We are in a final day here in Mexico. Seems like we just started our trip. And as we bask in the 80 degree temperatures, we are watching the Twins on ESPN2 and listening to it on Doug’s satellite radio AND listening to snow warnings!
Think we’ll stay another week at that!
Alex, his wife and a friend picked us up around noon yesterday. We thought we were going to Lily. Instead, Alex said no, we are going to church. But we thought they went to 5 p.m. church. Usually, yes, Alex said. But we are going now. A guy who delivers prophecy will be speaking.
So...three hours later, we made our way to Lily.
We had a good talk with Ed and Rosa and talked to many of the kids who send their greetings to Susana.
Ed and Rosa are making many updates to the orphanage. A work group from MIchigan refinished much of the playground equipment and Ed and Rosa are putting final touches on a building that will house the older boys and are building another that will be home to the older girls. The main complex will be home to the youth up to sixth grade.
They plan to be in Michigan around Thanksgiving and told them it would be nice to see them at that time.
Today we went to the mall where Doug and Jose played video games and Jose and I thought we’d go to a movie but it turned out the 2 p.m. time was actually around 4. We walked back to the hotel, had something to eat and are now watching the Twins game. And thinking of this snow that will greet us....us and our light coats!
Snow or not, it will be good to be back home.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
museums and the twins
A big thanks to those who sent birthday greetings to me in Mexico! It was a beautiful day...around 85 degrees... sunny and really hot as I walked through the centro de ciudad of chihuahua. (central part of the city)
We moved into our suite and Doug got his satellite radio to work so he’s been a happy camper between finding Twins, Wild and Gopher games either on ESPN 2 on TV, on the internet or his radio! So there have still been a lot of games he’s kept track of even though we are in Mexico.
Yes,we're finally able to make our own coffee. IT’s nice to have the refrig. We purchased some bread, condiments, sandwich meat and hot dogs so are able to make a few meals ourselves and keep water cold in the frig!
For my birthday we ate an interesting breakfast at Chilis then I got some information on museums. One of the staff, who spoke English, was telling me of places to see and she kept going to the back office to get brochures with Espanol and English. And she talked about “the caves.” I’d never heard of them before but she really talked them up.
Well, Doug, always the sports guy, stayed in the hotel and listened to the Twins while I (yes, me, the person people questioned could find her way around) took a cab to the centro de ciudad and spent about three enjoyable hours going through several museums that focused on the revolution and history of Mexico.
One museum had a section on the different topography in the state of Chihuahua from the desert (That’s north and including the city of Chihuahua, prairie and mountains. Right outside Chihuahua are the “caves” or adobe dwellings of natives that lived several thousand years ago. After going through their display, I know it’s a place I want to plan to visit next time!
I saw where Father Hidalgo was jailed and executed.
Again, It was all very interesting to visit.
And it was nice to get out of this room and walk. The room is very nice but after awhile, it’s nice to get some fresh air although it was rather warm. Oooooo. Love to say that. Warm! I know when we return it will be about 40 degrees colder in Minnesota but for now, I’m basking as much as I can.
We did travel to the centro de ciudad yesterday, Doug and me, although Doug did mention several times he was missing the Twins game. But he got to enjoy that today, instead.
We pick up Jose tomorrow. Alex, who worked for COI when we first met him on one of the Hillcrest Mission trips, will take us.
A couple days ago, I was standing with my back to the front door of the hotel waiting to talk to the staff when I heard this voice say, “Hello.” Perfect English. It was Alex. He was picking up a couple at the orphanage to bring to DIF or the social service department in chihuahua. We asked if we could ride along and if we could pick up Jose and bring him to DIF to talk to the lawyer who was instrumental in our adoption. So we all loaded up in Alex’s vehicle, Jose in the back, and made the trek. Was fun to Weber again.
When we dropped everyone off once more at Lilly, we took Alex and his wife to lunch at Ricky’s Tacos. Great tacos and toppings and they make a bean dish that contains almost everything of the hog but the squeal! Actually, it’s the bacon, ham and pork skin with the beans plus tomatoes. It’s pretty good but I didn’t eat the skin.
