Vila Madalena

Playing a little catch up after eight (EIGHT) solid weeks of one or both parentals being out of commission... colds, bronchitis, pneumonia. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, eh?

Somewhere in there, we mustered up enough energy for an out and about kind of morning (probably thanks to some serious cabin fever) in the neighborhood of Vila Madalena.

First stop: Beco do Batman, an alley chock full of crazy amazing graffiti.

Next stop: obligatory park visit… nearly every exploration requires one of these, if the whole family is to deem the outing worthwhile.

 Final stop: ice cream for lunch :)

2017 Christmas Letter

Two thousand seventeen.

We knew even before it began that it would be a big year. A year of new, hard, and remarkable things.

And now we’ve made it to the end, as a family of four, with a Christmas tree that sways ever so gently in a warm breeze. New, hard, remarkable… indeed.

Much has changed, but the “new” we love most would be the addition of London Isaac Dickson to our family on February 23rd! He is a serious delight. Now 10 months old, he loves splashing in the bath, chasing after balls, and eating… actual food, watches, Cora’s toes… really anything goes. He’s always on the move, but frequently redirected by toys / furniture / walls that get in his way. Somebody really should teach his walker how to avoid obstacles :) Big, toothless grins abound - and if you can battle through defensive fingers and feet, kisses on his tummy bring out the best laugh :) He is our “bud” and we love him dearly.

Now, something strange happens when you add a new baby to the family. Almost in an instant, your first baby ceases to be. This year, Cora transformed into the most remarkable little lady of 3 ½ years. She is a tender caretaker of hurting friends, a lover of “twirling socks,” a singer of sweet serenades. She takes breakfast in her “rocket ship” of cereal boxes; and bedtime nearly always involves a bit of coloring and two rounds of I’m a Little Teapot :) A growing vocabulary inspires oh-so-many smiles and very accurately reflects the lingo of her parents and favorite books. Playing trains, chasing birds, spotting helicopters, and loving on London… these are the little things that make her days grand.

As for Greg, his long anticipated new job as Financial Reporting and Internal Controls Manager (within a Compass Minerals business acquisition) began on January 10th in São Paulo, Brazil. Learning a new business, in a new country, in a new language is no small feat… just getting to work is challenge enough some days (hello traffic)! Thankfully, he still gets to wear jeans :) At home, he has become the best hugging machine / builder of body-mazes / maker of popcorn / inventor of games a kid could ask for… and oh how often do his kids (one in particular) ask… :)

And me, I am mostly still in awe that this is our real life :) This season has me savoring time at home and appreciating the big love between a sister and her little brother. It has given me reason to write, both to process these many changes and to remember these many adventures (ourhappening.wordpress.com!). And it has offered a bit of familiar and much stretching through the study of Romans with Bible Study Fellowship.

This year the challenges were many, but we have seen grace triumph over and over again. We celebrate Him now… the Giver of this grace… who loves deeply, recklessly, perfectly.

Whatever new, hard, or remarkable thing lies before you this next year, may you invite Him - and His ever-triumphant grace - to join you along the way.

Merry Christmas!

Greg, Emily, Cora & London

PS: The kids were not having it... obviously.

Brazilian Thanksgiving

This year, we ate a Chester on Saturday night.

Thanksgiving isn’t a holiday down south, so Greg spent the day at work and we ate sad leftovers for dinner. Our grand family dinner was slated for Saturday evening.

I considered buying a turkey, but settled on a Chester. The Chester is a uniquely Brazilian, genetically-modified chicken. How does that not sound like the perfect alternative for a food-centric, American holiday? “Let’s explore a bit more of our new culture while maintaining our American celebration.” It felt like the right thing to do.

The morning of, Greg woke to a terribly debilitating cold and spent most of the day in bed. We managed though, to whip together a quasi-nice dinner of our lovely Chester, sautéed chuchu, and mashed potatoes (because at least one traditional food should make the menu). We ate ridiculously late then scrambled into pajamas and bedtime stories, taking time for one obligatory family selfie.

No turkey. No dessert. No football. No extra family.

It felt not at all like Thanksgiving.

One week later, we are still working through our Chester leftovers. We’ve had Chester quesadillas, Chester stir fry, and Chester pasta so far. London has also had his fair share of Chester, in the form of pleasant purees.

The leftovers that will not end, that feels very much like Thanksgiving.