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.