On retreat and desert dreams

Munchkin #2 composed this poem at school. It tends to sum up the simple day dreams we have here currently. If you can't read it, then click on the image and it should enlarge.

Today, Mum's 'on retreat.' It has been a rollercoaster of a week. The husband had a very busy week with work. I've had a busy week with work. The munchkins have been on some rollercoasters with friends and school. Friends are moving back to home countries; cultural differences are sometimes difficult to deal with at school; we are homesick. Don't get me wrong. We really are enjoying living where we are living. But, when the kids see home and things about home on cable (like on Animal Planet), then we really realize how ready we are for an extended holiday.

Today, we did not go to our favorite place of prayer. Today was a 'retreat day.' We had some morning quiet time. Then, Munchkin #1 made waffles for the family, the husband hauled/fetched the last of the salt water we needed for the aquarium, Mum did dishes and laundry and is now blogging. We are beginning prepping our home here for our extended absence. A colleague of mine is going to watch Daisy for us. The aquarium will not yet have fish, so it should keep just fine.

Family news......

Very exciting stuff. The husband's brother and his wife (I can't remember if I've already blogged on this) just welcomed into the world their first little one - a lovely little girl! We are all very excited.

More very exciting stuff. One of my dearest friends and her husband have been trying to adopt for a very long time now. Well...they received a referral out of Russia. They traveled to Russia, and now.....we all are anxiously awaiting when they can bring Amelia home! Because of how Russia handles adoptions, my friends have to wait on paperwork and other red tape before they can travel again and bring their little girl home. So, now the wait becomes difficult but happy and hopeful.

A 'fish' story.....

The other evening (Tuesday I think), we found out that Munchkin #2 has a bad case of swimmer's ear. We skipped her sport of choice for the evening and headed for home. Mum decided that the pain might be easier to handle with a bit of relaxed fun. Rather than swim, we headed for the beach to pick up seashells. Munchkin #2 was standing in ankle deep water. The water was a bit rough/cloudy, and the tide was quite high. Two very large cuttlefish swam right up to us. We could see that they were really looking at Munchkin #2. Munchkin #1 ran over from up on the beach to watch these two critters watching us. After a bit, the cuttlefish moved off. We then saw them (explicit stuff now....make more cuttlefish....ahem....) and turn a brilliant shade of blue while they did so. The munchkins thought they appeared to be kissing. Really was an amazing thing to get to see. Best part was, the beach trip worked. Munchkin #2 forgot all about the painful ear.

For this week, we'll continue to clean up things here. I need to do some last minute shopping for things to bring back to the home country. We have things to pack to take home and paperwork to drag along to take care of business in the home country (like kid shot records, yuck). I don't know when I'll get to post again. My house in the home country is currently without internet. I'm hoping there is a nearby coffee place that will allow me wi-fi access.

Until then, peace.