Arkansas

Yesterday we drove a few hours to Arkansas and met Aunt Sharon and Uncle Martin for Thanksgiving weekend, and tonight their son Isaac met us, too.  I am thankful for these short days of relaxing and hiking and fall and exploring and family.  Being able to see family without spending more than 5 1/2 hours in the car is usually pretty impossible...so I'm feeling very blessed that they would meet us in the middle!

Today, the kids "met" Santa for the first time, ever. Nora had no idea why she should tell two complete strangers what she wanted for Christmas, and Ben was not trusting it, not one ounce. But, Lily and Sofie thought it was fun to introduce them, anyway, and it amused me that even Lily had never "seen" a Santa before! They are also learning that kids in America believe in Santa...something children never spoke of or sang about or believed in in Haiti. So interesting, the little ways America continues to baffle these four.

There is little I enjoy more than exploring the outdoors with our kids, and I was so thankful for a great day and great place to run wild. 

Lily and Sofie, who had wanted to rent four-wheelers, thought maybe they would be just as happy if Uncle Martin and Dad let them drive the golf carts instead...and they were :) 

Grateful for Isaac and Uncle Martin and Aunt Sharon in our lives.  

I CHERISH watching our children know and trust and love them well.