Volleyball... Central America Style!!!

Dave, Kurt, Kristy, Paul, Kristi, Don, Kelsey.... and coconuts, of course!

Early morning set up

       I have had access to a beach volleyball court since 1979.  I was 14 then, and learned how to play volleyball from some of the best players in the world while living in Santa Monica.  I was hooked from the get go and have been fortunate to play for many years in different competitive settings.  A huge plus over the years has been having great friends that are also great players!!!

     I knew moving to Costa Rica meant big changes, one being, no volleyball:  no court and too hot!!  Every now and then, I would make Don rally with me, but it just was not the same as playing a match on a full court.
      Fortunately last April we found some players, Dave, Fred, and a couple, Kurt and Kristy, that visit with their portable net system.

      It doesn't take long to set up the net and they even have a nice set of lines, but you need to start at 6:30am because it's too hot after 9:00 am usually.  The humidity and heat suck the air and energy out of you.  And sweating is taken to a new level!!  Can someone say "hydrate"!?!?

      As you can see, the location is amazing and up high enough out of the tide zone.  It's the only place in the area that is without palms and far enough away from the surf to not get wiped out.  

Here's the whole gang below, photo taken in June.

Here's the gang, minus Kurt...

   So, volleyball matches come and go here like the rain and swells... you just never know when you'll get a chance to play so you try to take advantage of it when you can.  Sometimes, when no games were to be had, Kelsey and I would rally out of desperation to move around and touch a ball.  It doesn't take long to exhaust yourself with a little pepper rally.  To avoid heat stroke, there's the reward of jumping in the 80 degree water to cool off.

      Kelsey has really not played much volleyball in her lifetime...but she has seen a lot played.  She is enjoying the game more and more as her skill and confidence grows... her great attitude is a given.

     Since Kelsey had some time to hang out here before she went up to live in the mountains for school, she was able to play with a fun family that was in town for a couple months, The Murdoch's.  They have 6 kids who, some older and some younger than Kels so it was perfect to get a bunch of vball in.
  
     The Murdoch's built a permanent court right in front of the little grade school and close to all the "action" in town.  We all had a great time playing, surfing and having bbq's together.  So many people are ready and willing to help out in this community when someone takes the reins and gets a project going.  We had a neighbor, Chris, with his chain saw cutting up trees that could not be dug up near the court, so people would not skewer themselves going after an errant pass or dig.

Chris in background with chain saw

       This turned out to be a great spot in front of the school.  I got the word out to vball friends back in the states that they could donate an old volleyball to the great Central American Volleyball Association... hahaha!  I just made that up... but seriously, I was able to contact the PE instructor who visited every tuesday and we had grades 1st-3rd, and then 4th-6th rotate thru the class and learn some techniques.

Sign made by Chloe and Claire Murdoch

      These next photos are dedicated to Renee, Kathryn, Mona, Wendy and Valinda (hopefully I didn't miss anyone) who all donated their volleyballs so I could teach the kids.  Thank you so much for making it possible for me to introduce this sport to these children!!!  I would throw this big bag of balls on the front of my bike and ride to the beach to meet the kids.

     It was fun to watch the enthusiasm and improvement.  It was challenging for me to teach volleyball in spanish!  I used a lot of charades - acting out words that I didn't know...hahaha!

    It's always interesting to hear what comes out of my mouth, especially if it actually makes sense.

      Recto, brazos, directo, doble rodillas, pase, golpear, pegar, carerra, corre, divertido y sonrisa.... are some of the words I had to learn....and then put them in a sentence:)

  
      You can't tell from these photos how hot and sweaty it is.  These kids are amazing.  They never complain and are eager to play.

They were all so cute!!!

      Unfortunately, the deluge of wet season rains came and with them, some very high tides that wiped out our wonderful court in front of the school.

      So instead of playing vball, we did beach cleanup, picking up all the trash that floated in from all over the place.  Our poor little court was ruined.

      Since then, we have moved the court about 1 mile down the beach to the location that we set the temp system up at when Kurt and Kristy are in town.  It is too far for the school kids, but hopefully, we will be able to restore the school court for Jan thru August fun.

Dave helps us dig up and move the poles down the beach...

       Kelsey's roommate from school, Hana, came for a visit and went hard at work helping scoop sand out so we could erect poles for new court.  I just couldn't help piling some sand on her with my shovel!  Hana happens to be a volleyball player that graduated from San Clemente High!  She was a defensive Specialist on the team and it shows!

Kelsey and Hana tighten the net, draw the lines, and start warming up for our first match with Dave and myself, after all our hard work.

Great match....A little sandy, but the water is steps away!

Fresh pipa juice anyone???

                              PURA VIDA!

Catching Up...

