An Unfinished House

Good grief it hath been forever and I apologize profusely. I have been running in circles and have so little time to blog and or use the internet that I'm feeling quite disconnected from my peeps up north and incredibly guilty for not being in better contact. Even today, my one day this week to use the internet extensively, looks like it will be cut short by meetings and events...pues ni modo. That being said I think I'll make this a shorter and more pictorial post. I promise to write more later because there are host of things to relay. Well folks, that's all for this post. As I said, I'll write more soon. Blessings to you this week. Peace! - matt

WE WON!!! I feel badly for shouting it from the rooftops but I can't help it - the other night Costa Rica played Honduras in the Selection Tournament for the 2010 World Cup and Costa Rica won. My head knows that I should be pulling for Hondie but my heart was beating Tico . We (myself, Saco and a few other Gringos) watched the game at the local expatriates' restaurant. It was packed though with the natives and I thought it wise to keep my feelings of adulation and pure joy to myself. Perhaps with time my affinities will change but as for now I firmly voy por Costa Rica. So I thought it would be nice if you got know some of the boys from Laureles - to put a face and some history with the people I talk about and so that it might be easier to be praying for them and their families. I'll start with Anwar : Anwar Eliazer Artiagua is 11 years old, he has four older siblings and one younger one named Cessa who is frightened to death of me. He loves to play futbol (soccer...

No, I'm not really dreaming longingly of the Norwegian landscape but my stream of consciousness got a bit carried away...I was going to title this "Wishing for Snow" and then I thought "Pining for Snow" sounded better and then the old Monty Python sketch about "Pining for the Fjords" popped into my head....so you can see how my mind works. All that to say, I really miss the snow and ice. I see weather reports from back home about Arctic temperatures, buckets of snow and sheets of ice and I am insanely jealous. I love Winter weather; I love everything about it, from sledding to shoveling to school delays to cups of Hot Chocolate. I miss being able to wear big overcoats, scarves and hats...not that I don't try to pull it off here from time to time - sometimes I turn the AC up in my apartment, take a cold shower and then bundle up in long pants and my North Face jacket...what, it's fun. I know most of you are probably tired to death of all th...