"Misericordia!"

"Misericordia!"

is what one of my favorite companions on my mission would yell out when she was startled. There is nobody quite like this girl- Sister "Zi" Lima! And it was so fun to have her come visit for the last few weeks. We had the best time just gabbing away, making yummy foods, laying by the pool, going to the beach, walking to the center of the city and looking at the shops, and just doing what girls do best....talk! :) She even thought I had good style and came to me for advice! That's a first! :) It was fun to do a little makeover as she is so beautiful. This time we didn't wear our "Jodi" dresses everyday like on the mission! ha! Lee was a good sport putting up with all the "Sister Talk" and we all had a good time with Sister Lima. Well, almost all of us- Maile was a bit jealous my friend had come to play and she was full of scowls and "uhs" to Sister Lima. Oh Maile! But they made their pazes (peace) at the end of the trip and had some fun together on the beach. I never would've thought that someday she would be able to come to my house in Brazil and we would have the chance to be friends again like this! I'm so grateful for true friendships that last!

Maile didn't exactly warm up to her until the end

With my sister-in-laws Gisele and Liheldna

Maile was in heaven with the cookware in the sand.

This is Joao Pessoa where the beach is. An hour from where we live.

The sun woke me up at what I thought was 7am. Nope- it was 5:30am! Ahhh!

Ready for the beach "Mamae"!

Companheiras Eternas!

Lukey loved nossa Tia Morena! He looks extra white in her arms! :)

Irmao Paes and his family came for lunch. He was one of my teachers in the MTC here! Now he teaches institute and his classes have that same doce spirit! Small world!

Maile painting everyone's nails

Giulia (another cousin) came to sleepover.

Packing up to take her to Recife to the airport. This is our car.

Tchau praia!

My little girl is just so grown up these days! :) She's in a whiny phase and it's definitely been testing my patience.

Lucas cruises around in his little car

Maile borrowed her cousins electric motorcycle and had a blast! You can imagine the fit when we gave it back the next day.

"Over the Green Hills and Through the Dirt Roads....

To Grandmother's House We Go!" Okay, so I don't even know how to explain "Fazenda Liahona" without posting a bunch of pictures and giving you the whole tour. Fazenda Liahona is my in-laws ranch that they named after the Liahona in the Book of Mormon. There is really no place quite like it! It is a place out in the rolling hills about 80 acres and it's their pride and joy. The cutest part is they love to paint it bright colors, keep adding on to it, and it's very Gospel centered! :) I mean- do you honestly know anyone else with a Liahona Compass tower on their property?!

It's a child's heaven with all the farm animals, playground, wide open spaces, and plenty of dirt to play in! We have been going there every Sunday and it's fun to spend time with the family talking upstairs while all the 20 grandkids run free and have a blast. I keep saying to Lee, "You grew up here?!!" and I guess he only lived there for a year and then the older kids went to live in the city at an apartment. But my Sogros (in-laws) love living at the ranch and it's so cute to see the pride and joy they take in maintaining it. There truly is no place quite like it!

These pictures are on the way to the fazenda...

I love to go "people watching" on the way here and imagine how their lives are..
What about these little colored houses!

This is the view arriving to their Ranch. See the tower Liahona?!

Maile looooves to go play at "Vo Vo's" house....
Could this little boy be any cuter?! I can't stop taking pictures of Thomas.
Lots of corn. Everyone loves to make things with corn here. Cake, spreads, soups, you name it!
My bro-in-law, Junior,(Thomas' dad) and minha sogra, Severina.
It's a child's heaven with dirt piles and tire obstacle courses!
They just put the Liahona in so it's "under construction". :) ha ha. I love it!
Gotta have a Snow White in your garden....
And don't forget the peacock....


So these are Lee's sister, Liheldna's kids. She and Junior have 4. Lots of personality as you can tell! Thomas, Camilly, Oliver and Jonatas.


These are the gates to the garage.


There is a huuuuge table for everyone. Back in the day Severina gave lunch to 20 missionaries every week! And that's with 6 little kids to take care of too. She has the biggest pots and pans I've ever seen! You should see the size of her feijoada pan! Eita!
Here's the house part.
The backyard has these rocks that looks like a turtle. Nao e?!
Behind the kids are some saloons where they do big parties and things.
And from all angles there are such wonderful views.
This place is so photographic. Some of the little houses in the hills reminds me of areas on my mission. I miss being able to go into people's houses and get to know different areas and different people. I found that so fascinating on my mission. Tomorrow one of my favorite companions, Sister Lima, is coming to visit for 10 days. She's from Bahia- I'm so excited to see her. It's been too long!!

Beijos.

Happy Independence Day Brazil!

Brruuummm, Crrrrack, Pkkkkkowww! That's what I woke up to at 7am here on the Independence Day of Brazil! There was a huge parade going on right in front of our house. Fireworks, music, drums, and loooots of people! It was fun to be a part of it. We celebrated with the parade in the morning and then everyone (well almost everyone in the family) came back to our house to do a BBQ swim party. It was a lot of fun! Maile learned quickly that if she doesn't pick up some brazilian words the kids won't listen to her. So it's cute to see her run around with them shouting, "Aqui!" (here) or "Eita!" (wow) or "Eu quero" (I want). There's definitely plenty of little cousins for her to play with.

Feliz dia de Independencia do Brasil!

I don't think I'll ever get tired of the view of these palm trees

This is our apartment, the "Mona Lisa". We live on the 9th floor way up there.

Minhas amigas- a few of my sister-in-laws. Gisele, Liheldna, and Priscila.

Maile loved her Cinderella swimsuit. And all the boys looks so cute in their "sungas" speedos.

Lee and his bros! Liheldson, Ligleydson, Lehielton and Lehivelton! Yep- that's a mouthful!

cute little Thomas- he and Maile have fun together.
This is "Frazinho". He and Maile fight like cats and dogs- it's pretty funny how stressed she gets. "Nooo Frasinho!"

Look who's enjoying school now.

This is Liheldna my "cooking teacher". We've been busy....

A secret to a good pudim (flan) is getting the burnt sugar the right color and taste

Walaa! Not perfect but let me tell you it tasted divine!

I've been craving this since I got here!

This is maracuja (passion fruit). They have so many yummy tropical fruits here.

Guess how much all this fresh produce costed at the fresh market?

$3. Yup!