Ruinas De Iximché

Boy and girl near the Iximché ruins

The Sandwich Years

They call it the  

Sandwich years.

I can tell you that we are a living example of the "sandwich years".  On one side we are experiencing new birth, new life, new beginnings as we are blessed with our new, little grandson David.

And on the other side, we are experiencing moments with my parents, known to so many as GrandMommy and GrandDaddy, as we watch them experience the changes that necessarily come with older age, known in Latin America as the "tercera edad".  Recently we have noticed that GrandMommy is having difficulty with her memory.  Although the doctors have not given her condition a name, they have prescribed some medication.  

Mom and Dad still hold hands while walking into church.  They continue to be a blessing to many many people.

We love GrandMommy!

I cherish the moments I have with my parents.  I value their wisdom and example that they have shared with us kids for so many years.

Do pray for Glenn and me as we balance our ministry and life with our adult children and now as we seek to be more available to my parents in more tangible ways. (as needed)

We are right smack
in the middle
of a
sandwich...

~Judy

My Favorite Home-Cooked Meal

What's my favorite meals my mom prepares?

This was BREAKFAST....

Biscuits and Gravy - doesn't get any better than this!

 

D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S

And Supper

 was all vegetables

purple hull peas

new potatoes

fried okra

purple onions

slices of tomatoes

hot cornbread

and 

cantaloupe*

mmm, mmm ,mmm, mmm, mmmmmmm 

When I get hungry for home-cooked meals by my mother, I just go to these recent photos and my mouth begins to water.

*(of course with salt and pepper)

Does anybody else like only vegetables for a meal?

~J

4 Countries in 18 hours

Just show my adventurous spirit, we followed through with a decision to take the bus from Managua, Nicaragua back home to Guatemala City, Guatemala.

The bus left at 3am and arrived on the east side of Guatemala City at 9pm that night.
18 hours.
Yes, we are crazy.

But we have done worse things. How about the 36 hours from Arica, Chile down through the Atacama desert to Santiago, Chile, in 1994 with the Orcutts and Boerckels. Or, how about the 48 hour bus ride from Corumbá, Brazil to San Paulo, Brazil back in 1988 as a family?

We were in

Nicaragua

Honduras

El Salvador

and then Guatemala

 The best part of the 18 hour trip, was the last 4 hours from El Salvador into Guatemala where the bus had free WiFi. I turned on my GPS and could see the road map, and we also made several Skype calls to friends.

We prayed for uneventful travels and border crossings and we were blessed by both and the added bonus of traveling on the front row of the double-decker bus.  Thank you Lord.


~J

Future Dallas Cowboys Player

While visiting little David, we couldn't resist lavishing some Dallas Cowboys items on him to remind him of
"America's team".

 

I love the Dallas Cowboy pacifier!


Sunday night football against the New York Jets, the Cowboys were not looking too good.  David's first NFL game was a disappointment! 

~J
(aka Grammie)

In My Seat

Yesterday, September 11, we did not have the TV on. We did not see any of the video footage.

However, late last night, I came across this you tube video. I cried.  It is a little long, but worth the watch.

I was aware of the 10 anniversary of that riveting day. I remember that day so well, as I watched in honor on TV as the planes flew into the World Trade Towers and then the buildings tumbling down. I was glued to the TV for several days grieving the loss of life, the uncertainty of the future and the realization that life was going to be different from now on.

~J

Happy Grandparents Day - that is us!

We couldn't resist the option of taking a short trip back to Nicaragua to see 2 month old little David.  Yes, he has us wrapped around his little finger.

We attended his 2 month Well-Check up.

David weighed in at 10 1/2 pounds

Ellen, Leo and little David

 the Rosenberger family

little David wearing his patriotic outfit on 9-11

~J

(Grammie)

Facebook Official

I learned a new phrase, "Facebook Official".

As soon as the word was spreading that Gary had proposed to Madison, a few friends commented on their FB walls.  This is where I learned,

"You are not officially engaged, until you have posted it on FB":)

Gary connected his computer to his TV monitor.  Then both Gary and Madison changed their "status" to "engaged".  It was fun to start seeing the comments posted on their FaceBook walls, as friends and relatives congratulated them.

Congratulations to Madison and Gary

Welcome to the Stewart family

~J

Engagement Day

 Saturday, September 3, our son Gary proposed to Madison.

 Gary drove Madison 6 miles to the Natural Springs State Park in Oklahoma just to the West of Siloam Springs, Arkansas.  They walked down to the waterfall.  There he proposed to Madison.

 As Madison said, "Yes", Gary placed the ring on her finger.  This ring was Gary's Great - Grandmother Gamble's engagement ring.  It might even be older than that.  I wore it for 32 years and feel honored that Gary wanted to pass on this family heirloom to have Madison wear it.  Sweet.

Then, as Gary and Madison walked back to the car, the family popped out of the woods.  We relived the moments together.

The day was a day of Celebration.  We enjoyed Chinese food, had a fun afternoon and an evening together as we had pizza for supper and watched Enchanted at Gary's apartment, joined by some of their close friends.

~J