Glenn's 60th Birthday

On Sunday Glenn celebrated his 60th birthday.  I absolutely had nothing planned special for him.  He knew that.  However, we made it special anyway.

We decided to drive 45 minutes away to the Santa Domingo Hotel in Antigua and have a leisurely breakfast at the Sunday Buffet.  We had never been there for breakfast before.  Wow!  It was delicious.  We sat at the table and slowly worked through specialty omelets and crepes made to order, fruit of all kinds, café con leche, etc., all of which were delicious. This turned out to be our brunch.

We sat at the table watching the FaceBook Birthday greetings.  Our children had a special 'posting' of 60 things that they are thankful for about their dad.  

Read their post here or read below.

Words cannot adequately describe what a great husband, father, friend, servant, and leader you are. Here is our attempt (your kids and their spouses) to appreciate and honor you on your special day.
 

1. I have such fun memories of staying up late playing Rook in Samaipata. - Ellen

2. I like how you make Pirate’s Eyes quite delicious. - Karen

3. The time you taught me to ride a bike. - Gary

4. The times you’ve visited us in Nicaragua on my birthday and bought Pops Ice Cream. - Luke

5. I like watching “Spies Like Us” with you.  - Thomas

6. The time you took us out to eat when visiting KC. - Gary and Madison

7. I like how you would frequently pick me up from Iglesia Bautista Biblia Abierta when I was heavily involved with the Deaf ministry. - Karen

8. I loved when you would take me to McDonald’s for breakfast or to a donut shop on the way to school when I was in 2nd grade. - Ellen

9. The time we worked on my scooter I had for a bit. - Gary

10. Talking football with you and watching games on TV together. - Luke

11. I love how much you love Judy and will do anything for her.  - Thomas

12. I loved going to make airport runs with you in Bolivia. - Karen

13. The time you bought us a gift card to a restaurant for our anniversary. - Gary and Madison

14. I love hearing stories about growing up in Mexico or your days at Moody. - Ellen

15. I like how you crossed yourself whenever the Trinity was invoked at an Orthodox church service.  - Thomas

16. The times you took me to go flying in the Cessna. - Gary

17. The time you drove a group of us up to Volcán Pacaya. - Luke

18. I blame you for my addiction to Wendy’s Frostys. I agree, chocolate is the only flavor it should come in! - Karen

19. The time you taught me to curve a soccer ball. - Gary

20. I like riding bikes in Colorado with you.  - Thomas

21. I always think of you when I watch movies involving lots of stunts/action of cars and planes. I think “If Dad was watching this he would tell me exactly why this situation is scientifically, aerodynamically (or whatever) completely unrealistic.” - Ellen

22. The time you took me to the river to go 4-wheeling. - Gary

23. I like how you take Snickers out to go potty when you come to visit. - Karen

24. Always saving the little "free" stuff hotels provide. - Luke

25. The time you fell down the stairs at the Blakely’s house. - Gary and Madison

26. The cruise was the best vacation we’ve ever been on. I’m so glad you convinced Judy to go. Fun times!  - Thomas

27. The time you allowed me to drive the Toyota truck and I got it stuck in the sand. - Gary

28. The time we played chess on a life size chess board in Guatemala. - Luke

29. The time you rescued me when my clutch gave out. - Gary

30. I loved traveling with you to Guatemala for Christmas of ’14. Such a fun time! You made me a giraffe out of cardboard tubes left over from wrapping paper. - Karen

31.That time when I was in first grade and you super-glued my lunch box back together after I had dropped it while riding on your motorcycle with you. - Ellen

32. The times you took me to the junk yards to pull parts for cars. - Gary

33. The time we waited out the rain at the gas station while on motorcycles in Nicaragua. - Luke

34. I love the sound of your breathing machine that lulls me to sleep at night.  zzzzzz  - Thomas

35. The time you rescued me from the roof of the 3rd house. - Gary

36. I loved that you and mom came to Dallas for our marriage ceremony on November 13th …and the dinner afterwards. Very special. - Karen

