Oi!

Hello from Brazil! Max and I left Montreal Monday afternoon. We traveled around 20 hours from Montreal to Atlanta, Georgia to Brasilia, Brazil to Belo Horizonte, Brazil. We got lucky with free upgrades on our flights, so we had extra leg room and the entire row to ourselves 2/3 of the flights. Neither of us slept well, but we were fine watching movies and pretending we were comfortable :). There were actually two guys from Columbus on our flight, one of whom has a son who plays lacrosse at Dublin Jerome! It's a small world.

We got bored between flights.

While we were waiting for our bags in BH, Max saw an ad for Corteo! It definitely increased my excitement level and woke me up after the long day of traveling. I'm so grateful to finally be here.

We had about a half an hour ride from the airport into the city. It was immediately apparent that we were in a different country. Not only is it extremely lush and tropical, but the temperature was in the upper 80s and the humidity felt like Texas. I hear it froze in Ohio yesterday, so I'm happy to be wearing shorts and flip flops. We drove past many poverty stricken favelas on the way in, and it broke my heart for the Brazilian people. I felt really blessed in the cab headed to our hotel realizing that these people are barely surviving. It was also a reality check for me when I thought about how much my materialistic belongings have no worth after we leave this world. They're just things, and most people on our planet manage without them.

When we arrived at our hotel, we were pleased to have a shower where it's possible to stand without touching all four walls unlike in Montreal. Max took some great pictures of our view of the city! It's great to see trees in the midst of concrete. My mom would love that.

 We were exhausted, so we snuggled up and took a long nap before heading to dinner with some of the people that I work with. It was so thoughtful of them to invite us, and it made my first day of work a lot less awkward as I wandered around. At least I wandered around and occasionally bumped into people I knew! We ate at a Brazilian steakhouse, and we had endless amounts of the best grilled beef I've ever had called picanha. The food here is so fresh and delicious; I can't stop eating the fruit!

We ate dinner with three families who have small children. I am missing my nieces and nephews so much, so it warmed my heart to be in a family atmosphere once again. I'm blessed to be a part of such a wonderful cast, and I know this already after only two days.

Yesterday (Wednesday, I headed to site for my first day of work. My day mostly consisted of meetings and meeting new people, but I also got to fly with my new paradis family and watch the show from the audience! It took me about 5 minutes to adjust to the height while we were training, but I thought it would take much longer! It's going to take more time have better air awareness, but that's something only time can fix. Visuals are much different flying on stage where there are spotlights shining bright and everything else is pure darkness. When I was getting passed from guy to guy, it was hard to tell where up was! Only time can fix this, but it was a great feeling to work with the team.

It may be cheesy and totally uncool, but I don't care; Yesterday was everything I've dreamt of since I was a little girl. I'm aware that repeating show after show after show will continue to change my perspective as a performer and acrobat, but I hope the passion I felt yesterday continues to dwindle within my soul throughout the remainder of my career with cirque. There is nothing quite like the innocence of the first day, and I hope I never feel "too awesome" to admit that my first day on the job felt like Christmas mixed with endless amounts of candy and puppies!

On another cheesy and totally uncool note, watching the show last night brought me to tears. I know I'm a 'chick', so my point isn't that I cried but that a part of myself was touched. I had a moment when I realized how blessed I am to be in the position that I'm in. Most people don't have the chance to fulfill their loftiest goals. While I was sitting in the audience, I realized that God has handed me all of these blessings on a golden platter. In return, I hope I never take this for granted and that I never make this about myself. The show is also very spiritual for me because the story is a funeral and the juxtaposition between life on earth and life hereafter. The mixture of feeling so blessed and watching a show where there are characters as angels present was an ironic twist. Anyways, thanks to my cast for touching my spirit. I'm blessed to be here with each of you.

Tonight, Max will be able to watch the show from the audience with me! I couldn't be more excited for him to watch the show. He's currently with another guy who is here because of his wife, and they are doing Crossfit together. It took him less than 48 hours to find someone to be a meathead with... go figure.

Dream big everyone. Until next time...

Last Week In MTL

Last Thursday, I went to to talk to the people at cirque who had information on our visas. They gently told me that the Brazilian consulate was telling them the visas wouldn't be ready until October 24th or 25th, which is over two weeks from the original date we were given. I fought back disappointment tears and went home to tell Max. Between picking me up from my mopey state and hugging me as I fought back tears, he decided we should have faith in prayer.

