Home Sweet Home

Thanksgiving, a wedding and the first snow

2010-12-05T12:05:00.005-06:00

This was our honored guest for Thanksgiving. Yes, only in America do we have a male turkey sitting in a nest!! (His body is made from a pumpkin) We did NOT cook our special guest for our feast. We cooked another one that tasted better than this old bird!!

Our Turkey wanted this photo opportunity with the front door wreath that I made.

Rose-Marie was a bridesmaid in her friend, Shelly's, wedding. The wedding was held in a beautiful old church in downtown Richmond.

The happy couple, Shelly and Charlie

Rose-Marie and her escort leaving the church. She cried through the entire ceremony!

7 AM Dec 5, 2010. We woke up to a little snow. It was gone by 10AM.

Little Miss Emma

2010-11-18T14:18:00.002-06:00

Miss Emma Louise was born Nov 13. We all love her!!

Grandma got to hold her!!

Miss Emma and her sisters and Daddy
She is so precious
First family photo
First look at their new sister

I love this!

2010-10-31T19:45:00.011-06:00

Being back in the states with my family has been wonderful! I love it, I love it, I love it.

I love being able to speak with people and have them understand me!! I love being able to understand people...well, most people that is. Some of these real southern people are hard to understand!! However, sometimes I think some of the younger grandkids are speaking Japanese!!

The weather has even tried to stay warmer longer...just for me, I'm sure! However, the cold weather does come with this time of year and I must adjust. I heat up the 3 cherry pit bags nice & hot then put them under the blankets before I go to bed. Life is good when my feet and hands are warm on cold nights! And Mason doesn't even seem to mind too much that Grandma is snoring away in the bed next to him!!

I do miss some things about Costa Rica...my husband, my favorite neighbors-Franz and Marianne, my cat, the fresh (cheap) fruits, etc, etc.

I don't, however, miss the scorpions!

Here are a few pics of happenings in Sept and Oct.

Miss Courtney was all dressed up to go meet her new baby brother. She looked adorable!!

Mary-Carmen and Caleb were both worn out from the trip home from the hospital.

Family photo of Mary-Carmen, Tyson, Courtney and Caleb.

Baby Caleb looked so cute in the outfit I made for him.

Rose-Marie and Mason sleeping on the trip back from Florida when we visited
Tia Ana and Tia Jill.

Mason LOVED the train!

My car. It is a 1997 and has 75,000 miles. This is the first time in my life that I have had a car with only MY name on it! Did I hear someone say ROAD TRIP???
"In my car, I'll be the driver...."(it's a song)

Mason was a scarecrow for Halloween. Rose-Marie was Pippy Longstocking. When Mason got his first candy he wanted to stop and eat it. It took him a few minutes to understand the more he said Trick or treat the more candy he got!

I made Mason's hat and the 'straw' coming out his arms and legs. Rose-Marie had 3 piece of heavy wire braided in her hair to keep it flipped up.

Ana-Christine and Abinadi put the twins in silver painted boxes and they had instant robots! Great job Abinadi!! Miss Logan was a beautiful witch and little Eli was dressed as a baby!!

Catie-Lynn was Minnie Mouse this year...she's the one on the right!!

Speaking of Catie-Lynn...she will be 20 years old in just 2 weeks!

"Isn't she lovely...isn't she heaven sent" ( song by Stevie Wonder)

I miss you, Catie-Lynn!

saving my videos

2010-04-15T22:36:00.003-06:00

I needed someplace to put my videos so I could get them back to CR...

This one is some sights and sounds from my house in Costa Rica. I'll have to post some photos of the Congo monkeys when I get back so you can see how small they are.

This is my grandson Ben trying to walk in my shoes

Changes...for me

2009-10-28T19:34:00.006-06:00

BEFORE:

After!!

The 'new and improved' me~~~??

Well, here in paradise it is a LOT cooler for sure!!

Just for Catie-Lynn

2009-08-30T09:30:00.000-06:00

It's taken me a while to get these photos online but this is Catie-Lynn's cat. Enjoy...

Ahhh...My surprise in Paradise!

2009-08-28T09:26:00.006-06:00

So what did I find this morning at the side of my washing machine? (My washing machine is outside with a great view of the gulf, by the way.)

*

*

*

*

Oh yes...this is just the skin-60 inches long...I don't know where the live part is. But they say it isn't a dangerous one. I'm not really sure I care if it's dangerous or not...a snake is a snake when it comes slithering out at you...or when you see it's skin wrapped around your washing machine cord. (And yes, those of my children who think I tend to exaggerate- you know who you are-I measured it myself, thank you very much!)

So....

I guess this significantly reduces the number of those who will EVER come to visit me, doesn't it?

Noah's ark???

2009-08-15T18:10:00.007-06:00

These are videos and photos of a fiberglass pool being moved by only 9 men into the yard. It was something to see.

This was the view from my driveway

A closer view of Noah's ark!!

Uno, dos, tres, move

uno, dos, tres, MOVE!!

You will have to take my word for it when I tell you how wonderful it looks. I will need to post a finished photo...after I take it. Franz did a great job on this pool...and Marianne with the flowers.

ok, I WILL gloat, thank you!!

2009-05-17T17:53:00.006-06:00

These are photos taken when Courtney was about 1 week old. A friend of Mary-Carmen's took them, for practice...too bad she's moving to the other side of the country (the photographer, not Mary-Carmen!!)

Maybe she will remember me afterall.

