Summer- Winter- Summer

We are back in Buenos Aires after a whirlwind trip the the USA. We went from a humid hot December 7th to a frigid greeting on December 8th in NYC. It was our first time back in the USA since we left two and a half years ago. There definitely was a bit of culture shock and adjustment. Our girls barely speak English so it was hard on them at first. By the end of the two months they were pros. So to make a long blog entry into a short entertaining and summarized version .. here are the top 10 things we take away from our time in the States:

10-- Learned to watch for bears when driving in PA (Yes we hit a bear on the way down to TN)

9-- Never tell and show your son what the GPS means by a "sharp turn..," when there is snow on the ground (Car turned and got stuck on the side of a hill)

8-- Chick-Fil-A has the best shakes! (Enjoyed meeting with people while kids played!)

7-- The drive from Nashville to Western PA is breathtaking! Highly recommend it!

6-- Memories made celebrating our kids birthdays from Jump houses to Chuck e Cheese.

5-- Our daughters walk into McDonalds and exclaim.. "They have one of these here too?"

4-- Never take your 3yr old daughter into the American Girl Store in NYC during the Christmas shopping frenzy if you are not planning on buying one right there and then (Mental Picture: my daughter screaming in Spanish, "I want my doll.." sprawled on the floor!!)

3-- Our kids bonded with everyones pets! They still talk about each pet they were able to play with along our visit! (Ellie, Max, Dexter, Bandit, Luna, Lucy, Burren Leo, and Kate.. and the list goes on..)

2-- True highlight of the trip was seeing one of our pastor friends act as a ballerina for a church talent night! Truely priceless! (Even if it meant having to watch the Jets play the Steelers in Pittsburgh!)

1-- All joking aside, the best thing about our time was spending it with many of YOU! We have the most incredible supporting partners, friends and churches a missionary could ask for. We left encouraged and renewed! Thank you! (If we didn't get to see you specifically, hopefully next trip!)

Here is a glance at our trip. From visiting dear friends to hanging out in the snow and celebrating birthdays, we thank God for a wonderful time! (click to view bigger)