There is a quote: "LIFE IS NOT ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORMS TO PASS.... IT'S ABOUT LEARNING TO DANCE IN THE RAIN."
With 12 children and 5 adopted from Russia, we have had challenges and trials along with our joys. We have decided that we must
learn how to "dance in the rain." We must notice and acknowledge the joys and miracles in our lives.
They exist daily -- we just need to make sure we do not miss them!! This blog is to remind us of these miracles and joys!

Sunday, October 20, 2013

OCTOBER 20, 2013: THE CAUSEWAY

CHURCH AND THE CAUSEWAY
October 20, 2013

We had a wonderful day at church.  
We took 2 taxis to the church and paid $8 per taxi.
We were there early and the bishop came and in introduced himself and then asked if any of us played piano?  I volunteered and actually played their organ for our church service today.  It was really fun!
Dad really, really, really enjoyed attending church.  It reminded him so much of his mission!!!  He loved it!
Later, Mike Helm shared a "real" Malta with him, too!  Dad was in heaven!

We had a delicious "Corn Flake Chicken" dinner with the Helm family and then they took us on a drive down to the Causeway!  
You see out in the distance the mouth of the Panama Canal and the many ships lined up waiting to enter the canal.  
It was beautiful!  
A large cargo ship heading to Mira Flores Locks
 "The Causeway" is a beautiful lined roadway that connects 3 islands.  To one side is the mouth of the Panama Canal that leads to the Mira Flores Locks.  To the other side is the Pacific Ocean.  The ship line up on the canal side and wrap around these islands.  The roadway was built at the time they dug out the canal.  The tons of rock that was dug out had to go somewhere, so they piled it from the mainland to connect the island and created "The Causeway."

 You can see the Panama City Skyline and those gorgeous rain clouds rolling in.

This photo was taken while standing up and looking up and out the sunroof!!!

 Some of the kids jumped out and walked/ran because the traffic was congested and they thought they could get there faster than the car would!  


 If you look carefully and way out at the edge of the water, there are shadows of a dozen ships that are lined up waiting their turn to enter the canal.  
Did you know:  
1.  it takes about 8 hours to go completely through the canal.
2.  A large cargo ship is charged $350,000 to go through the canal
3.  A cruise ship is charged $450,000 to go through the canal
4.  Dad (Vernon) had a VIP tour of the canal on Saturday.  He pushed the button to open the locks and to close the locks.  He also walked across the locks to get to the middle and walked by the 
little trains the pull the ships through, etc.  
Super Cool!




Nathan "Danger" Helm



The kids caught up to us!
Our long lost family in Panama

Richardson Family and the Panama City Skyline



 Those crazy teenage girls had so much fun this week!

 "Shoulder Angels" keeping the teenage boys in line!











This bus drives around and picks up people who pay to get on and dance.  
There is usually a band playing in the back and the people ride or dance in the aisles!

 PANAMA CITY NIGHT TIME SKYLINE


Saturday, October 19, 2013

OCTOBER 18, 2013: SAN BLAS + GUNA YALA = PARADISE

SAN BLAS + GUNA YALA = PARADISE
OCTOBER 18, 2013

Today we went with the amazing Helm family to San Blas.  They picked us up at 6am and off we drove for about 2 1/2 hours through the most amazing rain forest, jungles, mountains, etc.  It was breath taking!  We drove over mountains that were topped with low clouds and fog and I just won't be able to describe it well enough to do the view justice!  INCREDIBLE!!








A Random blue phone booth
This tree looks like it should be in "The Lorax" movie!


STOPPED FOR A LITTLE BREAKFAST AT THE GUNA YALA CAFE ON THE COAST
WE HAD FRIED PLANTAINS AND SAUSAGES
THE PLANTAINS WERE DELICIOUS WITH THE SAUCE FROM THE SAUSAGES

A 45 MINUTE BOAT RIDE THROUGH THE CARRIBEAN SEA
GORGEOUS!!!!


A KUNA YALA ISLAND VILLAGE
This island is totally packed with huts and houses




THE LDS CHURCH BUILDING!
Most of the Guna Yala Indians are LDS
The branch has about 40 active members and this is their new building!!
It is less than a year old.




2 GUNA YALA INDIANS IN THEIR TRADITIONAL CLOTHING
They didn't like their picture taken and turned their heads









This Guna Indian didn't know I had a really good zoom lens.


These folks are members of the church and were our boat guides today.





This family are members of our LDS church




The Guna Indians don't claim to be a part of Panama, but claim to be 
their own "country."  There are about 365 islands in this area and 40 of
them are inhabited by the Guna Indians.



THIS IS THE LOCAL SCHOOL WHICH IS NEXT TO THE CHURCH BUILDING

















THIS ISLAND HAS ONE HUT ON IT






OUR BOAT
It is named "Mary Michel" after the owners 2 children who died

CAN YOU BELIVE THAT WE SPENT THE DAY HERE?
White sand beach, palm trees, a sunken ship, snorkeling, and just beautiful!!



LOCAL FISHERMAN CAME BY SELLING LOBSTERS!
David picked one up!









N. FOUND A CRAB!!!!





DAVID CLIMBED THE COCONUT AND PALM TREES!


"ONE COCONUT ISLAND"
Because it is an island and only 1 coconut tree grows there.
It is a new and growing island.


Our new family!

Shadow!








Our boat guide for the day
The kids ALL loved Shadow!

DANIEL'S CREATION FOR RELAXING AT THE BEACH



DOESN'T THIS LOOK LIKE THE SETTING FOR GILLIGAN'S ISLAND???


"One Coconut Island" to the left

One Coconut Island

WE MADE A STOP AT "STARFISH ISLAND"
It was a high sand bar and there are live starfish and sand dollars to see!










A tiny, tiny crab!













A Hermit Crab from the ocean!






















WE HAD A VERY LONG BOAT RIDE BACK BECAUSE THE DRIVER WAS LOW ON GAS.
IT TOOK US ABOUT 1.5 HOURS ---- BUT .........
SINCE WE WERE GOING SLOWER, WE SAW THE MOST AMAZING
FLYING FISH!!!  THERE WERE DOZENS OF THEM!
THEY LOOKED LIKE LARGE HUMMINGBIRDS SKIMMING THE TOP OF THE OCEAN!
THEY WOULD JUMP AND "FLY" IN GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE.
IT WAS A INCREDIBLE SIGHT!





The LDS church again from the opposite side