My life at the moment

2009-04-30T22:09:00.004-06:00

I am very blessed to be able to be with ALL my grandkids...even ones that don't remember who I am. On Mother's Day weekend we will all be together here in Raleigh and I'll post those photos later. In the meantime I am refinishing a dresser and table for MC and hopefully sewing a couple of dresses for Catie-Lynn...and spending time with my kids and the grandkids!! Oh, yes, and spending time in the car with Catie-Lynn practicing for her drivers license!! How much better can life get?

This is of Miss Courtney, Miss Logan and Master Ben with Ana Christine.

This one is of me holding Miss Courtney Mae...just in case you couldn't tell who the good looking grandma in this photo is!!!

Time to update?

2009-04-08T07:56:00.002-06:00

Hum...one of my kids told me it was time to update my blog. Last one in Sept...hum?

My life is a bowl of cherries...I just have a bit of a problem with the pits once in a while but otherwise Life is good.

I'll be seeing all my kids and grandkids in about 2 weeks and will meet our new #8 grandbaby then. I'll be leaving Catie-Lynn in the states to work for her supper, I mean for her college expenses. When I return from the states Carlos and I will truly be empty nesters since my mother-in-law isn't here either.

Life is good...I just have to watch out for the pits!

Time to update my photo...Hum?

No way!!! That photo is over a year old but it's the best one I have...I'm just older now. Maybe I'll update after I get that face lift, tummy tuck, arm reduction, boob lift, etc that I've been waiting for. But since I'm still waiting for all that, you'll have to wait for a new photo!!

Life is good....

it's just those darn little pits! :)

Joy...in paradise

2008-09-13T06:33:00.003-06:00

Last night we watched "The Bucket List". Good movie...especially at my age!

In this movie there are two very different people facing the same event. One has all the money he could ever use but no one to share it with. The other has enough money to get through life but a family whom he dearly loves and they love him. They come together and learn many things from each other. The one to have some 'fun' that he thought he had missed and the other to learn that love of family brings greater joy than he ever imagined.

It got me thinking about how much JOY I have in my life...how much joy do I ALLOW myself to have? Is there more joy in life when kids are small or when they FINALLY grow up and you once again have a life all to yourself?

Men are that they might have joy, the scriptures tell us.

Joy isn't always being happy 24/7, I don't believe. Joy, to me, is seeing the wonderful things that happen in life amid everyday life. Joy is knowing that life can and does have it's beautiful, exciting, blissful moments. For me, it's just learning to have THOSE moments stand out ahead of the not so beautiful, exciting, blissful moments!!

Catie-Lynn, in all her 17 3/4 years of living, gave the me what-for about an expression that I use quite often since living "here in paradise". She says it makes people think my life here is terrible. I tried to explain that the reason I use this expression is because to everyone else I do live in paradise....who wouldn't want to live in a tropical country...paradise, right? She didn't buy that. SHE told me that my life wasn't as bad as I made it out to be here and that I needed to find the good things about 'paradise'!

My pride gets in the way, I will admit. I loved my big house and having all my 'things' around. I loved being able to go to the store and buy whatever I saw that I thought I needed or wanted. I loved putting my clothes in the dryer and having them come out 30 minutes later. I loved being able to pick up the phone and call whomever, whenever. I loved having air conditioning. I loved being able to get in my car and drive to see my kids and grandkids whenever I wanted.

THAT was MY paradise.

You get the idea....all things that, sometimes-ok, quite often I must admit, keep me from finding joy here and now. Except for being able to see all my kids and grandkids are 'things' that really don't bring me joy.

Life changes with each day. I want to find the joy in each of those changes...whatever they are.
I am that I might have joy. That is a great promise. That is a great blessing.

Thank you Catie-Lynn for helping me see that I really can find joy in my present paradise!!

Today I turned 54

2008-08-18T23:02:00.002-06:00

Yes, it's hard to believe but I was indeed born in 1954 so that makes me...well, really old according to my 17 year daughter!! I remember how old my parents were when they were younger than I am now! Weird. You NEVER think you are going to THAT old...then one day you wake up and you ARE older than your parents were when they were really old!!

So, what does this all mean? It means that I need to make some changes in my life.

I will be more content with my life and how it is going.
I will see the beauty in my life and in myself.
I will love the time that I have with my family...the phone calls, the visits, the hugs, the sugars for my grandkids...since they are too few and far between.
I will look forward to tomorrow but live today and enjoy the ride.

*I have a great life.
*5 Kids who are growing up and starting their own wonderful families
*4 kids-in-law who think I'm the greatest mother-in-law
(I'm sure that's NOT because I live 2,000 miles away)
*7 grandchildren who love Grandma to come and visit...some who don't understand that yet
*a husband of 32 years who says he's glad he has me around
*friends who still call me their friend after so many years and so many miles apart
*2 sisters, 1 brother, sister & brother-in-laws...all who are special parts in my life
*Love...What more could I want.

Thank you all for being such a terrific addition to my life.

Surprise, Surprise, I do remember how to post!!!

2008-06-09T06:07:00.002-06:00

First of all, I want to tell everyone how MUCH I LOVE LOVE LOVE my colorful hand and washcloths that my children gave to me for Mother's Day. I have a new color everyday and only have to wash towels once a week!!! (During the raining season, which seems to have gotten here already, that is a good thing since my dryer is mother nature.) What fun it is to have this little, but 'feels so good', colorful part of my life!! Thanks kids!!

Ok, so I did this silly, but interesting, thing I got from reading Brandi’s blog, where you search “(your name) needs” and this is what I got.

I discovered that I share this name with several famous people... Cindy Sheehan, Cindy Crawford, Cindy Li, Cindy McCain, Cindy Margolis and a few others who have too many X's after their names to mention!

