Spring has sprung - sort of . . .

Fickle.  That's what it is.  One day it's 60 degrees, the next, 45 and raining.  I'm beginning to feel a bit schizophrenic!

The brood is busy - as usual.  Track is in full swing, and on a sunny day there's nothing like sitting in the stands watching the kids race.  Splendid.  The surface of the track is so nice and squishy - it makes me want to sneak in and join them.  Yeah, I know, I'd get left behind out of the blocks - but still - one can dream - eh?!

Two weeks til the dance recital.  Whew!  India's been sewing full time - making over 800 costumes as well as  props. Crazy.  But I can't wait to see the performances.  In one of India's tap classes, a girl's family moved and so there was a missing dancer.  Wouldn't be so bad, but part of the dance they have partners and it would have looked a bit silly with one person without a partner - and it just so happened to be Ezra's partner.  So, call in the recruits.  Judah (who is being bribed heavily) was taught the dance in a couple weeks and so he's going to be in the recital!  How fun is that?!    I am so excited.   I LOVE watching the dances.  3 performances and 2 dress rehearsals and every night is packed.  It's quite the production I have to say.
Hey - it's the prairie - we take whatever cultural event we can get!

Boy - there are a lot of disasters lately - wouldn't you say?  We have the worst flooding in history here, and it's happening all around us too.  Farmland is swamped, homes are flooded, roads are blocked.  And then the tornadoes, the wild fires - and that's just the US.  You then have all the earthquakes and tsunamis all over the world - kind of seems like God's a little ticked off.   Maybe we need a little revival in the land . . .

Sad news - a dear friend who's son just got married less than 1 year ago go into a car accident and his young wife did not survive.  The son was in critical condition but has been steadily improving - which is an absolute  miracle.  Please pray for Cole as he tries to heal both his body and his spirit.  We are so sad for his loss, yet we rejoice in his recovery.  God is sovereign . . .

Happier news - Cinco de Mayo is upon us!  Don your sombreros, break out the beans and rice and throw yourselves a fiesta!  Even though we have beans and rice nearly every other day it seems - it's still a great excuse for a party!  Ole' amigos!!

1400 miles in three days . . .

So, we drive to Minneapolis.  We dine.  We meet some friends.  The boys go to bed and India and I we sit in the lobby of the hotel visiting some friends and get caught in the middle of a police raid complete with pepper spray, SWAT teams, raving lunatic party-goers, and gun shots.   We hide in the gift shop til the police clear the area, escort our friends to their car and the manager escorts India and I to our room via the service elevator.  We survived - Thank you God.   I only wish this was an April Fool's prank.  It was not. (And this is why we live in the country in the prairie in the middle of no where.)
We slept poorly - well - to say we slept poorly indicates some sleeping did occur.  It did not.  Not for India and I anyway.  We were just a wee bit stressed out.
Sat.  We roll out of bed to watch Judah swim and swim well.  The tee shirt and new flip flops are really cool.
India and I drive another 250 miles so she can take a ballet exam.  We get a smoothie and some Culver's fries and turn around and drive back.  I did not consume near enough chocolate to keep me awake, and finding only country music at 11pm and driving in the rain didn't help - but we made it to the hotel  safe and sound.  Only because of God I swear.  My GPS (Judah) wasn't with me to tell me where to drive so I was just guessing as to which roads to take.  Amazing.   (And yes, she passed the test, so it was worth the trip)
Meanwhile, the boys ate and ate and watched basketball on tv while Gary slept.  (At least one of us slept.)
Sunday we roll out of bed and watch Judah swim and swim well.  And this is the one who hates to swim.
We eat.  We go the the King Tut exhibit.  Very disappointing.  We get two extra large pizza's to go and drive home.  In the rain and sleet.  Yippee.
So after over 1400 miles, too many detours, too many urban riots, too much bad food, too much chlorine, and not near enough sleep - we get back home.  And into my own bed!!!
What a weekend.
Not exactly what we all had in mind, but I guess it's just another story to tell the grandchildren.
And now it's track and dance recital season.  
On  and on it goes . . .

Insect invasion . . .

Boxelder bugs, lady bugs, asian beetles and attic flies.  We suck them up with a vacuum, but I swear they crawl out and multiply in hours.  We are finally seeing some edges of grass due to the melting, but along with the warmer temps, come the critters.  Can't complain (even though I do) -because what is the alternative??  A longer winter.   I'll take the bugs.

