So I (Cassie) am up at 5am for the first time EVER on my own accord--that is, without props to an alarm clock, being sick, or even due to jetlag. In 2 days we'll fly from Czech, and when I sleep lately I'm either dreaming intensely about this transition or waking up with a thousand little thoughts flying through my brain. About 4am I awoke and started thinking. Then the sun came up, and that really helped to put me back to sleep :) So I guess it's a blog kinda morning since I can't stop thinking about these Czech friends I'll miss so much...
1. I'll miss our adorable pastor's daughter Elenka (see photo below for adorableness factor). Last week I was helping her use the "big potty," but when we went into the bathroom, she became so distracted by the quilted puppies she found on the toilet paper that she completely forgot about her reason for going into the bathroom in the first place. I had to remind her :) Every other week she comes to our house, and one of her first questions is, "Kde je sobik?" (Where's the reindeer?). She loves to play with this stuffed reindeer I have that makes a kissing noise when you press his belly. Today we'll see Elenka for the last time, and I'm planning on giving her the sobik :)
Pavel, Marcela and Elenka
2. I'll miss Elenka's parents, Pavel and Marcela. We have a weekly lunch date that we've kept up for the past 5 years, which has been a great source of strength and encouragement to us. Pavel and Marcela are truly some of the most sweet-spirited people I've ever met, so gracious and so giving. Pavel and Trevor have been accountability partners, and Marcela's been my Czech teacher for the last 4 years--so you can imagine the deep roots these friends have taken in our hearts. We will miss them and our lunch dates!
Martin, Alice, Anicka, Cassie & Trevor
3. I'll miss Martin, Alice, and Anicka Binderovi--our wonderful, wonderful neighbors! We've spent much time with them lately because of the process of trying to sell our house. Martin and Alice have been our "Boaz" character (as found in the book of Ruth in the Bible), looking out for us and protecting us, as we are the vulnerable foreigners in their land. We have found their love to be so giving and unconditional, just as Boaz's. We've done nothing to deserve such favor, but they love us so deeply. And we deeply, deeply love them back! We will miss spending so much time together, and also we'll miss playing with their (also adorable) daughter Anicka, laughing together, and eating such DELICIOUS food together! :)
Stanya
4. I'll miss Stanya, who we affectionately call our Czech mom. Stanya and her family escaped Czech during communism in the 1980s and fled to Canada, so when we moved to Czech, she immediately reached out to us, understanding what it was like to be the foreigner in a new land. Stanya has refreshed us with her fun, spunky sense of humor, but most of all with her warm love. (She gives the best hugs!) She's been a HUGE help with translating for us and basically bending over backwards for us when we ask her for help on anything! She's welcomed us to her apartment many, many times for a nice cup of tea or a meal. Stanya's presence feels like coming home...and if you've ever met her, you'll understand what I mean! :)
I could go on and on about people I'll miss, but the morning groggies are hitting me. So I'll end for now. Can you just feel how endearing these friends are? We have full, grateful hearts to God for giving us such treasures!
