My goodness…I hate to start another post with, “My day was super busy so I never made it to your comments” but I’m going to have to…
I did read through your comments and was happy you found things that made you smile…YOUR “comments” made me smile. :o) Now I want to know who’s buying Museum Wax to help hold up their dolls and help them hold things, AND who’s going to buy the next Paola Reina doll? :o)
I mentioned yesterday I would try to have a post Friday about something from “me.” Well, I actually meant something with dolls or sewing as the main event, but that didn’t happen.
However…Friday seems (at least for now) like it might be all my own!!! I hope to find time in my sewing room!!! My brother is coming back to visit my mom again and he asked to stay with us, so I’ll have to do a little “guest” cleaning…
Thursday was full of “momma” things till about 2:00 then I had to get groceries because Alba, Edgar and Sara were coming over for dinner…probably the last dinner before they go back to Colombia, South America. They came here almost 5 years ago and we have been wonderful friends from the beginning. Alba has just a few weeks left of her schooling and is waiting to finalize her PhD requirements.
Of course, I made corn casserole and… lasagna to go with it…Cindy told me she had lasagna for her Easter dinner, and when Joy sent me that mini lasagna video, I got to thinking lasagna would go pretty well with corn casserole…or at least I thought it would. Well it turns out they LOVE lasagna and they took the cottage cheese I put on the table and spread it on top of their lasagna. We had an Edward’s Turtle Pie from Walmart for dessert. If you haven’t tried one, you should. It was a big hit too.
Before dinner and then afterwards we talked about things they needed help with, getting ready to leave…selling their car, adding us to their What’s app on my phone, phone numbers given, banking questions answered, furniture designated, and lots more…stories, memories, dreams of the future, graduation for Sara, and more…
Then there was a moment when Edgar and my hubby went outside to get a vacuum and a cooler out of their car. So I went and got Bailey to show Sara. She thought she was adorable and when she realized I had done her faceup myself, she wanted to know all about the watercolor pencils and the chalk pastels and the kneaded eraser. So we had a little session like an art class while the guys were gone talking about how to do it. After I put Bailey back, I brought out little 6″ Navi… and Sara thought she was adorable too, but what she REALLY loved were the tiny shoes I had made her. I have about 5 or 6 pairs that I haven’t had a chance to list and Sara wanted to know all about how I made them…she just went crazy over them; studying them, looking at my paper pattern, holding them up close to her eyes, studying every little detail, lining up the shoes and taking pictures of them. It was so much fun for me to see how much she loved them.
When she first came here, I found a sewing machine for her and she began sewing doll clothes. Then she just exploded and taught herself how to knit by watching online videos. She learned how to play the piano and the clarinet, she loves to bake and learned lots in her years here. I gave her some Russian cake decorating tips along with some other baking items for her birthday and her eyes just lit up. She is a very talented young lady and there is no telling what she’ll accomplish when she goes back home!
I asked her what she’ll miss the most from her school? She said the library and the librarian. She is an avid reader and has a stack of books on their table every time I’ve been at their apartment.
I can’t imagine how I’m ever going to be able to say goodbye to this very special family. I’ll miss Edgar’s cooking (his rice!!!) and all the fancy dinners he cooked for us. I will miss Alba’s friendship so much! We became friends immediately and I have enjoyed every moment we’ve been together. To say they have been a bright spot in our lives is quite an understatement.
So, in honor of this very special family, I’d love to share some of my favorite pictures I’ve shown of them on my blog.
First attempt at sewing…
First time EVER making cupcakes… for Sara or her mom…
This was our first sewing project together… She wanted a carrying case for her stuffed dog… Paco…this was her drawing and this is what we came up with… I filled it with fabrics…
She made this wedding dress for her duck…
Magalie sent her an American Girl doll…in a box filled with fabrics and sewing trims… Sara AND her mom were over the moon…
Thanksgiving 2015, I believe…
Sara made this Thanksgiving card for us…
Edgar is making Arepas for us…
I made some doggie cupcakes for Sara’s birthday and they gave me this card… with 24 languages of saying Thank you PLUS Colombian candy attached…
Some of Edgar’s special dishes for us… I have to tell you… on the birthday cake for my hubby… Edgar put F. C. Anyone know why? There wasn’t enough room to write Happy Birthday, so he abbreviated Feliz Cumpleanos! :o)
Some of Sara’s sewing things I gave her…
Alba and Sara helping me make Corn Casserole for Thanksgiving…
We always shared lots of fun over meals…at our house and theirs…
This is a cake Sara made for her dad’s birthday, copying the Soccer teams logo…
I should have taken a new picture of Sara but I’ll try to get one at her 8th grade graduation. I could go on and on with pictures, but I’ve shared enough… they are our friends and I don’t want this to become like I’ve invited you over to see my home movies of a trip to Hawaii or something… I hope you have some special friends in your lives!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, my goodness, that 5 years certainly flew! It’s been fun to watch Sara grow up before our eyes; she is a remarkable and talented young lady!! I hope the family will be able to come back again to visit you in the future (or perhaps you and George can go and see them….). They have all surely become good friends to you and your family.