Cindy needs…

…a tall cold glass of something

…to keep her kids out of the spotlight

…you

…our help

…to be accessorized

… cash

… to improve her social skills

…to get aggressive treatment and care

…to stay on the bus

…her beans

…comments and vote recommendations

…to release her taxes returns

…help

… your promise to support her

… to stop talking

…to be ignored

Hum? Some of these are about as true as me being ‘sleeping beauty’.

And just in case you have to ask...

I AM sleeping beauty!!

I must be dreaming!!!

2008-03-18T23:39:00.001-06:00

Hum.....could it be true?

You Are Aurora! (A.K.A. Sleeping Beauty.)

Thoughtful and loving. Authority figures probably have been sheltering you all of your life. Thankfully you're a very tranquil person who is content with what life has given you, but secretly you want to know how the outside world works.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Life

2008-03-02T18:28:00.002-06:00

ok, I've lost my boot straps. I know they are here somewhere but right now I can't find them....so I can't pull myself up with them. I'm really not sure what boot straps are in the first place so I'm not sure what I'm suppose to be looking for to tell you the truth. You'd figure that by the time I turned 53 that I'd know what they were and where to find them when I needed them...but alas, I must admit that I really don't have that information.

I decided to go to the internet...it has everything you need to know about anything, right? Right!

Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps...

"Meaning:
Improve your situation by your own efforts.

The origin of this descriptive phrase isn't known. It refers of course to boots and their straps (laces) and to the imagined feat of a lifting oneself off the ground by pulling on one's bootstraps. This impossible task is supposed to exemplify the achievement in getting out of a difficult situation by one's own efforts."

So now I know what bootstraps are and what it means....

Now I just need to do it.

To answer a few question about Mother's Day

2008-02-23T20:13:00.002-06:00

What is too dark?
Black. Royal or navy blue are fine. No yellow or white. Prints are great...I don't have any color scheme to work with so I'm open!!

Does my youngest have to give me bathroom towels since she gave me kitchen towels for Christmas?
Only if she loves me!

Do I need anything else?
Well, since no one really asked, I'll tell you...only so that if you find the towels I asked for and just don't think that's enough...
I need a nice tablecloth for my kitchen table. Round. Plastic with some nice cushioning would be fine. I really don't want to have to wash it or put a a piece of clear plastic over it...so plastic is great! The .35 cent one (yes that's cents) I got at Garden ridge works ok but it is wearing out fast and I really hate the plastic ones here. But I'd really prefer the wash clothes and handtowels!!

Thanks for asking!! Guess I should really have put this on the family blog...nay, Next year!

For Mother's Day

2008-02-15T21:13:00.004-06:00

I've decided what I need for Mother's Day...and I'm asking early so my kids will be able to look between now and then. This is something I usually don't do but desperate times call for desperate measures!!

I would like a nice washcloth and bathroom handtowel from each of my children. That is 5 total...no more. I would like them to be any color but white or yellow. Darker colors (but not really dark) are better than light colors for here in Costa Rica but I will take whatever color you choose. Don't care about the design but I would like nice quality material....so it can hold up to the washing and line drying I do here. Also, I do not need bath towels...only washclothes and handtowels. I don't need kitchen towels, only bathroom. Yes, I could go and buy the ones they have here in the grocery store for about a dollar each, but I don't like the quality or feel of those. Besides, it gives you kids something to get me for Mother's day!! :) And I'll be in the states so you don't even have to send them to me in Costa Rica.

Ok, now I feel really selfish...why is that?

Things as they are

2008-01-25T21:35:00.000-06:00

On the 1st day of January I came to spend some very special time with my children and grandchildren. I love my family. They are my world and I will do about anything...even sleep on the couch...to be able to spend a few days with them. I have terrific kids even though they aren't 'kids' anymore!

*Thank you, Carlos JR, for being such a wonderful example to your sisters.
*Thanks, AC, for being here for CL and Nan (and making my blog look so beautiful).
*Thank you, MC, for being here for AC and CL and helping them get through some of the rough spots.
*Thanks, RM, for keeping in touch with all of us; for still needing us as much as we need you.
*Thank you, CL, for trying so hard to make the best of this double life we live in the US and CR.

I was to leave in the morning to return to Costa Rica, but things haven't worked out for that to happen. I had my ticket but something needs to be completed that only I, as a parent, can do for one of my kids. We tried hard to get it done but Murphy's law prevailed so I changed my ticket to stay until Wed. the 30th. I am very glad to be able to do this for her since I know this is so important to her.

However, I truly miss...

my husband and best friend.

My 7 blessings

2008-01-15T15:00:00.000-06:00

This past weekend I was surrounded for one day with all my grandkids in Richmond. I must admit that having 4 babies 7 months and younger was a little bit noisy but it was great!! We missed Carlos SR and Mary-Carmen however. We took 2 rows at church with everyone there for the blessing of Miss Laurie Adeline Chacon. Next Sunday will be the twins blessing in Raleigh.

Miss Miriam 5 1/2
Miss Elaine 3 1/2
Miss Logan 2 3/4
Master Ben 7 months
Master Cooper 7 months
Miss Laurie 6 weeks
Master Mason 2 weeks

Did someone say "so what happened next"? Updated

2007-12-18T13:15:00.000-06:00

(That's just for you, Heather!)
**To answer a question...no laundry soap isn't a hot commodity but it was available for the taking-which some people seem to think anything that they can take is 'available'. It could, however, be put into smaller bags and sold on the street lots of people sell things 'on the street' or door to door here)...100% profit-no middle man!! We expect the grill utensils will also prove to benefit someone else, for the right price.
And yes, the man at the bank asked me if I was sure my husband had not spent the night at the casino's and just didn't want to tell me he had lost $2,000 gambling! Obviously,he doesn't know Carlos and his spending habits or he wouldn't have even asked such a stupid question! LOL LOL LOL

And the bank is still 'looking into it'.

