Mother's Day Week May 16, 2010

It was really fun having Parker and Brian and Mat here this week. Well, they actually left for their project on Sunday afternoon but they came back Wednesday afternoon and we managed to keep busy while they were away. We were kept quite busy eating the See's chocolates they brought from Annie--excellent selection Annie! Thanks for the extra 5 pounds we will now have to lose.

Monday we saw missionaries and Monday afternoon Wayne and Paul went once again with Luis to finish getting the clinic licensed. They think they are finally through with that process. Tuesday we saw CCM missionaries and then Susanne and I got to go to another wonderful lady's luncheon At Sister Clark'
s.

Paul went to Tio Juan's boy's facility to take care of some scheduling. On Wednesday we saw Tio Juan boys and Parker and Brian and Mat came back that afternnoon. We visited for awhile and heard about all their adventures and successes. They had another meeting with someone about another project and then we had a Lasagna dinner and they were all very hungry. I even made lemon bars for the first time. We visited while they packed and had a nice evening. We thought we were going to be tied up with customs on Wednesday and again on Thursday trying to get a shipment of dental supplies. Each time, however, the arrangements fell through for lack of a signature. I was very happy about that because we had planned to go to Antigua for Breakfast with Brian after we dropped Parker and Matt off at the airport.We had a great day in Antiqua. We had breakfast at the same place we went with the Mask's a month earlier. It is a beautiful spot over-looking the city. After that we poked around the city waiting for the Market to open so Brian could get a couple of things for Cedric and Jill.

I did my usual accident waiting to happen. I bumped into one of those ledged that stick out with plants in them and really smacked the left side of my head. Paul said, luckily you didn't get your eye. Brian spent the rest of the day trying to get me to walk on the outer edge of the side-walk but to no avail. Once again, I was talking instead of watching and I smacked the other side of my head but this time I got my eye really good. It ripped my lower eyelashes out and left me with a really great bruise. Back at the apartments I tried to make a case for spousal abuse but no one would take me seriously. We went to some fun markets and then had a light lunch at a wonderful Hotel that I wouldn't mind staying at some
day. The grounds are like paradise.
.

Of course we had to make another stop at McDonald's with Brian to see the beautiful garden dining patio and fountain.


Paul was busy with Ronald making arrangements for our visit to customs the next day. When we returned we actually made it a very long day and took Brian to the movies in the VIP lounge where you sit in big soft recliner and they come and take your order for popcorn, drinks, food, or whatever. It was a fun day--and it needed to be to prepare us for the not so fun day on Friday.

Oh, what a day Friday was. We took Brian to the airport and looked for the Customs place to pick up our stuff by the airport. Then we went to the church offices and picked up a pick-up and Jorge. He took us to drop our sick car off once again at a garage and we drove to the customs place and met someone at 12:00 with papers.
Then we got in a long line of trucks, big and little and inched forward for the next three hours. Unfortunately both of us forgot to bring books or ipods. Luckily I had my Spanish verb book and some flash cards. We had packed a peanut butter sandwich lunch so we ate in the car. Finally at 3:00 we got through the gate and it started to rain. Only one of us went through the gate, however. They made me get out of car. So I waited on a hard bench and finally saw Paul again at 5:45. That means we waited almost 6 hours to get our shipment. But the day was not over. We then had to take everything to the Clinic at the other end of the city during rush hour. When we got there, the cute girls at Tio Juan's saw us and helped us carry all 19 boxes in. We were really grateful when we got home to have some good leftovers to eat. May I just say once again, I am really grateful for good leftovers.

Saturday Paul went to the clinic and unpacked and , of course most of the stuff was stuff we can't use so we will be making some donations to worthy dental causes. We received a lot of crown and bridge stuff which we don't use and a lot of plastic trays????? Seven hours???? We were sure glad we had such a nice Thursday. From now on we will have to be very specific in what we need and only have it come down with volunteers. No more long days at customs. We did get a few things that we need and can use so it is all good. I stayed home and baked bread and cleaned and talked with my good friend Jody Hansen on the phone and Judy Tobler the couple that is coming down to the clinic and my daughter Jenny. So it was a good morning. It is a small world in the church. While I was talking to Judy Tobler she told me she had just been to visit her mother in Fountain Hills. She said her mother told her that Dr. Fillmore delivered her. That was Paul's Uncle Jim. He delivered a couple of my mother's babies also. When I first met Paul at BYU and told my mother who he was, she said, his uncle Jim sewed a cut up on me when I was 4 and sat on a piece of glass.

After lunch we went grocery shopping and while I spent the next hour and a half washing vegetables, Paul took the pick-up back to the church offices and walked home. I made Broccoli soup to go with our fresh bread and we relaxed a little bit. It has been a busy but good week. Next week we have a full week at the clinic and some nurses coming to stay with us while they work at an orphanage. We have a young couple coming to dinner at our house on Friday and ward temple night on Saturday. So it will be another good but busy week.