Suncreen Tester

  Buenas!
       I think I shared at the end of my last blog that I would start busting out more blogs, more consistently...Hah!...so much for that!!!  But now, after the encouragement of my friend Renee to keep "blogging", I have returned to my computer and sea of photos to continue sharing my "growing" adventures.

 Let's back up to April...    "A Visit to San Isidro"

       San Isidro is a city located in the mountains above Dominical.  It is the second largest city in CR and is about a 2 hour drive from our house--of course remembering that all driving in CR consists mostly of 2 lane roads that are subject to landslides, roads and bridges washed out, slow trucks, fallen trees, accidents and maybe even a festival "float" procession celebrating one of the many saints in this country.   This is part of the reason why it's hard to have a "schedule" here.

    
       Anyways, the reason for our visit was to check out a school Kelsey, our daughter, was interested in attending.  Don, Kelsey and I had visited the campus of Murrieta Bible College in March when we were in Calif.  We found out then that they had very recently opened a small satellite campus in CR.
        So Don and I did some "reconnaissance" work and met with leaders and students of the school.  We then relayed the information and photos back to Kelsey...

Diamante

  
Now, in less than 2 weeks, Kelsey will be arriving here in CR to start her own adventure.  In her own words, "...I feel God is calling me out of my comfort zone and into an incredible opportunity and privilege to gain knowledge of His Word and deepen My relationship with Him."
  
Way to go Kels!!!

     On our return trip from San Isidro Don & I got lost ...

I mean, "found an alternative route" while looking for the Diamante Waterfall.

      It ended up being quite the adventure:  super muddy roads, a very narrow suspension bridge, ridiculous sizes of 'pot holes', tree branches, and all with the threat of darkness as dusk approached...but eventually we made it safe and sound!

   

Gooey Mud, Had to Turn Around...That Was Tricky!!!

The Suspense is killing me!

On to May:   Our Silver Wedding Anniversary

       Don and I celebrated 25 years of marriage on May 4th at the CR Tennis Club in San Jose.  The hotel stay included access to the tennis club and its many amenities, of which I jumped in an exercise salsa class, much to Don's amusement...as well as everyone else in the class!!!  Don captured my salsa debut on his iphone.

      Check it out and see if you can spot the Gringa!!!

                               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QamVqIe1JV0

Love Love!

...and more love!

       So we played tennis and somehow ended up with a set score of 2-5, and a match score of 1-2 ... (25 years married with 1 daughter and 2 boys).  It was fun to be in the more arid, cooler climate, mid 70's to low 80's.  We also enjoyed a fantastic dinner at one of the best restaurants in CR at Hotel Grano de Oro and topped it off with a decadent dessert:  Tres Leches!

       Upon the heel's of our anniversary we celebrated Don's Birthday with Jim Hogan, His wife Leo and their son James at a new Sushi place in Jaco, called Arigato, which is owned by Rudy, a former chef from San Clemente's Takao Restaurant.  Small World!!!

Happy Birthday Don & Jim!

      After Don and Jim's Birthday, which is also Becky Dean's!!!, came mother's day.  My first ever mother's day without my mom or kids around....YUCK!

       My kids did treat me to a massage here that they organized through Don and I was able to Skype

with them and my mom...thank goodness for Skype!!!
      Every day I miss my Alex, Kelsey and Kagen!  And every day I am thankful for them!!

Not exactly the Mercedes an we requested!

CR Woman's Retreat 
       After returning home from our anniversary celebration, I quickly packed my bag and jumped in a van full of some awesome and fun women and headed for the annual nationwide Christian women's retreat located in the beautiful mountains and rainforest near San Carlos, which is about 1 hour from the famous Arenal Volcano, and about 5 hours from my home.


      Wow!  Yet another great place to visit!  The drive was beautiful as well.  You can see a whole other "face" of CR business and culture:  coffee plantations, fields of broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower, cucumbers, etc., and dairy farms.  This part of the country is especially known for its cheese.

     We stopped en route at a cute mountain town, Zarcero, which is known for its creative sculptured topiary garden which sits opposite Iglesia de San Rafael.

"About Face" (forward March!)

My "Roommate" Leo Under the Green Arches

Super Cool Mosaic Mural in Zarcero

      

.... such a turista!

El Toucano Hotel, San Carlos

 The retreat location at El Toucano was the perfect spot to stop, look and listen!!!  Thermal creeks and hot springs, ferns that looked like intricate lace, a myriad of flowering plants, oropendula birds that perched near their hanging basket nests, and fabulous natural hot spring pool and spas.  All this to help ponder and listen to God and reflect.

    

Steam Hut

    

Time to Reflect, Time to Listen...

The question I was posed with, once again:
Do I want to live a life focused on my desires and purposes or am I willing to give up all and live for Him and His purposes??

