Thank you for the prayers...

I titled this post "Thank you for the prayers" because I have felt so in awe lately about the wonderful people who have entered our lives these past eight months and I know it is because my friends and family have prayed for that to happen.  God has provided us with some wonderful people that I know will be life-long friends.  We've forged strong bonds already with our neighbors from our first rental house in Lynden to a family from AWANA (who also homeschools) to our new neighbors here in Birch Bay who have five children and also homeschool.

Yesterday, the kids and I were with a group of four other homeschool families who meet every couple of weeks at a local park (started by our new friends from AWANA) and I actually had to take a deep breath and hold in my tears because I was just so happy to have found another wonderful group of ladies who have the same interests, trials, and lifestyle as we do.  While I miss the group of similar ladies I had for support in the Valley, I know they have prayed these people into my life.

We have been busy finishing up our school year lately.  With the warmer weather it is definitely more difficult to concentrate - for all three of us, but whenever it rains (which it does quite often here in Northwest Washington), we are diligently working.

Robert will be done with his training and off of probation in one week!  It's hard to believe that, this time last year, Customs had just called and offered Robert the job in Washington and we were preparing for him to go to the training academy!!  He is really liking his job.  It is one of the busiest ports - especially in the summer - so he is getting a lot of overtime.  We love hearing stories from his day about people who he interviewed going across the border.  There's some really interesting and funny ones, for sure!

We have settled into our new rental house and are very comfortable.  It is at the end of a huge subdivision and as far back as one can go.  Our backyard backs up to a greenbelt with a walking trail in a conservation area.  The trail leads back to a really nice non-crowded playground which we use frequently.  Right after we moved in I started noticing all kinds of birds in our backyard and we have spent a lot of time watching and learning about all the different species we see.  My favorites are the Spotted Towhees (notice the red eyes) and Hummingbirds.

Adult Male Rufous Hummingbird

Adult Female Rufous Hummingbird

Spotted Towhee

The Birch Bay Sandcastle Building Contest was today.  Kind of a dringy day for it, but surprisingly warm.  Don't know when I'll quit dressing in heavy layers when I look out and see that it's raining...only to discover that it's actually very warm outside.

Cheyenne posing in front of one of the sandcastles on the beach

We have a short road-trip planned for the end of June.  Going to head over towards Idaho and spend a few days driving around there and Eastern Washington.  It's nice to be able to do this and we feel very happy and blessed.