Last Post……….

As I sit to write this post, I think to myself, “How do I close this chapter of our lives worthy of the full extent to which we were blessed?” There’s only one way, and that is by sharing with you the best and the hardest part of this journey.

~With Mother’s Day this weekend, I want to celebrate my mother by letting others know how blessed I was to have shared this time with her.  Rare is the occasion, as we reach adulthood, that we get to spend every day and night with the person who loves us more than any human can or will on the face of this earth, and this is our mother. There are sure frustrations involved when living with your mother, things we had to accept, ignore, and forgive, but it wasn’t until after she had left me here to finish the last 3 weeks alone on this island with my two boys that I realized my mother was the “service” I was longing for when we set off to come to PR via Hunter’s baseball training last year. I wondered from the beginning, and had hoped for an opportunity, if there would be a place of service me and the kids could take part in while living in a different culture. Two days of catharsis after my mother returned home to Houston, and perhaps two days too late, my heart and mind told me the last 9 months were given to me and the kids to love and serve my mother in a way that we may never get to again. I experienced a tremendous loneliness for her when she left; a loneliness and gratefulness that I don’t think I have ever experienced my entire life for my mother. We certainly don’t have these emotions toward our parents when we’re kids, then teenagers, and after that our heart is filled with what we give our own children and spouse. I survived these last 9 months, away from my husband and life companion, separated from my two oldest kids, finding my way in a different culture, on my own at the head of the ship, because my mother was by my side cheering me on, giving me confidence, listening when I was scared, tired, or unsure, and then cheering me on again and giving me confidence again. She woke up every day to clean, wash, and cook for us, freeing me and the kids to complete our workload of school and other errands that would literally take up an entire day to complete just one task. I pray that the Lord gives me the days to repay the service I could have and should have shown my mother when she was by my side every day and night for 9 months. I pray that today you are as grateful for your mother as I am for mine; there really is NO ONE on this earth to love us like our mother - just think of your own love toward your children, then you’ll know what you mean to your mother and perhaps show her what she deserves for that love in return.

The best part of our journey was spending it with my mother. Here are photos from PR of my wonderful mother……………

The birthplace of the Pina Colada! Gotta have one in PR! At the El San Juan Hotel when we arrived in August.



Waiting at the bus stop in her new scarf....



The streets of Old San Juan



~Then there was the hardest part: Being away from my husband and life companion. I choose the term “life companion” because I never realized, until this time away from each other, the depth of what it means to have a companion…someone with which you share every part of your life and being. When that person is no longer “there” on a day to day basis, in the same way that they have been for over 25 years, it’s a pretty huge thing. To say it has been hard does not even begin to describe just how difficult for both of us. It will go down as part of the “things we do for our kids” because, when it’s all said and done, we took on this amazing, yet difficult, journey precisely for what Hunter, Naomi, and Wyatt could each gain from the experience, nothing more and nothing less. And because we suffered being apart (David more than me because it was he that was all alone when the work day was done; I had mom and the kids), we have a renewed sense of our companionship and what it means to each of us. THIS may be the biggest blessing of all to come from this journey! The hard things usually do lead us to the better, the higher places….

As I sign off to the last post of La Vida en Puerto Rico, I want to leave you with photos of our times together, mine and David’s, spent here on the island. Only two more days, from the date of this posting, and I’ll be back in his arms again and reunited with our five children in a certain old farmhouse in Shiro, Texas!



A night out during the holidays





One of our favorite spots near the apartment





Old San Juan




Doin what we love.....watching Hunt play ball



Thank you to all who prayed for us. Your prayers were felt each and every day. I hope you have enjoyed your time spent with me on these posts because I truly wanted to share this amazing place and amazing part of our lives with each one of you; I hope to have added a little Caribbean sunshine to your daily grind through the photos and stories. Most importantly, I wanted to remind you that God’s presence is everywhere, and His provision guides our way when we choose to humbly walk through the doors of insight and opportunity that He sets before us.

