A few hours in Miami

As I write this, I am sitting in a corner of the Miami airport catching up on my world and sipping Starbucks.  Ahhh, life is good.  Meanwhile, my hubby is out and about exploring Miami.  Further proof that indeed, opposites attract. :)

Tim and I are headed to Georgia to share in a mission conference with our home church.  We are super excited to share with these sweet people all that God has been doing in Panama.  They have had a large part in our ministry and we are excited to be with them for a few days.  We are not excited that our kids are back in Panama though.  It was not an option for them to be away from school right now so our friends have moved in to stay with them for a few days.  I hope that we are all still friends at the end.  Just kidding, surely my kids will be on their best behavior.  Right???

Miami is an interesting mix of English and Spanish.  I am pretty sure it is a 50/50 split.  Which is rather tiring to the brain I might add.

Off to get lost in a good book while I have time......

Out with the old, in with the new; Panama style

While traveling during the past week we kept seeing the oddest things decorating peoples yards and businesses along the streets.  We began asking around and found out that Panama has a unique custom of making scarecrows and burning them at midnight on New Year's Eve. They dress up and fill the scarecrows with newspapers and pieces of wood. I have to say we say some pretty creative pieces of work! As mid night approaches, everyone gathers outside their home and each family burns their scarecrow. The tradition says that this destroys all the bad things that took place in the past 12 months. The scarecrow also scares away any bad luck that might be approaching for the new year. Interesting tradition.

Of course it is yet another reminder of the way Satan has a hold on the people of Panama.  We know that our steps have been ordered and our future is ultimately in the hands the Lord. 

The Message 

^10-11This is God's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Farewell 2011

We are wrapping up a wonderfully relaxing, lazy and much needed week at the beach.  It was just what the doctor ordered after the busy holiday season.  We have loved every minute of it.  Much of our time has been spent in our PJ's playing games and watching old movies.  When we have managed to get dressed, we have thrown on our swimsuits and hit the beautiful beach.  We even managed to take in a few day trips to some of the most beautiful places we have seen thus far in Panama.  All in all, it has been just about perfect family time.  I am so grateful for this sweet family of mine and have enjoyed the get away from everyday life.  

Today we have spent time reflecting on 2011 and all that God has allowed us to experience.  We talked about our favorite memories of the year and all of the wonderful blessings of 2011.  Then, we talked about the challenges and hard times 2011 brought. We remembered that in their own ways, they were blessings too.  We were even able to see "good things" that have already come out of some of those challenges. We talked about faith and trust and how to be thankful for the good and bad.  

So, we have kind of closed out 2011 and are now looking forward to what God has in store for 2012.  More on that soon.......

Home

The past few months have been a whirlwind of adventure. Our family took part in a huge community Christmas musical production here in Panama and the day after the show, we hopped on a jet plane and headed home to Thomasville, Georgia. We spent 3 weeks reconnecting with our home church and precious friends there. We were able to spend time with our extended families and make memories with them. I was apprehensive (okay, a nervous wreck) about spending time back in the USA. I had a long list of worries but at the top was this;

I was afraid that we would not want to leave and come back to Panama.

I was afraid that goodbye to our friends would hurt too much. I was worried that having to leave the "comfort" of life in the USA would be too difficult. In the end, there was some validity to my worries and fears. There were tears shed with goodbyes and I fondly remember quick trips to Walmart, Chick- fil- A and Sonic. However, what I had not really trusted was the peace in my heart as we left and headed back to Panama. It felt, well...... right.

I know that God has called us to serve in Panama City for this time in the life of our family. There is nothing sweeter than being in the center of God's will and knowing that you are being obedient to what He has called you to do. Not even Krispy Kreme donuts (which I ate A LOT) are as sweet as laying your head down and waking up knowing that God is working through your family for His good.

I am so grateful for the time we were able to spend in Georgia. We needed it and it recharged our batteries. I am also grateful that coming back to Panama felt like going home. I am grateful that there is room for two homes in my heart.