Will write more and try to get some more pix up of the trip before we head home. Hope to get more pix tomorrow of the orphanage.
We’ve had a chance to talk to Andy a couple times and it sounds like he’s keeping busy and they have had some good concerts.
We hear that Breiden is now walking. WAy to go, Breiden!!!! Wayne and Nancy, you don’t need aerobics. You’ll get your exercise trying to keep up with him now.
And JP and Julie report that they haven’t heard anything from the kennel where I’m boarding Mocha. That’s good.
Although I love the warmth here and this city and country, I long for home.
We moved into our suite and Doug got his satellite radio to work so he’s been a happy camper between finding Twins, Wild and Gopher games either on ESPN 2 on TV, on the internet or his radio! So there have still been a lot of games he’s kept track of even though we are in Mexico.
Yes,we're finally able to make our own coffee. IT’s nice to have the refrig. We purchased some bread, condiments, sandwich meat and hot dogs so are able to make a few meals ourselves and keep water cold in the frig!
For my birthday we ate an interesting breakfast at Chilis then I got some information on museums. One of the staff, who spoke English, was telling me of places to see and she kept going to the back office to get brochures with Espanol and English. And she talked about “the caves.” I’d never heard of them before but she really talked them up.
Well, Doug, always the sports guy, stayed in the hotel and listened to the Twins while I (yes, me, the person people questioned could find her way around) took a cab to the centro de ciudad and spent about three enjoyable hours going through several museums that focused on the revolution and history of Mexico.
One museum had a section on the different topography in the state of Chihuahua from the desert (That’s north and including the city of Chihuahua, prairie and mountains. Right outside Chihuahua are the “caves” or adobe dwellings of natives that lived several thousand years ago. After going through their display, I know it’s a place I want to plan to visit next time!
I saw where Father Hidalgo was jailed and executed.
Again, It was all very interesting to visit.
And it was nice to get out of this room and walk. The room is very nice but after awhile, it’s nice to get some fresh air although it was rather warm. Oooooo. Love to say that. Warm! I know when we return it will be about 40 degrees colder in Minnesota but for now, I’m basking as much as I can.
We did travel to the centro de ciudad yesterday, Doug and me, although Doug did mention several times he was missing the Twins game. But he got to enjoy that today, instead.
We pick up Jose tomorrow. Alex, who worked for COI when we first met him on one of the Hillcrest Mission trips, will take us.
A couple days ago, I was standing with my back to the front door of the hotel waiting to talk to the staff when I heard this voice say, “Hello.” Perfect English. It was Alex. He was picking up a couple at the orphanage to bring to DIF or the social service department in chihuahua. We asked if we could ride along and if we could pick up Jose and bring him to DIF to talk to the lawyer who was instrumental in our adoption. So we all loaded up in Alex’s vehicle, Jose in the back, and made the trek. Was fun to Weber again.
When we dropped everyone off once more at Lilly, we took Alex and his wife to lunch at Ricky’s Tacos. Great tacos and toppings and they make a bean dish that contains almost everything of the hog but the squeal! Actually, it’s the bacon, ham and pork skin with the beans plus tomatoes. It’s pretty good but I didn’t eat the skin.
Will write more and try to get some more pix up of the trip before we head home. Hope to get more pix tomorrow of the orphanage.
We’ve had a chance to talk to Andy a couple times and it sounds like he’s keeping busy and they have had some good concerts.
We hear that Breiden is now walking. WAy to go, Breiden!!!! Wayne and Nancy, you don’t need aerobics. You’ll get your exercise trying to keep up with him now.
And JP and Julie report that they haven’t heard anything from the kennel where I’m boarding Mocha. That’s good.
Although I love the warmth here and this city and country, I long for home.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The walk that almost killed us
We went to the mall, Plaza del Sol, again today and, while the walk there should be a healthy one, it almost killed us.
Our hotel, a Microtel of the U.S. Microtel chain, is across the street from the mall. But it’s a very very busy street and in Chihuahua the traffic is anything but slow and pedestrians are seemilngly viewed as targets to be hit.