I thank my God in all my rememberances of you 

Philippians 1:3 

Closing it out....La Vida en Puerto Rico

~With mom and Naomi gone, our last excursion was to take the boys for a sailing lesson off the distant East coast of the island at a place we had never been, Palmas del Mar. Like all the other unexplored areas we have traveled, it was a beautiful drive through rolling hills and scattered mountains. Palmas del Mar is one of the islands more beautiful self-contained golfing and marina communities with a school, church, and shopping facilities all within the gated entrance. I had hoped this would be a big brother/little brother memory and shared activity, as they learned to sail together. It was this, and more! Hunter and Wyatt were two of only three students this day so they received more than what the lesson originally entailed.  I knew we were in for another one of God’s blessings (they keep coming right up until the end of our journey) when they climbed aboard the 44 ft. sailboat and were greeted by the captain and instructor, Jose, another of Puerto Rico’s warmest and most sincere personalities. He explained to me that the boys had an option to increase the half day lesson to a full day, at no additional cost, and sail to the island of Vieques - a $495 excursion! I had paid only $25 ea., with a 60% off internet coupon, for the half day. (GROUPONS are terrific. Try them!) We didn’t hesitate. When Jose asked me to come along, the boys were glad and asked me to get on the boat with them. I set back and watched as my two boys, 9 and 17, received the most amazing nautical lessons and sailing adventure aboard a 44 ft. vessel that anyone could imagine. Jose was hands down the best “teacher” of a craft that I’ve ever seen or heard. His passion for sailing and teaching young people is electric and my boys were on the receiving end! They learned how to read the various maps along with nautical terms and symbols, the layout of the vessel and safety precautions, and then they got to sail, from hoisting the main mast to steering the huge wheel and keeping us “in the groove”, not too leeward or windward. We didn’t get too far off the coast (we were sailing toward the Virgin Islands) when we were soon approaching a weather “system”. I’ve only seen photos of large sailboats turned nearly on their side when fighting the wind, now I was in one and there’s a name for that. It’s called “heeling”. We “heeled” a little too much for me and I was soon sick, holding on to nauseous the rest of the way. The only lesson I remember Jose teaching me was not to look down, but to keep my eye on the horizon in order to hold my stomach til we could see land again. The boys had an awesome day, and that to me was worth getting sea sick. The day, from start to finish, was a blessing: learning, sailing, and being on the waters of the Caribbean once again.

~The weekend after the sailing lesson, we made our final trip in to Old San Juan to see the annual reenactment of the battle with the British of 1789. Reenactors flew in from all over the world, representing various militia groups of the period and reenacting the day of April 17, 1797 when 60 ships from the British Navy arrived off the northern coast of Puerto Rico. The following day around 6000 British and German troops landed on Puerto Rico soil and headed for San Juan. As the troops marched west towards San Juan, several of the British ships positioned themselves near the entrance to San Juan Bay establishing a blockade. The British found the impressive fortifications of El Morro Fort impenetrable and were unable to take their fight into San Juan’s protected port. The ships had to remain out of reach of the canons of El Morro. With the lack of progress from the water, the British and German troops would spend almost 2 weeks trying to force their way into San Juan. The Puerto Rican fortifications at Fort San Antonio and Fort San Gerónimo proved resilient and with the continuous reinforcements of Puerto Rican soldiers the British troops retreated and left the shores of Puerto Rico on May2, 1797.
*adapted from http://www.discoveryingpuertorico.com/

~In between these last two adventures, Hunter has been finishing up school at the academy. We will attend a small graduation ceremony this Thursday of about 10 boys who are either signed to play ball at various small universities across the United States, or who are still awaiting an offer. Wyatt and I have been so very busy with his school and mine in the mornings, and taking care of errands in the afternoons in order to close things out at the apartment and get everything in order to come back home. Hunter will play summer ball back home and attend various college camps or tryouts, although he says he would rather stay in PR and continue his training. Don't know if we'll ever get him away from here completely. He likes it that much.

~I want to leave you with some photos of things we will miss most about the island. We’ll miss our church where we would meet every Sunday with all of our “first friends” on the island. We'll miss the people of PR in general. Puerto Rico is the most unique blend of culture and color on the faces of its people. You can have one that looks like he’s from Zimbabwe, one that looks completely Anglo, and another your typical Latino, but they’re all Puerto Rican. We'll miss their warmth and hospitality, from the stranger in the grocery store or restaurant to the friends at our church, and their love for their island home and the fact that they know they are in a beautiful place; their love for family, tradition, and a good time; the history that abounds in this little part of the Caribbean and is part of our United States; and what we came to know as “our places” near the apartment; our evening walks, sometimes several miles without us even knowing it, enjoying the quaint little back roads and a stroll along the shops and restaurants; morning reflections on the beach, and the sound of the coqui at night. 

