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28 September 2010

"Every single thing..."


Just to clarify, nothing really is going wrong here.
But I am prone to be impatient.
And it is the rainy season.
And the laundry, well, it doesn't dry so well.
And the shoes, they are wet.
And school- oh there are SO many words.
And ways to use them.
And pronunciations.

But then I am reminded,
"...at every moment and in every event of every day's life..."

Every single thing that happens to us expresses God's love to us, and comes to us for the furthering of God's purpose for us. Thus, so far as we are concerned, God is love to us--holy, omnipotent love--at every moment and in every event of every day's life. Even when we cannot see the why and the wherefore of God's dealings, we know that there is love in and behind them, and so we can rejoice always, even when, humanly speaking, things are going wrong. We know that the true story of our life, when known, will prove to be, as the hymn says, "mercy from first to last" -- and we are content."

J.I. Packer, Knowing God

(credit to GirlTalk, 27Sept2010)

27 September 2010

Hairy Eyeballs

That is fruit.
Really!

They are a relative of the lychee.
In English, the name is the rambutan.
In Spanish, they are the mamon china.
In my house, they are the hairy eyeballs.

To get to the fruit, you tear open the outside peel.  The fruit is inside, and resembles a peeled grape with a small pit.  My kids like them. 
I haven't decided. 

But they are fun to take a picture of...
Posted by Picasa

24 September 2010

Soy... Estoy...

For the last couple of weeks in our Gramática class, we have been going over the correct uses of SER and ESTAR. Ser and estar are the Spanish “to be” verbs. Ser is used to indicate permanent and lasting attributes, while estar is used for temporary states and locations. Today, as part of an oral exam, I had to describe a ruler. I had no problem with ser and the ruler:
La regla es lisa.
La regla es de madera.
La regla es rectangular.
La regla es angosta.
La regla es liviana.
La regla no es pesada.

But estar and the ruler? I completely blanked.
La regla está sucia.
La regla está …
A ruler IS. When is a ruler in a temporary condition?

I wish I could say the same about myself…
I need ser and estar.

Because in a permanent and lasting sense,
Yo soy contenta.
I am content.
I am thankful for where I am, and where I am going.
I rest in the knowledge and promise that I am known and loved by the King.
I am challenged and never bored.
I am well provided for, and generally want for nothing.

But, oh too often,
Yo estoy frustrada.
I am frustrated.
I am frustrated that I couldn’t describe a silly ol’ ruler in Spanish,
I am frustrated that I get tongue tied even though I studied, and do really know, a long list of adjectives front and back.
I am frustrated that I never know if my morning shower will be hot or cold.
I am frustrated that I get frustrated!

And then I am reminded of the best use of ser,
by Jesus Himself, who tells us,

Ciertamenta les aseguro que, antes de que Abraham naciera, yo soy!
"Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." (John 8:58);

Yo soy el pan de vida.
I am the bread of life. (John 6:35)

Yo soy la luz el mundo.
I am the light of the world. (John 8:12)

Yo soy el buen pastor.
I am the good shepherd. (John 10:11)

Yo soy la resurrección y la vida.
I am the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25)

Yo soy el camino, la verdad, y la vida.
I am the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)

I’ll press on.

(photo credit:  wooden rulers set of five by ConnieandAndrewsDigs on etsy.com)

21 September 2010

There's a map for that...


View Larger Map
Go figure, I finish 91 days of pictures, and the first day of fall is yet another day away.  How'd I mess that up?

So, honestly, when I started the 91 Days of Summer, I really didn't think that I would make it 91 days.  I just thought it was sort of a catchy title, and I knew that for a while, I'd have some pictures to take.  In my head, summer ends on Labor Day.  (in my head, the seasons would be March-May for spring, June-August for summer, September-November for fall, and December-February for winter.  Can I get an AMEN?)  Truth be told, I almost quit when we got to Costa Rica.  And then I almost quit when we got to Labor Day.  But, basically, I'm stubborn, and I'm not a good quitter.  So I pressed on.

Confession- twice I cheated, and didn't actually use a photo from that day.  It's my blog.  I can do that. 

If I had to write the traditional "What I Did in the Summer of 2010" essay, it could well turn into an epic novel.  We travelled more than 5500 miles in the mega-van, and another 1600 by air.  We stayed in homes and trailers and inns and hotels, and a New York brownstone besides.  We saw fields and lakes and mountains and the ocean and the desert and the wide open west.  We worshipped in 8 different churches.  We only broke down once.  We praise the Lord- for only one break down, and for AAA!

