By Donna

“For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth,  and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah  55:10,11.

     “April showers bring May flowers,” so the saying goes. Our weather pattern this month can be described as topsy-turvy, meaning we experienced rapid shifts between warm ,sunny conditions and dark, rainy, and windy periods.  Some days the conditions would change within hours. During dry, sunny days we fertilized the trees and treated pests infesting some of the fruit trees. A lot of weeding and grass cutting was done as well. The rain would come to nourish the land and we were very happy about that. Everything is growing due to optimal weather: grapes, figs, apricots, a few cherries, and we are already eating salad, kale, and beets from the garden!

     The project of the month is the indoor bathroom renovation. We decided to tackle replacing the wood inside with tiles, which required a messy heavy-duty cement job. After all the measurements  and calculations were made and supplies procured the work began. For non professionals, the work is slow-paced, requiring careful attention to ensure everything is level and aligned, that the cement is mixed to the proper consistency, and that the tiles are cut to exact dimensions.  Jason visited over the long weekend and helped us put up the last remaining tiles. This was a blessing as two are often better than one. We are currently replacing the pipes, the shower walls and the wood in the other half of the bathroom. The project continues… It’s not over till it’s over!

      We took a trip up to Serra da Estrela where we encountered very cold winds, light rain, and snow. It was about 2 to 3 degrees C and it was beautiful! The landscape was full of beautiful wildflowers, various shaded rocks, grass, snow patches, and lakes. Jason hiked, Dad filmed, and Mom struggled to stay warm!  A great outing indeed!

     This month dear Aurora celebrated 8 years of life! What a time to be alive! She looks full of life, growing taller by leaps and bounds and ready to excitedly begin a new year!  Ben was also a birthday celebrant this month and he blessed us with the recording of his new song “Our Love”. Ben has so many great songs yet to be recorded and we wish him godspeed in achieving all his goals in the recording realm.

On the other extreme of the Earth, Philip and Julie took a trip with Zach and Riley to the wonderful land of Florida and enjoy the fun there. They took a break from their normal routine and had a great time.

Also, Joana took a trip to Turkey for work purposes and in her free time there, she took a short flight to explore Cappadocia. She recounts the beauty of the topography, the warmth of the people and the great local cuisine. The highlight for her was riding the amazing Arabian horses, a real treat for someone who enjoys riding!

We pray that the good Lord will bless all of you and keep you make his face shine upon you, be gracious unto you, lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace!

Images this month:

Love to and prayers for all

D