Até Nos Encontrarmos Novamente: Seth Turns Five!

On Tuesday, August 3rd, we left the house we called home for the last 2 months. It was an important day for another reason though....Seth had his fifth birthday! The night before, Grandma and Grandpa had given him some special books for his birthday. Fortunately I had a few toys I had brought from BC, thinking I could give them to him on the plane, that I wrapped for his birthday. Toys here are exceptionally expensive and very junky, and if you want to buy anything remotely good quality it is even more expensive. After the short but sweet present opening, we finished our packing. Moises was to pick us up at 10, we thought, yet he showed up at 9! Well that helped get us motivated. Pastor Pedro and his wife Alida also needed a ride, as well as Shaun's parents. We quickly ran out of room in the two cars and had to leave five suitcases and our stroller behind. Shaun's parents and the pastor and his wife were leaving on the Wednesday, so they obviously needed to bring up all of their luggage. So we made the trek to Aldeia/Recife, and what did we find: A BIRTHDAY PARTY! Karen had baked a cake, all the kids had made cards/little gifts, Hannah even donating a book from her own library, and Tamara even had items for goody bags. Talk about a stress free birthday party for Seth's mom! And so special for Seth. The icing on the cake (so to speak) was a actual live living turtle (who will be fostered out during our time in Canada) and a wind up flashlight that charges itself, has an alarm and a campus, AND even charges cell phones (somewhat lost on Seth).

So thank you to Karen and Tamara and all the kids who made Seth's birthday extra special so far from home. He (and we!) appreciate it immensely.