When we left Omaha the first time, back in June, I cried well into Iowa.  And just when I was starting to breathe, our pastor called to check on us, and then I cried a few more miles.  When we left Omaha the second time, in mid-August, I only cried to Lincoln.  When we left Omaha the first time, we only knew that we were spending a month in New York City, and we didn't know what would happen after that.  When we left Omaha the second time, we knew we were headed south, very south, all the way to Central America.  

Even though school was out, we learned some lessons in those 91 days.  We learned that good sleep and eating right helps make everyone happier.  We learned that you should always stop for coffee when you first need it, and you should always try to use the bathroom when you have the opportunity.  (we also learned that Iowa has great rest areas, free internet!, and the best hand-dryer is definitely the Xcelerator.) We learned that there is a lot of highway construction in the summer time.  We learned that you shouldn't drive through the Bronx in the late afternoon.  We learned that if there's only one radio station to be found, it will probably play country music.  We learned friendship is golden, truly a priceless gift.  We learned family is generous, and forgiving. 

I remembered that I must always always wake up before everyone else, because it doesn't get quiet again until everyone goes back to bed.  And I remembered that in that first quiet time before everyone wakes, I need to be still myself.  And read the Word.  And pray.  I remembered that I love a good atlas.  And I remembered that not all ice tea is the same.  (that can be a disappointing lesson to learn again!)  

And we were reminded, over and again, that our God is faithful, ever faithful, to show us mercy and grace, to wrap us in lovingkindness, to always provide for our needs.  Fortunately, that extends beyond summer and into eternity.

Thinking of traveling?  Let us know.
We might have a map for that. 

20 September 2010

91 days of summer- 91

Pina.
We eat 2 or 3 a week.
Fresh as fresh can be.
About $1.50 each.
Hands down, one of the best everyday things about living in Costa Rica.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens



On Saturday we took a trip to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, about an hour outside of San Jose.  The travel just to get there was beautiful!  We drove through mile after mile of coffee plantations and fern farms.  We climbed to nearly 5000 feet in altitude, and the scenery grew more and more green as we traveled.  The trip included a Tico breakfast- scrambled eggs, rice and beans, cheese and toast, along with strawberry juice and cafe con leche; and later a buffet lunch.  Mmmm!

Once at La Paz, we were able to view, be right next to, all kinds of birds, animals, plants, flowers, and of course, waterfalls.  We walked through the bird house, and all the kids had their photo taken wtih the toucans.  We watched the life cycle of the butterfly up close, from emerging to death.  We watited patiently, trying to capture the hummingbirds on film, as they zipped and zoomed all around us, hardly still for a moment.  We could have reached out to pet the wildcats, but we didn't.  I was hoping the frogs would not hop on top of me! 

We arrived in the morning sun, but as the morning turned to afternoon, the sun turned to storms, and we experienced the afternoon rains, and then the downpour.  My pictures only begin to capture how gorgeous and serene the rain forest appears. On the way home, we stopped for coffee at a shop along the roadside, a tourist stop, yes, but a tasty cafecito nonetheless.

And, I got to get out the camera and snap away the entire day!  It was a wonderful adventure, and makes me want to see even more of this beautiful country soon!

(all of the pictures can be seen upclose at on my Picassa album of "La Paz Waterfall Gardens")

19 September 2010

91 days of summer- 90

It probably sounds ridiculous, but I pass this flower every day, and every day I think about how it looks like it's trying to get free...

18 September 2010

91 days of summer- 89

self portrait after another week of Spanish classes...

JUST KIDDING!!
:-)

I really was THAT close to Senor Tree Frog!
I really was THAT glad he didn't decide to jump at that moment!

(at La Paz Waterfall Gardens)

91 days of summer- 88


in  the hood...

16 September 2010

91 days of summer- 87


For my North Americans homemaker friends...
this is our dish soap.

Es pasta.
(Spanish translation: "it is paste," NOT spaghetti!!)
The label tells me that it is "powerful in cold water"- which is good, because we never have REALLY hot water.  Usually it's lukewarm and falling...

