Home :)

Peruvian bongos... a hit with airport security personnel (in their words, "un buen instrumento"), the family, and even with baby Ella. Looks like she's following in her Pop's footsteps...

Dad's Bongo Skills from Lauren McNally on Vimeo.

Ella's Debut from Lauren McNally on Vimeo.

And yes, the whole family was required to play

So my time back in PA has been great so far, especially getting to see and squeeze baby Ella (when she lets me, that is) and my adorable cousins. Having 3 crazy boys in the house plus the baby creates quite some excitement and is anything but boring.. now I know what Aunt Lisa's life is like every day :) Here are just some pictures from  the last week or so.

Who needs presents when you can have boxes??

Ella's Peruvian "chompa"

Ella might not be smiling with me, but please notice that she is not crying

Now if I remember correctly, Erin and I were often asked if we were twins while growing up, especially when my mom would match our outfits (Erin in pink and me in purple of course). Apparently we both have a subconscious longing to return to our childhood and dress like twins once again. This was us after we realized halfway through church on Sunday that we were dressed identically. Something tells me it's not quite as cute as adults, but we tried.

Possibly looking alike once again, but this time we didn't care. We decided to shop in Wanamakers to kill time on our cold, snowy trip to the city :)

So the countdown until I'm back in Peru begins.. just a few more days until mom, dad, and Erin are flying back with me and I will be wearing flip flops again and getting burnt by the hot Peruvian sun :) I have mixed emotions because God has blessed me in so many ways during this break, but I am excited to get back to see my roommates (in spite of Amanda's horrifying cockroach sighting in our house  this week), see my adorable students, go to my church and worship in spanish, eat some pollo saltado and aji de gallina (two of my favorites), give my family their first Peruvian combi experience (see below), 

and most importantly to fulfill the purpose for which God sent me :) He is filling me with excitement and motivation for this coming semester, not just to teach but most importantly to enjoy HIM and to worship Him in all that I do. He seems to be speaking over and over again to me these last few days that His desire is not for me to grow tired and weary as I strive to succeed by my own standards, but instead for my life and my work to be worship to Him... after all, if it doesn't bring Him glory and praise, what's the point? 

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain." Psalm 127:1

So that will be my prayer for these next five months, and I will gladly welcome your reminders that glorifying and worshiping HIM is the ultimate purpose to which He has called me.