Playa Hermosa

When Matt asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, the decision was not hard- off to the beach for the day!

We decided to head to one of the nearest beaches on the Pacific side, close to Jacó, called Playa Hermosa. There are several beaches in this area and are all well-known surfing beaches. We knew this and also knew the surf would be rough, but we were excited to be able to get away and enjoy the ocean.

So, off we headed on our two-hour journey. Some friends from school had blessed us by lending us their car for the week while they were in the states, so we were able to drive ourselves. We were glad our friend Ale was able to come with us, as well.

We had a fantastic day and it was a beautiful beach!

Enjoy the pictures!


The kids and the beach


A big splash


The family :)


The kids and Brooke and Ale


Ale and Audrey



The kids found about 10 crabs that they kept as pets for the day...


At dinner, Ale ate pasta and sea food and there was a crab in her food, cooked of course, but the kids had never seen anyone eat anything like that. Audrey was just perplexed at why she was eating a crab like we had just seen at the bus.

Birthday celebrations!!!!!

What a weekend it has been! As I write this, I am officially in the "30's Club!!" Yesterday was my 30th birthday and we celebrated all weekend with several different groups of our friends and Costa Rican family.

I'll post more pictures of each day in spearate posts as I have time this week...but here is an overview.

Saturday, Matt and the kids and I along with our friend Ale, took off for Playa Hermosa. We had the use of a car, so we drove the two hours it took to get to the Pacific Coast beach. It was a fairly easy trip.

Once there, we unloaded the car and lathered everyone up with sunscreen. The surf was pretty rough and the riptide was strong, so we had to be careful and the kids couldn't get in to far. This is a well-known surfing beach, so we expected this, but it was a beach and we were happy to be there.

The kids spent all day playing in the sand and running in the water. We collected a bucket full of shells and pretty rocks. The kids found tons of crabs that they kept for pets for the day.

It was such a great day! I even had the chance to lay and read for awhile. It was very relaxing and a nice way to spend the day together.

Sunday we went to church as usual. Matt and the kids and I have been spending a few hours each Sunday afternoon with Pastor Rogelio and his family and sharing lunch together for several weeks now. We really enjoy this time together. This Sunday. they had planned a surprise party for me. I walked in their house to a Happy Birthday sign and decorations everywhere and a beautiful cake. It was a wonderful afternoon and a very special time for me. I unfortunately had forgotten my camera, so I have no pictures of the day...

That evening, we ate dinner with Mark and Meg, Marianna and Valeria. Meg had gotten a super yummy chocolate cake from Fresas (this great little restauraunt here and everyone loves the cakes!!!) After supper, we headed outside for the event Ethan has been waiting about a year for- getting to crack eggs on my head! It is the Costa Rican tradition to receive an egg cracked on your head for each year you have been alive. Thankfully, I didn't get 30, but Ethan got me at least three times! It was a messy thing to clean up- but it really was fun!

Yesterday, we headed out on the bus with two other families to Parque Diversiones, a scaled down version of Six Flags America amusement park. This outing was in celbration of Isabelle's birthday and her friend Ally- who shares the same birthday with Isabelle. It was a great day and all of us had a great time! We caught the bus about 8 am and got home around 6pm. It was a long day, but really fun!

When we got home, our friend Ale was waiting for us with dinner ready! She had cooked a traditional Costa Rican Semana Santa (Holy Week) meal for us (sorry, I can't remember the naem right now...) It was DELICIOUS!!! Our neighbors and friends from school, Jake and Amy came over for supper as well. And then, about 6:45 or so, I heard something outside. I peeked out the window and saw a bunch of people getting out of a van. I thought "What is going on?" Matt had enlisted the help of Ale and arranged singing Mariachi's to serendae me for my birthday. This is traditional way to celebrate a person's birthday here. It was fantastic! They were great and it was a wonderful way to be surprised!

