The Jungbauer Family Website

Life is good!

Just got back from vacation . . .

We don't need any pity this time!!! We had plenty of warm weather, sunny skies, and a wonderful extended family of ten that we still love even after a week together under one roof.

We spent last week in Playa del Carmen, Mexico which is about 45 minutes south of Cancun and across from the small island of Cozumel. It is much more quaint and quiet than Cancun, but growing rapidly and starting to show the inevitable signs of commercialization.

Last year, Ten Grand View image spent a week together in Grand Cayman. For the first time, we enjoyed the perks of staying together in a house rather than in a hotel and feared that we had spoiled ourselves rotten. View image

Now we feel even more spoiled.

In Playa del Carmen, we stayed in a magnificent, six-bedroom, private ocean-front villa. It's in a quiet neighborhood within a short walk to 5th Avenue, the "main drag" in Playa. The living quarters and bedrooms all surround a large open courtyard with a swimming pool, lush greenery and mutliple nooks for sitting or hiding. All but one bedroom has an ocean view so we had to "suffer" with the sound of crashing waves all night long and awaken to the sunrise in our bedroom every morning. The beach was washed out by a hurricane several years ago, but there was a small beach beside our villa and plenty of beach to walk in nearby Playa.

A spiral staircase off the front porch led up to a private sundeck. From here you can peer out across the ocean or down into the courtyard.

The kids spent most of their time in the pool. Gramma & Grampa spent a lot of time beside the pool watching.

Rachel and Samantha take a brief break from the pool.

Another break for a tropical drink at a local bar.

The kids never tired of being together and are incredibly bonded to each other despite the span of years and the lack of any common gene.

Samantha and Rachel are great buddies, but Jeff and Sarah have a bond that transcends words.

Although we would have been content to spend the entire week in our villa, we did venture out to be tourists.

The ruins of Tulum.

Exploring the Xcaret eco-park where we also enjoyed snorkeling an underground river.

Snorkeling at Xel-Ha.

We took the ferry over to Cozumel and spent one day scootering the island, most of which is still undeveloped.

But no matter how hard you try, you still can't escape the "civilized" world!

Lest ye think all was perfect bliss, you should know better!
The Jungbauers never vacation without misfortune. This trip was no exception.

The first morning of our vacation, I arose with the sun and headed out for my morning run while the rest of the household slept.

Yes, I was bit by a dog!!!

It wasn't very deep, but it definitely took a chunk out of my leg. Nothing that could be stitched back together, but . . . what about rabies?!?!?

Well, at least there is no "access to care" problem here in Mexico.

. . . and it's easy to get drugs, but what about the rabies vaccine?

Despite all this, I still wasn't very eager to use the Mexican healthcare system. On the other hand, you die from rabies. Period. Hmmmmm. Not a great alternative.

So I summoned Steve to get the car so I could retrace my steps and find that dog! (There's not much logic in that since: #1) I probably wouldn't find it. #2) Even if I found it, or its owner I doubt I would trust them if they told me its shots were up-to-date.)

Despite lack of logic, we went on a dog hunt.

As we pulled up to the house where the attack happened, Steve had to slow down to avoid running over the two dogs sleeping in the middle of the street. He stopped, got out of the car, and was greeted by two very mellow, collared dogs that quietly and gently sniffed him! I opened my door and the attack dog quickly came over to me and sniffed his breakfast site on my leg!

"Oooooo, what fierce, mongrel dogs, honey!" said Steve.

So . . . even though we could not find the owners, I was reassured that my attacker was not rabid and relieved that I did not have to use the Mexican healthcare system.

Before I left, I did post a few warning signs along my running path, though.

Adios amigos.

Three's a charm

You haven't heard much about basketball yet this season . . . for a reason!

The season started off a bit rough. Lakeland's first game was against a very large, very tough and very rough inner-city team from Fort Wayne. The girls went home physically and mentally a bit wounded.