Our church said goodbye us just as warmly as they said hello so many months ago at the start of our journey. Here Pastor Bill is leading the congregation in a farewell prayer for mom and Naomi (along with another member who was moving to New York). The other photo is our family at Easter with Pastor Bill, his wife Vicki, and daughter Ashley. 

Images of Puerto Rico....

A young mother in the park with her girls...



Kids buying ice cream in the park (the man in the background is actually exercising...looks kind of funny, but there are always people running or working out).



High school seniors on a field trip



A father walking on the beach with his baby. Watching the dads here with their kids has been amazing... in the park, walking them to school!

Can never get enough of the flora and fauna of the island!

Loved to see the man selling flowers on the corner every Saturday morning...



Not too sure I'll be seeing so much green when I return to Texas!



The incredible scenery driving into the mountains to get Hunter each week at the baseball academy.


Declare is glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples....Psalm 96:3

 * one more post to go before closing out our adventures in PR. Check back on Thursday.............. 

Culebra!

~ Next stop CULEBRA……we picked Hunter up a day early from the Academy so he could come with us on our last outing together before Naomi and Nanny returned home. We saved the best for last to show Uncle Chuck, and it was a first for us as well. We’ve been to the island of Vieques, which is also part of PR, but not yet to Culebra, voted the #2 most exotic beach in the world (Google for pics, but I have good ones too). Why we haven’t gone to this other little piece of paradise at least once a month while we are here, I don’t know….it’s only a $2.25 ferry ride! That’s right, we took the ferry to paradise for a mere two bucks! The thing is, you have to wake at 5 a.m. in order to arrive at the ticket line at least 2 hours early because the tickets sell out fast. Locals and tourist alike are making the trip, as well as residents who live on the island itself. There are about 1500 residents of Culebra. The ticket line is an adventure in and of itself, like all of the simplest things in PR. That’s because what we call “simple” back home is never a simple feat over here. Dealing with people on “island time” can really test your patience especially when times and procedures are posted, yet the local employees just don’t seem to care. And if you’re not careful, the locals who are there for the same reason as you, step right over your territory with little concern. It’s in these situations that we team up with the tourists who are just as frustrated as we are. We exchange stories of where we're from and what brought us to the island. They love hearing our story of Hunter and his baseball; the mom, kids, and grandmother that came along for the ride, and the dad that’s back home making it all happen. Equally so, we love to meet fellow American’s and learn where they are from and what they think of PR, as well as people vacationing from all over the world. I can usually give them advice at this point of sure things to do and places to go. It’s in the midst of these conversations that we forget our frustrations with what’s going on around us and pass the time chatting with our new acquaintances. The last time we tried a wait for Culebra the tickets did sell out before we got to the window and we had to settle for the other piece of paradise, Vieques. (Both Culebra and Vieques are what they call the “outer Virgin Islands”, so either one is something to behold. But only Culebra is voted one of the Top Ten beaches in the world by the Travel Channel, and holds the distinction of the Discovery Channels #2 exotic beach destination). This time we made Culebra! I said the trip to John’s mountain home, some 3,000 feet up to the charming little cottage, was my most wonderful adventure but this was to be Hunter’s, and I think Wyatt and Naomi’s as well! The ferry ride is a beautiful trip in itself as you sit in an enclosed air conditioned cabin and look out at the small islands that dot Puerto Rico’s east side. There’s Palamonito Island where a scene from the last Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed. Once you see the little island, if you’ve seen the movie, you know right away which scene it was! There’s also “monkey island”. Not many people know about it because it’s a protected island where the University of PR, with funding from Harvard, does research on over a thousand wild and aggressive monkey’s that were brought there from India in the 1930’s; only a few were brought…they’ve multiplied! They say there is a kayak excursion that will take you within picture taking distance from the water and it’s amazing! …..Back to the ferry, destination Culebra….First stop was to rent a Jeep for the day to get the  Travel Channel experience. Uncle Chuck let Hunter drive and we explored every inch of this exotic island, bouncing up and down dirt roads to the top of vistas where we saw across to the Virgin Islands in the distance and looked down on island villas dotting absolutely the most gorgeous ocean water you have ever seen! Flamenco Beach is the world renowned destination for all who exit the ferry, and we went there first to see what all the fuss was about. Pretty awesome! This is where mom got in the water with us for the first time since coming to PR. The kids were thrilled! Then, back to the jeep, and with our trusty little map in hand, we visited all the other beaches along the islands shoreline laughing, holding on tight around corners, over bumps, and dodging holes with a huge sigh, or “look at that!” every few hundred yards. The ocean scenes were amazing! Zoni Beach was my favorite, not many people, and waves that seemed to have a pearl-like glow as they broke on the translucent water. The snorkeling at Tamarind Beach was the best the kids have seen since our stay in PR. Those little Wal-Mart snorkels we bought have served us well and on this trip they saw sea turtles, sting-rays, the deepest reefs and the most colorful fish of yet!  It was a day to remember all days….our last day all together in PR (my mother and Naomi were to leave the next day) and what a blessing to close it out like this…………..Have you ever been so caught up in God’s wonder, His beauty, His provision, and in the moment of all these things at once, that it’s almost too much to comprehend? For me it’s the fact that I’m sharing it with my children and my mother, and all of it together is an individual experience that defies description.

