Denn's mantra!

Since the children were very little Denny would always tell them, Details Determine Destiny. When they were not paying attention to details as teenagers, he would remind them, Details Determine Destiny.

Since he has directed Cincel, he repeatedly tells the students, Details Determine Destiny. It applies to all areas of ones life, even learning a new language.

We have been so blessed to have artists as students. Renee was commissioned with the job when she arrived in May, however with all her teeth issues and being a Spanish student, she wasn't able to finish the canvas so Amber did. I love it! It looks so great in his office.

Miss Butler! Settling into her JOB!

Since Butler came to our house, people repeatedly tell me that German Shepherds are task driven and HAVE to have purpose. So far her job has been destructive! chewing new grass, tearing and eating my flowers and herbs, getting muddy in the rainy season, just plain causing trouble!

When we arrived home from Panama we started putting her out front where her domain is supposed to be in the first place. The trainer told us she was to young to be trained, she was too small and might escape, she was very attention deficit and so we held back from putting her out front until now. Now she is a big girl and ready to learn! She is 6 months old and by George she better get to work!!

So each day Denny is taking her out front for an hour to learn her job. They tell us she is very intelligent, we'll see! Then we need to find a dog house to keep her from the rain, that might be the difficult part. Hard to find the things we need here, we'll see.

crazy times in the middle of the night!

This clock is the problem! In the middle of the night around 2:34 to be exact, we were startled awake by a crash, you can only imagine the terrifying feeling and the realization that indeed the intruders could be back. The crash was on my head. Glass everywhere and in my hair. It's a wonder I wasn't cut open. It was so scary! The clock lived above our headboard. Now we have a plastic one!

weekends away!

Every 90 days our Cincel students must leave Costa Rica to be out of the country for 72 hours. We load the big bus, every family and all their bags at 7:30 in the morning. We ride, and ride and ride and r  i  d  e  !! 8 hours south east to the border of Panama and Costa Rica. When we arrive at the border we show our documents on the Costa Rica side to leave and show our documents on the Panama side to enter. Lots of little ones to keep track of, lots of activity from others who are crossing, border patrol, dogs, beggars all keep one entertained for the time we wait for all to be checked. The bus is thoroughly checked, they send the drug guide dog through. The bags all come out from underneath and we enter a room to open them and check more documents. During the time that we are going through Immigration and Customs, the bus driver goes to another room to have all his documents and bus documents checked.
Usually we are at least 2 hours at the border. Then coming home 72 hours later we do it all again. It's fun if you ask me! I like the ride, I like the stops to eat, I like Panama and the hotel, I like the church we attend once every 90 days and I like being away from the normal routine!

my mantra, All is Well.

When the attack first happened in the garage and I heard the scuffle on Denny's side of the car, I immediately thought a dog had somehow got in the garage. I looked to my left, saw they gun to his face and jumped out of my side to go help. Immediately I was captured by another gun man. I became like a tiger and fought him. Denny yelled to me, Calmate, Todo esta bien.  The hour of terror continued, I kept this phrase in my mind. All is well.

What do you do? All wasn't well. The word says All is well. It doesn't just mean when everything in the natural is well.

One of our Cincel students painted this for my office. I will treasure it forever.

Paying honor where honor is due!

One of our professors at Cincel is a gift to the school, to us personally, and to the world. Karen has taught missionaries for 30 years. Can you imagine the impact she has had on hundreds of missionaries and then when they go to the field and speak beautiful Spanish and have daily ministry to the Spanish world, how great her reward will be. Simply amazing. Today we honored her with a cake and a gift given by the present students. It was a very special cafecito today!