Our first week

Our first week has flown by.  It was a pretty good trip here.  We left our house at 3:30 a.m. Our flight from Tulsa to Houston was a little late and we had to run to the gate.  Once we got on the plane they had changed our seat assignments and all nine of us had different center seats scattered all over the plane.  It was pretty frustrating.  We were able to trade with a couple of people so that Jack and I had a seat together and Bo and Lily could sit together.  The other kids were not terribly thrilled to sit on a four hour flight between strangers. The poor couple that sat next to George, I am not sure he stopped talking the entire flight.  Once we got to Panama we realized we had a bag missing. It was a carry-on but had been gate checked by a flight attendant who could find a place for it on the crowded flight.  We had not been given a tag for it and were told to hope that it went on to Costa Rica.  This bag was holding the VOIP phone we hoped to use as well as our case of DVDs and CDs.  Thankfully, once we arrived at baggage claim in Costa Rica we found our lost bag and all nine trunks, RandiKate's guitar, and 13 other carry-on bags.  We cruised pretty easily through customs. I think our size and sheer numbers is a little intimidating to people and they push us through without trouble. As you leave the San Jose airport people wait in a line like paparazzi  looking for their friends/family. I actually had two women call me a "Rock Star" for traveling with so many children. It was pretty funny! We quickly found our taxi driver who  (although had been warned via email several times) also was surprised how many bags we had along with nine people. He was able to tie our trunks to the top of the large van and we were on our way.  Soon we found ourselves in a huge traffic jam in San Jose.  It took a hour and a half to travel only five miles.  Jack began to become unglued. I couldn't do anything to help him and we were all hot, hungry and exhausted.  Five hours later we were finally driving down a very steep dirt road in the jungle to our house. Dinner was waiting and we were happy to be there.

The house is plenty big for our family. The boys's room has a double bed and a futon as well as a foosball table.  The girls's room has the same beds with a ping pong table. The laundry room is also off of that room.  Bo and I share with Jack and a large bathroom. Each room has beautiful porches with a hammock or rocking chairs. It is quite rustic but has beautiful views of the valley below.  (still only small amounts of hot water in the showers, which I hate, but will survive) We have enjoyed watching the humming birds and many other birds each morning.  

Things in Costa Rica don't always go as we plan and seem to take much longer than we expect.  We had arranged for two tutors to come to the house for Spanish class on Monday. They didn't show up and finally called to delay until Wednesday. Then Tuesday night decided this coming Monday will work better. This is pretty typical for plans to always change. Appointments are merely suggestions here.  

We have most enjoyed getting to see old friends and be reacquainted. George and Lily really don't remember anything from our last trip, but everyone here is so excited to see all of us again.  The little kids are doing well practicing and re-learning the language.  The older kids are doing great as well. JD is struggling a little. He doesn't like to talk much anyway and feels anxious to learn again. He is content to stay in his room and wait out the "80 more days." Please pray for him if you think about it.  We are looking for friends close to our house and for each kid to make a connection that helps them feel more comfortable.  

Some happy news is that Bo has found baseball! There is not much baseball played here and last time we found no one that plays.  This time Bo has found that there is a pick up game played each Saturday morning and he is thrilled to take the boys to that.  Also, they found a small field where a few boys practice each afternoon. It is about a 2 mile hike that the boys are not enjoying, but hopefully they will make friends quickly and learn a little more of the language.  

OK, something new is that we have found three tarantulas so far. UG! Bo saves the day each time catching it and throwing it far down the mountain. None of us are very excited about this new encounter.

We are looking for a church to attend as well as a ministry opportunity. In our town there is a local Roman Catholic church. We may be going into Turrialba to find a Protestant church and mission, but hope to serve in some capacity. The internet is too slow today to upload photos, but I will as soon as I am able.