I had wondered what it would feel like to be leaving my twenties and entering my thirties...I can honestly say this has been one of the best birthdays of my life! It will always be hard to be away from family and close friends in times of celebration like this, but we praise the Lord for giving us our Costa Rican family and close friends here.

Our Vonage phone has been out for close to a week now so I wasn't able to talk with my mom or dad of the rest of my family and friends...but hopefully we'll be able to get it fixed soon...

Until then, enjoy the photos in the next few posts!

Bienvenidos a mi vida loca y Feliz Cumpleaños a mi

This tops our "crazy life in Costa Rica" stories. Yesterday when I went to the post office to check the mail, which is about a 5 block walk from our apartment, I had a package notice in our box. I went to claim the package and to my surprise- saw that it was the long lost package we had been waiting for. Actually, we had almost forgotten we were still waiting for it...

Take a stab at how long ago this package was mailed...

1 month...2 months...well, getting closer...4 months ago!!!!! The US postage stamp was dated November 24th, 2007 and we finally recieved it on March 14th, 2008!!!

I had to take a couple pictures of the actual package. This box started out as a rectangular, flat rate international box, with actual corners and all- ya know...a normal box...

Look how it arrived to us-

Almost a rectangle from this angle...but what happens if I flip it over?



Whalahh!!! The package actually went through Equador! Who knows if everything was still in there...we'll never know. But what is important is that there were several Tahnksgiving and Christmas cards in there and some pictures which were great to get- even four months late!!!

I called our friend who sent it and she couldn't believe it...

In other news, some of you may or may not know, I am three days shy of no longer being a "twenty-something." So, it is kind of a big thing for me...and it is kinda different being here for a birthday...but praise the Lord for new good friends! My conversation class threw a fiesta in hhonor of my birthday MOnday and it was really sweet. I am the 'bebe" in the group, although I am the same age as one of my classmates...

We have a fantastic class. Three of us have shared two semesters together now and have grown to be friends. We all share a commraderie and mutual respect for each other and our teacher always encourages us by telling us we are continually having third trimesters conversations. (Remember this is only our second tri...)



Tomorrow we are going away for the day to a beach about two hours away to celebrate my birthday. Monday we will be going to Parque Diversiones, a Costa Rican equivalent to Six Flags, with a few other families for Isabelle's birthday present.

We are out of schol the whole week for Semana Santa (Holy Week) and we are excited for the opportunity to get into the ministry areas. We'll be in La Carpio Tuesday/Wednesday for a street VBS and Los Guido Friday for a special Good Friday service. Please pray for this time in these two areas. Pray for the Lord to show us in this week the direction he would have us go in La Carpio. Also pray for a time of reverence and peace and remembrance of the sacrifice Christ made for all of us this Friday.

Saturday, the team from Sharon Baptist arrives. Would you please join us in praying for this team as well, please pray for Matt and I as we will be leading this team- our first time doing so with any team. We are asking the Lord to direct us and demonstrate through this expreience his plans for us, as we have always felt a part of our purpose is to be here specifically to lead this type of team. We pray the Lord directs us and guides us in this time. Also pray that we can manage classes as well as the needs of our kids during this week that the team is here.

Happy Birthday Isabelle!!!

Today is Isabelle Adair McClain's 6th Birthday!
(WOW! Where did those years go?)
We celebrated with a couple family style parties this weekend (we couldn't get everyone together at one time...) and then today we are taking pizza to her class for lunch, She shares her birthday with one of her best friends in school and so her mom (who happens to my firedn :] ) is bringing cupcakes! It will be fun :)

Please pray for our Isabelle on this day!



Taken this morning before she left for school. She watned her hair like this cartoon charcter Puuca. She is also wearing the new leggings and flip-flops she got for her birthday.


Our first party was with Mark, Meg, the girls and Cindy. It was very fun and Isabelle enjoyed the cake that "Grandma Meg" and the girls picked out for her.


Sunday night we shared cake and ice cream with Alex, the Price family, some friends from school, Jake and Amy, and our friend Ale. Ale bought a special cake for Isabelle and we had a great time.



