A Little Work...

...And A Lot Of Play!

Experts (again!)

So, we have been back in the Good Ol' U.S. of A for nearly 2 weeks now. After having been living in the Basque Country for 6 months, we are enjoying the ease of conversation in our native tongue, we are finding the "system" here to be smooth and effortless, and the coffee and food...well, let's just say...variety is the spice of life! :) It is certainly humbling to live in a foreign culture and foreign language. We are like infants, dependant on those who know how to live and operate in this land. The simple daily activities that we take for granted in our own country, become large hurdles, burdening obstacles that must be manuevered with lots of time and care.
Even though it has been a difficult season of learning, I thank God because He has helped our family to grow. We are seeing areas in our lives that need His sharpening and His careful carpenter Hands. We are learning dependance on Him in ways we never knew possible.
So, for the next two weeks, we will enjoy being the "experts" on everything! But we are excited to return because He has been faithful to us in unimaginable ways and we know He will continue to do so.

Who Needs A Dog?

...when you have ladybugs!

Bike Tales

Jillian never rode a tricycle. I was concerned that she'd never learn to ride a bike. But two days ago, she got on the bike and Gerald has been chasing her ever since.

My Three Girls!

How is Miriam's face?

The Dirt Has Arrived

My parents are putting in garden boxes. They had dirt shipped from California-here is the day of delivery. The kids were ecstatic when this big truck pulled up and "dumped" the dirt right on the driveway. They weren't so ecstatic when they spent two days helping my parents shovel the dirt from the front to the back of the house. But all the hard work sure has cured the jet lag!

Drums And Fun

I have been enjoying the freedom of living in a house again. After 6 months of living in an apartment and constantly having to remind kids to keep noise levels down, the kids are loving loud singing, loud laughter...and loud drums! Gerald thought this would be a great gift for Simon as this was around the time Gerald began to play drums. Fortunately for everyone, these drums do come with earphones!

4 a.m. Is The New 7 a.m.

I hate jet lag.

London Airport

We arrived in Arizona!!! It took 2 planes, and 2 days-but we made it safely. As we were landing in London and preparing to spend a night in England Simon was a bit pensive.

Simon: Dad, are the people in England all like Mr. Bean?Gerald: No, Simon. He's just a funny character.

Simon: (confessing) good...because I was a little scared of him.

On The Road (again!)...

After talking with the person-in-the-know here in the Basque Country, they were able to find our visas in the computer systems (still in process) but will be ready for pick up in early April. This means our whole family has to be present in Los Angeles to pick up our visas. The timing works out great because the kids have two weeks off from school for Semana Santa (Easter break) and Gerald has a conference in Seattle the last week in March.
So...tomorrow our family of 5 begins the 2 day journey back to Arizona for a few weeks (2) to catch our breath and drink 6 months worth of Starbucks, and then Gerald and I will spend some time in Portland to see our wonderful friends and then up to Seattle for our conference. We will finish our trip in Los Angeles to get our much awaited visas before returning to San Sebastian. 4 States, 4 weeks.
I look forward to posting lots of pictures of cousin time. Simon, especially, has been missing his cousin and BFF-Zane. He told Gerald he didn't want to spend a minute without Zane.
We appreciate your prayers as we prepare for this journey!

I Picked This Flower For You Mommy!

Great Time In France

We had a great lunch with friends in France. Two of the boys came two years ago to Portland, and this summer-their brothers, plus another will join us this summer. The house is a traditional (french) Basque style home-often times the shutters are painted red or green. Lovely!!!

Poco a Poco

I thought i'd put in a picture of where Gerald and I spend our mornings. We are meeting with a great spanish tutor. Every day we get spanish, plus a history lesson (in spanish.) I am eating it up!!!

Okay, Now You Can Have Dessert.

Que Guapo!

Gerald in his "office." This guy is one hard working man. My favorite is the phone calls that he gets (upwards of 8 a day.) "OH! Si, Si, Si, Si....uh....repeate por favor. Mas despacio, por favor. Uno mas vez, por favor." He is enjoying these phone calls from parents with questions for sending their kids to the U.S. this summer because it is improving his spanish. Or...scaring the parents??? Buen Trabajo Gerald!!!

PROGRESS

Jenni now answers our home phone when it rings!

Surf Art

Surfing is like art. Painters look at creation around them and are inspired to replicate it with their own style and adaptations. Think of any famous painting and most will be a twist on what has already been: The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, Starry Night, ect. These painters have taken what already exists and tweaked it, personalized it. Surfing is just the same. Waves come to land after traveling thousands of miles then bend, pitch, curl, and break on the shore. Surfers add to the waves by joining them and drawing their own lines, and personalizing them. Each wave is like a clean canvas waiting for an artist to make it their own.

Why do we enjoy recreating, personalizing, and expressing ourselves in art or in surfing? I think part of the answer lies in our image. We are made in the image of the Creator. The One who expresses Himself daily as new babies are born, as flower bloom, as water and wind change a beach. We are being like our Father when we express ourselves in any creativity. -G

The German Queen Is Dead

This morning I heard singing coming from Jillian's room. Singing from Jillian is certainly nothing new. But-opera style is. As I popped my head in, she told me that the German queen had died and the people were coming in procession to her funeral. I asked her (quite soberly) if she minded if I took some pictures of this occasion. She was happy to oblige me.

The last picture will be the final resting place for "The German Queen."

Good News

God's timing is perfect. We are finding that when we have bits of discouragement or moments of doubt He is brings to us good news, a timely word, or some taste of extraordinary beauty in creation. This morning was no exception. Feeling a bit impatient as we wait for our visas, and wondering what to do about our house next month....we find out that our house has been rented out. This is a gigantic relief for us! Last night-we gave this concern to the Lord, and this morning He answered! We are grateful for our incredible property management Gordon Properties in Portland for their speedy turnaround! Phew!!