A wrap up of our summer - June and July 2015

Welcome back to Arriaga's Adventures! I have taken some time off from posting as we got settled here in our new home. We arrived in Bogota at the end of July and things have been busy as we have all been getting used to our new city and home.

So a quick wrap up about our summer, in between leaving DC and arriving in Bogota. We left DC in mid-June and made our way towards Mississippi. We made a stop off in Chattanooga, TN to see some of the sites that Al and Sofia had been asking to see for several years. We spent the night in a Pullman Sleeper Car at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel. It was certainly an interesting experience! We visited Ruby Falls and Rock City and had a great time. Even Grover enjoyed his vacation in Chattanooga.

Inside the Pullman Car at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo

Inside the Pullman Car at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo

Ruby Falls

Rock City

Looks like Grover is enjoying a drink!

After leaving Chattanooga, we headed to Louisiana to visit some great friends that we made while in Cameroon. Dwayne and Kim Bailey and their four kids. We enjoyed a couple of days relaxing and hanging out with these amazing people.

We also got to swing by Gulfport, MS to see a whole flock of amazing people. Mark and Felica and the whole gang came out to say hello and wish us well on our next big adventure. Sofia also got to see her friends that she made while we were living in South Mississippi. Carmen and Madison are always willing to spend time with Sofia whenever we can make the time to get down to the Gulf Coast.

We finally made it to Philadelphia and got to see the family. Everyone made us feel at home and we enjoyed some quality time with my family. I don't have many pictures of our time in Philadelphia, but it was very relaxing and we enjoyed seeing everyone. After 10 days in Philadelphia, Alberto, Sofia and Grover travelled to Mexico to visit with his family.  

Sofia and sweet Henry Logan

I stayed behind in Mississippi to surprise Mom with a Girl Scout Reunion. Those of us who finished up our scouting days with Virginia as our troop leader planned a surprise reunion for her and we also celebrated her birthday. It was a great day and I am so glad that we got together to remember the amazing times we had as Girl Scouts and to thank our amazing leader.

I travelled to Mexico to reconnect with my family and we got to spend 2 weeks in San Luis Potosi. We spent some time at the Arriaga family swimming compound and a good time was had by all. 

We travelled to Rio Verde to see the Media Luna. It is a spring fed "pool" that is shaped like a half moon. The water is crystal clear but it is super cold. We also got to go to Tamasopo. Tamasopo is an amazing set of waterfalls and pools that you can swim in and enjoy nature at its finest. The water here was cold as well but we all had a great time. The 

Finally, after being on the road and on "vacation" for 6 weeks, it was time for us to travel to Bogota. We were looking forward to our new adventure and our new home and we were all ready to go. 

Well maybe after a nap!

Stay tuned for the next post where I will share some thoughts and photos from our first few weeks in Bogota!

Until next time....

Final Week in Gulfport...

I have been debating about whether I wanted to post anything today because honestly I am pretty sad. I had to say goodbye to Garden Park on Friday, which has been my work home for the last 4 years and I really love the people that I worked with there. It was comfortable, it was good, it was safe.


Brandy Spencer Rea came down yesterday and we spent a really nice afternoon and evening saying goodbye (for now). A great meal and a little dancing, we had fun the way we have many times before, during college. It was comfortable, it was good, it was safe. 


This afternoon, I got together with some of the greatest women that I have ever known. Known with affection as, "The Crows", these women have taken me into their group and taught me that friendship can be forever. I see that theirs has been for each other and I am blessed that I am now a part of this group. It was comfortable, it was good, it was safe.


I am beginning this journey with the State Department that may not end up being any of those things; comfortable, good or safe. At least not all three at the same time. I am excited and terrified and going between feelings of elation and utter fear. 


But something happened today at Nugent United Methodist Church; the pastor, Lance Presley, talked about the fact that sometimes we have to give up good things, because we believe something better is coming. Or that the things that we are giving up are keeping us from reaching the better things in our future. I know that he was talking about the time of Lent and the preparation leading up to Easter and the Resurrection, but this really hit home for me. Although the things that I am giving up are comfortable and good and safe, the fact is that I believe that God has a different path for me right now and I have to give these things up or I will never follow this new path. 


So, I have cried and hugged and been sad, but I am also happy and excited about the future.


Well, enough of my ruminations, duty calls. Baths must be given, books must be read and lullabies sung. My family needs me and that is a great thing. 

I will leave you with a picture of a couple of crows....I am so glad that I am a part of the flock!