A mini vacation in Roatan!

Our friends Massimo and Mabel invited us to their home in Roatan, a small island of Honduras known for its vast reef and diving. The second largest reef in the world.

Brian and I accepted knowing that Olivia would have a chance to play with Massimo and Mabel’s one year old twins! We would all also enjoy swimming, resting, and being in the nature of the island, which is a wonderful break from the busy city of Tegus.

We took a small “puddle jumper” plane and arrived on the island excited for some sun and fun!

We were so blessed to stay in such a beautiful home, near the sea, with a pool and beauty surrounding us. Olivia loved the twins, Gabriel and Armanda. They all played together, ate together, swam together, and harassed the adorable doggies that Olivia could not get enough of.

Brian and I were so blessed with delicious typical Honduran foods. I even had a chance to learn how to make baleadas! First tortillas, then beans, then cheese- add plantains or chicken if you wish and enjoy!!

Mabel and Massimo took us to Parrot beach and the babies swam in the clear turquoise waters that extended out into the beautiful sea.

 As a family, we rested and enjoyed visiting the coast. We also spent some time on the West End and West Bay beaches which were also great for swimming.

Beyond the beauty of the island, there are still many parts that are very poor and underdeveloped. People live near the water and in difficult situations. We pray for more awarness of the island, and more visitors to come, so that more jobs will be created and a better life for the people of Roatan can become a reality.

Just as any great time, the days creep by slowly and then before you know it, you are packing once again! Olivia adjusted to the island life just as we did- and even had island fever! For real! She had a fever for about two days of the 6 that we stayed, but recovered quickly and was never to sick to play, eat, or enjoy the beauty!

It was time for us to say our good byes, as we were now rejuvenated through and through.

We thank our friends so much for the time we spent, together and the playful days that the beautiful babies all shared.

If ever you have the chance, visit Roatan of Honduras! It is nearly just 2 hours from Miami and very beautiful.

Ahhhh. Back to the city we go!

Olivia's 1st Birthday Party!

Olivia’s 1st Birthday Party!

Getting Olivia ready for her big day was so much fun! She was like my little princess and I realized that I would do anything for her. She has grown so much and it seems so fast, and is a little person with ideas, opinions, and preferences. She is such a joy, and I can see her personality developing each day.

To get ready for the party, Daddy cleaned and prepared the yard and home. I baked Olivia’s cakes, decorated, and stuffed the butterfly piñata. Olivia was kissing and hugging the piñata, which later on she was very upset to see beat and destroyed!

Olivia’s friends are kids she knows from Church and Mommy group. We had a big group and the kids had fun blowing bubbles, making Olivia birthday cards, and running around from the sugar high!

Our food was a collaborative effort. Thanks to Ali, Rocio, Suigualpa, and Dena, we had a great spread. The best treat was the home made Horchiata from Suigualpa. Yumm!

When it was time to break the piñata, Olivia broke down. She was in love with her butterfly piñata! The kids just about all had a turn at 10 pow pows each, when the candy poured out like rain. The kids went nuts stuffing their bags with candy! I’ve decided that each year we should have a piñata! It makes the party.

After every one left, Olivia opened her gifts. She was so excited to play with the bows and boxes! She loved her gifts too. P.S. Olivia's birthday dress was from our Lory and George! Thank you!

We were missing everyone in the USA, but here we had such a great birthday, and it is one that we will never forget. Thanks to everyone who made it so special.

Weekend Recovery, Thanksgiving, Olivia's 1st, and the Ugly Truth

Back on my feet! Although still not 100% and unable to lift anything—including Olivia! But, none the less, we decided to take a little drive to Comayagua, a small town that used to be the capital of Honduras, and there stands the oldest clock and Church in Honduras. It was a quaint town, and we enjoyed a café and lunch in the town square with our friend Darwin- who Olivia is in love with.

Being that I have nearly recovered, we decided to still have Thanksgiving at our home, and have just a few guests. We invited people who work with Tegu, and Darwin’s family. I had prepared a 15lb turkey, potatoes, stuffing, and green beans, and we ended up being 7 adults and 7 kids! What a feast! It was a really amazing night because all of our guests were Honduran, and we were able to show our thankfulness to them by serving and sharing a meal. Each person at the dinner, and many others who were not there (Ali, Gabby, Rocio) all have showed us the “Honduran love” by serving our family and treating us with love. We could not have survived our time here without these friends, and God has provided in every way through these relationships.

Back at the factory, Brian has been very busy to help get things “up and running”. The Tegu team is growing and the factory is looking great. The team has been working on getting the machines working properly, and making the office space workable. Darwin, Steve, and Brian are working together on the floor testing, practicing, and trouble shooting the equipment. When we arrived, there was not much to the factory- now it is really impressive!

Olivia turned 1 year old on November 30, 2009. It was a Monday, and we celebrated with dinner, cake, and a movie just for Olivia. She went crazy over the chocolate icing, and loved the movie Bolt because she loves dogs! She was dancing to the music and I think she had a sugar high!

We will have a big birthday celebration for her December 5th with all of our friends here.



The things we haven’t been showing you…

trash buring at the dump

a child playing outside their home/ store

homes on the side of the roads and in mountians

a typical home- laundry drying

graves to the right bus stop to the left

cow grazing on the streets

farm stand and home in the distance

There have been opportunities to see some of the beauty here in Honduras, and our community makes things joyful and pleasant. But what we have not been able to show you is the ugly truth of what devastation we see every day here. The poverty, filth, and disorder is difficult to swallow. We have not really been able to get footage or photos of the poverty because it is usually too dangerous to take out the camera, or we are just driving past. I did briefly film some of the homes and things that we see along the road side every day, and some other images that I have yet to capture are:

Trash burning in the distance and trash scattered everywhere across the beautiful landscape.

Children with their Mothers walking along side of the busy dirty streets bare foot and in rags.

Dogs digging through trash.

Black smoke pouring out of the buses, cars, and trucks, and people covering their mouths to breathe.

Military men everywhere holding their guns pointed at you.

Security everywhere wit their fingers on triggers.

Skinny cows on the side of the road eating trash.

Broken side walks and dirt roads.

Barb wire and mile high fences around every home.

Children sniffing glue.

Children running through the streets.

Children begging.

Children selling things.

Pretty girls walking with basins on their heads.

Small shacks that are homes.

Trash in the rivers.

Pick up trucks driving past with over 20 people in the back.



They call it “compassion fatigue” when you see this everyday, and it wears at your soul and makes your heart beat slower because it is impossible to believe what you see is real. That we live in the same world where one child can beg, and another can be lavished. Where one woman is loved and another is broken. One man can feel accomplished and another banished. How can I take this all in?

When God speaks to my heart, He ensures me…

I am not able to see what God sees. I cannot see the beginning and end. ALL things work for His greater good, and that is beyond my comprehension. Reconciliation, Redemption, Righteousness- that is in God’s hands. He will shower His love, and in the end, they will all be blessed and loved within the wings of His glory.



I am sorry if any images or truth factors have been hard to see, but we are not here just making friends. We are swallowing the hard pill of reality and finding ways within God’s will to extend love.