We embraced in our tiny little room and Max prayed for a miracle. 

Work resumed on Friday, and about halfway through the day, someone came to tell me that Max's visa had come through and that someone was going to the consulate to pick it up. We were told that Max's visa was probably processed faster because he has a tourist visa and my working visa might be more difficult to process. It was ironic because we have been nervous that Max's visa wouldn't go through; and there it was, first to arrive.

Friday afternoon, Max and I went upstairs to discuss flight options for the following week and pick up Max's visa. When we got upstairs, we were quickly informed that BOTH of our visas were picked up at the consulate and that we needed to book our flights immediately! Less than 24 hours after we were told it would be another week at the earliest before our visas were processed, we were holding both visas in our hands. God is teaching us His faithfulness through the power of prayer.

God is good, y'all.

Our flight is tomorrow, Monday, around 3PM and we arrive in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tuesday around 1PM. We will be in BH for less than a week, and then the tour changes cities and moves to Curitiba, Brazil. Between cities, Max and I are flying to St. Maarten in the caribbean where we will be vacationing with our Schmidt family for the week!

It's summertime in Brazil, and I have absolutely no ill-feelings about skipping over winter!

We have had an incredible time being back in Montreal, but the time has come for us to move on, and we are feeling so excited and blessed about what's to come.

On another note, Max and I went to a morning church service a week ago where we saw this guy...

You might be seriously questioning why we were taking pictures of a stranger during worship at church. If you're this person, then you probably don't know my dad very well. If you do know my dad, then you're probably freaking out as much as we were! The man in front of us a church looked like my dad's twin! His posture, skin tone and hair color, glasses, ears... I could go on and on. Needless to say, I don't remember anything from church because I couldn't pay attention with my dad's clone next to me. It kind of felt like my dad was on a date with me; I'm comfortable around my dad, but he just wasn't supposed to be there. It made me feel warm inside to think of him though! I'm missing my favorite Japanese man! Love you, daddy.

Yesterday, Max and I went to our first MLS game together. We know some Terps on the Philadelphia Union team, and one of them was kind enough to remember we were in Montreal and get us tickets for their game against the Montreal Impact. The stadium was right next to the Olympic stadium, so I finally got to show Max! We also had a blast at the game. We didn't know what to expect because we haven't been to any soccer oriented events in Montreal, but the stadium was packed and the crowd was typically rowdy and chanting in French for the duration of the game. I guess we better start getting into futbol since we will be in SA for the World Cup next year!

Montreal Olympic Stadium

A Soccer Selfie From the Game
(yep, the beard is still there.)

After the game, we headed back because we had plans with friends for dinner. We went to a delicious italian restaurant in Little Italy with Alix Croop, a former EAGL gymnast and artist on Corteo, and her boyfriend who is visiting from Massachusetts. We sat and talked for hours. It's been lovely having Alix here with me in Montreal, and I'm even more excited to be a part of Corteo with her. Max and Derek are already planning their life on tour with the wives club... I think mani pedis, the book club, and late wine nights are in their future. ;)

The next time I write, it will be from Brazil! I can't believe it's finally here. Max and I are shutting off our phone service this weekend, so if you need to get a hold of us, then you'll have to rely on other avenues apart from our phone numbers! You can e-mail, FaceBook message, iMessage (through e-mail), or Skype us, but we won't be able to text or call through our phone numbers.

Max's 25th Birthday

Max and I are supposed to be leaving for Brazil this Saturday, but our visas haven't come through so it looks like we will be delayed a week or so. I've had a hard time accepting it because I am ready to be on tour, but I know that there is purpose in our presence in Montreal. Besides, I've waited a pretty long time for this, so what's a week more?

Last Saturday morning, Max and I rode bikes that we rented from Cirque to Jean Talon market. The market is in Little Italy somehow secretly tucked between buildings even though it's large size doesn't implicate being... tuckable. We got our much needed morning coffee and egg & cheese panini's from a small café, and then we browsed through the market buying this weeks produce. Unfortunately, the fruit was so delicious that it didn't last through Wednesday. I'm going to have to go back for some more plums! They were heavenly.

