Lago de Atitlan

What a perfect fabulous day!  Lago de Atitlan is an amazing site to see!  I would recommend it to anyone!  It was stunning, breathtaking even.  I have never felt so small!  But lets start at the beginning…

The tour bus picked me up at my house at 5am.  I went, all alone, on this tour to Atitlan, which was a boat tour, stopping at 3 different villages around the lake and spending about an hour or so at each place.  The entire tour was from 9a-4p, with my bus leaving back to Antigua at 5p.  Now mind you, i’ve never done a group tour sort of thing period, let alone by myself, and out of my comfort zone, where at least things were familiar.  Our bus gets to Panajahal and the guy in the office says ” be back here by 4:45.”  Everyone took off!!  I was standing there…like, um…I didn’t even know what direction to go, where the lake was, or really, where on the world I even was!   I stood there for a moment, and got a grip.  After I swallowed this huge lump of panic, I was able to approach and say, “i’m sorry, how do I get to the Lake for my tour?”  They are so friendly, it still amazes me.  One of them hailed down a tuc tuc, the little 3 wheeled taxis and told the driver where I was going.  He told me to have a great time, and I thanked him for his help.  Then I’m whizzing down streets, not even knowing if i’m going in the right direction!  I laughed and laughed, and the driver may have thought I was crazy!

Then, there it was.  I was amazed.  It was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen.  There were locals around, selling their goods, cooking foods, playing at the waters edge.  I bought some things, and then when It was time, I got on my boat.  I met lots of interesting people on the boat, from all over the world.  France, Isreal, Mexico, and the US.  One lady and I got to talking and we checked out the villages together on the stops.  Her name was Helen and she is a teacher from Virginia.  She was telling me that she comes to Guatemala for 4 weeks every summer, this was her 4th yr.  The last week, her husband comes.  hahaha what a great idea!! 

Our 1st stop was San Pedro.  We went into town and saw some crazy local markets, which was very cool.  Tons of local people, buying their meats, vegetables, and grains.  It was strange for me to see tables with raw chickens on them, flies everywhere on them, other raw meats I couldn’t quite  identify, with the same situation.  People were touching them, lifting them, not always purchasing that piece.  I was moved by how different it is.  At home, we’re terrified if there’s a seal broken, or if the salad sets out over an hour.  And here?  It’s just so different.  The smell though, of all the raw meat, was quite overwhelming.  And fish!  Raw, whole fish, and crabs, and people with little scales, buying what they needed.  There were people with their textiles also, mostly clothing, and people were purchasing.  It was really neat to see the inside, not them selling to us, but to eachother.  There was a young girl at a large loom, making one of her items, and I watched her for a bit.  She allowed me to take a picture, which I did!  Some people when I asked, they said no, as they are very private people, the mayans.  And I would just smile, and move on.  

Second stop was Santiago, which by this time, I was pretty hungry!  I hadn’t eaten yet!   Helen said she knew of a great place for a bite to eat and an ice cold beer, so we went!  I wish I could remember the name of the place, but I can’t.  It was lovely, and the seating was outside, with what looked like chain link fence over the top, and covered with growing vines, plants and  flowers.  It was so beautiful!  We had french fries and I experienced my 1st Gallo Beer.  Gallo is very popular here.  It was very good, and ice cold, as promised.  It sure hit the spot! 

Last stop was San Antonio, which was a lovely village.  We walked around a did a little shopping.  I love the bargaining thing!  I’m pretty good at it!  I think I am, but then, back on the boat, I find out I paid Q10 for the same thing someone else paid Q6 for.  It makes me laugh!  It was sunny and beautiful all day.  When we arrived back at Panajahal, I took a tuc tuc back to the tourism office, and sat in the shade of the open office, and bought an aqua pura.  I was dry!  I was thirsty, hot, sunburnt, and totally happy and relaxed. 

On the bus back to Antigua, I had another moment where I had to swallow my panic.  I was the only female on the bus, with the driver and 4 other males.  Ya know, your mind goes places sometimes….but I was fine, they were funny, awesome guys, and I got delivered safely home at 8pm, tired and happy.   And hungry!!  My house mama orderd me some fried chicken, french fries, and diet pepsi…and it was delivered, by a guy on a motorcycle!  I was very appreciative of her help, and after I paid the man and headed to my room with my food, I just laughed out loud.  I just got chicken and fries, delivered, in Guatemala…hahaha I didn’t even know that was an option!   It was delicious, too.

