Grateful for my family and for my full and happy life!

So much to update since the last pictures. Beginning with Ali and Ilka's wedding in Florida and a wonderful family reunion; a great two-week visit with the Pyburns in Houston, including time spent with my dear friend Jane; two more happy weeks with Colin and family in Massachusetts and Maine where we all enjoyed 4 wonderful days at Green Acre Baha'i School and 3 more days camping on the coast of Maine.

In late August I returned home to my Costa Rican family and friends with special visits from the Ighani family, trips to Guanacaste for the promotion of the Institute process in the cluster of Papagayo, local activities and of course special times with my adorable granddaughter, Ela who is growing by leaps and bounds.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves:

Pictures July & August 08

Gathering River Rocks for cemetery

Today our Bahá'í community went to a beautiful river called "Piedras Negras" about an hour away from our home. We filled Marco's pickup truck with nice round stones for the purpose of lining the cemetery wall. After a delicious lunch we drove back to town and to the cemetery where all of us worked passing the stones over the fence and then placing them next to the wall by Dad and Alan's graves. When we were finished we all said prayers. I know this made Dad very happy on his birthday!



After I got home I took a hot bath in my new tube! Isn't it beautiful?

A view from the prayer room this morning

How fortunate am I to be blessed with such beauty all around me!

The children at CINAE

The children at CINAE who really opened their hearts to this "gringa"!

Our study group - amazing women with such beautiful minds and open hearts! (Dick you are included - didn't mean to leave you out)

Life-long Pioneers

These three men: Alan Pringle, Jere McKinney, and Bill Keillor, left their homes as very young men and dedicated their entire lives to the service of the Baha'i Faith in Latin America.

Their lifelong efforts were dedicated to raising the awareness of “the oneness of humanity” , the viability and beauty of “unity in diversity” and the undeviating faith that “world unity is not only possible, but inevitable”.

These remarkable men entered 'that garden', spoken of in the Baha'i Writings, and stayed to tend it until they were called home.

(Quotes are from the Baha'i World Faith: www.bahai.org)

Jaleh's Birthday

David, Gianni, Ela, and I celebrated Jaleh's birthday with dinner at Taj Mahal. Jaleh looked so beautiful and radiant as you can see in her picture. She's looking forward to a great year beginning with a great new job as assistant in an art gallery. She will also be teaching a yoga class in the evenings. Congratulations Jaleh!

Barney

The other day our dog, Barney, was playing with his friends (the neighbor's dogs) out in the yard and was vigorously defending a bone he had found. He latched onto it so tightly that it lodged between the back of his lower front teeth and jaw. David and I both tried to pry it loose but without success. So Barney was taken to our local vet. He had to sedate him and saw the bone off with an electric saw!

I love this video of Sasha quoting Abdu'l-Baha on kindness to animals and thought it appropriate for this blog.

"If an animal be sick, let the children try to heal it, if it be hungry, let them feed it. If thirsty, let them quench its thirst. If weary, let them see that it rests." 'Abdu'l-Bahá

New Neighbors

We've always been very lucky to have great neighbors, and it looks like our new ones will be no exception. This is Chris, Camila and their son Victor, who is four years old. They are from Sweden, but lived in Barcelona for ten years. They will move into the new house at the entrance to our property. Gary, who is our next-door neighbor, invited us to his home this morning for a great brunch and to introduce us to the new family.

"Ropa Americana"

I love going shopping with my friend Sonni. We both love to go to stores called "Ropa Americana". These are stores in the middle of San Jose where one can find REALLY good bargains, similar to the Goodwill in the States. Goodwill, however, is like Saks Fifth Avenue in comparison. These stores are just stuffed full of horrible clothes, but hidden among the junk are shopper's treasures if you have a good eye (which Sonni does).. Within the space of a few minutes, she has a Donna Karan or Ann Taylor in her hands. Today we purchased 4 blouses, 2 slacks
and one jacket all great looking, designer lables for under $20! Then we treated ourselves to lunch at the French "Cafe Christophe". Thanks for a great day, Sonni!

Friends

Some definitions of "friend": "another I", "a second self", "a person with whom I may be sincere", "a person with whom you dare to be yourself", "one who knows your faults and loves you in spite of your virtues". These definitions may be true on one level (the "I" level), but i wonder how many of us think of being connected to our friends before we entered this world at the soul level - the world that is alluded to in the Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh:

"O MY FRIENDS Have ye forgotten that true and radiant morn, when in those hallowed and blessed surroundings ye were all gathered in My presence beneath the shade of the tree of life, which is planted in the all-glorious paradise?......"


My Best Friend

Peacock feathers

I love peacock feathers. They remind me of the mystical, the serenity of Baji and the wonder and awe of God's creative design. The feathers that I have are old, faded and a bit frayed so, I had been thinking of how beautiful new ones would look in the tall blue vase that Jere bought for one of my birthdays. However, finding peacock feathers in Costa Rica is not always easy - in fact I don't think I've every seen them here except at "ZooAve". Colin tried to bring some down, and even hand-carried them on the plane so they wouldn't get crushed, only to have them confiscated at customs upon his arrival. Therefore, one can imagine how surprised and delighted I felt when, returning home one afternoon, I saw a man walking along our dusty rural road with an armload of beautiful peacock feathers. (I mean, what are the chances!) Of course I bought as many as my "peaje" change dish would allow. My peacock feathers have taken on yet another profound meaning - God's infinite care in providing for our every need, even the smallest most whimsical!

Continuity

Watching a community grow up


"I bear witness oh my God that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee..."

Bahá'u'lláh