Me RIGHT NOW (and yep it is sunny and over 80 degrees today again:)

Day six of Hanukah (Jason was visiting for the night) - who wouldn't want to make it to the celebrations:) 

Miss Lily and I (sorry for the nudity)

Day one of Hanukah at the menorah ( my mother created).
 

Mom and Dad in the Kitchen. 

Christmas Dinner:) 

A picture is worth a thousand words:) 

two, one and oh thank God DONE!!!!!

Yep it's me and I am kickin' it state side.
For everyone who has not just stopped and said " I love my family, I love my country, I love my life" lately needs to take a moment and close their eyes:).

Anyway if no one can tell, one of the least pleasant weeks of my entire life is OVER and I am at the happy Hermann household!
Long story sort, Tasha left last Friday, I was able to pick her up at the bus stop and drop her at the airport on my way out of Belize City, to what should have been green pastures in Benque, but a few hours after my last blog Saturday I made an interesting and discovery. Caleb is back in Benque... no stories.

I will pretend yesterday didn’t exist, don’t ask, until 11pm when I was in the arms of my loving family in C.C.. Tasha was telling me about a homily she had heard recently where the priest spoke about how it was not a coincidence where and to whom we are born. Really thinking about it I totally agree. I am a Texas Hermann. No matter how much I could want to be anything else (which would be a sign of insanity) that is what I am and it is a gift from God himself.

Let me paint a picture of the household right now. The family in coordinating Christmas flannel jamies. My mom sewed Tasha, herself and I matching ones (except Tasha has Velcro and I have buttons, of course) and hers are an inverse of the materials – it will all make sense when I post the pictures:) and my dad's shirt says, "chicks dig Santa" :). This after a day filled with lunch at the Chinese buffet – wonderful, I am still burping sushi, squid salad and sour sauce:), running errands with my dad, finally unpacking this afternoon, being given Lourdes water, and beautiful hand knit scarf, mass with the mom and sister and then tea and wasabi peas, among other things, no drama, (um, except when Tasha self appoints herself everyone's mommie:)) and a lot of love.
I will try and send some all of your way!

Okay for anyone interested in getting in touch, call me at my parents. Um after staying up until 2 this morning I have set myself a bedtime of 10pm, so don’t be alarmed if I am "pressing sheets" as my dad likes to call it.

Much love prayer, and Christmas cheer to all!

THE COUNTDOWN IS OVER!!!

Tree more for me (little too much time in the city, i mean THREE:))

okay the count down continues.

I am at the Internet lab in cayo (, best get out in time to run to the lab before it closes. luckily got a drop with D'nora and Nick on their way to the bank in my pink house shoes no less, i can always remembered to put them on when i go home but just cant get the switch back when i go out the door:) at least this isnt as bad as wearing them to the Our Lady of Guadalupe novena a couple of weeks ago....

all i can think of today is 3/4 of my family being in corpus... can't wait!!!! i missed my sister next to me soo much in mass this morning.

This is great though, i received an email from my mom that morning that Tasha did make it, late though. she missed her connection in Houston because of an eyelash curler. who knew?

anyway i best jet, of course i have already started setting things out to pack and am so anxious to pack up i cant wait to get home.

this will make for a funny day - Betty the weekday cook never comes in on the weekend, and the weekend cook Paula is having surgery and the sub cant come, so we are OYO! these are my favorite days. Several of the teachers left today and most of the rest go tomorrow, but it will still make for an interesting and entertaining evening in the rectory. one time last summer it was just fr. mark, john and myself for dinners and then the office workers for lunch and we had such a riot. i would have beautiful salads and tuna and john would create roasted chicken dishes, it really was like being at home to see us run around there.

anyway love and prayers to all.
9 days until Christmas (counting today and Christmas day:)) so start your novenas:)

and THREE more for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

um, in Jen's defense she really is more intelligent then her explanation of the elements characteristics in the body. what happens to ice and steam:)

Day four, humph, seems like so many more….

