Table for 36 please!

Well, I just hosted 36 people for supper. Yes, you read that right! One of the fun parts about being a missionary is the opportunity to meet so many people. One way we often do that is in hosting summer mission groups from churches in the US. Since last weekend (thus no blog entries!!) we have been hosting a wonderful group of 23 young people. We have been trying to show them some of the exciting things God is doing in the lives of people here as well as the many needs that still exist and of course some of the natural beauty of Costa Rica. It is fun to see them experience for the first time all the new things about visiting a foreign country. And they are a big help and encouragement to us and to our families. We have four girls staying in our house. They have played Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land and Connect Four about 100 times with our youngest two. And even done so with a smile. I like to think of it as God sending us "aunt and uncle" type figures when we are so far away from all the Aunts and Uncles that our kids love so much. You know-- someone to spoil them, play with them, treat them special. They are only here for two weeks, but our kids always fall in love with the sweet high schoolers and college age kids that make up these groups. So if I don't write a lot in the next few days, you know why!

On another note, today was the last day of school for my kids until the end of July. They have a 3 week mid-year break and they are EXCITED!! The school day starts early here: 7am. We have to leave our house by 6:30 every morning to get them there on time which means we should be getting up by 5:30 (which is usually 5 :45 or sometimes 6 -- which produces a crazy mad 30-min get ready dash to the door!). I think that is awfully early for little guys (and their moms!!) So the kids are very excited about no alarm clocks tomorrow. I told them we could all just wake up on our own. Something tells me I will enjoy that too!

Soon I will write more and tell you about our crazy day at the Immigration office today trying to finish our residency paper work. I also want to share a few fun things about shopping at the little house-front stores here (called pulperias or mercaditos). Whenever we have visitors I hear all the things that surprise them and remember again what things are unique and novel about life here. Truly after a while everything seems normal to me. So it is fun to "see" through new eyes sometimes!! Also I will share a couple Costa Rican recipes. Do you know you can actually feed a group of 36, like tonight, rather inexpensively if you fix 'picadillo de vainicas' I will tell you what that is soon!!

Thanks for reading. More as soon as I can get to it!!

ps-- Buster is doing great. I braved giving him his first bath yesterday and we both survived!!

Fresh fruit Saturdays

Fresh fruit is so plentiful here in San Jose. Every weekend there are huge 'ferias' (which are like gigantic farmers markets) all over the city. It is the best way to get fresh fruit and vegetables at a reasonable price. However, I am often busy Saturday mornings and am always busy Sunday mornings. So I count on people like these. The stock up on the best deals and then drive their fruit laden trucks to a busy intersection or along the side of a major street. People like me who didn't have time to go the feria on Saturday are excited to get their fresh fruit -- and the price is still pretty good. Piñas -- 3 por 500. Not bad! Three yummy fresh pineapples for just a dollar. I don't know about where you live but I don't think that is a bad price. 33 cents each is a good deal in my book! But you know what is even better? There is a fruit truck that come through my neighborhood two mornings a week. So I am just messing around in the house and hear them yelling "Verduras, frutas" outside and all I have to do is walk to the gate. They see me and drive the truck up to my front gate and I can pick out whatever I need. Then the nice fruit man puts it in a crate and carries it up to my front door. And it's still cheaper than the grocery store. So, if I can't get to the market, the market comes to me. One great thing about life in Central America!! Pura vida!

Downtown

Well, today is Wyatt's last day of pre-school before the mid-year break. He has two weeks of vacation starting tomorrow and is very excited. (Kind of like you have Christmas break in the US between semesters -- only our school year runs mid Feb-late Nov. so July is always the semester break and a 2-3 week vacation depending on the school.) And to add to his excitement, after class we are taking a bus downtown. He loves this. Why? One word. PIGEONS!! The plaza in front of this hotel (in the bottom pic) and next to the National Theater is full of pigeons. And little street vendors sell tiny bags of corn to feed the birds. Wyatt loves it. At first he was a little scared (maybe too much Mary Poppins with the odd bird lady on the steps asking for money!) But now he loves it. We are going to meet a friend for lunch. But first we will feed the pigeons, then wash our hands VERY well, and then off to lunch! Wish us luck!!

