4th of July

Last Friday night we had such a great event with Asas. We had a "states party." There are so many people representing so many different places here in Brazil. We also have different countries represented. So, they put together a little shin-dig to celebrate all of that diversity and also to really SEE it.

Each different place represented had a table where they could display things from their location (country, state, region), give food samples of typical food found there, some people had slide shows set up, pictures hanging, music playing...and we were to dress typically too. It was so very interesting. We got to see lots of different things and taste lots of different foods. The places represented there were all the different regions/states of Brazil and then also Ecuador, Argentina, Portugal, Lebanon, and the U.S.

Although we had many possibilities, we decided to go with the Texan 4th of July theme. We all wore red, white, and blue and just had a flag and flag tablecloth. We kept it simple for sure. We had 4 couples participating in the U.S. booth and well...the joke was that we are the most fertile region of the world (judging by our area of the room). We had kids running everywhere, so yeah...we kept it simple.

Our BBQ was a hit. Thanks Anneke! Kristin made the cherry delight...YUMMY! I made some coleslaw and sweet tea. And Joel made some root beer. All of it was a hit (well, the root beer was a toss up...some liked it and some didn't...some said it tasted like toothpaste or medicine...I tend to agree personally). Anyway, it was a fun time and really so cool to see so many areas of the world come together in that one place and in our one organization of Asas de Socorro.

Fun that we got to celebrate the 4th of July a tad bit a week early too. But today we will be celebrating as well. We have a few Americans coming over for a party at our house. It should be tons of fun...English only, good American food...all of the things that I know and are familiar. It hasn't happened that I've been in a group of only Americans since I've been here. It'll be fun. I'm sure we'll be posting pictures of it soon.

Also tomorrow we will be having a big meeting at 8am. Joel and I will go and talk to the leaders of Asas about our future plans. It is, in effect, an evaluation meeting and a time to discuss basically what might be done with us...where we might move and when. Yeah, it's an important meeting. We are looking forward to it. Your prayers would be appreciated though.

Now, here are some pictures from last week's states party. And, have a great 4TH OF JULY!! Yay, United States of America!

It was held in the airplane hangar.
The Argentina table.
Hadley with her little friend, Audrey.
I LOVE this picture...so very cute. So patriotic looking too, but so funny...our little girl is yet to be an actual American technically (paperwork). So this picture makes me smile.
She had 2 blankets...one white one and one blue one. Her outfit was red...a little Christmas outfit with green holly all over it, but red nonetheless.


The Portugal table...very nicely done.

Some little American kiddos. The guy holding Eissa is Brazilian but actually lives in Dallas. He owns a VERY successful landscaping business there.
Our table, all American like.

Sampling the scrumptious BBQ.
Hadley enjoying her friends. 3 little American girls (Audrey, Hadley, and Maira).
Grady...
...enjoying his BBQ.
Eissa...
...enjoying her coleslaw.
And ALL the kids there...
...thoroughly enjoying our wagon. (Once again, Uncle Vernon...seriously one of the best gifts we've ever gotten...thanks again)
Corn on the cob (not from the American booth, although completely fitting for a 4th of July celebration).

Every group had to parade through the center of the room. When it was our turn to go, Joel just pulled all the kids in the wagon for our little processional.
One group was doing a certain kind of dance. Hadley danced along with them...she was very intent, trying to do all that they were doing. It was really cute. Eissa joined in too at one point.



Sweet sugars.
And nothing ends out a great party better...
...than a great-tasting, sticky lollipop.