So, we did get to talk to Samantha on her birthday!  It was nice to hear her voice and hear about her plans for her special day ... a friend was going to take her out to breakfast ... yesterday Jacob made her a Boston Cream Cake by himself with just her verbal help.  She said he did really well. 

Here in Belize they don't make any big deal of Birthdays, which is sad in my opinion ... I love to celebrate birthdays ... a true celebration of life it self!  It looks like we can't afford to go to Tobacco Caye for Andrea's and my birthdays ... the cost has gone up since we were here last ... $40 US/person/night!  can't afford that when we would be doing the paying for all ... sad, 'cause I was looking forward to snorkeling.  Oh well, may be another time.

Some disturbing news came thru the AM  ... apparently 4 Gales Point residents, living in Belize City were killed and their throats slit ... rumors are flying rampant.... apparently Gales Point residents are considered interlopers by some of the gangs in Belize City ... some are bad people (according to locals) and others are innocent, caught in the middle of the chaos.  Myrtle is very worried b/c her other son, Wally, lives up there with his wife and baby, Bubbles.  Wally is Andrea's father and Bubbles is her half brother.  Wally was just here and says he is planning to move back to GP because it is too unsafe up there.  Apparently there is a loose relationship to Myrtle by some of the murdered men.  The violence reminds me of the news from Albuquerque ... guess ya can't get away from the craziness anywhere in the world!

Finally ... sunshine!!  and nice breezes ... Zane and Jay working hard on the shutters and doors in Jay's house.  It's looking really nice ... I will put up some pictures here.  The house is a work in progress ... the first picture is a shot taken from our front steps (the bike in the picture is my bike from Zane for Christmas)... the young man in the window is Steven, a friend of ours ... the last picture with the white tarpped thing is our outdoor washing machine area.