*****

Yes those things really did happen...happens all the time, it's Christmas time and people are getting their bonuses from their jobs, have extra money in the bank and this kind of stuff is on the news all the time...but to other people. This time it was us. Both happened within a week of each other. Anyway, all is well. We are working with the bank to see if we can get the $2,000 back but things do work differently here. In the states all I would do is call the card company, explain what happened and that would be about it. Here, it takes 5 people to give you 5 different answers-only 1 of which is of any help at all. So after filling out a form that the people in San Jose emailed us with all the charges (which they also sent to us via email), faxing it back to them, we are now waiting to see what THEY will tell us. Yesterday morning I was told that since we didn't call until the 2nd day WE would be responsible for the lost money. He called as soon as he realized the cards were missing. But, don't get me started on THAT one!
I am glad that Carlos got back safely and that no one was hurt. If all we lost ends up being some money and laundry soap, I'll be happy!! Don't want it to happen again, but I'll be happy!

I also learned something else. I was prompted not once or twice, but THREE times to tell Carlos to put his wallet in his suitcase, but I didn't...I figured he would fuss at me for thinking he couldn't take care of his wallet. Sometimes we learn from our mistakes....I hope I listen better next time, do what I'll prompted to do and let him fuss (which now he probably won't do since he too has learned!) :)

When opportunity knocks?

2007-12-17T12:09:00.000-06:00

When Opportunity knocks...

one takes another persons wallet out of their pocket while on the bus, take their bank cards, making sure not to touch the money, throw the wallet at the side of the person one took it from so they think it fell out of their pocket. They look to see the money is still there and relieved that it just fell out of their pocket and nothing was stolen.

When Opportunity knocks....

one crosses the border and after filling up apparently all of one's relatives cars with gas, one heads for the nearest casino and spends to one's hearts content for the next 6 hours. It doesn't matter to one that one is racking up over $2,000 in debt, after all, one is enjoying oneself at someone else's expense.

When opportunity knocks....

one sees that the cars are not at home so one gets a ladder left under the house so one can see what is in the second floor windows. Upon seeing that the ladder isn't tall enough to cut the screens and get in, one scavengers around, much like a rat, yes, exactly like a rat, until one finds things that one can carry away...

When opportunity knocks....

one takes a 10 pound bag of laundry soap left in the laundry room and a grill utensil set one finds under the cover of the grill. And don't bother putting the ladder away.

When opportunity knocks....

one leaves the others feeling a great lack of trust in their fellow beings.

Amazing what 'one' can do when opportunity knocks!

I had a date tonight...

2007-11-10T22:21:00.000-06:00

Tonight I went out with the best looking man I know...my husband. We went out looking for nachos but ended up sharing patacones and a vigerona (which I won't explain but they are very popular side dish type foods). And we talked, yes, we talked...rather funny to say that after 31 years, but sometimes it still happens and my heart is glad. No only did we talk but a vendor came around selling single roses and this wonderful man bought one for me! Now what makes this night special? Nothing. That's just the point. What is so special is that this is our 3rd date in the past 3 weeks...and they have all been his doing. He asks, he plans (ok, it might be a 'where do you want to go for dinner', planning but at least he has an idea) and we go out. Last week we went dancing-yes, a dance with live bands and we stayed out until 1:45 AM....AM folks...that's 6-7 hours past his usual 'fall asleep on the couch' time!
I must be pretty special for him to make sure that he takes me out, just the two of us, each week. Yes, I feel special...

I went out on a date with the most wonderful, handsome man I know...my husband.

My talk in sacrament meeting Oct 28

2007-10-30T12:30:00.000-06:00

Yes, I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting this past Sunday and I'm alive to tell about it. Now this is not a big deal to most people but if you have glanced down you will see that the test is in Spanish. Yes, I gave my talk in Spanish!! The WHOLE thing!! I wrote it in English (scoll down for the English version) and Carlos translated it for me. Yep, Wow is right! But I did it.

Now I have to live it.

Buenos días hermanos y hermanas:

Cuando el Presidente Ramírez nos pidió ha Carlos y a mi que discursáramos hoy, tengo que admitir que me moleste un poquito. Mi pensamiento era ““¿Como puedo yo dar un discurso si tengo tanto problema con el idioma? Nadie quiere escuchar a esta gringa trabándose con las palabras! ¿Como lo puedo hacer? ¿Talvez lo pueda escribir y que Carlos lo de por mi?” No quería dar este discurso, entonces me senté a cocer y el espíritu me hizo algunas preguntas.

“ Donde esta su fe, Cindy? ¿Donde esta su fe en Nuestro Padre Celestial? ¿No piensas que el te ayudara? ¿No has estado leyendo en las escrituras acerca de la fe? ¿Hay alguna cosa difícil para el Señor? ¿Donde esta tu fe? ”
Continué cociendo, tratando de ignorar la situación, no quería pensar al respecto, no quería hacerlo.

Si embargo, creo que mi Padre Celestial tenía otras cosas en mente para mí porque mi costura no iba muy bien. Estaba cometiendo errores y tuve que repetir cosas que ya había echo. Cuando me preguntaba porque estaba teniendo tanta dificultad, se me vino en mente la historia de Jonás. El Señor le pidió a Jonás que hiciera algo que el no quería hacer, si embargo el Señor lo convenció hacerlo. De nuevo el espíritu me indico que me parara y preparara mi discurso y que tuviera fe.

