Dinner in Humacao

It Rains a lot…

But never for too long. While Tim and I know this to be true of island climates, the kids have a hard time understanding why some beach days are postponed.

Same was true last week, when we woke up to cloudy skies. The kids took to the balcony and watch raindrops slowly roll off the large palm leaves. They were bummed. We read a few books, ate popsicles out of little plastic tubes, counted sea shells…then got bored.

Tim and I thought it would be a great time to go on an adventure, so we loaded the kids into the car and found a local restaurant. While the area we are in has many restaurants, we wanted to try some authentic eats…and we happened upon just the place.

El Ikokal is a blink-and-you-might-miss-it restaurant tucked in the hills right outside of Palmas. When we pulled in we, were greeted by a few roosters, hens and chicks. Zara took to the chickens while Zi gravitated to a large cage of blue crabs in the corner.

Food service in Puerto Rico is SLOW. Island life, amiright?! While this normally wouldn’t bother T and me, when you are traveling with three little ones you feel like you are walking on landmines at times- which kid is going to explode. In the states, this usually means giving longing glances to the waiter for any morsel of food to keep the little ones pacified. But not here.

This is the beauty of local restaurants, you won’t find neon lit signs bolstered to a faux boxwood wall or Instagram worthy light fixtures, but you will find animals that keep your kids entertained sans tablets and the locals don’t care if the kids roam around. It’s freeing and so reminiscent of Sri Lanka.

We plopped down on the outdoor metal seating and ordered lobster, chicken with mofongo (essentially mashed plantains) and french fries- a found our kids are currently happy to indulge in.

It was all so good! The kids were happy and exhausted from running around while Tim and I had full bellies and were able to have a decent conversation over dinner.

The simple pleasures here have been wonderful. It’s amazing the joy you can find when you slow down.

What’s a sabbatical?

Thanks for coming on this adventure with us. We are pumped to virtually travel with you!

As many of you know, Tim has been serving as the NextGen Pastor at HighRidge Church. We have served HRC for the last five years- making friends, finding purpose, and growing in community.

Tim and I both grew up in church (two very, different experiences…more on that one day), but when the Lord led us to HighRidge we noticed something that drew our hearts: HEALTH. 

Ministry can be all encompassing. Late-night calls, unusual hours, impromptu guests…24/7 365. We love these things. Scratch that, we LIVE for these things: to help-regardless of the day or the hour. (We joke that Tim has ADHD and would never survive a 9-5 in a cubicle, so the unpredictability really blesses Tim)

Weird hours. Oh, did I mention we have three kids. Six and under! Beautiful chaos.

I digress.

HighRidge as a church has truly blessed this little family of ours. Our Lead Pastor, Jeff Klingenberg, and our Executive Pastor, Curtis Woodliff as well as our church elders, have created a place of health, healing and protection. They have a sabbatical in place for the pastors after 5-7 years of service.

So, pero, what is a sabbatical?

A sabbatical in the church world, is a leave-of-absence after serving for a specified length of time. It provides a time to disconnect. To sleep, to rest, to go on adventures, claim some weekends, to go “off-the-grid.” It is health for pastors and their families. Selah.

 In short, we qualified for sabbatical this year. And I am so excited about it! I’m so grateful for our church and the leadership.  I haven’t seen church health played out well before and it feels so good to REST! If you’re reading this Pastor Jeff & Dawn Klingenberg, THANK YOU! We are so grateful for the solace and peace your hearTs have provided. We truly love you. 

Why Puerto Rico?

Welp. Let me tell you.

I am mom to three. With Zara I was ambitious. I feel like I kept on top of all the check lists: documents, baby books, development milestone apps.

Then came my sweet Zion & Zane. Now outnumbered. Chaos ensues.

With the birth of my boys came a longer list of to-dos….and I never managed to get their BIRTH CERTIFICATES. Something I didn’t know until I went to apply for passports. *facepalm*

With passports a limitation, we wanted to find a place where it felt like we were truly adventuring…without baby passports.

Enter Puerto Rico.

After endless AirBNB searches of the Caribbean, Youtube Videos, and Reddit pages, we landed on PR. We will be staying in the community of Palmas Del Mar in Humacao. We wanted to find a place that our kiddos could enjoy and we are optimistic that this is the spot.

*fingers crossed*

We are at the beginning of a pretty BIG adventure for a family of five. While Tim and I have done some travel together,  we are so excited to share a new perspective of the world with our babies. New experiences, food, people, culture.

We want them to see the world through the lens of Christ- All people. All nations. Such a sweet opportunity.

 So here we are. At the very beginning a four-week long journey with littles. Hopeful and joyously expectant.

 We hope you are along for the ride!