The sign says 'I am 6 years old today!" Which she can say in Spanish!!!

What missionaries do for fun...

So, maybe you are wondering just what DO missionaries do for fun? You may or may not realize that it is a pre-requisite to be creative if you are going to be a missionary- since we do not have tons of play money just laying around - we must think of creative ways to entertain each other.

Tonight, Matt and I had dinner with the Kuzdas family, Coco, a Kuzdas family friend from Venezuela that has been assisiting the ministry for a few months and Cindy, a friend from New York who is here for a week, assisting in the ministry as well.

Matt and I learned a Kuzdas family secret form of entertainment. I tell you this to preface the fact that the following was learned from the Kuzdas family member who recently celebrated his birthday... :)

After much prodding and about 2 hours of waiting, Mark revealed his hidden talent of making funny animal faces. Tonight, we saw what a baby rabbit, momma rabbit and a daddy rabbit looks like...

But, the deal was if Mark showed us the faces, I had to post my version of the faces on our blog for Friday morning...

So, here are the pictures...as well as a glimpse of the things our team does for fun :)


OK...here it is- just for my neighbor :)



This is the baby rabbit- just a little bit of nose wrinkling going on...



This is Mommy rabbit- a little bit more nose wrinkling action here...



And finally, the Daddy rabbit- yeah...go ahead and laugh- it's OK...

We shared a lot of laughs tonight and it was a nice break from our routine.

FYI: More to come: elephants, cows, and much more :) and maybe I'll manage to get a few pictures of someone else besides me ;)

New 'do!

Matt has cut his own hair for years. Tonight was the night for his monthly clipping. Ethan has been saying for about a month that he is ready to cut his hair- short. He was tired of the long look. So, tonight he asked his dad if he could cut his hair, too...


BEFORE:




AND..........


AFTER...........








A BIG change, but still the same good-looking kid :)

Matt did a really great job- for his first time cutting someone else's hair.

And, a must-see picture of....THE HAIR!!!

What if...

What if two girls were left alone with markers?




These pictures explain themselves!!!!

Isabelle is quite the artist, huh?


This is the consequence of trying to do our homework while they are awake!!!!

Lesson learned!

At the races

We have been trying to do more together as a family and we have spent several weeks at the local track on Wednesday afternoons. The school the kids attend has a track team but no one to compete against, so they invited siblings, parents as well as the community to compete against the kids on the team. It was really alot of fun and done in such a way that encouraged family and fun.

A couple of weeks ago Matt and Ethan ran the 800 together. Ethan started off the race in a dead sprint and therfore was ready to call it quits at the first turn. Matt encouraged him to keep going and that he'd be right there with him. As they finished there first lap, Ethan came by with a look of sheer agony...I could tell he was struggling. Part of me wanted to run out there and grab him and save him from that pain, but the other part of me- the part I listened to was saying that he needed this experience and would benefit greatly from it. They both finished the race and I was so proud of him! He was worn out and said that he thought he was going to die during the race (he never ceases to be dramatic!) It lead to a good discussion later about the importance of finishing something you start. He had been a little upset that he was last and we encouraged him that the place is not as important as knowing you did your best and you finished. Unfornunately I forgot my camera that night and have no picture of his race.

Last Wednesday was the final meet and we all decided to run the 800 together. Ethan ran the 200 by himself. He ran his best and had fun!


All of us ran the 800, even Audrey!! Isabelle and I ran together and Matt and Audrey ran together and Ethan was off on his own! He actually came in 6th! It was really fun, but I have to admit it had been along time since I had run any distance and I actually wondered if it was such a good idea as we rounded out the first lap. But we all finished and Isabelle and I held hands most of the time. It was a great moment!


