Six Months In Panama...

Eric and I just want to thank all of you who support us in prayer and with financial support. The Lord is doing an amazing work in Panama, and you are all a very important part of it!

Muchas Gracias!

Come see us! (And there's also this Panama Canal thing that's pretty cool...)

Normally, roundtrip airfare from LAX to Panama City (PTY) costs anywhere from $650 on a really good day to $950+ on a bad day. But last night, I was searching flights for my mom on http://www.expedia.com/ and Copa is selling roundtrip, direct flights from LAX to PTY for only $419!!!! This is unheard of!!! I purchased two tickets for my mother to come in January and again in May. So... email me if you are thinking of coming down and take advantage of this huge sale.

Getting into trouble!

Here is a photo of our darling, sweet Anna trying to recover a CD that she threw into the toilet. (Sorry Eric, it's one of your CD's that was left behind!) This kid is keeping me on my toes more and more everday!!!

Back to Life

We had a blast! Danae, Olivia, Jenny and I spent 2 full days relaxing and eating in Palm Springs. The house we stayed in was beautiful, complete with a pool and jacuzzi. Temps were in the 110-120 range during the day, so we mostly stayed indoors. But each evening we went to dinner and walked around the shops and had just a wonderful time of fellowship. I was so encouraged by these precious sisters, and will keep this weekend in my thoughts as I head back to Panama in a few weeks. Thanks girls for blessing me with your friendship, and a super fun weekend away from real life. I love you guys.

Can I get a HALLELUJAH and an AMEN?

In just minutes, I will be leaving to meet Danae and Jenny for a kid-free, husband-free weekend in Palm Springs! We know it's going to be like a million degrees there, but Danae's uncle is letting us use his vacation home... complete with air conditioning, and a pool & jacuzzi! Praise the Lord!!!

Room with a View

Eric is now safe and sound back in Panama! I just got off the phone with him, and he reports that it's super hot, very rainy, and that our dalmation Dewey is twice the size he was just a mere 4 weeks ago! Some of you know that I decided, after much prayer and discussion with Eric, that I needed to stay behind for just a few more weeks, so that I could attend my only sister's wedding. I have dreaded the thought of being separated from my best friend for 3 weeks, but we both felt that it was a sacrifice that needed to be made. Please join me in praying for Eric as he is separated from me and Anna- and pray for me to be strengthened and to use this time to have sweet fellowship with the Lord.

To celebrate our upcoming anniversary on August 7th, Eric took me to San Diego the night before he left. We stayed in the Hyatt on the marina next to Seaport Village. We found a fantastic discount code online that actually worked when we made the reservation, but the condition of the discount was that the room was supposed to be on a low floor. When we were checking in, however, Eric just casually asked for the highest floor they could give us... and they assigned us a corner room on the 30th floor! From our window we had a view of the bay and Coronado Island from one side, the downtown "gaslamp" district from the other, and the gorgeous 4th story pool deck below.

We had a great time... laying by the pool, crusing around Seaport Village, & dining at a water-front restaurant (followed by chili cheese fries for Eric to compensate for the tiny but expensive portion he was served for dinner). The next day we drove a few blocks to do some business at the Panamanian Consulate and then I took him to LA. Here are some pics from our hotel room:

On the Road Again...

Eric did a fine job of towing my parent's RV trailer all the way to Pismo Beach! I was so proud of him! We spent 3 nights at the Pismo Coast RV Resort... which packed us in like sardines... but was still fun! We got to spend two days visiting with Eric's parents, which was a blessing for Eric (and for his parents also!) We headed to the desert for an additional 3 nights, but left after one night because the sprinklers soaked all of our stuff and the 105 temps were too much! It was a busy few days, so I didn't take many pics... but here are a few of the campground.

M.I.A.

The Tharaldson Family needs a vacation! We've loved every moment of these past 3 weeks in America... but we are literally exhausted from all the traveling and meetings and activities. We had always planned to go up north to spend some time with Eric's parent's... and so we are leaving in the morning for one week! We are taking my parent's travel trailer (it's a neato one with a slideout and everything!) We'll be in Pismo Beach for 3 nights to visit with Eric's family, and then we will be at another campground for 3 more nights, just to relax and be together as a family. We're not taking computers on this trip, so that we can truly refresh and spend quality time together. Sooooooo..... you'll hear from us next week! We'll miss you guys at church, but we'll hopefully see you next Sunday (the 27th) if Eric can figure out how to manuever the giant trailer into the church parking lot. See you soon!

Wild Animal Park! Yay!

