Happy Birthday Alex

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

ALEXANDRE

Sending birthday wishes all the way to Brazil. Alex, we hope you have a wonderful day.

A Surprise Phone Call

Olá Ma'rica,

Obrigado pelo telefonema. Feliz Ano Novo.

Lorie

I got a phone call from Alex's mother yesterday. Alex was our foreign exchange student last year. What a wonderful surprise.

Look Who Came to Visit

Does everyone remember Alex? He moved in with another family in mid January and he came by to visit us last week. Yoa, his foreign exchange sister, came along with him. It was great to see both of them.

Jamie won at ping pong, but Yoa gave him a run for his money. Great fun!

Happy Birthday Alex

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY!

A Time to say Goodbye

To begin this post, I would like to introduce you to Alex's dad and mom. Alex shared these pictures with me today. For some reason, I am not able to get them any larger.

Alex recently sent a gift package to his family. Look at what his father received. GO COCKS!

His mom received a beautiful angel. Alex said he knew she would love it. I know she did!

NOW!!! Today was moving day for Alex. His stay with our family came to a close today. He completed his first semester with our family and made the family "switch" tonight. He will remain in Columbia for the rest of the school year and will then return home to his family. He packed up all his belongings right after school today.

We have learned that a teenager is a teenager, in any country! What a mess, but he needed to go through all his belongings to get them organized. You would have been impressed with his organized packing when all was said and done. :)

Here's to Alex! We went out to eat as a last send off for our dear Alex.

Of course there had to be a present.
Yes! We all laughed. Alex LOVES ketchup. I mean, he really LOVES ketchup.
His going away present was 144 oz. of ketchup. He loved his gift.

A South Carolina FRIED meal.

Marlene taught Alex how to eat lemons.

Our final group picture. Christopher is back at school, or he would have been at this send off. He
enjoyed getting to know Alex over the Christmas holidays.

To Alex,

Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you. declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Porque sou eu que conheco os planos que tenho para voces', diz o SENHOR, planos de faze-los prosperar e nao de lhes causar dano, planos de dar-lher esperanca e um futuro. Jeremias 29:11

We are so glad that God's plan for your life included a trip to the USA and that you passed through our home. You are a very special young man, and God has good things in store for you. Stay close to Him. Read His word daily. It will give you the strength and encouragement you need to live a successful life. All our love to you!

Kynn, Lorie, Jamie, Christopher and Spencer

Weekend Happenings

The weekend has come and gone. Friday night, Jamie, Kynn and I went to California Dreaming for dinner. Alex went to a wrestling tournament at Dreher. On Sat. Kynn and I went on a double date with our neighbors, Tom and Ginger Hamblin. It has been a long time since we have spent time with them so we had a great time catching up. Jamie went to the USC basketball game with Spencer and Alex went ice skating. He said it was hard! This morning we all went to church. It was a good day in the house of the Lord. We have just a few more days and nights wiith Alex. He will leave on Tuesday evening and stay with another family for the rest of the school year. We have learned so much from Alex and he has been a blessing to our family. (More thoughts on our semester with Alex to follow) Have a great week. Share the love of Jesus. It will bless the other person and bless you as well.

A message to Alex's family

Mamae nao se preocupe eu estou comendo bem e nao estou magrinho, eu estou bem, a foto abaixo eh um exemplo de quanto eu como aqui, eh um file de peixe, milho, salgadinho, e um pao com manteiga, o vermelho eh ketchup mas eu mesmo assim sinto saudade da sua comida sem sal e sem gosto.Para todas as pessoas eu sinto saudades de voces e espero ver voces quando eu voltar.Feliz ano novo!

Ayusa Christmas Party

The Foreign Exchange Program had their Christmas Party last weekend. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Brigadeiro- A Brazilian Dessert

On Sat. night, we will all go to the Foreign Exchange Christmas Party. Each student was asked to bring a food from his or her country. Alex chose Brigadeiro. As he was making the brigadeiro, he told us that he was remembering the times that he has made this dessert with his grandmother, mom, great aunt, and Leda. I can say, it is yummy!!!


Essa noite eu estava fazendo brigadeiros para a festa dos estudantes de intercambio que vai ser no Sabado e eu lembrei as vezes que minha mae, minha avó, minha tia-avó, e Leda antes das festas preparando os brigadeiros e enrolando eles no granulado e conversando e se divertindo. Minha parte preferida é quando eu ia na cozinha enquanto elas preparavam e pegava um brigadeiro e comia, e minha mãe dizendo para mim:

" Pare de comer brigadeiros senaum não vai sobrar pra festa!"

(The above is a note that Alex wrote for his family).

Thanksgiving 2008

Our Thanksgiving began on Tuesday evening with dinner at our church. Alex, Adam and I met Kynn around 5:00 PM and ate our first Thanksgiving meal. Jamie was not feeling well so he stayed at home. Christopher did not get out of class until 7:30, and Spencer met us for the church service right at 6:30. Alex and Adam had a good time with Marlene. We enjoyed listening to the handbell choir and we celebrated the Lord's supper during our worship service.
We left late Wed. afternoon and headed to my parents in Darlington. Most of the gang made it to Darlington. It was good to have everyone together. Gene and Honor Pierce also joined us and we always enjoy having them with us. After we ate our wonderful meal, we did a little skate boarding and then went on a geochache hunt. That was pretty fun. The Harris Family headed home a day early because Jamie got sick on us and we needed to get him home. (Poor Jamie) On Friday afternoon, I took Alex to get a haircut, and to buy wrestling shoes. When we got home he cooked for us. It has been a good Thanksgiving and we are thankful for all our blessings.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The weekend

Boy are we glad it is the weekend! Kynn and I have a Sunday School Party tonight and Alex has a spend the night party with the other foreign exchange students. Not sure of Jamie's plans.

Here are a few pictures from last weekend.. Digging worms so we can go fishing. (Adam, Kynn and Alex)

Yuck!!!

Got one!!!

Pumpkin Carving Party

We had a pumpkin carving party with our Newlywed Sunday School Class at the home of Bobby and Marlene Chandler's home. One thing that we did not plan was the RAIN. The party was moved into the garage and we ate our hotdog supper in the house. Cynthia made all the wonderful desserts and decorations for us. Alex joined us and invited 3 of his friends to join us. It was the first time Alex and Yoa ever carved a pumpkin. We all had a great time.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Corn Maze activity for Alex

Last Sat. night, Alex, along with other exchange students went to a corn maze. I think they had loads of fun.