Kathy S

Kathy is one of those friends that will be my friend for Life.  I first met her 8 years ago while working in Dallas.  And I have been fortunate to connect with her several times since then.

There are months when life gets busy and we hardly talk to each other on the phone, and then there are other times when we visit frequently.  Such is our friendship ~ in the ebb and flow, Kathy is always there.  We pick up just where we left off last time.

With a quick trip up to visit Kathy, I also enjoyed some of the most gorgeous sites in the Canadian Rockies.  

• Lake Louise {picnic lunch in the rain}
• Moraine Lake {gentle walk}
• Banff (shopping}
• Banff Springs Hotel {used the restroom}
• Gondola ride {got a second round trip ride ~ at the end of the day} My motto worked "You don't know if you don't ask"

 The Canadian Rocky Mountains were spectacular.

The camera does not do the mountains justice.

Thank you Kathy for your friendship over the years.  I wonder where I'll visit you next year?  (Kathy moves EVERY single Year!)

~J

{photo 1 and 2 courtesy of Kathy S}

Blast From the Past

Janis, Bill, Rachel and Baby Riley

I had a delightful lunch with longtime GPBC friend, Janis and her daughter.  Bill joined in on the fun.  Riley was a great baby, except when I wanted to take his photo.  We laughed and laughed revisiting memories of White Water Days with our kids (that are now adults having babies), baby sitting co-ops, Ladies Bible Study, Dinner 6 and other activities that we did together as young families.  Now our kids are growing up, making their own families, and do you know what Janis and I talked about also?  Modern Technology.  She showed me how to "text" on the phone, we talked about how FB has really helped us stay connected with long time friends and how we love being just a phone call away from our children.

Susan and Eric

We made a quick trip down to Tyler to see Susan and Eric.  Eric and I were in the same youth group together at NBC "back in the day".  Our paths don't cross too regularly, but it was an honor to visit with them and exchange experiences and pray for each other.

~J

1975 - 2010 Thirty Five Years Later

Saturday night, Glenn and I attended my 35th HS reunion. What fun to reconnect with old friends from grade school, Junior High and High School.

Lake Highlands High School - Class of 1975

(photo courtesy of Jeannie O)

Some people just don't change!  Lisa H.

Donna was one of my bride's maids 30+ years ago.

~J

My Nieces' Trip To Guatemala

For the past 17 days we had the incredible opportunity to host our 2 nieces, Haley and Molly.  How do you summarize their experiences, the foods they ate, the movies they saw or even the new friends they met?  You just can't, however, I will list a few things the girls were able to experience.

• being picked up by the Cokers at GUA airport upon arriving, because Glenn was on an emergency trip to the hospital with another CAM family
• 2 days with Orphan Outreach in Quetzaltenango (Xela)
• 2 days with Coker's team helping with Soccer camp
• 1 day helping with eye clinic with Kevin and Shari C. in Santiago
• Going to the airport several times to drop off and/or pick people up
• Networking to hand mail to different people
• Zip-lining
• making new friends such as Josh, Vivi and Tim along with team members
• 3 days on the beautiful shores of Lake Atitlán
• watching the World Cup in Spanish at different restaurants
• going to see Toy Story 3 with Spanish subtitles
• sitting in traffic in Guatemala city
• Seeing mudslides along CA-1
• following crazy "chicken bus" drivers on CA-1
• Walking through the mall
• Typing lessons
• Learning that if you look the little kid (sales people) in the eyes, they follow you up and down the main street in Panajachel, until you buy a pen, ring or scarf from them
• Eating at Pollo Campero (favorite Guatemalan restaurant), Pizza Hut, Media Cancha (famous Argentine restaurant), Sunset Café, Casa Del Mundo, Pops Ice Cream, TGIFridays, Chili's, Mono Loco, and McDonald's
• Go-Karting
• Walking up to the famous "sink hole" in Guatemala City
• Attending church service in Spanish and in English
• Realizing that plans change all the time
• FB lessons and Blogging lessons
• Sitting in on a lecture about Roman Catholics by a CAM missionary
• Seeing piles and piles of ash from the recent Volcano explosion
• evening Bible study discussion over the book of Jonah
• Shadowing our everyday experiences as Member Care givers in Guatemala

And the list could go on and on.  

Thank you for those of you who prayed for the girls and for those who gave to offset their expenses.  The girls have experienced things that many others will not have the opportunity.  Come back and visit us!

Have a great rest of the summer, girls.  We love you and appreciate your willingness to be flexible, "go with the flow", sit and enjoy long dinner conversations, learn to type, make new friends and experience life in a different culture.  Remember to trust God for your future, to seek advice from your parents and to always go through life with a grateful spirit.  Y'all are great.

~J

Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro, Sink Hole {Cinco}

Guatemala Sink Hole*

Zone 2

It was incredible to see the Sink Hole in person!

 I was just proud of the fact that we found the sink hole.
The sink hole is near the Relief Map, just off the Jalapa highway heading out of town.

There were police blocking off the street, however Glenn asked permission to walk up to the barricade.

~J
*photo courtesy of Novi7

Soccer Camp {part 2}

Waiting for the Soccer Camp to begin

Is this a goal or was she blocking it?

We are appreciative of the Alabama team to allow Haley and Molly to help out with the soccer camp.  This was right up their alley!  Thanks.
{photos courtesy of Tim B} 

~J

Soccer Clinic {part 1}

During our few days at Las Buenas Nuevas in Panajachel, the girls connected up with a Soccer Clinic from Alabama.  

Each morning they piled into the Johnny's pick-up truck. 

As we reflected with Haley and Molly before they returned home to Texas, they mentioned that the Soccer clinic was one of the best highlights of their mission trip.

 This little Kachiquel girl thought nothing of playing soccer in her native outfit.

Part of the soccer clinic exercise.
{photos courtesy of Tim B}
More photos tomorrow
~J

Watching the World Cup

The first game of the day starts here at 5:30am, then 8:00am and finally 12:30pm.  We've been kinda planning our schedule around the games.  Wouldn't you?  Most restaurants have flat screen Televisions hanging on the walls so they can project every single World Cup game.

We've gone to Chili's to watch the game.

And we've gone to Monoloco (Crazy Monkey) in Antigua to watch the game.

Go Mexico!

~J

Cables X-Tremos (Zip-Lining)

Haley and Molly took the plunge.  They climbed up the San Buenaventura valley just outside of Panajachel and zip-lined at the nature reserve park.  I'm so proud of them.

The view - can't get better than this

Orphan Outreach #3

 Meet Carla.  Super cute little gal.  Deaf.  Couldn't hear a word.  Hanna was coloring with her and she wanted so badly to communicate with Hanna and tell her what she wanted Hanna to draw for her.

However, we could sign the words

I Love You!

Then all of a sudden, she slid out of her lap, and went back behind the crowded table over to another coloring table.  She pulled the paper out of the little boys' hands and pointed to the airplane.

Hanna gave a thumbs up as the little girl scurried over to another table

pointing to an American Futbol.

She was definitely the life of the party. 

~J