At Summer's End

 

A Saturday afternoon treat: Caldo de Cana

Fun Fact: did you know that Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of sugarcane globally?  

Can you even imagine how excited my three Brazilians were to discover a few months ago that we have our very own sugarcane juice food truck around the corner from our house?  "Our situation" as our family as come to call the last months of our lives didn't allow for expensive cups of "caldo de cana" so yesterday their daddy blessed their little hearts to no end but saying, "Let's go get caldo de cana!"  They were happy (and sugared up!) little beings.  

"Our Situation" has changed quite a bit since I last posted.  As usual I have started a dozen posts in my head and my heart longs to be able to somehow express with words all we have experienced the last few months.  I find myself lacking greatly in words what my heart sings to the heavens.  

I will post a few highlights at the end of this post, but its been a summer of lots of changes for our family.  On June 28, 2025, almost 7 months to the day, my husband went back to work.  Not only did he go back to work, we were incredibly blessed to be able to stay in our city and in our current home.  We took a huge step of faith in May and signed another year rental lease (because how can you get a new rental when you have no proof of income?) on our lovely home and a few weeks later the job offer we had prayed so desperately for came in.  Our insurance officially dropped us on July 1, 2025 so we only went two months without health insurance (if you know our family's dynamics, you know that not having health insurance is super disconcerting at best).  I share this to show how once again, our GOD was not too late, nor too early.  He has cared for us detail upon detail, as He always has, and I am confident always will.

Our daughter went back into the traditional school system (10th grade) on August 14 and our son started middle school (6th grade) on August 12, 2025.  Two kids.  Two new schools.  One busses and one has to be taken and picked up (almost 8 miles one way which in the city means about 20-25 min trip one way!).  I spend a lot of time in the car and have a lot of time to listen to my Bible audio and pray for many, many things.  These changes have brought many opportunities for sanctification as we have struggled to find our rhythm and routine with so many changes at once.  Daddy works extremely long hours and 6 days/week so we went from seeing him all the time at home for 8 months to very little time with him at all.  

I am so incredibly grateful for husband's job.  My part-time work.  My children's schools and teachers and administrators.  For my "older women" who pray for me faithfully and let me know with texts and phone calls and prayer sessions (often by phone because so many miles separate us all in this huge metropolitan) that even in this season, we do not walk alone.  I shared this weekend with someone that the season that God just took us through was both painful and beautiful all at the same time.  I would say this new season is one of transition and challenges but we are in no less need of a Savior and His daily, moment by moment, abundant GRACE as we ever have been.  So, while we feel we can breathe a little bit deeper in many ways, nothing has changed where our hearts are concerned.  Everyday is an opportunity to trust a little bit deeper, walk a little more rightly, ask forgiveness a little bit more quickly, repent a little more sincerely and keep our eyes on JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith!

In May dear, long-time friends of Everson and I's stopped by on their cross country move to California.  Our children (penpals for a long time now) finally met.  What an incredibly special 4 days in our home.  We even got to visit our first Texas Ranch and meet Texan longhorns up close and personal!

In June we spent two amazing weeks with my family in North Dakota, celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary and their 70th birthdays.  A whole post could be created just on our vacation this summer, husband's and I first together in many, many years. 

4th of July we spent at dear friends about an hour drive from our place.  We got to enjoy some country life, delicious food and sweet fellowship.  And mid-July my baby brother married his Brazilian sweetheart and we got to watch online!  Nothing about a long distance and international marriage is easy or conventional so we rejoiced to know they were finally together and could start their life together.  We hope to all celebrate in person with them next June!

August was back to school preparations full force: starting new schools, orientations, uniform fittings, and what felt like to mama a hundred little details to solve for my kiddos!

September 1st saw my 48th birthday in and September 14th Noah's 12th birthday.  I celebrated with my family and sweet cousin who came to visit from San Antonio and Noah celebrated with 11 wonderful boys who spent the evening playing Lazertag with him.

We are most blessed.  We are excited to see what this new season of our lives as a family holds.  We are thrilled to serve the Lord in the local church and have many exciting things happening at our sweet fellowship in the coming weeks.  We just feel overwhelmed by His blessing over our lives and the opportunities to serve Him where He has planted us.  How grateful we are for salvation.  For daily grace.  For our precious families spread all over the globe.  For our local church family.  For answered prayers.  For those we still humbly find ourselves before the Throne about.  For what He is doing and will do!

                                                                                    Because He Lives,

                                                                                                    Jama for us all 💗