Adventures in Bucaramanga

Babba is home and we are so excited about that!

Ian spent the week in beautiful Colombia.  It is the second or third time he has gone in recent months.  Usually he works in the city of Bogota, but this visit bought him to the mountainous northern city of Bucaramanga in the Santander Department.  Here is a picture he sent the kids to see.

We love the gifts he brings from Colombia: woven bags, hand sewn dolls, braided jewelry and coffee.  Oh the coffee...it is amazing!   Nothing here compares...even the stuff marked "Colombian".

This visit he partook of a regional treat - harmigas culonas or "big-butt-ants".  I kid you not.
Roasted hormigas culonas are roasted and served like peanuts.
And what do these critters taste like?

In his own words, they "taste a bit like peanuts or bacon popcorn!"

I like peanuts.
I like bacon.
I like popcorn.
I surely would have passed, however, on the harmigas culonas!!!




Love my man's adventurous spirit, though.

Looking forward to our weekend....new members class at church, birthday parties, basketball, and Babba's stories from Bucaramanga!

Partner!

CAUTION: THIS POST CONTAINS SIGNIFICANT ATTEMPTS BY THIS WIFE TO BRAG ON HER HUSBAND!!!

HOWEVER, THERE IS NO EMBELLISHMENT OF CONTENT. IT IS TRUE, TRUE, TRUE!!!

My man....Senior Director of Global Implementation Services at ERM....found out Friday that he was promoted to partner! Congratulations, Ian!!!

Many months ago, he was invited to participate in the Partner Training Program at ERM. Since then, he has been in a somewhat grueling process that led up to a presentation to a partner panel in Miami. He came away from that feeling like it had gone well and their line of questioning was intense, but exciting and engaging.

I was so thrilled for him to receive this wonderful news. Not only was it a promotion and invitation to be partnered financially in the company, it was one of those pivotal moments in a man's career (that I see as so important) when they receive feedback and affirmation about their work. Their toil. Their strife.

They fully recognized, as I always have, that Ian is a successful leader - compassionate, passionate, globally minded yet people oriented. He stood out among other candidates (only 30% actually make partner that are invited into the program) by starting his presentation with a slide of his family and telling them about US! They questioned him about the two children that don't look like the others....to which he got to share his heart for adoption and his belief in living sacrificially for the benefit of others. Thats how he does family. That is how he does work.

There is NO sacred - secular divide.....and while his panel was not made up of believers, they could fully appreciate Ian's biblical leadership qualities that have made him successful in the working world....just because there is no divide between what is sacred and what is secular when you live for Christ!

They appreciated Ian's business expertise and experience - inviting him to be open minded about a growing role at ERM. Yes. He is capable. Intelligent. Wise. Driven. Purposeful.

Not only did Ian receive important affirmation about his career. This was significant affirmation for our family as we embark on a move for ERM. It confirms that our move to Houston is prudent and necessary. Even exciting.

How did we celebrate. At 9 pm, after I cleaned up from my preschool party, we went to the Fairmont Princess Resort and ate at Bourbon Steak. Ian had always wanted to go there.

So glad we did.

We had a lovely time together.

And a scrumptious meal.

Celebrating, giving thanks to God and cherishing another milestone in our life's journey together.

PARTNER.... Ian has been MY partner for 20 years......I could have told them what a wonderful partner he is.

I love that man!!!