Went to Iowa to a very lovely wedding this weekend.  Red, Black and White.  Gorgeous.  Scripture was read in Russian and English, because 9 (yes 9) of the 12 bride's siblings are from Russia.  It was so very moving.  Another one of the Russian daughters played the cello.  Three little girls all dressed in long red dresses tossed rose petals down the aisles.  But the most wonderful part of the service was after the vows, after the unity candle was lit and the license signed - the groom took his new bride's hands, held them in his own, pressed his forehead upon hers and prayed.  Outloud.  But not loud enough for everyone to hear since the piano was still playing.  But to see him praying like that - together, in front of everyone, but clearly in their own little world; was so beautiful, it was hard to wipe all the tears away.  What a moving moment.  May our Father in heaven bless this marriage - this union He created and ordained.  What a spectacular ceremony.  

You can all say - ahhhh - now.  :)

25 years . . .

Yeah, this dates me, but 25 years ago on the 8th of March (yeah, I'm late in posting) Gary and I got married.  We actually had nice enough weather for him to golf in the morning before the ceremony, which was his dream.  The next day, we barley got to the airport, which was 2 hours away, because of a smallish snow storm that hit.   Surprised?  Didn't think so.  

Our honeymoon destination:  1 week in fabulous sunny San Diego!  Except for the fact that it rained nearly every day, the hotel that was labeled as 'near the beach' was actually about 1/2 hour away, and on the one day the sun did shine, it was still so freezing cold, we had to wear blue jeans and sweaters to the beach!  Not exactly what we expected . . .

So, 25 years later, as posted earlier, we decided to re-do our honeymoon and spent a blissful week in Costa Rica.  Sunshine everyday, no rain, our room was literally steps from the beach and it was hot enough to play paddle ball and snorkel in our swimsuits.  It was worth the wait.  So when the 8th of March came, let's just say, there was no big ado, since we already had our ado a month before.  And that was fine by me.  But it was still fun to think back 25 years and remember it all.  The 80's dress and hair, the cake with the blue napkin stuck on top, the rock band that rocked the walls, (and my mother's ears), the not-so-tropical honeymoon, the cancelled flight on the way back, and the air sickness that lasted from California, through Salt Lake all the way to North Dakota.   Whew.  At least we can laugh about it now.   :)

Let's see.  Basketball is over and track has begun.  Ezra and Judah swam in the state meet and they are still training for a big meet coming up in April.  India is still working, teaching, dancing and finishing school. And we got another couple feet of snow since my last post.  It's March, it's 16 degrees, the trees are covered in snow and the plow still hasn't been seen in days.  So, I guess there's not much in the way of  'news' around here.  

And I'm still dreaming of palm trees . . .

WHAT???

2 feet of snow in one day?  Are you kidding me?  We were so sure spring was here.  We woke up to a sea, no, an ocean of white.  Where we once actually saw a tuft of grass and actual dirt on the driveway; there was no trace of a road to speak of.  We couldn't even tell where the sidewalk or the road - was!

I am telling you, I really could live in the tropics.  Yeah, I know, people here say, "Oh, you'd miss the snow and the four seasons."  Yeah, well, just try me.  I swear it would take years - YEARS - for me to actually miss snow and cold and wind and ice and shoveling and getting stuck and frost bit and wearing 8 pounds of clothes just to keep warm.  I'm done I tell you - DONE!

That one way ticket to Costa Rica idea is looking better and better . . .
And yes - I am totally serious.
Like I said -just try me!  :)

Athletes and Mathletes . . .

How do you juggle 8 basketball games in 2 weeks, daily swimming practices, a math competition, four days of dance, school, work and sanity?  Well, mostly, you don't.  The sanity part, that is.  But, it's the middle of February, so we are seeing a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel.  It's a very faint light, but it's there.  It is.  I know it.  

Kudos to Noah for making 2 three point shots, 1 two point shot and playing really well in one of the games last week.  He's been doing well this season.  However, the last couple games, the entire team has struggled.  We have four games left, so they are hoping to redeem themselves and save their winning record.  Go Knights! 

High Five's to Ez for getting 6th overall in the regional Mathcounts competition and qualifying for the state meet.  Yeah!!  He was up against 4 kids from the same team who's parents all happen to be Math professors at South Dakota State University.  One of which went to Nationals last year - all of which are 8th graders and they have no social life because they spend all their waking hours doing math problems (the coach says) Not that we're bitter or anything . . .

Big news:  IT'S MELTING!!!   Praise God!  The temps have been above freezing now for 5 days IN A ROW!!  It's like winter has become the Wicked Witch of the West and we are glad to see her go. (hated that movie, but the the analogy was fitting) Now mind you, there is still a good couple of feet of snow yet to melt, but the roads are clear and dry and we can actually see the bricks of our sidewalk and patio!!!  And there is blue sky!  And sun!  HURRAY!   Hey - let us get excited.  It's a big thing for us up here.  Even though we all know it's the annual January thaw that just happens to be in February and we know it won't last - but we're taking it.  Yeah, the forecast is for snow this weekend - so come on - let us relish in our little bubble while it lasts . . . 

