips. My need was filled when all of us Cincelians loaded up on the enormous souped up charter bus on Thursday. We must leave the country every 90 days to renew our visas. We headed out to Panama around 10:30 and had an interesting 10 hour bus drive. Several movies were watched, games were played, jokes were told, but personally my favorite part was listening to everyone's cravings of favorite thanksgiving food or any food for that matter! We had a blas bonding with each other. Many memories were made. Our hotel was beautiful and of course it was a treat to have air conditioning for a few days. I relaxed by the pool and shopped and ate some good food. They had a T.G.I. Friday's so we all enjoyed some american food there. I really enjoyed it. The long bus ride brought back many fond memories of weeks on the bus in Master's Commission. I miss those days dearly. It was weird not making 600 sandwhiches, playing Pinochle, singing, movies, and all the other crazy things we got into on that bus!! Well.........I need to go do some homework and shop for thanksgiving!! I am making my special green beans!! I will post the recipe and pic later! Much love from Costa Rica!

WORD OF THE DAY: "Dejeme en paz" (leave me in peace)
                                      -how I see it (back off bru!)

Our Beast

Awesome Mountains

Eating at T.G.I. Friday's

Tia Maria

Becca Munchin on some fresh pina!

Dina=The lady who made it all happen!

                                                                       

ORAMOS! (Let's Pray)

On Thursday at 3:00p.m., my grandmother (mom's mom) goes into brain surgery. They are removing a large tumor. I trust God. But, it is still hard to be away from my family at this time. Please kepp all my family in your prayers. I'm counting on them. Thank you guys.

On a brighter note.....
I highly suggest you check out this link. I seriously hope my child is just like this! So awesome! Check it out.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1610699488?bctid=31812464001


WORD OF THE DAY: Por Supuesto (of course)
                                        (my def= DUH)

El Fin De Semana (The Weekend)

    Well I had a "fantaboulous" weekend here in San Jose. Friday after school I went and supported my little "M.K." (missionary kid) buddy at his basketball game. It was hard sitting there...patiently...quietly....I wanted to get  in the game so bad. It brought back many memories under those bright lights in the Crusader Gym. Pre-game prep in the locker room...my girls know what I'm talking about!. "WE READY" resounded throughout the room each week.....and of course the little tension breaker I like to call.....BOP IT!!!        

The Rowdy Ones (Susan Pruitt)

Ethan (the white one!!) about to school that kid!

The Typical Costa Rican Scorboard

(I promised not to tell which score belonged to Ethan's team!)

 Anyways.........anyways, afterwards the fam (The Pruitt's/Rebecca) and I caught a bus to Terra Mall! This mall is incredible. It has awesome stores and is being decorated for Christmas!! We had dinner there. I ate at KFC. Yes, there are fast food restauraunts here! We had a great day!
   No sleeping in for me on Saturday. I woke up and walked to the Pruitt's house for some good ole southern biscuits and chocolate gravy. Yummy!! We headed to meet the Delgado's(Argentine Missionaries to Africa) and Adriana(school secretary) and her family at the park. We had a little "potluck picnic" and the kids swam. Played a little soccer....and once again......the women dominated! (It had nothing to do with the fact that we had 6 players to their 4!) After the park festivities we went to a new grocery store. I really like it. When you...yes YOU....come visit me, I WILL take you there! We finished the night with a little game of Yahtzee and pizza!

Megan selecting some Pears

Shannon and Susan Pruitt

Ethan being....well....ETHAN!!

    Well, friends that brings us to Sunday. It was the most relaxing day I have had since I have been here. I didn't leave my house once! Usually that would drive me nuts, but I had a very productive day! I cleaned up my house, did a little laundry, studied, cooked, studied, watched a movie, studied, did my homework, studied! Well.....you get the point!

Also.......tonight I made myself a might tasty meal. It was chicken stuffed with spinache and mozarella cheese with some pasta and garlic bread on the side!!!  Here is a little photo sample:

The Before

and...the after!

and so.........now for the part you have all been waiting for............

WORD OF THE DAY: TRANQUILO
(literally= calm/serene/relax)
(my definition= CHILL SON!)

Happy Hallowistmas!!

"Trick or Treat...Smell My Feet...Let's Put up the CHRISTMAS tree!!"
Yes, Yes....it's true! Yesterday on October 31, when most are searching frantically for the most creative costumes of the year getting ready to hit the streets for some candy, or the nearest church for "Harvest Festival's" the Pruitt's and I decided that it was time to decorate for Christmas!! We turned on the Christmas Jams and put up the tree followed by Hallowistmas dinner. Steaks on the grill! We had a blast . Here are some pics of our damage. O and we did have a Scrooge in the bunch!

WORD OF THE DAY: Verdad (truth)

I love the fact that we are sweating while decorating for Christmas!

Our Homemade tree topper

Hallowistmas dinner!!!

A Day in the Life of a CINCELian

        First, let me clear some things up. The definition of a CINCELian is: one who is/has studied at the language school in Costa Rica. This word was coined this trimester by my wonderful classmates. Not to be confused with rebellion.
        I usually try to wake up around 6a.m. I like to have plenty of time to get ready and I hate to be rushed. I live about 20 min. walking distance from my school. I leave around 7:15 and meet up with the Pruitt's and Rebecca and we begin our walk. We see many interesting things on our way and have learned it's in our best interest ro make friends with ALL the guards! We ususally have Chapel in the mornings. We all take turns doing devotions. I am part of the worship rotation and usually play the piano/guitar 2 or 3 times a week. We have 3 classes a day. Phonetics=learning how to say the words correctly and position your mouth. It is a lot harder than you think, Grammar, and my favorite class, Conversation. I have quickly learned that it is easy to understand the classwork and book work and memorizing. However, when you step foot in the streets it is a whole new world. So, i have been trying to communicate with everyone I come in contact like taxi drivers, cashiers, guards, neighbors, etc. I LOVE school and really enjoy this country. I get out of class around 12:15. We usually have a good bit of homework. The rest of my  days are filled with shopping, paying bills, and hanging with my fellow missionaries!

        So, everyday it seems I have some randome spanish word/phrase that is always stuck in my head. I say it over and over and over so, I figured i would share them with yall!

Word of the Day: Por ejemplo (for example)

This is me waiting on The Pruitt's and Becca so we can walk to school!

This is my apartment. Mine is the first balcony. Love clinmbing this hill every day!

My First Blog

Well I have finally been convinced to start a blog. Hopefully I will be good at it. I am super tired though so I am going to get off and hopefully learn more about this later!