Its a baby!!

Well, i thought i would blog and let you all know about the crazy last week...

Andy and I drove with another Missionary from Guadalajara to Dallas Texas, this last weekend.. Yes that is right we drove, a total 40 hours in a van. YEAH We are INSANE.. We drove to Dallas to attend a Mexico Missionary Retreat. While in Dallas we had plans on buying a dog. Something I have been wanting for the last 3 years..So last Saturday we bought precious little PANDA.. She is a Boston Terrior and a puppy. That same day we took a pregnancy test and found out that I was indeed Pregnant. Which was sort of a surprise because I had managed to take 4 pregnancies test prior to this one and they were all negative. SO i was like this is CRAZY, so i then took 2 more just to be sure.. Please don't add the cost in your head, i already know how much it is!

Anyway, suffice it to say, we are really pumped. The baby is due in June and i will see a doctor here in Guadalajara on Monday..But the sad news is that we might give Panda away to some other friends here, because I don't know how much I am looking forward to taking care of 2 babies. We are not heartless, but at this time we just feel like it is not the right time for a pet. This has been a real learning experience..But know that Panda is going to a happy family with lots of people who will love holding her 24/7.

So that is the big news for us, and I would just ask all you readers out there to pray for the baby. I feel as though I am having crazy fears that something will happen or just crazy stuff. Which I have talked to some pregnant friends of mine, or those who have had children and this is all quite normal.. Also seeing the doctors here is another crazy fear.. It is hard when I have worked in an amazing hospital, and know I just don't know.... One of my friends who is a nurse from Washington is going to go with me to my appointment, so no worries..

Yesterday i thought of the verse in the Bible::: Caste your cares upon the Lord because he cares for you .. And it was calming to me.

Well that is all for now, We will keep you posted..

Questions and Answers

Well, I thought I would do a Question and Answer for all those who read my blog out there ( which is probably like 2 people including my MOM), about Guadalajara..

What is the weather like?
Well, having been here only a week I would say NICE. It is the rainy season here right now, but compared to the MONSOONS of Costa Rica, it is small. Only like 2-3 hours a day does it rain, and even then it is not the whole time.

This is my new friend Angie, she is from Oklahoma. She showed us around today.
And NO, I am not pregnant. It is the style of shirt! For all those wondering. I know you were!
Next question
What thing do you miss the most, excluding the obvious answer FAMILY?
Mostly food, and the organization of the United States, I feel pretty safe in Guadalajara. Were we live is in a gated community, which means lots of Guards. So that is nice. For example, while driving today on the streets, I was using a map, but there was a lack of street signs. So I am like?? What the heck, how is anyone suppossed to know? I have decided that if I were to be the ruler/ president of a land. I would make so many street signs it would be very difficult for a vistor to get lost!.. Other than that, it would be the complete understanding of what people are saying.. It is something I will not take for granted from now on... My answers are probably different than my husbands..

Can you understand and speak Spanish completely fluently?

NO WAY! But I am able to communicate and get around easily. I have decided there is no possible way. But I am becoming more patient with myself, I believe it takes years until someone is completely fluent. And the key age to learn a language is when you are a child. You just soak it up like a sponge. I think people who are bilingual have more brain cells than I. I have so much respect for them...

This is a Cathedral down town.

What are you doing in Mexico?

Well, right now we are just getting connected with different people here who are doing different ministrys with Mexican people. I plan on using my nursing skills in some way, but we are trying to find in what way and where I can use them. We are working with ENGAGE, a college, that has many young adults from the United States and some from Mexico. These students take classes during the day and then go out on most afternoons and do ministry work with different organizations. For example there is a boys orphanage near here, that we work with. And a lot of really big colleges that we do work with as of now. We are helping ENGAGE as of now. Which is really cool to Andy and I. We like working with young adults.

Is it hard for you to be away from the United States?

Of course my answer is YES. But it has been a great time for Andy and I. We have really grown a lot as a couple and have seen many things that have made us so thankful for all of our blessings. It is a good thing to see people who have nothing, and they are HAPPY. It shows you what the important things in life are. And they are most definitely not MATERIAL.. It really broadens your horizons to live outside the U.S.A. I think this is going to be a great year for us. I am so thankful that God has given us the oppurtunity.

Well, I guess that is all for Question and Answer time. If you have any other questions write a comment to me and I will try to answer. And to all you who read, remember the blessings in your life today and realize how precious they are. Also, how precious it is for you to be breathing right now.

Okay that last part sounds like a wierd quote or something. I know my sister is thinking that at least.