Yesterday, after we dropped Jose at Lily, we asked the taxi driver to bring us to the mall where we ate at Chilis and then decided to walk to the hotel. the walk is a bit of a jaunt from the building, across a wide expanse of parking lot and then across the street to the hotel but I walk that distance during my walks with our dog, Mocha, back in Fergus.
We made it to the street and thought we could just follow the traffic patterns and ended up standing in the middle of the street as the cars wouldn’t stop for us.
Our life events were flashing before our eyes!
Luckily, during a brief break between the speeding metal, we made a mad dash for it...okay, a clumsy lumbering gait as fast as any couple over 50 can make...and we were obviously successful!
We walked to the mall again today but chose a more carefully planned street crossing. We noticed then how many people actually make that jaunt and how everyone seems to dart between the cars in the attempt.
This part of Chihuahua, we were told by our taxi driver yesterday, is considered to be the “new” Chihuahua. When we came to get Jose and bring him home last year, we stayed in the centro de ciudad or central part of the city that has a feel of the 1950s to it. It appears to be almost in a time warp and has a distinctly different feel to it compared to the newness of where we are staying now. It’s interesting to compare the contrasts.
We were going to go to the old part of the city today but Doug balked a bit.
The two of us were eating on the outdoor balcony of the mall (sorry, Minnesotans, to say that as you face yet another snowstorm but I thought I’d give all a flavor of what really warm weather feels like) and I told Doug we needed to do something today. I wanted to go to the old city.
“And do what,” he asked.
“I’d really like to go to the shops,” I replied.
“Shops? You know that if you said that to me in Fergus, well, you know what my reaction would be. My idea of a vacation is going to Minneapolis and going to a Twins game. My first idea of a vacation is NOT shopping.”
I gave him the wifely stare.
Then he admitted his feelings of melancholy.
“I wanna go home,” he said. “I miss Breiden.”
“Well, we can’t go home until we get him his present,” I reminded Doug.
There. I’d said it. We REALLY need to go shopping!
So a trip to the centro de ciudad is in the planning!
We are planning the trip for early a.m. since we are also planning on changing rooms to a suite. The suite will have microwave, refrigerator and the most important appliance to us as a couple - A COFFEEMAKER!!!!!!! It will save on some of our food bills and give us room to stretch once Jose rejoins us.
We are really good at changing rooms in Chihuahua. When we were here last year completing the adoption process with Jose, we changed hotels at least 7 times. It kept the stay more interesting.
The sky is clear and the weather in the 70s to 80s. It isn’t overly hot. It’s a dry heat, they say.
Will continue with more of our stay tomorrow with hopefully some news about a shopping trip...unless Doug changes his mind - again! I thought that was a woman’s perrogative!
Oh, Happy BD to my aunt, Adeline!!! Special birthday blessings to you!
Our hotel, a Microtel of the U.S. Microtel chain, is across the street from the mall. But it’s a very very busy street and in Chihuahua the traffic is anything but slow and pedestrians are seemilngly viewed as targets to be hit.
Yesterday, after we dropped Jose at Lily, we asked the taxi driver to bring us to the mall where we ate at Chilis and then decided to walk to the hotel. the walk is a bit of a jaunt from the building, across a wide expanse of parking lot and then across the street to the hotel but I walk that distance during my walks with our dog, Mocha, back in Fergus.
We made it to the street and thought we could just follow the traffic patterns and ended up standing in the middle of the street as the cars wouldn’t stop for us.
Our life events were flashing before our eyes!
Luckily, during a brief break between the speeding metal, we made a mad dash for it...okay, a clumsy lumbering gait as fast as any couple over 50 can make...and we were obviously successful!
We walked to the mall again today but chose a more carefully planned street crossing. We noticed then how many people actually make that jaunt and how everyone seems to dart between the cars in the attempt.
This part of Chihuahua, we were told by our taxi driver yesterday, is considered to be the “new” Chihuahua. When we came to get Jose and bring him home last year, we stayed in the centro de ciudad or central part of the city that has a feel of the 1950s to it. It appears to be almost in a time warp and has a distinctly different feel to it compared to the newness of where we are staying now. It’s interesting to compare the contrasts.
