Four Weeks and Counting

To My Most Amiable Readers,

I'm in the home stretch and boy, is it noticeable! You know things are nearing conclusion when the maternity shirts don't quite cover the protruding belly anymore. This makes me quite self-conscious when going down escalators: "Hey look everyone, my belly!"

At present Dustin is up in the Andes for four days on a mission trip. If this baby decides to show up, the only way to get a hold of him would be to call the radio station up there and have them make an announcement that hopefully he'd hear or someone would tell him about. I must admit that it's really hard for me right now when he travels for days at a time. Mostly its just physical exhaustion in my eight-months along state; I live for naptime and bedtime when I can stretch out and doze. The other part is just downright emotional...I don't have my tag-team partner to lean on when Edison has peed on the floor...again and again, or Sophia cries about picking up her toys. It's hard to be a one-parent family; I can't imagine how single parents cope!
Thankfully, this is Dustin's last trip before the baby, so I've just got to get through this week without going nuts ; ).
Your Most Devoted, Sarah

Concepcion, Chile!

Here we go! With our club's only Filippi boat we hit the road with the rowing kids and the Hostetter family for Concepcion, a city about 8 hours north of Puerto Montt. It's the second largest city in Chile and is an industrial hub in the region. All the way up we passed thousands of acres of eucalyptus trees, quaint farms, and trucks loaded with timber. Even two hours north from home we could feel the difference in the air; much drier. We gradually saw more and more palm trees, cacti, and my favorite site: patios outside of the homes with roofs of grapevines.

Jordan and Philipe where we stopped to have a picnic. We had good times with the youth; laughing it up even when we ended up stranded roadside having run out of gas (gas gauge wasn't functioning). Below is just a taste of the preparation that goes into celebrating the Chilean Independence Day, September 18. These dresses are used during the dancing of the Cueca, the national dance which imitates the posturing of a rooster courting a hen. The woman waves a white handkerchief (usually embroidered) and alternately encourages and rejects the "gallo" (rooster). The men wear the square-shaped ponchos that you can see to the middle left or black, trim suit jackets, sashes, and black pants and flat, wide-brim straw hats; very classy! Our church family is planning a picnic to celebrate dieziocho (the 18th), Dustin and I being in charge of the games (egg toss, sack race, etc). Also traditional is flying kites, dancing, and eating lots of meat! Chileans spend more money on Dieziocho than they do on any other holiday. This year I'm determined to learn the Cueca!!! Blessings!

All Hail Chilean Weather!

As many of you know, we're in winter here in the deep South; though a strange winter it is indeed. Some days we have sun and almost t-shirt weather. The next day we get hit with drizzly, miserable rain and wind for five days straight. Well, this day we got a good 3 minute hail shower which absolutely fascinated all of us. Edison exclaimed about all the "balls" out on the lawn while Sophia hurried to get shoes on and inspect for herself this "snow".

I know...I need to buy her a belt. Please continue to pray for our little princess, that her eye would heal. Thanks to everyone who sent her and Edison birthday cards; you have no idea how much they enjoy them!