A Bus Ride for Two

We were able to secure a 15 passenger van to rent for brothers Jim and Jake's visit.. the only catch was that we had to travel to Belize City in order to pick it up. Grady and I got a ride to the main road where we stood to wait for the bus but were instead picked up by a family from Spanish Lookout who took us as far as Belmopan. There we caught a brightly decorated old Blue Bird school bus, turned public trasportation, and headed toward Belize City.

At the bus station in Belmopan

Riding in this old bus brought back some early school memories.. We don't fit in those small seats like we used to! :)

It was a nice hour and half ride for Grady and I. It got a bit harrowing however about 1 hour into the ride when the driver started nodding off! The driver was literally driving 20 mph on the highway! He was rubbing the back of his neck (a sure sign of impending slumber) and nodding. Grady was just about headed up there to say something when the other bus attendent, who apparently saw the problem began engaging the driver in some lively conversation. Soon we were back up to 55 mph.

The bus station in Belize City. We were waiting for the man who was bringing the rental van

At the end of the day we met up with the man who had the rental van and sped off to Ladyville to pick up brothers Jim and Jake from the airport. What a blessing to see them.

Visitors from Near and Far

We are so blessed to live in a country where visiting is just a way of life. On Saturdays and Sundays especially you can expect at least one family to come visiting. I still need to get better rehearsed for this cultural expectation.. and bake cookies or something in preparation for the impending company. Alas it is still new and I am still adjusting to it all.. at least I am used to it enough by now to remember to offer water to unexpected visitors! When we were first here I would forget even that common courtesy! in the States of course you would receive a phone call, asking if it is alright for someone to come by. This was a much more comfortable way for me, a natural born hermit, to live.. but you know what? I think that is selfish and I am happy to be challenged and pressed in this area.. I am grateful the Lord is helping me to learn how to be hospitable as it has been a weakness of mine in the past~

These are the Reimer girls.. our friends and neighbors. Their mother Truda has been such a blessing and encouragement to me.

Helping Mandy catch an escape artist!

The Abe and Joyce Freisen family are frequent visitors~

Here are some especially wonderful visitors! Jim and Jake Sebens arrived this Tuesday for a 3 week visit~ Their family was a part of our small fellowship in Washington. We have been so blessed by the familiar faces and sweet fellowship!

In addition, our friends the Kings will be coming for a three week visit in Dec/Jan. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful group of friends..

Flash Back Friday~ Our Last Days In WA, First day in BZ

When we first arrived to Belize, we remained without internet for 3 weeks. We were unable to post many photos of our last days in Chehalis and our trip to Belize. Here are a few snapshots of that wonderful adventure!

We lost the goodbye photos with nana but this was taken with nana about 2 days before leaving. She had come up one last time and stayed with us for a few days. She was such a great big help but saying goodbye was heartwrenching! I miss her terribly but thankfully she is coming to visit in March and we are able to keep in touch via Skype. Hugs Mama!


A typical scene at the King's house! We stayed with them for the last two days in Washington. They ferried us around, taking us to do last minute errands as well as helped us pack and clean our rental. We definitely would not have been able to complete the monumental task of moving a family of 8 out of the country without their help!



Sweet little Becca~


Johnna!

Mr. Joshua

Our dear sweet Sister Stephanie. Is it true that we get to see you in 40 days?

I think we could fit ONE more in, don't you?

SeaTac Airport.. it was so hard to say goodbye to those who came to see us off..

Grady and his brothers Sean and Lance. He had not seen Lance for close to 16 years! We were so touched that both of them came.

Grady's mom came to say goodbye as well..

Brothers

Grandma Bonnie

The sweetest friend to me. And her adorable Matthew!

Brother Jim accompanied us to the airport to help us with the luggage and see us off.. he and the Kings as well as Grady's mother and brother walked with us as far as we could until security. And there were so many tears. It was one of the hardest things we have ever done. To say goodbye to our dearest and best friends! It was a comfort to know that the Lord was calling us away.. we knew that although it was hard, he would see us through.