Also big news - I have finally made corn tortillas and they are edible.  We will not talk about the many times I tried and failed to make them in the past.  But this time - I learned from an expert.  While in Costa Rica, this beautiful lady made corn tortillas every morning and I watched her very carefully.  There is a secret to it and I finally figured it out.  It's water. Yeah, I know!   Keeping it moist and keeping your fingers moist while you shape them on wax paper made all the difference.  A few veggies, some rice and beans topped with a huge dollop of guac  -  Sheer happiness on a plate.  I'm hungry.  See ya!     

The sand was black . . .

Oh.  My.  Goodness.   Gary and I just spent a week in the beautiful country of Costa Rica.  I know - Costa Rica's not exactly your typical paradise vacation destination like Cancun or Jamaica, but it was everything I thought a tropic holiday would be like, and so very much more.  Why Costa Rica?  Well, partly because this was a really great tour I have wanted to go on for some time and partly because it was all inclusive - meaning no added fees.  Everything was a one lump payment, room, food, excursions, bus rides - everything.  And it was in the tropics - hot - sunny and safe.  So- what better way to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary?  None.  It couldn't have been much better.  It was fabulous.  Stupendous.  A dream come true.  Everything about it - the sun, the sand, the temperature, the food, the people, the exchange rate . . .  Perfect.  Think I'm going a little bit overboard here?  Yeah, well, maybe I should get out more . . .

You get off the plane, in your cold weather clothes to this whoosh of hot tropic air.  Fantastic!  For me, this trip was the ultimate test of fearful survival.  I faced nearly every fear I have been harboring in my life.  The plane ride, zip line, snorkeling, the dead snake on the bus,  the scorpion in one of the guest rooms, and the ocean current - just to name a few.  I can not say I conquered any of them, but I did work through them without dying, fainting or throwing up.  Pretty big accomplishment in my book.

 The zip line was in the jungle, above the trees, 85 plus feet in the air.  To say I was scared would be a most severe understatement.  To my shame, I got stuck half way through the first section and had to be 'rescued' by a local.  The rest of the lines I rode tandem, because I was nearly hyperventilating.  And you know the cartoons with the knees knocking - mine really were.  If I couldn't see the ground, the ride was a blast.  I love the speed and the scenery, but when the trees broke away and I could see the river or dirt path below, I started to loose it all over again.  But - the last line I went by myself (really, I did) and actually liked it.  So there.  Would I do it again?  Um, maybe.  And that's a really big maybe.

The other highlight was the snorkeling.  Gary and I had never been, and that was utterly remarkable.  Indescribable.  The colors of the fish seemed like they would glow in the dark.  Vivid blues and yellows, and the variety.  Amazing.  Gary saw 2 octopus, and we saw many strange ocean creatures we had no idea what they were.  On the beach we saw hundreds of little baby hermit crabs.  So cute.  We also saw lots of monkeys,(spider, howler and white-faced) lizards, (including the really big male that sat on the steps to our room and wouldn't let us pass) really colorful birds, (cool way to wake up) and so much more.   To see God's creation up close, was so wonderful.  We were in awe.  I would go back in a heart beat.  You need to check out my daughter's photo blog to see the pics.  http://yakarphotography.blogspot.com/

For Gary and I, it was literally the first time we had ever been away from the children for a vacation.  When India and Noah were wee tots, we went overnight twice, a few hours away, but that has been it.  So, this was a tad bit out of my comfort zone.  But, I was surprisingly okay.  Really.  Ask Gary.  I was a bit stressed the first day, but island fever must have taken over and I was pretty relaxed for the rest of the week. Thank God for Skype!  Knowing that the kids were ok - even through three blizzards, hazardous driving conditions and 50 degree below zero temps - well, talking with them each night helped a lot.  They had fun, we had a spectacular time so all was grand.  Next time, and yes, there will be a next time, we'll take them with.  They would love it.  We did - for sure.

So we had a 130 degree temperature swing from there to here one day, and I for one, didn't want to leave.  I would have much rather had the kids sell everything, hop on a plane and we could just live out our days in the sun.  Yeah, I know - reality has a way of getting in the way of ideas like that.  But hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

So, now that we are back, (and we are glad to be back with the kids) we are trying to adjust.  And it's tough!  So, I am already plotting on a return trip.  And it must be soon.  Before it fades from my aging memory.
Besides, we have to let India meet her future husband that we found for her down there . . .  :)

Pura Vida!!!