Catching up

Well gals, I haven't written in a few days because:

1-- Wyatt, my youngest, has had strep throat. It is so hard for a Mom to see her little guy who is usually happy and active just lying around on the couch all day because the fever is taking all the energy out of him. Hate to see my kiddos that way. Luckily, the antibiotics took ahold quick and by today he is feeling much, much better!! Yeah! He really loves the new puppy by the way! Can you tell by that smile??

2-- The aforementioned puppy, which I do love, takes A LOT of my time. He is only 7 weeks old. Just a baby. So that means I am doing all the house-training -- you know teaching him when and where to do his business. He is very smart and we have had hardly any accidents in the house. But he does wake me a couple times a night to let him outside. The constant interruptions and lack of sleep definitely remind me of baby days (so does the half-glazed look that my eyes seem to have all day too!).

3-- It was Father's Day. Costa Rica celebrates Father's Day on the same day as you US gals. (Although Mother's Day is a completely different day than yours.) How about my other international friends--are Fathers Day and Mothers Day the same or different where you are?? So, we couldn't go out due to Wyatt being sick. But we still celebrated "in" on Sunday. Darrin is a great Daddy. I am blessed to partner with him in raising these four little ones!!

4-- Total lack of photo inspiration. I really need to take some new pictures. With the exception of the new puppy pictures, I haven't been taking very many life snapshots lately. A blog entry is always more exciting with good pictures. So I need to remind myself to get some good ordinary life snaps of our family this week!

Sooo, that is my excuse for the lack of entries lately. It is also a brief update on things here. Keep checking in. To borrow a line from our Wendy's drive-thru in Missouri "Thanks. See you tomorrow." It always made me laugh as I stopped there fairly irregularly. But I guess it is just wishful thinking on their part! I am an optimist and would like to think you'll check in again -- just out of curiosity. So, I will be as presumptuous as the Wendy's register gal and say "Thanks for stopping by. See you tomorrow!"

Flashback Friday

Yes this is me! I am not sure the year but I am guessing I was around 4th grade. I grew up in the country on a cattle farm with rolling green hills and nine ponds. Seemed like an entire kingdom in my little mind. And this was me practicing with my calf for the upcoming summer 4-H fair. My Dad raises Registered Blank Angus cattle and every year I would show a calf in the fair. At this age, I loved it. Although I must admit that the excitement wore off eventually. But something about seeing that little girl with her long messed up hair, cowboy hat, blue terrycloth romper, and tall tube socks with her tennis shoes proudly holding up that calf's lead still makes me smile.

ps - The idea of Flashback Friday is not mine -- but I have been reading my new friend Susie's blog (http://susiesincock.typepad.com/) and she has Flashback Friday and Sassy Shoe Thursday and many other wonderfully creative ideas. I don't have cute shoes like she does. But I do have a lot of old pictures. So when I remember I think it will be fun to dig out and share them now and again. Always good to give my friends a laugh at my expense!! :o) Enjoy your weekend!!

New addition to the family!

Well, after 14 years of marriage and four children we are now entering a new phase. Pet-owners. Today began a whole new adventure for the King clan when we added this adorable little ball of fluff to our family.

He's a toy poodle (or maybe tiny toy). Is only about 2 months old and is the cutest little thing. I know nothing about puppies. So I am reading a lot on the internet and planning a trip to the vet to ask some questions next week.

The kids have always wanted a pet. But we live in a city of 2 million people. The houses are often small with little to no yard and we are renters. That usually means no pets. But about this time last year, we were so blessed to find a new house to rent that actually has a yard and whose owner said we could have a pet as long as it was a small one! So we have been asking around and looking. And when I found this one today, I decided it was time! The kids are going crazy. So very excited. But they are very gentle with him for which I am grateful. Should be an exciting few weeks around here.

I'll let you know when we decide on a name!! Wish us luck!!

Name this flower

My husband went around yesterday taking some pictures of the flowers in bloom in our front yard to e-mail to his mom. I thought I'd share this one as it is so unique. Growing up in the Midwestern US, we didn't have these in our front yard! They are very interesting and droop downward with these huge red blooms. But what are they? I haven't a clue. I'm going to have to ask my neighbors or do a web search or something. Do any of you know?? I'd love to find out what it is. I'll let you know if I figure it out!! Have a good day!!