This is Flamenco, or you can try another beach where few tourist go and have it all to yourself

Nanny and the kids....their last day together on this wonderful adventure!



Me and my brother with  mom

 Making memories........





Our ride for the day...too much fun!!



One of two tanks left on the island from WWII





Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. 1 Chronicles 16:8

Our last round of visitors…….

~Just two days after our sad good-bye to Skylar, we were headed back to the airport to pick up Dad who brought a traveling buddy with him, Uncle Chuck. This was my brother’s first visit to the island, and surprisingly enough, my other brother, Craig, flew in the very next day. I say, “Surprisingly” because Craig’s trip was a last minute decision.We did not see them much the first few days because they stayed in a hotel and were off playing golf on several occasions. So, while my brothers were off playing golf, and meeting Chi-Chi Rodriquez, the golf legend (he's a local at one of the top courses they played), we spent time with dad. Being with dad means going to the beach (this is Wyatt's time with dad) and then, just being with dad! We always take a trip in to Old San Juan while he’s here. He has his favorite cigar shop and we get to walk the cobblestone streets again. Of course, David and I always have our “dates” together, one more special than the other each time he comes. I’m not sure what life will be like when we return home and the quaint little Caribbean hide-a-ways are not just around the corner. I say this with thanksgiving and awe at the fact that we would never be able to experience what we have the past year if it weren’t for living here and it literally being right out our front door…okay, maybe a short walk or drive. David also had the rare opportunity to see Hunter play baseball while he was here. His trips don’t always fall during game time. His visits are bittersweet, but always, always, just what we need to keep our focus until the end when we are back together again.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens....He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:1&11

Serious discussion, or not, at the cigar lounge



Enjoying our time together............



 

 Hunter with his teammates....................leading off third......................and the team praying below

~Dads goodbye was not near as hard this time since we knew it would only be a few weeks until we meet again, when we are all back home together! With Uncle Chuck the only one left of our visitors, he came to the apartment to finish out the week and then return back to Texas with mom and Naomi.  

At this point there was still much more fun left to do on the last week of us all being together for the reality to set in that it was all coming to an end, our amazing journey in PR; mom and Naomi would soon be leaving me and the boys to finish the trek we started last August (Naomi had state testing to attend with her online school). And so it was, we had only 4 days left to take Uncle Chuck around on some awesome excursions, but what’s funny is that Uncle Chuck gave the kids as much fun as we tried to show him! What’s better is that mom was in on it all!!! We went to the rainforest, and mom tracked right along with us, up the slippery path with me in front and my brother in the back while the kids hollered, “Come-on!” We had to show my brother our favorite falls with pool at the bottom, not on the usual tourist path. Then we were back in the van. When in the car with one of my brothers, nothing is off the radar as far as what we can do and where we can go, and so he suggested we do a little “resort hopping”. There are several along the east side of the island where the rainforest is situated, so we did just that. We entered some of the most luxurious drives into tropical paradises that I swear I’ve seen on the Travel Channel from my living room back in Shiro. We walked the grounds and swimming pool areas along the beaches, even letting Wyatt take his turn on a water-slide a few times before getting back in the van for our next “event”.



Mom in the rainforest



Yes, it does look like a religious experience my brother is having, but the water was just that cold!!!!



           



Okay, so this beach bum took my mother by surprise! Funnny!



Haing fun with our waitress, Joy!



