Circle to Square baby blankets-link to free pattern

This is a great project, because you're working with squares it's a super portable project. I've made most of both of these blankets on the bus, while waiting for students to take tests, or while watching movies. I found the pattern on this blog!
Here are my creations, I followed her blog for the squares and experimented different methods for joining the squares and finishing off the blanket. I'm quite pleased with the color combinations and whimsical border on the boy blanket.  Now I eagerly wait to become an aunt again….!

When all else fails…make yourself some pumpkins! (Link to free crochet patterns)

You can't find cute little pumpkins here in Bolivia…or anything that resembles the little orange or white pumpkins in the states, so for thanksgiving last year we got creative and made our own. :) Here are Sharleen and my creations: (You can find links here for the fabric pumpkins (I kind of combined the patterns), and for crochet pumpkins here. )

A beautiful blanket for my mom: link to harlequin crochet pattern

I've crocheted very few blankets in my life-mostly for wedding gifts or a long awaited baby…but I felt my Mom deserved her own…plus she's always cold, so I knew it would get lots of use. So I found this pattern that I LOVED and picked some colors. The original pattern has 5 colors, but I used 4 and slightly modified the color pattern. I was very happy with how it turned out but it took FOREVER… I started in October and was literally finishing it on the airplane on my way home for Christmas!  Every movie, Skype call, podcast and bus ride provided time for me to work my little wrists off!  So here it is, (I never got a final picture of the whole blanket, but if you go to my Moms house, someone will probably be wrapped up in it in front of the TV.)  :)

My very own ovejita: link to crochet pattern

You are going to fall in love with this little guy…and you can make your own!  I made him a little more culturally relevant with tassels in his ears (especially in the mountains here, the llamas have tassels in their ears, so I gave him some!)…he's still lacking a name, so feel free to cast your vote! :) 

You can find a link here it is modified (and I actually like it better) from the original link. 

So here's mine! (Sorry for the poor quality photos!)

Navidad en Cochabamba

It was  FULL time.
First, let's back it up…there was THANKSGIVING! We had a bunch of ex-pat friends over, and a few bolivian friends and celebrated all the things we are so thankful for. Like friends! My favorite comment was from a 6 year old little boy who lived in New Zealand and now here, who said, "I'm thankful that God is with me wherever I am". Well said, Isaac, well said.

This was us when we were done with the party…it is hard work hosting 75 people for a formal dinner!  

Then there was CDR! We had at least 3 Christmas activities for different audiences.
For the ESL classes, I made a bunch of props, and they acted out the Chrsitmas story in English. It is one of the best things I've ever seen.

ESL students re-enacting the Christmas story!

CDR staff testing out the props

CDR staff Christmas party

Bible study girls

Our big project was Kid's Club Christmas.  

Prep day one or two… measuring, weighing, re-bagging flour, sugar and rice. 

Prep day 3, sorting and bagging gifts. Teddy bears for girls, trucks for boys and snacks for all!

Day of the party. We were excited, nervous, scared...

There was lots of logistical prep work. Here are our two youngest workers. 

Then the people came. And they were many. We did normal games for the first hour. 

happy volunteers! (These are a few of our bible study girls!)

Then prizes and gifts were handed out. 

happy, happy day for all! 

Jungle trip: December 2015

We visited a village in the Tipnis region of Bolivia (Department of Beni).  It is where three distinct language groups come together- Yuracare, Chiman, and Trinitario. This was my second time there and we flew out there with International Tribal Mission. I was surprised that I knew the pilot from years ago when I stayed for a month with good friends. They went to the same church and since I met him he went on and studied to be a pilot. Here are some pictures of the four days we were there. We went for the anniversary of the community and also the anniversary of the church.  Our role was to provide children's programs (games, Bible stories, songs).

Decorating for the anniversary festivities. 

 Oh, all the things you can do with these flowers!

A traditional folkloric christian music group (Alfa y Omega) came along and did concerts two nights. 

Rio secure

 Baptism in the river.  Young and old demonstrated to all present that they have decided to follow the Lord.

Here are a handful of those who were baptized with Hermana Judith. 

The craft for the story of the Lost Sheep. 

There was a soccer tournament. 

Sisters!

Samy did workshops with the adults. 

Hanging out at the airstrip.  Due to several uncontrollable factors we ended up staying an extra day. I didn't mind! 

These little guys accompanied to visit families in the lower zone of the community. 

We found some cows! 

Some gorgeous girls, with beautiful eyes! 

A family of creative and hard workers! 

Some people from the Chiman communities. The kids laughed and played tag until I was ready to pass out from the heat and exhaustion! 

Pastor Tito up early to study his Bible before breakfast and a game of uno. 

The pastor and his wife with their two youngest boys and another boy who is staying with them. 

The Pastor's wife and baby.