Worlds Apart . . . . Oh, So Much Fun.

Let me see if I can get all the worldly connections straight.  While some family members  from Sandpoint were headed to Spokane to pick up Swiss Miss aka Laura from Switzerland, off in Vienna, Miss Annie Love aka Mia Wallace was visiting the Spanish Riding School.

Common denominator:  Laura from Switzerland loves horses and would soon be meeting Annie's aunts who TRULY love horses, and Annie, originally from Sandpont now Seattle,  was probably thinking that her aunts Barbara and Laurie would be delighted to see that she was visiting the Spanish Riding School.

Meanwhile, back in Spokane, we met Laura at the airport (that's where I learned that a red jumper in Swiss terms is a red hoodie (Miami Heat).  

I learned that distinction after Laura passed right by me while I  was aiming my camera and looking for a young lady in a dress). 

Soon after we were on the road, headed back to Sandpoint, Laura tried to call her parents to let them know she had arrived safely with her exchange family, Willie and Debbie and all the extended members,  who live in Sandpoint.

Well, it turns out Laura's mom and dad were still in the air on their way back to Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, where her dad is involved with soccer.

So, talking with Mom and Dad would have to come later.

A Sandpoint family meeting was set at the best possible place to bring a newbie to Sandpoint, Bonner County and the United States:  Second Avenue Pizza.

As we dined, Laura met at least one student from Sandpoint High School where she'll be attending school soon. We laughed.  Bill told he she needed to try root beer, which she'd never had before.

"Chewing gum," she said.  That was her immediate first impression of root beer.  

I never did see if she drank the whole bottle, but it did give her cause for concern when the root beer began to fizz and rise out of the bottle like a volcano.  Only an inch or so, though, and it settled down.

Laura enjoyed her first taste of heavenly Second Avenue pizza and even got to meet the owner, Carolyn, who was quite pleased that the Loves had brought the Laura to the restaurant for her first meal.

Though she was tired from the long plane trip, Laura held up well and kept us quite thrilled that this young lady who'll be spending the next four months in Sandpoint seems to be a perfect fit for our family.

I have a feeling that she may have met a horse or two by now, and that on this beautiful morning after yet another weird but quick storm (this time the wind tore that dangling piece of metal completely off our shop roof).

We're all thrilled, and we have made contact with Laura's parents, Caroline and Fritz. And, I've set up the possibility that Caroline might get to meet Mike Flaim of Sandpoint fame:  Mike teaches in Kuala Lampur, where he and his wife Monica moved after several years at The Hague after several years in Sandpoint. 

 Since all that worldwide activity yesterday, I can now report that Miss Annie Love crossed the border into Hungary at about 6:17 Pacific Daylight Time.  

She sent us a note just a while ago to let us know she's now in another new country to add to her bucket list and headed to Budapest.

We're kinda enjoying our cosmopolitan influences this morning, and soon Laura may be over to watch John Fuller trim some hooves and tack some shoes on Lily and Lefty. 

I think this photo with Debbie and Laura says it all about the jubilation we've all enjoyed while welcoming Laura to our area and to our family. 

Laura meets Carolyn from Second Avenue Pizza.  I have a feeling they'll see each other again. 

Erin, who represents the exchange program, came to meet Laura and the Loves at Spokane International Airport. 

Willie was quite proud of the sign he put together to welcome Laura.  He had a little help from SHS administrative assistant Beth Dean.  Ironically, we saw Beth's husband at the carwash in Coeur d'Alene.  

Laura with the Sandpoint family.  A good time was had by all:  Willie, Debbie, Laura, Bill, Laurie and Barbara.  Both Barbara and Willie will probably be Laura's teachers at Sandpoint High School. 

Not good lighting for the photo, but official enough as Laura set foot on Sandpoint, Idaho. 

Had to add this photo taken as we passed by McDonalds on the way home last night.  What's with these brutal storms anywho????

Happy Wednesday to all as we come back to earth and tend to the stuff around the farms. It's a good life, for sure!