First 4th of July Abroad!

Well, it's weird not being in America on this fine Independence Day.  I've always done the whole family and fireworks thing...usually at New Life Ranch with all of the wonderful staff and family campers, which makes it even more fun.  But this year - alas - I am on my own in celebrating the birthday of my country.  I celebrated by singing God Bless America all day long....and that's about it!  I didn't even really have anything American to wear - the old red, white, and blue I mean.  I tried to plan my wardrobe to not look so American while I was over here (did NOT work out well - they are way too stylish over here), so I had to settle with annoying the boys with my own renditions of every USA song I know.  It's been great.

Okay, I will be honest with you all - I've had a really tough week.  The main thing that has been so hard on me is learning how to handle behavior problems with the boys.  I will say it again - the culture is so very different here.  What is acceptable here is different than what is acceptable back home.  It's just been really hard for me to deal with some of these differences in how things and situations are handled.  I've been getting so frustrated lately and I hate that.  I don't want to be mad or frustrated - especially at the boys.  Please continue to pray for me and that the Lord would continue to bless me with patience and endurance to finish strong.  


I've also been wanting to go home so badly - which has made everything a tad bit harder.  I've never really been away from home for more than a month before - and I'm coming up on almost two months since I've seen my family.  I miss them desperately.  I think it just really hit me last week how long I've been gone and how much I take them for granted sometimes.  My family is so so great, you guys.  I am seriously the luckiest girl in the whole world!  My have the best parents, the coolest siblings, the most loving grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.  I just feel so blessed.  


Okay, so this will be somewhat brief - I am pretty exhausted tonight!  But this past weekend was another grand adventure!  I was able to go out with the family and we all slept on the boat!  It was so so much fun.  We went out to an island called Capraia (NOT Capri - google it!) on Saturday and had dinner on the island. It was so fun - we got pizza and then hung out at this little bar and Gioele and I danced the night away!  Sleeping on the boat was something I was a tad nervous about - but it was not bad at all!  Waking up on the sea was one of the coolest things ever.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  We then went to a beautiful little area off the island to swim and stayed there all day and had lunch on the boat.  I will add pictures below!  It was just a beautiful place - very special day!  The last few days we've just been going to the beach and Calidario to swim in the natural hot springs.


It's been a hard week - but today was a good day.  I am holding on to that.  Plus, I am going home in three weeks from today!  Can you believe it?!  Time has definitely flown by this summer, but I am starting to feel ready for school again.  I can't wait to get back!  Anyway, I think that is all for now, I am ready for bed.  But here are some pictures of our trip to Capraia!  Enjoy!
Buono notte!
Maddy

The port where we stayed the night.

My boys!

Where we spent our day.

Swimming with Gio!

The rocks were huge!

Try to find the family.

He's precious

He saw one jellyfish and never left the boat again. haha

Me and the boys

The family!

The islands around here remind me of Jurassic Park!