We just dropped off our exchange student from Spain, Patri, who has been with us for the last month. This was really such a wonderful experience for our family. I do feel very blessed that we were assigned a girl who was so easy going, interested in trying and experiencing anything and everything, but not sullen on days when we really didn't do anything but watch tv and eat dinner. We usually go on quite a few adventures during the summer and we've crammed all that into the one month she was here.

I was so nervous about what it would be like to have a stranger in the house...having to keep the house tidy...what if we had family discord and she was witness to all our drama? All worries for naught.

So, if you're ever on the fence about hosting a student, I firmly recommend it. My oldest daughter spent time with a family in Costa Rica last year and that was also a wonderful experience. She is going back to see her Tica family this year at Christmas.

A bonus to all of this is my kids are making friendships with people all over the world. Couch surfing to Costa Rica or the northern coast of Spain is way beyond my wildest fantasies and my daughters will have that if they choose. It just boggles my mind. With all the social media these kids really keep in touch and plan futures to see each other. It's just so cool!