October 13, 2011

I thought I would just write a little to let my vast readership know I am still alive. The truth is my husband and I just returned from a trip to Spain for our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. In a word it was “GREAT!” If people could be happy from seeing and experiencing interesting, beautiful, unique places and things, then I should be happy. That is NOT the source of happiness, but since I KNOW  the source of happiness (God) I think it enables me to enjoy all these things all the more. Spain was much more beautiful than I realized with its rocky mountains and rows of olive trees EVERYWHERE. The Mediterranean was azure blue, the weather was perfect, the narrow-streeted towns quaint!  Lest you think it was perfect, I wasn’t wild about the food and it was vastly helpful that my husband could speak Spanish as English isn’t common in the rural areas. That is one reason we chose Spain—so my diligent husband, who has been studying Spanish for over two years, could “practice.” He had a ball! He couldn’t get enough opportunities to ask directions, etc. so you know he really wanted to speak Spanish!!!! He probably understood 75-80 percent of what people were saying to him which was great also.

I’ll share just one more thing before I begin more catch up around here. We stayed in a bed and breakfast near Malaga where our missionary friends live. We thought we were staying in town but it was really about 45 min. out which turned out to be a blessing. We were in front of an olive grove with views of mountains from our private balcony. The couple we stayed with were from Scotland and were delightful. We had so much fun sharing together as they were just a little older than we were. Jim, the husband had fixed up this home over the last 10 years to perfection. It was very Spanish with whitewash everywhere and wooden beams in the ceiling. There are no screens on the windows and very few bugs so you just “let the sun shine in.” Jim and Anne were true servants and did whatever they could to make us comfortable; guiding our paths with maps and suggestions and listening as we shared our adventures at the end of the day. I gave them a copy of FLITTY, TWITTY, AND ITTY BITTY which Anne thoroughly enjoyed as she had been a preschool teacher. She was anxious that it should make an appearance in the UK. Lord willing that may happen someday. I could go on and on but then my home would remain messy and dirty and my laundry unattended.

Here is my PS. While in Spain our daughter sent us a video of our two year old grandson. When asked where his grandma was he replyed, “Grandma is insane!” He never could say Spain so I was always “insane.” Maybe he knows more than we realize! Have a great day!