Ethan finishing the 800


Mommy and Isabelle finsihing the 800


Daddy and Audrey finshing the 800


McClain family at the races

Lambs among wolves

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therfore to send out wokers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road." Luke 10:3

I remember praying this scripture during the time the Lord grabbed hold of my heart and broke it for Costa Rica. I specifically remember praying these scriptures for my family as well as for other families that the Lord might send here. The Lord heard and answered those prayers in a very tangible way- we are here- in the field. The fields are still very ripe here and although the Lord has raised many nationals and Americans who are willing to serve him, it still seems the workers are few.

The part that strikes me and speaks to my heart tonight is the reference to those workers - our family- our teams- both national and gringo- being sent out like "lamnbs among the wolves."

We have shared before about the intensity of the attacks that are present in our lives here. They are real, unavoidable and intense.

While at this moment we are not in the midst of such an intense attack, we always have to be on guard. Prayer is a powerful weapon against these attacks, as well as the Word and the armor God has given to each of us.

John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.. " The enmey lies in waiting, ready to pounce and not just to maim or even temporarily put you out of commission, but he is waiting to steal, kill and destroy your life- our lives.

We would like to ask you to pray this week for the specific attacks each member of our team here, both nationals and Americans, might be facing right now in this moment that you are reading this or that one may be facing in the days ahead.

Please pray by name for Pastor Marvin and his wife Zoila; Pastor Rogelio and his wife Neris and the children of both of these families; the many women who make up the adult team; the youth leadership team of Los Guido and the youth of Tejarcillos; Mark and Meg Kuzdas; Melinda Kuzdas; Alex Fine; Bill and Joanie Price and their girls and our family as well. The Lord has brought each of us here to this place at this exact time for a specific purpose- some of which might be personal or in some way different than the other- but all have one thing in common- we are here to bring glory and honor to the name of Jesus Christ.

Please pray against the footholds the enemy trys to achieve- sometimes in very subtle ways. Pray that we would all be remaining in Christ and be so aware of Him that the enemy has no ground to stand on. Pray that we would seek to bear fruit in all that we do- even for those of us in school. That we would not lose focus in the routine of our day-to-day lives that we would not seek ways to bear fruit- more furit that lasts.

Ethan

A little update on Ethan. He is doing quite well in school and truly enjoys learning. His favorite subject in school is math. He can add, subtract and multiply. He also has began to read chapter books.

One of his favorite things to do is to play Legos - they are one of the few things we brought with us of his toys. He also chose to bring his imaginext toys. Every day, Ethan spends a significant amount of time playing with Legos. Right now, the entire top bunk (it is extra) is covered with Legos and Imaginext Toys.

Here is a couple pictures of his latest creation- a castle that he designed and built himself.





I personally think he is brillant, but I suppose I am a little biased. The picture does not do the detail justice, but see for yourself :) If you look very close he even spelled the word "LEGOS" in the base.

He is such a sweet boy. God has given him a huge heart.

This next picture is of the girls and our cat, Cereal. We call her "Gatita" which means "small cat" in Spanish. The girls love to play with her and the cat appears to love it as well. One of their favorite things to do is carry her around and pretend she is a baby. The cat will actually let them put her in the doll stroller and push her around. It is the funniest thing :)



The girls have grown up so much. People often mistake them for twins. They are very similar in some respects, but so very different in other ways.

Hope you enjoy these pictures. I'll post more later :)

Sweet Love...part 2

Hello all, this is Mateo writing tonight. After reading what my wife wrote yesterday, I felt that I needed to tell the rest of the story about Audrey and the piece of chocolate. Well, as we (Brooke, Audrey, and myself) were walking home from school yesterday, Brooke was telling me the story about how Audrey "saved" the piece of chocolate for her. After Brooke finished telling me the story, she laughed a little and said, "Oh, by the way, you have a piece of candy too, dad." I said, "I do, from whom?" "Well, Brooke continued, you had a piece of chocolate also from Audrey." I replied, "I did, where is my piece of chocolate now, Audrey." Can anyone guess what she might have said? If you know my youngest daughter, you may know where this was going! She looked at me with that little mischevious smile and that twinkle in her squinted eyes and said,......" I ate yours daddy", and just continued to smile from ear to ear! What a precious moment that was.
Dear Lord, I am so blessed to have a beautiful wife and three beautiful (and often times mischevious) children. Thank you Lord for my family!!

