Feliz el dia de accio'n de gracias

I think that's the way the Tico's were saying it! Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Just incase you're wondering, *Tico* is how the Costa Ricans refer to themselves.
School was out at 11:00 today. The Costa Rican SCORE missionaries, and some of the pastoral staff at the church El Lugar, hosted a Turkey dinner for us at the SCORE villa.
Tim and Evelyn, another couple Jason and Valerie, a single student, Tracy and Bob and I along with about 25 Ticos shared a nice feast.
Yes, the Ticos made a turkey (a first for them) along with a big pan of mashed potatoes, and because they're Tico's, there was also a pan of hot rice. We also had gravy, salad, cornbread and greenbean casserole. Los Estadosunidenses (that's what the Ticos call us) provided the dessert. We had apple crisp, apple pie, and pineapple upsidedown cake. Not necessarily traditional American Thanksgiving fare, but it was a wonderful time.
As we gathered in the large dining room, Jose' opened it with a time of many people sharing what they were thankful for en espanol y ingles. Maybe we didn't all understand each other or every word, but their was an understanding anyway.
Jose' read some Scripture and then we had a brief *breaking of bread* service before we began our meal. What a blessed time!
We sort of confiscated the TV remote for a short time. It's tradition! We had to watch the Detroit Lions lose on Thanksiving again!
Near the end I was in the kitchen with three of the Tico ladies. All three of them speak English quite well. Veronica (Argentinian) taught herself English just in the past year from listening to people talk! Anyway, as we talked in the kitchen, Veronica suddenly said "Hey wait! Why are you speaking English? You need to be talking in Spanish." It was said very nicely, but it was an encouragment to use my Spanish. So I did! and, wonders of wonders, they understood me! YES! and I didn't *baby talk* .... I used past tense and perifrases. If you've read any of my past postings, you'll remember perifrases caused my earlier meltdown en el classe de grammatica, but we've sense become friends. Yes, I made mistakes, but they gently corrected me. It was actually fun!
Turned out one of the ladies teaches Spanish to some other *los estadosunidenses* and she gave me much encouragment on my progress! PTL! The time was a special blessing as I realized what the LORD has allowed me to accomplish in just 2 1/2 months. That is definitely something to be thankful for!

Yes, we are still here and not totally buried in Spanish.

We're past the half way point and heading towards finals. That's hard to believe!

I feel like I have learned so much, and yet at the same time, I wonder if I'll ever really understand Spanish!

I have approx. 2 hours of *grammatica* starting at 7:30 Monday-Friday. My teacher, Ana, reminds me so much of ~d ( and that is meant as a compliment). She is very thorough, and an excellent teacher! But she is tough....I am amazed at how much material we cover in one week just in that class. But Ana gives us uch encouragement as we attempt new things.

This class is followed by a 45 minute break---on Tuesday's and Thursday's this is chapel time. Yesterday I gave my testimony in chapel.

This is followed by Lenguaje....Monday Hilda introduces the new vocabulary; Tuesday we have to report on a newspaper article on the theme for the week; Wednesday we make a presentation (dialogue); Thursday's we either give a 10-15 minute Bible study or recite a Bible verse (Yes, both are in Spanish but we alternate weeks--tomorrow I'm reciting I Juan 3:23), Friday is "question day" Every Friday we have to present 4-5 questions on the current week's theme for the teacher to review. During the week we find a Costa Rican to ask our questions to. Then the following week we present those answers in class, along with our new questions for the coming week.

Lenguaje is followed by Fonetica....this is my fun class! We laugh alot in there while Gabriela instructs the class and we struggle to learn the right sounds, emphasis, accents, inflections, etc.

Gabriela is a joy! This class always brings a smile to my heart!

But it's not all work as Bob and I have had opportunity to take short trips with other students. Because we go as groups we get good discounts on the prices. We've been to El Tortugero on the East Coast where the sea turtles nest. I actually got to help a hatchling into the sea!

One day we went with 2 other couples to an extinct vulcano and peered into the crater filled with bright green water, while shivering in the stiff cold breeze (7,000 ft elevation!)

This weekend had to be the best...we went to Arenal ~~an active volcano. Friday was our 34th anniversary, and the two of us sat in an outdoor jacuzzi (the only 2 in it!) and watched the red hot lava pouring down from the top of Arenal. How do we top that one for next year?

