10 REASONS TO GIVE THANKS

We are back!  With mixed emotions we are back!  We literally spent the last days in San Marcos baking breads, testing recipes, trouble shooting oven temps and improvising with limited materials and supplies.  I could have easily spent two more weeks (months or years )testing, sampling and marketing our bread.

We could not have done such an amazing job without everyone's incredible financial support, prayers and words of encouragement.  The Perez families sends their deepest and most sincere words of gratitude.  The English language does not have words to describe their humbling sense of gratefulness.

This is not the end of our journey!

We are all so blessed!  

Laura, Cristina and I grateful for GREAT bread

1.  The Perez family feels so blessed to have been a part of this incredible, life changing experience.  The hard work, laughter and friendships made will last a life time.

Chico Solis hauled in over one ton of brick and cement for free and later shared in a pizza party

2.  Thanks to all the many Costa Rican families that participated in the many different stages of the oven building.  We were blessed that special talents (and tools) appeared at the perfect time of need.  All have returned for fresh breads and pizzas.  All have expressed the joy of having participated in this special project.

The SLP clan prior at Poas Volcano, in the clouds (and rain).
Joey's quote of the day "we came all the way here for this?" 

3.  Thanks to the St. Louis Park families who financially supported the project and helped us build the oven (the Amelse family, the Falzone family, and the St. Claire family).  Thank you!  You all incredible people!   Thanks for the hard work and your acceptance of tico time.  We are blessed to have you in our cycle of friends!

John eating the BEST tamales EVER
(and more)!

Caroline and AnaGrace
surfing in Nicaragua

4.   Gracias "pue" to the Schweiters family.  The child exchange of Ana to Nicaragua to surf for John's hard core labor was life changing I'm sure as much for John as it was for AnaGrace.  John was the perfect addition to our team.  He is a wonderful young man, hard working and a great eater.   The San Marcos community will always be your home John.  You are on our return list when we plan our next adventure back to San Marcos.

Nancy and Jeff proud to be together and sharing in our many dreams together

5.  To BFF's!   To all the BFF's in the world.  May you all be as blessed as I am to have a BFF as compassionate, caring and forgiving as I have in my friends Jeff.

Enjoying a little (just a little) time together at Tamarindo Beach

6.  Special thanks to Chato.  Mostly for putting up with me and my crazy adventures.  Thanks Chato for all the hard work you put into trip planning for the Minnesota families, for the muscle work during your limited time back in your country and your patience with us as we struggle to return to a different world back in MN.

West and AnaGrace loving their Costa Rican life

7. Muchisimas Gracias Famila Alvarado for watching over my children (especially abuela Adela, Karen and Mami dos).  When I was busy with the oven project, you protected them, loved them and laughed with them.  It's true that it takes a village to raise a child.  But we are especially blessed to be a part of the whole Alvarado family who has helped us raise two beautiful children.  They are blessed and ohhh so fortunate.

West during a soccer scrimmage with the young boys of San Marcos

8.  To all the children in San Marcos.  They all accepted my children with open harms.  Shared their love and compassion for their country and nursed West back to health during his many injuries.  I will miss those screams of joy!

Teach a family to bake bread and they will be prosper

9.  Again, we want to thank all who have supported the project financially.  We hope to give you a financial update within the week (still waiting on some final I.O.U.'s).  It's been amazing and humbling to know so many of our family and friends were able to financially support this project.

One of God's many gifts we saw during our journey 

10.  For the love of our God.  He was present with us each day, showing His grace and His beauty.  His presence, his blessings and his words of encouragement were abundant during our project.  He provided for our every needs.  He shared sun when we needed sun (remember this is supposed to be the rainy season in Costa Rica).  He gave us bread when we ask for bread.  He even helped us find stuff when we lost it (like water proof cameras).  Cheers to the power of prayer!

We are blessed!