Can I get your door?

5 years we have lived here, and today another first.

We drove into the parking lot of a local fast food place.  (We had found some money from teaching piano shoved in a pile of papers - so we pushed the easy button after church.)  The guards will always open the door of the restaurant for you.  Today, however, we had a guard that went above and beyond.

He directed us into a parking space (normal) and then proceeded to reach out and open Ken's door.  Now at that moment my brain immediately went to - we're done for, the guard is robbing us, Lord keep us safe.  No robbery.  Then he opens the sliding door, helps the girls out, takes Emma by the hand and walks her to the restaurant.  Needless to say one of us walked closely behind and the other was 10 feet parallel with eyes pealed.  Turns out he must be just a good guy that really likes his job - but boy that had me on edge.

I was sort of wishing some of you were here today to see first hand a little of what our girls experience here.  Beyond the overly friendly gun toting guard, there were the normally friendly restaurant people.  People here are drawn to our girls, mostly Sara because of her hair.  We get stared at, openly, every time we go out.  Today was no exception.

The older girls, especially Abigail, get pretty sick of it - but I swear Sara thinks it is the way life should be.  She has Guatemalan culture in her.  Here you greet people, even those you don't know.  You kiss those you do (on the cheek.)  Normally the two don't cross - unless you are Sara.  People seem to think it totally acceptable to pet her head, kiss her cheeks, grab her hands, pet her face, and ask to have her eyes.  She smiles (and soaks up the attention.)  Today, when a fellow eater was passing by the table and doting on Sara, she stood up greeted the woman with a hug and sat down like it was totally normal to talk to and hug strangers.  We didn't know that woman and will probably never see her again.  So un-northeast our third daughter is.

Please, pray that God will keep that culture in her - but help her to approach strangers with wisdom as she grows older.  Love our little Guatemerinadian.

What every little girl wants

Ok, so maybe every little girl wants a canopy not a mosquito net, but I guess it will have to do.  The mosquitoes have been so bad at our house for the girls have been waking up every morning with new bites.  Let's see what happens if they have to get up in the middle of the night, hopefully it won't fall down on their heads.

Abigail left for missionary kid camp today.  She was so excited to go but then got very sad when it was time for us to leave.  Please join us in praying that she will have an excellent week.