Life Lately January 2021

Here is a snippet of our lives during the month of January.

The boys go through different forms of self-entertainment.  December and January were filled with forts.  They would built them in the front yard and back yard.  They would keep them up for about a week and then tear them down and start all over.  They drag out so much stuff each time and honestly it drives me crazy.  I overlook it though because they are outdoors, playing, and having fun.  It could be worse. They also clean up well after themselves, so that helps. 

On this particular day they were army men defending their fort, which they named Fort Galaxy.  They played for hours!

Here they were eating lunch in another fort they had built.  

I love sunsets and the boys know it.  One evening while cleaning up from supper I heard Cruz call me up to his room to show me his view.  It was beautiful!!

Ben helping me peel potatoes for supper one night.

David had gone into town one morning to run an errand and he picked up some donuts while there.  He surprised us with them on our school morning break.  We love donuts!!!

David made a trip to Coban and sent me this picture of his breakfast view.  It was taken at Casa de Acuña.  We lived right next door to this restaurant during our first missionary term.  We ate there often.  It will always hold a special place in our hearts.

This 8 week quarter the boys are doing arts & crafts, P.E., and Awana at Encounter Academy in the afternoons.  On Friday's they go a little earlier and do a study hall period and eat lunch before Awana. We are using that time to squeeze in a few dates.  It has been a lot of fun so far.  Our first outing was to a local coffee shop.  They had delicious carrot cake!

Another week we visited Cafe Condesa for coffee and dessert.  Antigua is the perfect place for lunch and coffee dates.  There are so many great places to go.

That same day we visited an art exhibit.

beautiful Antigua!

We joined some friends for a Friday night camp-out at Finca Florencia.  It is located about twenty minutes up the mountain from Antigua in Santa Lucia.  It is one of our favorite local places to visit. Here are Cruz and David setting up our tent.

Excited for some time in the great outdoors!

The sunset from our campsite.

Another sunset view from an evening walk around the property.  We did several walks including one at night after supper.  

David and Cruz clowning around in a tree at night.

Ben relaxing in the hammock on Saturday morning while we cooked breakfast.

our campsite

Saturday morning volcano view

We had a wonderful time and are looking forward to returning soon.

Another weekend we made a quick overnight trip to Chiquimula to visit the church in Nearar.

stopping for lunch at McDonald's in Guatemala City

 It's about a five hour drive from Antigua to Chiquimula when there are no road delays.

El Rancho has really changed in recent years.  For the longest time there was only a Sarita's and a few gas stations.  Now they have McDonald's, Pollo Campero, a grocery store, and yet another new gas station.

We arrived in Chiquimula that afternoon and checked into Hotel Caporal.  We lived next door to this hotel for four years and used it for our teams and visitors.  It felt like home to be back there.

The first thing we noticed was that they are building a new pool.  It will be right beside the other one.  The hotel owner gave us permission to use the pool any time we wanted when we lived there.  It was a life saver on those hot afternoons with the boys.  We took them swimming often and miss getting to do that now.  We look forward to returning and swimming in the new pool when it is done.

another view of the pool construction

The boys wasted no time changing clothes and jumping in.  It was refreshing after the long car ride.

That evening we visited the mall food court for supper.  We saw a beautiful sunset when we left.

Another thing we did a lot of was visit the circus when we lived in Chiquimula.  They came through regularly and we never missed one.  We were shocked but excited to see one there during our visit.  After supper we headed that way.  I think I was more excited than anyone.  I love a circus!!

The boys bought light up swords while there.

 

One of our favorite circus memories was the time the transformer car was there.  This circus had it again.  It is cool to watch it turn from a car into this tall structure.  The boys were excited to get their picture made with it.

The next morning (Sunday) we drove up the mountain to Nearar for a worship service.  It is always good to return and see the precious people there.  We miss them so much.

 

This is me with Luz, the pastor's wife, and her children.

David preaching on Sunday morning.

Lunch stop before making the long drive back home.

It took a little longer to return due to an accident on the road.  You can see the cars backed up all the way around the mountain.

An 18 wheeler filled with sacks of coffee beans had overturned.  

We passed this truck on the outskirts of Guatemala City and noticed the LSU sticker on the window.  That made us smile.  

It was a good month and we made many fun memories.