The Family Arrives (by Michelle)

Unfortunately, I've got to make this brief. We have lots going on, but I wanted to say hello and catch up a little. Maybe I'll go back later and fill in more details. David's parents, Aunt Rosemary, Uncle Phillip and Cousin Sarah have come to visit. It is great to have them here. They were able to attend Simon's baptism which was one of the highlights of our time here. We are so proud of him and the sweet boy that he is. We were touched that that family, students and ward members could all be there.

We also made a final trip to the Basque Country last week. We stayed at the same "casa rural" just outside of Gernika in Ajangiz. It was a beautiful as ever, though colder now and though the leaves are fallen or falling it is still green, green. We enjoyed a walk in the woods, complete with goats and cows alongside the road. (Eva pointed out the cow's "funny earrings."

We spent lots of time with our relatives, Jose Antonio, Begoña and Iñaki. David's mother and Iñaki, within minutes, were talking about genealogy and comparing their research. Iñaki led us through some beautiful Basque backroads, pointing out family history spots and we discovered that a home that David and I had admired previously was the home a great uncle and family had lived!

The next day Begoña treated us to a huge feast. We didn't understand that the meal was coming in courses and by the time she asked, "Does anyone want the meat now?" we were all so stuffed that no one could say "Yes." Like I said before, she makes the best tortilla and we were so full and delighted. Later she showed me the steaks in the fridge that she didn't cook for us. We feel so close to them now, it was really hard to say good-bye.

On the way north we had a fun adventure. We were on a back road, on our way to Santo Domingo de los Silos to hear the monks sing again and we stumbled across an interesting small pueblo with houses built into the side of the hill and strange pod-like things on the hill near the church. We stopped and explored, but didn't find any answers. We decided that there are natural springs underneath or they are hiding aliens from another planet maybe.


On the way back we stopped in a cold Burgos to see the cathedral. It is so great to have the family here and enjoy some adventures together.