[ Just a Glimpse ]

[ Just a Glimpse ]

I'm excited to be starting something new on this blog!

In my pre-missionary days, I always found it interesting to see how other missionaries lived, the things they saw, and sometimes just wondered about the practical aspect of their lives. Now being a missionary myself, I realize we tend to become acclimated to the culture where we live, and only post to blogs the major happenings in our lives and what our respective church is doing. Not a bad idea, but there's probably other people out there, who like me, wants to see more pictures of the whole panorama that makes up our lives in a foreign country.

Thus begins "Just a Glimpse." I will try to post something every Tuesday for this whole year (and please note the emphasis on "try!"). The pictures will be diverse, ranging from: my family, my house, my community, people on the street, where we shop, the places we go, what we eat, etc...anything that I think you might find interest in. I would like to give you a snapshot into our world here in Southern Mexico.

Most of my pictures will have little commentary with them, unless there's a good story behind it. Please feel free to leave questions or comments and I hope you will enjoy "Just a Glimpse" throughout this year!

Happy New Year!

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

May the rains fall soft upon your fields,

And, until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

-- (Traditional Irish Blessing) --

Our New Year's Eve was spent up in the mountains at our Santo Domingo Church. We brought up a group from our church here in the city and also picked up some young people from Faja de Oro. We had a very good service blessed with God's presence.

After the service, the ladies in Santo Domingo served us all some tamales, mexican coffee, and horchata while we enjoyed some fellowship together.

[ Parker enjoying sips of horchata.]

[Michael digging into the tamales!]

We then headed towards home only to end up driving through Tapachula as midnight rolled around! Bad timing! We saw several drunk people out and about (actually one man on a motorcycle crossed the road in front of us almost causing an accident) and we saw so many fireworks you would have thought it was 4th of July in the States! People also like to throw fireworks in the roadway here...makes me a little leery while driving! I sure would hate to drive over one as it explodes! Ha! Ha! Anyway, we made it safely home last night (actually, this morning) and are now enjoying a relaxing New Year's Day!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

May the prayer of our hearts for this new year be,

to always strive to be like Jesus,

and to give our devotion -

in worship to Him.

(C.M.)

A Mason Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas...from our family to yours!!!!

Although we were officially in Mexico for Christmas this year, we did celebrate Christmas with our families before we left the States. With that thought in mind, and with the "fun" of cleaning our house that had been dormant for six months, unpacking our stuff, and fixing the water pump, refrigerator, and toilets upon our recent arrival to our house in MX... we decided to not put up a tree this year and just open a few gifts and that would be our Christmas.

Well...that thought only lasted until Christmas Eve. With the temps being hot and no decorations up, I was just having a hard time imagining it was Christmas! So, while Michael and some people from our city church when to a Christmas Eve service three hours away in the mountains, I decided to surprise him and set up the tree!

Maybe you'll notice in the picture that there's really not a lot of decorations on the tree...well that's just because some mice invaded my house while we were away and chewed some loveable snowmen, red berries, and garland. The rusty tin stars, burlap bows, and some tinsel really do look halfway pleasing at night with the other room lights off! (lol) No really, Michael was very surprised, and it made me happy and started to feel like Christmas might be here!

The table has the only other "Christmas" decorations in our house...

And since I was on a decorating roll, I decided to go ahead and put a few homey touches on top of our desk. Once I get some of my house fully decorated, I'll post some pics. I know my sister-in-law will want to see! ;-)

And that my friends, along with reading the Christmas story, opening gifts, talking to family, and some yummy food, is "A Mason Christmas 2010!"

Colorado: Part III

[10-03-10]

A Sunday spent in beautiful Colorado. Also an eventful day.

Sunday morning and afternoon were spent sharing and fellow-shipping with the dear people at Western Colorado Holiness Chapel. Afterwords, the pastor took us up on top of Grand Mesa.

Once again, very beautiful scenery. We took some time to take pictures and I also tried to get some of Parker since he had just turned six months old.

Meanwhile, back down at the pastors house, Taylor had stayed to play with the other kids. Apparently while jumping around, Taylor somehow hurt his arm and was crying and holding his arm by the time we walked in the door from our sight-seeing trip. So, we ended up visiting the ER in Delta, CO that night. Conclusion: according to xrays, there was no break, but the membranes between the two arm bones had been pulled or had come loose. The treatment was a hard splint with a sling to keep his arm immobilized and then after two weeks or so, we could see what he felt like he could do with his arm.

[waiting to see the ER doc]

[getting ready to leave Colorado the next morning]

But, all in all, we really enjoyed the time we were able to spend in Colorado. So happy we were able to go!

Colorado: Part II

The second full day we were in Colorado [10-02-10], we went to a little place called Telluride that is situated in a valley between tall mountains. And let me tell you, out of all the places Michael and I have visited, this probably was our favorite. The village was quaint and picturesque and the view was breathtaking!!!!!!! The golden aspens just shimmered against the evergreens. We were wishing we had a whole week to enjoy and explore!

We parked in town, then walked beside a creek until we got to a " gondola station." We boarded the gondola (similar to a ski lift), and took the ride up the side of the mountain. It was a very cool experience! There is a station located at the top of the mountain where you can get off and hike or bike on trails, or you can continue riding the gondola down the mountain on the other side where there is another small, more modern and high class town called Mountain Village.

Anyway, we absolutely loved this area! If anybody near there is looking to donate their ranch, we'd be happy to take if off your hands!!! ;-)

[Walking through town beside the creek]

[The gondola line]

[Parker]

[Looking down on the village of Telluride]
[Us]
[Looking down towards Mountain Village]
[Daddy and Taylor enjoying the walk]

Colorado: Part I

We recently had the pleasure of being in Colorado to hold a missions service. While there, we were able to spend two days sightseeing. The first day we went across the state line into Moab, Utah to the Arches National Park. It was a beautiful day and we had fun exploring the park.

I also really enjoy landscape photography, and am trying to learn more about it. These photos are definitely not pro status, but I hope you can glimpse some of the beauty I was able to see.

Arches National Park
Moab, Utah
10-01-10

[Overlooking the Petrified Dunes]
[The North Window]
[The Turret Arch]
[An AMAZING Sky!]
[The Balanced Rock]
[The Skyline Arch]
Stay tuned for more picture of where we went on our second day in Colorado.