We were going to go to the old part of the city today but Doug balked a bit.
The two of us were eating on the outdoor balcony of the mall (sorry, Minnesotans, to say that as you face yet another snowstorm but I thought I’d give all a flavor of what really warm weather feels like) and I told Doug we needed to do something today. I wanted to go to the old city.
“And do what,” he asked.
“I’d really like to go to the shops,” I replied.
“Shops? You know that if you said that to me in Fergus, well, you know what my reaction would be. My idea of a vacation is going to Minneapolis and going to a Twins game. My first idea of a vacation is NOT shopping.”
I gave him the wifely stare.
Then he admitted his feelings of melancholy.
“I wanna go home,” he said. “I miss Breiden.”
“Well, we can’t go home until we get him his present,” I reminded Doug.
There. I’d said it. We REALLY need to go shopping!
So a trip to the centro de ciudad is in the planning!
We are planning the trip for early a.m. since we are also planning on changing rooms to a suite. The suite will have microwave, refrigerator and the most important appliance to us as a couple - A COFFEEMAKER!!!!!!! It will save on some of our food bills and give us room to stretch once Jose rejoins us.
We are really good at changing rooms in Chihuahua. When we were here last year completing the adoption process with Jose, we changed hotels at least 7 times. It kept the stay more interesting.
The sky is clear and the weather in the 70s to 80s. It isn’t overly hot. It’s a dry heat, they say.
Will continue with more of our stay tomorrow with hopefully some news about a shopping trip...unless Doug changes his mind - again! I thought that was a woman’s perrogative!
Oh, Happy BD to my aunt, Adeline!!! Special birthday blessings to you!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
We're here!!!!!
Doug, Jose and I are in sunny Mexico!!!!
We were very glad to leave the snow behind!
It has been quite a journey. We left Monday afternoon for Doug's sister's home. Shelah is watching her grandchildren and out of town but her husband, Bob, woke up at 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday to drive us to the airport!!! Whatta guy! Thanks Bob!
We thought we'd have all this time before our flight took off and planned to have a little breakfast but, by the time we got through security and to our gate, they were loading! Mmmmmm. Peanuts for breakfast. And airplane peanuts at that!
During our layover in Houston, we were able to get a more filling meal.
We made great time. According to our boarding pass from Houston, we left that airport at 9 and made it to Chihuahua by 9:20! Time change!!!!
And once we got to Chihuahua, I thought I'd be deported! The last time I was in Mexico, we traveled with Jose through Juarez and they didn't stop at the Mexican border station where our passport would be stamped saying we were exiting the country. Doug had already gone through that when he drove a Hillcrest mission group just months after we'd adopted Jose but I hadn't. So after some translation by Jose and a reprimand by the official, we were good to go. Oh, but first we had to have our luggage searched. But that was a minor detail!
We took a taxi to Lily of the Valley with Jose after we first checked into our hotel in Chihuahua and Jose is staying out there for a few days. He'd told us he thought everyone might've forgotten him because he'd become so old but that was not the case! What a greeting he got! Mama Rosa, who operates Lily with her husband, Papa Ed, was not there but Ed greeted us warmly and thanked us for keeping our promise to keep in touch and was thrilled to host Jose for a few days! There is an American group from Michigan staying at Lily now so there is no room for Doug and I to stay but Jose will have an opportunity to translate for the group. He's thrilled!
We're making plans to do some sightseeing tomorrow and have plans to get Jose for a visit to DIF or their social services in charge of children and adoption by week's end. Lots to do.
We thought a week would be such a long time but when you consider all we want to do, it seems a very short time.
But there is no snow, temperatures in the 80s and we've ditched the coats!!! Yay!!!! Nice to wear shorts and sandals!
We know we will be returning, most likely, to more snow since forecasts were for another storm system to hit Minnesota, but for a little while we've been able to experience some summer type weather!
We were very glad to leave the snow behind!