We headed home from the market around noon so Max could get home to watch some college football. I was glad football was the excuse because I used that time to book a hotel in the Old Port for the night so that we could get away and celebrate his 25th birthday. I booked a night at The Westin and asked him to pack an overnight bag. We took the Metro into the Old Port and walked the short distance to our lovely home for the evening! At the Residence, we have full beds, one community television, and internet as slow as dial-up, so room service, a king size down comforter, and personal TV including the Buckeye game felt like pure luxury.

at The Westin when we arrived

After we checked in, we walked around the corner to Notre Dame Basilica and then to the Old Port. It was supposed to rain the entire weekend, but God provided a day full of sunshine on Saturday. It was the perfect little getaway!

Notre Dame Basilica

Euro style architecture at the Old Port

The fall colors have arrived! I would like to state that this picture was taken on my non-fancy Olympus digital camera and there was no editing involved. It was absolutely beautiful.

Views from the St. Lawrence River looking back into the city

After a couple hours of walking around, we took the short walk back to our hotel and got ready for dinner. Normally it's about a half hour to an hour Metro ride in and out of the city, so it was really nice to be living in the action even if it was just for a night. We walked from our hotel to Crescent Street, famous for its bars and restaurants, and went to a place that Max picked out called Burger Bar. I'm still full just thinking about it.

Max ordered a burger called The Hangover, and it included a burger patty, a fried egg, carmelized onions, and poutine (fries, cheese curds, and gravy). I ordered a burger that had crispy macaroni and cheese balls in it. I'm full just thinking about it.

We ate early so that we could make it back to the hotel room to watch the Buckeyes play Northwestern. It might sound lame that we rented a hotel room in the middle of downtown and ended up staying in and watching football, but we have spent a lot of time exploring and adventuring; We needed a football-filled American Saturday to get back to normalcy. It's a strange feeling adapting to this traveling lifestyle where home is wherever city you are next, but at least for that day we had college football (especially because the Buckeyes won!)

The late night of football called for late night room service ice cream and a great nights sleep. We slept in until 10 AM the next morning, which I'm pretty sure is something Max hasn't done since college. When we finally pulled ourselves out of bed, we grabbed some Tim Hortons, explored a bit, and relaxed until it was time for church.

We've been attending a church called The Living Room, which you can read about here. Our church meets in the Student Union at Concordia University in a place called Reggie's Bar. The church made a deal with the bar to clean the bar before church every Sunday in return for use of the space. The congregation, probably around 40 people, take turns cleaning out everything from the bathrooms to the sticky tables after the bar's busy weekends. I think it's an amazing way they get to love on the owners of the bar.

We have really liked having a church home in Montreal, a place where we know we will go routinely every Sunday to be around people outside of Cirque. It has been comforting and spiritually filling for us since we've been here in Montreal. Less than 1% of people in Montreal claim to have a relationship with Jesus, and it brings tears of joy to my eyes to think about the commitment The Living Room has made to this city.

Max's actual 25th birthday was on Tuesday, October 8th (still enough time for a belated happy birthday!), so I had to work. I wish I could have spoiled him all day, but I did my best to love on him. He wanted sushi for his birthday dinner, which my Japanese self was very excited about, so we went to a place a girlfriend of mine recommended called Coba. We ate our body weight in sushi. We watched a movie later and I gave him some Reese's cups because they're his favorite and apparently they're expensive and impossible to find in Brazil. If you come visit us in Brazil, please bring him some peanut butter cups :). 

Birthday Boy <3

We are going to be here for a little longer than expected, but we have faith that God has us here for a reason, so we will be all here. Please pray for us over the next week or two. Pray that both of our visas go through. Pray that I remain safe and healthy. Pray that we have safe travels. Pray that we are fulfilling our purpose.

Sunset from the balcony at the Residence from Monday.

Max said it looked like the sky was on fire. I think his words are perfect.

To our immediate family,

Brandon, Erin, Willa, Tatum, Baby Schmidt, Mama, Pops, Leah, Chad, Bubba, Syssa, Foster, Hadley, Harper, Mom, Daddy,

We miss you guys so much. Everything reminds us of you, and we can't wait to see you guys in November/December. We miss the laughter, cookouts, and family time, and we can't wait to give hugs and kisses to all those babies. We love you!

Some Flying and A Birthday

I haven't blogged in awhile, but it's a good thing. I probably would have blogged sooner, but I was busy celebrating Max's birthday and Canadian Thanksgiving last weekend. Last week, I was exhausted...

because I'm FINALLY training again!

