Start of October??

So, we just returned from a week of fun in the sun in October!! It has been so hot here, and I am beginning to wonder if Fall will be arriving at Thanksgiving again. We got to attend two really great conferences last week along the Mediterranean! The first conference was about educating your children in a foreign country - how to choose between the local schools, homeschooling, an international school, or a combination of the above. It was a lot of really good information for me to think about as we look at the future here for our kiddos. The lecturers were all very experienced and very encouraging. The kids got to go to 'camp' while I went to the seminars. They had a great time doing crafts, reading stories, playing games, learning songs, and just hanging out with other English-speaking kids.

At the end of the week, Rick joined us for a retreat away that some friends back home blessed us with. It also included kids' camp, a marriage seminar, and R&R. The best part was the beautiful location! When the kids were hungry, there was always somewhere that had food. When they wanted to play, there were water slides, indoor and outdoor pools, the beach (full of sand toys!), an indoor and outdoor playground, and more. When they were ready to konk out, we could put Lu in a pack-n-play in the bathroom and Moo in his bed, and "the adults" could chill on the balcony. It was such a good time for us to have fun as a family and really rest away from all the stresses of living cross-culturally. Thank you to our friends!

 

Kid-sized water slides! 

 Lu loves all types of slides - dry or wet.

 Moo was psyched to go down and not "go under". He did the slides again and again until he was purple, wrinkly, and shivery-quivery. Then we wrapped him in a towel and laid him in the sun to dry.

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 The indoor Chuckee-Cheese style playground.

 Woah - check out this kids' restaurant...opening before the adult restaurant so the kids  could eat at little tables with kid-friendly food, cartoons playing, and a slide in the corner. Fun! Lu couldn't really handle eating in such an exciting environment, but Moo loved it and didn't want to leave. Lu was much more successful strapped into a high chair in the dining hall.

 Sweet girl.

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the skies.

Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
    your justice like the great deep.
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. ^{- Psalm 36:5-7}

 Completely tuckered out...on the last day...falling asleep on the floor!

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul. ^{- Psalm 23:1-3}

^{Certainly this was a week for being refreshed. What a blessing.}