For Leila's birthday (which was Wednesday) we rented bowling lanes and then in the alley's snack area we had burgers and a cake. Here are a few shots. At left, Mom lights Leila's cake.

Above, the group sings "Happy Birthday," first in English, then in Portuguese.

Ladies from the Baker Heights congregation in Abilene, Tex., made this beautiful quilt for us. Vicki stored it away for several years in our hope chest. She decided last year it was time to enjoy it. So she had our whole bedroom painted -- while I was putting Micah in college in the U.S. -- to match the colors in the quilt. Turned out well, don't you think? It also keeps us warm these days when the winter cold comes seeping in.

"In thy face have I seen the eternal."
--Baron Christian Karl Josias von Bunsen, To his wife, when dying at Bonn (1860), found in "Life of Baron Bunsen", vol. II, p. 389

About three weeks ago, Vicki and I traipsed off to the mountains, to the city of São Bento do Sapucaí, which lies about an hour and a half from here. Three wonderful days without the kids! Micah is off at college and Joel and Leila were at camp the same week, Joel as monitor and Leila as camper. So we had the week to ourselves.

Below, a few pictures of the most beautiful sites, my wife the principal one among them.

Vicki beside the Pedra da Baú, which, being translated, means, Rock of the [hope]chest, apparently because of its boxy shape. It's huge, we're a long way from it.

One of the many beautiful waterfalls in the area.

A picture of the boxy rock from down in the valley.

A shot of the main building of the inn where we stayed, just outside the little town.

Vicki with other guests of the inn, in front of the reception.

As the new year approached, Vicki and I walked up to the soccer court above our neighborhood to watch the fireworks launched from downtown, across the river. As we were getting closed, a rain drenched us in the cool night, so we backtracked to the house, and I do believe I spent the first moments of 2004 in the shower getting rid of the chill. After that, I preferred to stay in the house. The kids and friends had gone up earlier and sought the garage of a nearby house, so weren't completely wet.

I finally gave it up about 2 a.m., but the kids stayed up to greet the sunrise above the house, as has become their custom over the last few years.