At times during the weekend the volcano was hidden by fog and the only evidence of it being there was the rumbling sounds that could be heard. At times, the clouds dissipated and while the red lava was not visible during the day, we could see puffs on occasion as evidence that a boulder was tumbling down the side. This place was amazing. Our hotel rooms were situated about 1 mile from the volcano.

Sunday morning we all gathered at an observation deck and held a church service. Hearing the volcano rumble thru the fog while we sang "How Great Thou Art" was truly a blessed experience! While I could see and hear the power displayed in this volcano, I was reminded of the power and majesty of the One who created all this!

Please continue to pray for us...we are stretched at every turn. My brain at times seems to rebel ---these classes are truly challenging. But there is also a feeling of accomplishment.

But I know that on my own I could not learn any of this...it is the LORD who is my strength, my Teacher, the one who gives me the ability to learn...and it is for His glory that I am here!

Will try to do a better job of keeping this updated, but no guarantees!

estoy mejor

I don't think I've ever been as happy to come to an end of a week as I was on Friday!

While in the ladies room between classes that day, one of the ladies made the comment:

**TGIF is a restaurant in the States, here it is the truth!!!***

Since our entire class was in the bathroom and the class bell had already rung, I was able to successfully use one of the perifrases when I entered class...."Tenemos que usar el bano"

( : yes, I know it should be stated in the past, but we haven't learned past tense yet :)

~~We take small steps en espanol and are very happy when we are able to do so without falling flat on our faces. ~~

I was very *wisely* told by a student in Bob's class, that since I can only speak in the present tense, I can't worry or be concerned about the past, or what happened last week.

Everything for me is *now* or *current*

I'm sure there's a Biblical principle in that statement ~~~ it just seems like it should have one! If I weren't concentrating so much on my Spanish, I could probably pull it out :)

This week we're doing 'el complemento directo'...and so far, so good. I seem to understand this one, pero debo practicar mas. (Notice the usage of another *perifrase*)

I have a test tomorrow in Fonetica on dipthongs and blends.

I'm also working on memorizing Mateo 11:28-30 en espanol by Thursay morning.

So, please continue to pray!

Hope y'all are having a great week!

"I'm melting...."

Wednesday halfway thru the first session of Grammar I had a meltdown...just broke into tears and that pretty much described the rest of my school day. For some reason, it was as if my brain went into rebellion and refused to release the information that was there. I couldn't understand anything the teacher was saying. Just so you understand, she wasn't speaking English; all the classes are totally in Spanish. It came my turn to respond in class and I started crying and left the class.
Praise the LORD, there were many who rallied around me giving me support. It appears that many students at some point feel overwhelmed, and walking out of class in tears is a normal response. But the teachers are very supportive and understanding. My language teacher during the morning break could tell I was upset, and was so supportive. When we got to class she had us start the class with prayers in English (unheard of!) so that we could fully say what we wanted and not have a language barrier. Another lady, Lydia, is a former counsellor at the school and is now a missionary with her husband, but is filling in while the Student Life Director is out of the country. I haven't seen Lydia in days, and Wednesday there she was in the break room talking to some other students. She saw me and came over and asked if I wanted to talk. We went into another room and talked and prayed. What a blessing!
Then I got to Fonetica class, this is the one that always makes me laugh! I discovered 5 minutes into the class I had forgotten to do an assignment (a first!) and burst into tears again. Gabriela was so understanding....she even told me I didn't have to take the test that was planned for that day. But atleast that was material that I knew, so I did take it.
A student from my grammar class, Marie, is the class *brain*; she's the one that *never* gives a wrong answer. She has rallied along side me in a big way. She came over on Wednesday afternoon and spent 2 hours going over the material. yesterday, she sat next to me in grammar class and made sure I understood and was getting the right answers written down. She is truly a blessing from the LORD! Today at 7:30 we have a test in grammar over the material that caused my *meltdown*, but Marie is meeting me at school early so that we can study again. I am so thankful for this dear sister in Christ!
So, please pray for me for strength and that this will be a discouragement of short duration. It has been frustrating, and at the same time comforting because I have discovered I am not alone with comfort, support and prayers from so many.
Up until Wednesday we had received no mail from anyone. But I check our mail slot faithfully each day hoping. On Wednesday I glanced into our mail slot and lo! and behold! there was mail. A lady (who I don't know) from a church in Virginia that supports us had written a note of encouragement on Friday of last week, sent it right out and it arrived on the day when I needed it most! What a blessing from her and from the LORD!
So, after I finish my coffee, I'm off to study with Marie and then take my test! Please be praying for me even if you receive this after the time of the test.....

