It's April?

Since when is it April? Seriously, where is time going?

Lots going on right now. I'm staying with a friend (Becky) and her two sons as her husband is in the States, and I'm growing more thankful every day that I don't have my own family yet. I mean, it's so much work!!! The boys (Josiah, 3, and Elliott, 2) have had some rough days without their dad, and I'm glad I could be available for Becky... I see how it is continually challenging to discipline the boys and yet remain patient and calm. Oh my... I'll send "my kids" (aka students) home every day at 2:30, thank you.

The play is over! After a week of 4-8ish? practices, the actual performances seemed to go by so quickly. Today I was already on the task of sorting out the props and costumes and giving back all the items. Wowee, quite a task, but it's definitely quicker than finding all the items!

I'm kind of sad that the play is over. I mean, I was enjoying the creative outlet so much and it was great to remember why I love art. It's seriously so relaxing to me to paint or to sketch... but I haven't done it this much since painting class a couple years ago.

While staying with Becky, we've been making clothes after the boys go to bed. That's right, "making clothes"! I sewed a skirt yesterday inspired by this company: http://www.karizadesigns.com/. I've seen the skirts for sale at the beach and Becky bought one on her recent beach trip, so I was inspired. I'll have to post pictures when I take some. Tonight we're making a tank top for Becky from my skirt scraps... We're going to match with our skirt and shirt! :)

This week is Semana Santa, meaning that everyone in Costa Rica is on vacation... except Sojourn Academy. One of the teachers was telling me today that this is the first time in 30 years that Sojourn has been in session during Semana Santa... It's kind of like when I had to work on Thanksgiving last November... except now it's the ticos who are bummed. But along with working Semana Santa comes mission teams doing Bible School in the morning, so teachers are on the sidelines. Sweet deal! :) Vacation before vacation.

Speaking of vacation, we (Kim V., Trish, and I) are heading to a new beach on Wednesday... Playa Montezuma. It's on the Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific side. Photos to come soon!

There was a bird in the classroom today. You know, the usual, ha. Oh, and because it's Semana Santa, I only had 6 of my 11 students actually at school today. Wow, can I just take the day off too?

I think that's a pretty good summary of life here right now. Happy Birthday to my Daddddyyyyy!!!! Number 47?? I may have just announced your age to the whole world, Dad... whoops. Love you! :)

Play Photos!

It was opening night this evening at Sojourn Academy, and the high schoolers did so well!!! We were all so proud of all their hard work! Here's some photos from Wednesday night's photo shoot during dress rehearsal:Waiting for the Count to arrive to propose to their daughter.

At the wedding: the bride and parents

the house set

the postman, butcher, and vendor reacting

the whole cast, responding to the urgent letter the teacher receives

Rushing Around Like a Chicken with My Head Cut Off

ha, April Fools!! My head is still on my shoulders... at least it was last time I looked in the mirror.

I'm running, running this week with teaching 7:30-2:30 daily and play rehearsal 3-8 daily. Whew!

I'm photographing the show for tomorrow night... so pictures to come soon! :)

Love!

Back to Work!!

I'm back to work after a quick week of vacation/teaching. :) Today we painted/built/put together the rest of the set for next week's play. How exciting! Here's a look at what we accomplished:

Sabrina and Cole... getting lots done.

Aylish and Kia making flower arrangments.

It's coming together!!

Cutting leaves for the vines was a big project...
and then we carried everything to the gym!

More photos of the play to come!

Sneak Peek

A Friendly Trip

Sooo Jenny and Sarah and Kim were supposed to come this week. The good news is that Sarah and Kim are still coming.... but Jenny can't find her passport. Bummer, bummer, bummer. So she's taking a rain check on my Costa Rica tour skills for now.

Here's what Sarah, Kim, and I will be up to this week:

monday, march 23rd
arrive at airport 11:45. settle into room at AMCA house. downtown adventure 3pm. with my tico family at 6 for dinner.hang out/rest.

tuesday, march 24th
go to school 6:50am tour the school, hang out in the classrooms, etc., leave school 3pm, catch bus to Puerto Viejo, sleep at Cabinas Jakaranda

wednesday, march 25th
beach all day :), can rent bikes for the day, can go to a butterfly garden

thursday, march 26th
sunrise?beach in the morning, catch bus to San Jose, late afternoon

friday, march 27th
catch taxi to airport at 3:30 pr 4am, $26 in total (split between 3)country exit tax $28catch plane 6am, and me back to work 7:30am

Whew!!

Visit to the Earthquake Site

Roots torn out of the ground.

So today we had a paseo of sorts... we ventured out to see the earthquake site from the 6.2 quake in January. The whole family came along for the adventure, and they had been to the area before the earthquake many times, so they said many times, "Aaah, remember when we.....??" but they kept saying how much destruction there is since the earthquake. We were also talking about how life can change so fast. The earthquake lasted only 48 seconds, but houses fell off cliffs, landslides covered entire pastures, and trees toppled like dominoes. It was unreal what it all looks like now.

Can you tell what it is??? A house...

The tica mom and I :) Que linda!

Electric pole snapped in half

another house that's barely a house

The whole family kept saying "This used to be green!!! All the trees have disappeared!!" Crazy, huh??

Roads were snapped in half like this... and the other half had mysteriously vanished... wow.

This waterfall drew tourists from everywhere... but now the draw might be more to see the destruction than to see the La Paz Waterfall Gardens.Judit, my tica sister... clearly up to something.
We stopped at a fruit market on the way back... and Judit and I were really cold. I think this is my cold/laughing face? :) haha Judit makes me laugh a lot!