Donna:
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalms 133:1
July was Summer Fest in full force! We had Emanuel and the girls arrive punctually on the 6th. They stayed with us in Lisbon for the first few days as dad had work to do in his Lisbon office. On Wednesday, Isabel and Aurora left with Grandpa and Grandma for the farm. The weather was pleasantly warm and we enjoyed time planting a few trees, watering the existing young trees and flowers and enjoying the wild outdoors. It was a very happy time, and the girls, especially creative as they are, helped us to see again all of God’s amazing creations in a special light, that of a child’s! A few weeks later, Mandy joined us at the farm and life grew more exciting. Auntie Gloria also arrived to the great excitement of all, especially her nieces Isabel and Aurora! We enjoyed swimming, some played tennis, together we cooked, ate and laughed! Mandy prepared delicious dumplings to which we all led a helping hand in wrapping and eating them! The days passed quickly and the heat wave arrived. Afternoons in the water at the river beach solved the problem. Late dinners and stargazing were amazing, complete with brainstorming questions and laughs!
On August 3rd, we celebrated Isabel’s birthday with a lovely pizza party and she officially entered the double digit, preteen age bracket! Cristiana and Nuno and baby Afonso (essaying his first steps) also were present as well as Jason and Gloria. It was a beautiful and touching family and generational reunion. A very special event we hope and pray to be able to repeat with the presence of other members of our family in years to come – by God’s grace.
Not least:
Our dearest Joana celebrated her birthday on the 2nd of August and she is looking as good as ever! God bless you Joana ? We miss you here!
Images: (those not present, hope to see your pictures next month)
