More familia...

On Thanksgiving, after I was in class and took my final exam while my family toured the coffee farm (rough life, I know) we went to visit Dona Marta and see the children. We interrupted their nap time and the older children were still at school, but it was still a huge blessing to be there on Thanksgiving and realize how truly blessed we are. We brought some toys for the children and talked with Dona Marta; who, despite all the difficulties of her life and the exhausting work of caring for the children every day, still has a spirit of thankfulness and glory to God. What a reminder of a true heart of service!
So the weather has been realtively warm and comfortable the entire time I have been here, but of course the one week my parents come to visit it is FREEZING and record low temperatures (okay in the 50's and 60's, but the locals were whipping out the hats, scarves, gloves, and sweaters). So we had to buy some Veritas sweatshirts to fight the frigid temperatures.
We took a rather long drive up the mountains to a restaurant, but the view was incredible. San Jose looks like it goes on forever!
Who are those three old women? I mean gorgeous ladies of course...We enjoyed a dinner at the Mirador Ram Luna, including all the typical food (more rice pudding, Dad!) and dancing and entertainment. A little taste of la vida tica!
This was so cozy and Christmasy! And probably the fourth fireplace I have seen in this country. I am glad that Costa Ricans love Christmas, already there are lights, trees, music, and everything all over and I love it!
Soaring through the jungle canopy! I love my crazy father.
Getting ready to head on some zip lines! I was so proud of my mom for going on this, and I am pretty sure she had a good time. But man there was a lot of hiking involved between some of the zip line platforms and I was not prepared for that. I guess it is time to start running again!
My mom, the wine-o. It was so nice to be able to stay in the condo with my family and enjoy HOT water, and water pressure, and no cockroaches or lizards in my room, and a hammock, and flushing the toilet paper, and being able to wear socks and not have them get black with dirt. And of course being with my family was a bonus as well...