Making Memories with My Mom

My parents are visiting for a few days here in Guatemala. I am so thankful that they have been able to come down for a short visit.  

Mom is aging - aging quickly.  Her memory, especially her short term memory, is fleeting.  

It's Alzheimer's, and it has gotten worse.

I thought, if anyone has a funny story, event or even 1 word that describes my mom and my parents, please send it on to me.  You can use either FB, email me at judystewart@caminoglobal.org or write on my blog.  This will give us lots to talk about.  I want to honor my mom this way.

And when I get your responses, I'll read them to her.  And I'm sure she will be able to 'add more' to your stories. {But then again, she might not}.

We have a puzzle out on the card table.  We have time to tell stories, re-live memories, and appreciate their lives.  I have photo albums out for mom to look through.  Glenn has the electronic video picture going on the mantle. 

I love my mom and I'm sad when I see that I'm losing her.  She means the world to me.  And I know she means a lot to many, many people.

~Judy

How do you spell Bugambilia?

We took G'mommy and G'daddy over to Bob's garden.  The landscaping is manicured perfectly and the flowers breathe beauty.

G'mom's favorite plant is the bugambilia.

Red, purple, orange, you name it.  All so beautiful.

We paid a short 10 minute visit with Bob's 86 year old mother.  She was thrilled we stopped by to see her.

Stamping with my mom

Today, I got some basic stamps, glue, scissors, ink and ink pad out.

These are the hands that...

made peach preserves

spanked my bottom when I was little

drove the car taking me to school

fried chicken fried steak

rolled out pie crust

sewed "Daddy's girl" panties for both Ellen and Karen as baby

pottied trained all 3 of my kids

wrote me a snail mail every Monday morning while in college

and now as a relaxing task, mom and I made some Christmas cards.  I gave her step by step instructions as we colored, glued and cut out stuff for the cards.  It was a very relaxing task to do with her.  She smiled as we worked over an hour to make 9 cards.  It was so much fun.  I think we'll do it again.  I plan to have mom dictate and I'll address and write the note for her.

~J

Volcano, Lake and Antigua

Our friends, Gary and Pam flew down for a quick weekend trip to Guatemala.  When I say quick, they arrived on Thursday night and left Sunday at noon.  We crammed a lot into those 2 1/2 days.

1.  Climb to the top of active Pacaya Volcano

2.  Visit Manuela in the Indian village of San Antonio Palapó

 3. Enjoy the breathtaking sunset at Sunset Café in Panajachel on Lake Atitlán

4.  Take in God's creation of beauty at LBN

5.  Boat ride and breakfast/brunch at La Casa Del Mundo.

Enough said.

6.  Antigua visit

Thank you,  Gary and Pam, for your short visit.  We still have a "to do list" for your next visit.

~J

Thanksgiving Blessings

I know this post is late, but THANKSGIVING is always in season.

For Thanksgiving Day, we hosted a small group of Camino Global missionaries in our home.  No, it wasn't turkey, but rather chicken and dressing.  No one walked away hungry.

~J

Cúpula

These Cúpulas (chimneys) are all over the city of Antigua.

Beautiful!

Photo Storage

I'm still working through the ordeal of Blogspot and posting pictures.  And now they (whoever they are) are wanting to charge me $2.59 per month.  I know it is not much.  But I don't know any other options.  It says that I've used up my Picasa Storage.  I don't store anything there.  Several years ago, Caroline showed me how to use Picasa, but I haven't used it since.  And I guess everytime I load my photos to my computer, it puts it there also.

Any helpful suggestions?  Or should I bite the bullet?

In the mean time.  Here is a photo that Gary B. took last weekend.

{courtesy of Gary B}

Sunset at Lake Atitlán

Panajachel, Guatemala.  Sun set.

Doesn't get better than this. 

This is the photo that was selected in the 2013 Moody Bible Institute calendar for the month of November.

Man In The Middle of the Road

  It is not an uncommon sight to have peddlers standing off to the side of the road. Sometimes, they will do juggling acts to earn a few Quetzales. (local currency)

 However, take a look at this Guatemalan.  He is sitting in the middle of 3 lanes of traffic (much like Northwest Highway in Dallas, TX) begging...begging for a piece of bread, or lucky enough to get some money. Take a closer look.  He has no legs.

It's a Girl

Ellen and Luke announced last week, that they will be having a Baby Girl in March, 2013

Ellen had an unusual birthday cake for Luke last Friday. 
This was her creative way to make the announcement official to the youth group they work with at NCA.

A Boy and His GrandDad

David Helping GrandDad Walk

An Earful of Nonsense

David's First Driver's Education Course

Baby David - Through the Lens of Thanksgiving

 I'm thankful for 

Baby David

~Grammie

Divine Appointment

Glenn and I had recently showed the Tarwater and Alexander families the fun activity of Letter Boxing.

As we were driving back North on I-45 heading to Dallas, we decided to pull over and do a quick letter box located at the newly refurbished Rest Stop just north of Huntsville, TX.

As I read the clues on my smart phone, we noticed a couple sitting on the nearby park bench.  They could see we were looking for something.  They spoke up, saying, "I think we have what you are looking for."  They had found the "hidden clue" and were filling out their log books and were recording their findings.

We struck up a nice conversation with the newlyweds.  We both exchanged comments on how we enjoy doing this "letter boxing thing".

Then Glenn made a comment about Jessica's purse/bag as it looked very similar to the Mazahua's weaving in Mexico.  We learned that Jessica had done some medical work in Bolivia.  Just hearing the word "Bolivia" made our ears perk up more.

I asked her what her name was, and then what her maiden name was.  Come to find out, her dad is Nathan. No way!! Her uncle Tim served with us in Bolivia back in the 80's and 90's.  

Yes, another God thing:).

We quickly talked about her father, her uncle, her grandparents (whom we knew very well while living in Bolivia).   

It's times like these, when it is fun to see how God gives us "appointed times" to connect with folks in the most unusual ways.

I mean, what are the odds? We were just driving down the interstate and taking a quick break.

Surfside Beach

Thank you Maribel and Dwight!

I just happened to share with the ladies in the small group Bible Study about our itinerary and how we would be sharing at FBCLJ on Sunday.  We were sharing about our need for children workers for the upcoming Camino Guatemala Conference in April 2013.  When Maribel heard we would be in Lake Jackson, she offered a beach house that we could use.

Wow, we were not even looking for a place to stay, knowing we could "crash" at the Alexanders.

What a neat way to share in our lives.  And God put it on her heart to openly share with us.  Thank you Lord.  And it was God that had our paths cross at the right time.  It was a Divine appointment.