Bocas Del Toro Family Get-Away

Trinity wrote her thoughts about our recent family get away. Enjoy!

9 hours and 2 boat rides from the bustling city of Panama sits a small island where the fastest means of transportation is a bike. The 9 hour drive is dotted with villages of the native Embera people. They live simply with no running water or electricity but an obvious love for colors and fresh fruits. Our small wooden boat arrives at the island of Bastimentos and we are welcomed by a group of local islanders. There are no roads on this island just winding walking paths to enjoy. One of our greeters makes some of the best fresh fish ever tasted. We are so humbled becuase while it seems that these people have so little, they share with the newcomers as if it is just a way of life for them. Our home for a few days is a cabin overlooking the ocean and we drift to sleep hearing Caribbean music being played throughout the town. We awake to the sound of the rooster. Our first morning has sprung on this beautiful island. We begin the day with fresh pineapple and strong coffee. Yet another boat is taken to a neighboring island and we explore the new grounds on bicycles. The streets are flooded with people who stand watching as the Children's parade sweeps through. This is the time of year they celebrate their Independence. Freedom is a beautiful gift. As we ride, we see new sights, smell new smells and are reminded that most people in the world do not live like we do. They live simpler. I would argue maybe even better. That night, we're back on our host island and fall fast asleep after a busy and full day. Early the next day, the soft rain is hitting the roof and we stumble out into the brisk, wet morning. A small covered boat arrives to take us on what proves to be an amazing adventure. The rain lightens even further as the small boat enters the realms of Dolphin Bay and the gentle creatures come up towards the surface of the calm water. We stare in amazement at the beautiful creatures God has created jumping within reach of our small boat. In time we bid our new friends farewell and travel farther towards a small restaurant out in the middle of the ocean. There, we dive and see all the beautiful sea life God has made with such creativity. The playful fish circle around our legs as we reach out, trying to touch them. All different shapes and sizes, every color of the rainbow. Later, the boat travels to a small opening in the forest trees. The old, careless dock stretches 5 minutes into the land and brings us to a beach covered in tiny red frogs. We spend a few hours there in the roaring waves. We dig in the soft sand searching for treasures. The tiny red frogs dance around the island as we play. God is so creative in his creating. That night the whole family lays in hammocks as we talk about the way that God has led us to this place. The bumpy roads, the turbulent boats all seem worth it. Life is a gift meant to be enjoyed. We are grateful for it.

Father/Son Weekend

Hi everyone! This is Noah. This weekend my Dad and I went to the mountains here in Costa Rica. We went on a Father/Son retreat. It was really fun! It was COLD in the mountains! They built a fire every night so that we could stay warm. There were lots of things that I liked to do there. They had obstacle courses that Dad and I did together. My favorite thing we did together was have special time where Dad and I read our Bible together. He taught me some good stuff about how important it is to be a person of good character. Then we carved a special stick together so that we can keep it forever and remember the weekend. Here is a picture of all of the guys who went on the weekend. There were some other missionaries and lots of Costa Rican people too.

Surf's Up! Catch Up!

We have had quite the adventerous two weeks off from school! First, my mom came for her first visit to Costa Rica. We had SO MUCH fun. It was so great to have her here! We went to a beautiful resort for a few days and saw more wildlife up close than I ever imagined possible. At one point we were counting, and had over 20 different kinds of animals that we had come in contact with on our trip. The monkeys at breakfast had to have been the highlight. Now that I think about it, there are to many highlights to even list! Mom was able to stay for a week. So after we spent some time at the resort, she also got to hang out with us at our home and see our new world. It truly was a great family time together.

After mom went home, we spent a few days on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica in a small beach village. While it was not anything close to "resort" like, it was lots of fun and we had a blast! Again, the scenery here was amazingly beautiful and we saw tons of wild life. Our good friend Janna, who is here in school with us, joined us for our trip. We also got to hang out with a mutual friend of ours that we trained with in Virginia. Stacy is currently in a small village in Mexico. She had the opportunity to come and visit with us for a few days. We all had a great time relaxing and catching up.

