Field Retreat

Retreat started Nov 2... Gavin started showing signs of bronchitis Nov 1. I was hoping it was just a cold, but when he started having trouble breathing, I knew it wouldn't go away on it's own :( We borrowed a friends nebulizer and started him on his meds again. He didn't seem any better the following day when we left for retreat and was still running a fever, but we figured there would be plenty of people to look after him with 3 nurses there (not to mentions the doctors that are on staff at the hotel). We get into our room to find that the pediatrician's office is 2 doors down from us! Fortunately, we never had to go for a visit! Gavin wasn't making much progress, so we had one of our nurse friends listen to his lungs and she determined that we needed to change his meds. So, after a few phone calls and a trip to the pharmacy, he was started on an antibiotic and a different med for his nebulizer- as well as his other meds. And within a day he was starting to get back to his energetic self! By the time his fever was gone and was feeling well enough to go to childcare- it was the last day! Oh well :)

It was wonderful being able to see everyone again, even though I spent so much time outside of meetings and worship b/c Gavin wasn't dealing well with sitting in (quitely!) with us... but, I'm never going to complain about extra time with him...seems like I can't get enough!

(here's a pic of our whole field, along with the ladies that came to do VBS for our kids.)


Highlights? Well, Doug and Beth Dry joined us again from North Springs CMA- What a blessing to hear the word and to worship corporately in English! We enjoyed several evenings of hanging out and playing games after the kids went to bed...and enjoying the wonderful treats the Dry's brought for us (twizzlers, jolly ranchers, reeses pieces, etc.). The following picture is from "fun night"... it was a murder mystery theme! So much fun to see all our collegues dressed up and in character! JB and I were "Stoney and Deliliah Wall"- bouncher and former night club singer! So much fun!

Finally, all the girls got together one afternoon to make use of the hotels sauna and enjoy some fellowship over tea! We had a fantastic time :)

We returned from retreat on Tuesday- on our drive home I recieved a call from Svyeta, my language helper, who was watching our house while we were gone- to say that Inna had dropped off a cake for my birthday and it was in the fridge ! That wasn't all... we walked through the door and found that she had also left me a vase of flowers and a card! Next to a little gift Svyeta had bought and her card! What a wonderful surprise! That evening we celebrated my birthday with her cake & coffee with our friends Jason and Carolina (and their 3month old daughter, Camilla) who were staying with us! It was wonderful!

And now... back to school. Can I say more. No, really, it was okay- as always, better than I expect! Oh, the biggest news...almost forgot! Our McDonalds finally opened on the 4th, while we were gone! JB stopped and picked us up nuggets and cheesburgers! Yum. We're a real city now...McDonalds...and in the future IKEA, then, who knows...maybe Papa Johns a few years down the road. Doubt it.