While the LCA Cougars continued to improve each game, there were still few victories on the scoreboard at the end each game. The point spreads were sometimes demoralizing and at times it seemed as though the girls were just playing ball, not basketball. The basket seemed to have been forgotten.

As parents (and grandparents) we all proudly and loudly cheered from the stands. We could see the team making great victories with each loss. We saw the transformation of mud-wrestling, herded cats into team-minded, competitive Cougars.

This photo should give you a sense of the chaotic energy on the court.

As the close of the season approached, the Cougars commanded a decisive, but hard-fought victory over Elkhart Christian that gave Lakeland momentum going into the end-of-the-season tournament.

This photo was from earlier in the season, but the Cougars definitely peaked at the perfect time.

Going into the ACSI (Association of Christian School International) tournament, Lakeland was seeded 5th out of 6 teams.

Our first game was against Granger. We played them earlier in season (and lost) but by the time the tournament rolled around, Granger had to play a much different Lakeland team. LCA confidently won their first game in the tournament 38 to 20!

The next game was against the #1 seeded Lakeview. We lost.
It was hard for the girls to maintain such a high level of energy, enthusiasm and concentration. Early in the game, we could see them quickly wear down mentally . This time youth was not in their favor.

But, "it's only a game." So they brushed it off, got a bite to eat and rested for a while because it was game time again in a few hours!

The consolation game for 3rd place in the tournament was against #2 ranked Keystone. We had played them twice earlier in the season. The first game was a "learning experience" and the second game was much more competitive, but we still lost. (Even though we're in a Christian school and even though we all know there are more important things than winning, it's still hard to lose.)

BUT . . . as the title of this extended entry says, "Three's a Charm."

The LCA Cougars played with their hearts and heads to beat Keystone 35 to 27 and claimed the 3rd place trophy in the tournament. A very confident Keystone team was humbled and didn't even recognize our team from earlier in the season.

It was a Grand Finale!!! Our LCA Cougars showed great perserverence. We were always proud of their respect and sportsman-like conduct on and off the court. As parents, we would like to take credit but an enourmous amount of credit, respect and love also goes to Coach Kainer. We could not ask for a kinder or more positive mentor for our team. It sounds trite, but words cannot adequately express our gratitude for all Coach Kainer has done to positively influence the hearts and souls of fifteen young ladies at LCA. They are not just better basketball players, they are better and exceptionally blessed young ladies because of Coach Kainer!

Here are some more thoughts from Grampa G:

A Postcard from a Tourney-ng Point

Hoosiers are infamous for 2 things: We know what time it is; and we know that life is not defined, but is certainly shaped and enhanced, by BASKETBALL!

That second fact requests, if not requires, that I confess to having attended exactly ZERO high school or professional basketball games in my increasingly shorter lifetime!

But grandchildren are a force that equals or exceeds gravity, inertia, or imagination.

So? often against my natural tendency to be a sports slug, Jane (another tale of inspiration) dragged me off to Lakeland Christian Academy Junior High basketball games. There was always something to enjoy there; it was not usually the quality of the games. It was often the caring commitment of Christian coaches and the shared values of the young families that ?made the game.?

Saturday was a turning point! The girls ?lit up,? defeating 2 higher-seeded teams on their way to 3rd place in a 6-team tourney. We?ll concede that as a ?small victory,? unless you were there!

These girls put their hearts on the line.

I hope you?ll forgive the fact that my camera was over-focused on Sarah! After all, she was the top scorer in each of the 3 tournament games and got all both of our votes for the non-existent MVP Award!

Some say it?s only a game!

Grandpa G!

Fog

We've had an interesting week of weather . . .

Sunny sunrises (very, very unusual to see the sun much in winter here in Indiana) followed by dense mid-morning fog. As it burns off by late morning the frost is far more dazzling than the glimpse you see here.

School was actually CLOSED today because of fog that lingered well into the afternoon.

It may be a blur to you . . .

. . . . . but tonight's VICTORY was vividly clear to LCA's Girls' Junior High Basketball team.