Today we decided to spend the day together as a family! We found discount coupons online for the San Diego Wild Animal Park... and since Eric couldn't remember ever going, we thought it would make a fun day! And it was a blast! We waited until after Anna's long morning nap to head out, and we spent the whole afternoon enjoying the cool weather and beautiful animals. Anna was in a great mood all day, and had a very fun time!

First Birthday Bash!

I cannot believe my baby girl is ONE year old!
To celebrate Anna's first birthday (July 1) we had big family party!

Relaxing with Daddy...
Whooooo Hooooo! PRESENTS!

Getting ready for the sugar rush!

Cousin Kayla

What a beautiful family!!!

awwww!

Anna, Eric & Nic (Anna's self-proclaimed GodFather)

The Kiddos

Something New...

It was time! I was never thrilled with our blog design, and until recently had no idea how to design one myself. But, with the help of my amazing friend Lauren, I now know how to design a blog and am so excited to show off our new blog makeover!

If you're interested in getting a blog facelift, check out Lauren's graphic design shop at www.Restored316Designs.com!

what's up...

So I've been a blogging slacker lately... sorry. Truth is, Anna and I have been at home mostly in recent weeks, and so I haven't had many stories to tell or photos to post. And now, we are busy getting ready for a month in the states and that's where my brain is at the moment. But I wanted to give a brief summary of this past week's events.

Pastor Ray arrived on Thursday, with a rental SUV! So Anna and I have been able to go out with the group, and it has been a blessing. Yesterday we spent the day in Los Mortales. I had to make an emergency run to my favorite store, El Cho Cho, to get Anna some little tennis shoes so that she could roam free during the outing. Five minutes, and $2 later, I walked out with a bright pink pair of Barbie shoes... they certainly wouldn't have been my first choice if I had other options... but for 2 bucks I really can't complain.

Sporting her awesome pink stretchpants and new Barbie shoes...


Not sure where she's headed, but man this kid keeps on the move!


Anna with our beloved Luci... who lives in Los Mortales. The tongue thing is new.


Our fearless leaders...


Vero leads the kids in a craft...


Beautiful Los Mortales

Do you want a CUSTOM BLOG DESIGN???

A new friend of mine runs a graphic design business called "Restored 316 Designs". She specializes in custom website and blog design. Well, for the next week, she is having a super fun custom blog design giveaway! (usually $79!)

Check out her blog for instructions on how to get your name in. She will give away one free custom blog design for every 30 entries! She loves the Lord and it would really bless her if you stopped by to check out her work and enter her giveaway!

Click the box to go to her website or click the link to go to her blog!

www.restored316designs.blogspot.com

We LOST a WHOLE Kid!!!

Eric and I have lost a total (combined) of 70 pounds since moving to Panama! It has been a very difficult endeavor, but so worth it! Panamanian food is mostly fried, empty calories and lots of grease and fat. There is no green leafy lettuce (just iceburg) and no salad dressing (which isn't important since there's no salad!) BUT, we were determined to eat healthier, eat less, and be more active... permanently.

Eric walks a ton, and I use an elliptical machine that we bought a few months ago. We eat lots of chicken and vegetables, and a lot less of everything else. (We do splurge and have pizza on Sundays... but you gotta live right?)

Eric is down 40 pounds from his heaviest, and I am down 30. We both need new clothes, as belts are now required to keep our pants up! It's a good dilemma to have. We still have a ways to go to reach our target, healthy weight... but for now, we're very proud of ourselves, and have adjusted quite well to this new lifestyle. It feels good to eat right.

Just a lazy afternoon...

We're outside this afternoon, enjoying the beautiful weather! (That's a joke people, it's disgusting here right now!) Eric's favorite pasttime after a long day of studying is laying outside in the hammock, and Dewey's favorite pasttime is laying with him! (Are we producing another Scarlet here?) Anna is such a big girl now (*sob) and enjoys hanging out with Daddy and Dewey. In all honesty, the hammock is one of the few things I will miss this summer when we're in the states... but a couple of Starbuck's frappaccino's should help me forget all about it!!!

I just had to share!

Well, in the thrill and excitement of our upcoming MONTH in America, I realized that I needed to buy Anna a swimsuit & hat. We have several water excursions planned during our visit to the states, and since summer is over here in Panama, swimsuit pickings are slim!

So, for the first time since leaving the states, I went online shopping! I stumbled upon the most adorable swimsuit on sale at the Gap, and a matching hat & flip flops at Old Navy! (And did you know that in the blessedness of online consumerism, the Gap and Old Navy now have a single shopping bag and checkout system- allowing you to shop at both stores and checkout & pay just once! Oh the joy! (Of course, I won't get to enjoy that convenience very often... I don't want you to get the wrong impression... we live very frugally down here in Latin America!)

Anyways, I'm just so excited about this purchase for my little girl... that I just had to share!