Brasiiiiiiiiil

I write to you about 10 feet from my fiancé! It's true, we're finally together after over five months. I always feel like I go into a different "mode" while I'm here. But it is as true and real as anything. It's just like...life number two. And there is much more to come for this Brazil mode. It's just in the future.

My trip was FINE, no need for worry, and I really wasn't that worried, thankfully. I was reminded of my first time here at Lar, singing "Days of Elijah" in the guest house with my team from Taylor University. A lot has changed since then...I know everyone here much better, they know me better, I speak Portuguese, I know more history, I see different perspectives...but one thing that hasn't changed is God's plan. He never changes, as Joaquim and I read together this morning. He is always the same. My junior year at Taylor, after arriving back from Brazil, the Lord made it very clear to me that He had some crazy plans ahead. And they are still unfolding...and you know what? I LOVE them!!

Well, do you want to know how my trip has been so far?

Friday was Brazil's Valentine's Day, which is why I arrived here that day. :) As soon as we got here, Joaquim whipped out a nice pink bag and gave me my gift...some beautiful perfume and lotion from a really nice boutique. I just adore the perfume! It's soft, a tiny bit fruity and sweet, but very light. I informed him that he can be in charge of my perfume for the rest of my life. Sounds like a plan.

Yesterday we went on a little double date with Eric and Acácia, which was fun. We went to a steakhouse for lunch, which was deliiiiicious, and we saw Night at the Museum 2, which really was just ok. I fell asleep, actually...it was really warm in the theater so I think I just couldn't help myself, and the movie was slow and predictable. But it was a nice DATE and the best Valentine's Day yet!

Last night we were watching a movie, and were just about to go to sleep. I went into my room (which is really Joaquim's room...he's staying with Daniel upstairs) and turned back the covers (Mãe had let me use this enormous, wonderful, soft, heavy, waaaarm blanket...) and there, wrapped up in that incredible blanket, sitting on my bed, was...

a mouse...

...and 4 little presents that it had left for me. A MOUSE, on my bed. So I screamed, naturally. I'm not afraid of mice, but it's just so gross and should NOT be on my BED, the place where I SLEEP! Joaquim came running and then he started yelling too, which really was funny, but we still weren't solving the problem. The mouse wasn't even scared, it just sat there, just chillin, looking at us. Then it slowly started meandering down the end of the bed, into my suitcase, on which Joaquim's jeans were sitting. So then he started yelling even more "ahhhhhhhhh it's going into MY jeans!" We both ran away, but I was like, "get over there, you have to get it now, while we can see it!"

I was envisioning it running under the bed or something and then we'd never find it and I wouldn't be able to sleep, knowing I could wake up with a mouse on my pillow. So Eric and Acácia came in, and Eric and Joaquim took 2 big bamboo poles and dragged my suitcase outside. They didn't want to touch it in case the mouse would run out at them. One their way out the door, Eric said "aww man, I feel like a GIRL!
(THANKFULLY it was the give-away clothes suitcase)
They then proceeded to dump the suitcase's contents on the front porche, hoping the mouse would run away, and the dog could come and get it. The dog had been sleeping, so it wasn't really on its game...and then the mouse started running back inside! So Eric ran inside, and Acácia shut the door right in Joaquim's face, leaving him there with the mouse.
Which he promptly killed. :(
Poor little guy, but...come on man, don't poop on my bed!

So now, the mouse is dead, I had to get like 4 blankets to replace that one incredible one, which will be washed today, and I slept well after all that. Joaquim and I had a good laugh, and there's another memory added to the pot. Our life is ridiculous.

ps. the cutest part of the day was when Joaquim changed the batteries of a little flashlight for me, leaving me with it in my room in case I heard any weird noises and got afraid of more mice. Such a gem. :)