Low Key

We had a very low key day here at the beach, but we all continue to love every second of this vacation.

This morning we all woke up and took our time eating breakfast, watching a little TV and then eventually trickling out to the beach as we felt like it.

What are we watching in this picture?

Super Why! Super Why is a kid's show that helps you learn to read, and we all enjoyed watching it together this morning. I thought that was funny. :)

The beach wasn't so much for for Lindsay today, she got a little sun burned. It really is as bad as it looks. I'm just glad she didn't have to deal with this while we were at Busch Gardens. We have put plenty of aloe on her back and we're praying it will heal quickly!!

At the beach today it seemed like everyone was much more interested in the sand than the waves. So, we decided to have a sand sculpture contest. I am SO impressed with their creativity! Shera didn't help them at all!!

Tasha, Linda, Miguel and Lindsay created this sunflower:


Bonita and Monique created this heart:


And Pedro and Luis made this turtle:


I was so impressed with all of them, I couldn't declare just one winner, so everyone won!!

We actually spent most of the afternoon/evening at the house playing hide and seek and then taking naps (well, I took a nap, haha). After dinner we watched "So You Think You Can Dance" together. While watching, we decided to hold our own So You Think You Can Dance.

All the kids came up with dances and performed them for me and Shera. Again, I was way too impressed with their creativity to declare one winner, but that didn't really matter, we all just had a lot of fun together!!


I know I have been sharing a lot about what we have been doing, but this vacation has been about so much more. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to put it into words yet. Actually, I haven't completely figured it all out yet.

Bonita and Monique have been inseparable all week and told me today that they are going to get the best friendship bracelets ever when we get back. The first few days we were here, Monique was pretty reserved, but in the last day or so she has just blossomed. I have known her for a little over 2 years now and I have NEVER seen her this happy...all the time. I hardly recognize her...this week she is showing me the kid I have always known was in her.

Linda and Pedro are teenagers now, and this week I am seeing just how much they have grown up. I am getting a glimpse of who they can be when they grow up, and I am so impressed.

We have 9 kids here...6 puerto rican, 2 black and 1 white...and to watch them together you would think they were actually a family that has grown up together. There are little fights here and there (which happens in families too), but overall they really enjoy one another and take care of each other. Everyone has been trying to help Lindsay with her sunburn. If Miguel can't reach something, no one makes fun of him, they just help him. When Tasha does something silly, everyone laughs and encourages her. When Monique dances, everyone cheers her on. I am just in awe.

My heart is stirred, and full. I have had plenty of people tell me that while I love these kids, it won't compare to the love I will have for my own kids. I don't know if I will ever get to test that theory, but right now I just don't believe it. I am SURE I will love my own kids in ways I never imagined, but I just can't even describe how I feel about these kids. And its okay with me if no one else understands that, I don't really think I do either, haha. I just know I am blessed, and so thankful for that.