It has been quite a journey. We left Monday afternoon for Doug's sister's home. Shelah is watching her grandchildren and out of town but her husband, Bob, woke up at 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday to drive us to the airport!!! Whatta guy! Thanks Bob!
We thought we'd have all this time before our flight took off and planned to have a little breakfast but, by the time we got through security and to our gate, they were loading! Mmmmmm. Peanuts for breakfast. And airplane peanuts at that!
During our layover in Houston, we were able to get a more filling meal.
We made great time. According to our boarding pass from Houston, we left that airport at 9 and made it to Chihuahua by 9:20! Time change!!!!
And once we got to Chihuahua, I thought I'd be deported! The last time I was in Mexico, we traveled with Jose through Juarez and they didn't stop at the Mexican border station where our passport would be stamped saying we were exiting the country. Doug had already gone through that when he drove a Hillcrest mission group just months after we'd adopted Jose but I hadn't. So after some translation by Jose and a reprimand by the official, we were good to go. Oh, but first we had to have our luggage searched. But that was a minor detail!
We took a taxi to Lily of the Valley with Jose after we first checked into our hotel in Chihuahua and Jose is staying out there for a few days. He'd told us he thought everyone might've forgotten him because he'd become so old but that was not the case! What a greeting he got! Mama Rosa, who operates Lily with her husband, Papa Ed, was not there but Ed greeted us warmly and thanked us for keeping our promise to keep in touch and was thrilled to host Jose for a few days! There is an American group from Michigan staying at Lily now so there is no room for Doug and I to stay but Jose will have an opportunity to translate for the group. He's thrilled!
We're making plans to do some sightseeing tomorrow and have plans to get Jose for a visit to DIF or their social services in charge of children and adoption by week's end. Lots to do.
We thought a week would be such a long time but when you consider all we want to do, it seems a very short time.
But there is no snow, temperatures in the 80s and we've ditched the coats!!! Yay!!!! Nice to wear shorts and sandals!
We know we will be returning, most likely, to more snow since forecasts were for another storm system to hit Minnesota, but for a little while we've been able to experience some summer type weather!
Friday, March 21, 2008
He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Easter! What a joyous time of year. A time for celebration even as we deal with more snow!
As we celebrate Easter in the Stender house this year we are also busy with many plans for travel. It's kind of a different Easter season, that way.
Andy is going on the Hillcrest band tour. They leave at 2 p.m. on Easter Sunday. Doug has a road trip and will leave at 1 p.m. for that, be back Sunday night, and then Jose, Doug and I leave for Mexico on Tuesday. What a schedule!
We are definitely looking forward to all our trips, however. I'm just concerned that some of this cold weather might follow us to Mexico! Hope it stays at least 70 when we are there!
I think of all our activity in the family - JP and Julie are busy with work. Julie came with me when I got my hair cut the other day and kept me company. We had a good chat as the hairdresser snipped my locks. JP remains busy making contacts for his work. Wayne is completing his college courses and working at Hillcrest in the ministries department and Nancy is looking forward to delivering baby number two in a month and babysits. And Breiden, well, he's certainly captured all our hearts.
And then there are the four of us making our travel plans.
But no matter how busy we may get, we still reflect on our faith and what our Lord did for us.
Alleluia. He is risen. He is risen, indeed.
Blessed Easter.
As we celebrate Easter in the Stender house this year we are also busy with many plans for travel. It's kind of a different Easter season, that way.
Andy is going on the Hillcrest band tour. They leave at 2 p.m. on Easter Sunday. Doug has a road trip and will leave at 1 p.m. for that, be back Sunday night, and then Jose, Doug and I leave for Mexico on Tuesday. What a schedule!
We are definitely looking forward to all our trips, however. I'm just concerned that some of this cold weather might follow us to Mexico! Hope it stays at least 70 when we are there!
I think of all our activity in the family - JP and Julie are busy with work. Julie came with me when I got my hair cut the other day and kept me company. We had a good chat as the hairdresser snipped my locks. JP remains busy making contacts for his work. Wayne is completing his college courses and working at Hillcrest in the ministries department and Nancy is looking forward to delivering baby number two in a month and babysits. And Breiden, well, he's certainly captured all our hearts.
