Taking a Break

I didn't plan on doing so but it just worked out in a way where I couldn't write much in February. I had planned on writing at least four posts but I just couldn't get it together. I had to take a business/ministry trip out of the country in the second week of February and now my mother-in-law Merrilee is here in Merida with us visiting for 10 days.

Merrilee called us on Thursday night before she flew in and asked us if there was anything special she needed to bring. We jokingly told her a bullet-proof vest could prove useful since this was Mexico. Fortunately she saw the humor in it. She flew in last Friday night and we threw her a party with some of our friends on Saturday night. Below are some pictures.





Joel and Reina. Their daughter Helena is pictured right.



These were three of the couples that we invited over. More were supposed to show up but some couldn't make it. 

I would add more captions onto the pictures but everytime I try, the format on the page changes. Ricardo (white shirt) and his wife Adreana are pictured left. Ricard is both a helicopter pilot and airline pilot (Mexicanna Airlines). Andreana has experience in business management.

Beto and his wife Marina are pictured above with their son Andrew. Beto makes all types of iron work (fences, doors, bedframes, ....) He is amazingly gifted. Marina is finishing up her Doctoral Thesis on traditional Mayan herbal remedies.  The thing I appreciate about the Mexican culture is that people like to talk and spend time together. If two of these three couples hadn't had small children they would have all stayed until 2 am......or maybe 5 am..........seriously.

This was our Saturday night party. Beto cooked an authentic Mexican dish of cactus stuffed with cheese and covered with a spicy tomato sauce. It was very good. The dish is common in Mexico City where Beto is from. Adriana made Tres Leches cake (Three Milk). Tres Leches is my personal favorite after Tiramisu.

Sunday morning we went to the annual Chili cook-off at the home (Mansion) of the head of the American Consulate here in Merida. Our friend Yuri won the contest for the second year in a row. There were about 30 contestants in all with around 500 people in attendance. I would post pics but they are on Grandma's camera. Two of the local authentic Yucatecan restaurants were there giving out free food as well. One of them was Rosas & Xocolate. The head Chef there is my former next door neighbor. He cooked octopus for everyone. It was actually very good.

Sunday night we took a horse drawn carriage ride up and down Paseo Montejo for $30 USD. We went at night so everything was lit up beautifully. The boys really enjoyed the ride. The entire avenue is extremely picturesque and very popular with both the locals and the tourists.

Yesterday we went to Progresso beach to experience the cooler weather. It is already starting to get hot here (90 F) almost every day. Progresso beach is about 10 or 15 degrees cooler because of prevailing southerly winds from the Gulf of Mexico. The boys swam and the rest of us people watched and fed the seagulls.

Lord willing we will get over to Uxmal today to see one of the Pyramids. We will also try to hit Celestun this weekend to see the Flamingos.

The Lord has been showing me a great deal over the past month, specifically about the hearts of his people. Once "mom" leaves next week I look forward to getting my prayer life back along with some time to write about what I believe I am seeing.

God Bless

JEB
jayblackshear@yahoo.com
http://www.miraclesinmerida.blogspot.com/.