37. You can always rig up something in any situation. - Ellen

38. The time we rented mopeds in Honduras. - Luke

39. The time we fixed up a car with cardboard and duct tape. - Gary

40. The time we drove to Houston at 2 am to deliver a bed in Granddaddy’s pickup. - Gary

41. I like how you drove us to various Orthodox churches in Colorado.  - Thomas

42. I loved having you get me saltenas as a treat during mid-morning. - Karen

43. The times you taught me all about cars. - Gary

44. I remember helping you at the SAM base during the summer of ’98. I would answer phones, make copies, and pay solitaire. It granted me such secretarial organizational skills I carry on into the present life. - Karen

45.The time we had to stay at the Base several days because our road was too flooded for our truck to make it back home. - Ellen

46. The times we use to play soccer on the xbox. - Gary

47. I liked creating Karen’s Kitchen and making everything out of potatoes because that’s all that we had. ‘This Spuds for you” was an item. - Karen

48. I’m so glad you taught me to play guitar and that we share a love for music. - Ellen

49. The time you painted the H on the Passport for me. - Gary

50. Always looking for ways to fix up stuff in our house or car. - Luke

51. I like helping you make Judy happy with doing the letterboxing and following clues.  - Thomas

52. The infamous chairs you attached on top of our truck. - Ellen

53.The time you haggled the price down of the repair for the 4-wheeler. - Gary

54. I loved that you and mom drove all over Guatemala trying to find me that Orthodox orphanage. 

We finally found it! Maybe next time I’ll go in and visit. - Karen

55.  The time we camped out in the tree house at SAM base. - Gary

56. I like how you make changes in your own schedule to accommodate our need for church. - Thomas

57.  If there is a way to find a pun in a situation, you usually say it. - Luke  

58. The time you allowed me to take the Cessna simulator home to play with. - Gary

59. I loved that you took me to the Orthodox church in Guatemala City on Christmas day. - Karen

60. I’m so thankful for how patient you were with me in middle school when I was in tears over math. - Ellen

WE LOVE YOU, DAD!  Happy 60th Birthday!

Thank you Ellen and Luke for putting this together for Dad.  

Thank you Karen, Thomas, Gary and Madison for being a part of this beautiful message of love for Dad. 

We laughed, we cried, and smiled as we read how you are thankful for your Dad. 

 Happy Birthday, Glenn.

Casita Benjamín Project

This past week we had visitors from our sending church, GPBC, visit us here in Guatemala.  Sandra and her now 16 year old daughter were a part of a team from there 3 years ago {read more: Day 1 and Day 2 and Day 3.} This time they returned for a quick 3 day visit to bring items for Casita Benjamín, play with the kids and install some brand new home made curtains in the nursery and smallest children's rooms.

BEFORE

AFTER

After installing the colorful new curtains, Sandra and Megan played with and loved on the children at Casita Benjamín.

 {Photos courtesy of Sandra and Megan H}

Of course we had to stop and get some of the world famous Pop's ice-cream.

We spent a few hours doing some shopping, visiting the sites in Antigua and having dinner at Cerro San Cristobal.

{photo courtesy of Megan H}

Thank you Sandra and Megan for making this quick 3 day trip.  You have blessed us by your interest and visit as well as had an impact on the ministry here in Guatemala.  

Thank you for blessing the children at Casita Benjamín.  Thanks too for bringing down the box of Velveeta Cheese, jars of peanut butter and pair of gloves.  We look forward to a return visit soon.

A Labor of Love

Yesterday was Ellen's 33rd birthday.  I started reflecting on what happened 33 years ago.  So, I sent Ellen a long email describing the delivery and some memories I had.  Ellen called me later in the day and expressed her appreciation to me for sharing those special events with her.  She made observations about visiting hours in the hospital and the choices of names we went through.  She encouraged me to share them on my blog.  Enjoy.

Dear Ellen,

It is 7:41am Dallas time.  33 years ago RIGHT NOW, you were born.  July 24, 1982.  Saturday.  An EVEN NUMBER! 

