Dear Friend,

We celebrated Kolya's 6th Birthday last night! The house was abuzz all day with preparations and excitement. His actual birthday is tomorrow, but we picked Thursday evening for his party because on Fridays many people obstain from meat and dairy, on Saturday there is a wedding in Arfara with over 800 guests and beginning August 1st until Assumption Day many Greek Orthodox people will be fasting. And of course, what is a party without cake?!

Our friend Maria brought us to a store called JUMBO to get decorations and goodie bags. The kids here call them lucky bags because of a treat bag that is sold at a lot of the corner kiosks. Vasilli brought us to the market to buy drinks and carry them back up the hill in his car. Kolya and I brought the rest of the food and cake up on foot over the course of the week. We served oregano flavored potato chips, popcorn (made with olive oil by Maria), cucumbers, mini cheese and meat pies and of course an amazing cake made in the village. (Kolya visited the baker daily to check on his progress this week.) We had family and friends here and it was a really special time. Everyone first sang Happy Birthday in English and then in Greek. Before we came to Arfara, my wish was that we would set down a few roots here. As we were surrounded last night by people who openly share their love with us here, I knew we had accomplished that.

XOXO,

Karen June