Highlight of my Easter Break (25.-27. March)

Wow, for once in a long time, I can post something that just happened yesterday, instead of 1 month ago . . . I'm about caught up! The miracles never cease!

Things have gotten quite busy and somewhat chaotic. The main issue is future plans. Since the story is very much on-going, I'll share everything once the next step is clear(er).

So remember the friends I went to visit in Germany? I've been begging them to come and visit me almost since I left--but especially for now, Easter break. What's better than having a 6-day break (Thurs. - Tues.)? Friends to spend at least part of it with!

They just happened to surprise me.

First, Olga is pregnant! Congrats to the new parents!

However, the doctor said she had to stay at home for 2 weeks. I found this out sometime last week. So doing the math, I understood they weren't able to come and visit during Easter break. I was actually really sad about that.

Second, on the Wednesday night before Easter (after I finished teaching for the day, and when my break started), Daniil skype-calls me to tell me they were coming sometime Friday early evening.

I was shocked.

I had already given up on the idea of them coming. I even started looking at places where I could go for break (only to realize that financially, I couldn't really afford to go anywhere). I was shocked, but very happy and excited! I even told Danielle (who stayed during the break too) and we came up with ideas as to what to do and what food to prepare.

Come Friday evening, Danielle and I were waiting for my friends. In short, their GPS guided them through fields to get from Szczecin to Kołobrzeg. They couldn't go any faster than 30 or 40 km per hour. I think they said they only saw 4 cars in the last 30 minutes, but plenty of deer, rabbits, and other woodland creatures (they were probably wondering what these Germans were doing driving through their fields!). Hence, they arrived about an hour later.

Welcome to Poland!

Dinner and catching-up were the activities on Friday night. Then off to bed to recover and be ready for Sabbath at church.

***

Sabbath morning was spent at church. Afterwards, we had quite the banquet at home. Daniil, Olga, Andrej, Mateusz, Marcin, Danielle, and I were the happy partakers of said banquet. The feast consisted of soup, salad, pierogies, and a wonderful blueberry cake. Compliments to Danielle for her successful culinary experiments. We were all very happy--and stuffed--guinea pigs.

What to do after a wonderful meal? Go for a walk to and on the beach!

Unless you have bread, they won't come to you.

The fun couple taking in the Baltic coast.

Mateusz, photographer-in-training

I guess it was enough.

After a good walk on a foggy coast, we made it back home to change into our volleyball gear. Olga had enough and was ready to fall asleep almost immediately. So, Daniil was able to come, play, and witness the range of madness one can experience at volleyball. Too bad we couldn't take any pictures.

***

Easter Sunday was greeted with a Southern-style breakfast of biscuits, gravy, and scrambled eggs, with the addition of a fruit salad (so we could say we had something healthy). Again, Danielle had out-done herself. The fruit salad was mostly Olga's masterpiece. Daniil and I gave the highest compliment we could ever give cooks--stuff ourselves joyfully.

Stomachs full, we were ready to go to the empty beach.

What?! You decided to return to Germany by sea?!

Ok, bye.

Ah, you're taking her with you.

Seems like she prefers to drive than swim back.

Now to help keep him balanced.

Alright, they're both ready to take on whatever is next.

How about a green cyclist?

Did I mention that it's a good 40-min. walk from my place to the empty beach? Just one-way? Since they were such good sports and walked there and back without complaining, they deserve something for their efforts . . .

Olga conveniently didn't want hers.

All packed and ready to go.

And they left.

I honestly felt like crying after they left. I really love this couple.

Boy, that child is going to have really crazy, yet great parents.

They tagged me. Now I need to visit them. Not sure when that'll happen.