Thursday, December 31, 2009

It Is Puzzling To Me

Traditionally we have a card table out at Christmas time to work a puzzle. Glenn loves this family activity. This is a new puzzle we started just a few days ago and finished it this morning while visiting with Gary and Madison.
Madison was trying to figure out the sudoku puzzle, another Stewart family puzzle favorite.


~J

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Cinnamon Blitz





Wednesday morning Madison helped me make one of Gary's favorite Breakfast items, Cinnamon Blitzes. They are easy to make. I've been fixing this breakfast dish for the past several years to take the place of the Sour Cream Coffee cake that I made for so many years during the holidays. Here is the recipe...

Cinnamon Blitzes
2 loaves bread, thinly sliced (cut off crust)
2 pkgs of 8 oz. cream cheese
2 egg yokes
1/2 c sugar
1 cup of melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
2-3 teaspoon of cinnamon

Trim crust of bread. Combine cream cheese, egg yolks and sugar. Spread the mixture on the bread and roll up. Mix together melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Dip the rolled bread in the mixture and place in greased casserole dish or placed in greased foil for easier clean up. Cover. Cook in a 350 degree oven for 15 - 20 min. Delicious. Taste like a glorified sweet roll.

Happy New Years!!

~J

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

A Year In Review




Women of the Harvest Retreat ~ I enjoyed a 3 day retreat with 50 other North American missionary ladies at a resort. The time was refreshing, rejuvenating and encouraging. I was pampered with gifts, free time, pedicure, haircut, special seminars & counseling sessions, an early morning water aerobics class in the pool & excellent worship time.

Women of the Harvest is a great ministry. I recommend that if you know a missionary woman who serves overseas, this is a great resource site which offers "on-line" publications, missionary retreats and resources. Click on the link.

My sister, Sherrie, came for a 10 day visit with Flat Stanley. I'm thankful that Sherrie was able to experience my life here in Guatemala. Go to Sherrie's Snap Shot blog to read about her time with us in Guatemala.

A good friend, Virginia, from Bolivia, spent a few days with us in Guatemala on her way back to Bolivia. Thank you for the visit, Virginia.

My parents celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary in June. Happy Anniversary!


There are so many more activities that filled our life and ministry here in Guatemala during 2009. We have witnessed births, graduations, deaths, joys, disappointments and happiness. We have hosted countless missionaries and guests in our home and have served numerous meals. We count it an honor and privilege to live here in Guatemala and serve our God by serving our CAM Guatemala family and other missionaries with whom we minister.

We welcome 2010 with great anticipation to see what the Lord has in store for us.

~J

Monday, December 28, 2009

Mr. Tilley

Lucille and Gene Tilley pictured here with my parents.

Do you have any long time family friends, those types of friends who gave you gifts...such as birthday presents, graduation gifts, bridal showers, baby showers and then blessed your kids with kindness? These words describes Gene and Lucille Tilley. Let me reflect on the Tilleys.

My memories of the Tilley family is when we would go over to their house and he would cook out on the grill, or the times I would recite my Bible Memory Association Bible verses to Mrs. Tilley. Yes, she will always be "Mrs. Tilley" to me. I remember, I got to borrow one of her kid's dolls. It was quite a unique doll. It was a "sick doll" where you could put a sling on the arm, or cast on the leg with crutches or even dots to make chickenpox. It was one of my favorite dolls. For birthday celebrations, my mom would borrow 4 small tiered cake pans from Mrs. Tilley to create a "mini-wedding type" cake for my birthdays back when I was in elementary school.

The Tilleys gave us their old living room furniture when Glenn and I were first married 30 years ago. They also blessed us with their upright piano that we cared for during 1 furlough allowing the kids to play and take piano lessons.

And the Tilleys gave me bridal showers and baby showers too. They've always blessed our family with their prayers for our family over the years.

The day after Christmas we got word that Mr. Tilley died. He was 93 years and was married to Mrs. Tilley for 69 years. He served in WW2 and worked for many years for the Goodyear company (that has the blimp). That's how I knew what company he worked for. He was an avid Aggie! Gig ' em! Our prayers go out to Mrs. Tilley and her family. Mr. Tilley will be deeply missed. He blessed many lives as he has blessed the Marr family.

~J

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Each Christmas Eve at midnight, the city explodes here with a firework show that is spectacular.

~J

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Reminds Me Of My Girls

Several nights ago, we hosted the Scott family overnight. Baby M was getting her hair rolled up after her bath. Wow, this reminded me of when I use to roll up Karen and Ellen's hair. How did they sleep on their head at night with those curlers?

