We're Smitten.

Five Reasons We LOVE Santiago...

1. It's beautiful...especially this time of year. It's been at least 80 degrees and sunny every single day since we got here. The mountains are huge and glorious, and it's GREEN...Check out the view from our bedroom window (fyi...this is not our permanent home...we're staying at Vero and Seba's house while they're on their honeymoon).



2. The BREAD...there are 3 stores that sell fresh, hot bread...morning, noon and night, within 5 minutes (walking) of where we're staying! My favorite is the "marraqueta" (pronounced mah-rah-keh-ta...practice rolling your Rs in the middle.) It's crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. Mmmmm...so good!



3. The metro...Santiago's subway system is clean, fast, and gets us to almost anywhere in the city we need to go. Brad's already memorizing the different lines and where they take us. We're hoping to rent an apartment close to a metro station.

4. Chileans looooove babies...if you have a baby, come to Chile, it's seriously the best. If I get on the metro carrying Ben, invariably, someone jumps out of their seat to offer it to me. I've had many a conversation in public places because of Ben...old men asking me how old he is, and then proceeding to tell me about all their children and grandchildren. I love it. The other day, we went to renew my ID card, only to be met by lines and lines of people...we thought it would take us at leat 3 hours to get to the front of the line. Within 15 minutes, however, Chilean ladies were taking me by the hand, leading me to the front, and explaining to the clerk that I had a baby and I needed my ID card NOW! Amazing. My mom and dad always said that having me in Chile was what really bound them to the Chilean people. I now totally get it.

Ben and his friend, Tana

5. Our friends... We cannot begin to express how grateful we are for our Chilean friends. Our transition has been so much easier because of their generous hospitality. In the past three weeks we've recieved numerous invitations to dinner and "tea"; we have a place to stay until January 3rd, while we look for an apartment (we're even being lent a car for part of that time!); and we've been given cell phones (come on, who does that?). Brad and I both know that it's because of my parents' thirty year investment in people's lives here that we're recieving such kindness. We're incredibly humbled, and all we can say is "gracias."

Vero & Seba

Some of you were able to meet our good friends Vero and Seba when they came to visit us in Seattle a couple of summers ago. Vero and I graduated from highschool together, and have remained close friends ever since.

Outside Safeco Field in July 2007...a truly American experience.

After 6 years of dating they FINALLY got married on November 29th. It was a gorgeous wedding, that really honored the Lord, and we're so happy for them. This was my gringo husband's first Chilean wedding, and he was pretty amazed, to say the least. The church ceremony started at 7pm, after which we went to the "fiesta" at the Country Club for a five-course dinner and dancing. We left "early" (at midnight) because of Ben, but the dancing continued until 4am, with a live band and entertainment. Here are some pictures so you can get an idea of what it was like!

The beautiful bride surrounded by highschool friends.

Ben was the only baby at the wedding...oops!

Brad thought this was hilarious...I LOVE that everyone dances in Chile!

¡Chile, Chile Lindo!

We arrived safely in Santiago on November 21st. It's hard to believe that after so much planning and dreaming, we're finally here. As we flew over the Andes Mountains, I was overcome with emotion at returning to this beautiful country I love. Ben did amazing on the flight, sleeping 7 straight hours. Our friends Seba, Fefa and Cristi were at the airport to meet us and take us to the house where we'd be staying for 3 weeks. Our fridge was full of meals that friends had made for us and there were flowers and notes to welcome us (and diapers for Ben!). We feel so blessed by such an amazing "bienvenida." Gracias a todos nuestros amigos Chilenos...en verdad se pasaron.

The Majestic Andes...

¡Viva Chile!

TULSA

We spent Nov. 4th-20th with my fam ily in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My sisters Martha and Jewel live there with their families, as well as my parents. It was great to have quality time with all of them, and introduce Ben to those who hadn't met him. Here are some of the highlights...

Papa Craig meeting Ben for the first time...

Lela and Ben getting comfortable with eachother again...:)

Ben hangin' with cool older cousin, Ethan (8)...

Owen (4) and Simon (3) being silly...

Grandma Steen, Aunt Janie & Aunt Sharron drove 5 hours from Missouri to meet Ben...

Hmmmm...

The twins, Lucy and Maggie...

I LOVE THESE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN!!!

The talented Alexandra and Ethan Kaste...

Aaahhhhh, good times, good times.