Sweet love...

Today is Valentine's Day...all three kids had parties in their classes. I made treats for their classes and Ethan and Isabelle and I all made Valentines for their classmates. We all left for school this morning dressed in red. Although Valentine's Day is not celebrated here, our life in these moments is lived with mostly Americans during school, so at least for this year, we remember Valentine's Day.

So, getting to the point of this post...When I picked Audrey up from her class today she ran over to me with her little chubby hand clenched in a fist. With a smile on her face, she opened her hand to show me a pice of half-melted chocolate and said, "This is for you, Mommy! I've been saving it all day for you!" It was one of the sweetest moments I have ever experienced! The chocolate, which was once a star, was somewhat deformed and a portion of it was melted onto her chubby little hand. Nevermind that, she excitedly looked up at me and said, "Eat it, Mommy!" After asking her if I could wait a little bit, she said, "No, Mommy, eat it now! I've been waiting all day to give it to you!" So, I ate the wonderful gift she gave me, trying not to think about how long she had been holding it in her hand or if she had washed her hands before she unwrapped it and held onto it...

Such a sweet moment. To think that she was given this piece of chocolate and thought to save it for her mom really blows me away. What could I ever have done to deserve such love and devotion?

In chapel today at school, a missionary couple who are both students shared special songs and shared somne special moments form their lives as well as a part of their testimony. It was a special time to reflect on the love our Creator has for us, as well as the love we share in and through Christ with our spouse. Cliff, who is an ordained minster, stood before the students in chapel and gave the spouses the opportunity to renew their vows publicly. So, as a group, those couples in the chapel stood and shared their vows again with their spouse. And, yes, Matt and I spoke our vows to each other. It was a good reflection and time of remembrance of that moment 9 years and some months ago when we first said our vows. It was 10 years ago today that he first proposed to me...Then, when I came out of the bedroom after getting Audrey to sleep for her nap, I realized he had snuck away and bought flowers for me - a beautiful bouquet of lilies (Katrina- they are the exact color of orange that I love!!!)

All of this to bring me to this reflection...When Audrey handed me that candy today, she was so happy to give me the gift she had been preciously guarding for me for quite some time based on the appearance of the chocolate. She could have so easily kept it for herself and I never would have known or ever thought of eating it myself. But she was so happy to give it to me.

Isn't this just like what God has done for us? He has a Son who was pure,blameless, perfect that he could have easily allowed to live a perfect life with him forever. Yet, he chose to joyfully share his Son with the world that he created so that we would have a perfect example of the life we are called to live. Christ also could have chosen to keep to himself the gift he was given of a pure life. He could have lived out his life in any way he chose because he was in himself his father. Yet, he also chose to give sacrificially of himself. Just as Audrey came to me today, with her little hand holding a precious gift just for me, Jesus comes to each one of us, with a gift more precious than any other we will ever recieve- the gift of grace and salvation in him.

I stood before one hundred or so people a little over 9 years ago and made a committment to my husband to love him and stand by his side for richer or for poorer, through sickness and through health, for better or for worse, til death do us part. those are words I promised then and still hold true in my heart today. The couple that spoke today also read the poem entitled "Marriage Takes Three," which is one that we love. The point of it is that marriage is not just between a man and a woman, but must include the Lord has the cord that binds the two. This is so true and we know it from personal experience. Tonight Matt shared with our gringo team from 1 Corinthians 13 and our discussion brought up how love is a choice, one that is not easy at times and not within our nature. But, love is so freely offered to us from Jesus- with no strings attached. All we have to say is "Yes, Lord. Here I am. I here you and I want the gift you have for me."

Today, I encourage you to reflect on the love that Christ has for you- a love that is greater than even the love of a spouse or parent or any love found on this earth.