~J

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Burrrr, I'm Freezing

You know I'm not use to this weather. For the past few days we have had unseasonably cold weather here in Guatemala City. I know its not the blizzard that hit the DC, NYC and Philadelphia areas this past week. There is no snow. But it sure is cold.



52 doesn't seem too cold, but when you have


  • no heat in the house

  • cement walls

  • tile floors

  • a fire place that doesn't work

  • and a Texan gal that prefers warmer weather

Then 52 might seem more like 30 or 40 degrees. This morning the fog was pretty thick up here in the neighborhood. Normally, there is fog down below in the city, but it's drifting up to the higher elevations today.

Just like the song, Baby, its Cold Outside.

~J

Monday, December 21, 2009

This Little Piggy Went To Market

Three weeks ago, I tripped on the bottom steps and fell flat. My right big toe was swollen immediately & it was painful to walk on it. Since it was late at night, we decided not to go get the foot checked out. I had broken my other toe 15 years ago and there is basically nothing that can be done, except tape it up real good.

Two days later, the pain was so excruciating (I hope that is spelled correctly), that we did call the Doctor here in Guatemala and had my foot x-rayed.
It was not broken.
However, the x-ray machine was old. But at least it still works. My brother sells x-ray machines. I wonder if his machines look anything like this one?

Now, nearly 4 weeks since the incident, my toe is still aching. The Doctor said I should keep off my foot for 3 weeks and the pain should subside. It hasn't. I'm tired of taking Tylenol. Any suggestions?

~J

Friday, December 18, 2009

Mexican Train

How do you play the game? I was taught that if you had the double blank in your hand when a person went out, then you were charged with 50 points. I like the rule. I think it is a good strategy in playing the game. However, my friends disagree that it is a rule. What do you think?

When we have a lay-over in Dallas, we try to meet with our friends and play a round of Mexican Train Dominos.
Vickie, Charles, Helen, Delores, Barbara and Fred all say "House Rules" - meaning, whoseever house/home you play Mexican Train game in, then the hosts can call the shots. Well, I'm out of luck. I've invited the "players" to come to my home and play with Glenn and me in Guatemala. No dice!

~J

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Gail Got Carded!

Gail's creation.

My sweet friend, Gail, came over yesterday for a 9am meeting, however, I asked her to come on over after she dropped the kids off at school at 8am. An hour is not much time to create cards, but it was enough time to make these 4 cards. We both agree that working with your hands is so therapeutic, relaxing and refreshing. Come back again, Gail!

A work in process...

Go to my Etsy store to see some more cards.
~J

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Artist at Work

All along the Arch street in Antigua, you can find artists painting away. Antigua is a paradise for watercolor and chalk artists.
Carol, when you come to visit us in April down here, I want you to bring your watercolors and I promise that I'll make sure you will have an afternoon to do your magic. You will enjoy the atmosphere and subjects to paint.

~J

Monday, December 14, 2009

Buying Off the Street

It can't get better than this. This artist was excellent! We were with David who wanted to buy a local painting. But there are so many good choices. Which one?
~J

Friday, December 11, 2009

Huevos Rancheros y Lomito

When in Rome, do as the Romans do...so while in Mexico, we had time before our flight to eat some comida Mexicana, Glenn had Lomito en Salsa Mexicana.
The pottery that we had our meal on was very similar to the pottery in the region where Glenn lived and grew up, the Mazahua area, just Northwest of Mexico City. The food was pretty delicious! Muy sabroso!! Olé!!!

~J

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Snapshots of Mexico

As we traveled through Mexico, it brought back childhood memories for Glenn. Remember, he was born and raised in Mexico. As we traveled between Mexico City and Vera Cruz, Glenn remembered his 1976 Bicycle trip with Ben B. and the uphill battle to the pass and then the downhill ride where he got up to 65 miles per hour. Now that is the way I would want to travel.

Orbizaba, is the tallest mountain in the western hemisphere outside of Mt. Mckinley in Alaska. What a beautiful view!
Glenn's favorite childhood restaurant

~J

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Our First 2009 Christmas Card



Today we received our first Christmas 2009 card in the Guatemalan mail system. Normally it takes from anywhere between 7 - 14 days to get our mail here in the city. Back in October, we got a card that took 6 weeks to get to us! However, usually it's around 10 days for mail from the USA to get here.

I enjoy this time of season when we hear from friends, receive family photos, newsletters and changes of address notices. For us, the time of receiving cards will last way into the month of January. This just makes Christmas last longer!

Feel free to send us your latest family photo and update. We love staying in touch. Try sending us an electronic post card.

~J
PS Thanks to Wildwood Church for the card!



Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Bolivian Friends

Aaron, Diego and Natalie (Evaul) S.
Aaron and Diego
Beth, Chalo and grandson, Diego

~J