Chasing Ideals

This entire week has been so full with new relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed Wednesday night getting to celebrate Wiesiek's birthday with him and his family and many friends whose lives have all been touched by this household. In this family I have really seen a picture of the type of environment I wish to have for my family in the future. This family has been so obvious in how much they love and has been very open in not only learning about me but discussing my plans for the future in a caring way. For the birthday we had a barbecue here at the house and ate cake with mascarpone and fresh blueberries. All who were here were interacting together and just enjoying relationship and I feel so priveleged that I got to be here for the occasion. Before this week none of these people knew me and yet there I get to be celebrating with them.

Since that night I have spent the last two days here at the house with them sharing in their daily life and enjoying each moment of this time. Their children are full of life and interest in their visitor and they are a testimony to the love and attention they have been shown by their parents. Throughout the days there are many visitors and visits to neighbors in this area. They also keep a garden so there are vegetables to be picked for the day's meals and eggs to be collected as they have chickens also. It is really quite an incredible environment especially for someone who has lived in the city for so long. I have really been made to feel at home here and that is so encouraging. I know that these are people I could always come and visit in the future as their home is so open for that. Tomorrow when I leave here I do so with sadness that I must go but at the same time feeling so refreshed to have been a part of this family and their life for a few days. Hopefully tomorrow I will be going to spend more time with Kasia's family. I am hoping to stay at her aunt's house for a day or two before leaving the area.

I have added a new gallery from my time here. The first pictures are of Wiesiek and two of his sons when we roasted some sausage and hot dogs over the fire last night. There are also pictures there of the house. In the third row those are pictures of the family's other guests who are staying in the guest room next to the main house. Their names are Marcin and Milka and their son Nicodem is pictured also in the fourth row. Where they live is not far from Krakow and I am going to stay with them after I leave there and go towards Slovakia. The last picture in the album is of Nancy. Hopefully I will get more pics in the morning before I leave. I should have taken more earlier but forget because I get caught up in enjoying the time.