It was an adjustment.  I've been a loyal Dawn fan for many years.  But, I'm learning to like it.  Except when I have to let a dish soak.  Then you have to smoosh the pasta up to get it to dissolve, and add water at full force to make it bubble.
(Confession:  in my head, bubbles=cleaning.  I know that it's not necessarily true.  But nonetheless...)

Psheesh!  Is this Helpful Hints from Heluisa or what?  :-) 

15 September 2010

El dia de independencia

91 days of summer- 86

Independence Day!
Parades.
Bands.
Flags.
A little bit of sunburn.
A day off from school.

:-)

Happy birthday, Costa Rica!

91 days of summer- 85

The night before Independence Day in Costa Rica, you sing the National Anthem at 6pm a punto, and then school kids parade through neighborhood streets, holding lanterns, in commemoration of the night before news of independence arriving in 1821.

I think the kids that play the drums like it best because if they beat the drums REALLY hard, the car alarms go off...  :-) 

14 September 2010

I've got mail!

The first letter from home!
Hand written and with drawings, besides.
Completely unexpected, it made my day.

Thanks, friend!!

91 days of summer-84

morning from the dining room table...

(such good light in the morning!  by lunchtime, the storms roll in and the downpour is imminent...)

La empleada

I have help.
To write that sentence is exceedingly humbling.

It is somewhat of the custom to have ladies come into the homes of the students here at language school to help them with household tasks, cooking and childcare. My kids asked “we are getting a maid?” I refuse to say “maid.”

I’ve never had help with my house, except for my closest friends who knew when I was sinking under the enormity of moving and dove in and rescued me. My primary job title for the last nearly 20 years has been homemaker. I care for my home and family. I clean. I cook. I do laundry.  Oh yes, I have taught my kids to help. I have long joked that I am working my self out of a job. Even so, the responsibility of order in our home has mostly been mine.

And then we move to Costa Rica.
I stand in the grocery store and I stare at the cleaning products and nothing is the same. What cleans the floors here? And why is everything in a bag?
I don’t have my pots and pans. I don’t even have the same food! I stare at the food in the grocery store, too.  And the oven doesn’t really work well… How do I cook here? What do I cook here?
And, I’m out the door with the kids in the morning, and in class, and studying… I can’t stop by Sam’s for a roasted chicken on the way home.
Not much is the same.

I can barely describe how much of a blessing sweet Concepcion has been to me. Concepcion, who might be 5 feet tall if she stretches, who works as hard as anyone I’ve met in my life! She comes twice a week, for 6 hours. Those two days are such a relief to me.
She cleans our tile floors to a glaze so shiny I can see myself.
She makes the old tile bathrooms look clean again.
She washes our sheets even though I told her not to, that I could do it.
She lines up my girls’ dolls on their pillows, awaiting their arrival home from school.
And she cooks!
She cooks amazing Costa Rican food, so I’m learning how to cook with local ingredients.  And she tells me what to buy!
She speaks Spanish, only Spanish, knows not a word of English, so I’m learning how to communicate better.

I know that because of working for our family and another at the school, she is eligible for health care benefits, and that she has income to care for her family. So I hope that we might be a blessing to her, too. I hope that I communicate well how much she helps me and my family.  I hope that we do not burden her with our messes!  (we still clean up, just like usual.  The kids still have chores everyday.)

It is difficult for me to really understand how, after we have taken such a significant salary decrease over the last year, when we move to a home less than half the size of our last, when we have less possessions than ever before in our life, when I have kids that are exceedingly capable, now is the time we have help.
But, I am so very grateful that we do…

13 September 2010

Multitudes (#388- 406)

Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplication.
The Lord is my stength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.
Psalm 28:6-7

388. the computer still works!
389. enough cash for the taxi home.
390. she is so happy after volleyball.
391. 2 Corinthians 1:20 & "nothing can render God's promises more certain..."
392. ... but our adequacy is from God. 2Corinthians 3:5
393. the credit card will work in the ATM when the ATM card does not.
394. celebrating a new baby
395. meeting friends on the street
396. morning sunshine
397. empanadas de pollo
398. My eyes are continually toward the Lord... Psalm 25:15
399. notes from friends
400. chicken stir fry
401. ...for we walk by faith, not by sight.  2Corinthians 5:7
402.  My husband knows how to do geometry.  And physics.  And chemistry.
403.  But I can still help with long division.
404.  Sunday afternoon nap
405.  promise of morning
406. Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

(art credit:  Psalm 25 by Marc Chagall)

Monday dawns


Still, still with You, when the purple morning breaks,
When the birds awake, and the shadows flee;
Fairer than morning, lovelier than daylight,
Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee.