Trust me; it has been a slow progression. We started at 15 minutes of training solely in a straight body position, and I'm continuing to work toward 100% activity. I still have minor pain, but my improvement has been significant! The doctor even said that I am ahead of schedule. It hasn't been easy, but my disc is finally getting better. 

LA left on Saturday to head back home to Vancouver where she will be waiting on an open contract for Amaluna! Good luck, LA!

Juan, LA, and I 

Juan, me, Manu (our coach), and LA on LA's last day!

It's extra large because it's extra funny. This is a picture from our final presentation in jeu (acting). LA, Dima, and I were people-eating plants on an island. I just realized how weird that must sound, but at the time, it seemed completely normal. I guess that's what happens when you join the circus.

People think that *I'm* crazy for joining the circus. Well, have fun sitting at your desk while I'm getting paid to put on a blue spandex jump suit. Who's crazy now?!

My first connected saltos! The aren't normally entered into through a tucked mount, but my back hasn't allowed me to do pike mounts yet. 99% of people who read this won't understand that, so I have no idea why I'm getting so specific. Moving on.

Layout salto. Yes, I almost kicked him.

This would be my first attempt at a double front.  *Keerrrrr-SPLAT.* Hilarious.

OK, moving on from circus life. Max came to visit from last Thursday through Wednesday. He was supposed to leave on Tuesday, but his plane had mechanical problems so we got an extra day together, two free taxi coupons, and 5,000 points with Delta! Lucky me.

We had the best time while he was here!

Saturday was filled with shopping and walking. Sunday we spent some time at the Old Port and St. Catherine Street.

Max and I at Place des Arts on Saturday.

The Marie-Reine-du-Monde

Inside the church was beautiful!

There was beautiful art inside that I just *know* my Aunt Kiki would have loved. The lighting was terrible though.

Sunday was gorg. Perfect fall weather and my hubby by my side! 

Max and I at the Old Port

My favorite building in Montreal. It's on the other side of the river from the Old Port, but it is so unique. It looks like a game of Jenga.

How incredible are those leaves?! Being a Texan, where everything goes from green to brown in one day, I have fallen in love with autumn. I don't even mind the cold weather (that much) anymore.

Side note: Max bought me those sunglasses and gave them to me when he got here! *spoiled*

For Max's 24th birthday, we walked around St. Denis, which is a street known for shopping and restaurants. Most of the restaurants are BYOB and they all have lovely terraces.

A little graffiti and a little diva.

My favorite picture with the birthday boy.

My 24 year-old husband! 

Dinner at Moutons Noirs

His birthday fell on Canadian Thanksgiving, so it was a three day weekend here in Canada. Thanksgiving is by no means what it is in the States, but we did find ourselves completely alone for our dinner in the restaurant. No one walked in or out, and we got the only booth in the restaurant. The food was SO yummy, and it will be a memory for me forever. And it wasn't even my birthday!

Calamari, wine, and bread.

Max's veggies, potatoes, and lamb 

My stuffed chicken

*Be back in five minutes. That made me hungry.*

...yup, that oatmeal just wasn't the same.

Anyways, Max and I had a great time together. Being apart has been really hard, but I'm so thankful for the memories that we have together in Montreal. I never expected to be 23, living in a different country than my husband, and in the circus. I can't put into words how grateful I am for a husband who encouraged me to go for my dreams. I don't know if I would have been brave enough by myself.

I have three weeks left in Montreal, and my parents are coming for my final week here! I can't wait to spend time with them and show them around the city. It will also be incredibly entertaining to bring them to work with me! I can't wait to see my analytical, extremely educated, Japanese father's face while he observes my normal work day.

It's funny how quickly phases in life pass by. In certain moments, time feels like it's on pause. We can feel like our feet are stuck in the muck. The truth is that time never stops and new phases always come around. Even though there are certain moments that I wouldn't mind being stuck in for awhile, it can be rejuvenating when time forces us to move on.

Although I still have three weeks left in Montreal, I know that life has the possibility to change greatly when I arrive back in Columbus. I could receive a contract and we could be moving to Las Vegas or I could be coaching my high school gymnastics team at Upper Arlington with new freshman. I could be looking for a career or putting all my focus on my husband's opportunities.

Whatever life brings us, we know we're blessed.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21