Today…?  Who knows!  I think a relaxing day by the pool at Hotel Antigua may be in order….til later, blog stalkers!!  xoxo

My Guardian Angel

Well today after school, at 2pm, a group of us went to My Guardian Angel, which is in a really poor neighborhood of Antigua.  It is an after school project for low income families so that their children have a safe place to go, and they can work.  It was such a loving great place!  The leader lady, Marta, was so kind!  Everyone was.  The kids were so adorable, and so happy to have the attention!  They range in age there from 4-14.  We took them out in the neighborhood today, and went to the local public pool.   They don’t get to go there much, one little girl told me.  They had a fabulous time!   It was so different then our public pools back home.  There was no adults around.  Just us, that came with them.  There wasn’t any “No Diving” signs,  or any rules listed of any kind, actually.  Some kids wore swim suits, some stripped to their underwear, others went in fully dressed.  I know at home, you MUST have swim wear on or they don’t let you in.  I love how it’s so laid back here.  People just live.  And have fun.  And walk…ALOT!   I’ve never walked so much in my entire life as I’ve walked since I’ve been here! 

There was a local lot, where some kids played basketball / soccar?  It was interesting to be in their space, on their level.  The children were beautiful, fun, sweet and happy.  Once little girl who walked with me, told me her name was Atril, and she was 10.  She spoke no english at all, but thought it was really cool that I did!   I taught her a few words

We were able to spend almost 3 hours with them, total.  It was really great.  The painting on the wall of the place, is a painting that was very familiar to me.  My sister had that painting above her bed, for as far back as I can remember.  It’s beautiful, and it made me smile to see it.  The children were so great when we 1st got there.  It was my 1st time, so they came over, introduced themselves to me.  Then they took turns jumping rope, and we counted, to see who did the most jumps without stopping.  They were loving the attention so much, and the friendly challenge between them.   There was this one little boy, he was so cute!  I didn’t get his name, but he had the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen.  He was quiet, and smiled, ALOT! 

I really enjoyed participating in this, and look forward to it again next Friday!  The kids were waiting for us, all excited, because they too, know we come on Friday.  They were sure a welcoming bunch!  The place was pretty large inside, the floors were dirt.  It was comfortable, and clean, and safe. 

Tomorrow?  Off at 5am for a day at Lago de Atitlan!  Until then xoxo

 

Hola!

Week 2 is almost over….it’s unbelieveable that my time here is about 1/2 over!!  Time flies!  I’m having such a good time!  I feel so relaxed, and happy.  I miss my family, but i’m thankful for the internet in my room, so we can talk, all the time!  Well, when there’s a free moment! 

After lunch today, I walked back to Tecun Uman because I was going on a group tour at 2pm to San Antonio Aqua Calientes.  It is a mayan town, and we toured a business ran by the mayans.  They showed us some of their native traditions and customs.  They used 2 people from the group, and acted out a wedding festival.  They dressed the people in the tradition garb for the occasion.  Then they explained why they did certain things, as they did them, and explained everything.  They circled the couple with burning incense to chase away bad spirits, then they sprinkled flower petals on them.  White petals, for purity, after ridding them of the spirits. They explained that it wasn’t that they had bad spirits IN them, but that bad spirits surround them.   They showed us the dance that they do at wedding festivals, and we all danced.  LOL  it was fun!  They showed us different textiles they make, and explained what they are used for.  I didn’t realize that they had different purposes!  One kind is made by the family of the groom, and placed over the head of the mother of the bride, to show respect.  Another is used to lie in baskets that are used to bring food to the festival.  Another is used to swaddle a baby and it ties onto the mother, so her hands are free to hold onto her other children, or carry textiles, etc. The women in the family of the bride make a beautiful apron, and after the ceremony, they tie it around the waist of the bride.  It’s a big part of the ceremony, symbolizing her now being in the kitchen, cooking for her husband and soon, her own family.  Can you imagine?  It was really very cool to see and hear it all. 

Then they cooked some traditional foods and we got to taste.  We watched a very old mayan lady kneel on the floor on a woven matt.  She rolled out dough and made tortillas on a rock slab, then cooked them on a round piece of metal that was placed over a wood fire burning right on the dirt floor.   Then they served us this clay bowl of chicken, veggies, rice and one of those “cooked right there right now” tortillas, which were delicious! 

