La novena visita.

Hola desde Matagalpa!! After having traveled all day, I was greeted last night by Manuel at the airport. We agreed that our reunion felt familiar...This is my 9th visit to Nicaragua in less than 5 years! We drove 1.5 hours to arrive late to Dora´s house, a second home for me. She greets me from behind the partially-opened door as she has eight times before. We smile. Laugh. Hug. We are happy. the house is clean. She shows me my room. She is proud of my room. It is ´my room´in ´my´home in a country far away in a land in which I feel so comfortable and close to myself yet far from my family. After sleeping and dreaming for hours, Dora joined me for a ´batido´at Don Chaco´s...our favorite locale. The Casa Materna is full. There are 30 women there and 10 more in the hospital. One woman, Felipa, will have twins any day. The others patiently await seeing thier newborn for the first time. The staff is still glowing from their 20th anniversary celebration. It feels amazing to continually be welcomed into thier home and their arms. I was told recently that good luck takes hard work. I´m not so sure I agree. Will four pumpkin pies feed over 40 people?