Congratulations to Alba on completing her PhD! That is quite an accomplishment!
I hope tomorrow can be a sewing day for you, Jeanne; you have certainly earned it!!
Hi Charlotte,
It was bittersweet to write this post… but I wanted to do it before they left and my time has not been my own lately… Alba was here on a Fulbright Scholarship and she has worked really hard. I am VERY proud of her!
Today, (Friday) WAS a picture taking day… and I was happy!
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
Charlotte took the first words right out of my mouth! My goodness, what a trip down memory lane for all of us! Yes, we did see Sara grow into a beautiful young girl, and I can’t get over how five years could go so fast!
I was under the impression that Edgar was the one going to college, so it was Alba? Congratulations to her! May I ask, what was her major? A Ph.D is a huge accomplishment, and for them to leave their own country to study, in itself, is a huge sacrifice for anyone. They certainly do deserve a grand sendoff when they finally leave for Columbia!
Back to Sara, I can’t get over how full of curiosity and imagination she is, and how much she has learned while here. Maybe she will be able to come back when it is her time for college, since she seems to have a “second family” living right there in Carbondale!
Not only did we see Sara grow up through your pictures, we also got a glimpse of how your “old” kitchen looked back in the day! What a wonderful set of pictures and it certainly was fun to go through this trip down “memory lane”, Jeanne!
HI Linda,
I forgot the MOST important thing about Sara… she LEARNED ENGLISH here too… she didn’t know it at all when she came…only Alba spoke English… Edgar has done pretty well too… he can carry on most conversations with us… but Sara knows just about everything… school with English speaking kids REALLY helped her along.
I’m glad you weren’t bored with the pictures again… they are so dear to my heart and I guess I think they might be to everyone else too… Thanks Linda!
Blessings, Jeanne
Such a special family indeed! Sara has the creative spark in so many directions!
Loved the AG doll that Magalie gifted her, the doggie carrier, Edgar culinary delights… the photos are such a tribute to the friendship you’ve shared.
I know you will miss them terribly, but what memories they carry back to Columbia of the true way Americans are❤️
Thanks Shara,
We have been friends with lots of International students and family’s over the years, but this one is definitely going to hurt the worst when it comes to those goodbyes!
They said they will come back… sometime… that will be fun…and something to look forward too.
Thanks Shara,
Blessings, Jeanne
Parting is such sweet sorrow, as they say. I will certainly miss seeing their smiling faces at family gatherings. Looking forward to seeing Sara’s graduation photo. That will be a tear jerker for sure. Such wonderful accomplishments for this special to our hearts family. I wish them well in their future endeavors and hope that a Columbian librarian can be as helpful to Sara as the one she met here.
Hi Joy,
I thought it was so sweet of Sara to say she’d miss the Librarian the most at her school…I’d like to tell that lady what an impact she has made on Sara.
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
How very nice to see your pictures of Sara and her family. It has been nice to “meet” them through you. Sara has grown from the time we all enjoyed hearing about her 5 years ago! What a lovely family and I’m sure your family will miss them very much. I wish them many blessings in their family.
Thank you for sharing Jeanne.
Thank you Paula,
It has been such a quick 5 years…I can hardly believe it. Sara will only have 3 years of school left in Colombia…they go to grade 11…so I told Alba….when she graduates from high school, she can come back to SIU for college!! :o)
Well…maybe…
Thanks Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m sure you have no idea what kind of memories you have made for that sweet family.
I didn’t realize they would only be here for a short time. The made the most of their time for sure and you and George made it easier for them in so many ways. Will Sara get to take her AmericanGirl doll and her sewing machine home?
Enjoy your day!
Hi Kathie,
I know she’s taking her doll but I’m not sure about her machine…they are giving lots of their things away and some bigger ticket items.
When they came. Alba had 5 years to complete her degree, so she made it…by 3 months.
I’m glad you enjoyed seeing the pictures again. Kathie.
Blessings, Jeanne
I came late to your friendship with Sara and her family but I’ve seen enough to know I also will be sad to see them go. I have totally enjoyed seeing the accomplishments of Sara. Seeing her efforts to learn all she can about everything she can has been a joy. And having such a marvelous support system that allows her to do this is a definite blessing for her. I was hoping to see a current picture of her, so I was glad to see you were planning on taking her picture at her eighth grade graduation. Maybe you could post a photo of her for each of the five years she’s been here. It’s hard to tell from the pictures above how old she was in each. Children change so much over five years, especially from elementary to the end of middle school. I have a second cousin that takes pictures of her three daughters at the beginning and end of each school year. Last year her oldest was leaving elementary and she had a picture of her the day she started kindergarten and the day she ended fifth grade. Brought tears to my eyes. I remember when she started kindergarten and I know it was yesterday.
