~Our Valentine's Dinner at our house 2015~

~HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!~

This is the 3rd time now that we have gotten to have U. Charlie and A. Yoli over for Valentine's day.  :-)
The first time was in 2012, when we had really just met them.  You can click this link to see...Our Valentines dinner at our first apt. in 2012!
Valentine's 2013 we were in Colombia!
You can click this link to see our Valentine's dinner with U. Charlie and A. Yoli here in Argentina in 2014!
Since then, we have developed such a fun friendship with them and we LOVE THEM to pieces!  :-)
They and their brother Mr. Willie are graciously loaning us their parents' beautiful home, so we wanted to have them over again for a Valentine's dinner and to TRY to Thank them for all their kindness to our family!!

After my fall on Monday, A. Yoli called to check on me, and told me over the phone that we could post-pone the dinner, but I told her that Jesus would help me and we were really looking forward to having them over. :-)
Jesus REALLY DID help me as I got ready for the dinner.
On Tuesday I was sore, and on Wednesday, I could hardly MOVE...but with Jesus and my family's help...I was able to get ALL the goodies made that I wanted to get made for the dinner.  :-)

Please enjoy the pics of our wonderful evening together last night with DEAR UNCLE CHARLIE AND AUNT YOLI!!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
  ~I love my little white chalkboard I brought with me last time and...I LOVE MY FAMILY!! :-) ~

 Last time I was here in Argentina I was telling A. Yoli how much I LOVED bird cages and lanterns.  Aunt Yoli said, "Well, there is an old bird cage in the back building that my mother-in-law used for her birds, if you want to use it to decorate with you may."
So, I went out there and found this cute little green birdcage.
Well, the other day, I got up the nerve to ask if they minded if I painted it white.  :-)  A. Yoli said that she didn't care!
So, I got busy with some left-over spray paint (that we used to paint the little flower basket that Mary carried in the wedding last May) and got it NEARLY white before I ran out of paint.  :-)  We couldn't get any more paint before our Valentine's dinner, but it at least looked "sort of white" for my table! :-)
~Here I am before I painted it.~

 ~I wanted to make 2 fresh cherry pies, so my Sweetheart made me a tool out of an old fork to "take the pit out of the cherries!"  You just poke those 2 fork tines into the bottom of the cherry, hook the seed, and pull out the seed.  BUT BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WEAR...for there will be juice squirting out while you are pitting the cherries. :-)
Sarah, Noah, and Phillip took turns pitting the cherries. ~

 

 ~One pie ready for the oven!~

 ~Both cherry pies done! :-)~

 ~Mary "helped" me knead the rolls.~

~Phillip and Sarah helped me gather fresh flowers from our backyard to put around the house.~

 There is a lot of European influence here in Argentina.
Last time I was here, someone asked me if I had ever made French Macaron cookies.  I had seen pictures of them, but had never eaten them, that I remember, nor had I ever made them.
So this time, I decided I wanted to try making some.  Jesus helped me and they turned out yummy!
~Here are my light pink French Macaron cookies with red raspberry jam filling!~

 ~I LOVE my little white covered cake stand that Phillip got me last year...And my little wooden Tea box that holds tea bags that says, "The teas of the world" in French :-) ~

 ~Melt in your mouth...deliciousness... my family LOVED THEM and quickly became my FAN! :-) ~

 ~Here is the kids' table.  If our big table would have been bigger we could have set them at our table, but since it wasn't, we tried to make their table festive too. :-) ~

 ~I set the French Macaron cookies on the up-side-down coffee cups and put a little banner in them with each persons' name...as the place setting. ~

~And I hung this cute little cheap pink and white banner up to make the kid's table and dinning room more festive. ~

 ~I have future plans for this banner...so you will be seeing it again shortly.  :-) ~

 ~I used their baby sister Abigail's picture and my LOVE sign from Target last year as part of their table decor.~

 ~And here are my (and Mary's) dinner rolls!~

 ~Elijah and Mary made Valentine's cards for U. Charlie and A. Yoli and our family.
This is Elijah's card.  Notice the LIPS! :-) ~

~This is Mary's card.  She drew an Argentine flag on hers.~

 ~And here's my MOSTLY WHITE bird cage.  I was happy with it on my table.  :-)
I put fresh pink flowers from our back yard in my WHITE TEA POT inside the bird cage.~

 ~I used the same pink flowers and put them in 3 coke bottles next to my chalkboard.~

 ~While in Colombia we all had bad COLDS, so we bought a box of Kleenex tissues for our room.  When I saw these 2 LOVE BIRDS on a box of Kleenex I KNEW I had to have THAT BOX!
When we finished the box, I just COULD NOT throw them away. :-)
They reminded me of Phillip and I.  :-) 
So, I cut them off the Kleenex box and brought them with me to Argentina...and framed them.~

