Just a couple of days later I opened the mailbox and there was the letter! I couldn’t believe it! I thanked God for being so good to our trusting Evan. And I was reminded to ask more and believe.

As you can see, the card went all the way to the Caribbean Island of Grenada before traveling to Granada, Spain.

…by Skype with some family members

…with a party at our house
Ellie with her friends Evelyn and Elisa

This morning before school…being 5 didn’t change the sometimes grumpy attitude

…with cupcakes at school
Singing their hearts out…especially brother. (Evan’s class joined us.)

Evelyn and Ellie

Some of Evan’s classmates

…with a trip to her favorite restaurant…McDonalds of course.

Enjoying tea and schawarmas

Evan and Kevin with our good friend Hadi

The street we live on with the entrance to our building being just behind Wendy’s head

Mom hanging out laundry

Dad & Mom enjoyed visiting Evan & Ellie’s school and meeting their teachers and some of their friends.
Ellie with her friend Evelyn

Evan with his friend Paco

Ellie’s classroom

Evan’s classroom

Here we are visiting the Alhambra, the Moorish palace and fortress complex in Granada.

My Dad, who has been a carpenter and builder his entire life, commented about the architecture, “I always thought I was a pretty good craftsman, but now I’m not so sure”.

A delicious meal at Pablo & Judi’s…rice and beans with Lizano sauce, chicken, fried platanos and salad with avocado and cilantro is hard to beat! Thanks Judi!

One morning we had breakfast at our friend’s café/hostel, where we stayed when we first arrived in Spain.
Our friend Margarita’s mother Matilde showing us all the different plants growing in her patio garden at the hostel where she also lives.

Ellie with her friend Elisa

Some special days for Evan and Ellie included activities like going to a favorite park, Carmen de los Martires…

…an open-air bus tour of the city…

…and a visit to their favorite place in the city, The Science Park. Here they are, ready to go.

Sunday, May 3 was Dia de la Cruz (Day of the Cross). After a worship time and food on the grill with our friends Pablo & Judi, we headed out to see the festivities.

Pablo & Judi

Decorated crosses are set up all over the city

Some children decorate their own crosses and display them along the streets, hoping for a small “donation” from admirers. We met Evan’s friend and classmate Paco transporting his cross to set up.

Babies, little girls, young women and even old women dress up in their gypsy dresses for the day to parade around the city. Ellie joined in on the fun this year.

Ellie with her new play glasses from Grandma. She informed us “now I’m just like Judi!”

Little girls in our neighborhood

Horses and riders parade through the streets

The guys all joined Kevin, Miguel and Luis in watching some Granada fútbol.
Evan and Miguel

Luis and Miguel

Pablo and Dad with matching heads:)

My parents wanted to visit Gibraltar, a British territory close to the southern tip of Spain. After driving about 3 hours, close to arrival, we realized that only two of the six of us had remembered to bring our passports, which are necessary to enter the country. Here are Mom & Dad on the Algericas beach with Gibraltar in the back ground. Sorry you didn’t make it there! Almost!

Ellie on the beach

Since we couldn’t go to Gibraltar, we changed our plans and went to see Ronda, a city split in two and perched over a canyon.

Evan and Ellie found a patch of beautiful grass there to cuddle with for a minute. We don’t often see grass as you can tell.

The last part of our travels took us to Cabo de Gata, a natural reserve situated along the Mediterranean Sea near Almeria. The weather was cloudy and cool, enough to keep me in a jacket and out of the water. But not the kids (and Grandpa)!

Of course after the cold water, a warm towel was greatly desired for a shivering little girl

Planting flowers in the sand with Grandma

Kevin with his kiddos

Game time with Grandma

He’s got the whole moon in his hands

The gang

Grandparents and Grandkids

Back to Granada, a last walk in our neighborhood and a goodbye kiss from the local graffiti

Thanks for coming Mom & Dad, Grandpa and Grandma! We will miss you!

…sights that make children cry

Or maybe the fright came from the loud bands…
(although by Evan’s age, the kids love them, as you can see by the end of this 30 second clip)

In this 1 ½ minute clip, you can see Evan’s excitement and Ellie’s slight nervousness at the noise. Also, can you find the band member taking a quick cigarette break?
(this is our neighborhood…we walk this street daily)

…finding shelter from a rain shower while waiting to watch a procession

For all the interesting facts, relevant information, history and more pictures of Semana Santa, click here:
http://kauffmans.rosedalemennonitemissions.org/

My favorite part of the week was Sunday morning, watching the sun rise over Granada with friends, remembering the greatest event ever, and thanking the one who gave it.

The sun hits the city

Later that afternoon…story time with Judi.

Daddy and his little girl…now what are they up to?

It’s so refreshing to see signs of spring and new growth. This verse became alive for us seeing the fig blossoms along with everything happening in the world right now.
Matthew 24: 32-33
“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near. Just so, when you see the events I’ve described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door.”
And by the way, I think that fresh figs will be in heaven.

The sunny days have allowed us to be out and enjoying them. But like every spring, a nice warm day is often followed by a rainy cold one.

Later that day, Kevin had a dream-come-true with the opportunity to meet travel guide Rick Steves. Here we are…

And with our friends Miguel and Margarita, who guide his tours in Granada, and arranged the meeting for us.

Kevin with friends Pedro and Germán

With friend Illary

Salad

Can you find Evan? Ellie is completely hidden.

Evan with some boys in his class

Ellie and her teacher

Evan with some girls in his class

Most of the group…Can you find Evan & Ellie?

…to looking at graffiti all the time…sometimes you find great art.

…to having growing kids. We can now leave the house without taking diapers, sippy cups, stoller, you name it. It can be just us, and them. Amazing. We thought this day would never arrive.

…to not having a car. Like seeing our kind friend Antonio and his dog Linda often.