Still Standing

This song is in my head today and it is really a good song. This is not I'm still standing and I crawled in and barely made it this is when you need a "bounce back" in your spirit! You can't keep me down, I'm blessed. 


Verse One:
You gave me courage to believe that all your goodness I will see and if it had not been for you standing on my side where would I be

Chorus:
If not for your goodness if not for your grace I don't know where I would be today if not for your kindness I never could say I'm still standing if not for your mercy if not for your love I most likely would have given up if not for your favor I never could say I'm still standing but by the grace of God

Verse Two:
To you I lift my offering and set my heart on higher things for if it had not been for you standing on my side where would I be

Vamp:
I'm still standing I'm standing I'm still standing but by the grace of God




Woo....well as we all know I can't update my blog without some pictures of my adventures here in Costa Rica! So a few days ago some friends and I loaded up, in the public bus, and traveled 2.5 hours to San Carlos. There in San Carlos were the most relaxing things ever.....NATURAL HOT SPRINGS!! Ahh, it was so refreshing. So I took some pics for you guys but it was such a relaxing day. There were several different natural pools and each one was a different temperature. Some were to hot even for my feet. When we found one that was just right, the rest was history!

Once we got to the resort we had a pretty long walk down this winding road. 

I'm pretty sure this is what the road to Damascus was like!

Chase and Ian had to stop for a quick photo op!

The road ended then we had a nice hike through the rainforest. 

The scenery was gorgeous!

Mi amiga Susanita!

This was the hottest pool. It was in the shape of a heart. I guess cause you would probably have a heart attack i you got in it!

My boy Chase. These pools are different temps!

I'm pretty sure this a glimpse of heaven.

Megi-poo chilling!

Ethan ALWAYS becomes a spectacle whether he wants to or not! This time the old ladies liked his blonde hair and white skin!

Brandy and Meg chatting!

When we got too hot we would go get in the creek next to the Springs. It was ice cold. The kids loved it. You didn't have to stay in there too long before you were ready to jump into the hot springs again!

The boys: Ethan, Ian, Chase

The Group:

Brandy: Argentina

The Klings=Matt, Kristi, Chase, Ian: Chile

The Pruitt's(yall already know them!)

This is what happens when you stop giving to Speed The Light! All the missionaries have to ride TOGETHER in this thing!

We are so thankful for your support.

Shannon and Matt

Ethan and Megan posing for a Speed the Light Promo!

WORD OF THE DAY: Ser pan comido.

TRANSLATION: It is easy.

HOW I SEE IT: Piece of cake.

The Wonderful Ways of a Wondrous Weekend!

Well as I am sitting here writing this to you it is in the 30's in Memphis and a perfect 70 here in Costa Rica. On Friday while you were at home shivering by the fireplace or playing in the snow I was catching some ever so glorious rays at the beach! We were out of school Friday and while no one really knows why...none of us were complaining! I was asked by a group of friends the night before if I wanted to go to the beach and like really? am i going to turn that down...um...NO. So bright and early on Friday morning I headed to the beach! It was neat because the group that went will all be going to El Salvador to work together. So, it was neat to spend some time with my partners in crime...i mean ministry! Here are some pics of Jaco Beach!

We bought a day pass at the Best Western and got to use their beach/pool/bathrooms!

A little piece if Heaven

Everyone playing in the water!

I thank God for this chica!

John and Tammy Ogden (newbys from Ohio)

a.k.a. J-O and Tamm-i-licious!

The Newlyweds Bacca and Lorin!

Our teacher Roxana and her husband Jose Antonio and son Gabriel

So we really enjoyed ourselves and now I have an AWESOME bonus for you guys. We made a little pit stop on this bridge and we got out and looked over to find somewhere around 50 crocodiles in the water underneath. Check out these wicked awesome shots!

There's one!

My skin is crawling.

Nope.....those aren't logs!

Hope you guys enjoy the pics aren't too jealous! 

Parade of the Oxen Cart

     Well lady's and gents the other day...ok well...maybe not the other day...more like 2 months or so ago I went to this parade. It is a big day in the lives of the Ticos. The Parade of the Oxen Cart in downtown San Jose. Notice with me here that I said downtown SAN JOSE. You see friends there is somewhat of a difference between downtown San Jose and downtown Escazu. A nice cab fare difference huh Shannon?

                                                          This means a little over $20!

(for nothing)

Well a great memory!

So thrilled!

So something that we really love doing and are very good at is making memories. Not just any memories...but memories that at any given time you can sit back and say.... "Remember that one time...."

That phrase has definitely become a daily part of our vocabulary. Well, on this particular day we followed Shannon's lead. He had the directions all printed out and ready to but....unfortunately they lead us in the wrong direction. Wrong city to be exact! (that'll preach) But, we ended up finding the parade and we were even on time. So here are some pics of this fun memory I will never forget!

These kids are no joke

Yup

And that is no joke

I sure hope they aren't unequally yoked!

Fruits and Veggies Cart

This little guy was being interviewed.

Wonder what he will be when he grows up?

Yup...that's Jesus

Had some awesome dancing going on.

And music

It was a fun cultural day!

WORD OF THE DAY: No es el fin del mundo.

            Definition:            It's not the end of the world.     

          How I see it:         You'll bounce back!