Ups and Downs

Life on Guam has its ups and downs for us.  The weather is a huge plus, especially this time of year.  Finding a snake in the toilet is kind of a downer for me.  I wrote a while back about how Abe had seen a snake in the toilet, we had the plumbers out...anyway it disappeared and I was always a little nervous it was going to reappear.  Well, it did and this time I was the one who saw it.  I have to say I was so impressed with Abe.  He responded to his damsel in distress, whipped out his machete and we are happy to report that snake will not be making any more appearances.  Actually, I am relived to know it is no longer lurking in the pipes, I just sincerely hope that is our last snake encounter.

Not a welcome house guest

Not long after the snake incident Abe climbed on his car one morning to find this guy in his cup holder.  All comfy and nestled in the cord of Abe's ipod, he didn't want to move and made getting him out a chore wile he cowered under the seat.  We think he was a stow-away after Abe helped a friend move over the weekend, a friend with a large plant collection.  One never knows what critters may be hiding in our tropical paradise.

Mr. Toad, just along for the ride

One of the benefits of fabulous weather year- round opportunities to be out playing sports.  Isaac just started tennis and is really enjoying it.  He is new to the sport, so there is a lot to learn, luckily the Australian Open has provided him with several hours to watch and learn from the pros. 

Trying his hand at tennis

Tennis scenery

Abe and I were just commenting the other day how we think being here has brought us closer as a family.  Those feelings were verified when I went into the girls' room the other morning and found all five kids sleeping in the same bed.  Look closely, see if you can spot them all.

Snug as five bugs

One of favorite things about Guam has been the people.  We love our associations with the islanders we have met here.   Most of them have moved here from other islands.  At our church, we have families from Chuuk, Pohnpei and Yap.  English is not their first language and most of the adults did not finish high school and have not had any schooling in English. To help these individuals improve their reading and writing abilities, we started literacy classes.  We meet once a week for two hours and it has been wonderful.  In order to accommodate our "students" we meet in two different locations and although we are just getting started I am already so excited about what this will do for our class members.  I love to see their eagerness to learn.  A young woman in our Washington ward collected a library for us to loan to our class and they all enjoy taking a book home with them from class.  I have also been able to work with a friend who, thanks to Abe's help, will be heading to BYU-H in April.  The opportunities to serve here have been a great blessing to me and my family. 

Merizo literacy class

Literacy to college-prep (check out our classroom)

Love the sunsets

 Wearing shorts roasting marshmallows under a palm tree in January-definite UP!

More Adventures

One of the great things about Christmas break has been all the time we have had to explore together.  We were able to make a few more checks on the Guam bucket list. First hike was Sella Bay, a hike on the southern part of the island.  Our friends, the Summer family were our guides.  It was about a 1.5 mile hike through a drier area of the island.  At one point Emily, also an Idaho girl, and I commented it smelled like Idaho sagebrush, not something you usually get on Guam.  The view of the water kept us motivated, it was pretty warm.  We were not disappointed when we got there.  A beautiful bay with waves perfect for the kids to jump in.  We snorkeled out to see interesting coral and lots of fish, of course. 

Great Hiker!!

Fun waves , Beautiful beach

Bugs throwing his coconut

View from the finish (Shows all the ground we covered)

 

Next stop--Talofofo Caves.  I have never been much of a spelunker, but this was fun.  A group of several families from the ward got together to explore these caves.  We learned that these caves served as places for the natives to hide during the fighting of WWII.  There were five caves, each a little different.  The first one had a narrow passage which opened in to a large room with a few branches off that the boys explored.  The next required repelling into deep dark holes- we weren't up for or equipped for that. 

The next one had up crawling up and down and scooting through tunnels.  We had quite a few little kids so we set up a line and handed the kids up and over to get them all where we wanted to go.  It eventually led us to a beautiful overlook of the ocean.  The last one we explored also led us to a view spot, this one much smaller and required some belly crawls.  We never found the last one, but after all this we were ready for the Inarajan pools.  We ventured over there since Abe wasn't with us last time.  We all had a good time jumping in.  Abe and Isaac perfected their back flips and the rest of us had a good time and looking rather silly I am sure.  

Inside the first cave, it was pitch black.

One of the deep dark holes

Most of the kiddos

That's our Bugs, always collecting sticks

 

View from the cave ledge

Abe heading back through, feet first approach

Making our way through

All of us on the ledge

Look at that form, not bad for 40!

Common site on the side of the road

We enjoyed New Years Eve here at home with some friends.  Swimming, snorkeling and hanging out at the beach was how we spent New Years Day, mostly because we could.  The fabulous weather spoils us every day. 

Isaac is popular with the ladies, all ages.

Addie and I snorkeled for a while, really hoping to see a sea turtle, better luck next time.