'Tis the season...

-For mangoes! The stores are full of them and there are people selling them roadside all over the island. We don't have to buy them, however, because the college has a huge mango tree with too many fruits for the monkeys to consume. We've also had a few people bring us mangoes from their own trees. We were taught one way of eating mangoes, which is good for babies and young kids. You squish it for a while and then cut a small hole on top. Then suck it like a yogurt pop. It's not very appetizing to watch, but fun for the kids - - For mamie apples. In this pic, the green ones are the mangoes and the brown thing is a mamie apple. They are fairly rare on the island, as we've ever seen them for sale anywhere. There is a tree on campus that grows them, and one of the guys that works here brings them by since Luke's shown interest. They are not apple-like at all. The outside is hard an unedible and the inside is firm, light orange, and kind of tastes like a mango.
- For wearing her first pair of capris. Noelle is big enough to wear this little outfit now and she was DARLING in it. This picture doesn't do it justice. You'll have to trust me - SO cute!
- For playing in the curtains -
- For playing with Josh, our little on-campus buddy from Trinidad. "Josh" has become Noelle's clearest word and she talks about him a lot. It's funny when she'll randomly spurt out "Josh!" and I'll ask her if she's thinking about Josh and she'll just smile and nod and say "yeah". Both of my kiddos think Josh is pretty cool -
- For tears! This little one has figured out that when I put her behind a gate and tell her it's play time, I'm probably going to leave her there for a few minutes.
- For lizard spotting on a rainy morning on the front porch -
- For sporting some new baby girl Tevas.
- For climbing the bars on the doors and for thumping around wearing only one croc. Noelle loves these little pink crocs, but can't walk very well with 2. So, she puts on one and is on her way!
- For being within WEEKS of thesis submission!
- For making our home in Barbados. Although we know our time here is relatively short, we're feeling a little bit "homey" here. We are finding that there are many blessings about living on this wee island in the Caribbean for a little while. It is definitely challenging, but we do feel like we're living in answered prayer as so many people have thought of us and lifted us up to the Lord through Luke's job search and this huge transition into a(nother) foreign world. We're getting settled into our church, hoping to help out more with children's church in the near future. We've been able to host college students at our house for meals. I've taken on the leadership of a weekly (mostly expat) toddler play group and I'm trying my hand at photographing other people's kids. I don't know if photography is something I could ever do "professionally", but this seems like a good time to practice and gain some skills. You may see my very new website growing (www.hollytallonphotography.blogspot.com) as I take pics around here.
We (mostly me) have days when I am ready to take the first flight out of here, but in general, we're happy and content, we're slowly building relationships, we're not afraid of getting lost, and we're hopeful for God's continued guidance and blessing for this time in Barbados. And I might actually be at a point where I would feel sad if we packed up and left tomorrow, which is definitely evidence of God's work in my heart!!