I was touched by how much goes into their festival of marriage.   They all work together.  It’s about sharing, and giving gifts, and being together.  We could learn alot from them!   It takes them on average, 6 months to make the piece that gets placed on the brides mothers head.  It’s made special for her, for this occasion.  They said that the dancing goes on that whole night following the wedding  ceremony, and all the next day.  They just dance, and cook, and eat, and share, and love, and dance some more.   I was truely moved.  I think we all were.  The ride back to Antigua was quiet…reflective…

Stay tuned tomorrow as I write about my 1st experience at Mi Guardian Angel!  Til then, blog stalkers! 

xoxo

A Day Without Rain!

Normally, since it’s winter here, which translates into “Wet Season”, it rains, at least once a day.  Now sometimes, it rains long and hard, but mostly, it just rains for a bit…usually in the afternoon.  Today, there’s been no rain!  It’s a beautiful day here in Antigua! 

After school today, I walked to my house and had a lunch, then I went for a swim at the pool at Hotel Antigua, which is around the corner from here.  It’s a beautiful pool, and I love going there.  Mondays and Wednesdays are my longer days at school, so if I go for a swim, it’s likely on Tuesdays.   Thursday this week i’m visiting A San Antonio Aguas Calientes, a small town, and we’ll see some demonstrations of traditions there, and try some typical food.  It will be fun and interesting!  Friday I’m volunteering at the Mi Angel Guardian, a place for children who have no safe place to go after school.  I’m very excited to see what thats about, and to see the children.  Maybe it’s an orphanage also?  I’m not sure.  Then on Saturday, I’m going on an overnight trip to Lago de Atitlan.  I’m psyched!!

I’m going to try to explain what I’m seeing/eating/smelling/feeling!  Buildings are old!  And decorative.  People are friendly, and their clothes are so colorful.  The trees are lush and tropical.  The flowers are stunning.  The smells from the flowers are nice, but nothing beats the smell of lilacs in bloom.  They will refresh a whole neighborhood!  When I’m walking down the street, I hear people talking in spanish, I hear laughter, horses clopping up the street, cars beeping, because they don’t wait for you to get out of the way here!  They pass you if your going too slow for them, and they just beep as they pass, so you know, and you push over.  They beep if your at the curb to let you know not to try it!  Lots of beeping here.  But, it seems to be the way, and they wave eachother on, or past, and no one seems to experience road rage here. LOL   It’s refreshing!  I hear dogs, as there are street dogs everywhere.  They look sad, and skinny.  I hear clanking as people cook and smell a barrage of different food smells.  It’s very hard to explain the food, because I’d never experienced anything like it, so I’ve nothing to compare it to.  But for the most part, it’s amazing!   They eat alot of bread here.  I get it served with every meal.  And soup!  Every day lunch starts with soup and bread.   I drink tea here everyday, which is new for me.  But it’s good!  And salt, haha, it took me days to realize that there was salt!   It’s in a little bowl on the table, and you just pinch some out, and sprinkle it on your food.  I was looking for a shaker!  I brought my own salt for my room, but it wasn’t as if I was going to bring it to their table! LOL  The salt is coarser, and you need less, much less, then I’m used to.   I’ve not yet seen pepper, only hot chili powder on the table with the salt.

The little boy that lives here, he’s 1 yr old and he is so adorable!  He always gives me a high 5, then he touches the front of his little fist to mine, then he blows me a kiss.  Aww he’s got the most beautiful little face!   He sure tires his mama out.  He’s always going, going, going!  But he’s a good boy.  Havn’t heard him cry yet, or yell.  He’s very sweet, and always laughing.   He likes to come out into the garden and water the flowers.  His mama gives him the hose, and he walks all around the garden, watering everything.  It’s so cute!  Sometimes, he turns to her, or me, and of course, the hose goes with him, and his mama says “No, No! La flores!”  and he goes back at it.  

This experience is just amazing.  I could go on and on and ON! But, I’ll save some for another blog!  Adios!!

Here I am!

Me in Semuc Champay, Guatemala

Wkend at Coban – Semuc Champay

Wow.

This trip was absolutely amazing.  An adventurer i’m not, so when I realized this was SERIOUS hiking, I was a bit excited, and frightened.  Then, I honestly thought, after the 1st hour, that I was going to die, there in the jungle of Guatemala, never to be found.  My heart was pounding, I couldn’t breathe, and I was so utterly internally hot, it felt impossible to live.  However, I did, and I made it to the reward of all this hiking,  a two hour swim in the fabulous pools of Semuc Champay.  I can not describe the beauty and do it true justice. 