Alone with You, amid the misty shadows,
The solemn hush of nature newly born;
Alone with You in breathless adoration,
In the calm dew and freshness of morn.

As in a sunrise o'er a waveless ocean,
The image of morning star does rest,
So in this stillness, You discerning only
Your image in the waters of my breast.

When sinks the soul, subdued by toil, to slumber,
Its closing eyes look up to You in prayer;
Sweet the repose, beneath Your wings o'ershadowing,
But sweeter still to awake and find You there.
Harriet Beecher Stowe

(from Streams in the Desert by LB Cowman)
(art credit: Volcan Arenal, Morning, Costa Rica, Patrick Dengate studio, Friday, April 16, 2010)

12 September 2010

91 days of summer- 83


Sunday morning sunshine out the back door.

91 days of summer- 82


La feria,
Saturday morning.

Two pictures for one!

We go to la feria on Saturday morning to buy the bulk of our fruits and vegetables for the week.  It takes place in a park not far from our house, less than a 10 minute walk.  La feria would remind you of any farmers market anywhere- everyone promising the best quality for the lowest prices.  Mostly fruits and vegetables are sold at our feria, although there one lady sells bread, and a man sells fish laid out on ice.  I'm too chicken to buy fish.  (bad experience with tilapia a few years ago... just can't do it...)
Yesterday we toted away carrots and sweet peppers and potatotes, green beans and avocados and plantains.  We bought a bag of mandarin oranges and a bunch of bananas and two pineapples.  And tomatoes.  All for about $15.  Yay!




Thou Shalt Not...

Wandering the internet on a Sunday afternoon, I remembered Design*Sponge, a site that never fails to make me oooh and aaah.  So many neat ideas on Design*Sponge, but today, in specific...

 
Red poppy + notebook = swoon!
2.  at 1canoe2, letterpress 2011 poster calendars...
  
It's a poster! 
It's a calendar!
3.  at MidwestFinds, this wavy quart jar dispenser...

Truly, aren't Ball jars perfect?

Alas,
thou shalt not... 
(but it's fun to look...)

10 September 2010

Where I Am From...

My older kids had this writing assignment the first week of school, and I've scratched at it myself since.
I sort of have to make myself remember, and little by little, so much comes back...




Where I Am From

I am from dry dusty desert at 5000 feet,
from mountain peaks that change from pink, then rose, then to purple at sunset.
from flat mesas, and arroyos that suddenly fill, and a green valley that tells where the river runs.
On a clear day, you can see 500 miles to the west.

I am from white washed adobe walls,
from rough to the touch stucco that scrapes your skin,
from flat roofs and exposed wood beams.
We would walk the cinder block walls between houses like a tightrope.

I am from chamisa, blooming brilliant goldenrod yellow,
from yucca, creamy blossoms and sharp tined sword leaves,
from cactus, magenta prickly pears and skeleton spines.
My grandpa grew rose bushes loaded with bright blooms in the summertime.

I am from roasted turkey and dressing with gravy on Thanksgiving,
from steaming posole and tamales on Christmas Eve,
from ham and scallope potatoes at Easter.
We always thumped out a perfect watermelon for the Fourth of July.

I am from green and red chile, roasted in the parking lot corner every fall,
from blue corn enchiladas and burritos smothered and spicy,
from pinto beans and tortillas, and salsa and chips.
If given a choice, I would pick apple pie and vanilla ice cream almost every time.

I am from the State Fair and the rodeo, and fry bread and blue ribbons,
from the Sandia Peak tramway and the Balloon Fiesta, out in the cold before dawn,
from the zoo and Old Town, Indian jewelers with their turquoise and silver on bright blankets lining the sidewalk.
Dodging traffic, we would skip across Stadium to fill help fill the Pit for Lobo basketball, Mike Roberts echoing from radios along the way.

I am from climbing on rocks and swinging on trees,
from bicycles fast down Suicide Hill,
from hide and go seek in most unlikely places.
If I went barefoot the entire summer, the goathead stickers would hardly even hurt.

I am from work hard and finish a job well,
from make your bed when you wake up,
from “please” and “thank you” and “yes ma’am” and “no sir.”
“… Don’t let the bedbugs bite, and when you wake up, don’t make a peep.”

