Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Upstairs Bathroom ????

Jewel, now, 21, began writing down  some memories from her childhood in the Amazon jungle of Venezuela a few years ago. It is interesting to see things through the eyes of a child.


Jewel watches as an indian lady makes a hammock.

Growing up, how many times did you just get totally shocked by something that later on just became expected? Its funny how as kids we appreciate and enjoy the small wonders in life. How a simple bug that we have never seen before is the most wonderful thing in the world. How you would stay up at night and watch for the stars to come out and wish on the first one you saw because, even tho they told you the Tooth Fairy wasn't real, there was a part of you that just couldn't be sure!

I've decided to write down the things that as a child I thought were the most astonishing, most spectacular , unbelievable, the most stupendous things.

In the jungle we didn't have an inside bathroom for many years, we had an out house that was just like McDonalds.......ok, because it had two stalls and that was where the resemblance ends, but I was 4, so give me a break! We named our outhouse McDonald's.


Our outhouse.

Any ways, back to the point, I knew that there were houses that had an upstairs and that also had indoor bathrooms, but it was impossible to have those sort of things in the jungle to my little mind. It just wasn't possible! Or so I thought until I went to Tama Tama!! (A small village on the Orinoco River where there was a missionary boarding school for many decades.)

I remember getting off the plane and being tired and sweaty and so I went to the house we would be staying in. If any one has ever had a 4 year old they will know they have very small bladders and a two hour flight is very long! That being the case, I asked the missionary lady where the bathroom was. She smiled and said "Up stairs..." I could slightly hear her continue talking but I just had to stop and ponder this new revelation, and this is what I thought, 'Up stairs? Did she really say there was an up stairs? Maybe she meant a loft ..yeah! that must be it!' There's no way she can have an up stairs in the jungle, haha! My small bladder was starting to protest so it brought me back to what I was asking before.

Our loft.

I asked her again because I kinda got lost on the whole up stairs thing. She looked at me and smiled and said " Up stairs and the second door....." my thoughts? Well mostly like this, "DOORS?????" but once again my bladder brought me back to the present and I had to ask her once again. This time she not only looked but also laughed, I guess I would too! So once again she told me " Up stairs and the second door on the left." .......dose she mean to tell me that the bathroom is in the house? No way! Impossible! She pointed to the back of the house to what looked like stairs.
I looked once more at her and then slowly walked to the stairs. I looked back at my parents, seeing as how they were busy talking, and I was told not to interrupt adults. I slowly went up the stairs, making a mental note to try sliding down the banister later, like in the movies!
Once I got to the top, I stopped with my mouth open! This was definitely not a loft! It was, with out a shadow of a doubt, an upstairs! As I slowly walked down the hall, counting the doors, I realized I didn't know which side was left and right. After taking a a few moments to figure out which side was left, I figured the best way was to do' TU TI NA NE WA MA DU DI TA'. (Ye'kwana version of iny mini miny mo!) So that done, I opened the door, and if this was a movie you would see a little girl opening a door with a bright light shinning through... and the next thing I remember is getting in trouble for sliding down the banister!


As you can see, Jewel eventually was able to take stairs for granted. Her she is in a wedding in Venezuela last year.

Monday, November 21, 2011

The Marine Corps Birthday Ball ~ Asuncion, Paraguay



Last week the USMC celebrated their 236th birthday. Marines all across the world gather together to celebrate, whether it be a simple cake or a gala event, the day is celebrated. This year my husband escorted our youngest daughter to the Marine Corps Birthday Ball held here in Paraguay. As the great grand daughter of a Marine, the grand daughter of a Marine, and the daughter of a Marine, it was a great honor for her to be invited to sing the Star Spangled Banner during the ceremony.

She had not been informed that she would indeed be singing until arriving. Gunny Ho heard that she was a singer and of her Marine heritage and told her she would be singing.Then he told her to sing all four verses! And when Gunny tells you to do something...you do it! She did a great job and felt honored to be asked.

She loves her daddy!



Its all about the accessories!

Jayde has her own idea of accessorizing!

A few good men ready to defend and protect!
 
 
 
 
First line of defense.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

She did it!

This week end Jayde tied for  first place in an international folkloric competition held annually here in Paraguay.
Winning Female Soloist ~Festival del Takuare'e de Guarambaré

Friday, November 11, 2011

Honoring our Family's Veterans

Our family has many service men and women in the Armed Forces!
Thanks!

" We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free."
-President Ronald Reagan 


 To view an album of some of my family who have, or are currently, serving in the military check out the link below! 
  




I am proud to be related to each and every one of them!

Monday, November 07, 2011

A Queen bearing gifts!

 A friend,  The Queen, just dropped off home made tajine!

I have wonderful friends in my life. Monday's are always difficult for me physically, so not only having a hot meal, but a Moroccan meal delivered to my door step makes me feel like a queen.

Have you ever eaten Tajine? 

It's sabroso!

Friday, November 04, 2011

The Things I See...

My youngest grand daughter walking
down a Paraguayan street.

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Crazy Gringos

I am sure the neighbors think we are truly mad! We invited all the little gringos over to do some Pumpkin carving, but being in Paraguay, it turned into Water melon carving. 



 Abbie and her Alien!



Elena and her JACK O GUAYAN



Monse feeds her laughing melon!




 Maddie and JAWS



The two master minds created the Canibelon!
The melon eating watermelon.




We even had the Marines come in and help!



Monse and I trying to make a....what was it supposed to be????



Sticky fun for all!



Some people showed up to see what the craziness was  about.


Bwahaaahaaa!