Street Fair

The older girls stayed in the mountains with Nana and Popos, so Julia got a little extra attention.  We took her to the street fair in the square, and she loved running up to strangers and checking out all of the booths.  That is one social little girl! 

Late Father's Day

As a late Father's Day outing, we hit the water and went pontooning on Lake Dillon.  The kids had so much fun, especially when Bridger let them each take a turn driving.  It was a great way to celebrate Nick, Bridger, and Popos - the best fathers around.

Adios Guatemala

We packed up our room at Common Hope (along with Norah's great help) and went back to Hostal Las Marias for our last night.  Since I had been putting Norah off, I finally relented and took her shopping.  She bought purses and musical instruments for her sisters.  I had promised her a jade ring, but after checking in a dozen stores, we couldn't find a girl's ring anywhere.  So, we had one fabricated at a local jade jewelry store.  Norah designed the ring herself choosing purple jade since it's unique to Guatemala.  She loved wearing it along with her purse and headband.  By the end of the trip, she's picked up a few Spanish phrases: hola, adios, gracias, muy bien, mono loco.  We treated ourselves on our final day with crepes at Luna de Miel and with a tuk tuk ride.  Neither of us were particularly disappointed to miss out on riding a chicken bus (although we were disappointed to never see a chicken on a bus).  Among the things that made the biggest impression on Norah were the large quantity of dogs and how they were all off-leash, the fact that cows and pigs were on leash, and that women carried their belongings on their heads.  Unfortunately, our flight home was more eventful than we hoped.  We were delayed in Guatemala City due to runway damage and monsoon-like rains.  Fortunately, we made it home the same night.  I can't wait to hear how Norah describes the trip to people!

Sacrifice and Farewell

With our service days behind us, we used our free day to check out some Mayan ruins.  The kids loved playing in the (surprisingly small) soccer field.  Our guide gave us a detailed description of human sacrifice and then handed out burial masks to try on.  We went to the still active Mayan altar where we just missed someone who had made a sacrifice.  Because they always leave sugar and often leave other foods and honey, there were flies and bees everywhere.  Later that night, we joined the rest of our group for a farewell dinner at Santo Domingo.  During the awards ceremony, Norah was awarded soap, so she could teach her sisters how to wash laundry at the pila.  The parents of little ones were awarded rubber bands because we had to be so flexible.  Another one of the participants said it looked like it was a "quick decline to the bottom of our parenting standards."  That's what it felt like too.  

Loving La Pila

We made home visits with social workers this morning which was hard on Norah.  She was a great sport about it - coloring on dirt floors while mangy dogs sniffed her and people stroked her blond hair to see what it felt like.  Because of her blond hair and blue eyes, she was even called "a barbie."  She was rewarded after the visits with La Pila.  The pila is the public laundry washing station to the right of the church in the square.  Norah asked to go back there three times, so she could watch the women washing.  Eventually, we met Astrila who is four.  An abuela loaned Norah a camiseta to wash, and Astrila taught her how.  She was so tired from the morning that she took a three hour nap, and we were late to help in the library in the afternoon.  

Meeting Sharon

After spending the morning helping in the daycare (and being humbled when by realizing that my Spanish vocabulary is about that of a three-year-olds), we went to San Miguel to meet Sharon.  She was dressed for the occasion and greeted us with kisses, and her mom said she had been excited all morning.  There aren't words for how sweet she is.  Norah gave Sharon a coloring book and markers, and the girls quickly bonded through coloring while the moms talked.  Sharon's mom was SO positive about Common Hope and how being affiliated with them changes her kids' lives.  She was especially effusive about their parenting classes which have made a huge difference for her.  We were able to admire Jacqueline's, Sharon's sister, medals from cross country, and Norah was impressed by the princess paraphernalia in Sharon's room.  She didn't seem to notice that Sharon, her sister and parents share a room.  She did notice the crackers they served us as a snack, though, so Sharon gave us a pack to take home.  I may return to Guatemala again just to visit Sharon.  Such a precious girl!