Now that we are refreshed and relaxed, we are looking forward to starting our last semester of language school. The kids go back to school this week also, so we are going to get back in to school routine. Please pray with us that God would give us endurance and perseverance as we get back to language learning.

Summer Fun!

Sweet friends.
Breathtaking beauty.
Precious memories.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

White Water Rafting in Costa Rica

We have made it through the first two weeks of our second semester of school. For some reason I had it in my head that it would get easier as we went along. Why do I do that to myself??? I am very excited about the amount of language that I am going to be learning this semester, but I am fighting not to feel overwhelmed by the work load!

The rainy season has begun here in Costa Rica. So far, it has not been to bad but from what we hear we might need a boat before it is all over. It does provide many challenging opportunities since we walk everywhere we go. It also provides us with lots of BUGS!! As I type this, we are watching a lizard chase bugs around our house and eat them. Seriously, ya'll don't know what you are missing! :)

So, that is all from me for now but I am handing over the keyboard to Tim.....

White-water rafting just over 18 miles down one of the top five rivers to raft in the entire world, per National Geographic, has to be the high-light of my experiences here in Costa Rica. I take that back! Having "two of my closest friends" raft alongside me during the white-water adventure has been my most exciting time here. Earlier this month, my friends Dan and Chris arrived into Costa Rica from our hometown of Thomasville, GA. What a fabulous few days that we experienced together! Take a moment to enjoy the slideshow of our white-water excursion. They were class four rapids, and we loved every minute of them! Post a comment and share your thoughts with me if you have a moment! Enjoy! Tim

Make a Smilebox photobook

Catching up and remembering my Grandma

I should warn you that this is going to be a long post. I have to apologize to all 3 of my readers :) for my lack of posting. As you will see there has been lots going on.
As I write this post I am sitting in the Denver airport waiting to fly home to Costa Rica. Last week my sweet Grandma went to be with Jesus and I was able to fly home and spend some precious time with my mom and family as we celebrated her life. More on that in a moment......
Tim and I have finished our first trimester of language school and we have passed with flying colors! I will tell you there were times that I wondered! We had our first language evaluation with the International Mission Board. We are expected to be at a certain level by the end of our year in Costa Rica. Well, we were both beyond pleased with our rating as it was higher than we had anticipated. It feels good to know we are on the right track! We are on a two week break from school and look forward to doing some traveling. Our friend Tresa is flying into San Jose tomorrow and we are headed to the Cloud Forest for a few days. I will be sure and post some good pictures!
I want to close with some personal thoughts about my Grandma. I have been able to reflect the past few days on all the wonderful memories I have of her. My brother and I talked about how much fun we used to have as little children hanging out at Grandma's house, drinking coke on crushed ice and eating strawberries. Perhaps, the most precious memories I have are when I was older and becoming a young adult. I remember so many times sitting in my Grandma's living room. She would sit in her rocking chair and I would sit on the sofa. I would talk. I would share my frustrations and thoughts on the world. I would ask questions about why things were the way they were. She would listen. She would always offer some wise thoughts on my situation. Somehow, she would always make it seem better. She would always point me to Jesus. Looking back I see how she was pouring her wisdom into my life. Not in an abrupt forceful way, just in her quiet strong way. I was to young to really appreciate it then, but it is sure priceless to me now. She was one of the finest woman that I have ever known and so much of how I think and who I am came from her pouring herself into me.
Please pray especially for my mom and her sister as they grieve the loss of their precious mom. She truly was a remarkable woman and I am blessed to have called her Grandma.