Vivir el evangelio es como mi español, hablo poco, la voy pasando, entiendo algunas cosas, hablo un poco. Hablar y comprender el español es difícil para mi, sin embargo he estado en Costa Rica casi dos años y estoy bien… ¿Ho es así? ¿Podría estar mejor?
¿Talvez pudiera hablar mejor si tratara más fuerte y estudiara más? La verdad es que no estoy estudiando español… porque es difícil y ahí la voy pasando.

En el evangelio algunas veces la vamos pasando, hacemos las cosas básicas pero de ahí no avanzamos. Venimos a la iglesia, talvez leemos las escrituras, pagamos nuestros diezmos y ofrendas, y hasta talvez hemos ido al templo. Nosotros entendemos que podemos hacer más, pero pensamos que es difícil. Como el Señor nos puede pedir que hagamos algo que es tan difícil? Algunas veces es mas fácil escribir el discurso y que otro lo de. Las preguntas que tenemos que contestar son… ¿Estoy haciendo todo lo que puedo hacer por vivir el evangelio? ¿Que mas quiere Nuestro Padre Celestial que yo haga?

¿Como puedo mejorar mi español y en vivir el evangelio? Tengo que hacer más, no solo ir pasándola. Tengo que en realidad vivir lo que mi Padre Celestial me pide. Una de las cosas que debo hacer es mis visitas como maestra visitante, se que debo visitar a mis hermanas, se que es importante, pero no lo hago. ¿Por qué? Mis razones me parecen buenas, no puedo hablar la lengua bien, mis hermanas no me van a entender o yo a ellas. ¿Pero mis razones son suficientes para el Señor? ¿El va a entender que no lo pude hacer porque como hablar español o vivir el evangelio era muy difícil para mí? Cuando este frente a el en el día de juicio, viendo las marcas de los clavos en sus manos ¿le podré decir, lo hubiera echo pero era muy difícil?

¿Que es difícil si en realidad tenemos Fe en Nuestro Padre Celestial y Jesucristo?

Yo se que mi padre celestial nos ama, el me ama. Yo se que el me va ayudar a hacer lo que me pide. Nunca quiero tener que decirle a mi Salvador “lo habría hecho pero era muy difícil”

Les dejo este testimonio en el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

*******

ENGLISH VERSION

Good morning, Brothers and Sisters

When Pres. Ramirez asked Carlos and I to speak today, I must tell you I was a little upset. My first thought was ‘how can I give a talk when I have such difficulty with the language? No one wants to hear the gringa stumble over the words! How can I do that? Maybe I’ll write it and Carlos can give it for me.” I did not want to give this talk. So I sat down to start sewing and the spirit asked me a few questions.
“Where is your faith, Cindy? Where is your faith in Heavenly Father? Don’t you think he will help you? Haven’t you been reading in the scriptures about faith? Is anything too difficult for the Lord? Where is your faith?”
I continued to sew, trying to put it out of my mind. I didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t want to do it.
However, I think Heavenly Father had other things in mind for me because my sewing wasn’t going well. I kept making mistakes, having to take out what I had done. While I was wondering why I had such a problem with my sewing the story of Jonah came to my mind. The Lord asked Jonah to do something but Jonah didn’t want to do it however Heavenly Father talked him into it. Again the spirit whispered to me to get up and go write my talk and exercise more faith

Living the gospel is like my Spanish. I speak a little. I get by. I understand some things. I speak a little. Speaking and understanding Spanish is very difficult for me. However, I’ve been here in Costa Rica almost 2 years. I’m doing ok…or am I? Could I be doing better? Maybe I could speak better if I tried harder, studied more. The truth is I don’t study Spanish much at all now…because it’s just too hard and I’m doing ok like I am.

In the gospel sometimes we just get by. We do the basic things but we don’t go farther than that. We come to church, we may read the scriptures, pay our tithing and fast offerings, we may even go to the temple. We understand that we could do more but it seems too hard. How can the Lord ask us to do something that is so hard to do? Sometimes it’s just easier to write the talk and let someone else give it. The questions we each have to ask ourselves are…Am I doing all I can to live the gospel? What else does Heavenly Father want me to do?

How can I do better with my Spanish as well as living the gospel? I need to start doing more, not just getting by. I need to start truly living what Heavenly Father has asked me to do. One of the things I know I need to be doing is my visiting teaching. I know I should go visit my sisters, I know it’s important, but each month I don’t do it. Why? My reasons seem good enough to me; I don’t speak the language well, the sisters won’t understand me, what if I don’t understand them. But ARE my reasons good enough for the Lord? Will he understand that I just couldn’t do it because, just like speaking Spanish, going visiting teaching or living the gospel better, it was just too difficult? When I stand before him on the Day of Judgment, seeing the nail prints in his hands, will I truly be able to look at my Savior and say, ‘I would have done it, but it was just too hard’.
What is too hard when we truly have faith in our Father in Heaven and in Jesus Christ?

I know my Father in Heaven Loves us. I know He loves me. I know he will help me to do what he has asked me to do. I never want to have to tell my Savior “I would have done it, but it was just too hard.”

I bear this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Just so you don't think nothing ever happens in Costa Rica

2007-10-25T07:12:00.000-06:00

So the other night I was collecting the dog dishes (yes we have more than one dog...3 to be exact. And that is 2 more than I really want...but, as my daughter says, 'I digress') Where was I? Oh, yes, bending over to get the dog dishes.

Now I have to tell you that Napo, the biggest of the 3, father of the youngest (Puppiz) and X spouse to Negrita (we had her fixed so Napo has no interest in her now...but she still follows him where ever he goes anyway). Napo is a Wiemerane (misspelled) but acts much like a horse at times jumping up on his hind legs and bouncing around like tigger (of Winnie the pooh fame) particularly at meal time! Back to my story...