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Once arriving in Cancun, we took a bus to Playa Del Carmen. We tried not to be disappointed at the hotel which had boasted of a pool online but sadly did not have one. We were hoping to spend a few days together in Mexico before arriving in Belize.. swimming and relaxing. However, the hotel ended up being in a run down neighborhood which did not feel very safe. In addition, we realized that truly we had brought too much with us! So if you can believe it, while Grady took the older children down to the azure colored waters of Playa, I stayed behind in the hotel room sorting our things and making a pile of items which we didn't *really* need and which we left behind for the maids in the hotel. I think we pared down our luggage from 21 suitcases and 2 carseats and a stroller to 14 suitcases, stroller and carseats.

On the bus, after the plane ride

We thought this note was funny

Our hotel

The rooms were spacious and cooled with A/C thankfully! Wifi was a contant struggle and our laptop screen had broken en route.. so communicating with folks back at home was pretty iffy for the first 2 days. Then Grady and the children found an internet cafe on day 3

Molly, the world traveller

On one of our walks to a nearby food vendor, we found an adorable children's park. The girls found the bathroom to be one of the cutest parts about the park.

We loved the brightly colored paint.

It was so hot the day we found the park. It must have been close to 100 degrees!


Playa Del Carmen beach

Grady and the children found a nice beach spot by this ferry terminal

The blue is just amazing to me! I wish I could have enjoyed it but I had soo much repacking to do! And really it made it much easier having the hotel room to myself. I did get worried however when they stayed out until after dark.. like I mentioned, the hotel was not in a good part of town.. but they arrived in one piece, with so many stories to tell!

Grant finally got to use his scuba gear!

One of the family's photographers

The boys in an ocean of blue

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We had made reservations for all of to take the bus from Playa Del Carmen to Chetumal where we were to meet John and Judy Banman, our friends from Spanish Lookout. The bus ride was to take 4 hours and cost about $30 per person. Oh and yes, the dog could come also. Now to understand the upcomig story, you must know that dogs are not as appreciated in Mexico as they are in the States.. WELL, once we arrived to the bus station (at 5 am!) and paid the extra fees for our extra baggage.. and once all of that baggage was put into the under belly of the bus.. the attendant said, with the hinged door of the bottom luggage area of the bus opened "put the dog in". Underneath the bus? With all of the luggage? "yes, that is where dogs travel" On a day which reached into the low 100's? We knew that Molly would die for sure! So, not knowing any Spanish, Dad explained how our little dog simply could not ride in the bottom of the bus. A crowd started gathering. Meanwhile, we had all of our bags loaded and we were ready to go.. the only other way we knew of getting to Chetumal was a $400 taxi! This had to work! In the end and with the Mexican bus attendants shaking their heads and laughing at us, they allowed Molly to join us on the bus and ride in style.. Meanwhile other passengers were calling everyone they knew, laughingly telling them 'hay un perro en el autobús!' (there is a DOG on the bus!)


Princess Molly

Scenes from the bus window

The bus ride was uneventful.. the little girls were pretty good. We *did* resort to Winnie-the Pooh which we had loaded on our I-Pod beforehand. Grace was exhausted but did so well on the plane and bus. Once we got to Chetumal though, it was extremely hot outside.. there wasn't air conditioning in the bus station and John and Judy had been held up at the border, coming into Mexico due to heavy traffic. We ended up waiting for about an hour in the intense heat. Gracie had been awake since 5 am and hadn't taken a nap on the bus.. she lost it and cried and threw fits most of the way through immigration on the Belize/Mexico border and most of the 4 hour trip to Spanish Lookout. John and Judy took us out to lunch and for some quick shopping. I could barely keep Grace under control. I felt badly for her and for the Banmans. But there wasn't much we could do about it..

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First look at the house.. these are the stairs that lead upstairs to the upper bedrooms. This view is taken from the top of the stairs looking into the kitchen

The kitchen

The dining room

Our first grocery list

Abe and Joyce Friesen brought dinner over on the first night home. They had made sandwiches, cinnamon rolls, and brought watermelon and fresh lemonaid. It was such a blessing to meet their family as well as John and Judy and their children. After so long.. it was such a blessing to be home!