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE!!!

from Tim......
Picture both white-faced and squirrel monkeys swinging from tree to tree, two-toed sloths resting quietly overhead, and iguanas resting on many of the rocks around you as you enjoy a peaceful afternoon on the beaches of the Pacific ocean. That my friends is what the Louderbacks did this past weekend as we ventured out on our first family getaway into one of Costa Rica's national parks called Manuel Antonio. This national park has a series of small beaches and bays surrounded by luscious rainforest. It is a JUNGLE and home to 108 species of trees, 99 species of mammals, and 355 species of birds. Sweet action! I stopped counting early on, but I think that we saw most all of them! Magnificent!
It's always a blast to experience new and exciting aspects of God's creation! We loved every minute of it!
Many of you have located San Jose, Costa Rica on the map, and are aware that we live right in the middle of the country. The city is surrounded by mountains and thus God gives us beautiful sunrises and sunsets with His magnificent mountains in the background. Gorgeous! Since we live in the mountains, the bus ride just to get to the beach was a very winding path over the different mountain ranges. Let's just say that our family took our motion sickness medicine before leaving the bus station. I wish that I could say that for the other 50 some odd passengers. Many of them lost their "cookies" along the way, and you can only imagine what the bus smelled like when we rolled into the final destination after four hours of travel.
Anyway, as you can see, it was quite the weekend for the Louderback family here in Costa Rica in more than one way. I hope yours was just as exciting! We were indeed "living large" all weekend! Enjoy!

Christmas in Texas

We have really enjoyed the last week in TX! All of the Louderback clan and my mom have been staying at my brother's new home in Kingwood. We have had a blast! My brother is an excellent cook so on top of great fellowship, we have had tons of great food! Yummy! The cousins have had so much fun playing together. Of course, Santa brought lots of new things to amuse them with. We have enjoyed some wonderful family time together and made some precious memories. I am so grateful to have been able to have this time with them. We were also able to see some of our dearest friends The Berg family. :)

We are flying to Orlando tomorrow where we are going to enjoy a few days at Disney!! Grandma gave us passes to the park for Christmas so we are going to enjoy one last party vacation before we head to Costa Rica. The kids are beside themselves with excitement. Grandma is the coolest. :)

Saturday Sightseeing

Thankfully, Tim was much better today so we could resume our sightseeing. This morning we went to the Arlington National Cemetery. We were able to see the changing of the guard and a wreath ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier. It was an awe inspiring thing to watch. So respectful and reverent. We also went to the Iwo Jima Memorial.
After grabbing some lunch we headed off for lots of fun at the Zoo. The highlight was the 3 giant pandas! So cute.
We will attend church in the morning with the congregation who is hosting us in our missionary home. It will be our last full day in DC. We will leave on Monday morning and head for the learning center in Richmond, Virginia. We begin our training and the kids begin their classes on Wednesday so we will have Monday afternoon and Tuesday to get our home set up. we are looking forward to getting there and to beginning our training.
We have had such good family time the past few weeks. After the stress of getting out of town, we really needed it. God has been so good to us along the way and we have had so many little treats that we did not plan for. We feel very blessed to have been able to have this time to rest and get ready for the next step in our journey.

George W. from Tim

The White House has been the scene of many events in the history of our nation. Moreover, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the most famous address in the United States. For the Louderbacks, it was indeed the scene of one more event. We slept in today and began our day with a nine room tour of the White House. Our tour began at 11:00 so we assumed that "W" was probably upstairs finishing up some work in the Oval Office before lunch. Little did we know that he actually went out for an early adventure and would be returning very soon. We finished up our amazing tour and stepped out on to the front porch and proceeded to leave the grounds, so we thought. As we approached the street, a Secret Service Agent said "please stop and stand right there." Thus, we did! About 15 minutes later, the Presidential motorcade began to approach. There were probably 20 black vehicles followed by an ambulance. Here's the best part though! As the limo that George W. was riding in arrived at our location beside the gate, he waived out the window to the Louderback family. Tina had on her Sarah Palin t-shirt on, and I had on my McCain/Palin t-shirt. The kids were in red, white, and blue. It couldn't have been a better way to end our White House tour! We were "living large" indeed! Hope your day has been fantastic!

