God was hard at work while I was on vacation

I am now back in Honduras, and very happy to be here.  The strange thing is, I was equally happy to be in the US.  It was a super good vacation filled with lots of quality time with friends and family.  I am really grateful that I can spend time in the US like I do.  At the same time I am so happy to be back home!

The first part of my vacation was spent in Telluride, CO, where I camped with friends for 11 days and went to the 40th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival.  I love seeing those people every year.  My brother and his family were there.  The music was great but one of my favorite moments was when a band started and my nephew, Jack, said, "Yikes!  Music!  We've got to dance!!!"  He grabbed my hands and started spinning us in circles.  When we got home I asked him about some new friends he made at the festival and he said, "Well, I mostly played with you."  Awwww...  I was planning not to go back to the US for Christmas.  I would like to experience Christmas in Honduras.  But when I told Jack I won't see him for a long time he asked, "Won't you be here for Christmas???"  Uh oh.  Now I'm torn.

After that I went to Salt Lake.  That was amazing!  I wasn't there long, but I was able to enjoy real quality time with friends.  I got to see my friend Kate, who was due to have her baby girl in 9 weeks.

I met my friend Sandrine for coffee, Heather for dinner, went to the dentist and learned the I didn't have a single cavity - thank you God!!  (I was told I had 11 cavities by a different dentist.)  He recommended that I buy an electric toothbrush, which I found on sale!  My teeth will be well cared for until I go back to Salt Lake again.

My friend Jody dropped everything and gave me a great place to stay.  I even had a car at my disposal!  We swam, watched movies and had a great time together.  She and her husband, Steve, even threw a pool party at their house so I could see all the rest of my friends.  I was amazed by how many people came.  It was super fun!  My time in Salt Lake was perfect!

Lastly I went to Denver to spend time with my Mom and my brother's family again.  My friend Anthony picked me up from the airport and took me out to dinner.  I hadn't seen him since 2008, but it felt like only a few weeks since we last saw each other.  My brother and his wife, Dina, went out of their way to spend as much time as possible with me while I was there.  Dina made a delicious dinner one night which Jack described as "not as good as ice cream, but better than macaroni and cheese" - which is high praise.  We saw a band, laser show, and fireworks on July 3rd.  My friends the Dooleys drove up from Colorado Springs that night.  We danced, talked, played with glo sticks and put on fake tattoos. It was a fun night!

On the 4th of July Mom, her friend and I went to a pancake breakfast at my brother's firehouse.  Afterward we watched the parade.  At the end my brother pulled up driving the ambulance.  He stopped and asked if Jack, Joey and I wanted to jump in.  We rode in the parade and threw candy to the crowds.  The boys loved it, but I think it was even more special to me.  When I was little my Dad was the ambulance chief.  Every 4th of July I got to ride in the ambulance with my Dad, throw candy and blow the siren.  I loved doing that!  Now my nephews are doing the same with their Dad.  I was so happy to be invited to go with them!  Later, Mom and I cooked a nice dinner and were able to see NINE different firework shows across the lake from her balcony.

The night before I flew home I slept my friend Julia's house.  We had a nice dinner and got a few hours of sleep before she took me to the airport at 3:30 a.m.  My purse fell out of my suitcase in her car, so I ended up flying back to Honduras with no money, no credit cards and no driver's license.  I do have my passport.  Julia is sending the stuff from my wallet tomorrow.

In the meantime my Honduran friends are caring for me well.  My landlord had already shopped for some food for me to come home to and today she bought minutes for my phone.  She and her family are so kind to me.  Walter has been really nice about driving me around since I don't have my license.  Tomorrow we are going to see if I can get my Honduran driver's license.  If not, I can wait until mine comes from the US.

My brother, Bob, and his son Joey in the ambulance

Joey, Jack and me after getting drenched by super soakers in the ambulance

As I rode home on the plane two good things happened.  A man offered me $20 so I'd have some spending money to get to Honduras.  Later I found out that my Mom had been lying in bed praying that someone would give me $20.  I also had a lot of time to think.  The thing that really hit me was how blessed I am with so many amazing people in my life.  I have more good friends in the United States than I ever realized.  They all showed me so much love.  Then I got off the plane and the past 24 hours has shown me that I am more loved here, in Honduras, than I ever realized too.  Everyone was so happy to see me!  They even clapped when Jairo announced to the church that I was back from vacation.  They said they missed me and asked all about my time with my family and friends.  I've never felt loved by so many people in my life.  God used this vacation to show me how many people in the US love and care for me.  Then as I got back home He showed me how much the people in Honduras love and care for me too.  It is a new experience, I am able to be completely open to it, and it feels great!