I remember the night so very clearly.  Your due date was July 19.  It was a hot summer.  We were living at 434 Hawthorne in Grand Prairie (grandma and grandpa's house). I was wearing my favorite RED maturity dress that I wore during your pregnancy and Karen's pregnancy.   {Editor's note: Left a sentence out here per Ellen's request.}   At 10pm the labor pains began. Dad was very deliberate in writing down the times and how long the contractions were. 
 

At about 1:30am, we got into my white '78 Mustang and drove towards downtown Dallas and to Baylor Hospital.  I remember having to wait a long time for Dad to register me into the hospital system.  They checked my vitals and started monitoring me.

The nurses called Dr. Bristow and told him my progress.  I thought for sure he would head to the hospital immediately, however, he only showed up about 20 minutes before you were delivered.

The hospital room was very plain looking, nothing like they are today.  I remember asking for something to drink, specifically a 7-11 Slurpee.  But all I could have was just some small ice cubes to suck on.  I wanted a Slurpee.  (Side note: Immediately after the delivery and once I got settled into my hospital room, Dad dashed down to the local 7-11 store to purchase a Coke Slurpee).

We called Grandmommy and GrandDaddy and they arrived at the hospital around 4:00am.  You know them, they wanted to be in on the fun.

The delivery went normal.  The nurses wheeled me into the delivery room just after 7am in the morning and you were born at 7:41am.  We heard a sweet cry and they announced "Its a girl".

I had tears of joy.  I was crying hard.  Deep down in my heart, I really wanted a little girl and I got it.  We picked the name Ellen Kay.  Kay for after my middle name.  And Ellen, just because we liked it.   We had gone back and forth between the name Leslie and Emily too.   Dad didn't like the name Leslie, because he had a boss (man) named Les or Leslie.  And we didn't chose Emily because there was 6month old at GPBC with that name.  There was a young person in the NBC youth-group, Ellen F. with the name "Ellen" and I thought to myself at the age 16 "That is a beautiful name, I need to remember it when I start naming my babies."

Soon after the delivery and checking all your vitals, the doctors and nurses noted that you were having trouble breathing. Evidently you swallowed too much amniotic fluid during birth.   You were placed in the NICU/neonatal intensive-care unit.  

It was customary in those days for new mothers and their infant to stay in the hospital for 3 nights.  So, we were allowed to stay 'til Wednesday morning.  However, since you were in the NICU, you needed to stay one extra night.  The administration said I could go home on Wednesday morning and return on Thursday to pick you up.  We decided to stay an extra night so I could be with you longer and leave at the same time you were discharged.  I didn't mind staying in the hospital an extra night, because I knew after this, my life was changing forever, having a sweet little girl in my arms.

The nurses that attended to me were very nice.  One specifically reminded me of the Lady Doctor that was in Father of the Bride 2.  My friend, Carol K. from Moody was a current nurse working at Baylor (her husband was a Dallas Theological Seminary student) and she visited me in the hospital. Also Dr John and Martha Binion visited.

I wasn't able to start nursing you right away because of you being in the NICU, but after 2 days of you sleeping under the oxygen tent, you were wheeled into the normal baby nursery.  I remember walking down the hall in the long coral color night gown and robe and looking through the glass into the baby nursery.  You were by far the most beautiful baby.  You were a beautiful baby.  Nice color skin.  Hair, not too much.  You looked beautiful in the color blue too.

The nurses would wheel you into my hospital room 2 or 3 times a day. You caught on to nursing right away.  Interesting fact, during those days, the infants were not in the room when the visitors were there.

Grandmommy and GrandDaddy stayed most of the day at the hospital.  Aunt B and her sister, Nancy came to see me.  Don and Janie Reeves were there too.  I'm sure there were others. Visiting hours were from 1 - 2pm and from 7-8 pm.  Very strict hours.  You had to be over the age 12 to come up the elevators and see the new moms.   We got lots of flowers and gifts.  GPBC had given us a Baby Shower several weeks before at Dick and Shirley Perkin's house.  We got a stroller, Car seat and Infant carrier.  