Costa Rican Fun Fact #1

Costa Rica Fun Fact #1 -- This may be quite obvious to those of you who follow the sport, but soccer is a BIG deal in Latin America. Costa Rica is no exception. This past Friday was the opening day of the World Cup in Germany. And Costa Rica played vs. Germany in the opening game. It was quite a thrill to play the inaugural game. So, to celebrate, the new CR president declared it a government holiday. Schools across the country were cancelled, banks closed, stores and business temporarily shut the doors. And from 10 am till noon, the the entire country focused in on "La Sele" (short for La Seleccion -- or the Selection-- the CR players 'selected' to play on the national team) You could hear groans from every house on my street at each of Germany's four goal and loud screams, cheers, car horns, etc as Costa Rica scored their two goals. Yes, we lost. But the country was excited. 2 goals scored against the "home" team---making history by playing in the opening game and by being part of the highest scoring opener ever. Big, big news in my little corner of the world. Somehow much bigger than the US loss 3-0 to Czech Republic today! Pura Vida!!

ps-- Also I've been meaning to tell you about the pictures I have taken that I used in the Pura Vida banner above. The first is a palm tree from Manuel Antonio National Park, the second the ruins of a cathedral destroyed by earthquakes in Cartago, and the third the church steeple in Grecia (this metal church was actually imported from Belgium in the late 1800s!) And the Pura Vida blog entry below contains a picture of a brightly painted city Municipal building.

Costa Rica is such a beautiful country as you can see, I hope to add a photo album link here with more pictures. But I have to figure out how to do that first. I'm still new at this blog stuff!!

My favorite little ring-bearer

Isn't he the cutest?? I know I am a bit biased, but I think he is the cutest thing in that little bitty tuxedo. His favorite thing? Hands down the shiny shoes. He actually cried because we couldn't keep them!! This is a picture from my brother's wedding last month. We were able to make a quick trip back home to be there. Darrin, my husband, officiated the wedding and Wyatt, my "baby" here was the ring bearer. I just loved that we could be a part of such a special day!! Unfortunately, I realized after the fact that we never got a good picture of my whole family at the wedding. Luckily, my sister snapped this picture (below) at the reception. Darrin had shed his suit coat and rolled up his sleeves. I was feeling a bit frazzled after chasing the ring bearer and flower girl around all day and helping serve the reception. Wyatt was obviously still quite happy!! But I love this picture. Sometimes I still can't believe this is my family. Where did the time go? How can I have four kids already? And how in the world can Zachary be that tall?? I love these five people! They make my day each and every day!! (my kids L to R --Zachary, Chloe, Austin and Wyatt)

pura vida??

Why pura vida? Good question! Literally it is Spanish for "pure life." But here in Costa Rica it has a slightly different connotation. It is much like saying "It's all good." Or "life is good." For example, if you come up to me and say "How are you doing?" I might answer, "Pura Vida!" As in: I'm good; life is good right now. If I meet a friend in passing on the street he might catch my eye and say "Pura Vida!" as he walks by. Or if there is a big soccer game and my husband is walking down the street with his Costa Rican National Team soccer jersey on and another fan spots him he will shout out "Pura Vida!" It's really a catch-all phrase! Kind of a national motto. I often hear people say "Pura Vida, Costa Rica" as if it is all one big happy Costa Rican vibe! Everyone here uses it. I love it because it always has a good, happy, up-beat, optimistic feel to it. I've never heard anyone say 'pura vida' with a sad face or a dejected look. It's a good thing! When Costa Ricans ask me how I like it here or what I think of Costa Rica so far I often answer "Pura Vida!" And it never fails to bring a big smile to their face. I guess that is what I hope for this blog. In the middle of busy life, I hope you can come here, pause for a minute, and leave with a smile on your face! Pura Vida!

Well, here we go. . .

my first attempt in the world of blogdom. I love to read everyone else's blogs and have finally decided to take the plunge and try one myself. I am curious to see if I have things to say and time to say them, if anyone else will come by to read my random thoughts, if I will love it or hate it, etc. But I want to find out so here it goes. Enjoy. Let me know you are here. Blessings--ck

Well, here is my smiling face -- rather clear and in focus. Can anyone tell me why this same picture up in my little profile corner is just the opposite--all fuzzy and pixelated? I know it is smaller, but I have seen lots of blogs with tiny little clear focused pictures here. So, let me know what I am doing wrong my friends and I will try and fix it. Things like this drive me crazy. I have sooooo much to learn about photo editing, html, blogs, etc. I could use all the help you can give me. Thanks!! --ck