Querido Familia y Amigos: Happy Happy Birthday to Grandpa Joe: 97 years old and going strong! Can you believe that? I asked Dad/Mac what he planned to do when he was 97. He said he would be playing a harp! I replied I could see him teaching the angels to rappel, but harp??? We're waiting to see a photo of Grandpa Joe's new labradoodle puppy. If it looks like the one to the right, he scores in the cuteness department! |
Congratulations also to Caroline (Chad and Kim's daughter). You can see her in the top left video. She learned that pesky back-tuck! Current flora and art department: Here's what you can do with 10 swipes on an art app, and what you can do with a $2 hat and free scarf. The flowers are what only the Lord can do. These lovelies are fragrant and are growing in the front courtyard of our casa: | Sunday we had dinner at our casa. This time we invited the Roberts to join us. They are members of the temple presidency who go home in April. I will sorely miss President Roberts' teaching style. He makes everything fun. Monday our missionary friends the Wilsons joined us for an outing to Mercado Central. I thought we were going for fresh lychee fruit and grandchildren gifts. As it turned out, the lychees are out of season. Also, Dad had one of his rare shopping urges. We actually bought him two belts with Guatemalan fabric inlays - the kind that were too bright the last time he looked at them. It was delightful! Yesterday was a busy day and I was asked to be ayudante (female helper) for the first session of endowments. I haven't done that for a while and I came away refreshed and spiritually built. There is nothing like working with the people here. I told Dad I wondered what would happen if I went home and said "Buenas Tardes" to everyone on the street while we were walking. Today our walk took us back to my favourite park. I've dropped enough weight that I can wear my once-tight walking shirts and feel almost trim. We saw a portion of the park set with balloons flying above tables, inflatable slides and enclosed short trampolines - and lots of short children. We asked a young man what was happening. It was Feliz Cumpleanos for a 4-yr-old. Now that is some party! |
For those of you who have been asking about Elder Gardner (our fellow missionary who fell and hit his head), he remains in ICU. He had a good day last Saturday. Since then he has been holding his own. Tuesday he had a small surgery to insert a feeding tube into his stomach. This coming week the medical team will decide what to do next. He may be sent back to the US, where the ongoing therapy he needs is available. I saw his wife in the temple last night. She is always cheerful. I remember long days in the hospital with Dallin, but he was 19 and in soccer-player shape. Elder Gardner is in his 70s. We are all "geriatrics" here, according to Becca's mom. Our prayers continue with the Gardner family. The video below is excellent.
Anyone still waiting for El Presidente's favourite books? They are fantasy. One of the authors he likes best is David Eddings. This was a fun "counter-point" to his normal place of "serious and in-charge". By contrast, Sister Burk reads things written before 1926. How we have come to love and appreciate these two people! For non-family members, President Burk and his wife (Becca's mom) are the parents-in-law to our oldest son Shawn. They are also the temple president and matron for our temple here and the reason we chose this mission.
Dad has just left to be early at "our" temple, and I'm looking at Mountain Rescue Smoky (teddy bear) sitting across from me. Time to wish you all a lovely weekend.
Hermana Brubaker
Missionary Mom
Dad has just left to be early at "our" temple, and I'm looking at Mountain Rescue Smoky (teddy bear) sitting across from me. Time to wish you all a lovely weekend.
Hermana Brubaker
Missionary Mom