Barahona District Conference

We left for Barahona, a 2.5-hour drive, after our Saturday midday shift on September 22.

As we stopped for gas, a dad and his son were leaving on a moto.

Across the way, the "watcheeman" was keeping an eye on things.  Note that the cacti will soon be blooming.

We stayed at Playazul a little motel just outside Barahona.  It has changed a lot since we were here from 2005-2008, when trees had just been planted.  On the other side of the pool is the Caribbean Sea.

On the grounds were beautiful hibiscus bushes and a peacock family.  Before we went to bed, we found five of them roosting on our roof!

This kitty became quite friendly when Larry offered her a piece of ham from his scrambled eggs.  I fed her quite a few and became very popular.  :)

The Diaz family just outside the district center.  Son #3 is on the way.  When we were here before, Johan served as district president.  He rode a moto out to the branches to visit the members.  They're rock-solid, faithful people.

                                                              

Parking lot of the stake center after the conference.  Not many members have cars.  Many come in buses or vans - and on motos, too.  Women often use umbrellas to deflect the sun (see the blue one?).

We have known a number of the Barahona saints since our first days in the country.  They remember us and give us abrazos (hugs).  It was fun going to the campo (country) to visit the dear people there. 

Subsequent Bair photos

Here are more photos of Rachel, Grant, and Melody's visit ~

Ride in the red wagon with Aunt Bonnie.

Miss Kandi and her "puppy."

Three special little Bairs, Grant, Melody, and Rachel.

The Coopers' Visit

  Karina starting her front float


Keane entertained himself in the dressing room while his sisters dried off

 Lily (center) begins her back float


 A visit to Miss Kandi's to see her carousel horses and play with (what is that dog's name?)


 The ever-popular hot chocolate party using the vintage Fisher-Price tea set

After the family reunion at Sunriver, Amy and Nate enjoyed their stay at Timberline while their three hung out at Grandma and Grandpa's.  There were swim lessons at Oxford, a visit to our neighbor and her peaceful dog, and a much-enjoyed tea party.

Colorado Visitors

The Four Bairs at Crown Park pool

        On the Monday before the family reunion, we had a picnic at Crown Park in Camas with the Barretts, followed by fun in the pool.  Tuesday the Bairkins spent the night with us while Bert and Jen enjoyed a short stay at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood.  Aunt Bonnie gave them rides in their own red wagon, and Miss Kandi, our neighbor across the street, brought her dog to visit.
                                          

Summer 2012

A great birthday, with chocolate cake, strawberry ice cream, and tropical flowers!  This is at our kitchen table.

We had a nice lunch in the Colonial District, complete with virgin piña colada.  Behind us is the Columbus House, built and lived in by Diego, Columbus' son.

In August, a delightful surprise visit from Andrea Garcia, youngest daughter of President and Sister Garcia, who served in the East Mission while we served in the West.  Andrea arrived in 2005 at the age of 14 and now is a student at BYU - a beautiful and delightful young woman.

July in Sunriver, Oregon.  Our traditional talent show, with the original five Bairs miming "Treat yoa muddah right!"  An all-star cast! :)

The Joneses brought their talent all the way from Connecticut!  Great singing, great guitar playing, great number.

Joel, Sheri, and Nate enjoyed the talent show not a little.

It was so  fun to have everyone together- Nate and Amy with Karina; Bonnie; Bert and Jen with Melody; Joel and Sheri; Elise and Chad; los Padres with Keane Cooper.
In front, Grant Bair, Lily Cooper, Rachel Bair, Gavin and Arwen Jones.

September in the DR

These two women attended the Conference.  Here they're about half a block away from the Stake Center, and they may have a long walk ahead.

Earlier in the day we attended the Stake Conference at San Cristobal, where some of our temple obreras greeted me afterwards. What sweet women they are!

The mission training center (CCM here) has firesides each Sunday night, and last night was our turn to speak.  There's always ice cream afterward in the cafeteria.  These missionaries from Haiti are really enjoying theirs!

The temple grounds

A big white wall surrounds the temple, and everyone coming in has to pass the guard house. (Here they call it the casita, which means little house.) You can barely see the top of it on the far left, above the fence.

He watches beside the gate

This is Brother Lara, one of the security guards, in front of the casita. All the guards must have temple recommends and are here 24/7 to protect the temple. They work 12 hours at a time and regularly check different places in and around the temple. They like it when we give them cookies. His wife works in the temple one evening a week. He is a very pleasant man and cares a lot about taking care of the temple.

By the way, the casita is air conditioned. Can you imagine being there in that tiny house for hours at a time in 90-degree heat with humidity almost that high?

Red, white, and blue

The guards put up the flag in the morning and take it down in the evening.

Reading in the grass

One morning as I looked toward the temple from our living room window, this is what I saw. Can you tell what someone was saying?

View at night

The temple is beautiful day and night.

Life in the Dominican Republic

We have begun our eighth month here in the Dominican Republic, serving as President and Directora of the Santo Domingo Temple. We live on the bottom floor of a four-story building that has a small "tienda," like our Distribution Centers, cafeteria for the missionaries who are in the MTC, the room we have FHE in with the couple missionaries, offices for the area presidency (Elders Vinas, Coleman, and Anderson), and our apartment.

On floors #2 and #3 are housing for senior missionaries and temple patrons. Some of the patrons come from as far away as the West Indies and others as near as Puerto Rico. The entire top floor is used by the MTC.

Here we are on the west side of the building. To the left of Larry is a long parking area, where we park our white Toyota Camry.

My September birthday

For Gavin and Arwen –

Since you were too far away to help celebrate my birthday, I’m posting a few photos for you. First we went to the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner.

Can you tell that Rachel enjoyed her spaghetti?

Then we went to the Coopers’ for birthday cake and presents. I had my first piñata ever, a ladybug made by your cousins. It had some of my favorite candies in it – Twix and cinnamon bears. Didn’t Aunt Amy make a beautiful cake? We had a great time. It would have been even better if you had been there!

It was fun to have Aunt Sheri visiting.

Walk on Easter Day

On Easter Day, between General Conference sessions, Larry and I walked to the fish hatchery, less than a ten-minute walk down the old Evergreen Highway. The first thing we noticed was the sunny daffodils.

I liked them so well, I wanted my photo with them.

Larry stood beside the stream.

An egret is hiding on the other bank of the pond.

Pink blooms on the trees were gorgeous!

Wintry Washington

This winter has been one of the coldest in a long time. It's beautiful to look at.

I call this photo "our castle in the snow."

Sheri drove the red car (Joel's) when she came down for Christmas.

We had more snow this week, but it didn't last very long. Grandpa took some good photos out of the window.

It's December 10

Christmas is close! I love the music and the lights and the family feeling.

Sitting beside the gas stove, writing Christmas cards, felt so good today. I left the lights on the Christmas tree and snuggled in the warmth while I wrote to friends in the Dominican Republic.

Here is a picture of Lily and Karina helping Amy with their Christmas tree last week.

They had so much fun helping!

Monday night Rachel and Bert helped Grandpa and me put some wood ornaments on our tree that we bought from a Boy Scout lot - the easiest Christmas tree we ever got, he said.