OOPS

WOW!!! I knew I hadn't blogged in awhile but I had no idea it had been over 3 months.  So sorry guys.  Things became complicated with computer access (the hours it was available, I wanted to sleep) and then I wanted to wait till I downloaded more pics, then I just realized I had to jump in or I'd never get started again.  :)

Well, we're on the very short sprint to the boarding gate for heading home for holiday.  We have less than 38 days (email dad for the official count) till we will hit the Atlanta airport at 7:05 am==July 7.  The weeks are flying by here and as usual, there doesn't seem to be enough time to get everything done!  The girls are in school until the 3rd and are having a great time but are worn completely out.  Kaitlyn is on a camp out with her class tonight at a local farm about 1 hour from town.  She was a little worried about leaving mom, but she hung in there and when I went to give her a bye hug, she said "I'll be back tomorrow....right?"

Samantha had field day today or "sports day" as they call it here.  She participated in 5 races: running, egg walk, hoop race, bean bag race (looked more like what I not so fondly referred to as "suicides" in highschool-- add a bean bag and it makes it all better, I guess), and the ant race (hands and feet).  She did a great job and had a lot of fun, but once again, was very tired.  She and I bolted (nanchalantly of course) as the coach was calling for all parents to go to the starting line for the 50m dash.  Samantha's teacher asked if I was not going to run (apparently I am one of the only parents that doesn't love her child enough to completely humiliate herself), and I informed her that I couldn't "run" when I was Samantha's age, much less now!  Praise God, my Samantha couldn't care less whether I ran or not.......so we left (a little covertly) and snaged Brad for a nice lunch out at a new cafe where Samantha enjoyed a cold smoothie after her morning's exertions.  I have pics, but it is midnight here and you'll have to wait a bit for a download--sorry--you caught me blogging in bed  :)

Well, other things briefly.....If I haven't blogged since Feb, then we are in a new house since I last wrote.  We moved at the beginning of March while Brad was out of town, of course--it never fails, does it mom?  (ask her about pet funerals, 103 degree heat, red clay, drought and dad being away on business--or snow storms, no power for a week and......dad being away on business...:)  ).  We only moved a street away (praises) but have a lovely house that you don't take your life into your hands each time you step into the shower.  I miss the pool and large yard, but I absolutely LOVE the house.  It really is large which has made it nice for entertaining.  We have a language class that meets here on Monday nights and now our small group from church meets here on Thursday nights.  We typically have company for dinner at least twice a week and I enjoy the space when the house is full of kids.  Our container (ie: furniture and all the things that make up the comforts of home) arrived about a month ago which has made a huge difference in our lives.  We feel like we live in a home now instead of a camp house.  Everyone's sleeping better and we're just more comfortable in our space.  

Well, the girls' Birthdays are upon us again.  I can't believe they will be 5 and 8!  We're having the party a week from this Saturday.  We have rented a jumping castle that will be brought to the house, so we'll have a few friends over for the afternoon and the girls will have a ball.  I will be sure to include tales and pictures of that in the near future, I hope.

Well, I've probably already passed the point that would allow me to function properly tomorrow, so I had better sign out and get some rest.  Thank you all for keeping up with us.  We appreciate your comments, emails and prayers.  We don't feel so far away after all.

Love to you all,

Zookeeper