What a great time Penny and I had shopping. Two days of it. It was so nice to have had that time with her. And hopefully, I have most of what I need for Costa Rica next year. I also was able to meet my newest great-grandson, Caleb. He's four months old and loves to talk and smile with you. Yep, now we have three Calebs in the family. But that's ok because the Caleb in the Bible is one of my heroes.

I was wanting a piece of cherry pie with vanilla ice cream on top, and I ate two pieces! Absolutely wonderful. It's kind of funny how you miss something to eat when you're not home. Cherry pie of all things. They don't have that here. Sometimes the larger grocery stores in the city have the frozen ones that are imported, but not where I live. And sometimes those that are imported are a little old.

Coming to the states this time was a little different. We made it to Houston without any problems. While we were waiting for our flight to St. Louis from Houston, I looked around at the people and just about everybody was on some kind of electronic device. Too bad if you wanted to talk or meet someone new. However, I was looking over the shoulder of the young man sitting next to me. He was watching a western on this little bitty thing,and I was wondering which one. When it was over I apologized for watching and of course he said that was ok. Anyway it was a re-make of the 2:10 (or 3:10) to Yuma. Of course, I saw the original!! So we started to talk a little. Then our time to leave changed. The flight in to Houston was late due to bad weather in the east according to the older gentleman on my right. They had to fly around some storms. Then it changed again. The lady at the podium said they had to clean the plane before we could board. Then after the time changed again, she said they had to replace a light in the bathroom. They didn't want us to go into a darkened bathroom. THEN the Captain came out and I heard her say that these people had waited long enough and they needed to get us on board to STL. Well, the next thing that occurred was the Captain talking to a supervisor who talked to another supervisor. Finally, the lady at the podium said we would be flying without a working bathroom. We had ten minutes before boarding. Everybody headed for the bathrooms, including the guys. So now we're ready to board. Well, we got to the door of the plane and was told we couldn't board. Back to the gate. By now the sign above the door had a different city and time on it. Now what? The lady said that the STL group was to go downstairs and wait a few minutes for a different plane. Our baggage was being transferred to another plane. So down we all went. At last we were able to board and leave for STL-two hours later. Two hours, not much in a lifetime, huh? But it was interesting to watch people's reactions. One old fellow was furious and said he would never fly Continental again. He would take United. His daughter informed him that those two companies were merging. Of course she was just as angry and using a few choice words to say their luggage probably wasn't being loaded and wouldn't make it at the same time they would arrive. The fellow with the movie, another young lady, and I started talking. I finally said, " You know, this could be a lot worse." They agreed, and after talking, we decided that before all these electronic devices came into being that people actually met and talked to other people when they traveled. How the world has changed in the past 20 or 30 years. Sometimes it's a place I don't like very much. But then I look at all the beauty that God has created, and it's ok again. And our luggage made it to STL at the same time. You never know what God might be protecting you from. So all was well. I just have to make sure that I give the people that are going to meet me the number of the flight that I will be on. Oops!!!!

So I have been back a week and it has rained a lot just about every day and night. Some have said it is unusual for this time of the year. We shouldn't be getting this much until June and July, and again in September and October. Going to and from school has also been interesting. Watching the water run down and across the mountain road is interesting. It makes a path with or without mans help. If it gets blocked one way, it will go another. As I was watching and thinking about it, I thought isn't that what the Lord does for his children? When there seems to be no way at all, He makes a way. It was a great reminder about the awesome God we serve. Absolutely nothing is impossible to Him and to those that believe.

So next week I go to El Salvador for a conference with other LACC teachers from different countries, and other missionaries. I'm excited about meeting them and hearing John Bueno speak. He spoke at my commissioning service in Springfield MO in 2008.

What else is happening? The students that had English last year are doing well. They won't initiate a full conversation, but they will answer all you ask them. Well, the things they know anyway. Soon testing time will be here again. I just have a real aversion to testing. But it's one of those things that has to be done. So I will start reviewing this week. I'm in the process of writing some short stories using the vocabulary they are learning. Will see how that works. Most Hondurans do not think that reading is important at all. So therefore very little is done in that area. They don't realize how important it is. If you don't know how to read, you sure can't read God's word. That puts you in a position of believing always what someone else says about God. The Bereans were famous for checking the scriptures to see if what they heard was truth.

So I need to study my Spanish and start getting test previews ready. Nothing worse than walking into class and not know what you're doing.

Ps. 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD...

God is so good. When He calls you away from your family, He provides others to help you through those times where family is important and normally present. Being away from children and grandchildren on Mother's Day is especially difficult for mothers on the field. It's a day that mothers are made to feel extra special by their children. So again this year, several of us are without our own children, just as those that are single are without their mothers. And like some, my mother is no longer alive. This was the first year without her. I missed calling her and wishing her a great day. I didn't get to send her a card or give her a gift. So this Mother's day was a little difficult to say the least.

I went to church with Ramiro and his family, and friends on Friday night. The church was honoring mothers. A couple of people were walking through the congregation before church and were taking pictures of mothers with their children. When one of them was before Yesica and Melisa, Yesica said, "Beverly, be my mom." So we had our picture taken. The pictures were shown on a screen after services and copies were given to us when church was over. I don't like to have my picture taken at all, but this one came out really good. Yesica's mother wasn't there and neither were my children. I praise God for the friends He has given me here. We all adopt mothers and children! But I praise God for my children that e-mailed me early Saturday morning and on Monday. And for the one who called Sunday night. You lifted my spirit. I thank God for each and every one of you. I love you all very, very much.

Yesterday, Olympia and her sister-in-law made lunch for her mother, mother-in-law, Becky and I. Badder, pronounced Bother, made us a card. It was so nice. They made enchiladas, the Honduran way. Absolutely delicious. Becky and I had a very quiet, peaceful, enjoyable day. What a blessing.

Friday the kids celebrated Mother's Day at school. The teachers had a really good program. Kids did skits and sang. Some of the teachers were dressed like the little people or pillow people. Absolutely hysterical. They couldn't see what they were doing at all. They had these long bags, the kind that rice, beans, and corn comes in, over the top half of their bodies with a face painted on them. One of the teachers kept bumping into the wall while another almost sat on the lap of one of the fathers that was there. Everybody was laughing. The teachers said later that they were so hot and sweating so much that they couldn't see. It was hilarious. Then they had two of the mothers break balloons by sitting on them in a chair. Whoever broke the most won. What a contest. Finally, they played musical chairs. Well, when the last two mothers popped down on the last chair at the same time, one of the legs on the chair broke and all ended up on the floor. Absolutely hysterical. No one was hurt of course, but it was funny. Everybody enjoyed themselves. And of course, a meal followed which was delicious.

Instead of going to Costa Rica for my visa renewal, I'll be going to IL to spend 3 days with my daughter, and I'll also be able to visit my brother who has been having some health problems.

I hope all you Mother's had a great Mother's Day. Children truly are a blessing from God.