Holidays 2011...week two

Our next week was just as good...with more friends and more fun!

On Monday we had Miles' 14th birthday. I can't believe my next to youngest sibling is 14 years old! Time sure flies! We had hamburgers and coke floats...we couldn't get root beer....and it was good! Then we had a movie...stayed up late...and had a grand time!

Then Tuesday rolled in and we had another family over for lunch and an all afternoon/evening lime. We played cards...rummy and all fours...watched a movie...had plenty of laughs!

Playing rummy.....

A winning hand!

Having fun!

Spur of the moment piano "lesson!!!"

Watching a movie......

And playing all fours!

Wednesday....well we cleaned up the place a bit...and then took a trip up high street and did some shopping.

Thursday was a family only day. We have been on the go a lot and decided we needed a day just for us. So we packed up some pie, veggies and some snacks and headed off the the beach.

Some yummy pie! We went south....and just for the record...I love south. There is something so homey and lovely about going south...to quote Treebeard..."it's much easier to go south..it's like going down hill." The beach we went to was the one we went to in 2009 when we came here as a family. We had not been back since then, it was good to go back. The beach was not crowded so we had a nice almond tree to ourselves for shade. We played in the water, we collected shells, we ate, and then took naps. I spent an hour and a half reading...in the sun...without sunscreen on my legs...not a smart idea if you wanted to know! And to add to the sunburn...the sand flies were very bad! Needless to say, I still had a great day! After we had our naps...we took a long walk down the beach. It was lovely and deserted and so beautiful! It's amazing to just stand on the shore of the ocean and see the waves...and hear the water and be with my family....who by the way I love dearly. Then we packed up and headed home. (I am sad that I don't have many pictures...it rained on us many times and I didn't risk the camera getting wet.)

That brings us to Friday. Ohhh Friday. Friday was one of those days....when I wished time would stand still for a long time. Two of the second year students from La Brea (Adrian and Trovel) came up for a lovely lime by us. They arrived in time to help set the table for lunch...yeah...they need table setting lessons! We had lasagna, french bread and salad. And sorrel of course. It's about finished for the season and so we got some for the last lime of the year.

We played cards...yeah...all fours again....and music. We hooked up one of the computers to the sound system (the TV) and look turns picking out a song to play. We sure jumped around....but we had a great time. Then along about dinner time I fixed some saltfish (not only is it one of my favorites, both the "boys" like it especially, Adrian) and we polished off the last of the lasagna. Then more cards....and more laughter and above all, lovely Christian fellowship. Even with the current (power) out for a few hours time was still against us and a bit after midnight, the fun had to end. But I know one thing, this is only a tiny taste of what heaven will be like, and I also know I'll see these boys as well as so many other dear friends in that Perfect place!

Saturday ended not only the second of three weeks of our vacation, but it ended the old year. Here in Trinidad most of the congregations have a fellowship that lasts from about 9 PM to 1-2 AM. This year, the first being on a Sunday, the fellowship/worship started at 9:00 PM and went until about 1 AM. South it was again, down to La Brea. We sang for a good hour and a half, had a couple of skits, teaching a Bible based lesson, and then had a worship service. The preaching started at about 11:15 and ended at 10 after midnight.

Preaching in the new year!

(Yes, the clock is correct!! It was 11:45 PM!!)
Then we had the Lord's Supper, another song or two and the close of the Sunday worship. It was so amazing to bring the new year in in worship to the King!

Enjoying some good singing in the new year.
I had never done anything like this before, and I am so glad we chose to do that instead of just going to bed! And of course the fellowship after was so worth staying up until 1 AM! We all passed around New Years greetings and hugs and the smiles were huge! It is such a JOY to be part of this kind of family! One that loves each other, that cares about each other and most importantly is going to heaven together! I am so blessed to have this kind of family!

We headed home and were in bed by about 2:40ish. We slept for a few hours and then got up and went to Sunday morning worship with another congregation. No, we did not "have" to go seeing as we had already had one time of worship, but we chose to anyway. When you love so may people here, you can't not continuing to fellowship!

That ends week two...and now, we have one left, and then school begins again. It will be good to be back at school, but at the same time a bit sad. This vacation has been the best in a long time! If only it could go on forever...but wait...in Heaven...it WILL go on forever! And how wonderful it will be to have no clocks to tell us to go home! We can and will fellowship for days and days with no end!