Where was I? Right, so I was bending over picking up Napo's bowl when he starts bouncing around like a horse...only trouble was that I was above him when he went up!! Yep, his head met the side of my nose and cheek! It sounded like 12 eggs crunching and hurt like...well, really bad. I let out a scream that I'm sure they heard in San Jose-at least loud enough that even my dear husband so doesn't hear much since the TV is so loud came running out to the deck! There I was crying holding my nose trying to tell him what happened. This is kind of how it went....

me: cry, cry, AAHHHHH (still holding my face for fear it was going to fall off)
Carlos: What happened? (trying to pull my hands away from my face)
Me: Napo, cry, cry, _it me. cry cry
Carlos: Napo BIT YOU?
Me: No, he cry cry _it me! cry cry
Carlos: How did he bite you?
Me: He HIT cry cry HIT me cry cry with his cry cry stupid cry cry head! cry cry
Carlos: HIT YOU? How did he hit you?
ME: He just did, cry cry, stupid dog...cry cry,
Carlos: well I hope your nose isn't broken...they can't do anything for a broken nose!
Me: cry, cry...a little harder now thinking that my nose is off to the size of my face!
Carlos: Let me see, let me see....is it crocked?
Me: cry, cry,
Carlos: How did Napo do this?
Me: cry, cry...stupid dog!
Carlos: he didn't know
Me: cry, cry, stupid dog!
Carlos: Wow you'll probably have a black eye tomorrow
Me: cry, cry, cry!!!
Carlos: I'll get you some ice!
Dona Flor(the lady that takes care of my mother-in-law): she needs a piece of meat to put on it!
Carlos: Meat? What kind of meat?
Dona Flor: beef steak
Carlos: Let me get some ice!
Me: Cry, cry...(now looking in the mirror)
Carlos: Bet you'll have a shiner tomorrow...hope it's not broken...people will think I hit you...they won't beleive the dog did it!!

So there I sat for the next couple of hours with ice on the side of my nose looking in the mirror to see if it was swelling. Carlos and Dona Flor decided that it didn't look that bad but would probably look worse in the morning.

Well, I'm here to tell you that, 3 days later, other than a tiny bit of swelling and sore enough to the touch that I have a hard time wearing my glasses or shades, it isn't too bad....and I didn't even need the steak!

So, just when you think that nothing happens in Costa Rica....now you know, life is "Pura Vida" (pure life) here...even when the stupid dog whacks me in the face...

or so they keep telling me!!

PS....just in case you are wondering...Carlos has been very good about this and very helpful...sometimes the way he says things just come out a little different! But, that's the way it is...and I keep loving him!

Sometimes it's the little things....

2007-07-13T21:07:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it really is the little things that make or break us...hurt us or help us...

Little things like I'm sorry; Thank you; I love you; you are wonderful...

And many times it is our family that we forget to says those little things to...those who mean the most to us.

Here are some of the 'little things' that I have been thinking about resently.

Carlos Jr...Thank you for trying so hard with your extended family members. You have been such a support to both sides of the family!

Emily....thank you for being such a support to Carlos with things like sewing patches and sending him off to scout camp!

Ana-Christine...Congratulations!!! (and I'm sorry I haven't said that before.) The first set of twins in this generation for our family. You have your hands running over with blessings, to say the least!!!

Abinadi...Thank you for loving Ana-Christine like you do. You have truly been her rock and her support these past months especially.

Mary-Carmen...Way to go on fulfilling the dream of being an EFY counselor!! You are good at knowing what you want and going after it...just like you did with Tyson!

Tyson...Thank you for being patient with MC as she fulfills her dreams and goals. It's nice to have YOU as one of her goals! Welcome to the family!

Rose-Marie....I'm sorry if I have let your baby be overshadowed by other things. I really am exited for you...just let me get through both weddings and I'll bug you to tears about the baby!! LOL

David.....Congrats on the job promotion. You really are working hard for your growing little family. I'm very proud of you. Welcome to the family, too!

Catie-Lynn....Thank you for being here in Costa Rica with me. I know living here wasn't your first choice but you have tried to help me do what I felt I needed to do. I appreciate you hanging in there as long as you have! I'm sorry we haven't gotten to Playa Conchal yet...but we'll get there before the end of the year! I promise.

Carlos, SR...Thank you for being the Father of our children...our wonderful, wonderful family that is growing more numerous each year! All I ever wanted was to be a wife and mother...and now a grandmother and you have helped me achieve all that and more. Where in life would I truly be without you, my husband, my friend?

My grandchildren...I love you all more than you will know...until you are grandparents! And no matter how many grandchildren I have, there is always room in my heart for one more-even two at a time!!

Grandchildren

2007-06-22T20:10:00.000-06:00

As of tonight I have 2 new grandsons. Ben weighs in at about 1 lb 3 oz and is on a ventilator. Cooper is a broozer at just under 3 pounds was breathing on his own. Ana-Christine is doing well...heard she is very happy on the drugs she is getting!! Abinadi has yet to see the boys.

We have to trust that Heavenly Father in His wisdom is watching out for all of them.

UPDATE-Saturday Morning.....

I heard from AC through Emily this morning and the boys are stable. Other than adjusting the ventilator for Ben things are going ok. They are having some difficulties with the equipment since he is so small.
AC got to see both of them last night. Seems that Ben was missing an artery in the umbilical cord so that is what was causing the problem of him not growing. AC said that she would be posting photos in a few hours on her blog.

5 additions to our family here in Costa Rica

2007-06-13T07:52:00.000-06:00

So on June 2 and 3rd we had....

3 boys and 2 girls...not bad for the Chacon's who usually only have 1 boy!
And no, Napo is NOT the father, I don't think!!