You might be a missionary if.....

On the slight possibility that anyone may actually be checking this site at all I thought I would share these *facts* from a missionary magazine i found here at the school.

((By the way Bob and I are both loving our time here...the school is wonderful...teachers are fantastic...fellowship is grand...and our brains are being stretched in many directions!))

So, you might be a missionary if you....

*Read a National Geographic magazine and realize, "I know those people..."

*Have to stop and think about what to do with used toilet paper...

*Keep switching languages when speaking with good friends...

*Can't finish a sentence en un solo idioma.

*Don't know what to say when asked where you are from...

*Have 6 different varieties of ants in your house and you ignore them all....

*Your children think it is acceptabl to kiss strangers...

*Your women's magazines are at least 6 years old, but you still pass them along to friends...

*Are okay driving without brakes, but would never do so without a horn.

*Point with your lips...

*Miss getting junk mail...

*Pull up to a gas station and wait for someone to come out and pump your gas...

*Are surprised when the electricity stays on all day...

*Bring a bag lunch and a novel when you go to the bank...


Hope you all are doing well.....miss you...please write!

But they're so tiny...

Okay, how do I resize those photos? what did i do wrong????

Off to market we go.....

Just thought you might like to see our shopping experience. Every saturday there is a farmer's market about 5 minutes walk from our house. It starts at 5 AM, but when we arrive about 8, there is still a wonderful array to choose from. These pix are from our first trip there with our landlord, Orlando, and his wife, Ivonne. The other lady is Amy and her daughter, Hope, who live in a house right next door to our apartment.








This is my first attempt at adding photos, so hopefully it will work allright. Thanks for the info Lyndie...

Lessons before school starts

Wow! Hard to believe that we arrived two weeks ago yesterday! We are very much enjoying it here. Life is very calm compared to our time in the Dominican Republic. But then our classes haven't started yet.
We've had four days of orientation that we have enjoyed very much.
Other than the basics about school and classes, we've had interviews with various members of the staff so they can get to know us more personally...we're not just a student at their school. There have also been sessions on security, cultural awareness, if you're going to have a maid, and sexual and moral purity among others. The last one covered an entire morning and was very well done. Both joint session and small groups with married men, married women, single men and single ladies. pitfalls, warning signs, cultural, etc. The #2 reason missionaries leave the field is because of sexual immorality! Alot to think and pray about.
We have discovered that the school is very concerned that we do well with learning Spanish, but they are very concerned also that we *succeed* in other areas as well...both here and in our host country. The cultural training was very informative. First there was a skit done by the staff....funny and yet...! Then they had a panel of four Costa Ricans that are not teachers but have been involved with the school. One of the questions asked was "What do we do that you think is the most offensive?" Three answers given "That is not how we do it in the States"
and "We're Americans." --as if they aren't. Yes, they are from Costa Rica, but it is still part of the Americas...we are not the only ones who can call ourselves Americans. Third one was not to tell a native what is wrong with his country or make fun of his country. They may make fun or complain about their country, but it is their country...for us to complain or make fun of it is offensive. Sort of like, when you're little..you may call your brother all sorts of names and think nothing of it, but let someone else call him a name and you're ready to defend your brother to the death! Bob and I know we've been guilty of that in the DR, so we want to be much more careful of that.
Saturday we walked to the farmer's market with John and Katie, newlyweds (3 weeks) that live in our 3rd apartment (Tim and Evelyn in the 1st). After getting our fresh items, including homebaked corn bread for us! We walked to a restaurant and had breakfast...yummy! We will definitely be returning. Bob and I each ordered toast, as we weren't very hungry. Oh my! 8 slices per order of what I think was an egg bread..slices about the size of an English muffin, toasted with butter melted in....we brought almost a whole order home to reheat and enjoy!
That afternoon Sheila, who with her husband Dick are the Student Life Cor-ordinators at the school, dropped off a sewing machine in a cabinet for me to use while here!!!! YES!!!! Okay, so it hadn't been used in atleast 10 years, was dry as a desert, and missing bobbins. I have a sewing machine to use. I walked to the nearby fabric shop bought 3 bobbins, two half yard pieces of fabric and 3 spools of thread for less than $3. But nobody including the hardware store or auto store had any type of oil for a sewing machine 3-in-1 would have been nice to find.
So Bob suggested I call a cab and go to Hypermas (owned by Walmart!). Never having ventured out alone in a cab I was a little nervous. But he called the cab, I had my written instructions for our address (no one here has a street address...it's all by direction and location to other bldgs or landmarks. Ours is San Franciso dos Rios de Lys (antigua Unisys) 100 sur y 50 oeste, mano derecho, palmera al frente. Our 100 sur y 50 oeste refers to a Burger King that is now closed!)
Anyway, cab arrives I get in and proudly state, Hypermas, por favor. and then I realize he is asking "which one?" uh???? All I know is I it is nearby and I don't want to go to the Guadalupe location. So he takes off, but the route is NOT what I am used to...now we're by old facotry bldgs, back roads, etc. getting a little nervous and increasing my prayer life! Turns out I got to go to a Hypermas that Bob's never been to! I went to the Sebastian location. Since then I found out there are a total of 4 locations! who knew? But I made it there, enjoyed my time out, got what I needed to clean, disassemble parts of the sewing machine, oil, etc, hailed a taxi at the front door and gave him the first part of our directions home. When it got closer I just handed him my handwritten directions (I wasn't taking any chances of saying it wrong!)
Tim and Evelyn arrived yesterday and after a very heavy rainstorm, we hailed a taxi and went to a restaurant, we could have walked but it was a little far for my ankles, which decided to act up yesterday and start aching. A total of two tables in this little restaurant...but the food!!!! huge plate of barbq chops, rice, black beans, salad, red cabbage with diced apples, broccoli and fresh mango nectar for $3!
I'm giving up cooking...restaurants are too inexpensive and they're all great cooks!
Better go...first day of classes start in 45 minutes. Please pray for us and write...would love to hear from YOU!

