Life Lately February 2026

 I realize it is almost April, but here are some life moments from the month of February.  

 

I started the month by meeting a dear friend for coffee. We had a long visit trying to catch up on all that took place while we had been gone to the States. 

 

We enjoyed watching the Olympics. 

 

 

We made a drive into Guatemala City to renew Cruz's Guatemalan passport. 

 

 

We celebrated Valentine's Day.  Here we are having a date night meal at Pappy's BBQ. 

 

 

Ben made a few visits to the climbing gym.  On this visit he took his friend Ethan. 

 

 

On this visit he took his friend Joshua (who is not pictured).

 

 

I packed away the Valentine's decorations and now have our house ready for Easter. 

  

 

Cruz translating at youth group. 

 

 

In his cooking class during February he made a mud pie (chocolate pie), cream cheese brownies, a key lime cheese cake, and a puffy omelet.  He makes one recipe each week.   

 

 

I made a roast for the first time in Guatemala. 

 

I also tried a new recipe for a sausage and egg breakfast casserole.  It was delicious! 

 

 

I made blueberry ricotta pancakes for the first time.  This was another delicious new recipe. 

 

my pancakes 

 

Ben with his friend Josue matching at church. 

 

 

I celebrated my birthday.   

 

Lastly, we ended the month attending the annual Intermissions Conference at beautiful Lake Atitlan. Here is a group photo from this year's conference.

 

Valentine's Day 2026

 We had a fun Valentine's Day celebration this year. 

 

As always, I decorated our table and had gifts set out for my guys that morning. 

 

My gifts were roses,  a new table runner for spring/ Easter, and a coffee cup.  Both of those came from San Martin.

 

David got a tea blend from Pachamama and some honey from Doña Luisa.

 

 

We had heart shaped chocolate chip banana pancakes and bacon for breakfast. 

 

Later that morning, I headed out for a walk in town.  From this corner you can see all three volcanoes in our area- Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango. 

 

 

 

I made a strawberry cake for our Valentine's dessert. 

 

 

David and I went out to eat that night at Pappy's BBQ. It was our first visit since being back in Guatemala.

 

We then spent some time walking around town and enjoying the sights.

 

Overall, it was a simple but lovely day! 

Life Lately February 2025

 Here is a look at our family life from the month of February.

 

I took this photo on a Saturday morning walk around town. The volcanoes look like they have snow on them.

 

 

I snapped these photos on another walk I took one afternoon.  It is of the beautiful jacarandas that are in full bloom this time of year.  They are my favorite! 💜

 

 

We had lunch with some friends and enjoyed getting to catch up.  We miss getting to see those three Johnson boys on a regular basis.  Their family now lives and serves in another part of Guatemala, and we only see them a few times a year.

 

Ben with friends

 

On Super Bowl Sunday David preached at an evening service in Xenacoj.  On the drive back home we stopped in San Lucas for supper at Lai Lai, which is a Chinese restaurant chain here in Guatemala.  To our surprise, they were playing the game on their screens.

 

Ben ate using chopsticks.

 

I took this random photo because it is rare to crack open an egg and see a double yolk.

 

 

While the boys were at youth on a recent Wednesday night, David and I enjoyed a date night to our favorite BBQ restaurant in town- Pappy's.

 

 

Ben enjoyed a Saturday birthday party outing. They went to Guatemala City and did lazer tag, bowling, arcade games, visited a mall, and ate some fun foods.  They were gone from 10:00 am until 9:00 pm.  What a fun time to spend with friends!

 

 

ice cream with friends

 

birthday party fun

 

Ben at an arcade in Guatemala City.

 

 

We hosted a volunteer team from Virginia.

 

 

Ben and I went on a mother/son outing to Starbucks and the arcade.

 

 

Cruz and I took a pasta class in town.

 

 

Cruz did several fun experiments. 

 

 

We had a fun time celebrating Valentine's Day that ended with a date night.

 

 

We enjoyed the second annual Night of Candles.

 

 

We attended the annual Intermissions Conference.

 

 

I celebrated my birthday.