The move across the river

(Adelaide enjoying the view of the river Tejo)

We moved! It was an ordeal, but we made it. We still haven't hung up essential things like towel racks and toilet seats, or gone grocery shopping, but we love our new house. It's calmer (you can hear the birds), there are parks and lots of good things walking distance and the house is starting to feel like a home. The downside is that it's far from Lisbon (40 min by car) and there is a river between us and Lisbon.

Yesterday we went to mass at the monjas de Belém, a monastery about an hour away. There are cloistered nuns there that really inspired us and helped us see what is important. Even though their monastery is under construction and they are living in hot and bad conditions, in the middle of NOWHERE, they are beaming with joy. They smile and sing beautiful music. We talked to one sister who never complained once, even though through our questions we understood they are not self-sufficient yet and barely have enough to eat. She said, "Our goal is to be able to be self-sufficient but for now it's good to depend solely on divine providence".

Put things into perspective for us. We who were complaining about not having things hung up yet in our comfy, spacious apartment with lots of grocery stores nearby.