And congratulations to Alba! I am in much admiration of her for completing such a huge educational step, and in a “foreign” country. What a wonderful role model for Sara.
I know you are going to miss Edgar’s wonderful cooking. Just seeing the pictures makes my mouth water.
I’m sure you will be keeping in touch with each other and hopefully will meet again in the future. I have a dear friend named Christina in the island of Scalpay in Scotland. Years ago our daughters were penpals for a short while, but we have become lifelong friends, first through letters, then e-mail and now through WhatsApp. I know you will find that very useful for keeping in touch. Christina and I have never met personally but if and when we do, I know it will be like we’ve always spent time together. You and Sara’s family are a step up from that, so you have a solid basis for a lifelong relationship.
I wish Edgar, Alba and Sara blessings for the next journey in their lives. Keep us posted, as I know they will keep you up with what’s going on.
Hi Barbara…
I was mad at myself after I let them get out of here without any pictures…I guess we were talking too much “business…” and I forgot.
Edgar makes the best and most delicious rice ever…we will miss that a lot!!
We were getting the low-down on the WhatsApp and phone numbers put in my phone… I think we’re set to still stay in touch and I know we will.
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, what wonderful photographs. Of course we want to see them all. As the Pointer Sisters sang, “We are family!”
Sara is so lovely. You have been a wonderful Auntie to her. When she grows up, she is going to travel back to the US to see you and maybe attend college here.
Only four more days until May!
Hi Dorothy,
Only 4 more days till May! It’s really almost here!!! You said it would come and it is…
Alba was already talking about coming back…and I hope she meant it… and Sara can come to college here and it will be interesting to see what she’d major in…:o)
Thanks Dorothy,
Blessings, Jeanne
What wonderful times you have had together over these five years! Hard to believe it’s gone by so fast, although maybe Alba doesn’t think so what with all the work involved in a PhD. Congratulations! Sharing the cooking with Edgar has certainly been special and I’ve enjoyed seeing the dishes he has mastered. What fun to share a new culture through the food. Sara is such a lovely and accomplished young lady. I’m sure it’s been the experience of a lifetime for a young girl. I’m so glad you got together and had such fun for all these years. We’ll be thinking of them and hoping to hear often how they are doing. Best of luck and blessings in resuming your lives in your home country, Sara, Alba and Edgar. Love to all.
Thank you Susette,
Your words were so kind…it has been a wonderful 5 years, filled with so many stories I could write a book. I practically did last night…
I am positive we’ll stay in touch and the next time we all see Sara, it will probably shock us…
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
Shara made such a perfect statement — the true way Americans are. Many thanks for that, though I have always thought Jeanne and George were a cut above in their generosity and hard work. Fortunately Sara’s family can keep track of George and Jeanne through the blog, and the family can send pictures for Jeanne to share. This friendship is not over. What wonderful pictures. I think most of us took a deep breath at the picture showing the old kitchen. How glad we are to have the new one.
The sun has just come out from behind deep purple clouds. It’s so pretty here right now, with the trees getting that misty new leaf look.
Hi Marilyn,
Thank you for your very kind words and, yes, I’ll be sure and make sure Alba sends me pictures from time to time of what’s going on in Colombia.
I was looking on Pinterest the other day and saw that aqua colored cake that I said I was going to make when I got my kitchen cabinets painted. I was kind of sad when I saw it and realized I haven’t gotten them done yet, but on the other hand, when I saw my old kitchen on the pictures again, I was SO grateful for my cabinets and countertops…even though it’s not finished yet. YES, how glad we are for the new kitchen!!!
I’m glad the trees are greening up there on Colorado.
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
I remember every one of those posts. What a short five years it was. I’m sure they will remember you friendship forever and you can certainly write and share. They have all certainly accomplished so much in their time here.
I’ve been very busy, so usually reading the blog late and no time to comment. Congrats to the new doll owners and Susette’s fairy garden houses are always such a treat to see. I do know of Museum Wax and had thought about getting some to hold a few knick knacks in place on my dressing table to prevent kitty mishaps. I’ve had no problem with anyone breaking anything, but just to be safe . Now I can remember to actually buy some. Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.
Hi Laura,
I thought maybe you’ve been busy…I know you like flowers and garden things so I thought maybe you were busy with that.
I’m glad you enjoyed all the pictures…it brought back so many memories for me too….
There might be a run on that Museum Wax…I can think of lots of uses for it myself…
Thanks Laura
Blessings, Jeanne