Audrey Ann

Audrey Ann is 3 1/2 years old. Letely we look at her and are simply amazed at how fast she has grown and how quickly her life is flashing by. She is so tall and her hair has gotten so long. She is so very smart and mischevieous. It usually only takes her once before she learns how to do something. All she has to do is see someone else do something and she thinks she can do it, too. She has little fear of anything and wants to learn to do most everything. She has a timid streak when it comes to new people or new places, but for the most part she is very independant.


One of my favorite times of the day is laying with her while she falls asleep. Since she was a baby, she has never wanted to be cuddle or rocked to sleep. She has always been a child who would just lay down on her own and go to sleep. However, shortly before we moved, she began wanting us to lay or sit with her until she fell asleep. Once we got here, we've cherished these times. Admittedly there ar times when even in these moements she pushes our buttons...asking to get a drink, then go to the bathroom for the 8th time...but for the most part is one of the sweetest moments of the day to have her ask me to rub her belly or her leg (there is always a part of her that needs "rubbed.") Then she sings her little sleepy song that she has sang since she was a baby or she sighs really long and loud and then she is out.

The other day, before she fell asleep, she leaned over and asked "I'm a good girl, Mommy?" And I said "Yes, Baby, you are a good girl." Then she said, "But Sissy's not...?" And I said "Sissy is a good girl, too. God gave Mommy and Daddy two good girls." Then she asked, "But Sissy get in trouble sometimes?" "Yes, Sissy gets in trouble sometimes, but so do you and so does Bubby. Even Mommy does stuff I shouldn't do sometimes. Everyone does." Then she said, "Yeah Mommy, you got your stuff, too."

At that moment I wanted to laugh and that cuteness of her comment but also thought of how true it is. Yes, we all have our "stuff" that we do that we shouldn't do. Audrey is so right.

Praise the Lord for his grace and mercy that he bestows on us that come to him, broken and dirty, wanting desperately to learn to walk again.

Within the last week, Matt and I have really searched out what the Lord wants from us right now in these moments. We realized how little time we were really putting into our family and how much time we were taking to focus on a slew of other things. So, we have spent the past week really taking the time to focus on each other and the kids. It has really been a great week. Yesterday, we all slept in a little and later in the morning all went to the feria together for the first time. Matt played with the kids at the park while I did most of the shopping. Then we spent the afternoon getting some much needed organizing and cleaning out of some things done and getting caught up on some other things. We spent the whole day together though and it was good.

Please join us in actively praying against the attacks of the enemy in areas like our marriage and our family. Please pray that we open our eyes to the "stuff" we hold on to that allows the enemy a foothold in our lives.

We are so thankful to all of you who keep in touch with us and read our blog and the ministry website- whopray for us daily, weekly or when the Holy Spirit prompts. Thank you for your investment in our lives.

What is love?

Ran across this today and thought it worthy to share...
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)


What Love means to a 4-8 year old . . .

Touching words from the mouth of babes.
A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?"
The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.
See what you think:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.
So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."

Rebecca- age 8

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"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."

Billy - age 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."

Karl - age 5

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"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."

Chrissy - age 6

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"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

Terri - age 4

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"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."

Danny - age 7

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"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.
My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"

Emily - age 8

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"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

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"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"

Nikka - age 6
(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

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"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."

Noelle - age 7

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"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

Tommy - age 6

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"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.

He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."

Cindy - age 8

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"My mommy loves me more than anybody
You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."

Clare - age 6

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"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."

Elaine-age 5

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"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."

Chris - age 7

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"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

Mary Ann - age 4

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"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."

Lauren - age 4

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"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image)

Karen - age 7

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"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."

Mark - age 6

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"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

Jessica - age 8

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And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.

The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,

"Nothing, I just helped him cry"

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Where have all the commercials gone?

