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!