Sunday afternoon and in a little bit we head for the airport to pick up Justin. My cup is full! If only Justin's wife could have come along, it would be full and running over! How do I describe the joy of seeing family walk through the airport door and know it is for real, they are here to visit us! My heart is full of joy to hold and hug my granddaughters and to see and visit with my son and daughter in law and to have my in laws, padres me premida esposo, here with us. We have been  happily introducing them to people here and as I am writing this I hear peals of male laughter rolling from the kitchen as Vernon, Jeremy, Linden and Tristan play a game of Acquire. We have been touring the country a bit, saw Antigua, the Topical map of Guatemala that covers one third of an acre,  went to Children's Bible club at the park, went to Lucinda's market, walked the streets a bit, and the next three days are going to be packed full. Oh yes!
And it's time to leave. May you all have a wonderful week treasuring the family God has given you.

Fresh Chicken Soup and 'Tones'

We went to the market today and one of the things we bought was a 'fresh' chicken. I cooked it up for soup. This 'fresh' chicken has a great flavor and I try to ignore the gross ugly yellow color of it's skin. The soup was very good. I cooked the chicken with onion, pepper, celery and cilantro. Next step was to saute onion, garlic, carrot and guiscil. After dumping seasonings in and stirring everything together, we had a simple meal of soup and french bread. I am going to miss the fresh fruit and veggies so much!!! I hate to think of going to the grocery store and buying expensive produce that has been refrigerated for who knows how many weeks! We rushed around to get lunch cleaned up, cinnamon rolls baked and a second lunch cleaned up, after Vernon and the guys came in from doing concrete work at the church. Our plan was to take the whole family and go grocery shopping as soon as school let out.. Sounds like a  desperate idea for some family time. We did our Walmart stop and treated ourselves to some fresh fruit smoothies then headed to Clubco. As we wheeled through the store, sometimes whirling and careening, with Jared driving, we got into a discussion about tones in voices. Some of us are very sensitive to 'tones'. Some of us wonder what the others are talking about! So how important are 'tones'? I think we can talk and never recognize just how we are coming across by the 'tone' we have.
The conclusion to the whole matter is, to give grace, to be considerate,  and to refrain from taking 'tones' personal! Also, being together as a family is wonderful, no matter if it is only grocery shopping!

Caught in the middle

We have purchased our tickets to fly back to the states! Once again I am experiencing the feeling of being caught between two ways, only this time it is from the other side. How true that change brings grief and joy!  The other day I was checking out ticket prices and I found myself crying. Ruth happened to come along just then and was very concerned. Had something happened to my family? No, I had to wave my arms around and try to explain that I was looking at tickets. She laughed and patted my shoulder. I'm sure I am a puzzle at times! Then I went to show Vernon the info and started crying again and his loving response was to laugh and then say he thought I must have heard some bad news from home! So I went to find Jeana and we had a good cry together. I have mourned at the alter of lamentations that Jody will stay behind to finish teaching. My mother heart wants her to come back with us, but I know it is right for her to stay.
We had some guests from Spanish Lookout, Belize for two nights. They were here to support their family who had a new born baby here for surgery. Sounds like the baby can go home tomorrow. So thankful for a good ending.
Tonight Priscila made a special meal for us as a thank you for helping with the Girls Retreat! Here we felt honored that we got to help. Our menu was all you can eat shrimp, cooked in garlic, butter and seasoning, cabbage salad, fried zucchini and peanut butter pie. I have lost all illusions of going back to the states looking gaunt and thin!!!! It was a very good time and another special memory.

Salute to Widows

I had a 'reliving' moment today when our school went on an excursion. There were six students with their three families. We planned to go to the Children's Museum, but it was closed so we headed up to a special park that is like a wilderness oasis after living in a concrete jungle. It was a lovely day and we hiked and tried out all the neat swings. Towards the end of our hike, Vernon went ahead and started to grill some pork chops he had picked up for a special treat. The boys were racing ahead, leaping and running and shouting, Brian and Janelle and Danny and Linda were hiking along the trail holding hands. I was walking behind and I had a 'reliving' moment. I remembered the loneliness that can hit a widow any time, any where. That is reality. People can be ever so thoughtful and kind, but there are so many painful moments a widow has to face and accept, alone. I intend to enjoy and appreciate my husband and family every moment. Too often, we take those we love the most for granted and don't appreciate what we have until we lose it. To all you widows, I salute your courage and strength. God is good, He is with you and He makes a way. To all you couples, appreciate what you have and be thankful for each other.