When we left the hospital 4 days later, I had you wear a baby pink dress that I wore when I was an infant.  I think I gave you that dress before Emily was born.  Pink smock dress.

So that is YOUR birth story.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Ellen!
 

Love, Mom

Our Mail Sometimes Takes Longer Than Expected

Letter written September 2009 - finally arrives at my parents house July 2015

I write weekly letters to my mom.  I've done this for 30 years.  She used to write to me once a week when we lived in Bolivia.  Because of age and memory, she doesn't write any more.

I routinely will hand my US stamped envelope letter to a team member, visitor or missionary that is traveling to the states.  I jokingly say "just mail it before Christmas".  Normally we expect those traveling to mail our stack of letters within a few days upon arriving in the states.  There have been times when we have traveled to the states and we have those letters in the US post office by 3pm that afternoon.

However, in this case, my dad received a letter that I had written and given to someone traveling up to the states in September, 2009.  Dad was surprised to receive this letter in July, 2015.  Our only thinking is that the letter was stuck in the outside pocked of a piece of luggage and then just recently, the letter was discovered.  Thankfully it was mailed.  It was just a newsy family note of what was happening (at that time:) in our lives in Guatemala.

Letterbox Adventures

During the month of June, Glenn and I spent some time traveling/visiting, attending a family reunion, and taking a week of vacation in Colorado.  If you know me, I love to travel.  I love to travel with a purpose.  And then when you throw in the art of Letter-boxing (scavenger hunt), you are in for some fun times.

Click here to read about previous letter-boxing adventures.

This summer we ran across 15 different letterboxes ranging from one located in a Half-Price Book store, to cemeteries, road side parks, city parks, parking lots and even off-the-beaten-path ponds.

One was located inside a Half Price Book Store.

Letter-boxing with Jeff and Kathy on their quick 3 hour layover at DFW.

We found a Letterbox with Gary and Madison at the Union Station in Kansas City.

2 Letterboxes on our way to Colorado.

A letterbox inside the Holly Berry House, a stamping and needlepoint store in Old Colorado City.  Right up my alley.

3 letterboxes in the parking lot of an industrial building in Colorado Springs.  We found all 3, but in one of the containers, the stamp was missing.

We found a letterbox in a quaint Cemetery on our way up to Pikes Peak.

Another one was located along I70 near Idaho Springs, Colorado.

Then I introduced the art of Letter-boxing to Barbara and her grand-daughter, Samantha.  I purchased a stamp, a log book, an ink pad for each of them and gave them a small Guatemalan pouch to keep their new treasures in.

This letter box was right in Frisco, Colorado, in the main park.  We had been by it a bunch of times, and hadn't even known that a letterbox was hidden there.

Samantha found this one in another cemetery outside of Breckenridge.

And finally, Captain Russell helped us find this letterbox at Vail Pass.  Glenn and I were here last year and couldn't find it.  We were not reading the clues correctly.  Thanks, Captain for your help.

I like this stamp with the title, "Wheels on the Trail", which really depicts what we like to do in Colorado - ride the bike trails.

A Big shout OUT 

 to Glenn who will climb over bushes, walk through cemeteries, get chiggers while searching for a letterbox near Reba McEntire's mother's farm in Oklahoma, reach behind large rocks in search of these letterboxes while I will often sit in the comfort of the van.  

Thank you for enjoying this creative and relaxing sport of Letter-boxing. 

U are the First Letter in my Box.

Passports and Travel

Think about these words:

Quote from

 http://communicatingacrossboundariesblog.com/ 

Last week Glenn and I submitted our soon to expire passports to the US embassy in Guatemala City with new photos and new forms filled out.  We dished out over $200.00 to have new 10 year passports issued.  We also chose to have additional pages to be added at this point.

My stomach gets a little nervous when I don't have a passport with me.  What if I need to travel?  What if something happens to my mom and I have to get on the plane really quickly?  What if I need to travel to see my grandkids 2 countries away?