 ~I brought several pics of our family with me from the USA.  But, I needed inexpensive frames!
The other day we went to a Chinese variety store (like a dollar store) and Jesus helped me find these CHEAPLY MADE frames for CHEAP!  YEA! ~

 ~If you'll notice frame #1 and #5.... both are "TWO LOVE BIRDS!"  :-D ~

 ~U. Charlie's father is a very good artist.  He has drawn/written all the Chinese writings you see in this house, including this LARGE one.
Incredible!~

 ~This is are LATEST Valentine...baby Abigail. :-) These 2 pics are similar, but in this one she is slightly smiling, and you can sort of see her dimple in her right cheek.~

 ~This is her dress from Aunt Yamile in Colombia.~

 ~So here's our table!
I found these cute little China plates with pink flowers on them here in the house, so I included them in our tablescape.
The pink plates are just cheap re-usable plastic ones, but they add a fun touch of color. :-) ~

 ~Sarah's Macaron cookie with her name.~

 ~Fun and festive.~

 ~Pinks and whites, lace and frills.~

 ~Kimberly's little cookie and name.~

 ~U. Charlie and A. Yoli and our family.  Our Family LOVES U. Charlie and A. Yoli!!~

 ~U. Charlie and A. Yoli with 3 of our children.  The kids LOVE U. Charlie and A. Yoli, and LOVE when they come to visit!!!  (See below for the goodies they brought the kids and our family! :-)~

 ~We served:
a jello salad appetizer, Mashed Potatoes and gravy, Chicken Cordon Blue, Steamed Zucchini and onions, homemade lemonade, ...~

 ~a salad, and homemade rolls,
and for dessert...

 ~homemade cherry pie and vanilla ice cream, and coffee! ~

~And Baby Abigail got her FIRST bite of real food.  Mashed potatoes. :-) ~

 ~U. Charlie teaching Noah how to use chop sticks.~

 ~Noah eating ONE OF THE TREATS that U. Charlie and A. Yoli brought!  YUMMY!~

 ~U. Charlie and Abigail snugglin'!~

 ~A.Yoli gave Baby Abigail 3 CUTE onesies and a nice burp cloth.
This onesie that Abigail is wearing says, "Oh, Canada!"
Some of A. Yoli's family live in Canada. :-)~

 ~They brought us several nice gifts, and look at that yummy ice cream they brought!!!  :-) ~

 We had a wonderful evening together!
Thank you, U. Charlie and A. Yoli for coming over....our Valentine's dinner was so special because it Included Y'all!!  :-)
~Heather~

~Happy Birthday, Daddy!~

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Very SWEET Daddy! Edgar A Bryan I know you are not into flowery speeches...so I won't give one...I'll just tell the Truth. :-)

Thank you, Dear Daddy, for being such a WONDERFUL Daddy! Thank you for loving Jesus all these years and putting Him first in your lives and in our home! Thank you for loving sweet Moma next (your sweetheart for nearly 54 years now :-) and for being such a loving husband to her! And Thank you for loving E Andrew Bryan II, Lincoln-Lyn Bryan, Laura, and me, your baby! :-) And Thank you for opening up your heart a little more to Love all of our mates! And then...somehow...you still have found space in your heart for 18 Grandkids born to our family...and Keith's wife sweet Natalie. 

Thank you for being a man of studying God's Word and Prayer! Many were the times that I have gotten up in the middle of the night for some reason and have seen you praying in the living room. Thank you for always being there for us. I have full confidence that I can pick up the phone at any time and call you and talk to you about what is on my heart and you will take the time to listen, cry with me if I'm crying, and I love it that you always pray with me over the phone right then!
I know, I can hear you saying that you are not perfect, none of us are, but I THANK JESUS for giving me a NEARLY perfect Daddy! :-)
May you have a very Special Birthday! Wish we could be closer to help you celebrate! :-)  Love you and Moma BUNCHES AND BUNCHES! ~Heather and family in Argentina~

~Jesus...our Great Physician!~

Thank y'all for all your sweet comments and concern about my fall on Monday evening.  I just have to tell you ...The "rest of the story!" (To quote Paul Harvey.) :-)
Last night Phillip was telling me his side of the story. 
He said that after I fell and I was leaning against him (before I fainted) he was comparing my left wrist (which I landed on) with my right wrist.  He said that my left wrist was shaped differently than my right wrist and it looked to him like it could be broken!  He expected it to swell right up!  He said that the whole ordeal was scary, and he thought that he was going to have to take me to the hospital.
 But, then...after I fainted I got up and started moving my wrist and hand around and said, "That's amazing, it's just sore now!"  My left wrist and hand have never even swollen nor bruised at all!!!!!
So, it does appear that God must have HEALED My broken wrist!  Isn't God amazing?!  Jesus....OUR GREAT PHYSICIAN!!   ~Heather~

