Day Six in Scotland

Day Six in Scotland                                                                                                                

Today is July 4th!  While most people are getting their fireworks and lunch prepared, we are just hoping to find something new and fun to explore today.  I thought A LOT today about our freedom and what we are able to do just in our day to day lives.  I look at where I am and what surrounds me and I am so limited right now.  We are traveling by foot because we don't have a car.  We are limited on space because we are still in a hotel room.  Plus, we only have a handful of food items that the kids will even attempt to eat right now.  But all of these things will be fixed in a matter of a few days.  As we walk around and see the variety of people in this country, not all people can say that their limitations are just temporary.  Some have limitations that will last a lifetime.  So today, I am NOT throwing a pity party about missing the most amazing Fourth of July Parade in The Woodlands or being sad because we can't be with our family and friends.  I am instead going to go and make the BEST out of this beautiful day that the sun has decided to shine for us.

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

We all slept in and then headed out to look for a place for the kiddos to play.  I can only entertain the troops for so long and then OUT we go. :)  The sun was out today but we packed our jackets just in case.  We started off to the right today and walked for about three blocks and found the best thing ever!  We found what they call a play yard or play barn.  Denman screamed Yahoo at least three times and off we went.  I'm pretty sure this was a playground for the apartment complex that surrounded it, but we were taking a chance.  Denman went from the slide to the swing to the monkey bars hoping a skipping around.  He could NOT be happier.  Natalie on the other hand really had a hard time here.  She went over to the swings by herself and got very quiet.  I know this look now because I have that same feeling in me that keeps sneaking up at the worst times.  I went over and sat by her on the other swing which was VERY uncomfortable, BTW.  We talked for a minute about how different the playground was and then she just started to cry.

It broke my heart!  Here we were in the middle of the playground and my precious princess was sad.  She just kept saying how much she still missed her friends and I told her that I did too.  I told her soon we were going to meet some friends in Scotland that really need us right now.  I let her know it is always okay to be sad because our sadness just shows how much we truly love our family and friends.  I told her as soon as we got back to the hotel room we could face time anyone she wanted.  She smiled and said okay.  She headed back to the slide to catch up with Denman. 

Natalie and Denman are chatting about  who can go higher on the swings.

Denman had a BLAST!

Natalie's sweet sweet smile!

As we were walking around Natalie spotted a bird's nest that fell out of the tree.   She ran to grab the camera so she could take a picture.  She couldn't wait to get the picture printed so she can send it to Mrs. Parker.  We are really going to miss her next year!  Little did she know.... I have NO idea where to actually print pictures here, but I'll add it to my to do list this week.

Natalie's bird nest.

On our way back from the park we made our daily trip to the market.  It is so much fun to watch Natalie and Denman in the store now.  It is like they OWN the place.  They know where everything is that they want, especially the ice cream.  Natalie is a HUGE help and carries part of the groceries before we get to the check out counter.  Now this market is about the size of a kitchen in Texas.  They are super tiny so getting around is a bit of a trick.  I love that Natalie will always stay right by Denman while I go to the other side to get something.  When I make it back to their side she always has her hand on his back leading him in the right direction.  It is so cute.

We get back and Rusty is already here.  We fix dinner, play a game of UNO, and then it is bath and bedtime for the kiddos.  I have to keep them on a schedule because if we let them get passed their
"nighttime window" we pay for it later.  They begin the jumping around, laughing at everything, and absolute deliriousness.  So after a few nights of that, Bedtime is a MUST!

We started letting them pick a movie every night to watch before bed because the hotel TV is not very Kid Friendly.  I am so proud of what they have picked the last few days.  Last night it was Veggie Tales, and then tonight they picked Gigi, The Tea party Princess.  They are both movies that are God centered and let me tell you we have a million movies in which I think those two are the only ones that are actually religious ones.  I'm just so thankful that in the midst of this chaos and turmoil, they too are leaning toward God for the answers.  The uncertainly can make us crazy, but I tell them, the God Winks are all around us let's just try and keep our eyes and ears open so we catch them all.

For this day, two things come to my mind...

God puts us in the wilderness to appreciate and embrace His love by growing stronger and toward Him!

The verse that comes to mind is the one Donna sent me at the very beginning of this move. 

 Colossians 2:6-7  So live in Christ Jesus the same way as you received Him.  Be rooted and built up in Him, be established in faith, and overflow with thanksgiving just as you were taught.