P.S. we are looking into getting a schnauzer down here. And i will keep you posted on that.

Guadalajara

Well we have finally landed on Mexican soil.

We are now living in Guadalajara, Mexico. We arrived on Sept. 16th and have already started going...

These are just a couple pictures of our last week.

We are all settled into our house and are really enjoying it along with the truck we have been using. We are located right next to the largest park in the city. Which is nice, it has lots of room including huge trampolines which they rent out for kids to jump on. Which i thought was a great idea... Lets see, the two pictures from the top are from one of the other towns we visited right outside the city. The top left one is of a park where we go every Saturday morning. It is in a really poor area and we just go and play with kids and teach some Bible stories.. It was lots of fun, I am actually sitting in the crowd. It is just hard to see me.

The next one is of one of the roads getting there. IT was CRAZY, took a little while. The roads near our house are all normal and then you go outside the city and you see this..

And then I thought I would add this tree, it is at a restaurant in our city and those are Corona buckets. I just thought it looked interesting. Add i need to add that we have been eating lots of TACOS... But in our city they have a Chiles, Applebees, Outback Steakhouse and many other American Comforts.. I am thankful, and i need to add. I have lots of friends who are all over the world and do not have these blessed restaurants and i feel lucky.. So say a little pray for them..

Because sometimes all you want is a nice Cheeseburger.. It is so nice i have that option.

So not much, but we are starting to meet lots of people and do lots of things. And we are so happy to be here. Thankful for all of God's blessings in our life..

I will keep you informed.

Guadalajara, Mexico

Andy and I are now in Mexico. We arrived on Tuesday the 16th. Their Independence day.
We have already eaten lots of spicy food in the last 2 days. And we are loving it.
We are still moving in. But pictures will be on the way soon.

These are the pictures from the Airplane..
Chao for now.

Last Month

Well, Andy and I are now in Guadalajara, Mexico. I have not posted for quite a while because we spent the last month home in Iowa spending time with family.
These are some of the pictures from the last Month.

It flew by quite to quickly. But we had a blast.

I am going to try to wrap up everything we did.

Celebrated 3 family members birthdays:"Melanie Reed" my sister in law, "Greg Hanson" my dad and "Joe Hanson" my brother, he turned 16..

Got to see my sister Melissa's new classroom for Ames Middle School. She is the 6th grade teacher.. And we got to see Katie" sis-in-law" her new classroom at Clay Elementary, She is the kindergarten teacher.

Had a baby shower for my pal Katie Wheeler who then had a baby while I was home on September 2nd, to the cutest healthy, baby girl. Brooke Lynn Wheeler.. Yeah.

Went to the zoo with my two cute nephews Jaden and Ethan Hansen. Of course i forgot my camera this day. I also got to go eat lunch with my nephew Jaden at his school. He showed me around after lunch. One of the pictures is from that day.

We had a water balloon fight at Andy's parents house. Lots of fun.

Went to Oxnard, California for a church service and then spent a day in Los Angeles, California. Those are where the star pictures come into play. I had my picture taken by Julie Andrews feet, and the star walk way picture is of Chuck Norris' star????? We also visited a church in New Sharon, Iowa. One of our favorites with Awesome Pastors, and my parents Church. And Andy got the oppurtunity to preach at Berean Assembly of God a couple times. Which was really great.

Andy went to a Cubs game and Iowa hawkeye game with his Dad. He loved it, and now has the most hillarious story of some guy dancing to the "Go Cubs Go" song.

We got to see Joe play in some football games on the sophomore team for SouthEast Polk. He even caught his first touch down pass.

We ate out lots of times, I got to eat out with my Mom a lot and with my mother in law Norma. And we ate with both my grandma's and grandpa.

Lastly we got to spend lots of quality time with our family. We love them so much.

Three clicks to the ruby slippers and i am HOME

Just wanted to say Hey!

We are spending a great month with our family. SO i am probably not going to blog again untill we get to Mexico.

You can pray for us, we leave for Guadalajara, Mexico on September 16th.
So I will have tons of pictures after that.

Enjoy the last days of Summer

Chao for Now!

I can tell that we are going to be friends.

Andy and I had the opportunity to visit a school this last weekend. We went with a group called Piedad. Piedad is a group that works with schools in latin America. It helps sponser children who are very poor to be able to attend school. People sponser the children and then Piedad sends the sponsers updates and report cards..

We went with this group to do an outreach for the kids.. We had so much fun, the 3 girls in the top picture, I met when we first arrived. I could understand alot of what they were saying and that was a blessing to me.. Andy brought his football and played catch with a lot of the boys. That is a picture of them in the area where they have recess..

