Standing On The Promises

I love hiking. But this hike was gnar. It was very difficult, steep, gasp-inducing, and muscle burning.  This might be my favorite shot of the whole trip.   Resting at the top with my hiking partner Samara!  The jumping shots!  I'm not sure about all that.   Food is always good on top of a mountain.   Kevin entertained us with a backflip.  On the way home, we visited a gorgeous waterfall. Here are some of the beautiful Booher ladies! Oh and by the way, even though the hike was extremely difficult, it was well worth the pain! I'm almost caught up on my blogging. Yay!  Emily Jo  Psalm 91:6,7 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

After two days of journeying across Europe, we arrived in Ukraine. Uncle Chris and Aunt Lisa own a very comfortable home in Mukachevo, which is just across the border of Hungary.  We kids went out on the town the morning after we got here and enjoyed some fun times together.   Hamburgers and fries a la Ukrainian...I don't know if they have ever tried a real hamburger because these were something else.   Superman- ahem-Kevin showing off on the escalator. Bowling!  What a great day full of laughter and fun memories! Emily Jo  Psalm 91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

A very enjoyable afternoon was spent at Kinderdyke. These windmills were used to control the canal water levels; a very complex process! They now use a modern pumping system, and the windmills are only used as homes.  Our super fun group.  We obviously thought this old church was really cool. ;-)  But I have to admit that the windmills were cooler.  People still live in these! Who wouldn't want to live in a windmill? This one was really odd looking.  Postcard perfect!  Love all these cousins+friends!   Windmill selfie ;-) They know we tourists love klompen!  A very fun day indeed!  Emily Jo Psalm 91:3,4 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.   He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

 Every house has some sort of garden. In many cases, they sacrifice road width so that they can have a garden. They are mostly flower gardens, but they can also raise vegetables, so I am sure some people do.   They also make their trees go a certain direction by training them with sticks.  The dear little lady who invited us for morning coffee showed us this Bible that is from the 1700's.  Amazing piece of history here!!!  She also saved all of her childhood toys. Many of them are probably worth a fortune!  Samara was bike shopping so we went to a bike shop. Some of these bikes cost more than my car did. But here you can just buy a bike instead of a car. And sometimes it is well worth it!  Handy bike saddle bags in all kinds of designs and colors. For Mama and two children! We went to the IKEA of gardening. The Dutch truly love gardens and beautiful landscapes! They had the hugest rabbit I have ever seen. He was the size

Day two of our Holland experience was spent thrift store shopping, eating lunch and playing a bit of volleyball and soccer at a beautiful park, and enjoying an evening with friends. This was a park behind an awesome castle.  Uncle Chris with his girls! \ Love this pic of Samara! Another wonderful day in Holland! Emily Jo Psalm 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.