Not So Breif Overview of the Last Few Days

Altoona, Iowa - Thursday, November 15th

This is Wilma. She's been in this nursing home for little over two years and her hobby is coloring those velvet pictures. They cover her walls... which you can't see from this picture, unfortunately, but the kids thought her room was the prettiest. We got to spend an afternoon with her, chatting and hearing her story. She raised 8 kids! She had amazing stories to tell:o). And was thrilled to have Elie and Jadon visiting. This nursing home was much more pleasant to visit. The kids were bummed about leaving again - I'm so proud of them! They wanted to meet everyone we came across.

Boon, Iowa - Friday, November 16th

By the luck of a fully book hotel we were given a king suite with a jacuzzi. Jadon walked in the room and said, "I don't believe it! They put a pool in our home!" He kept repeating, "I don't believe it!" He was so tickled. He and Elie spent all their spare time playing in it, with or without water. The extra room was a breath of fresh air! It felt great to spread out a bit and be able to find our own space for a day or two... not to mention the luxury of a king bed!!!

This was also the first place we've had a refrigerator, and we were within walking distance of a grocery store. The kids and I bought fresh fruit and veggies and eggnog! For breakfast we fed the kids the usual hotel staple breakfast of waffles and fruit loops, but added our treat of fresh fruit... they downed the fruit and hardly touched the rest:o) - makes a Mom feel so good!

Norwalk, Iowa - Sunday, November 18th

This is the pastor of the church we've been able to attend two weeks in a row, and his family - the Louks. We met them when we were staying in Des Moines city, and attended their church. Norwalk is just south, so we thought we'd go back this week. We've had the privilege of sharing Sunday dinner with them twice, and have really enjoyed getting to know this family.

The first Sunday we met them Elie had been crying about missing her friends in Grand Rapids. The instant we walked into their home the Louk girls surrounded Elie and Jadon and Mara, the youngest and Elie connected. Her response later on was, "Mommy, God took care of me! He gave me friends again." It delighted both her and Jadon to see this family again.

John and Joy were a breath of fresh air for Bryce and I. We were able to share openly with them and just relax in their company. Their hospitality and warm welcome of our family was so easily and freely given to us, it met a need we didn't realize we were carrying. They are an incredible example of the Church.

I have to admit that moving place to place has become old. It's waring and the kids have started to struggle with move days, as we aptly named them. We've been fighting colds the whole time, and eating out was fun at first, but is getting tiresome these days... especially with Thanksgiving drawing near. But, we have completed two whole weeks! And that is reason for this family to celebrate:o)

So we thought a trip to the Zoo was in order... and wow did we get a treat! We were one of four other families to brave the cold weather and we not only got to see animals being fed, we got to "play" with lions and tigers! No joke. Though they were behind bars or glass (or in "Jaleb," as Jadon called it (jail)). Here's a brief video clip of a snow leopard that literally stalked the kids... it was hilarious, and something we've never seen before.

At the end of the video, Bryce had been looking in at a Tiger that was laying when suddenly it jumped up taller than Bryce and clubbed the window. We got a ton of footage of it, unfortunately it's not very good lighting... but the Tiger came back several times and bit the glass, pawed it, "pounced" and laid his head against the window... it was truly the most amazing thing we've ever witnessed in a zoo.

Above he towers over Bryce... Here, if you can see it, he's biting at the window, and licking at Jadon's hand. Jadon got a kick out of the tiger trying to "eat" him. Thank goodness Jadon thought it was funny! And thank goodness for the glass!! I did a little bonding... he later came up and rubbed his head on the glass where my hand was. But being there was probably the freakiest thing we've ever felt... and these photos are haunting for us to look back on!

The lions were also on the prowl, and intently watched the petting zoo, full of goats, llamas, ponies and a donkey - which was all in their line of sight. They were so close to us it felt like we could reach out and touch them if we wanted to.

It's hard to put what we got to experience into words. It felt like God put on a special show just for our little family. And as hard as these last two weeks have been, it has been humbling and incredible to see God preparing the details ahead of us on this trip. As we struggle with our own little issues, being stretched and worked over, He has given us hope, refreshment, surprises and friendships the whole way. We are blessed!