Just had to inform you of the pitfalls of watching a major sporting event in a foreign country- we watched the Superbowl tonight: WOHOO GIANTS!!! and back to back Manning brothers victories!!!!! But here is the crazy thing- the commercials. ALL CR COMMERCIALS! None of the ones we love to laugh at or complain about ...So, guess we'll have to check the internet to get our laughs...Hey- we did get to see Tom Petty perform- what was that about? Anyway, we are thankful we got to watch it! What a great ending! Maybe next year, Tom?!?!?

Volcan Poas

Yesterday Matt and the kids and I took off for an adventure and a much needed family day! It was so great and we all had so much fun!

It had been a rough week and we had decided it was time for a family day, so we headed out in the morning for Poas Volcano. This was such an exciting trip for me to be able to take my family on because I had been able to visit Poas when I came to Costa Rica on my first mission trip here in June 2006. So, we were able to take many pictures in places I had been during the time that the Lord first called me here.

So, for those of you that were with me on that trip, you might remember some of these spots :)





These plants are so huge. I call them umbrella plants because they look like upside down umbrellas. They line the path that leads up to the top pf the volcano. The natives actually call them "poor man's umbrella's."


This a family shot at the top of the crater. It is the most massive thing I have ever seen (I've never seen the Grand Canyon...) and such a reminder of the massive power of our God. The main crater is about 300 meters deep and has a diameter of 1320 meters. The crater has a lagoon filled with rainwater rich in sulur and gases and is permantly active.


This is Matt and the kids at the second crater called Botus Lagoon. It is about 800 meters above the main crater and is filled with cold rainwater. It has a diameter of about 400 meters and is about 14 meters deep. This was a new area for me. We found the trail as we were walking down from the main crater and decided to try it. It was well worth the walk. It was beautiful!


The kids and I :)


Along the path we met this little friend. Many of you know how much we loved the squirrels at our old homw in Frankfort. What a great surprise to see this little guy. We hadn't seen any squirrels here yet- so this was great. He came right out from the trees and jumped up on my knee. Then he ran out and jumped on Matt's arm. The picture isn't that great, but if you look close you can see him on Matt's arm.


Then he walked around onto Matt's back. You can see the backpack and he is right next to Matt's neck. It was great! The girls loved it. On the way down, we saw him again and fed him some nuts we had in the backpack.


This was taken just before we reached the entrance to the volcano. This is the exact spot that the mission team and I pulled over at to take pictures and admire the view two years ago. I was so excited that we found the same spot! It was fabulous seeing the countryside of Costa Rica. We saw it on the way and stopped on the way back so everyone could see the view.

Now, just for fun...I found these pictures from my trip here in 2006.


Here's our friends Jim and Rose with these huge umbrella plants :)
[PS: We miss you guys :)]


Here's some of "our" kids from youth group at the crater of Poas.
[We miss you guys, too:) ]


Here is the same spot where you can see the amazing view of Aleluia and even farther in the distance is San Jose.

I was reminded yesterday, as we stood at the top of the main crater, and then again as we stood at the view point, justs how big our God is and just how big this world is he has given us to live in. As hard as it is to be away from all of you we love so much, as difficult it is to be in school again and try to learn the Spanish language, even the difficulty that comes with ministering in the areas we serve in, our God is still bigger than anything we will come up against. And yesterday was a refreshing reminder of the power that our God has. And that we, too have though him. It is such a privelege to be here serving him. He called us and there is a cost that comes with following him where he calls us. But really, there is no cost greater than the cost of not following Jesus Christ. We continue to praise the Lord for the great things he has done for us. We continue to seek for God to be glorified in all we do and say.

pictures

Finally the pictures I promised from Dominical! Enjoy!

We really hope to get back to a beach somehwere soon- it was a much needed day of relaxation! And so beautiful!


Mommy BelleBelle and Audrey


The Price's, The Diaz family and the McClain's



La Familia McClain


Audrey loving the waves


PLaying in the sand with Daddy


Neris and Daniel


Our little beach cabana. Someone had constructed this at some point and we inhabited it for the day :)


Where is Ethan?


Daniel Isabelle and Audrey playing in the sand :)


Beautiful sunset