~Thank you for your prayers for me!~

Thank you, everyone for your sweet comments and prayers concerning my Fall last night!!
I'm no wimp when it comes to pain, for I delivered our 10 lb. 6.7 oz. baby with no pain meds., so you know that I WAS IN excruciating pain last night when I fell and landed on my hand.
I thought I must've broken my fingers, hand, or wrist.

But, This morning, I'm wondering if God didn't HEAL my hand?!? 

For I was in soooooo much pain before I fainted, and afterward, my hand was just sore.
Phillip was SHOCKED at the difference before and after I fainted!

I may never know, but I do know that God has definitely touched me! :-)
Thank y'all for your comments and prayers, they mean so much!!
~Heather~

~I Fell tonight!~

I'm very THANKFUL for God's protection tonight.  

Phillip and I (and Abigail) went out to get some groceries and go for a quick date this evening.
We were WALKING (since we walk everywhere we go here :-) and I went to look and see if Abigail had fallen asleep in her stroller that Phillip was pushing.

Right then there was a hole in the sidewalk and a brick STICKING up, which I didn't see!
I caught my foot on it and went Sprawling HEAD FIRST onto the HARD GROUND.
Thank the Lord instead of hitting my face or head...I was able to catch my whole weight with my left hand, but I bent my fingers backwards.  :-(
I was in SOOOO MUCH PAIN!
I got up and held onto Phillip and then said, "I'm GOING TO FAINT!!!"

And sure enough before he could lay me down, I fainted in his arms.  As he was trying to lay me down a man and a lady came by and asked if they needed to call an ambulance!
Phillip told them that he thought I would be ok, but that I had tripped and fallen and hurt my wrist and hand badly and must have fainted from the pain.  They didn't look convinced that I was ok.  :-)

Right then I came to, and there I lay on the sidewalk looking up at the tree and sky and Phillip and 2 strangers.
For awhile....I had NO CLUE where I was!
But, I shortly remembered that I was in in Buenos Aires and had fallen and must have fainted. I assured the man and lady that I was going to be fine and that Phillip was my husband.

Thank the Lord that He kept Baby Abigail content in the stroller the whole time while this was happening, for if she would have cried, neither one of us could have helped her!

I'm quite SORE all over, but THANK THE LORD I don't think I broke anything!
You can pray that Abigail will let me get a good night's sleep tonight.  

God is Good, All the TIME!
~Heather~

~Sarah and I made Caro's Tarta!~

Sarah said the other day, "We ought to make it a tradition to make a big breakfast on Saturdays!"  

So, this morning I woke her up and asked her if she wanted to come down and help me make My Dear friend Caro's tarta (in English it is called a "tart") for breakfast!  

She agreed, and helped me put together 2 Delicious ham, cheese, egg and tomato tarts!  (Similar to a quiche.)

Thank you, Caro, for sharing your recipe!  

We thought good thoughts of you and your family while we ate the tarta today! 

We miss y'all and can't wait till y'all get back to Argentina!:-) ~

~Here is one of the Tarts ready to go into the oven.  Probably not as pretty as Caro would have made it, but, hey, for the first time, not bad. :-) ~

 ~Waiting ...Waiting...W.AI.T.I.N.G!  How can 45 minutes seem like an eternity when you are starved?!~

 ~A fresh fruit salad and your Tarts...along with some yummy Chinese green tea, and you have a YUMMY MEAL!~

 ~Delish!!!~

~Phillip was holding Abigail and she fell sound asleep!~
Abigail all worn out!

~Life is rough! :-)  (Love her little head propped up by her little arm! :-) ~

~GOD CARES ABOUT BABY CLOTHES!~
When we moved from Colombia back in March 2013, we obviously couldn't take everything home to the USA, so I gave away most of MARY'S baby clothes, not realizing that Jesus would give us baby Abigail near the end of 2014!