Our God is an awesome God!

"The words of the LORD are pure words
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."

It's Psalm 11:6 and part of what I'm reading this morning.

Yes, I already knew God's word was true, holy and to be trusted. But this verse just hit me with the picture of something being thrown into a fire and yet coming out perfect. Seven times!
To me, it's a reassurance ~not only of His purity~ but also of the strength and power of the LORD and of His Word!

"Our God is an awesome God,
He reigns from heaven on high,
with wisdom, power and might.
Our God is an awesome God."

Why do I not always remember this in times of struggle?

As time goes by....

While I love reading everyone else's blogs, I seem to be very lax in updating my own. Not even sure anyone is even checking in to this blog anymore. But on the rare possibility that someone is out there, I will update.

So much has happened since my last posting. I have left Virginia, Bob has come to the States, we have visited David & Lyndie, had a great time with Glen, been back to Virginia and gone camping with Shan and the kids, visited some churches, spent three days at the Great Darke County fair where I had 3 Bowman's tenderloins, 4 cotton candies, Friske's french fries with vinegar and watched the peewee pig showmanship, and arrived in Costa Rica!

Costa Rica is wonderful...once I got over jet lag and adjusted to the 2 hour time difference!
Our apartment here is half the size of what we have in the Dominican, but is very pleasant. Our living room, dining room and kitchen are contained in a 13 foot square. But is very comfortable. But we have wireless internet right in our apartment!

We are 1 block from the language school...we can walk there in less than 2 minutes. The church that we will be attending (another SCORE ministry) is up 1 block and over 1 block from our apartment in the opposite direction of the school. We went to prayer meeting there on Tuesday night. Also went out to the SCORE ministry villa last night for a Thanksgiving service for the end of their season. Beautiful place!

Weather here is so different than the Dominican. It's rained most of today, but it's basically a gengle rain, so it's very relaxing and soothing. Great weather for a cup of coffee and a good book. Wearing long sleeves is a treat we're not used to. However, I do need to remember to bring a jacket or sweater when we go out in the evening. Of course, the fact that there is no hot water tank and the hot water heater on the shower only lasts about 3 minutes, is going to take some getting used to. Washed my hair this morning in water that felt one step away from ice cube status.

Our landlords are wonderful. They picked us up at the airport. Of course, it would have been better if their van hadn't been broken. The wife and daughter came in a small car (about the size of Lyndie's) and had to call a relative to come and bring our luggage. But they took us to a small grocery store that same day, then Orlando, the husband, took us to a larger one yesterday. Saturday we are going to an open air farmer's market.