And then there are the four of us making our travel plans.
But no matter how busy we may get, we still reflect on our faith and what our Lord did for us.
Alleluia. He is risen. He is risen, indeed.
Blessed Easter.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
In March....
Well, March has begun! That means spring and hopefully some warmer weather. At least we've had warm weekends with temps in the upper 20s and 30s. Can spring really be far behind? Hopefully the weather will straighten out soon.
Andy has his last basketball game tomorrow. He's had a fun and enlightening season. It's been great to see him play and to get back into Hillcrest basketball again. We always enjoy watching HLA teams play but there's something special when you watch your own children or kids you know well performing!
We're proud of you, Andy. It's been fun to see you play this year on the JV. Can't wait for baseball season now!
Jose's season also ended. They won two games during their entire season and Jose scored a total of six points. It was neat witnessing Jose's growing confidence. He became more bold at each game and started taking more shots. His defense under the basket was strong. Again, fun to watch him play.
JP and Julie traveled to the Twin Cities last weekend for the state wrestling championships. Julie's brother, Jesse, and 8th grader at Perham, was part of the school's wrestling team. The lost in the championships but Jesse had an opportunity to wrestle two matches at state. He's had a phenomenal year. He was a teammate on the football team and, over winter, on the wrestling team. Was fun to follow his success through reports from Julie and JP. We're proud of you, Jesse. You've had such success in your 8th grade year. Can't wait to see what sport Jesse will take part in this spring and the opportunities that await him his freshman year!
This is a busy month. Doug, Jose and I will be visiting Mexico. Jose wants to spend a few days at the orphanage especially touching base with his friends and with Papa Ed and Mama Rosa who operated Lily of the Valley. Andy will be on Hillcrest band tour this month, too. A busy month for all!
Nancy called the other day and said Breiden was wondering why he hadn't seen his Grampa and Gramma lately. That Breiden! We know he's smart but he has a special relationship with his mom, obviously. When he talks to us it's more of a goo goo gah gah speech but with Nancy, he's putting together these full sentences! We enjoyed the visit, Nancy. Anytime Breiden wants to come over, you know all of you are welcome!
And so another week starts. Will write more of our trips later.
Andy has his last basketball game tomorrow. He's had a fun and enlightening season. It's been great to see him play and to get back into Hillcrest basketball again. We always enjoy watching HLA teams play but there's something special when you watch your own children or kids you know well performing!
We're proud of you, Andy. It's been fun to see you play this year on the JV. Can't wait for baseball season now!
Jose's season also ended. They won two games during their entire season and Jose scored a total of six points. It was neat witnessing Jose's growing confidence. He became more bold at each game and started taking more shots. His defense under the basket was strong. Again, fun to watch him play.
JP and Julie traveled to the Twin Cities last weekend for the state wrestling championships. Julie's brother, Jesse, and 8th grader at Perham, was part of the school's wrestling team. The lost in the championships but Jesse had an opportunity to wrestle two matches at state. He's had a phenomenal year. He was a teammate on the football team and, over winter, on the wrestling team. Was fun to follow his success through reports from Julie and JP. We're proud of you, Jesse. You've had such success in your 8th grade year. Can't wait to see what sport Jesse will take part in this spring and the opportunities that await him his freshman year!
This is a busy month. Doug, Jose and I will be visiting Mexico. Jose wants to spend a few days at the orphanage especially touching base with his friends and with Papa Ed and Mama Rosa who operated Lily of the Valley. Andy will be on Hillcrest band tour this month, too. A busy month for all!
Nancy called the other day and said Breiden was wondering why he hadn't seen his Grampa and Gramma lately. That Breiden! We know he's smart but he has a special relationship with his mom, obviously. When he talks to us it's more of a goo goo gah gah speech but with Nancy, he's putting together these full sentences! We enjoyed the visit, Nancy. Anytime Breiden wants to come over, you know all of you are welcome!
And so another week starts. Will write more of our trips later.
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