Summer here in Spain seemed to come and go quickly and it was a HOT summer! I tend to prefer the heat over the cold but with no central air conditioning and no escape from the heat, even at night, I have a new appreciation for cooler temperatures. We made many trips down to la playa to cool off and the kids liked to say that they were 'going to put their toesies in the water' which in reality meant their entire bodies. All three of them are like little fish but sometimes I think they like the sand more. Michael and Jonathan seem to have a goal each time we are at the beach to cover themselves in sand from head to toe.....they roll in it, they throw it, they want to be buried it and Michael even tried eating it at one point. It is definitely one of their favorite places to go and mine as well. In my off time I spent a lot of time down there. It is such a beautiful, peaceful and calming place where I always feel close to God and reminds me how blessed I am that He has allowed me to be here.
Another thing that the kids really love is artwork. I enjoy seeing each of their little personalities come out during art time. Jonathan can paint and color for hours, we have to make him stop a lot of the time. He can focus on a task that he really enjoys like no other 3 year old I have ever met. Michael on the other hand gets very excited about art time but once he is in his chair he quickly throws together a picture tears it to pieces, getting much enjoyment out of this, and is begging to get out of his seat within about 5 minutes of sitting down. Like Jonathan Sierra has more focus and can sit for a while but she is the meticulous one. Everything is precise and the colors are very specific (purple, pink and red). In the time that she paints one picture Jonathan has painted 5 or 6. They are always very proud of what they have made and their art is taking up more and more wall space almost daily.
As for me I am doing well! My time here has been absolutely amazing and I find myself more thankful each day for having the opportunity to be here. God has been using this year to reveal a lot to me about myself and himself and I feel that I have grown more in my faith than I ever have through this experience. I am truly thankful for all of the support, encouragement and prayers from all of you back home as well as those here in Spain. You all have played a key role in all of this too and for that I am forever grateful!
It is just beginning to hit me this week how little time I have left here and I am realizing just how much I will miss Spain. I have grown to love this place and have made so many amazing friends that it will be very hard to leave in December but I am blessed to know I have an extended family all the way in Spain. With that I am also very excited about heading home and sharing with everyone all that God has been doing here!
