Faces of the Wales Trip...

Wales...3

Okay for all you whiners out there...BEGGING me to enlighten your hum-drum lives with a taste of Welsh living...be enlightened! Also, another slideshow will soon follow...
The next morning (Saturday) we awoke to the sounds of birds chirping, and the house bustling…actually it was almost 1 PM in Merthyr when we woke up! The kind family was so gracious to allow the newfound princesses some EXTRA beauty rest. J We all ate together (our breakfast, their lunch) and then they whisked us away to a small park where Julie and I displayed our incredible abilities to twirl in the air on a hanging tire, to balance ourselves on a tightrope strung around the tallest trees, and other turbulentistic feats!
We then rushed over, out of breath, to Mike and Sharon’s house for a time of prayer and instruction. Fearless Mike only had one request that day…NO international incidents! “Simple enough.” we thought. We enjoyed listening to the Welsh accent being used properly that day…Later that afternoon we all went over to Captain Gareth’s castle for a feast of the most amazing delicacies ever laid before your eyes! There was Lamb on a stick, hamburgers, roast chicken, strawberries, pasta, and Lamb and Mint flavored Pringles!!! AHHH, it was GOOD! After they had stuffed us silly with finger-licking delights, they rolled…uh, I mean guided us down to Cafarthfa Park to play football (soccer). The men gave an incredible presentation of “athletic abilities”. Well, it WAS entertaining.
This evening marked the start of a few amazing friendships! Julie and I met Anna, Vikki, and Amy! Those lovely girls will never know how much they mean to me!

Wales

…as we neared our destination, it became apparent to all of us that we had left sunny Florida for a long time. The rain was coming down in tiny, cold little bullets as we rushed inside to meet our new families. One by one we were engulfed in hugs as each entered his/her new home for the next week! Julie and I were first greeted by Andy, king of Park View Castle! I noted immediately his kind eyes and cheery smile. Then as he drove us to meet his family, I mustered up every ounce of strength that I had left in me to fight the mighty Sleep Dragon! It was an exhausting battle, but nothing to lose sleep over.
As we trudged up the stone steps, three grins greeted us from the window in the front room! Queen Lynda, in all humility, with her warm embraces and gentle voice, ushered us into the front room so we could rest and have a cup of tea (our first in Wales!!!). Princess Beth presented herself calm and collected, but I could tell she was brimming with questions for the crazy, tired Americans. I was also greeted by Meg the Fairy! Meg had a sparkle in her eye and a mischievous grin. She floated about the room, unable to contain her excitement about the two new houseguests!
As Lynda beckoned us to retire to our room, we gratefully followed her upstairs, content with a piece of carpet to call our own. But this marvelous family had prepared a feast of a room for their weary travelers! We had been given the highest room in the tallest tower, which Princess Beth so graciously bestowed upon us. Our window overlooked the village of Park View, and provided a wonderful retreat when we wanted to read or spend time in the Word. We slipped into a deep sleep that night, wondering if the dream we had walked into would still be there in the morning…