Wow, my old passport has lots of memories between each of it's pages.  If each stamp could tell their story.  They would tell of traveling to Russia with Moody Alumni and representing the school, or travels to Spain to visit Camino missionaries there, and of course it would tell of re-entry upon re-entry into Nicaragua to see our grandchildren.  There would be several stamps into Mexico for 90 day visa renewals and the our customary 90 day stamp into the country of Guatemala and stamps into Bolivia where we lived for 15 years.

I am most happy when I have my passport with me and I know it has been processed and is ready for my next journey.

 "Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport." 

My passport.

So This is What the New 40 Looks Like

My friend, Sidney Jean, turns 60 today.

Happy Birthday!

 

We have been friends since 1968 when I first starting going to the small Baptist church down the alley from my parents house.  We were in youth group together.  Pioneer girls.  We sang in the High school  and church choir together and we were even in the same Pep Ralley Squad together. I rode on my yellow Schwinn bike with her around White Rock Lake.  Countless times.  Always stopping at Rudy and Pearl's house.

After High school, our paths went two different ways.  Sidney went to college in Canada.  Got married.  Had 2 girls.  I went to college in Chicago.  Got married.  Had 3 kids. Moved to South America.

Then Facebook was invented.  We got re-connected - as if we had not been disconnected for so many years.  Although the years have passed, we've gotten older and we've moved on, we picked up just where we left off.

Today is Sidney's birthday.  She is 60 years old.  This is my first childhood "older" friend to turn 60.  
But I'm reminded that "60 is the NEW 40".

  I can always remember her birthday, because she shares it with another famous person.  Mickey Mouse.  60 years ago today, the theme park Disneyland in Anaheim, California opened its gates.  Happy Birthday to Mickey,
 but most especially, 

Happy Birthday to my friend, Sidney!

The New 40

My friend, Sidney Jean, turns 60 today.

Happy Birthday!

We have been friends since 1968 when I first starting going to the small Baptist church down the alley from my parents house.  We were in youth group together.  Pioneer girls.  We sang in the High school  and church choir together and we were even in the same Pep Ralley Squad together. I rode on my yellow Schwinn bike with her around White Rock Lake.  Countless times.  Always stopping at Rudy and Pearl's house.

After High school, our paths went two different ways.  Sidney went to college in Canada.  Got married.  Had 2 girls.  I went to college in Chicago.  Got married.  Had 3 kids. Moved to South America.

Then Facebook was invented.  We got re-connected - as if we had not been disconnected for so many years.  Although the years have passed, we've gotten older and we've moved on, we picked up just where we left off.

Today is Sidney's birthday.  She is 60 years old.  This is my first childhood "older" friend to turn 60.  
But I'm reminded that "60 is the NEW 40".

  I can always remember her birthday, because she shares it with another famous person.  Mickey Mouse.  60 years ago today, the theme park Disneyland in Anaheim, California opened its gates.  Happy Birthday to Mickey,
 but most especially, 

Happy Birthday to my friend, Sidney!

Fuego Volcano

While enjoying lunch at Cerro San Cristobal, the Fuego Volcano erupted.  

That was perfect timing!  

We had the team from NBC join us up on the hill top restaurant on the out skirts of town.

Our friend, Lee, didn't know what to think of the explosion. 
 I love his expression.

Team at Rio Hondo

Glenn and I returned to Guatemala and went directly to Rio Hondo.  That's 4 hours on the other side of town, down towards the Caribbean coast. 
 Yes, that is where it is hot.  Very hot.

Our supporting church, Northwest Bible Church, from Dallas, Texas, sends a team each summer to put on a camp for the children and young people of the community.  The team of 100 this year provided an excellent week of fun activities.  This team of volunteers played, sang, and ministered to the kids and families.  We were there on the final closing night.  There were songs, skits and testimonies.

It was hard for these young folks from North Dallas, to say Good-bye.  It was a great experience for both the kids that live in the US and for the kids that live in Guatemala.

Both lives will be changed F-O-R-E-V-E-R !