Happy Valentine's Day! (part two)

The flowers in our garden have bloomed more in the past two days and are even MORE beautiful today than they were on Valentine's Day!

Adios Costa Rica...hello Bangkok

Friends, it is time to hit the road again.  I'm leaving tomorrow for a two-week work trip to Bangkok and then I will be offline for two weeks while we have friends visiting (yay BG, EM and their hubbies!) and then Brian and I are taking a much-needed trip by ourselves to Italy for the Rome Marathon.  Fun! 


Since December, I have seen my husband roughly two weeks - out of the past two months - between his travels to the U.S. (twice) for medical school interviews, my trip to Haiti, and now this trip to Thailand.  I love traveling - but I also love being at home in my PJ's with my husband, too! And I know that this is a unique season in our lives before we begin school, have kids, get a mortage, and paint that white picket fence (that exists, right? Ha.) 


Lots of love from our little home to wherever you are today...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Over the past month, we have been waiting...and watching...and waiting...for these flowers to bloom in our garden, and today, they finally did! Just in time for Valentine's Day.  Aren't they beautiful?

Group date!

Crepes and tiramisu and cappuchino, oh my! (Date night with B, Mom and Dad at Taller des Artistes)

Paging Dr. Blank

For those of you who have been curious about our medical school application process, I thought I'd give you a quick update on where things stand:

• B has been back to the U.S. for two rounds of interviews. 
• We applied to 19 schools. As of today, we have heard back from 14.
• We have interviewed at 9 schools and been accepted to 1 so far.
• We're hoping to hear back from everyone by March, so we can make our decision by April

Thanks to everyone for your prayers! We're excited to see where this next step takes us.

Sunday tradition take 2

I'm really enjoying my new Sunday tradition that I blogged about last weekend - te chai at Bagelman's, La Nacion newspaper online, a walk around our neighborhood, and church online (since we don't have a car) with Vida Abundante.


This morning, I took a walk with my mom to Bagelman's and then sat down in front of my computer for church. Kind of funny to have church at my house, but it's an interesting experience and I'm so grateful that they stream the church service online!  


The pastor spoke about the passage in John 4 about the Samaritan woman at the well, and as he talked about the idea of Jesus offering "living water" to us as sinners, the pastor said something that sounded so powerful and poetic to me - "El mundo esta muriendo en la mar de indiferencia." ("The world is dying in a sea of indifference.")  It really challenged me today to think more about my beliefs as a Christian, and he also reminded us that "Ustedes y yo estamos aqui por gracia." ("You and I are here by grace alone.")


One of my favorite parts of the church service is the worship, so, to bring you into our world down here, I thought you might like to listen to a few of my favorite worship songs that we've been singing down here. Some may be new, others may sound familiar to you.



Vengo a adorarte, Hillsong



Solo Dios puede salvar, Hillsong



Eres Todopoderoso, Danilo Montero



Bendito Jesus, Danilo Montero



El equipaje, Lilly Goodman

Paella Paella

One of my very favorite things to do for a special occasion (usually my birthday) is go to a tapas restaurant (no, I did not just say "topless" restaurant, but every time I tell people "I went to a tapas place last night," they usually give me a funny look and say "Really?" Try saying it and you'll see what I mean! Just wanted to set the record straight).  In fact, of the last 10 birthdays as an adult, I think at least a third of them have been spent eating tapas and drinking sangria. Yumm!


Friday night, a friend invited me to venture around Heredia, about 20 minutes north of San Jose, to try this Spanish restaurant called, La Lluna de Valencia, with some of her friends.  I was feeling pretty wiped out from the week, but after coming home, finding the electric gate not working, and realizing I had no way to get in to my apartment and nothing else to do, I said sure, and I am SO glad I went out with her. (PS: long story short - I did eventually get inside my house. Thank you, Lord!)


After briefly getting lost (I've gotten used to that every time I drive now!), we found it - and what an experience it was! The chef and co-owner, Vicente Aguilar, is a C-H-A-R-A-C-T-E-R. He sings along with the live music, talks to everyone in the room at each of the 20 or so tables, and really knows how to make a restaurant feel like a homey, family-style dinner!


We had excellent tapas (papas a la brava, pan con aceite de ajo, pulpa a la lluna), homemade paella, sweet sangria, and an incredible creme brulee that was carmelized right at our table. Delicioso!


Nearly five hours after we sat down, we finally made our way back home...great food, new friends. Fun way to spend a Friday night! 

Serving the paella at our table

Fresh seafood paella with mussel, clams, scallops, and shrimp

Vicente shows everyone how to drink red wine from "la bota," from his nose into his mouth

I give it a shot - fun!

Costa Rica in February

I was reminded of how different January and February feel when you're in a place like Costa Rica (versus Ohio, Boston or apparently, according to this photo, the ENTIRE United States?) Holy moly. That is some serious weather you people are having.  Stay warm and drink lots of hot chocolate!

Courtesy: NOAA