She's having a birthday!

Well, 1975 was quite a year and will be forever remembered as a monumental year. I remember so many exciting things happening all around the globe while I sat at the top of the world (almost) eating reindeer sandwiches and smoked eel and strawberry yogurt, braving snowstorms and gales. Each day was a surprise as it seemed we were forever traveling that year. In the midst of all that, the Wells family also grew that year! Viola! Maya Moonbeam arrived.

That spring we crossed the sea to Gotland in what I can only classify as an Arctic hurricane- Maya safely sleeping and growing in my very over sized tummy as I rolled from side to side on the floor in the ferry's nursery room.

I do remember it being very cold in Sweden that year and there not being enough gas to go anywhere either. Sound familiar? It seemed like I spent an eternity sitting on those old wooden seats. Trains were not very comfortable back then and it seemed like anywhere we went took at least 24 hrs. to get there. Sweden is a very long country. Beautiful but long.

It was kind of nice when June finally rolled around and Maya eventually decided to join us. Either the Doctor was 3 weeks off in his estimations or she just hung out as long as she possibly could. I have to admit that Swedish doctors seem to be the most laid back of any country I have been in. They seem to flip coins to make their diagnosis and that was on good days. At least they got it right that I was pregnant. Anyway, June 23rd was the day!
Par for the course, everybody had vacated Goteborg to attend Summer Festivals in the North and dance around poles with colorful ribbons, sing old tunes and play flutes. At least it seemed the hospital was quite empty. The poor dad paced and wrung his hands while Maya made her debut. We really didn't have much help at all. Well, enough for the beginning!

I am not all that great at blogging so my pictures are all disorganized. Here we had 2 choices, Las Vegas or Death Valley. Being short on cash, we steered clear of Las Vegas. Maya always seemed to have coins jingling around her pocket so she was trying to get us to make an investment. Ha!







Five years in Japan can do a lot for a girl. Here she look a bit pensive but she was probably hatching some plot of some sort. Arg....teenagers! Ask Nadia if you get a chance. They had plenty of plots in those days.

Always quite the artist. This was the side of our trailer and Maya was one of our main puppeteers that year. We sure had fun!

I wish I could have found a modeling picture to put here. It seemed like each country we lived in, people were always wanting the girls for models. We were usually too busy but they did star in a Kodak Camera commercial as a young couple's happy children playing ball on a beach and did another commercial on Japanese TV for a Department Stores Spring line of clothing. I remember how they loved trying on the outlandish hats and what fun we had watching them on TV. Maya had such an infectious smile and still does.

Speaking of her smile, I have to comment that at just a few months old, we visited my sis in California. She was in awe that I had kids. She was married but had not wanted to have children. As a baby, you could never catch Maya doing anything but sleeping or smiling in a face cracking smile. People just melted right and left. It was then and there that my sister decided to have kids. Jake and Zac have Maya to thank for their existence- 2 wonderful cousins- Zac is now a Math Professor and Jake a California Firefighter. He parachutes into forest fires, which is a big need in California.

We lived on Cerro Allegre in Valparisio,Chile back in the early 80's and we were a happy bunch.

Our home overlooked the bay and we spent many hours traveling the hillsides in the outdoor elevators. We loved watching the moving lights. Nadia and Maya, always adaptable and adventurous, made quick friends with the neighbors, learned Spanish and spent a lot of time convincing me to let them do the shopping at the corner store. I won't divulge what exactly they came home with however, other than to ,that the kids all developed a taste for Chilean sweets. Learning a language at a young age definitely has advantages.

On a humorous note-Once we were headed home along a dusty Chilean street when Maya had the impulse to leap over a fire hydrant which was actually quite tall. She was a shorter little 8 year old. She ended up hanging by the hem of her shorts with her nose touching the ground and all four limbs flailing. The shorts bravely tried to hold together but were slowly ripping, Ah ha...want a unusual way to discover contraband. Her pockets gave up the goodies but I couldn't stop laughing as I rescued the poor little girl. She almost always took tense and embarrassing moments so well and in good humor.

Someday I can tell you about the exceptions!

About that same time, I came down suddenlywith Hepatitus A and was immobilized. My dear sweet husband and Nadia were traveling in the States for 3 months and couldn't easily be reached from the little desert city we were living in. I remember how brave she was and just jumped right in to take care of her 2 little brothers and me. She amazed me. This was before the days of cell phones. We were really out in the sticks and didn't even have a phone of any kind. Friends visited a few days later and kindly hired us a maid but Maya had stepped to the plate and rescued all of us til we could get in touch with their dad. It was a tough week but all turned out well. Tim was just 2 and at that age...... and especially in Tim's case, kids are a hand full.

To end my little travelogue, really just a grain of sand on the beach, Maya always had such a special place in our little family of missionary pioneers. I always admired her for her spunk and protective and caring spirit. Now that she's grown, I admire her even more. If I can anything about her, she is an OVERCOMER, a problem solver, a very creative person and a true care giver. I feel cared for and safe when she is around.

It isn't the easiest thing that she is in a far off place. She is a fantastic mom and the great teacher I never really was. I went to college to be a teacher but it sure seems that all my girls got the natural gift of "teaching from the heart" that can only come from a life of living for the Lord and following Him daily. Her 4 girls amaze me and I know it's because they have such a good mom that gives them her best. It's exciting to see her little family grow up and knowing they will continue to make a difference and make the world a better and happier place.

Happy Birthday and thank you for being YOU! Never give up!!!