An Exchange Family

Having exchange students has taught me so much!  One of the things they have taught me, especially Masni is to look at the sky. Even Anton asked to see a sunrise on the beach in America.   I can't tell you how many times last year Masni commented on how pretty or beautiful the sky was.  It didn't matter if we were in the parking lot of Walmart or if we were on a trip she always noticed beautiful sunsets, sun rises, the moon or just clouds.  Stopping to take in the beauty that is right around us can really put things in perspective, lift your mood and make you smile. Every time I look at the sky to see a particularly beautiful scene I'm brought back to Masni's (and other students) amazement of the simple things that God has given us to enjoy. Remember to stop, look and enjoy the sky!

Yana has arrived!  We did our normal airport routine yesterday to pick up Yana.  First, we had set up for two or three of her classmates to come meet her with us and we had signs ready.  Then we downloaded and tracked her flight using the flight aware app.  When her flight landed we started the very awkward process of standing at the bottom of the escalators with our signs… watching every other passenger read our sign and some even dance and say they were Yana.  And we waited… then there she was!  Immediately greeting each other with welcomes and hugs!  Then we got baggage and headed off!  On the way home we stopped by to show her the school she will attend and then went to have a late lunch.  Once we arrived home she gave us some wonderful things she had brought us from home and from her family.  Candies, tablecloth, towels, book, seasonings and more. So sweet! We gave her the welcome basket and snacks that we had gotten for her.  After a nap and letting her settle in we took her to