When we left Antigua, we drove for 7-8 hours, then stopped at a hotel, and I realized then that I was bunking with someone I’d not met.  And I was supposed to sleep??  But she was nice.  A  lady named Ricki from Denmark.  We bunked together in what we thought was the smallest possible hotel room ever!  But we had a great time!  It was an amazing experience!   We drove a few more hours on Saturday, and got to our second hotel, where Ricki and I discovered, hotel rooms DO get smaller!  This was a bit scary, but again, the experience was just too much!  We lovingly called our room “the cell” and had a blast.  We all had Rum and sprite that night, and laughed long into the evening.  At the second hotel, we were told that to continue on the the hiking spot, we couldn’t travel by our vans as the roads from this point on were too dangerous.  We were told, we were going by pickup.  I was trying to imagine what this meant?  Oh my word!!  Too funny!  We all rode in the back of a pick up, standing (I have blisters from hanging on so tight!) while this driver whizzed up, up and up some more on these gravel roads that twisted around and dropped off to…forever!  It was terrifying, and I kept telling myself, the driver has experience in this!  Then we were at the hiking spot, after about a 1/2  hour on the real life sized roller coaster ride.  I was stunned to realize what degree of hiking this was going to entail!  To any of you who know me, I’m not a hiker!!  But I did it!  Albeit slower than the others. LOL  It was crazyamazingbeautiful!!  The swim in the pools was the best swim i’d ever had!  Of course, I was so hot, it was unreal.  I felt like I was cooking from the inside out.  I’d never experienced such humidity!  My clothes were just…wet!  After I showered that night?  It took 3 hours for my hair to dry!  It was amazing!   Right before dark, we went to the caves of Lanquin.  It was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen.  Then I got claustrophobic in there, and had to leave.  But I tried!!  I’m proud of myself for that!   I went back outside, and waited for the others.  I was disappointed in myself, but glad I tried.  What I saw, was truely stunning.  My pics don’t do it justice!  When we finally went to bed that night, so so tired, all we could hear was nature.  It was so beautiful!  I’ve just never imagined I would be in a place like this, doing things like this, hearing, smelling things like this! 

On Sunday, we headed back to Antigua, stopping on the way in Coban, which was a beautiful little town, with markets galore!  I did a little shopping!   Then we stopped at the Quetzal Biotope, which is a reserve; the natural habitat for the Quetzal, which is Guatemala’s national bird.  We walked all about, and It was utterly gorgeous.  We didn’t see any Quetzals, but we were hoping! 

I finally arrived back at my house about 8:30 Sunday night, soooo tired!  What an amazing weekend!!  I hope you all visit my facebook and enjoy the pics!!  

 

OMG I’m loaded!!

OMG I just tried to load this again this am, not really expecting it to load, as it hasn’t so far and BAM! Here it is!!  When I 1st arrived, it took a few days to get the internet up and running in my room, then my blog wouldn’t load!  But, just so you all know, i’ll blog as much as I can!  If you don’t see new writings, it’s simply because it wouldn’t load for me at that time. Ok?  Ok!

It’s day 5 of my Guatemala adventure.  I can’t tell you how exciting, amazing and beautiful it is!  Anyone who knows me would be amazed at all i’m doing. LOL  The food!  Lets just start there!Normally,  I don’t eat it, if I don’t know what it is, or if it “looks funny”.  I have no idea what i’m eating here!  Yesterday my house mama served me soup that looked like dirty dishwater.  I thought…omg!  But, I stuck my spoon in it, and I tried it.  It was delicious!!  I think I’ve been missing out!  haha

