Sunday, November 25, 2007

Ox Cart Parade




This is a really big deal in Costa Rica. They have the most ornate and beautifully painted ox carts. There were over 200 ox carts in the parade along with traditional dancers and bands and may poles. They also had these tall statue things with people inside of them. They would dance and twirl and their arms would fly around it was hilarious!

16 years WOW


Are we really old enough to be married for 16 years??? My sweet husband found away to continue a tradition. He always sends me roses for the number of years we have been married and one more for the next year - so yes this is 17 roses!! They have beautiful flowers in Costa Rica.

Robleato Children's Home Christmas Party



Every year the students of our school throw a Christmas party for the children of a local children's home. This is kind of like a foster home in the states. The hope is for the children to be reunited with their families. We went and visited Roblealto about a month ago. It is up in the mountains. Their are 9 homes and each home has about 10 children and house parents. Their is a school on site as well. We had lunch with them and they loved our kids. They couldn't keep their hands off Jesse's blonde hair, I can't blame them!! Their was one little boy that really stuck with us and talked to us a lot his name was Diego. I got to see him at the party and he ran over and gave me a big hug and kiss. Their was also another little boy that stole my heart he came up to me and a friend of mine and wanted to give us some of his candy that he had won. Of course we said No, but he really wanted to share with us, kind of his way of saying Thank You. We both had to hold back the tears, to see someone with nothing want to share the little they have. This is a picture of him getting his present. We had the gym set up like a carnival and they all got to go around and play different games and they got their face painted, ate supper, we had 4 pinatas and then the big finale was getting their presents. Every student picked a child to buy a gift for.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Our Thanksgiving

It was so wonderful to spend Thanksgiving with our Missionary Friends. It wasn't home and with family, but it was nice to be in a full house and simi home cooking. We all tried to cook like our Moms and Grandma's and we did a pretty good job with our Costa Rican ingredients. One of our friends put together this video. I hope you enjoy seeing a bit our our Thanksgiving.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Living an “upbeat life”!

Living an “upbeat life”!

Sunday as we worshiped in our church I had difficulty keeping the beat because Ticos (Costa Ricans) clap on the upbeat rather than the downbeat. The thought has occurred to me that Ticos are “upbeat” about most things. For instance, most cultures have some form of traditional greeting. Americans say “good morning” or “good afternoon” which is usually shortened to simply “morning” or “afternoon”. Ticos similarly say “buenos dias” or “buenas tardes” which are shortened to simply “buenas” which translated means “good”. As Americans we are most concerned with the transfer of information (time of day), but Ticos are more concerned that you enjoy what day you have and therefore wish you “good”!

I have always been a “glass half full” kind of guy in public with a secret foreboding of the void in my glass! Everyday I need Jesus to help me look beyond the “facts”, the flow of information is not what counts. IS LIFE GOOD? That’s what counts! Are my children joyful and growing in their relationship with us and the Lord? Are Gwyn and I joyful and growing in our relationship with our children, each other and the Lord? (Notice I did not say happy, because that is a fleeting emotion and not a valid goal for our lives.)

The matter of greatest importance in life is not the level of the water in the glass, but rather that you drink in what you have been given and enjoy it to the last drop! Life Is Good!