Today, 2 1/2 weeks later they look like....

And believe me, in 4 weeks Negrita is going to the VET...this isn't happening again! Good thing we have homes for almost all of them. Catie-Lynn wants to keep one...OHHHH...... 3 dogs....I might have to move!

Mini-Golf and the dogs in Costa Rica

2007-05-21T17:34:00.001-06:00

If you ever visit Costa Rica and have nothing to do, come and play mini golf at the newest, and only, in Esparza. (I would think that we are the only mini golf west of San Jose but I don't know that for a fact. )

Now for the dogs....

We typically don't dress the dogs but this was a special photo shoot!! (Actually, it was because my girls were bored, with nothing to do (this was before the mini-golf, I might add) and they needed something some entertainment!

Napo (short for Napoleon) is the big dog and the little black dog is Negrita (means little black girl). They are somewhat bi-lingual but since I train them, they speak mostly English. They love leftover pancakes and will play dead to get some!

In this crazy world

2007-04-17T19:11:00.000-06:00

Living so far away from family and having things happen near to them is a scary thing. Though I know that none of my family was going to school there and didn't worry about that, but I do feel for the family of this boy. What they have to live with...

Today a family from church called and asked if my family was OK. It took a couple of minutes before I understood that they had heard about the shootings in Virginia and knew that my kids lived there. What a special thing for me to know that people do care about each other, in spite of what the news reports say.

I remember when Pres Kennedy was killed and how the nation cried.
I remember both both the challengers broke apart and how the nation cried.
I remember when the kids at Columbine were killed and how the nation cried.
I remember the airplanes crashing into the twin towers and how the nation cried.
I remember the fearful phone calls from my daughters in high school when they heard one of the planes used in that attack had taken off from DC-where their Dad was leaving on a business trip that morning-and how I cried when he called to say he never took off.
I remember what a source of comfort my children were to me that day-from across the country and right at home.

We have to remember that Heavenly Father is in control and we need to remember to rely on Him and his wisdom as this world gets prepared for the second coming of Christ. May we all find hope and comfort in that as we pray for those that grieve.

One piece of advice

2007-03-29T21:05:00.000-06:00

You never want to be

and have a

long after

and NOT know where all your parts are to fix the

and have no

to figure out how to use the parts you finally found to change the

Unless you have

to keep you company.....

and a former boy scout leader with a flashlight!!

OK, this is what happened...we, Carlos, some investor friends from the states and I went to look at this property out in the middle of nowhere. When we got out and the men started up the property, I saw the tire in this condition. After looking at the property with another man that came in his own car, they found that HIS tire was also flat but not shredded like ours. He had not come into the property as far as we had. Seems that the road had recently been scrapped and some rocks were very sharp so it didn't take very much for our tire to get in this shape. Luckily, the rim was still good AND it was only 1 tire. And yes, they changed our tire in the dark!! Stay tuned for further adventures in Costa Rica!!

Rice and Beans and Miss Miriam

2007-03-23T11:37:00.000-06:00

My son, Carlos JR, daugher-in-law, Emily and granddaughters are coming to Costa Rica on May 2. (And when I figure out how to use that neat little ticker thing, I'll put that on.) We heard from our son that when Miriam was told that they were coming to CR, she said, "Yay!! Then I can eat Rice and beans everyday!!"

So here's to Miss Miriam, (Miss Elaine, too) rice and beans and visiting Grandma in Costa Rica!!

I can't wait!!

White sand beach in Costa Rica

2007-03-19T16:58:00.000-06:00

We went to this beach called playa conchal...it is a white beach made of lots and lots of tiny shells. It is very clean and the water is clear. As soon as I saw it I thought of Catie-Lynn and how she has been wanting to see a clear water beach. How she would love this beach. We WILL go there when she gets back. Yes, that good looking hunk of man is non other than my husband!! And yes, that IS a terrific farmers tan he is sporting!! Right where he is standing is a drop off of several feet. It was low tide. What a wonderful time we had there. (But we didn't stay long enough that morning to do something about those tan lines of his!!)

This photo is just one of hundreds, if not thousands, of this picturesque 'things' that were on a regular sand beach to the side of Playa Conchal. I don't know what makes them but some of them were very large...at least 24x40

inches or larger. No one was on this beach...they were all next door at Playa Conchal...and it was low tide so all these were undisturbed. They were just beautiful.

I'm weird 6 times...no My 6 weird things...

2007-02-13T12:46:00.000-06:00

OK, so I find out reading Ana-Christine's blog that I am tagged...now I don't really understand what this means other than I have to let out 6 of my weirdest traits and tell 6 other people that they are tagged...well, everyone knows how weird I really am and everyone else I know has been tagged already. (Yes, I have a small circle of blogs and they have all been tagged by the one who tagged me) So if this depends on me to keep it going, sorry....you've reached the end of the railway!!

1. ahhh...well, one, i don't forward emails that tell me to forward.

2. I always look on snopes.com before I believe anything I read on an email.

3. I must be very Costa Rican because it takes me a long time to get things done...so I fit right in here.

4. I love to make people laugh

5. Since I've lost weight I'm obsessed (as Mary-Carmen calls it) with the way I look. I love to have people tell me how good I look...yes, it is really weird for me but it's the truth!!

6. I love my white nightgown...one because it's a large, not a 3X, two because it makes me feel so feminine and three because it is cool enough to sleep in here in Costa Rica. I have never in my life loved, I mean really loved a piece of clothing.

So there you have it....sorry I'm such a party pooper on this tag game!

Ain't life grand....

2007-02-03T23:15:00.000-06:00

What could be better than an afternoon siesta in a hamock in Costa Rica?