Orientation for language school starts next week and actual classes the week after that. It will be an interesting and challenging time. But I'm actually looking forward it!

will try to post more often.....but no promises

*rolling hills* and memories

Most of this week we have had heavy rain...not all day every day....but it was the general forecast for the week and it lived up to that forecast.
Yesterday about noon the sun finally came out to stay. The grandkids are back from their two week trip, so yesterday was my first full day with them again. Kept the day pretty low-key and let them re-adjust to being home.
Shan has off work today so after letting the kids sleep in and then running a couple of errands, we took the kids to a park to play and eat lunch. There is a small creek right where we were set-up with our blanket and goodies. I spent part of the time watching Stephan and Samuel playing on the edge of the creek building little dams and diverting the water. Their childish enjoyment of something as simple as water, rocks and mud was so enjoying and calming to watch.
The other night I went over to Liberty University for their 4th of July celebration (actually held on Sunday the 2nd, but that's okay) As I sat in the stands at the football stadium listening to the musicians perform, it was so pleasing to look around and watch families. On the opposite side of the stadium was a small hillside. Through out the evening I watched children rolling down the hill, getting up, running to the top and rolling down again. I sat there remembering what it was like to watch my own children doing that in years past when we lived in Indiana. Then the memory came back of my brother and I doing the same thing in front of my Grandma Jake's farmhouse in Wisconsin many years ago.
What fond memories....I took pictures today of the boys playing without them knowing it, as I didn't want posed pictures...I wanted the *real thing*. More memories to keep for future days!

We went...we drove...we conquored!

This weekend Shan and I got to take our own road trip! Just the two of us. Last weekend we decided that since we would have an entire weekend and she had off from work Thursday evening until 4pm on Sunday we should take a trip.
Our original plan was just to drive an hour or so to Charlottesville and browse antique stores. Well Shan came up with the idea of going to Washington DC, which turns out is only 4 hours from Lynchburg. My first reaction was a fear of driving in the nation's capitol. But we went to Barnes and Noble, read thru the tourist guides and devised our plan. We knew our time was limited and no way could we see it all, so there was no since in making ourselves and each other miserable even trying. We came up with a list of things we wanted to see and then proceeded from there.
That turned out to be quite easy! We both wanted to see Washington's National Cathedral and the Vietnam War Memorial. She wanted to visit the Holocaust Museum but I knew I would have great difficulty getting thru that without Bob with me. But I wanted to go to one part of the Smithsonian.
We got directions off mapquest, packed our bags, had our snacks and got up at 5:30AM on Friday. We were actually on the road by 6:30 and drove right to the National Cathedral without any difficulties. Parked on a side street and then spent almost 7 hours at the museum. Part of the time we were together, and alot of the time we each did our own thing. Ate our sandwiches outside on the lawn on a wooden table with a black squirrel providing entertainment. Turns out squirrels, or at least that one, don't like candied ginger!
My main reason for wanting to go to the museum was for the stained glass windows. Several of the windows were created by Lawrence Saint. He is the father of Nate Saint, who along with Jim Eliott and 3 other missionaries was killed in Ecuador in the 50's. I bought a book in the bookshop when we first got there that described the windows and gave their locations. I walked upstairs trying to get myself orientated. Sat down on a chair and looked up and right straight ahead was the circular window that Lawrence Saint created called "the Last Judment". To say it is beautiful doesn't even do it justice.
I was also able to buy a small pamphlet style biography of Lawrence Saint that was compiled and written by one of his granddaughters. What really impressed me was that Lawrence Saint had a very strong Christian testimony and devoted his life to creating beautiful Christian art; three of his 8 children were missionaries in foreign countries; his son, Nate, and daughter, Rachel, both died on the field; Nate's son, Steve, ("End of the Spear") has gone back and lived with the very natives who killed his father; Steve's children have both lived with and served the Waodani Indians. What a family legacy!
The ironic part of the whole thing...here is this beautiful cathedral, all these stained glass windows, many with Biblical themes, etc. and downstairs in the bookstore were books on mysticism, Buddhism, the Muslim faith, and all sorts of other 'isms';even a book called "The Spirituality of Wine". Not just a book or two, entire bookshelves and displays! But actual Christian books were very sparse.
The last 90 minutes we were there a rehearsal was taking place in the main part of the cathedral. I sat looking up at "the Last Judgment", listening to over 100 teens and an orchestra (with lots of string instruments) singing hymns like "It Is Well With My Soul", etc. i sat there listening to the music, glancing up at the window and reading several Psalms. What a very encouraging and blessed time!
Will write more later....