I am from church on Sunday,
and then church on Christmas and Easter,
and then from no church at all.

I am from Jim and Orell and Max and Martha,
from a newspaper typesetter and proof reader,
from an Air Force officer and a teacher.
I would read my books from the heights of the garage roof and the top apple tree limb.

Sifting through images in my mind,
landmarks to remember, few photos to confirm.
I am from those moments,
snapshots of time long ago.

(photo credit:  Mrs. Smith (me) and Mrs. Jones (my sister), probably circa 1970, if I had to guess...)

15 seconds can...

... REALLY make you laugh!

My family has had such a good time enjoying the latest series of GEICO commercials! It's hard to pick a favorite, but since we're in the heart of Central American futbol land, I thought this would be a good choice to post. You can watch the whole lot of them at either the GEICO site, or on YouTube. Therapist Sarge, Piggy, The Snowball, Honest Abe, and Bird in Hand are all worth a laugh, too!

91 days of summer- 81

Quiz time.
Which American Girl are you most like?

(I am Molly)

09 September 2010

91 days of summer- 80


Book of the week.
Maybe book of the month.
Maybe book of the year...

91 days of summer- 79

And then were 6.
Beds, that is. 

We have been short one bed since arriving at our house.  My oldest daughter has graciously been sleeping on the loveseat in the living room for the last couple of weeks.  The first two nights, my husband and I shared a twin bed.  We like each other, but...

So now, everyone has a bed.  Two girls each are in two little bedrooms.  "Little" is the operative word.  In one room, the only furniture is the two beds.  Fortunately, they have shelves inside their closet for their clothes.  In the other room, there is room for a little nightstand between the beds.  And that is it.  The boy has his own room.  The girls are ok with that.  They don't really want to share a room with him...

We were thinking that hammocks, think Skipper and Gilligan, would save space.  Alas, we'll stick with beds for now...

07 September 2010

Multitudes (#362- 387)

I love Thee, O Lord, my strength,
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and deliverer,
My God in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lod, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3

362.  worship, in any language
363.  able to give directions to the taxi driver
364.  first day of classes
365.  new notebook and sharpened pencil
366.  prayer, in any language
367.  Concepcion.
368.  Taquisimos
369.  Clean floors!
370.  Clean bathrooms!
371. ...and the zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:7
372.  Chiky saurus cookies
373.  MagicJack
374.  farmers market fresh
375.  But let all things be done properly and in a good manner.  1Corinthians 14:40
376.  Round trip bus ride, and destination discovered.
377.  Haircut.
378.  Home before the rain.
379.  Phone call on the back porch.
380.  Taxi ride to the mall.
381.  Mango ice cream
382.  Notes from friends
383. Kids playing sports.
384. Let all that you do be done in love.  1Corinthians 16:14
385.  "Nothing can render God's promises more certain; His giving them though Christ assures us that they are His promises, as the wonders of God wrought in life."  Matthew Henry on 2Corinthians 1.
386.  Seeing so many friends near their support goals!
387.  First exam finished

(photo credit:  Psalm 181 by sowinginstone @etsy.com)

Consider joining the Gratitude Community at Holy Experience...

holy experience

91 days of summer- 78

our back porch on a very rainy afternoon.
(look close- those vertical lines are rain! the horizontal lines are clotheslines.)

06 September 2010

"A long obedience in the same direction."

Exhorted to "choose joy,"
a good word from Andree Seu today at WORLDmag.com

(title quote from Eugene Peterson)

91 days of summer- 77


Nuestra casa es su casa.

05 September 2010

91 days of summer- 76


bird of paradise
(our next door plant neighbor...!)

04 September 2010

worthwhile, #3

If it is admirable for our military men to die on foreign soil for American freedom, and laudable for First Responders to risk their lives for citizens in peril, why are missionaries dubbed as irresponsible fools when they choose to remain in perilous situations with their families, risking their “necks” (Rom. 16:4) for their friends and the gospel of Christ?

Here is my rationale for regularly sending missionaries with the gospel into hostile surroundings: Risk is always determined by the value of the mission. The gospel is so valuable that no risk is unreasonable. Life is gained by losing it for the gospel. If I die, I go directly to Christ and get to take a few tribes with me. Therefore, if I live, I win. If I die, I win bigger (Phil. 1:22-24) So, where is the problem?

