with all our traveling, we got in a couple of field trips during our first 2 weeks of school.  while visiting mark's parents in louisiana, mimi treated us to a visit to new orleans with a visit to cafe du monde for beignets and aquarium of the americas.  i hadn't been downtown since katrina.

cruising along the riverwalk

luke and lydia watch some big sharks swimming around the oil rig set up in the gulf of mexico exhibit.

at a local state park, the kids were fascinated by an animal rescue station and shelter for non-releasable animals.  below, luke enjoys feeding a pony at the petting park.

WE DO PLAN TO GO BACK TO SE Europe after this year of itineration.  we plan to work with the same people group (albani#ns), but in a larger city.  there are a few options that we are praying about. 

one option is to work in a different, but nearby, balkan country where alb#nians are the minority, but still a huge presence in the capital.  there is no church there among them in their language.  it's a bit premature to give details at this point as we and others are still praying about the Lord's will.

God has been very good to us: a supporting church gave us a minivan to use for a year. it's great. after bouncing around among family for 3 weeks, visiting and having a few itineration services, we'll be moving into our own apartment.  we'll be setting up and staying for 1 week before moving on.