I walk 7 blocks to school, back for lunch, back to school for a trip most days, at 2pm.  Then back home again.  When I left the states, I was told over and over not to walk anywhere alone, even durring the daylight.  My very 1st morning here, I was given a little map of the city…??  I was like, isn’t anyone walking with me?  LOL  But no…I had no choice!  Now, this is a funny story.  I woke up, saw it was 8:45.  I freaked out because I thought to myself, it’s really 10:45!  I had an appt. with the director of the school that 1st morning, Sunday, at 11am.  I thought OMG I’m going to be late my very 1st day!  I didn’t even shower, I left my home, armed only with my little map.  I was nervous, as I was alone, and knew I shouldn’t be.  There was hardly anyone out and about, which only made me more nervous.  I practically ran to the school, and when I arrived, I rang the bell, and rang it again.  A tiny little old lady came to the door.  She looked like I just dragged her out of bed, and she spoke NO english.  The few words I could get out of all she was saying, was “early” and  “sleeping”  so I asked, “que hora es??”  It was 7:10 in the morning!!  I’m so glad they didn’t hate me right from the start!  haha  I had the time switched around.  I appologised profusely, and walked the 7 blocks back to my home.  I ate almonds and water…they don’t feed you on wkends.  Then, I walked back to the school at the correct time!  Mario, the director, made some marks on my map, things to see, places to eat, and after our mtg, I wandered the town.  I went to the restaurant he recommended, and it was delicious.  Again, I have NO IDEA what I ate, but It was amazing.  In the back of my mind, I’m thinking, I’m out here alone again…but it seems I have no choice, except to stay at home.  And THAT wasn’t happening.  I’m careful though, and so far, so good.  People are very kind. 

There is a lady and her daughter, who looks about 5, who I’ve seen several times, sitting on a stoop on my way to school.  Yesterday, I stopped when they spoke to me.  The lady tried to sell me her goods, which I declined.  The little girl, who when I asked her, told me her name was Rosemary.  She showed me necklaces that she makes.  She was so beautiful, and so were her necklaces.  I bought 4!  LOL   I walked home after that, and got some bubbles that I had brought with me from the states, and went back to the stoop.  I sat on the curbing with them, and Rosemary blew bubbles and laughed and laughed.  It was awesome!  At dinner that night, another student was saying that on their way home they saw a little girl on the street blowing bubbles!  I smiled……and shared the story.  She allowed me to take a few pictures.  It was truly amazing. 

It’s almost time for breakfast now, and then school.   Hopefully, more to come later, if the website is agreeable! 

xoxoxo

The time is….NOW!

OMG!  I can’t think straight!  I can’t focus!  I’m so excited that I just can’t hardly stand it!  I leave in the morning, for my trip to Guatemala.  I leave, for the adventure of my life!  I’ve decided I’m not saying no to anything that presents itself!  I can not go on this amazing trip, and be a chicken shit!  Even if I didn’t go now?  Even if they told me at the airport that they were sorry, it was all a mistake, this whole experience?  It’s already changed me.  I’d be pissed, don’t get me wrong!  LOL  But, I feel like it’s already changed me, and I’ll be forever grateful for that.

   I can’t begin to explain what this trip is going to mean to me!  I went to college at GCC to persue my RN, and I’ve gotten sidetracked by spanish!  I’m so in love with it!  The language, the culture, the music…everything!  I’m still working on my RN of course, but now I’ve added language in, and I can’t / won’t stop!  I want to be fluent.  I want to travel, and help, and share, and learn.  It’s so exciting!  I’m 41 yrs old, and before I won this scholarship, I honestly thought these things were past the point of opportunity for me.  I never dreamed I would be doing something like this.  Now I can’t imagine letting it stop here.  I’ve learned I have alot to give, and alot to learn, from this world!   And I’m about to experience life outside of my borders…outside of my comfort zone.  I can not wrap my mind around what that will be like!  So, you’ll have to wait until I’ve actually experienced it to get my thoughts on that…

My 2 pink suitcases are packed and sitting next to my bed!  My carry on, my camera bag and my lap top bag will be sitting on the counter when I go to bed, all ready to go.  I’ve got copies of my passport and other pertinent info in a manilla envelope in my underwear drawer.  I’ve talked to all the kids,  gone over my plans over and over…I have my “travel outfit” folded neatly sitting atop my dresser.  I’m like, the travel freak!  I’m so excited I hope I can sleep!!   If not…I guess I have a long ride tomorrow. haha Just kidding, babe (he’d kill me!)

I leave the ground at 1:59 tomorrow afternoon.  Send me lots of positive energy!!

Happy Fathers Day!

