A New Adventure Begins

A lot has happened since the last post. We traveled to New York City, and Cooperstown, NY, which I will write about in a separate post, because there's something more important to write about...

Just when Jon and I were getting emotionally, physically, and spiritually ready for a huge life change, we found out God had an even bigger adventure planned for us. We are expecting our first baby next year on Valentine's Day!!

It all started when we were in Mexico City, and both Jon and I got pretty sick... assuming, of course, that it was the tasty Mexican cuisine doing a number on our systems. Which it probably was, in part (at least for Jon!). When we got home, Jon's sickness went away and mine didn't. This, along with some other clues, told me it was time to take a test... And all three (yes three, I had to be sure) came up positive. To be honest, our first reaction was not the excitement that I had pictured we'd feel finding out I was pregnant. We were very confused and wondered what it meant in regard to our upcoming move and 2 year commitment. (If you haven't figured it out yet, a baby was not our plan at this particular time!) We were flabbergasted and thought God must be playing a joke on us.

The next step was to come clean with the director of the school. We prayed that he would make the right decision for us, because I sure didn't want to have to make the decision all over again with the new info to consider. We received a timely response in which our boss made it clear that his primary concern was the baby's health, as well as mine, and that he didn't think he wanted me to have to worry about teaching, moving to a foreign country, and trying to receive proper medical care in a language I'm not proficient in, all at the same time. He made the decision, in the interest of our well being, and my future students, to replace me.

I have to admit, I was disappointed, and still confused. Hadn't God wanted us to go to Ecuador? He had lined everything up already! We had moved, sold a car, all our bikes and furniture, and quit both our jobs!

What I've learned over the last six months, and especially the last couple weeks, is that as long as you're following the Lord, and truly listening to what He's saying, whatever He brings you will be ok. We were ready and willing to move and teach in Ecuador, but that's not what God wanted us to do. He wanted us to be obedient, and willing to follow Him no matter what that meant. I'm glad to follow Him, as confusing and winding as the path may be, on this new road. We don't know what we're doing or where we'll be in two weeks, but I know we're taken care of. And I can't wait to be a mom.

So... as excited as I was to keep everyone posted on our crazy lives on the equator, this blog will now be our journey on the way to being parents, and any travels we take in the meantime. Which I'm sure will have some pretty funny stories, too. (Don't worry, we're still going to Guayaquil to visit the Sr. Richerts!) Feel free to keep reading to stay updated on our lives. If you're reading now, it's because you're a friend or family member who we'd love to keep informed!

Oh.... Mexico

About six months ago we started making plans for our busy summer... Mexico City for a college friend's wedding, New York with the family & to visit friends, then a "trip" to Ecuador to visit Dave and Danielle... Little did we know that we'd actually be moving to Ecuador, and still have all these crazy plans to hop all over North America before we headed to the South.

Last week we spent nine days in Mexico City. We floated down the river in Xochimilco; walked through town looking at the beautiful, European style buildings the Spanish brought with their rule; tried to cross a border to enter another Mexican state only to be pulled over by the Federales and chased out of town (we ended up hiding out at a water park/restaurant/hotel until late evening so the Federales' friends couldn't bust our driver or demand money); ate at various taco stands and ended up with crippling stomachaches (so much so that right now the thought of a REAL Mexican taco in a corn tortilla still gives me instant nausea... why can't you find a single flour tortilla burrito in Mexico???); had dinner at Grandma's house while a bachelor/bachelorette party took place (luckily there are no pictures to prove anything from this night... at least not on OUR cameras); toured & walked UP the stairs of the Aztec pyramids...which we learned that the Aztecs didn't actually build, but took over because the place was real nice... at a ridiculously steep incline that burned my lungs (I'd like to blame it on the altitude, which is much higher than home, but I'm not in the best shape right now, so...); crossed the train tracks in our 10 passenger van when a train was coming (MUCH too close, mind you); and FINALLY at the end of a very eventful, tiring, but overall wonderful and exciting week: witnessed one of my best friends marrying the perfect man for her.

