Week 10 - Arenal Trip

Disclaimer:  There is so much more to life than fun times.  Really.  Right?  To those of you who have been faithfully praying for us, please know that we appreciate and need it.  Forgive us for only conforming to the "cyberworld (non) reality of Facebook and the blogosphere."  Those who love us ache for knowledge of reality, I know, but with friends of our kids following our story, we can't really be real.  Maybe another blog . . . I know God can use our situation.

Anyhoo . . . back to just the fun . . .

We were privileged to vacation with another CISA family recently.  They are an amazing family who is taking their five daughters into the dangerous country of Guatemala so the mother can minister through medicine.  They will be partnering with a Guatemalan organization to minister to undernourished children and undertake the large task off starting a hospital.  Wow.

Our kids absolutely love the five daughters in this family, and we feel so blessed that they got to spend three months getting to know these great girls.  J and I are blessed to know the parents, as well. What an inspiration! What a gift their lives are to us and to others!  May God call more people to serve him so sacrificially!

Together, our families visited Volcano Arenal.  We ate yummy meals together, relaxed in the natural hot springs, swam for hours, hiked to the Fortuna waterfall, and so enjoyed one another's company.

Photos from around the hotel:

Many people visit Volcan Arenal and never see it . . .
we were fortunate that the clouds lifted for us sometimes!

 

So glad daddy got to go fishing in Lake Arenal!

 

E and E eating fresh-picked bananas.



Our fam!



There were birds everywhere;
this is a large hummingbird.



J & E enjoying the hot springs.



Quite the poolside shower, eh?



Our cuties :)



The whole gang -- pray for this lovely
family as they head to Guatemala.



L picked a perfect flower.



The biodiversity in CR is simply amazing!

La Fortuna Waterfall Photos:

 

 

From the look-out point at the top of the trail.
We hiked down 15 or so minutes to reach the waterfall.

 Getting a little closer . . .

All the kiddos that made the trek.

J and E

Getting ready to brave the swim

 

It was impossible to swim any further out.
The force of the water was incredible!

 

J jumping off the log.

 

Two cute girls!

The suave side of the fall;
muchisimo mas tranquilo!