Spring Break in PR...

~ I must admit, it feels a little like Spring Break here just about every other day, and I was reminded again how fortunate we are to be enjoying the sand and the sea, and living the life of a tourist, when my dear friend Misty flew in to spend her break with us in PR.  Misty and I taught together at AOA where she still teaches second grade; our kids are the same age and went to school together. What a pleasure it was for the both of us to enjoy some “girl time” together and renew our friendship. It’s not that often that two wives and mothers are lying on the beach together on a tropical island, having nice dinners, walking the streets of an historic Spanish city, and snorkeling in the Caribbean. Yes, we did all that and a little more with only a short rest back at the apartment to refuel for the next outing.  We took nothing for granted, often thinking amongst ourselves, “two small-town girls from Shiro and Huntsville…only a great and mighty God can make this happen!”  It was a much anticipated time for us all as we welcomed someone from home, a place we are all longing for at this point in our venture. Mom cooked a few small meals for us and one really good chocolate pie. Naomi and Wyatt enjoyed the fun with “Mrs. Lampson” as well. We even took Mrs. Lampson with us to a performance by the Harvard Glee Club at the Conservatory de Musica de Puerto Rico (Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico). Naomi had to report on a classical concert in an elective class she is taking online.

~While we were having fun in San Juan, Hunter was off with his baseball team on an excursion that most men and boys can only dream about. They spent the week in and around Orlando where they visited different MLB Spring Training practices and took in a couple of games between the teams --- Cardinals, Tigers, Mets, and his infamous Yankees.  They did play two games themselves while in Florida, but did not come out victorious. The only concession was that they played against a college team and stayed within 4 runs. Still, Coach Rivera does not take a loss lightly as all eyes are usually on the boys from PR to make a showing of some kind! They played on the Miami Marlins minor league field; what a  treat that was, but then again every game he plays, even here in PR, is played on what would be a college field to us back home. Baseball in Latin America is a big deal and by the time they reach high school they are playing in stadiums around the island.  It certainly was a trip of a lifetime for Hunter. He didn’t want to come “home” to PR, imagine that. When asked if he was ready for college ball after 4 straight days of watching MLB practice and play up close and personal he said, “Are you kidding mom? I’m ready for the majors!” I guess that’s the attitude, but he agreed he must pay his dues.

~I know for many back home the countdown to summer has officially begun now that Spring Break has come and gone. Well, Spring Break has not officially come and gone here in PR. For the kids in PR it’s the week before Easter. That’s when Hunter will be out of school and he’ll enjoy an easier week here at the apartment and on the beach with us. Nevertheless, we too have begun counting down  for when we return HOME! Ah, that word HOME sounds so nice even in spite of the fact that my dear friend and neighbor back in Shiro likes to send reminders of the dusty roads I will return to and the Gulf Coast that is a far cry to what I walk down the sidewalk and see right now when I gaze out at the turquoise ocean. My response to Ann Marie is this: What did Dorothy say? “There’s no place like home!”  Notice, I added the explanation pointJ.  So, for Naomi and my mother, the return date is set for April 20^th. Naomi is returning sooner to take standardized testing for her online schooling and is looking forward to staying with big sister in College Station who will get her back and forth to her testing. This will leave me, Wyatt, and Hunter behind for a few more weeks in PR until Hunt finishes at the Academy in mid-May.  We have not nailed down our plans for returning next year, although Hunter will return for sure to finish out his senior year of training and for opportunities of being scouted for college ball. He is very close to being finished with his academic studies and has taken both the ACT and SAT while here in PR. We ask that you pray for our decision and plans for next year.

Enjoy the pics because we enjoyed taking them! What a great time we’ve had the past few weeks!!
 

Old San Juan....the beauty and historic charm never get old!

Just too good of a photo-op to pass up...Naomi with the Harvard Glee Club! They were on a special Spring Break tour and were quit a treat singing both classical and modern peices, mostly acapella.

Let the snorkeling begin!



Does it get any better??? On a catamaran in the Caribbean getting served fresh fruit from those cute little Puerto Rican boys...I had to keep my eye on Naomi for sure! There were about 35 people on board which made for a lot of fun!

 



 The boys and I toured the MS Bounty, the actual ship made for the 1962 movie Mutiny on the Bounty starrting Marlon Brando. It was also in one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies as well as the Sponge Bob movie. It is on a sailing tour around the world and currently docked in Old San Juan.



There's my pirates on board the Bounty...but they're good pirates!!!!



Picnic at the beach...mother, daughter, and granddaughter