Buses and ATMs

Dear Colin,

Here are more reasons I love tour-

One ATM in town- popular place for us.




And the reason we are here-




I love to dance. I love to perform.

But I love you more.

Love

Burglary and Compliments

Dear Colin,

I love tour. This festival is... Different... To say the least. But there are many things that make it worth coming year after year.

Quote for this photo of Caden and Austin searching thru my purse and wallet: "is there anything in here I can have?" (Emphasis on the "can")




Remember the compliment can? We write other people anonymous notes complimenting something they did or who they are.




And more reasons I love tour:









But mostly it's because I get to be with this girl:




She fills my empty space.

Miss you.
Love

Beaches and Coconuts

Contradictions

Dear Colin,

We drove from Santo Domingo in the DR to Jacmel in Haiti yesterday. It's a bit chaotic. Roads aren't all paved, and homes are generally painted cinder block or something.










We all had a panic when we didn't know where all our passports were- the bus lady had collected them all, and not really sure why she had... Long story. But we did get them back and got thru the border with no kidnappings or things stolen.

Then we fit fifteen people in a van with all of our smaller bags on our laps and all over the floor. You remember traveling with large groups- we bring a lot of luggage and carry ons. Three vans, 29 Clog Americans, and over 75 suitcases and other bags. We were cramped.

We had to sit like that for three hours.

We drive thru mountains, winding roads, mostly paved, with very large speed bumps every so often. There was very little light in the evening, so it felt like we were driving thru the middle of forest, but then buildings would appear, and people. It was odd to me.

Buildings were old, in disrepair. And then we got to our hotel. It was beautiful. Like a resort. Situated on the beach, it was clean and modern and even had a pool. The next morning, the view from my room was this-




Beautiful. And then you go to the other side of the building and it looked like this-




I really didn't feel comfortable staying in a resort with the poverty that I just across a wall. And yet, I don't feel I really have that much to give the people here. They need so much more than I could ever give.

I am grateful for my first world problems. I am also grateful for my view for today:




We moved to a different hotel today. Same manager, different hotel. It isn't on the beach, but it is nice. Especially since I was expecting to live in a tent for a week.

I miss you.
Love

Air conditioning

Dear Colin,

It's hot. I live from air conditioned store to air conditioned store. I'm so grateful for that invention. It's a saving grace here in the Dominican Republic.

Columbus was buried here- and this is the building where his remains are now:




And we did a walking tour today, where I wanted to die from the heat.







Columbus is a big deal here...




I love you. Wish you could come learn about the Dominican Republic an Columbus too.

Tonight we dance for some 800 people. Evidently there are more that want to come, but can't fit in the theater.

Love- your famous wife

Airports

Dear Colin-

I don't think I will be in contact for the next couple weeks. I will be trying to avoid getting malaria or food poisoning in the DR and Haiti.




At least I have a window seat.

Miss you. Love you.

Alligators and Boats

Dear Colin,

Today I went to the Everglades. We rode on an airboat. Like in The Rescuers.




We saw alligators!!! I was too excited about taking photos to think about being freaked out about being eaten or something... And I got many photos on my camera camera that are better, but these are the ones on my phone, that are easy to put on a blog...







Can you see them? A couple of them got really close to our boat. Did you know they can shut their jaws with such force that they can break their teeth? They're like sharks and continuously grow them. They can go thru 3,000 teeth in their lifetime.

Also- the muscles they use to open their jaws are much smaller and weaker, so it is possible for alligator wrestlers to do this with them-




She is showing how you can hold the jaws shut with your chin, so your hands are free to tie up the alligators mouth. Cool. She's 4'11" and trains bears and lions and alligators. I couldn't do it.

But I could do this!




The alligator looks great in that photo. Me- not so much. Here is a nicer photo of me-




Anyway, I did learn more about the Everglades: like how people turn their pet pythons loose there, so they had an open hunting season for python-1000 participants and only 62 pythons were killed. Or how alligators in this area of Florida are somewhat of a household pest, showing up in your streets, yards, and pools. Or that I take so many photos it is ridiculous. It's not like the scenery in the Everglades changes too much...







But it was a fun day. Hot. Humid. But fun.

Wish you were with me.
Love.

Dear Colin,

Last week I also got to play with the Watsons. We decorated cookies.










Ninjermen cookies. It was awesome.

Miss you.
Love.

Boating

Dear Colin,

I went boating last week. It was fun. We all tried to perfect our flailing jumps from the boat.

Emily wins for most awesome attempts.




I wasn't able to get up wakeboarding or skiing.

Love-
Your uncoordinated and tired wife.

Crawling Baby

Dear Colin,

I got to stay at the Hollingsworth's this week. Pretty much some o my very favorite people in this world. It helps that they have the most beautiful baby.




And the best part- I was here when she finally learned to crawl. It just clicked on Wednesday. And now she is working her way around the house.




One way to get her to crawl is to have a trail of Cheerios. Or a camera for her to crawl to.

One day it will be our own. :)

Love

Confession

Dear Colin,

I love silly and nerdy things. I love reading dystopian teen novels. I love watching Drop Dead Diva. I love playing video games like Spore and Civilization.

I'm just grateful you are a nerd too. :)

Love

Blessed

Dear Colin,

I think we have it pretty easy. Six months isn't too long. You are in a safe place. We have the means for me to spend time with family. We get to talk every day- usually twice a day, and with FaceTime.

I'd say we are blessed. But it doesn't keep me from missing you.

Today my sister lent me her copy of my grandpa and grandma Dana's life stories. In it, both my grandma and grandpa share stories from their life- one being how they met.

They met on a bus from Salt Lake City to California. Evidently my grandma, after meeting my grandpa, told her parents she had met her future husband.

"I don't know how and I don't know when, but I know who."




The were married two years later- most of their courtship it seems was while apart. My grandpa had just enlisted with the Army Air Corps, and had different schools and training he was doing for those two years. They were married on July 14, 1944.




On July 15, 1944, my grandpa left again.




Yes, I'd say we are blessed.

Miss you.
Love.