Happy Fathers Day!   It took several years for me to even be able to say that again!  I lost my dad in 1996.  I was only 29 years old.  Not old enough to lose my dad.  I was utterly heart broken.  I don’t think it’s possible for a girl to be closer to her daddy, then I was with mine.  He was an amazing, loving man.  I was amazed at how big his heart was, and how much everyone seemed to love him.  When I was young, my dad was a raging alcoholic.  Lots of bad memories around this time.  Then, he quit and never looked back.  He was sober for over 16 years when he died.  I was always supremely proud of him for that.  That was not an easy thing to do!  And my mother…OMG I think she was easier for him to tolerate, drunk.  She was horrible to him, saying things like “you may as well drink because I still don’t see you anyways”.  He was at AA meetings usually every night.  Then he started speaking at them.  Sharing his story, his peaks and valleys of his disease.  Then he became very very active at the VFW, holding local offices, then state offices.  I was so proud of him.  He was so handsome in his uniform.   I got involved in the VFW also, and it became a thing we did together.  We’d go to state conferences, I ran bingo with him for a few years, I became a member of the Ladies Aux. and of the color guard.  I remember his looks of pride as I’d march by.  It made me feel good to share this with him.  At the VFW, when they had bands, my dad would work the bar, and I’d cocktail waitress.  God, those were some seriously good times.  Such good people I met there.   I remember when someone would get married, or someone would die, we would gather at the club and make food!  Or bring in food.  And we always had gatherings for our friends and members, good circumstances, or bad.  And then, it was my turn.  My dad had died.  I was at the VFW not supplying food, but eating food.  Not offering hugs and condolences, but being wept on, loved on,  and offered condolences.  At his funeral when they supplied full color guard for him, they played taps for him, I was so deeply proud, and moved, and sad beyond words.   I couldn’t imagine a life without him.  And yet, life has gone on.  And I’ve done ok.  I miss him.  All the time.  I look at his pictures, and miss him.  On his Birthday every year, I eat some mint julep candies..which were his favorite.   I used to get him a balloon, and set it free in the sky.  I havn’t done that for the last few years…I think because my kids are older.  They used to do that with me.   I will always remember the last thing he said to me.  He said, ” Babe, leaving you is the hardest.  I’m not sure your going to be ok.  I’ve never been to the other side, so I don’t really know how it works, but if I can let you know I’m with you, I will.  Watch for me.”  And I do!  And I’ve felt him, many, many times.  I’ve heard him laugh.  I’ve felt him sit on the edge of my bed.  I’ve watched, and seen, the signs, and I KNOW that he’s with me, alot of the time.   I love and miss you, daddy….

One week left!

I fly away one week from today!!!  Amazing!  It’s too crazy to think about for long. LOL  I went today and got my Guatemala Do.  I was supposed to go yesterday but I had the time for my appt. wrong…Grrrr  So, I went today!  And I like it!  I didn’t go short, like usual.  And the color is….wow.  I’m not used to it yet!   I can’t believe I’m leaving my everything in one short week!  I just packed my second bag today.  I’m really ready!  It’s so flipping exciting!! 

I talked to all the kids today!  Talked to Erik, who’s doing well down in FL.  He posted some pics today of him and Kayla.  They are looking so grown up.  Kat called today, and Becca called too.  And of course, Joselyn, who I see every day    I miss them kids that I don’t see everyday!  They are growing up..and doing their own thing.   I love them all so much, it’s crazy.  My boy is going to be 22 this summer…WTF??  When did that happen??  I remember his as a tiny wee boy, lying on the couch sound asleep.  I’d pile pillows all around him so he wouldn’t roll off….Now he’s longer then the couch!  Now he’s a man.  A man in love with a beautiful sweet girl.   And Becca…awww dang I remember when she was a teeny tiny baby with bright red hair!  She was the happiest baby EVER.  She NEVER cried.  She was always happy, always smiling.  And Kat…Kat was wild, even as a baby.  I remember her whizzing by in her walker, not able to walk yet, but hanging onto the dogs tail, and treating his tail like a horses reign.  He would run by, and she was flying behind him…hahahaha she would giggle so.   And Joselyn…she came into my life at 6 yrs old.  She was such a demon!  She used to hide my things outside lol.  We laugh about that now.  She is 14 and growing into an amazing young lady.  She’s got a fabulous sense of humor and she’s so beautiful.  They all are.  What can I say?  I have beautiful children. :)  They’ve all had their challenges growing up, but they all make me very proud.  I drive them all crazy with my camera, but they will appreciate it someday.  I have so many pictures its amazing.  I love looking at our albums.  They bring back so many memories.  Of course now, so many of the newer albums are online, which is great.  It’s neat to look at the pics on the “big screen.”   Someday, when they all have kids of their own, they’ll be glad I was always taking pics.  And who knows?  Maybe one or two of them will end up photo buffs too   Erik takes random pics already, like me.  He’s good, too! 

Gosh…I feel so sad and old now…………