If we, as gospel ambassadors, are unwilling to suffer even as much as soldiers and firemen, could the reason be that we don’t reassure Christ enough or value the gospel enough to sacrifice anything significant for its advance into unreached regions? Is Jesus simply not worth the risk?

David Sitton, To Every Tribe newsletter, Fall 2010

worthwhile, #2

"It is most important habitually to contemplate our work in its proper character as a “work of faith.” As such, it can only be sustained by the active and persevering exercise of this principle. This is what makes it a means of grace to our own souls, as well as a grand medium of exalting our Divine Master.

It is faith that enlivens our work with perpetual cheerfulness. It commits every part of it to God, in the hope, that even mistakes shall be overruled for his glory; and thus relieves us from an oppressive anxiety, often attendant upon a deep sense of our responsibility. The shortest way to peace will be found in casting ourselves upon God for daily pardon of deficiencies and supplies of grace, without looking too eagerly for present fruit."
Charles Bridges, via GirlTalk

I struggle to maintain "perpetual cheerfulness." 
I look too eagerly for "present fruit." 
But oh do I cast myself upon Him for daily pardon and supply of grace...
I think that part of living is faith indeed...

worthwhile, #1

Allen Levi, Ben May, and I stood on Wendell Berry’s front porch as nervous as schoolboys. Allen had prayed aloud as we pulled up to the little Kentucky farmhouse that God would keep the visit from descending into some goofy hero worship, and that we’d remember who we are, that somehow our visit would amount to a blessing to the Berrys even as it would be to us. Basically it was, “Dear God, don’t let us be dummies.”

Andrew Peterson, Paying Attention: A Visit with Wendell Berry, via The Rabbit Room

Be certain- I'd be praying the same thing!
For my friends that so enjoy Wendell Berry, Paying Attention is a great piece on three fellows who were able to spend an afternoon with Mr. Berry and his wife, Tanya.

And after that, I'm pining for a visit with Jayber Crow and Hannah Coulter all over again...

91 days of summer- 75


Costa Rican dollar store,
El Centro Mercado,
San Jose, Costa Rica

91 days of summer- 74


Traditional Costa Rican dance

02 September 2010

3 things- new to Costa Rica

My family arrived in Costa Rica about 9 days ago, and little by little, poco a poco, we are feeling less overwhelmed and more at ease with life in a new place.  I didn't do much homework before coming to Costa Rica, so I didn't have a lot of expectations.  We live in a neighborhood, San Francisco de los Rios, close to the school, and we haven't ventured too far outside the 'hood yet.  But we will!  Three quick observations on living in Costa Rica-

1.  There are NO addresses.  No street names.  No house numbers.  Directions are given from local landmarks.  One friend lives 100 meters south of La Margarita Dry Cleaners, on the right, in the house with a red sidewalk and three palm trees.  We live between Parque Bosque and Parque Copa, 100 meters south of Parque Copa, turn left, 30 meters on the right, the yellow house.  (and yes, I can tell it in Spanish and the taxi driver took me to the correct house!)  Amazingly, this works.  Those are the directions we gave to the internet people, and they arrived.  However, it doesn't impress GPS systems so much...  

2.  It is not hot here.  Right now is the rainy season.  The 10 day forecast reads- 77/thunderstorms, 78/thunderstorms, 81/thunderstorms, 81/thunderstorms, 81/thunderstorms...  It has rained, POURED, every day we have been here except one.  The mornings have typically been sunny, but dark clouds roll in by noon, and eventually, the rain begins.  I am told it will get even increasingly rainy through October, and that it will change to mostly sunny by the end of  December.  That will be nice!  (we don't have a dryer, which is a bit problematic in the rainy season...)  Also, San Jose is at about 3700 ft. altitude, and that keeps the temperatures moderate, as well.

3. Pineapples.  Limes.  Coffee.   Fresh fresh fresh! 
On Saturday morning, there is a farmers market in our neighborhood.  Bananas everywhere!  Some fruits that I have never ever seen before and can't even make a guess on.  Stay tuned. 

And that doesn't include the crazy taxi drivers, drivers that could care less about pedestrians, green green plants and beautiful flowers, spiders, locks on locks, beans and rice, worship music...
Today, just
three things.

91 days of summer- 73


studying, and hoping for a call.

91 days of summer- 72


Pay phone,
San Francisco de los Rios,
San Jose, CR