All in ONE Saturday???

Can't beleive that we did so much in one day. We've been in Costa Rica for 11 months and have gone to:
1) San Isidro General...to a elderly lady's birthday party (and no, we didn not know her...long story not worth telling...
2) Volcano Arenal...in one day...which is another long story not worth telling but it's 3 hours from our house
3) Nicaraga because Carlos' Mountaineer still has a tourist's visa...and that doesn't give us credit for anything other than a trip out of the country every 6 months...so we went there for a day to do the paperwork and to walk some beaches.

However, Saturday we got up and went to the Naranjo River which is about 20 minutes from our house. Nice place with cool water and lots and lots of rocks. We actually found, after going in one way, that there was a better way to get in by car. I digress....we went with some of the youth from Church and had a great time...other than me falling on some rocks on the way back to the car (and I was just feeling great about doing so well walking back to the car and not needing any help!!) But other than a bruised ego, some bruises on my knees and much gratitude that my nose didn't hit that boulder any harder than it did, I am fine.

After getting back from the lake, Carlos asks me if I would like to go dancing that night. Well, not being one to turn down an offer to go out for the evening I fixed dinner, woke Carlos up from his 1 1/2 nap, got myself as dressed up as possible and we were off by 9:30. There was a group that was popular when Carlos was a kid that was here in Esparza that night. It was mostly old music and people our age but it was a good time. Beleive it or not, but Carlos and I both worked up a nice sweat...well, Carlos sweated, I glowed!! And we didn't leave the dance until 12:20AM. We could have stayed for later but we thought we had infringed on the sabbath long enough!! We really did have a good time.

Well, it was quite a wonderful day even though we did have a bit of a problem getting up at 5:30 the next morning.

Christmas in Costa Rica

Gingerbread houses in the freezer....




Whipping cream is in a box sold on the shelf, not in the fridge, with 35% butterfat and it keeps for 4 months!




Our tree in Mary-Carmen and Grandma's villa...yes, to the left is MC's bed, to the right is the front door...yes the room is that small!!!


Well, it's over...christmas. The gingerbread soaked up the humidity as did the sugar cookies. We learned that there IS a reason why baby Jesus isn't in the manager until AFTER the 24th. We learned that some people just like to have things done a certain way and just don't care to change. We learned that just because we like frog eyed salad, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, not everyone else does. We learned that turkeys in Costa Rica are available for around $45 and I didn't look to see how much it weighed, I wasn't going to pay that much to have it end up as soup!! We learned that whipping cream comes in a box that can sit on the shelf, unrefrigerated for at least 4 months and turns very quickly into butter if not watched very carefully while mixing. (Sweet butter anyone?? I have plenty. But it does taste good on rolls!) We learned that you can open presents in 90 degree weather and still have fun! We learned that you don't need a lot of presents to make Christmas, you need lots of love from family....that makes all the difference.

I missed being with lots of family. I missed the hussle of fixing the meals that everyone enjoys. I missed the "Grandma, can I sit by you?" I missed having lots of dishes to do after eating, but laying around complaining how full you are then asking when the pies will be ready!

I appreciate my family here trying so hard to make it a special day anyway. I appreciate ALL my family...near and far.

If I ever get unable to unwrap my gifts and look like I don't even care (as my mother-in-law is now) I hope that somewhere inside I still get a thrill from the lights and the love of Christmas and family.