Jon and I had a great time practicing our Spanish and were surprised and also delighted to discover how quickly it came back to us over the course of just one week. It encouraged us that maybe, just maybe, we'll be able to get by pretty well in the early stages of our move to Ecuador. We shall see. Viva Mexico!

April and me at the top of one of the pyramids.
(Can you tell we're panting?)

A scene near the Basilica: Aztec Indians bowing to give reverence to the Lady Guadalupe
(an apparition of the Virgin Mary).

Our boat, "Carmelita". Vendors rowed up next to us during the ride to sell flowers, food, drinks, souvenirs, or play mariachi music in full uniform.

Jon and me in front of one of the town square buildings... does it look crooked? That's not our photo taking skills... lots of buildings in M.C. are sinking because the city was built on a lake!

The Palace of Fine Arts. Unfortunately it closes on random days, and the day we walked by, it was closed. There are beautiful murals and pieces of art inside... so I hear.

Look at those steps! We actually had to walk down with our feet sideways. Did the ancient civilization have tiny feet or something?

The new Basilica, where a cloth portraying an image of Mary resides, next to the old one, which is sinking slowly into the ground.

I'm So Tired

There are six days of school left. My little angels who I have immensely enjoyed all year long (besides the occasional need for whipping) have turned into hyper, chatty hellions who obviously have an internal clock telling them just how many minutes they have left in 3rd grade (and how many minutes Mrs. Richert has until her head's going to explode like a volcano). 

As much as I love them, I can't WAIT for this school year to be over. A teacher's first year is a huge hurdle and accomplishment, and I'm so stoked to have made it through. I just need to SLEEP for a couple days straight.

Counting Down

Today we received our list of "things to do" before we are allowed to move out of our apartment (and get our deposit back, more importantly)... I can't wait to scrub out every crevice of every drawer, cabinet, and shelf during my last week of teaching. Carpets must be professionally cleaned (but two of our local services are not allowed... they don't live up to the standards of our property managers... ok, so which ones DO? Thanks), mirrors must be wiped (NO streaks), and of course all our stuff needs to be out.

I have four weeks of school left, and we are not only checking out of our apartment the day after the last day of school, but we are leaving for Mexico City the day after that! One of my dear friends from Westmont, April, is getting married down there. We get to spend 8 days touring the city, and monuments around it, while practicing the Spanish we will so desperately need in Ecuador.

Then we'll be home for about 10 days before we head to New York City to visit another college friend and her husband! I have been waiting for years to visit NYC, and I cannot wait to be shown around by the new resident, New Yorker at heart, and future Broadway star, Misty.

THEN we'll be home for about SIX days before we make the biggest move of both our lives... the time will fly not only because we are so busy traveling the continent, but because it's less than TWO MONTHS away! ~Counting Down~

This is what we'll be missing.

This is our kitten, McGee. He has a stink eye. When we go to Ecuador we will be leaving him behind along with our golden retriever, Sydney. We will miss them. But mostly Sydney. She actually listens to directions.

Time to Get Crazy ( "Loco" That Is).

Well, it hasn't even been a full week, but already Jon and I feel the looming craziness that we know will engulf us over the next couple months. We have a marriage certificate to authorize, vaccinations to get stuck with, airline tickets to change, bank accounts to open, HIV tests to take, and yes... police reports to obtain. (I hope they don't find anything suspicious.) On top of all this, we want to spend time with all the people we love, while trying to pack up our few belongings to put away in storage. Luckily we're both pretty laid back. I'm not sure I'll be able to say this in a month or so, but I can now and that's all that matters. One step at a time. 

Ecuador, we are coming...

I started this blog because Jon and I found out today that I was offered a 2nd grade teaching position at InterAmerican Academy in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Jon's brother, David, and our sister-in-law, Danielle are already down there and put in a good word for us, so we decided to follow them into Latin America... We figured when the time comes, there may be people who want to read about our adventures.  I also figured that if we're going to follow the "Senior Richerts" around, I might as well make a sweet blog like theirs. So here it is: a short, simple first blog that will be followed by many more as we prepare to move our lives and very few belongings down to South America. Welcome to our adventure!