Busy days

Wow, realized I haven't written in quite a while....taking a 2 year old with me to the bookstore with wi-fi definitely curtails my ability to keep current. But I do get brief time to read the other blogs. Lyndie, she loves the pix you posted of you and Uncle D. Every day now we get to see "Unca D in da boat" She is fascinated with that one.
I copied David's las msg about the squirrel into my MSWord so that I could read it to the boys. Told them this morning that I would read to them all about Uncle D and his fight with a squirrel. Should have seen Samo's eyes light up. This should be good!
My days are busy, I am exhausted by 9PM...I have learned to appreciate once again watching the clock for children's bedtime. But we have also read "20,000 Leagues under the Sea" from the children's classic series (illustration on each page), (Boys sit i n tub together, while I sit on toilet and read it to them each evening) and are going to start either "Swiss Family Robinson" or "Journey to the center of the earth" tonight. Have been buying the $1.00 DVD's from Walmart that are each 2 hours of Popeye, Superman, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, etc cartoons....old cartoons. The boys love them! So for an hour in the evening they get their pillows, oh-oh's ("blankies" for the less-informed), small snacks and we enjoy them together.
Of course, last night I discovered that I need to check every ledge of the tub before putting Shiloh in to play for a few minutes. The door was open, I could hear her playing, I checked on her a couple of times....but there was that 5 minute interlude where she found the vaseline container stuck in one corner....they don't have childproof lids I discovered after the fact. Let's just say she won't have any dry skin for a while....from her forehead all the way to her cute little toes....not just smeared....but big globs. Her hair's a little greasy this morning I noticed, too. Guess it works as a conditioner, too.
I'm enjoying myself....but missing my hubby mucho, mucho, mucho. But life is good...
God is wonderful!

Ministry opportunity

I got a phone call this morning from a Diana Dimoff. She works for motion masters, which is a video production company. Erica Jude, who is a SCORE missionary in the Dominican with her husband, Nate, was employed with them before they arrived in the Dominican. Obviously, she is still doing some things with them, as she gave them my name. Erica wrote a script for a production on child abuse, and they want me in it.
Diana and her crew are coming to Lynchburg this Thursday to interview me. I have the script that they emailed me. My part is not an "acted" part, thank goodness. They want to know the early neglect, and then the part about being adopted and my family life. Shan's backyard is really pretty...a small wooded area just past the main yard. They will video either in Shan's backyard, or possibly in her living room. They're hoping I can have a grandchild with me, so Shiloh may appear in it also.
Please pray for clarity of thought, the right words, and a definite lack of nervousness.

...out of the mouth of babes...

