Unable to say goodbye....

And this is one of the trips that started this whole process....Chad and Bruce (And Tim) in the Dominican Republic

Ok, so we found out last night that our really, really good friends are moving to Puerto Rico this month.  We, of course, knew that is was going to happen, but we were hoping (out of our own selfish reasons) that is wouldn't be till after September--ya know the first time we get to return to the United States and--of course--see everyone that we have missed so much.  Well, the news that they would not be there in September hit me like a ton of bricks.

This is the family that has been like our mission support team.  We talked about missions, talked about going abroad together (but God had other plans for us), we have cried about missions--all in all, they were the people that we could talk about our crazy plans with and never for a moment seem like anything was strange.  Most people we talked to about our plans to move and live in Costa Rica looked at us like we had worms crawling out of our eyes...

But not Chad and Chandi.  It was always a breath of fresh air to talk "crazy" about our ideas.  Well, about a year ago, our plan unfolded and we had to say goodbye to lots of people, including Chad and Chandi.  We knew that they would end up in PR, but again, out of my own selfish desires, I was hoping we would get to see each other before they left.  So we could say good bye to them the way they said good bye to us.

So tonight, I took a trip down memory lane.  Not a long trip, but I pulled up some pictures (others I couldn't find and I am on a mission to find them) and wanted to share how beautiful this friendship is and how dear to my heart they are.

Thanks for everything Mayes family!  We love you and can't wait to meet up again! (geez that sounds so weird!)

The birth of baby Micah!  We were there for that!

Ava Kate, Emme and Tuga outside the delivery room at the hospital

Our little fish Emme and Tuga

Hey friends do lots of things together

At church with all the kids- baby Micah and Baby Leyton in the floor

Our mission trip to Acuna Mexico together

Chandi and I in Mexico

The "stupid" gringos who killed the snake with a rock and a shovel...

Why pushing the van up the dry dirt road of course!

Again, the 3 stooges--I mean princesses!

We were even pregnant at the same time-3 months apart

Emme and Tuga at cheerleading camp

The boys--Micah and Leyton

So of course this little trip does nothing in comparison to everything they mean to us, but it is some of the times that we shared doing the Lord's work and preparing to get to our countries of service.

I can't wait till we get to visit them in PR and see all that the Lord is going to do through them.  Of course hopefully they will get the chance to come visit us here in Costa Rica as well.  Believe me, we have talked about this and maybe to you it sounds crazy--but this is EXACTLY what we knew the Lord would be doing with this friendship--

GOD IS SO GOOD IN HIS TIMING!

So, Chad, Chandi, Noah, Tuga and Micah, until we see you again--know that we are praying for you the exact same way that you all prayed for us.  We know all that you are going to experience--and I promise, God uses all the good and the bad to teach you and stretch you--but He will NEVER leave you.
(HAHA that is my "missionary" advice to you....never thought that would happen!)

Love you all like crazy and until we cross paths again!

The whole Mayes gang

Love,
The Crawfords

Pozo Azul Mommy and Daughter Day

Emme and I were so lucky to be able to have a Mommy Daughter day on an adventure getaway at Pozo Azul.

Pozo Azul, Costa Rica

We went zip lining in the canopy and horseback riding through the river, and forest.  It was absolutely beautiful!

It was such a fun experience for both of us and we would love to do it again.

We went with a group of students (parents and kids) from our Language school.  It was about a 2 hour drive and when we arrived, it was raining.  At first, I was a little disappointed, but we were still able to do all of the activities.  Emme and I did zip lining (9 platforms) and horse back riding.  Some other older students and their parents went white water rafting (9 years and older).

We started out zip lining and got all suited up.  We all looked silly, but we were ready for action.  Emme was SUPER excited.  When we got up to the first platform, they told us all the rules, and it was a little intimidating, but we were ready.  Emme had to go with a guide at first, but later, if she wanted, she could go by herself.  Off she went--and I had no control over anything!  About 10 people later, I went and met up with her.  She had the option to go on the 3rd line by herself. She started to, but then changed her mind and she had to wait for one of the available guides to zip with her.  We got separated for awhile and when I finally caught up with her, she told me she did one of the lines by herself!  I was soooo proud.  I wanted her to take the risk--in which normally she is very shy and changes her mind.  Maybe it was because I wasn't there to try to talk her into it or add any pressure.  Whatever the reason, I--and she--was so happy she did it!

After zip lining we went straight to the barn.  We picked our horses and off to the trail we went.  This was one of the first times that I rode a horse on a trail--by myself.  It was raining, and the guide told us that the horses don't really like the mud and rain and that they would try to avoid the muddy puddles.  Oh yeah, that was true of my horse!  He did NOT want to go in the puddles and he would do everything to try avoid them.  But it was a really cool experience and got to see some really cool stuff.

After horseback riding, we had lunch and then back on the bus to head home.  We were wet, tired and all, but we had a really great day together!

Here are some of the pictures.

And here are the zip lining pictures:

All geared up!

All ready to go!

Off she goes...

Here is her video of her first platform.

All in all we had an awesome day!  She says she wants to do it again!  Just have to wait until Leyton is old enough, then we can go as a family!

In HIM,
The Crawfords