TWINS!!! That's what!!!!

Yes, my daughter, Ana-Christine and husband, Abinadi are having twins. The twins are exciting but what this really means is that I will be able to go and spend days, weeks, even months if need be with my daughter and family!! I don't know what could be more exciting!! Well, for me, it is exciting....I'm not sure how Abinadi feels about it, but hey, my daughter is having TWINS. When else can a mother-in-law move in and take over and everyone is happy???

(Did I really say TAKE OVER?...yes, I beleive I did)

And yes, my other lovely daughters and daughter-in-law....I will be happy to do the same for you. And I can tell from your expressions that you are almost as happy as Abinadi is about me moving in!!!

Yes, yes, ain't life grand!!

Just in case you have to ask.....

2007-01-26T06:28:00.000-06:00

I indeed have the absolutely cutest grand kids on the face of the earth (except for everyone else's grand kids, I'm sure). Miriam is 4 1/2, Elaine is 2 1/2, (and yes, they are biological siblings....

reminds me of Carlos Jr and Ana-Christine about 25 years ago) and Miss Logan (who is ready to do some serious work with her Daddy's hammer) is 22 months. AND, I expect ALL the rest of my grand kids to be just as cute...just in case you have to ask.

Mary-Carmen

2007-01-17T13:48:00.000-06:00

Well, while the summer winds here in Costa Rica are in full swing and blowing the dust around, my own personal whirlwind has returned to the states. She was such a part of our lives here that it seems like a different place without her. Catie-Lynn misses her so much that she's cleaning her room...rearranging it and all. When a Chacon woman rearranges furniture it means that something is changing in her life and she has to change the furniture as well!! The 'boyfriend' has cried on my shoulder twice and that was in ONE day!! Poor guy! Isn't it interesting how one person can change so many lives in the simple act of going somewhere else.

We miss you MC.

You bring joy into the lives of people that you are around. You bring love to the men in your life when you bless them with your attention! What a bag of blessings you carry with you in your life.

I hope you find what you are looking for Mary-Carmen. Thank you sharing the last 8 months and trying to help Catie-Lynn and me find our place here in Costa Rica. I love you, MC.

lemons, oranges...and other stuff.

2007-01-10T09:57:00.000-06:00

There are many interesting things in Costa Rica that until you really look, you really don’t notice. Simple things like lemons, limes and oranges for instance. Looking at the pictures can you tell which are the lemons, limes and oranges? I even cut them for you so you can see the insides. I’ll give you the answer at the end of this blog.

One of our favorite drinks here in lemonade. We squeeze the juice of 3-5 lemons, depending on the size of course, add about 2 qts of water and 1 cup of sugar. Yum, Yum. Just a sec……ok, I’m back, I had to get me a glass of lemonade! I prefer mine a little strong on the lemon but the sugar cuts the tartness.

We will have papayas from our own trees in the next few weeks. The trees have lots on them at different stages of development-they seem to grow year round here. We typically have fresh papaya drink every morning or fresh pineapple. A blender is a must here! Mangos are very seasonal but we do have a MANGA tree. (Mangos are smaller than the Mangas) Women rule in the world of mangos. (for those of you who aren’t up on your Spanish words ending in A are feminine and ending in O masculine).

Well, our little dog, Negrita, (yes, she’s black) choose to live with us in Sept or Oct., and then went into heat in Nov. Well, last week she had two puppies 3 weeks premature and both died. It was very sad but I must say that I really wasn’t looking forward to having puppies around. Having 2 dogs is quite enough for me…but when they bark all night 2 dogs is 2 too many!!!

Here are the answers.....
If you guessed that the biggest (uncut) green one is an orange, you are right!!
If you guessed that the REST of them are lemons, you are right!!
Oranges, lemons and limes can be green, yellow or orange here. But lemons are mostly green or orange. Oranges are green or yellow. Limes are intermixed with lemons but are usually smaller...but I won't swear to that fact.

Well, I don't know about you but I think I'll go enjoy my lemonade!!

New Year's Eve in Costa Rica

2007-01-05T16:38:00.000-06:00

Well, I have been trying, very unsuccessfully I might add, to upload video that we took of the fireworks that we could see on New Year's Eve. It was truly amazing with so many fireworks going off at one time.

Happy New Year everyone!!!

To my daughters and son...and their children

2007-01-01T11:24:00.000-06:00

One day you 'turnaround' and you look at your grown up children and wonder where the time went. I hope that you have happy memories just like I do! I love you Kids...so very, very much.

Turnaround

Where are you goin' my little one, little one,
Where are you goin' my baby, my own?
Turnaround and you're two, turnaround and you're four,
Turnaround and you're a young girl going out of the door!

Turnaround, ( turnaround! )
Turnaround and you're a young girl . . .
Going out of the door!

Where are you going my little one, little one,
Little dirndls and petticoats, where have you gone?
Turnaround and you're tiny, turnaround and you're grown,
Turnaround and you're a young wife
with babes of your own!

With babes of your own . . .

Words and Music by Alan Green,
Harry Belafonte and Malvina Reynolds
Clara Music Publishing Corp. & Cherry Lane Music Publishing ASCAP

All in ONE Saturday???

2006-12-31T06:00:00.000-06:00

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

2006-12-26T16:39:00.000-06:00

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.

Grandma catching up with the times!!

2006-10-24T16:25:00.000-06:00

I guess that I had to do this sometime or the other. My Grandkids are ahead of my technically, I'm afraid. Well, maybe not yet but by this time next year Miriam will be for sure!! I am hoping to make videos and all that fun stuff like my kids do but I have lots to learn...and maybe have to wait until I get better internet service....but I could be a great grandmother by then!