The Happiest Place On Earth

It's been called the happiest place on earth and while we were there this past week, we discovered a little of why this might be true. Six couples, friends since highschool, turning 40 this year, trip planned for ten years--where else to go than a location that would bring so much to be enjoyed? Guana Caste, Costa Rica--happy and kind local people.

This tree is FILLED with parakeets!

Ping-pong at our rental home with the rainforest in the background.

Learning to surf.

Enjoying the pool.

Building friendships with the staff.

Cheering our husbands on as they play the Costa Ricans in soccer (futbal). Those silly boys challenged the natives, who were half their age! Score: 14-12 for Costa Rica. Not too bad!

Girl time.

Photographing scarlet macaws in the wild!

Taking a break from shopping in town.

All decked out for zip-lining.

Zip-lining all through the rainforest canopy and through canyons. How did they ever get me to do this? is what went through my mind MANY times!

Riverboat tour through the jungle. White-faced monkeys decided to join us!

Sunsets on the beach.

Fighting for the ball in a game of inner-tube water polo. Iguanas everywhere!

Over a thousand photos stare back at me from my screen and I long to return to Costa Rica, this time with my children. I don't think you can truly see enough of it to be fully satisfied. In a state of constant worship, I swam, tubed, zipped, shopped, visited, strolled, and stood in awe of what my Lord has created for His glory and our pleasure. Some of that "happiness" was due to the long-awaited pampering we received, however, the locals attributed their jovial behaviour to their laid-back, non-competitive philosophy of life. Perhaps the pressures, complications, and entitlement of North Americans rob us of this general sense of well-being. Christians know that no matter where we are in the world, Jesus can give us joy, but I believe it is best received in a place of simplicity and contentment.

Rainforest Day!

Once again, my sister wins the best homeschool mom award. She created a rainforest room with her children, complete with croaking frog sound effects. They worked very hard and the rest of us did a little studying on the side and had the privilege of joining them for a Rainforest Day celebration. Created with tissue paper and butcher paperEden displays her papier mache chameleon and reads from her project bookMolly shares her lizardCaleb gives us some rainforest factssome details of the room and Mac kids preparing their projectsOliver marvels at the sloth made by CalebBrooke displays her gorillaMaysie explains the levels of a rainforestCalvin shares his work by the waterfalltribal hut and shieldsmore room detailsJacob sits by his caiman crocodileAuntie Annie shows us her African Grey Parrot!He talks and does tricksRainforest Coral Snake snack

God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." Genesis 1:25, 26