Happy New Year!

It's always an adventure plus to do anything with my Mexican friends. It all started New Year's Eve day at 5 PM. I went to pick up Yolanda and her kids Paty, Alejandra and Luis. Their luggage, plus mine, was STUFFED in the trunk of my car. Back at the Jornada office, we decided to go with Ivonne and her family in their 15 passenger van. But we weren't ready to leave yet. We had to wait for Adrian to get out of work. At about 6:30 we finally took off for Camp Koinonia which is in Amealco, about 40 minutes from San Juan. But wait! Monica had to stop at Comer (the grocery store) for bread and something or other else, so we were to meet her just beyond the Comer. We waited a bit - not too long really, but by now it was dark. And riding with Julio (Ivonne's son) driving the 15 passenger, diesel van, it took longer than the normal 40 minutes, because he takes those steep hills mighty slow! Following us were Victor and his family and Monica and her family. 8 PM arrival!!



We all got ourselves organized into cabins, the food in the big tent, chairs, tables in the tent and we were ready to CELEBRATE New Year's! First we just sat around talking, eating botanas (snacks). Someone brought chips and I brought a cheeseball and cookies that Bethie made as well as a crab dip that disappeared like magic, it was so yummy! Lots of soda pop too. Here in Mexico we can't survive without it - we think!! (Actually, I can, I say "we" editorially!) We later played games until almost midnight. And midnight is the magic hour to eat supper! Everyone brought something to share: a delicious meat dish, tortilla pie, roasted chicken, sopa (which is spaggeti with cheese and cream mixed in), bolillos (rolls) to make sandwiches, lots and lots of tortillas, salsas, and only one person thought of dessert - me! I provided the M&M cookies! At exactly midnight everyone got up from the table to give the traditional New Year's abrazo (hug). After supper were more games, and I was fading fast.

Lynette, age 2, was part of the evening's entertainment. When she got ahold of the microphone, she'd say, "Papá" "Papá" "Papá". Someone would suggest she say something else, so she´s say, "Mamá" "Mamá" "Mamá". But then it was "papá" again. She doesn´t know a lot of words besides those two! She´s mighty cute!


I realize this story is a little mixed up, with some things not in any good order, but maybe the pictures will help show you what a fun New Year´s party I was at this year! No pictures of me, but then, who do you think was TAKING the pictures? Yes, I definitely was there!