Parks, Zoos and Movies - some of our favorite things!

Last Saturday we were invited to celebrate a birthday at a local attraction, Het Batavier. It was basically a huge playground where the kids could just run around and play on all the apparatuses. They had trampolines, bounce-houses, a pond with paddleboats and row boats that the kids could use by themselves, a merry-go-round, and "midget" golf (and no, that doesn't seem nice to us either). It makes Jeremy and I laugh at the things that they can do here in this anti-lawsute, social medical coverage country. There is NO staff that watches the park, and it is an at your own risk play zone. Parental responsibility instead of lawsuits?

Even this ride, which required a token dropped into an automated machine, had no supervision.
This zip line raised itself up about 10 feet in the air, then pulled them back about 50 yards and then swung back across the pond - I kept wondering if anyone had ever fallen out? Fortunately our kiddos didn't, and they had a great time.
Sunday was our last night to have the youth cell over to our house. After a few rounds of Mafia, we had a great lesson by Samara about the power of the tongue. Then Monday night, since Jeremy has wrapped up his series on God's Names and Attributes ending with the fruits of the Spirit, Chris has begun a study on the Proverbs. It is very weird to think that we won't be here for the whole series!

On Wednesday we were invited to go to the Amsterdam Zoo, Artis, with some friends. We had a great time seeing the animals and walking around the zoo, which is over 150 years old!

Some of the buildings and animal enclosures were so cool!


In the Butterfly Pavilion we were able to see hundreds of butterflies dancing around - one even landed on Miss Bobbie Jo!
Mr. Pieter with Keiric and a goat. Keiric always tries to stay at the south end of the animals he's petting.
Keiric loved the monkeys...
... and Kaylie enjoyed seeing the seals.



After the zoo we decided to go to the Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam for the first time - yeah for big glasses with ice and free refills - oh the things you take for granted in America!



Yesterday we had an Ascension Day service at our Dutch church and then in the evening invited some friends over to celebrate with us by watching The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
I want to end with some proverbs that stood out to me this week

Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21

In his heart a man plans his course,
but the Lord determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:1,9