Here We Go Again

Our moving day has finally arrived.  The movers will arrive in the morning to pack our things and we will head to Porto on Thursday.  We are excited to finally be on our way, but we will miss Lisbon.  We have made so many friends and come to love this city.  This week has been full of goodbyes and that is never easy.  It seems packing, moving and saying goodbye have been much to frequent in the last few years.  Please pray for all of us that the transistion will go smoothly, we will connect with people in our neighborhood and that the boys will be encouraged as they start a new school, find a new soccer team and make new friends.

We will be off-line for a few days, so we will let you know when we are back up and running - and in PORTO!

Sintra, Portugal

We are trying to visit some of our favorite places before moving next week.  Yesterday we visited Sintra and a beautiful palace - Palacio de Pena - that sits on top of a mountian.  It was breath-taking.

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Caracóis & Sardines

This is a caracóis (just a  fancy name for a snail). One of the families that have been meeting with us on Sunday nights brought caracóis for us all to try.  Unfortunately I have this shell fish allergy and could not try them:)  However, all the kids tried as well as some other colleagues that joined us for the evening.  It was funny because no one sat down to eat.  They all hovered over the bowl and popped the snails like popcorn.  You have to take a tooth pick and pull the meat out.  Kind of reminded me of crawfish boils, especially when they started sucking the juices out.  I took some pictures of the kids' expressions as they tried them, but something wierd was happening with my camera and they all turned out fuzzy - you will just have to imagine it.  Most of the kids actually liked them once they finally tried them. 

These are grilled sardines and they are nothing like what you get in the can. They are salted and grilled and they are amazing.  One of the first people we met in Lisbon invited us to his mother's house Satrday afternoon for her birthday (she turned 83) and this is what we ate.  I was a wonderful evening (8 hrs) of food, fellowship and celebration.

Abundant Blessings

(arrival to Portugal - Jan 2009)

When we arrived in Lisbon almost 1 1/2 years ago, I had many concerns.  My biggest concern was for Micah & Ethan.  We had decided that public school was the best option, but it was not an easy decision.  The first day we left them, I cried all the way home - how would they function when they couldn't understand anything going on around them?  However, I had to trust God that He was bigger than all of my worries and that He would be with them every step of the way.  I must admit, those first few months were not easy. Communication with the school and teachers was difficult for all of us.  There were days of tears (for everyone) and days were we had to almost kick them out of the house. 

All that said, I must share some wonderful news.  After completing their first full year in Portuguese public schools, both boys have recieved passing grades for this school year.  It looks good on paper, but the true significance of it is so much more.  Micah and Ethan have both managed to learn a second language AND pass their academic classes as well.  They have also made friends and  adapted to the culture quite well.  Today when we entered the school building the security officer greeted us with, "Congratulations.  Have you seen Micah's grades?  He did so well."   The Father has blessed us immensly and we are so proud of our boys.  Now as we approach a new move, please pray for a smooth transistion to a new school and new friends.

(a few months ago at an anciet ruin - March 2010)