Happy Birthday Grandma Teuscher

Dear Grandma Teuscher

I wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday. I am so glad I got to call you and talk to you. It was sure nice to come and see you last June. I love to hear you stories from your life. Silly ones about my mom and how she got into everything as well as spiritual ones that tested your faith. I love how every object in your house has its own special story that goes along with it. When I think back to the times we used to visit you I remember playing house up stairs for hours. Oh it was so much fun that you use to save boxes and container for us to play with. Thank you so much for always thinking about us. It really is true what they say the small things mean the most.

I also remember when we would come and visit in the winter we would just love to play in the snow. I remember begging Sarah and Rebekah to go sledding. They were such good sports. Now looking back I am sure by the time the Christmas holiday came around they were sick of snow but they played with Missy and I just the same. You as well were great when it came to us playing in the snow. Always letting us come in with snow on our clothes and teaching us how to get warm the fastest with got getting snow all over the house. Even down to where to place our boots to dry fast.

To some it may seem insignificant that you like the flowers I have arranged for you in the past. But to me it means a lot that you have kept them up in your home these past few years. I love you grandma. And I hope you have a Great 87th Birthday.

=) Don't burn the house down trying to light that many candles! ok =)

Eating from the bike-cart man

The locals, as well as interns we have had throughout the year and half we have been down here, tease me all the time because I don't enjoy eating at the local taco stands or from the little men's that bike their carts up and down the streets. "Oh come on Rebecca don't be such a baby their food is so good." "The dirt makes it taste better." So the other day I took them up on it and bought A shake like drink called Machacados de platano.

I don't know if it was the old banana that was way to ripe, or if it was the fact that he piled the banana and then touched it with his dirty hands, the same hands that have been touching his bicycle handlebars all day. Or if it was the fact that he then picked up a dirty knife a cut the banana in half, the same dirty knife that has been out all day sitting in the sun for the bacterial to breed on, that was sticky looking with black flex on it from I don't know what. I am not sure if it was because after he was done with the knife he scraped it on a plastic clear garbage bag that had, and I am not exaggerating flies coming in and out of it. Once again he scraped the knife "clean" I am positive this is a sanitising ritual he does every time after using his knife because their was lots of residue sticking to the bag in the same area as where he scraped mine which leads me to believe the residue is from former cleanings. I am not sure if it was the plastic cup that was selected from the bottom of the pile, of course rim side down touching the cart and resting every so nicely in sticky syrup from other fruits. Or if it was the fact that he got out a wooden smasher that had chucks of something on it, not sure what it really was I will assume it was the left overs from other peoples shakes just like mine. Then he proceeds to smash my banana into my immaculatly clean plastic cup. I am not sure if it was the fact that he used one hand to hold the cup while he scooped with the other hand the ice that would be a mixer in my shake. Maybe it was the fact that he poured sweet and condensed milk onto my drink the milk itself was not what was so gross, it was the fact that the milk had something brown stuck in it. Probably from the dirt that comes from riding a bike-like-cart in the streets. It could have been when he poured the vanilla into my cup not harmful right; wrong he had to place half of his thumb across the top so that just the right amount would pour out. The only thing that did not make me sick to look at it was when he put the cinnamon on top. It was normal, he just sprinkled on top. Our cultures where the same at that moment. But maybe it was none of that at all, maybe it was when he then licked his fingers grabbed my stray and stuck into my new delicious banana shake.

And because of my pride when he was all done I handed him the 30 pesos and walked away with my new shake and I ate it.

I am not sure just what of all these events that played out before me did it exactly but what ever it was for the rest of the day I was reading my new book in the bathroom.

Happy Birthday Alena

Oh, Alena I love you. It is your birthday. I hope you had a great day. Alena thanks for always standing by my side. Thanks for all the long talks. Thanks for helping me and giving me good advise. Thanks for encouraging me to follow my heart. Thanks for always being there for me. Thanks for being such a great example all the time. It's fun going to the temple with you. We should make it a tradition that when I come and see you we get at least one temple session in. And it will be the same when you come and visit me.

I love this picture for two reasons.
First, it reminds me of you and your cowgirl ways. "for example the silly birthday cards."
Second, it's very complementing, even though my eyes are closed.

This is my BIRTHDAY CARD to you.

Have a Rootin' Tootin' Day.

Happy Birthday Missy

It's another sisters Birthday today. Melissa I can't believe you are 20 years old. You are not suppose to get older. When Melissa and I were little we use to share a bed. Missy you remember all the nights we used to stay up and talk about Lagoon? Mom used to tell us girls go to bed. I still don't know how she knew we weren't asleep because we were so quite. Do you remember that night when we switch places on the bed like 5 times? Crazy stuff.

Missy, you have always been an example to me. Someone I looked up to even though you are younger. You are smart. You are hard working. And you don't give up even if things are difficult.You are great in sports. You always include others who are not as good as you. You are a team player.
You are a beautiful person inside and out. You are funny. You are a peace maker. You are a spiritual giant. You are kind with everyone. You are quick to forgive. You have stunning eyes. And you have great hair.

I love you Missy. Happy Birthday to my favorite little sister. You will always be my favorite little sister.