Memorials

We visited the memorials on the Mall today. It was a somber day. It was especially meaningful to see many veterans stand proudly in front of their memorials and take pictures with their families. We owe so many so much. We also went to the top of the Washington Monument. There were lots of teachable moments along the way.
I want to go home now. Little problem I know. I am just feeling very unsettled. I am hopeful that once we get to the Learning Center in Richmond I will be able to make our space feel more "homey" and then I will feel better. I know that this is just going to be a process and I can not expect for it to feel ok right now. Sigh.

Washington Fun

We had a really fun day in DC. First we went on a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Who knew there was so much that went into making all of our money? It was very interesting. We explored the Library of Congress. Tim went on one of those boring preplanned tours :) while the kids and I opted for a hands on scavenger hunt through the library. Very fun. Every once in a while I get to be the cool parent. We had lunch at a Senate building and then we had a wonderful tour of the Capital building courtesy of Johnny Isakson's office. It was a great tour! We learned so much. Trinity and Noah were especially impressed.

Monday In DC

We enjoyed a rather lazy day in DC. We did get out late this afternoon and checked out a local bakery. We did our part to support the Republicans. :) They need all the help they can get in this neck of the woods. We walked along the Potomac River and ate at a Japanese Steak House tonight. We are looking forward to the week ahead here in our nations capital.

From NYC to DC

We have wrapped up our time in NYC and are now in Washington. Before leaving this morning, we worshiped at The Brooklyn Tabernacle. It was an awesome experience. The music was AMAZING!! If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend it.
We are staying in a lovely missionary house here in DC. It is really nice to be in a home and not a hotel for a few days. Mission housing is something new to us since we began with the IMB. Many churches offer homes to missionaries who are visiting in their area. It is a neat ministry. This home used to be a parsonage, but in 1985 the church made it a missionary home. The home is filled with mementos from all over the world. Many families who have stayed here have left items from their countries. The kids are having fun checking them all out. The kids are glad to have some room to spread out and I am glad to have a washing machine. :) We plan to rest tomorrow and just enjoy some down time. We will begin our official DC experience on Tuesday. I hope that our weather here will be as beautiful as it was in New York. It was picture perfect every day we were there.
Speaking of New York, here are a few more pictures from our adventure.

Living Large with A-Rod in NYC

Hey, it's Tim! Picture this! Imagine sitting on a park bench just 5 or 6 tables away from A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez, 3rd baseman for the Yankees) in NYC. It was amazing! The paparazzi converged on the location from every angle. We were the only ones around with kids, and so we encouraged Noah to go over and ask him for an autograph. One of the paparazzi came over to me and handed a pen and pad to Noah and said he would be shooting pictures while Noah was having it signed. That's all of the encouragement that Noah needed! He was off to visit with A-Rod and his buddies. Noah said he was extremely friendly, and even commented on Georgia being the "peach" state to his friends after asking Noah where he was from. Can you say "living large" big time? Overall, it was an amazing day. We went to Ground Zero (WTC), the Statue of Liberty, and Chinatown. Fabulous! Tomorrow were off to church here in NYC! Hope that you have a great day of worship as well!

Look out NYC......

the Louderback's are here!! WOW, we had a great day!! We left the hotel at 6AM and returned (very tired I might add) at 9PM. We saw and experienced so much today. Here are a few highlights of our first day in NYC:
We have ridden a bus, a monorail, a train and a subway
We have walked MILES :)
Central Park Carousel
Time Square
Broadway
NBC
5th Avenue Shopping
ESPN
Rockefeller Center
Met some of those famous NYPD :) (no, Tim was not in trouble but they were kind enough to let us take a picture with the squad car)
Empire State Building
FAO Swartz
Museum of Natural History
Trump Tower
We even made a casting call at GAP kids. Who knows maybe one of us will be the next face of the GAP :)
As you can see, we are good and tired tonight. We will all sleep well!
By the way, we are possible the only Republicans that are in NYC. I have never seen so many Obama shirts in one place!!!