Little Family Reprieve at Lake Baikal

     Shortly after our summer team and interns left, we took a 3-day family trip to Lake Baikal.  It was so special to get this time together and rest a bit. 

Some cows at the bus stop that we saw on our drive to the lake

... and a herd of goats, too  =)

 
   Normally the end of August is cold, but we enjoyed nice (albeit windy) weather.  The kids loved playing near and in the water.

our cute little cabin

You could see right through the door!

Some people who stayed in the cabins brought their own food to prepare.

     We opted to have meals included. This was mostly delicious, but we also were met with some surprises, like fish egg sandwiches for breakfast. 



    We made sand castles together where the river and lake met. We also carved a little stream between the two.

Busy little bees

Anneka took several pictures, and this was one of them ;)

Tire swing on the beach!

So fun to blow dandelion seeds!!  Ike and I blew them together.

     The kids REALLY wanted to go on a boat ride while we were there.  We looked into it, and the prices were ridiculously high.  They were all willing to pitch in their allowance, but we still thought it was too high.  They prayed about it, and the next day, a guy with a boat offered to give us a ride for whatever we wanted to offer.  Leif just had a little cash in his pocket, and the guy accepted!  So the kids were BEAMING with joy (as you can see!) and thanked God for his gift of a boat ride.  =)

     He drove the boat out a ways, dipped a water bottle into the lake, and we all took a good drink.

He even had a banana behind his boat that Leif and the girls got to ride on the way back to shore.

Such fun!

     It was wonderful to have a summer filled with activity and hard work and lots of people.  It was also wonderful to have this special family time, just the five of us.  So thankful.