Thanksgiving in Amboro National Park

While Jeanie was in the U.S. with our new grandson, Cooper, Andrew and I spent Thanksgiving weekend at a remote camp in Amboro National Park. It was two hours in by 4x4 and then two hours hiking each day to get to some spectacular spots: first a beautiful natural pool and then the next day up to a waterfall. Here's a video of what we did and where we went.

You'll see another kid in the pictures. He is our guide, Mario. I called him Surefoot because while Andrew and I were slipping and sliding on the muddy trails, he never slipped once and he wore flip flops.

Blessings,
Ron

Just call me "Lucky"

Three years ago we bought our house outside of Santa Cruz from some other missionaries who were returning to the U.S. In addition to buying the house, we agreed to keep the security system and the monthly maintenance charge. By that I mean the german shepherd, Jazz, and his considerable appetite for dog food. He had a scary reputation here in the neighborhood that has kept the house safe for many years.

Jazz was older when we got him, and reached the point this week that I thought he might be on the downhill slide. He had a baseball size tumor on his abdomen, an oozing swollen infection on the elbow of his front leg, and he's almost blind-though he gets around the yard he has lived in his whole life just fine. I took him in to the vet for an "estimate". When I called back, Dr. Ximena told me that although he is old, he isn't ready to die. So he stayed at the hospital for a couple of nights, had surgery to remove the tumor, the infection was treated and he was ready to come home. He hopped out of the car when we got home so excited to be here.

I think we have our "security system" for a while yet.

A New Grandson!

I am about 10 days late with the announcement, but we are the proud grandparents of a new grandson! Cooper Andrew Hanks was born to Sarah and Dustin in Washington, D.C. on November 20. He weighed 9 pounds.

Jeanie arrived a couple of days later to help out and she is in Grandma heaven!