I never used to dread the airport…

That is, unless I was the one getting on the plane.

But that’s a different post for a different day.

Today was dreaded airport day.

Going to the airport has become a regular part of our lives, we visit it at least once a month.

We go to receive people

We go to send people off

Two weeks ago we visited our lovely Salgado Filho airport to receive Grandma and Grandpa Loder, my parents.

Aren’t they cute?

We had a great time throughout the 2 weeks. We went to the beach, the mountains, area cities and markets, had game nights, and cooked up a storm (oh, and my Mom did my laundry). It was such a blessing to have them here.

Today we returned to the airport for the send-off.

The goodbyes are never fun.

The goodbyes are really hard on the boys, especially Nathaniel.

This time, however, there was a little less heaviness in the goodbye.

It was a see you in 8 months send-off.

We decided to tell the boys we are heading back to the States in the fall for a missions conference at our awesome home church(and when I say awesome, I mean the awesomist in the whole world), Saylorville Baptist.

My heart was so blessed to see the anticipation and hope of a closer reunion on their faces instead of the heartache!!

The actual goodbyes still weren’t easy. We’d be fooling ourselves if we ever think they will be.

I’m just thankful today that we could give our boys something to look forward to in the midst of the goodbye…

And something for Grandma and Grandpa to look forward to…

And for Lucas and I to look forward to…

Thank you Saylorville Church family for inviting us to share our lives with you in October.

God used it to make my boys smile today.

Happy New Year from the Brazil Bairs!!

2010 was our first full year in Brazil. It was definitely an interesting one!

Filled with many ups and downs, challenges like we’ve never faced before as a family:  Full time students, moved to a new city,  began homeschooling, had a stretch of illnesses, continued to work through heartache of being separated from friends and family.

But God sent many, many blessings our way:  Great new brazilian friends, a church wanting to please the Lord, great new missionary friends, a new closeness as a family, spiritual growth in all our lives, and the list goes on.

What will 2011 bring?  Only the Lord knows.

But  I have confidence that whatever it is, it is the best for the Brazil Bairs.

“As for God, His way is perfect.”

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Isn’t it awesome that we can enter a new decade with the confidence that God already knows what is going to happen every moment?

Isn’t it awesome that we can enter a new decade with the hope that every moment is ordained by our loving God?

We can enter 2011 with no fear of the unknown.

Because, what is unknown to us is always known by God…

And He knew it before time began…

And He allows it in our lives because it is best for us…

and He loves us more than we can comprehend.

So, enter 2011 with confidence in our Lord and His plans for us…

No matter what they may be.

Happy New year!!

Actually, its not totally the question. I just lied a little for a catchy title.  Sorry.

Well, I guess it kind of is the question.  Here’s the deal…

Yesterday I visited the general doctor, Dr. Paulo, who had ordered all the testing I’ve had up to this point. We discovered from my stomach biopsy that I have chronic pangastritis.  Oh no!! Actually, its not such a big deal. The wall of my stomach is inflamed causing this non-stop acid reflux. He suspects I have had it for some time, it just chose to inflame with everything else that’s been happening in my body.  So, I started a med today to treat it and help it to calm down.

He said I will have to cut back on coffee.

I haven’t had a cup of coffee in a month.

I miss it.

Anyway…

Today I went to the allergist, Dr. Regina.  I had allergy testing done last weekend. All the tests came back normal. No allergy.

What?

No allergy.

Dr. Paulo still thinks, despite the negative results, that I have an allergy.

The allergist, Dr. Regina, does not think I have an allergy.

She still thinks it is my thyroid.

What?

All my tests came back normal for my thyroid.

She thinks the tests have missed something.  So, off to a thyroid specialist I go.

Before I go to the thyroid specialist, Dr. Julia (I love how they all use their first names), I am doing another round of tests.

Parasite testing (don’t ask)

Thyroid blood tests (new ones)

Complete abdominal ultrasound

I will then, after I follow up with the thyroid specialist, make an appointment with Dr. Julia’s husband, Dr. Julio (seriously), who is an gastroenterologist, to talk more about this pangastritis (big medical words that are difficult to say or spell in any language).

Then, after all of this, if I still don’t have any answers, we will do more allergy testing.  While Dr. Regina does not believe I have a food allergy, she has advised me to stay away from all things of the sea, just in case. If the rest of my testing comes back normal, then she will order some more specific allergy testing.

So, there it is.  The low down of my health.  We are thankful for some answers, but still waiting on some more.  Please pray that we will get some answers in the next few weeks so we can move on and deal with whatever it is.  Thanks so much for your prayers!

I’m going to go drool over Lucas’s coffee now.