Kz Tour

Justin was blessed this summer to be able to go visit partners we have in Kz.  There was a four day bike tour, that some of our partners host every year. They invited Justin to be a part of it. They coached Justin's training for about 4 months prior to the trip, going on rides of 20- 30 miles. His last ride was around Lake Tahoe during family camp, which is about  70 miles. He borrowed a bike while he was there, and went on the tour with the 15 other men (a few parnters and the rest Kz men).   He was able to encourage our partners, and build new fun friendships with some national Kz men. Justin had a great time... they they rode through rain and they even rode 100 miles one day!  Some of the wives and children followed them in vans with tents and food. They camped on the side of the road and the wives cooked for them. I was so proud of him because I am sure at times it was very hard! It is exciting to see the Lord working in this part of the unreached world. 

Praise God for the Kz Tour, our partners there who work so hard for the gospel there, and for the blessing of bike riding!!

Six Years Old!

Kalena is six today. When I kissed her goodnight, for the last time as a 5 year old, I pretended to cry. She laughed and thought it was funny...but the truth is that I was really fighting back tears.  Our pastor said recently that families with small children are in the best years of their lives. I believe it. We have so much fun everyday and are always so sad to say goodnight. Kalena fills our lives with sweetness, laughter, cuddles, fun and excitement. We praise God for this last year with her. So much has happened! She passed kindergarden (whew!), learned how to ride a bike, learned how to swim, and has now started to thrive in 1st grade.  She is writing sentences, reading long words, and is a wiz kid when it comes to memorizing her verses! She has such a sweet and tender heart when it comes to caring for Katelyn and Andrew and helping me around the house. I love this little girl with all my heart and having her gone all day in 1st grade is more than I can handle!! My heart breaks everyday she waves goodbye. I strive to pray for her constantly throughout my day. I pray that God will shape her and mold her into a woman who is pleasing to Him. I pray that she will honor and worship Jesus, and be able to point others towards Him. 

1 Year Old!!

Our sweet Andy Buddy is ONE!!
He is walking all over the place and even tries to run now and then. He has been saying "Da Da" for a while now, but recently has mastered "Ma Ma" and it melts my heart every time I hear it. He has also started doing sign language for "please" and "all done," and when he sees or hears a dog he tries to do a little doggie bark which is SOOOOO cute!! Although we can't understand his words, he is constantly trying to talk to us... stringing all kinds of noises and sounds in to words. Sometimes he looks at me as if I should be able to understand him. I wish I could!! I know there is so much going on in his little mind!
Andrew is a happy baby. He is always ready to laugh (especially when we kiss his belly!) and sometimes just looks at me and starts laughing. His sisters are relentless huggers and kissers and are constantly trying to make him laugh. I believe the correct term is "smothering," but he doesn't seem to mind. He adores each of them and loves to play with them.
He is quite a bit tougher and stronger than the girls. He falls, but hardly notices. He knocks over furniture. He loves loud noises. When we dunk him in the pool he doesn't mind.
My favorite things about Andrew: How he holds out his little hands for me when he wants to be picked up.  I love our cuddle times when I feed him his bottle before bed. He has a special place he puts his head on my chest then he tucks his little arms in and just cuddles. It is so precious.  I love when I pick him up to hold him and he pats and rubs my back. He is just so cute and sweet and we are having so much fun with him everyday!

My prayer for Andrew is to become a worshiper of the Lord Jesus Christ. May he follow the Savior with every ounce of his being and lead others to do the same. In his sermon on Sunday at Hickory Harvest in NC, Kurt Gebhards preached about the difference between those who know about Christ and those who really know Christ... and, simply put, it is the difference between heaven and hell. I pray with my entire heart and soul that my Andrew will really truly know Christ. I love you more than words can say sweet baby Andrew!!

Twain Hart

We had such a great time with our dear friends the Comforts, Gilmores and Wenslawskis at Twain Hart Lake!! 

Five and a Half!

Kalena is growing up so fast! It has been hard to keep up with her (literally as now she rides SUPER fast on her new bike). She has finished her year in Kindergarden, lost two teeth, and gotten glasses all in the last few months. She is quite an avid reader now and reads to us every night before bed.

Here are some of Kalena's thoughts about her new bike: "Mommy, I want to just stay out here FOREVER and ride my bike!!" "My bike is like 100 toys all in one." "Mommy... this is exhaustingly fun!"

I love it when Kalena gets hurt (and is crying) while hugging and consoling her she also rubs and pats my back too. It is precious.

I love it when Kalena is trying hard to make a decision, and she always asks me "which one would you pick?" or "What do you think I should do?" It has been fun to think of creative ways to teach her how to make good decisions and I hope she never looses her desire to seek council.

I love it when one of her brothers or sisters goes too close to the street or a pool and Kalena becomes so extremely worried that she just can't handle it. She panics! It just shows me how deeply she loves them.

I love that almost every night Kalena asks me to massage her back and wants to cuddle. We have so many wonderful conversations at night in bed. She is so much fun to talk to.

I love her sweet smile, giggle and laugh.

After Mark and Emily's wedding, late at night, Kalena sat with me on my bed and picked out all the bobby pins from my hair (there were quiet a few). She was so sweet and gentle, and seemed so grown up. We both had so much fun, talking and giggling... it was such a sweet time we shared and I will never forget it. I am so thankful to God for this sweet little girl who is also becoming such a wonderful companion and friend.  I love you Kalena. More than words can say. 

10 Wonderful Years!!

Justin and I celebrated our 10th anniversary with a little getaway. We went an hour north to the beach up by Bodega Bay, and a little town called Occidental. We had been there once before when Justin took me on a surprise trip during our first year of marriage. It was fun to be back in the same town remembering back when we were there 10 years ago. It feels like so long ago. We were such different people and just starting out in our marriage. It is fun to look at how far we have come, and how much more we know and love each other now. This has been the best 10 years of my life.  In every way it has been more than I had ever dreamed of!! Justin is an amazing man to be married to, and such a wonderful friend, partner, teammate and leader... he is my best friend. I look forward to the next 10 years, and all the joy he will bring to my life.  Thank you God for the blessing of Justin in my life. I pray we will have more anniversaries until Jesus comes in the clouds to take us home together with our family.