I CANNOT believe I forgot one thing off of my list the other day!
Hot water!!!!!!!! As in, I can wash my hands in glorious hot water, and wash my dishes and get the grease off with my lovely hot water! It’s wonderful. I probably waste a lot of water here just enjoying it on cold days. 
Love, Alisan
“These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time.
When you give it to them, they gather it up;
When you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.”
Psalm 104:27-28
Earlier in this Psalm David is listing details that God planned out from the beginning, and how His Earth is dependent on him to survive. It is a beautiful list, I encourage you to read it, an awesome reminder of how God is in everything.
It is sometimes hard, in this hard-working American culture to admit we are dependent. The goal, since birth, is often to be an Independent, hard-working person so we can “get ahead” in this world. But I’m not sure that’s exactly what God wants us to be. I think we need to strive to be more dependent on Him. On His promises. On his timing. The birds don’t sit around wondering, how can I make myself stronger, faster, smarter so that I will have more? They already know that it’s all there for them, it’s a matter of Waiting for God to open his Hands for them, which will provide everything that they need.
There are times when I am confused and a bit frustrated about where I am right now, since MY plan was to be in Brazil right now. But I have learned (by necessity) to depend on Him for everything. Everything I need is already in His hands. But He will open His hand when the timing is right. In the mean time he has already given me everything and more I need for this season of my life. So, I’m not worried about it. If my fingerprints don’t get accepted this time around, yeah I’ll call someone a stupid idiot but I know why it didn’t work out. God already has this all worked out. His blessings are too many to count in this season and the next.
Love, Alisan
Our extended stay here in the States has made me realize many things about our culture, compared to the culture of Brazil. I am so thankful that I have been able to and WILL be able to live in another country. I encourage everyone to make that step if the opportunity ever knocks at your door. Or, if God knocks at your door.
Here is a short list of things that I believe we, as Americans, take advantage of. At least I have. Majorly. I encourage you to think about these things that you encounter everyday and just think it’s normal. I’m telling you, it’s not. We need to be more thankful.
1. Grocery stores with amazing varieties of foods.
Seriously, you can make any type of food you want in America. Is there anything you CAN’T GET? Yes, actually there is. It’s called Brazilian fruit which is amazing. But besides that WOW. I’m loving every second of it.
2. Your mama
My mama
I know this might not be true for all of you, but my Mom lives in the United States. And even though we are in different states right now it feels a whole lot closer than when I was on another continent. I still ask her to come over every single day, but at least now it’s (almost) possible! Same goes for my Daddy, my sister, my aunt, and my friends. And my puppy.
3. Highways.
Look at this thing.
For real though look at that highway. It’s smooth. There are no random speed bumps. There are no random military police set up points which causes your heart to beat a million miles an hour. No motorcycle races. It’s glorious.
4. Changes of season.
rolling down a hill
I am not gonna lie. I love warm weather. If it’s below 78 I am cold. I wear 5 shirts everyday. This is not an exaggeration. Ask Luke. BUT, I have enjoyed this fall so much. The leaves were so beautiful! I am praying for snow everyday here in Nashville, although it is somewhat unlikely. Maybe a freak super-snowstorm will happen just this once.
5. Decorations
yeah my house looks like this
Although you can find decorations in Brazil, they are very expensive. And they don’t do stockings. And not many people decorate. Here I can decorate my entire house inside and out at the Dollar Tree. And that’s exactly what I am doing this year! It’s also nice to drive around and see all the lights us in cities and homes. They go ALL out here in Nashville. The kids are loving it. Maybe we go way too far out. But it does make it feel more Christmas-y!
These are just a few things of course, the things that I noticed the most. I am thankful for all of these things. And when I am back in Brazil I will have even more to be Thankful for.
Love, Alisan
So, we came back from Brazil in June full of joy and excitement about visits with family and to raise more support for our move back to Recife, Brazil.
We made our (what feels like) annual trip to Washington D.C. to apply for our visas, they were miraculously accepted, and then……
A DOOR SLAMMED SHUT.
We received an email stating that we applied at the wrong consulate (ummm they couldn’t of told us that when we were THERE IN PERSON?) and that we had to go through New York.
New York required an FBI background check and then guess what we found out?
My fingerprints are STUPID. I have the hands of a 90 year old construction worker. I blame it on the dishes.
My finger prints have been sent back twice by the FBI, and just two days ago I got printed x5 so that they MAYBE MIGHT accept one set.
We are praying and waiting to hear.
This is a confusing time for all of us. However, we have been so very very blessed since we’ve been here.
I will send more details soon about our time here in the U.S. It’s been exciting, relaxing, stressful, and fat-enducing. (I’m really enjoying the food)
And now for some completely random photos for your entertainment…
Our yearly photo at the Dunes
Reunion at Pocono Plateau
We really missed this girl
My baby with a gun
Our neighbors
Survival training
I”ll be back soon.
Love, Alisan
This month has been a rough one for me. Luke has had to go on three trips out of town, and went to our street ministry school all in a row. Which leaves me feeling rather lonely. Well, I have my beautiful kids of course, but there is nothing like having your husband around…
Some of you may also be in the same situation, or a similar situation, what do you do to stay sane? Or do you mostly just go insane like me? Here’s a listing of what I’ve done in the past month…
1. cried
2. had no energy for things
3. whined and complained
4. whined and complained to my husband and then felt really bad about that because he’s doing his job and actually, so am I
5. come up with GREAT and AWESOME things to do with my kids
6. become totally frustrated with my kids and turned a movie on
7. wished for a car, money, more friends, things to do, and the United States of America
8. asked God for forgiveness for being so miserable when I am surrounded by so many blessings
9. realized how much I LOVE my husband’s company
10. asked my mom to come over
11. made awesome things to eat and listened to my kids complain about it
12. prayed
13. mistakenly joined Pinterest
and then finally I got myself together, and read this: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” 2 Corinthians 12:9 It’s ok to tell others you are struggling. This is something that is sometimes hard for me, outside of telling Luke. God sees me here, in all of my weakness, yet he still loves me. He’s cheering me on, holding me up, blessing me all the way.
But there was FOR REAL a MINI TORNADO right next to our house the other day!
Maybe it’s actually called a dust storm, or something like that, but it was definitely TWISTING and stuff was flying everywhere!
I watched about 5 pieces of my laundry FLY AWAY from my house, over the wall, and out into the wilderness that is TRINDADE!
I was able to recover only ONE of these pieces of laundry. It was in a field and I was afraid of stepping on dead things so I had to bail.
You probably don’t believe me, and this is my only proof:
This exciting picture is a piece of straw stuck on my wash line!
And even MORE exciting is this picture of additional straw on our sidewalk!
I know, sorry, really pathetic. But it was for real and kind of crazy.
Love, Alisan