      Ouch!  An uncomfortable question I would rather avoid by being too busy to think or care!!!

      But not avoided this weekend, God had me cornered.  How could look around, at the beauty He has made,... all for us,... and argue with Him!!!

      Of course, I chose to argue with Him a bit until I realized, once again, that every time He asks me to give something up, or empty myself of, well basically my self, He then fills me with His love, goodness, wisdom, mercy, grace and strength.

       The simplicity of Love God and Love Others! ...but why is this so difficult?!

       Selfishness, pride, greed, jealousy...on and on the list goes that vies for our sole attention and commitment to Self Preservation!!!

       The antidote?
Emptying out our junk and
Filling up.....on what is good!

Cleaning up on the outside as well as the inside at Retreat!

Awesome!

Jesus said something to this effect,
    "Those who lose their life for my sake will live, and those who seek to preserve their own life will lose it." (Luke 9:24, 17:33)

       Two books I'm reading that have offered further insight on Loving God and others are:  "When Helping Hurts, How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself" and "The Hole in Our Gospel".

There's nothing like a stream to capture your attention

      It seems my journey in this are of Loving God and Loving and serving others with His Love is taking a bit of a different direction or maybe it's yet another layer of understanding....

      It's not a totally new "season" but it appears that I have the opportunity to experience a new variety of fruit!!  The question is:  What will I do with this opportunity???

Speaking of fruit...   Mango May Madness

 May is also Mango Season!!!  Mango smoothies, mango chutney, mango salsa, mango fruit salad... Giant Crates of 50 or so Mangos sold along the roadsides for only $4!!

Our First Harvest

        Our banana tree produced for the first
  time too.  We've since had many stalks of little
  dulce "finger" bananas that are great for
  smoothies too.

       Our papaya tree we planted in December is blossoming and started some small fruit.  The goal is to eat the fruit before the monkeys do...hahaha!
  
      On a food side note:  I have to say that I'm so happy that I like what's available here to eat and cook with:  onions, garlic, bell peppers, jalapenos, cilantro, cucumbers, tomatoes, and more are all my staples for all my meals and easy to get!

More Fun and celebrations...

     May was also the 2 year anniversary celebration of the Pura Vida, the house church here in town.  Pastor Dennis Leon led in the festivities located on the newly built and nearly completed rancho on the property.

     This open air rancho captures amazing views of the ocean and coastline and is a most enjoyable meeting place for the church.

Sundays at 1pm

           I was privileged to participate and put my painting skills to work in the cabinas upstairs.

The Leon Family

Fun After Church

     The Leon family are really all about God, family and community.
We are all very thankful for their love and dedication to helping those in need and teaching


many about the love of Christ!
You can follow their blog at http://www.puravidachurch.com/blog/

                             

                  I think this guy looks like Rafael Nadals brother

Marcelle's House

    


        Other gatherings have included

        neighborhood dinners,
        surprise birthday parties,
        and going away parties...

Desirae's Surprise B-day!

Pat's Awesome Dinner and say Goodbye, but just for now...

Trips:     Don had a fun trip down to Pavones with a group of guys.  He was the designated photographer.  The other guys were thrilled that he would rather take pictures than surf!!!

       While Don was having his own adventure, I tried to plan a trip out of CR to renew my visa.

Parque Central de David

 
    I wasn't able to find anyone else who needed to leave so I began planning a trip to Nicaragua... solo...but continued to pray that I'd be able to travel with someone.

      Ann to the rescue!

      I had only met Ann a couple times in the past but she welcomed me to join her to Panama.  She already had the trip planned and we left 2 days later in her rental car which we drove for 5 hours and parked at the border.

     We checked out of CR and crossed to Panama with ease... no lines!!  Then we jumped in a nearby bus and headed about an hour further to the major city of David.

  





    


After spending the night in David across from the central park (in a hotel!), we then headed the next morning for the beautiful fresh mountain town of Boquete.This town is noted for it's coffee plantations and nationally recognized for it's amazing display of flowers.  Ann and I spent 2 days there sightseeing, walking, talking, and touring a coffee plantation called Milagro (Miracle).
  

Breakfast in Boquete

    

       One of the great memories of this trip for me was walking around at dusk when the fragrance of these flowers that hang like large bells starts to unleash it's heavenly scent, hence, the name "Angel's Trumpet!"

Even when cloudy, the colors could not be denied their brillance!                            

Local Family Gardens Open to the Public

Milagro Coffee Plantation

     American Roast - light
     French Roast - medium
     Italian Roast - dark

               It's all Good!

      Even though we barely new each other before the trip, Ann and
I turned out to be great travel companions and friends!!!
God is good!

     Please pray that I continue to "do" what I am learning!!!

    Thanks!  Blessings to all and muchas besas!