So, when we found out we were having another baby girl, I knew that I didn't have many clothes for her!
BUT GOD.....
Baby Abigail was scheduled to be induced just 3 days after Comargo camp!
DURING Comargo camp one of the Cramer girls asked me if I needed clothes for my new baby girl.  I told her that YES I did!  
She told me to talk to her mother.
I did, and one afternoon during camp, her mother pulled out HUGE BINS of NICE GIRL clothes (6 months-3 or 4 T.) and let another lady and myself dig through the bins.
God (through Sis. Cramer) gave a Abigail a whole new wardrobe!  Some of the dresses and things were brand new!:-)
THANK YOU, MRS. CRAMER!
~Phillip and Abigail.
This cute little outfit was one of the fun outfits that she received and it was brand new!~

 ~Abigail wants her Grandma and her Gram to see what her blouse says!~

~HEATHER~

~Elijah and Mary...our kindergarten students!~

We're enjoying school, and we want you to know

We've done 10 PACES and have 50 to go!

Don't be discouraged, for we aren't you see,

We're enjoying kindergarten, and so is our TEACHER-MOMMY! :-)

We're having fun and we'll be done soon

We plan to have a joint graduation in May or June! :-)

"Elijah and Mary"

(written by Mommy in Argentina 2015 :-)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 ~Elijah and Mary with orange rinds for "teeth."

~TWO PRECIOUS PEAS IN A POD!~

 

 I must admit that I am enjoying teaching our 2 kindergarten students Elijah and Mary!

I normally set a timer for 25-30 minutes and then give them a short break, for I know that the attention span of a little one doesn't last very long. 

But...They are eager to learn, and don't want me to stop when the timer rings.  :-) 

Here's some pictures of my 2 favorite kindergarteners! :-)

~ Here they are gluing soy beans on to pieces of paper that have the #10 on them.~

 ~We were learning about wind so we made "sailboats" out of Peaches.  The lettuce was the waves for our little sailboats.~

 ~Elijah and Mary were so Excited about surprising the fam with these "edible sailboats" as part of our lunch!~

 ~Since we are in Catch-up mood...we often do several days of Kindergarten at one time, and they love every minute of it.
But their school days go fast, even if we do several days in one day, we are normally done in less than 2 hours!~

 ~Their #10s with soybeans glued to them.~

 ~Our mule for the letter "M" with clothes pins for his legs!
And for the letter "E" we made an Elephant with a hole to put their index finger to make his "trunk."~

 ~Elijah L.O.V.E.S. his baby sister!  (I'm not sure she feels the same towards him. ;-)
Here he put his hat on backwards on baby Abigail!~

Since we are catching up on school work...It is study, study, study here in our school house! :-)

We are very glad for our backyard where the 3 little ones can play in between their studies!  

Occasionally we sneak out to the park during the middle of the week, but for sure on Fridays and Saturdays we try to make everyone get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air and exercise.  (Phillip, Kimberly, Sarah, and Noah often go jogging in the evenings as well.)

~Heather~

~Abigail has her "driver's license" now! :-) ~

~Since Abigail has no bouncy seat or anything here, and only could lay in her bed, or on a blanket, we got her a walker.
At first she didn't know what to think of it....but after Elijah and Mary taught her that it moves...
she now goes EVERYWHERE!  :-)
These pictures are for GRAM (and Gramp :-) and the other Grandparents to see!~

~Mary and Elijah love to take turns dragging pulling her around the house in her walker!  :-) ~

Here are some pictures of our Sunday at the Chinese church.
Phillip and the kids went our first Lord's day here, but Mary and Abigail were getting over being sick, so I stayed home with them.
~Here are how Phillip and Noah rode the bus for the 45 min. ride to church.~

~This is our friend Clara who owns a yummy Chinese food restaurant.
Everyone at church loved meeting Baby Abigail! :-)  It was So Nice seeing all our dear friends at the Chinese church again!  But, we missed getting to see our Precious friends Leo and Caro and their children...who are gone right now!  Hurry Home to us, Leo and Caro! :-) ~

~The boys visiting before Sunday School started.
They serve the kids a muffin and some juice before S.S. starts.
The toilet paper in this picture is being used for "napkins" for the snack  The paper napkins here are pretty expensive.~

~Kimberly taught the Sunday school kids a new song Sunday, and I played the piano.~

~The service was very special on Sunday.  9 people were baptized, including our good friend Oso and his wife!  It brought tears to our eyes to see them dedicating their lives to Jesus!~

~Our friend Oso's wife getting baptized, and our other friend in the red blouse waiting with a towel to help her get out of the water.~

~This guy in the middle was a visiting Pastor named Bro. Luke.  The Lord helped him as he preached that morning.  He spoke English well.  It was a joy to get to visit with him over Sunday dinner.
Here are L to R: Phillip, Bro. Luke, and Uncle Charlie.~

~Phillip and I with Bro. Luke.~

~This is Clara's husband, Han holding Abigail.
He helped Uncle Charlie pick us up from the airport. 
May God richly BLESS each one for their kindness to our family.~

~Heather~