Just a quick update.

I am back in Benque. Picked Tasha up at the bus stop in Belize city at 9 and dropped her at the airport and headed back to Benque.
Made it in at about 12:30, just as Fr. Dan was pulling the white van full of teacher to Hodie’s. There was a going away (actually more retirement) lunch for Mr. Tim (the old principal) I had the pleasure of a last minute invite, very nice.
I even had the hornor of sitting next to Mr. Nick Ruiz (who last weekend won the primary run off for a counselor position. Okay I know I sound smart, but if you have any questions what that is ask Tasha, some political position, and currently I am still trying to decode PUP and UDP in my brain).
Anyway it was nice to share his company, I am hopping his bad luck isn’t contagious though. When he ordered, he said he was starving and wanted the fastest thing, or course he was the last to be served - they were already clearing plates with his arrived. Guess it is true, “the last shall be first and the first shall be last.” Gotta love BelizeJ

Anyway that is it for day 4.

Don’t forget to check out Tasha’s blog…. http://tashatimes.blogspot.com/ J

Love to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Christmas is less then 10 days away!

5 days.... no more liquids!

well, well, well... greetings once again from belize city. a little wrinkle in the plan has left me in the city, no worries...

first off, no i am not a racecar - did not fill myself with Havoline and drink Castro oil (um, like in my ignorance i thought everyone was saying, the pains of thinking), but rather castor oil. definitely the worst thing that exists, ever. for those who are queasy, may skip to the bottom:)).

so after six pm and my yummy raspberry jello dinner (must have been starving because i thought it was the most incredible thing invented) i switched to the worst thing EVER, it was like drinking 2oz of melted Vaseline, most people go poo in 2 to 4 hours, but me and my funky tummy always have a different plan...

so instead of any immediate reactions i decided to get so so so nauseous, think it would be like ridding a race car to an amusement park while downing a whole bottle or rubbing alcohol and then ridding a roller coaster for 11 hours. if you would like try this and we can compare stories:)
anyway by the middle of the night i was so weak and felt so ill and so nauseous, that when i tried to mosey to the bathroom thinking i couldn't possibly hold anything down, I woke up by Tomisita asking me if i felt okay as i looked up from the hallway floor. One of Tomisitas, nieces (Manuela's cousin), who broke her arm two weeks ago and is in traction {staying with Tomisita to recover (she is married and has three kids (8-14) so while her husband minds the kids tomisita is bathing, feeding and nurturing her} did i mention for the most part she is in a lot of pain.
anyway the greatest blessing was her selfless motherly instincts -she was able to try and catch me with her good arm and help me to the floor, not sure what would have happened if she wasn't there. i have never fainted in my entire life, ever, but when i opened my eyes, all i could say was "why am i on the floor" and "it is really nice here, can i just stay?" eventually they cohered me to go back to my bed, um, my stubbornness couldn't hold up against their general logic that i couldn't pend the rest of my life laying on the floor blocing the hallway, you know i tried though:).

anyway thank God i was here and had people to take care of me. Manuela has been working so hard hardly getting any sleep, in meeting until after ten last night, and she slept on my floor, brought me water, and sprite...

proceed carefully...
[anyway i did finally start pooing oil after hours of nausea (for those who like T.M.I) as Jen would probably logicly say to me with her "liquid in, liquid out" explanation, "melted Vaseline in, melted Vaseline out." so gross! qqhy does she have the function half of the brain? i think i need to drink Dawn to cut the grease that is lining my body! ugh!]

so, i like food, i hate liquids and DETEST castor oil
after all this ramble you are probably wondering about the results, apparently i was so gassy and bloated (not like me ech:)?) that they were pretty much inconclusive, couldn't clearly see my kidney.
are you kidding me? met with yet another doctor and he was saying i should have the bacteria cultured that seems to grow in my bladder and look more into the bladder (tube out instead of tube in), may do that, and them i am waiting to see my original kidney doctor who is in the Dominican Republic for thee weeks.

best part of today was coming home after the test (Manuela even took me to the dr. this morning) for an hour before meeting with the doctor and having the banana that i had been dreaming about, and a huge bowl of rice krispies with fruit punch and tea. that has only been topped by the spaghetti lunch and every other culinary experience since!

