new york layover

A seven-hour layover means almost 3 hours in the subway, Ray's Pizza and a ferris wheel ride.

to be shuttled

We are packing up our room right now. We'll get the shuttle to the airport and then fly... Orlando to New York, New York to São Paulo, São Paulo to Belo Horizonte.

new house

So, we bought a new house last week. Hooray! We can't move in yet. The owner asked for two weeks to get his stuff out. That puts us in the middle of our trip to Brazil, so we'll just have to move in once we get back.

graduation day

Congratulations, Simon! You're blasting off to the first grade.

National Lampoon's RV Vacation

Does anyone know anyone that would be willing to lend their "drivey" RV to us this summer? We travel to Brazil for three weeks and get back on the 20th of June and will be out of a house. Also one of our friends is traveling back with us from Brazil and we would like to take her a few places here in the States: the beach, Savannah, to visit her sister in Birmingham. Nothing too extensive. I know it's a crazy request. But there's that every-person-in-the-world-knows-everybody-by-six-relationships rule. And that could make this possible.

Please feel free to post a link on your blog to spread the word.

Six for Simon

We celebrated Simon's birthday after school on Friday. Almost all of his class and then some came over. We made paper airplanes, ate homemade ice cream and Sue Sue's airplane cake. Several of the kids barely left the porch, more interested in playing with the kitties. We only had one injury from the wrestling matches on the trampoline (another highlight). Happy Birthday Simon!

Braden and snake

My cousin just forwarded me this picture of Braden... not everyday you get an out-of-the-blue email with a picture attached of your son, who-knows-where, holding a snake . It looks like he enjoyed it though, and he made it home okay from school.

last rush and back

I spent my last few days in Brazil trying to organize everything for the sale of our apartment and car and trying to straighten up any remaining obligations with taxes. My good friend Wellington was a lifesaver. He accompanied me for most of my appointments and helped me to see the right people. And now he continues to help move these things forward with me here.

Obrigado, Wellington!

The flight back was insanity but my fatigue made it a little more bearable. I rode the bus to the Belo airport, then flew to Rio, changed planes and flew to São Paulo, waited on the plane for more to board, flew to Houston, changed planes and flew to Tampa. In Tampa I had a 6-hour layover before flying to Tallahassee. What was I thinking to book this flight? I slept on most of the flights though and almost fell asleep on the floor while I waited in Tampa.

Heringer Wedding

Congratulations to Emerson and Monick! They were married this past Sunday in Teofilo Otoni... about 6 or 10 hours from Belo Horizonte depending on the traffic. I just got back into town and have a nice right-arm suntan to show from the ride back.
Emerson studied the Bible in a small group with me for several years while we lived in Brazil. It was awesome to see him starting a new family with Monick. Monick and Emerson both went with us to South Africa back in 2004. That's where it all started.

4 flights in

I'm writing from the airport in Belo Horizonte. I've arrived safely with all my bags and I'm about to get on the bus to head into town. I'll be here for the next several days looking to sell our place and attending a wedding of some friends of mine. Back in Brazil after almost 9 months... unbelievable!