     

We were nearly home, after our long day out with Uncle Chuck, when he spotted the cockfighting arena and said, “The funs not over yet!” Yes, I do have a free will and was driving the vehicle, but I was outnumbered by the voices saying, “Come on mom, let’s go!” It’s a legal activity in PR (if you can call it an activity), in the middle of the tourist area. About 15 minutes is all we needed to say we did it…or at least for the kids to say they saw it and think Uncle Chuck is really cool, because mom would never have turned into that place on her own. Not part of the culture I care about…..

We had a grand time, but a most memorable day was just around the corner....



Here it is! A real cockfighting arena.....roosters going at it



A coqui! This little guy is the islands national symbol and boy are they loud at night.......Uncle Chuck caught one for Wyatt. They're rarely seen but always heard from sundown to midnight.

Easter on the Island…Cristo es resucitado (Christ is risen!)

April was a bless-ed month for several reasons, not only with the celebration of our risen Savior, but getting to see one of my children from home as we welcomed Skylar the week of Easter. We did all the regular things: beach, shopping, and more beach. She is always so sweet to come with few expectations other than, in her own words, wanting “to just be with you guys”.  She would come across the ocean if only for Nanny’s rice and gravy…throw in the chocolate pie and she’s set!  What’s better is she gets Nanny and mom’s cooking all in the same visit, and that on top of the tropical island! Skylar is nearing the end of her major at Sam Houston State. When she’s not in school, she’s working, and when not working, she’s in school; add driving the back and forth from College Station to Huntsville and you have one tired young lady that I am so proud of. I just wish I could ease her load. And so I tried, for only a few days…This goodbye was hard, they all are, but not near what the others were, since we knew it would be a much shorter time between our next reunion.

Picking up sister at the airport!

 Me and my girls!

Easter Sunday Family Photo (missing 2 of my men!)

 ~While speaking of the Easter season, I wanted to mention one particular evening Naomi and I walked down to the park on the beach to discuss a paper she was writing for one of her classes. The park is a lively place in the evenings with parents just in from work taking their little ones to the playground (being a high-rise area, recreation space is limited, except that of the beach of course), teens and young adults on skateboards and bikes, joggers cooling down from their run on the street taking a glimpse of the ocean, and people coming to and from the beach. There is always a breeze, and people-watching is at its peak. We watched as a group of locals gathered in a large circle and began to pray. Then they moved over to the sand on the beach, it was now dark with park lights giving way, and they made another large circle where they started to sing. I asked a local sitting next to me and Naomi what they were specifically praying/singing about and was told, “For the island…for young people on the island”. Their singing was to a bongo drum only and was the coolest island praise music ever. Naomi and I moved closer and clapped along with them. It was an amazing show, and sharing, of Christ’s spirit in our little part of the world---Puerto Rican style! After the singing they broke up in groups and approached random people in the park, including us, to ask if there were prayer needs. They prayed for us in broken English and Puerto Rican Spanish. Proof that our Lord is Alive and Everywhere! His remnant remains and is ever faithful from sea to shining sea!

Locals Praying in the Park

 Holding up placards while they sing...Jesus Saves and Jesus Loves You

...And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation."  Revelation 5:9

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I'm sharing other random photos from my cameral roll.......just too many to include them all in my blog posts, but here are some good ones...

Mom and Wyatt at local market



Hunter's birthday breakfast....Krispy Kreme! mmmmm.......



Love this photo! Nomi and vintage bug on cobblestone streets of Old San Juan

Painted by the Lord of the Universe!



Just after sunrise....the camera caught what my eye could not see; a pretty awesome shot!





This little guy was literally taking a parking place at the local mall! Just an everyday iguana sighting.  The locals call them "pests". We still think it's crazy!



Always a treat and a must have every time Dad comes in; mallorca sweet bread, tarts, chocolate custard pie, and cafe leche........Kasalta!



Just in from snorkeling....If I remember correctly, this was taken right after Hunter was face to face with a stingray and said he was ready to leave:)



On the steps of La Fortaleeza, the governors mansion in Old San Juan. We were on a tour.

Naomi with the "Conn" family that she babysat quite often. She loves those kids!

This is how they haul horses! No kidding. Not many horse trailers to be seen. Crazy!!!



This is just cool! Down to the surfboard and vintage coca-cola cooler on top.



Look real close......this is one of the tree coconut climbers that climb the palms on the beach. It's a real science. He puts on a type of workboot and leg braces, and up he goes. Plop, plop, plop fall the coconuts. Then he's off in his cart to the next tree.

The local dog walker. I think I counted 14 on this particular day.