On Sunday we went out for a farewell dinner with our LandLords. They took us to a fancy restaurant about an hour out of town. The pictures on the left are of the area. Andy and I are standing in a little hallway of Passion Fruit. And the bottom left picture is of coffee fields and a small town next to it.

We have about 2 weeks more here in Costa Rica. And I am so happy that we got a chance to go to this school, at the school, many kids prayed with us and we became friends with alot of them..

It was a great experience and we got to use a lot of our Spanish.

Have a great day.

My List!

Okay,,, what I should be doing now is studying Spanish... What am I doing, everything but that..

It is now 42 days until Andy and I arrive back in Iowa. We will spend about 4 weeks with our family,and then we pack and are off to Guadalajara, Mexico...

Besides spending tons of time our families and friends, and getting my hair done by someone who speaks English...THANK YOU LORD!! I have a list of things I would like to do while I am home.

3 things on my list:

1. BUY A DOG... I have been wanting a dog for the last 3 years, and no we are able to get one. And I am psyched!!!!!!!!

2. FINISH THE LEMONY SNICKETS BOOKS: They were a present I received at Christmas, from my Mother in Law.. And I am now on #10 of 13.. I found that I really enjoy reading..

3. GO FISHING: I want to do this, I do not have a license. And i really do not know why I have the urge. But I am going to do this.. And i want to do it at Yellow Banks Park, with my brother. He knows nothing of this plan. But he will go... I just know it..

Well this is my list and I am sticking to it.

Stars And Stripes

We had a great 4th of July.. Just chillin with our homies at School.. As you can see I made 2 American Flag Fruit Pizza's.... We watched some fireworks out in the street... and then came home and watched the Macy's Fireworks Display.. Which was okay... all in all it was great day....

Hope you had a great Day!!!

Fruit Pizza, Yummy Yummy

This Friday is the fourth of July!!! Even though we will be in Costa Rica.. We still plan on celebrating. If you take your USA passport to the USA embassy, you are let in and they serve hotdogs, hamburgers and many more USA favorites.. So i think Andy and I want to head on out and check out the festivities...

Also i now think my favorite 4th of July song ever is "America the Beautiful by Ray Charles" it is the song from Sandlot.. Another Great American Classic...

I also am not going to dwell on the subject that they have no good grilled food here. I am CRAVING Sweet corn and BBQ Ribs!!!! So Enjoy these delicacies if you are able too...

But we are going to have a little USA party and I am going to make a Flag Fruit Pizza.. This is one of the things my mom did every year when i was a little girl and I can't wait to do it this year...

We are beginning to wrap up our school year here in Costa Rica. I can't belive that in August we will have been here a year.. That is crazy. I am now looking back and seeing God's Hand in making me stronger and appreciating all his blessings that I had taken so much for granted..

I have learned so much Spanish, and even though my Mom thinks I am FLUENT... Not even possible, I am able to understand a good chunk..

We leave August 15th from Costa Rica and we are going to spend a wonderful 4 weeks with our family..

I Scream You Scream We all Scream for Ice Cream!

I am writing a blog on my wonderful husband (esposo) in Spanish.. Andy Reed.. God picked out the very best man for me.. I sometimes feel like if i hear one more word in Spanish, i will go insane. And then I look to my left to see Andy. He is sooooooooo patient, soooooooo kind. He really makes me a better wife and lady... Anyway needless to say, yesterday he came home from the store and had in his hand a little piece of IOWA... It made my day. Yes he found Blue Bunny Ice cream. It was Neopolitan flavor. Not my fav.. But I ate a bowl full and loved every second.. Especially since the ice cream here is so different....Sometimes its the little things that make the day Shine...

P.s. i know this picture is weird,, i was being dorky, but Andy looks really cute!

Hope you have a great day..

What's been going on.....

Okay,,,,, Yes i have not posted anything new in quite a while. And for whatever reason that makes me feel guilty?????? i know, it is weird.

So, let me tell you what has been happening in the last month.

My parents and brother came to visit. We spent a wonderful and too short, week with them...

Our good friends Bill and Mary and James came to say hi, right after my parents left... Another really wonderful time spent with friends.. Each was too short... If only they could all move here..

Next, I went home to Iowa for 4 days, to see my sister graduate from Iowa State. How time flies... So CONGRATULATIONS TO MELISSA ANN....

I got to see my 2 adorable nephews... And play with them, and eat with them... I am so blessed.