For the past couple of weeks whenever I put Shiloh down for her nap or bedtime, I sing three songs to her....*Jesus loves me*, "The Love of God" (1st & 3rd verse---can never remember the 2nd one), and *Silent Night*. She gets in bed, fusses for about 3 seconds, then turns on her side, clasps her hands together as if praying, and just looks at me waiting for the songs.
Yesterday afternoon, Shan was laying on the bed. Shiloh crawled up next to her, but Shan and I were talking. Quietly, Shiloh started to sing....her own version of "Jesus loves me"
~~~Jesus loves me I know~~~
Those were the only words she sang...repeating them several times. What a blessing and an encouragement to hear these simple truthful words sung so softly.

coupons

haven't checked it out completely and don't have a printer handy, but this site looks interesting

coupon.com

let me know what you think

Land of Magnolias

...well they're not blooming yet, but they will be in June....
Saw a very unusual sign on a corner coffee/doughnut shop this morning.
** Owner broke his hip, help us buy him a new one. Buy Something**
Now that sounds like desperation to me...I'm just wondering~~how many cups of coffee or doughtnuts must they sell to clear enough for the owner's new hip. I just picture this poor man laying in a hospital bed wondering when he will have his new hip. Not trying to be uncaring, this one just hit me as a very funny sign.
I got to go to some garage sales this morning. What fun....Incase, you are wondering....no, they do NOT have garage sales in the Dominican. Dominicans are the untimate recyclers. But I was able this morning to get Stephan and Samuel some t-shirts like new for 50 cents each. And a copy of the book *Charlotte's Web* for a quarter. The boys love to read and to be read to. I LOVE garage sales!
This is the first I've gotten to go online without a squirmy 2 year old on my lap. Shiloh on my lap makes for some interesting typing/spelling. But thankfully, there is a bookstore less than 2 minutes from Shan's house that has free wi-fi! Thank you LORD! My tracphone will not allow me to call Bob in the Dominican. The phone would but Lynchburg is in a valley between the mts and is very particular about calling signals I guess....gggrrrrrr.....and Bob has not been able to connect to either my phone or Shan's. Which makes no sense because I could call Shan from my cell phone before I left. Crazy airwaves. Thank the LORD for email, laptops and wifi!

Hope everyone is well....it was great seeing some of you last Sunday.

In Ole Virginnny

Well I left out yesterday A.M.(on the road after stopping at gas station by 5:55). Had a very uneventful trip and arrived here at 2:30ish. Boy~~ an 8 hour trip in the States is nothing like a 5 minute trip in the Dominican....only saw one motorcycle the entire way! Everyone was in their respective lanes and going in the appropriate directions. Every single vehicle had all of its windows and doors. The most I saw in any vehicle was three people ...the record for what I've seen in the DR is 27 in a 15 passenger van along with all their groceries! Nobody had tied their horse to the side of the road. For that matter, there was not one single section of guardrail needing repair, missing or totally demolished. In the DR the roadcrews install guardrails and if people find them to be in their way, they just remove whatever sections are blocking their passage! The only cows I saw were in a pasture...I didn't share the road at any time with goats, chickens or roosters. Not one single vehicle was on the side of the road having one or two of its tires changed. And absolutely no one was riding on top of any of the truck loads...
Like I said my trip was very uneventful....
But I'm here and all is well.... thanks for your prayers!

Broadway Joe's

~~It is 9:45 Am Thursday and I am sitting at Broadway Joe's with a large cup of Highlander Grogg, doing the Wi-fi thing and hoping someone I know decides they would like a cup of coffee now too!

David and Lyndie are both at work, Bob is in the Dominican, and I don't have anyone's phone number, nor can I find a phone directory and I don't have a car...so my options are limited.

But if anyone gets this soon, and cares to join me I'll be here until about 11AM. Then over to the library, then maybe the Christian bookstore. We'll see how the ankles hold up : }
I LOVE being able to walk around safely and have cool places to stop in. and a coffee shop in the morning is delightful beyond words!

Spring time....

Our group left out on Saturday. What a blessing they were to us. The teens are always ready to serve, and are an encouragement to us in so many ways! We stood at the airport crying as they wound their way thru the Delta line. Seeing 26 people in a Dominican airport calling out *I love you* and some of them blowing kisses at us was truly a moment to be remembered~~
But now my days are changing again. We had our tickets purchased to come *home* in July for about 5 weeks before going to Costa Rica for language school thru December 18th. Well, thru changing circumstances I will be flying out tomorrow (Wednesday) into Dayton. I'll be at Grace on Sunday!!!! Then Monday I'm heading down to Lynchburg, where I will be staying with Shan and the kids. I'm going to be helping her by taking care of the kids at night while she works and getting them off to school in the morning (she gets home from work at 2:30AM!) It is a temporary thing, but it means I will be in the States again for about 10 weeks before Bob arrives July 12th.
I'm delighted to have this special time with my daughter and my grandchildren. Bob and I have been praying about this for over a month, and Shan would like for me to come.
Last year at this time I was at David and Lyndie's for 10 weeks recovering with my heels. I didn't know going into it how much I would miss Bob and being here in the Dominican. This time I know before I leave how hard it will be to be gone for so long. (Actually with the planned time in July and then language school, I will be gone from tomorrow thru December 18th, but at least Bob will be with me starting in July:)
As I said I am happy about being able to spend this time with Shan and to able to interact with Stephan, Samuel and Shiloh for an extended time period. But I would covet your prayers for all of us....you may not know all the details but the LORD does and He knows why you're asking....
So, hopefully, I'll see many of you this weekend sometime. David, I'll see you at the airport Wednesday night at 9 and you won't have to carry me up any stairs this year!!!