Monday, April 8, 2013

Spring Break on Anna Maria Island 2013

The kids had spring break from school so we took a trip to our usual spring break spot...Anna Maria Island in Florida.  We really just spent most of the time at the beach or pool.


Grandma Carol took us to and from the airport.  Thanks Grandma!  We love you!





 The flights went great and we arrived safe & sound.





Lots of beach time....and ...





lots of pool time....









and more beach time.....






and tennis time (Cate didn't want to get anymore sun.  She didn't enjoy getting tanner and tanner!)


and baseball time on the tennis courts...





and baseball time on the beach!





The gulf water was pretty chilly but the boys were brave!  Notice Jeff doesn't look very wet and Chris/Cate are no where in the picture.  










One morning it was chilly & rainy so we visited the parrot shops and ate lunch out on the town.







We did actually leave the beach to eat meals and have down time in the condo.  Morning time became known as "ipad" time. Meals were very relaxed either on the patio or in front of a movie.  




We had a great opportunity to visit a friend of Josh's from the Philippines.  John Michael Diez was adopted to the Diane & Bill Oestrich family in Crystal River, FL.  Josh & Michael have been friends since they entered the children's home in Orion, Bataan, Philippines years ago.  It still amazes me how God takes 2 boys from the PI and has them get adopted half way around the world and then puts them back together again. Don't we serve an awesome God?  Josh & Michael had a blast reconnecting.  Michael's forever family runs a dive shop in Crystal River and we were honored to get to snorkel with them.  Thanks Diane & Bird for treating us to a day on your river!  


I love the above picture.  This is when Josh got out of the car and the boys saw each other for the first time.  Love their faces!  Pure joy!

Now for a formal posed shot.  




Everyone got to put on wet suits and prepared to swim with the manatees!



Snorkel time.  Watch out manatee...here come the Clark's!






















It is tough to say good bye!

Sorry this one is so dark but these are wonderful folks, Diane & Bill Oestrich.  Thanks again for treating us to a day on the water but most of all thanks for listening to God's call and following your hearts for adoption.  This family not only adopted Michael but has 2 older boys from Russia and another possible Philippines' adoption in the works!  (plus a biological son in the mix)  They are choosing to turn their sons into kings....check out the new Audio Adrenaline song!  What an awesome testimony for adoption!

You can see we had a fun spring break.  It is Monday now and we are back to the grind of school and work in Indiana.  Thanks for praying for us and remember life is about choices.  The choices you make come directly from your heart and by God's grace we will continue....

Choosing joy,
Chris & crew

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