The Adventures of Tristan

I'm in the first last phase.. Is this the last time I will drive him for a sports physical? Yup... Is my heart ready for this?  NOPE God help me. No one prepares you for when they start to stop NEEDING you. He's ready, I'm not.  Fly T, FLY!  Ignore me while I need a minute to adjust. I love you!  At least we are all clear for soccer season!

Outdoor concert in the park and they even agreed to come along Taylor Swift cover band... What a show, she killed it. Friends and my boy.  Heart full!

 Time is a thief!  Congrats Davis!!

 Ann Marie sent me this the other day... There is still a stain on the driveway at Barber Street from the spray paint!

  Cum Laude it is... so very, very proud of you Tristan!  I know you are in the "I don't care about school mode" but  you've done it again!

Havi, Mindy, Naty, Alan, Darwin and Ronne…. We were toast with you. You gave endless amounts of energy, went without sleep and certainly rushed through your meal to speak to us, speak for us. You translated our hearts, our thoughts and our tears. Many times my Italian hands- ha! I am so sad that you live so far. Thank you for caring for us, the reassuring looks and the watchful eyes over our inquisitive and daring teenagers! Thank you for interpreting our hearts and not always our words that even with the right intention may have been painful to receive. Thank you for tolerating my terrible Spanish and for keeping us out of trouble. You are not “just translators”, you are our friends and the hands and feet of Jesus in a thousand ways! I hope to see you again, but if I don’t, I am eternally grateful!!! Love, the crazy one Havi played worship music on his Ukulele and Mindy is a mom to a sweet baby gurl (she's 6) and her husband is a lawyer. Her dream is to lead these trips! Alan is a...

  Day 5… Tebow Down Guatemala to party with these amazing kiddos!! The school provides basic academics plus life skills training, speech and occupational therapy, music, and DANCE. Students are Special Olympians and spokespeople for inclusivity, and they have such incredible faith and resilience. I was so happy (and so sweaty!!) ) This was just SO awesome

  We had some fun too!!

Day 4: Meet Madison (black shirt)… she’s MY GIRL! We started sponsoring her last year and we have been writing ever since. Madison attends an after school program at CadaNiño. These kids live in a red zone – the mark of a neighborhood noted for gang violence and crime. At CadaNiño, there is more than tutoring, a hot homecooked meal, bible lessons, game time, and STEM classes. There is safety. Inside the four walls of the community center, there are no rivals. And the kids are empowered to then minister to the widowed and elderly in their neighborhood – they deliver food, pray, and help with projects. (I stole Ronne’s words again). Iris went the day before and found Madison as well. She knew that was T’s girlfriend and come on… how cute is that last picture!?!? It took us both a second to recognize each other but there was A LOT of hugging once we did. I’m waiting on pics of us together… (this is when I regret my phone staying in my bag) but at one point she hugged me and told me how mu...