March has Come and Gone

Hola from paradise.  After many hours of sweat and tears I finally finished this blog.  I just hope it gets out to all of you.  The first of the month we got back to our regular schedule in the temple.  The second counselor in the presidency and his wife have been in Arizona to help take care of their daughter who was in a terrible car accident just outside of the Gilbert Temple.  She was only given a 50/50 chance of survival with severe head injuries.  Since that day, she has recovered to the point of being able to go home.  The doctors call her recovery a miracle.  So they will return on Monday and life will get back to normal again.  

Can't beat this sunset!!

Each Sunday Ted and I attend a different branch or ward.  Last Sunday we spoke in Sacrament Meeting and then Ted took the last hour to speak to the youth .  They wanted a picture of all of us together.  This ward has four young men going on missions the same month, quite unusual.  This group also came to the temple last night to do baptisms and each one gave us a big hug.  

Each month on our day off we try to take a little trip as a group.  We went to a beautiful park call "The Water Gardens" in La Paz, Costa Rica.  The foilage was breath taking plus they have a small zoo with animals native to Costa Rica.  We had a great buffet lunch here after touring the entire grounds.

This is the dry season and the waterfall was amazing.  I can only image what it must be like in the rainy season.  It takes somewhat of a hike to get here but worth every step.  

Ted made friends with this pair of Brahma bulls.  The keeper said they are very docile while in the harness but in the corral he wouldn't suggest getting in with them.

                                 

The cat exhibit was smalll but the animals were at least awake and moving around.  Usually in the states the animals are hiding and are no where to be seen.  These leopards usually only come out at night to hunt in the wild.

There was a big butterfly enclosure also.  They would land on our clothes, fingers, arms, etc.  There were a lot of very beautiful species.  They also had a cacoon exhibit with different stages of development.  

                               

                                 

The bird exhibit was my favorite.  Lots of tuacans, parrots and native birds were abundant.  Usually there is a person in the enclosure that will put them on the visitors arms, shoulders or heads for pictures.  Unfortunately, he wasn't there that day.  I was very disappointed.  There were also snake, frog, and other exhibits.  It's a great place to bring visitors and isn't very far from where we live.  We had a super day!!!

Ted is mowing our little patch of grass.  This is our backyard and is about 30 feet long by 6 ft. deep.  He has nursed it along and now the bushes are doing great and there's not a weed to be found.  He loves it whether its an acre or a patch.  

Monthly we have a FHE with all the senior missionaries in the country.  This month the Haws (couple in the back, she's in yellow) were in charge.  She goes all out with a theme and decorations to match.  This month was St. Patrick as you can see below.  She had to make all her own decorations since the Costa Ricans do not celebrate this holiday and there was not a green decoration to be found.  Unfortunately we don't have a Hobby Lobby.  She served a copy cat Cafe Rio salad and it was awesome, almost as good as home.  

We have two grandsons on missions right now with another in the wings.  Elder Jackman (above on the left) is in the London, England South mission.  Elder Riley (below) is in the Nampa, Idaho Mission.  Both love serving and are having wonderful experiences.  Michael Gleason, our third missionary to be has been called to the Moscow Russia mission.  We pray that things will settle down in that part of the world.  He would be very disappointed to be reassigned but the Church always is looking out for the safety of our missionaries.  Whatever will be will be.

We also have a new great grandson, Beau Clawson who is only about 1 week old.  That makes eight great grandchildren for us with another on the way.  We miss seeing all of them grow but with Skype we do get a glimpse of them quite often.

We pray that all of you are doing well and enjoying life.

Love to all,
Ted and Sharon