I got to spend a wonderful Mother's Day with my Mother!!!

And I was able to see Andy's Mother..

Lastly, I came back to Costa Rica from a crazy plane ride and found out how much I love being randomly selected twice, Yes that is right, TWO TIMES, to be searched and have everything in my purse be searched.... Oh, Airports, How i love you!!

But, I came back to Costa Rica, and spent a wonderful 3rd Anniversary with My Andy!!

We had a wonderful meal at Outback Steakhouse... And came home and watched a movie..

We have started our last trimester at Language School, and we are learning so much. Our teachers this trimester are really pushing us. But that is good...

So,, Life has been soo busy.. But i feel so blessed. I love all the people in my life and I am thankful..

And, i think i just said wonderful around 50 times..

Talk to you later

Jacob the amazing

Okay this is a guy who is in school with us. He was taped in the library at our school doing these cool tricks.. He is a missionary to El Salvador.
Any way i don't think i have ever seen anyone work with a yo-yo this well.....
Check it out..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1WbXsOS-lk


Also, i will put up pictures from our fun times with family and friends soon!!!

To all you readers out there.. Have a great day!

Chelsea

This is my brother

My brother Joe Hanson, wrote this for a school paper. And I am just soooo Proud of him... So i needed to show all who read..


My Handful of Sand
Joe Hanson P. 3
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away” (Anonymous). I have always liked this quote. I thought it would be a good way to begin discussing a few of my grains of sand. One of them is from the second grade when I played baseball for my first year. Another one is from sixth grade when I went to church camp. The last one I discuss is from when I finally went to the junior high. I am proud of every single grain I own, even the bad ones because they are the ones that teach us the most. Everybody has thousands of grains of sand. They are what set people apart from others.
My first grain of sand taught me leadership, athletics, and friendship. In second grade I decided that I wanted to play baseball; so my parents signed me up. That season in baseball was amazing because I met so many friends that I have today. It taught me what I need to do to work hard to accomplish my goals and to not give up. I learned that if I want others to work hard along side me, there are some people that I might need to help along the way. Our team in baseball that year ended up winning the league.
My next grain of sand is when I went to church camp in the summer before seventh grade. I learned so much about my religion then. It taught me a lot about God and faith that I never knew before. Being there has changed me, and the way I act. In my opinion, it has saved my life. I think that this is my most important grain that I have.
The last grain of sand I am going to talk about is when I moved on to seventh grade at the junior high. That year I learned so much about friends and whom I need to trust. Some of the good friends I had in Elementary started to do things I knew weren’t right. Going to junior high really taught me a lot about caring and compassion towards others. I’ve seen some things in the halls that I thought were awful. I never want to be a bully type person. I care a lot towards others, especially towards the kind of kids who get picked on at school. Since junior high I’ve tried hard to be as kind and compassionate to everybody, even the students who I do not know.
Those are the three grains of sand that I am going to share with you. They may not be the best, but they make up a part of who I am. They will stay in my memories for the rest of my life. Some of them are big and some are small but no matter the size, every one of them is important. I am proud of every single grain I own, even the bad ones because they are the ones that teach us the most. Everybody has thousands of grains of sand. They are what set people apart from others.

The LONG Goodbye

We have been sooo busy lately. We are nearing the end of our 2nd trimester here in Costa Rica. Time really does fly.

Andy and I have been having a good time for the most part here in Costa Rica. Spanish is very hard to learn, but we are having small victories with the language. For instance, the pictures of all those kids are from the school that Andy has been teaching at. He goes once a week on Wednesdays to teach children English.. He likes doing, but says they are a little crazy...

The title of this blog is called the long goodbye,,, I titled it that because i am getting ready to say good bye to one of my really good friends here. Her name is Charla Lee. That is a picture of her with her husband, Aaron. She has the white shirt and green tank top on.

It has been a long good bye, because i knew she would be leaving one trimester before me. And we have grown very close over these past weeks..

So, Yes i have shed tears, becuase it is hard to continually leave people you love. First off your family and then your friends.

But, I am not sad!!! I am happy, because I think that God lead me here so we could be friends. Andy and I have met a lot of people who we have become friends with in the last 3 years and I am so thankful!!!

So today i want to share that, i am thankful for all the friends and family in my life. YOU ALL, add so much to my life..

And if you are going through a change in your life remember that God opens doors, and he knows what we need. Right when we need it.

I have needed the friendship that Charla has given to me, many times. And I know that because she is leaving. Does not mean that it will end.

So be encouraged, and open, knowing God provides!!!