They were very kind :)

My title for the day is an inside joke.
I expected this week to be very busy and I wanted to be organized and have things comfortable and ready for all our guests. Tuesday morning they were all here and I thought I was too busy to get sick and lived in denial till Wednesday morning, the busiest day. There was a virus with dengue like symptoms going around, and I had to accept that God had other plans for me. I learned some lessons on my sick days. The first was that I was surrounded by wonderful people who took over and did what ever needed to be done. The second was that God was kindly reminding me that time with Him is priority and I had been falling into the pattern of 'just doing one more thing' before spending time with Him. Thankfully, I am feeling much better and my heart has a deep appreciation for the ladies who 'loved by serving' this past week.
 I will admit I was wondering how it would feel to have all the 'board' here at one time. I learned that they are a very nice group of men and we enjoyed the privilege of hosting them. Vernon enjoyed himself very much and had a wild thought to try to pick the pocket of one man he was picking up at the airport! He was sneaking around behind the guy, trying to decide if he should act like a dignified house dad or just be himself, when the man  turned and said,"hey, Vernon, I know what you are trying to do"! I have to laugh every time I think of it because I'm sure Vernon was all crouched over with a huge grin on his face just thinking about it!
Last night we, Marta, Priscila, Jeana, Jody, Rhoda and I were doing dishes. I went out to fill the big water jug with pure water. I got distracted. I was in the kitchen and kept wondering why I heard splashing water. When I realized why, I let out a YELL. Jeana screamed a loud scream and leaped into a defensive position, (she thought I had seen a spider). We all charged out to the water jug and sure enough, there was water splashing out of the jug and running down into the cellar! Rhoda calmly said, "well, it looks like we have a lake". We couldn't help laughing at all the drama. Once again, I have a very clean cellar floor. Vernon very logically explained, "honey, you can't walk away from the jug when you are filling it"!   Oh.

A New Book

This year, I have been thinking of the opportunity I have to write a new book. It has 365 pages and I get to decide what is on each page! If I can live this year remembering that 2012 is my new book, maybe I can make more wise choices and fewer hasty ones.
This year my first few pages have some good memories on them, such as:
How wonderful it was to see Marta and Priscila back from their holidays and part of 'the family' again.
Making a Guatemalan meal of rice and beans for a work crew at the church and realizing that God  heard my prayers for rice and beans that would taste good.
Going shopping with Vernon and stocking up on groceries for the upcoming weeks.
Having the girls help me in the kitchen with baking and cooking.
Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning!
Playing settlers with Vernon, Jared and Craig! (interesting)
Having the honor of grilling chicken for the girls retreat that was going on this weekend, and then getting to help serve a special meal to them. It was amazing to see so many girls, most of whom have given their hearts to the Lord. I thought of how each girl has a story, and of how God loves them all so much and has a work for them to do.
Sitting around the dining room table today and having a very interesting and enjoyable conversation with a bunch of 'strangers'. There were guests who were headed to Antigua for Spanish school, a temporary helper from an out post who was in the city for dental work and then there was Duane and Sharon Eby, a couple we had never met but who had lived in Guate for 17 years and now serve on the MAM Board. We have enjoyed learning to know them and enjoy their insight and humor!
Having a song service at the new, not yet finished church and enjoying the beautiful sound.
 These are some of the things written on the pages of my new book. I have written of laughter, annoyance, patience and impatience, treasuring family and friends. What a challenge!
This next week is going to be a full one. I expect I will get to make lots of choices about getting uptight or not:) Monday most of the MAM Board members will be flying in. They will be here most of the week and some will be staying longer. It seems like there could be the pressure to perform, but I refuse to give in to it! I want to be who I am and be more concerned that I am the woman God created me to be.This past weekend was a special girls retreat, a time for the youth girls to be together and be taught, challenged and encouraged in their Christian life. After such a time, I am expecting some tired girls and also I am expecting that they will be tested, I call them confirmation tests, on all and any decisions they have made this weekend to serve God with their whole heart. Pray for the youth girls in Guatemala that they will be faithful to God and follow Him.