Duck, duck, goose!

She learned this game at church and loves playing it! ...her own version, that is. Sorry if we´re boring you with videos... this is just the easiest way to keep my Guatemalans up with my daughters and they want to see them in every possible way! I´ll take time to write soon! Spanish readers: En este juego que Elena aprendió en la iglesia, una persona toca las cabezas de los demás diciendo "Duck" y al azar escoge a quién llamará "Goose", cuando escoge al goose éste "la lleva" y persigue a todos los demás. El primero en volver a sentarse gana y el último en sentarse o al que agarre el goose le toca escoger. Elena ha creado su propia versión, como podrán ver.

Christmas morning

Elena opens her "dream" gift.

Elena talks to "pito"

Elena figured out that my dad requires to be talked to differently as she observed all of us finger spelling to him. She quickly picked up on it and began doing it herself!

It's almost Christmas

Christmas shopping is done... all our gifts are wrapped and sitting under the tree and we are so excitedly looking forward to Christmas morning to open them. It's amazing how 10 days away can throw you off so much! I still don't have everything planned or baked for the rest of the celebration but I will get there. For now we're looking into church regular service this evening, and tomorrow morning, then Christmas Eve service tomorrow night after which we will settle quietly in our little home and watch our Christmas Eve movie "It's a Wonderful Life" in waiting for midnight. This is where we have incorporated the bit of Guatemala, we wait till midnight and in honor of the Guatemalan tradition of opening gifts then, we exchange one gift. Then we go to bed and eagerly wait for morning. First is our stockings and then we do gifts. After that we will go off to Dad and Mom L's for a late brunch.

In being away I really feel as though I have missed so much of the festivity but even if this may be a "lighter" Christmas in the sense of decorations and building up the anticipation for it but we will still try to make it memorable for Elena on the day of and we always have next year to do better!

Oreos and.... coffee?

We landed this morning at 12:38 a.m. I forgot to mention we left Guatemala on Thursday but were, again, splitting our trip by spending another night with our friends the Timers. We spent a wonderful time with them catching up even when it had to be done with a week in between!

Our flight was supposed to arrive in Albany at around noon, but wanting to spend a little more time with our friends we changed it for the night flight. Everything was great until we got to the airport and were delayed. Now, had it only been the two of us, it would have been easier to handle, but with two little ones, delays are really not that welcome. Our 9.45 p.m. departure was changed to 10.20 p.m. which meant we were to sit in the gate area, keep them awake AND happy longer. It was a tough time! But we're home and there's no place like home! Of course with an original arrival at around noon, we made sure our fridge was clean. After all, who wants to come home to spoiled milk and food, right? This explains the title of my post, having arrived home at about 1 a.m., this morning our breakfast consisted of oreo cookies for Elena and coffee for Ben and myself! No milk, no eggs, no anything in our pantry!!! Guess we'll have to fit in some quick shopping in between church services today and tomorrow!!

Flying back

Well, in no time we're heading back already! Life happens and there is no way of stopping it. Another good by faces us and in realizing God's goodness to let us travel and see each other often, we're getting better at it.

This trip to Guatemala has been an interesting one. It wasn't a trip "home", the Guatemala I left is no longer here. People's lives have changed, everybody has moved on with their lives and I haven't been a part of it so you can't just squeeze in and expect everything to be the same it was. It is so interesting to drive down streets that are so loaded with memories and to be so far away from those memories. Life is so different now! I miss what I left, but that has left me as well and is not coming back. What is left now is to embrace each day and the goodness it brings, enjoy each individual and what they represent, enjoy our lives where God has led them to be.

We were part of a beautiful wedding this weekend. My family and friends met my youngest daughter and enjoyed my oldest. I got to see everyone once again and I trust in the Lord that I'll see them all again, sooner than I expected.

Now we look towards home, Christmas shopping and all the fun of the most wonderful time of the year!

Off we go!!!

All our bags are packed and we're ready to go!!! North Carolina tonight, where we'll spend the night with Josh and Paige Timer, and Guatemala tomorrow! Ben will minister the blessing at my cousin's wedding and we'll be back on the 15 to pick up where we left, finish Christmas shopping and enjoying the season.

Take care you all!