Right now i honestly don't care about doctors! i am pretty convinced i am just going to start drinking (purified:)) holy water, and accept that the thing that bothers me is the gas and bloating that happens every time i eat. i don't want to be looked at any further - why poke around and find new things, if i fall apart i fall apart, for the mean time... I'm done! i am content with being exhausted, needing lots of sleep and solid food! hey it's me, I'm just a piece of work, an interesting creation by God.

now for why i am in Belize....long story short after watching me stumble around John and Manuela called Fr. Dan and quite plainly told him i shouldn't and probably couldn't drive back, did i mention i can be a bit stubborn? dude, can someone send me a superwomen suit so i can finally fulfill the script? spent the time i was supposed to be driving sleeping on the couch, i am am once again thankful that i have great friends who realize i am not any sort of super human, but Katie, just a regular human, humph, guess eventually i will get over my pride and except it, going to be tough been thinkin' this was for most of 26 years...
hugh, maybe it's not me and just the age:)

sad thing is Tasha leaves tomorrow and i probably wont be able to see her for FIVE LONG DAY until i gracefully (can that word be used to describe me:)) and humbly:) march into Corpus Christi (guess i wont use my super hero powers and just soar there my self this time:)) and give my whole family a perpetual and thankful squeeze for three weeks.

love and prayers as always!

Six days.... and counting....

well, i am back in belize city today...
Monday (the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe) one of the teachers had to travel the white lightning rail (drive to the airport in the white van:)). after the drop i suck in to see my terrific doctor (he even sees me for free, such a heart-) to follow up on from um, over a month ago. just because i like my doctor, doesn't mean i like to go:)
anyway, after powerful antibiotics i still have a urinary track infection, so long story short, i have a funkie kidney or something, i will know more tomorrow, they think it is blocked or gettin' scrunched or something and trapping things in there, nothing showed up on the last ultrasound.

Um, to finish my Feast celebration, that is about how it finished. i missed it all! by the time i was back in benque it was 8p.m and everything from the procession to the party afterwards was over (even mass!). the old ladies saved fr. dan a mountain of, i am pretty sure, the best Rice & Beans ever, so i begged, um, most of them from him:), but i missed the sprite, fresh bottled sprite and i missed it, my new fav! i was able to receive communion, so at least it wasn't a complete wash of a day....

Honestly i dont even remember yesterday, spent most of it thinking it was monday, anyone would have enjoyed seeing me realize the Monday chicken order, humph. the highlight was definitely at night. when i talked to my mom. i just needed someone that i love!

so today... i am in belize city again.
michael one of the candidate's had 9 kidney stones oh not too long ago, but is down to 5, the last 4 are a no go on teh passing though. He's not made of steel, he's made of rock (ha ha ha:)) anyway too big to pass without hurting him, so he road the express (red this time for change of venue) to fly to north carolina.
Now i am spending the night. i have to be at the doctor at 8am, um cleaned out, so for now it is liquids. i thought ot was going to be the worst thing, but the Aunt who raised one of the volunteers, Manuela a terrific lady - coincidentally in the city doing radio stuff with john for a week, lives here, so i am staying with her. liquid lunch is not bad when it is homemade eschebeche (really yummy Belizian onion soup, sour and spicy with chicken) broth (i was eyeing the chicken, onions adn corn tortillas though, man those were the prettiest piecs i have seen.

sorry this is dry as usual. say a prayer for me in the morning. IVP time (injected with iodine and then get to play model, or my insides at least, for some photos). the good news is i am one step closer to Christmas, and fulfilling my promise there being healthy and having absolutely no itinerary, to dos, or expectations other then to absorb my parents and make a few friend phone calls. okay i did email my mom to ask if we could see The Chronicles of Narnia and maybe rent the Cat and the Hat. i would ask for reviews, but i dont want to spoil the surprise, even if it is wretched!

oh special congratulations to Jen on her New York gig!!!!

and please! keep mr williams in your prayers!

much love to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

um, and... the countdown does continue: arrival in the US in six days (yes one day less then a week!) tasha goes friday....

