Maria World Traveler

Maria & Alejandra in Segovia, Spain

Maria flew into Chicago O'Hare this past Wednesday from Madrid by way of Philadelphia. She successfully navigated customs and getting her GIANT suitcase re-checked alone. I was so excited to talk to her on the cell phone when she landed in the United States. It went like this:

Me: Maria, you've done something I've never done - traveled internationally alone.

John(grabbing the cell phone from me): Maria, you've done something I've never done - traveled alone internationally alone in flip flops.

Har har, he's so funny.

The Word from Spain

Bridget, Maria & Alejandra last summer

We have called Maria a few times this week and talked to her briefly to know that she is doing well. We received an email from Alejandra's mom with an update and it sounds like all is well. They have been to Simancas, a middle age village near Valladolid where they live and Madrid, have played tennis and gone to a teen disco. This weekend, they are going to the rocky northern coast of Spain and will visit one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world in Leon on their way back. I thought about getting in her suitcase, but Maria said it was full of things she needed. Oh well, I can't wait to see the pictures!

Off to Spain!

John & I spent the 4th of July taking Maria to O'Hare airport in Chicago where she boarded a plane to Madrid. She is spending the month of July with her friend Alejandra who stayed at our house last July.

The suspense was building throughout the morning as we brought her to the gate. John went over each detail of the trip thouroughly so she would know what to expect.

While we waited, we got her one last American ice cream. She eats tons of ice cream which seems surprising when you look at her - where does it go? Anyway, I was cheering her on while she ate it and she posed with me one last time for this month.

She called us when she made her connection in Philadelphia and again at about 2 AM when she landed safely in Madrid. You can e-mail her at omiscool at comcast dot net. She hasn't been able to e-mail us yet and I keep thinking that is something she could do during siesta. It's probably a good thing that she is occupied.

Happy Memorial Day

Waiting for the parade (actually 4th of July last year)

Alejandra Rewind

Bridget, Maria & Alejandra, Chicago, July 2007

Last week, John brought the girls to downtown Chicago on the way to take Alejandra to the airport to give her one last big taste of American life. I think she had a good time during her stay here. As I was doing her bed after she left, I found a note under her pillow. In it she wrote that we were the BEST family in Michigan! Should I also mention that we are the only family in Michigan she knows?

Good-bye, Alejandra!

3 closed mouth smiles of girls with orthodontia?

This morning, John & the girls left for Chicago to take Alejandra to the airport so she can return to Spain. I'm kind of sad, but I know we can be in touch through e-mail, and next summer, Maria will probably go to see her in Valladolid, Spain.

Edward & I stayed here to help out at the Riverfest today. It looks like a beautiful sunny day to be enjoying God's gift of water.

A Long Wet Goodbye

This Sunday, John & the girls have to bring Alejandra to Chicago O'Hare Airport so she can fly home to Spain. (I should stay here for the Riverfest at our church Sunday.) So we are having our last weekend with her. Friday evening, we had her new favorite "American" supper, Chicken Kiev, and afterwards, we tried out the water apparatus that we had to rent for Sunday - it's called the "Flusher." When you hit the round red target with the ball, 2 gallons of water fall on the victim's head. We got this instead of a dunk tank - it's much easier to set up and more fun.

Edward winds up, hits the target, and down comes the water on dear sweet Bridget.


Alejandra, always game, gets soaked too.

We all took a turn and then went out for ice cream, so it was like our own mini river fest.

Oh, it's a long wet goodbye because this afternoon, Bridget is bringing Alejandra to a pool party, and this evening, Maria is bringing her to another pool party. In other words, don't pack your bathing suit yet, Alejandra.

A Summer Eve in the USA

Tonight, Edward, Maria & Bridget are teaching their friend from Spain about American baseball, or in truth, Wiffleball. They have taken her to a couple of the minor league games of the West Michigan Whitecaps, and she has loved these, so now they are playing for real and are having a "ball." This brings back memories of when "Eddie" and the neighbor boy, "Teddy" (for real) would play baseball for hours upon hours in the backyard, and now, since Edward is going to be a senior, I am thinking this won't be happening much more, so I better go watch them. I'm going to go sit on the deck with a glass of water now.

Ice Cream is Still the Best

The girls just returned from spending a few more days UpNorth with John's sister & family. I took the first picture above by one of the dunes overlooking Lake Michigan when we were there a couple of weeks ago. The second is the actual self portrait. The following are a few more of Maria's pictures:


1.5 lb. Sundae with 3 cookies polished off by these 4 girls.

Alejandra's 1st American Fish

Adventures on the High Seas

Yesterday, John & I & our 4 teens set sail on Muskegon Lake with John's Mom & her husband, Geof, hereafter called the Sailors. Blue sky, white puffy clouds, brisk air all contributed to making a perfect day for boating. We headed toward Lake Michigan on the channel but were greeted by huge swells, so we turned around, content to sail on Muskegon Lake. We had been filling up on cheese nips to combat potential sea sickness and we were all cheese-nip-jolly. If you have ever been sailing, you know about the pleasure of that second when the motor is shut off and you are suddenly moving only with the silence of the wind in the billowing sails. We commented on the perfection of the day.



Sailing with the Jackie O's

We sailed for a long time and then began sailing back into the wind. The Sailors decided since it was past supper time, we should start motoring back. I was just sitting there ignorantly in front of the controls when the motor died. It wouldn't start up, so the Sailors were faced with maneuvering their boat into the marina with wind power, John out in front with a boat hook, and Edward's long legs out the side to kick off any boats we might be floating into.

As we approached the Marina though, we saw the Boat Sheriff. John's mom started tooting the air horn and we all waved to attract his attention. The sheriff first made us all put on life jackets which caused John's mother great fits of laughter as she observed John in his hastily-clad child-sized preserver. Alejandra was trying to ask me why we had to wear them and I was trying to communicate to her that it was really no big deal but it was more of a precaution.



The good news is we were able to safely dock and eat supper with prayers of thanks for God's protection. Today, we saw the Sailors after church when we met to return Geof's wallet which we accidentally brought home in all the confusion. The problem with the boat seems to be a dirty air filter which they can replace before they leave on their next sailing adventure.

Fashion on the Fourth

Bridget, Maria & Alejandra


Waiting for the parade in Glen Arbor