What are we up to?

As you have probably gathered - we are here (Abi and the kids) and Brad isn't!! He has been gone now for a few weeks in the UK and the Balkans. We have 10 more days and then he will be back. He has basically been travelling for most of February. 19 sleeps is a long time but it has gone so much better than anticipated - not that the usual sickness, teething etc haven't plagued us, but we have been armed to survive the storm!!

Brad is now officially the US Director of Radstock Ministries so he will be travelling around churches in the Radstock Network in the US helping them think through their missions strategies and helping them to connect and partner with other churches in the Radstock Network across the world. He will also be promoting the whole aspect of Business as Mission which he has such a heart for. He has an office at our church which is wonderful and very close to our house. Abi likens our small town to a cross between Wisteria Lane and Stepford!!! It is very small and you know people wherever you go. There is a certain familiarity about that which is nice and a certain spooky feeling which is slightly unnerving!!

The children have all settled in to life here extremely well and are enjoying the new experiences. We have learnt lots in the last few months and had many hilarious cultural experiences!!! Here are a few which we have enjoyed:
The Yellow School bus - picks up and drops off the children pretty much from our house twice a day. (Abi thinks this is absolutely amazing as she can still be in her pyjamas when it is time for Quin to go to school!!)

Pre-school - You don't have to exit your vehicle in order to drop your children off. The teacher comes to the car and removes Tate and puts him back in when pre-school is over (Again, Abi thinks this is fantastic as she isn't having to put Jems in and out of the pushchair/stroller numerous times in a morning.)

Pokemon cards - key to survival in any Second Grade boys life

Nintendo DS - cost a Kindergarten girl all her money but is totally worth it in every way, especially as it comes in pink!!

Valentines parties - survival of the fittest on every level - the amount of candy that comes home in backpacks is astounding!! Every child gives a Valentine to each class member, usually with a piece of candy taped to it. An amazing haul all around, the Byrd children can hardly believe their luck!! (Does this really happen every year???? - Abi is appauled as the writing of the Valentines is a particularly painful process, as is the potential sickness that comes at the end of the day when the parties are all finished!!)

Friends for playdates who speak the same language and live closer than 2 1/2 hours away!! What a novelty. Tyler and Ryan Mac are Quin's good friends and live walking distance from our house. Hayley and Grace are Ezzie's friends - she loved having a sleep over at Hayley's. Jackson is Tate's absolutely best friend in all the world. (Thankfully they will still be in the same pre-school class next year.) He also announced to Abi when talking about another little girl he knew "Mummy, I can't help myself, I just have to kiss her!!!!" This doesn't bode well for the future!!Jems hasn't really developed too many close friends yet although she endears herself to all in the Nursery at church.

Trampolining, gymnastics classes, baseball, swim lessons - all to be had for the taking if wanted. Again, we can't believe our luck.

All in all the transition has been much easier than we anticipated and we are thankful every day that we have power and are not chopping wood to keep us warm!! (Although apparently we have had more power outtages - 2 since we arrived - than they have had in years here!! - We have brought a little Balkan love with us evidently!!)

We miss Kosova and our friends there and we are keen to return as a family next Summer. For now, we will remain here in Central Illinois and Brad will travel where he needs to go.