RIP, no longer for me:)

Enough of this resting business, i better and breakin' out:)

well, if i have been totally AWOL it"s only because i have been sick > ick! i have managed to be here a year and a half without a cold, so i guess it was time i paid my dudes. everything down to a linger cough that keeps tasha yelling shut up:)
i am just not used to spending a week in bed, and i think trying to escape and become a productive member of the the real world is what kept sending me back, grrr!

anyway, now that i am back on my feet better to fill you in on the fun things!!!!!!!!!!!!!! first, maybe only:), great part of being sick was i actually had a little time to read, preferred staring at the wall, but for spurts i managed to attempt to expand my mind:) i finished my Fr. Benedict Groeschel book, Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones. it was so so good when i take the time to learn just cant help and be amazed by the wealth of knowledge that is available.

My next literary adventure is Dante's Divine Comedy. One of the teachers is reading it with his classes and has invited me to sit in on the discussions, unfortunately up until now a busy schedule and then being sick has prevented any people contact. The book has managed to scare me a bit though. i actually started reading the night i had the worst fever and the opening mantel image of those poor people in hell, in constant running after something they could never catch, in pain being bitten by wasps while being eaten perpetually for all eternity by maggots has increased my convictions that i really, really don't want to be anywhere near hell, and need to start praying for the poor souls in purgatory. anyway off my bandwagon terrifying thought though.

um, since i did promised an uplift i will tell you about my beautiful Saturday! it began at 4am. Tasha was laughing out loud, which terrified me. at that hour the only logical reason would be she was going crazy or delirious or something, but no, she woke herself from her dream by laughing (definitely beats the snorting when she was sick several weeks ago!). anyway, apparently she was having a dream and the gist of it was that i was rehearsing an abstinence talk in front of fr. Dan (there were a number of us, including herself that were going to be speaking) but kept distracting myself with my own thoughts and couldn't get anything out, and finally he said to me, "maybe your the one with the special needs." the dream had us both in giggles then and um, at 8am when he walked out onto the alter to celebrate mass. the blessings of a sister.

anyway the day gets better, we went out to breakfast in Cayo and found the best new restaurant! little Italian place that made us dairy-free scrambled eggs, and the best sausage - it had caraway seeds and everything. new taste for this stale pallet. it was so wonderful! especially with the cooling watermelon and fresh squeezed orange juice.
Best thing ever.

Okay i best run, but love and prayers to all.

oh i met with John last night and my time in the bookstore is drawing to a close. as soon as i get back in January i should be hopefully training someone to takeover (pray that someone does come!). but what a relief to think i will have no obligation and attachment to the solitary sweltering hours of the back of the bookstore! peace of mind at its best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh also i just learned Beth's family has developed a web site to track Mr. Williams progress, www.drmarkwilliams.com. please keep him in your prayers as he is still struggling, currently with pneumonia.....

more prayers please...

Okay sorry to cut out the personal life details, I will have to fill you in latter, poor tasah has been pretty sick the last two days though. And don’t tell her this, but the snooty noises are impossible to sleep though:).

I am actually writing for a request to double up your prayer efforts for beth’s dad. I received a message from her this morning, and she wrote, “pray hard for friday morning. my dad will be having surgery to fix the annurism. it will be a very risky operation lasting about 5 hours, but it is the only choice.” So the ball is back in all of your court:).

Love to all!