Eternal Summer

We love the DR!
When we got back from Christmas break the weather here was absolutely perfect! We loved going for walks and being outside--it was just so perfect. The weather is starting to change and get muggier and hotter--but we still LOVE IT!!!! WE go to the beach at least once a week, and with all of our visitors we average more than that. I get to go lots because I am always home--constant vacation is nice...and we get to come home and feel "useful" because we still clean up and go to work and school. Having the Caribbean within 40 minutes is wonderful. We will move in December, but we don't talk about it much as we are just really enjoying our time here.
Our girls are growing tons and we are too actually. This is like a Spring of our lives--Russia was literally and figuratively a winter. We will remember this time for years to come. Madison is 4 and a half and we are now beginning to have to make some school decisions for her. She is already doing pre-kindergarten here and could continue in the Fall--but then going home in January she would not be able to continue because her birthday falls in November. Likely she would have to repeat kindergarten again in Mozambique. We have been praying and reading a lot as many things are coming up. Madison is very intelligent and learns very quickly - her current struggles are more with emotional development, controlling her temper and change in general. We have been working hard and are making improvements, and we have wondered if the home environment will be easier for her at this age. As we read and pray it is heartening to see how the Lord whispers and helps us understand things and then we will find answers with books we have been reading. We are leaning towards taking a break from her "schooling" until Africa so that mom and Madi can concentrate on some home-based learning for a while.
Just so it doesn't seem negative please know that Madison is an incredible little girl, so energetic and creative. We went to see Disney on Ice and she kept saying, "but I want to be on the stage, Mom!" I told her that she would be a wonderful actress someday. She also LOVES our two bunnies and actually will wake up happy if we take her a bunny first thing in the morning--which might not seem like much, but is an incredible achievement!! Her little friend Emma just moved back home to America and we were saw her and her family off at the airport. Emma and Madi had really made a connection, in part because the are quite similar. When she left Madison cried and cried, and they just didn't even know how to say good-bye. It was sad for everybody - friends make such a difference in our lives, even more when you are overseas. We are so grateful for the gift of having friends, and feel very blessed.
Layla is so big now with beautiful blond hair. Each time we go to the beach it gets blonder. The ends are in cute little curls we just love. She is starting to talk a bit more and it is just too fun to hear her new words. The girl bunny is named Cinderella but Layla has started to say "rella." We love it. She is a great helper around the house, especially with the laundry and dishes. Both of the girls love water! Any excuse to get wet is so wonderful. They get soaking wet helping to wash dishes with me and we are all happy.
Mikaela and Madison have more recently developed quite a bond, and often are partners in both helping and in "crime." They also get noticed wherever we go, mostly because their coloration is so much different than most Dominicans. Everyone seems to love their blond hair--and people also just love babies and little kids here. If they go with me people are so much nicer! Thank heavens for nice people. And thank heavens that there are things, like cute kids, that help people remember the softer, kinder side of life. We all could use help to focus on the good in our lives so that we can approach all that comes our way with more hope--I know it has made a difference in our lives. We love you all and hope this finds you well.