The Scott Cuties

We love living with the Scott family. Since rent is out of control in the area we live in, we decided to move into a house with another family. The Scotts have three little girls who are so sweet and cute. We love them.  

Sammy!

 We sure love our little cousin Sammy! He is such a sweet little boy and we love it when he comes to play!

Fall 2015

I think these are my favorite ages of my children of all time. Each child is so amazing. I love our conversations we have all day long and how each one of them is learning and growing in so many amazing ways everyday. Justin and I think we have the best children that have ever lived on the planet. We love each of them so deeply and wake up every morning so excited to have another day with each of them. We thank God for entrusting each of these little lives to us. 

Easter 2016

Easter 2016 was the best Easter ever! We went camping on Mt. Diablo and had an Easter morning egg hunt in our campground. The weather was beautiful. We had an amazing campsite with really great climbing trees. We took a hike around the summit and it even started to snow on us as we hiked. It was a hike we will never forget. The green hills and beautiful flowers were declaring the beauty and creativity of our Lord. We are so thankful for nature and how it shows us glimpses of God. 

Anfisa's Party

I have fallen in love with a little girl here in Kazakhstan. Her name is Anfisa and she turned 9 today. She has Cerebral Palsy. We had the honor to go to her birthday party... and what a fun party it was! It was at a place called Bloomville Kids Cafe. It was the most amazing place. The staff had a program to entertain and feed the kids for 5 hours. They did everything... crafts, games, playing out on play structures, and eating yummy food. There were two parties there and the amazing staff organized all the kids there into a circus show and even roped some of us parents into it too. I was dressed up like a monkey and given a tutu. With not being able to understand Russian... I was getting the feeling they were asking me to dance when Anfisa waves her wand at me. They had all the kids come up and do all sorts of funny things (funny that was transcending even language and culture) and when it was my turn, and that sweet little girl with a smile that melts my heart waved her little want at me... I did my best monkey and then went nuts and danced to the crazy music they began to play. It was ridiculously funny. Anfisa's laugh was all I needed to keep me going. I can honestly say there are few people in the world I would do a "crazy dancing monkey" for but Anfisa is on the top of that list. She has had and continues to go through so much 

painful therapy and muscle stretches... but she always has the brightest smile that is electric. Her mom shared with me that watching her child go through this has been hard and she has questioned "why" to the Lord, and shed many tears over the years. However, Anfisa says she trusts that God has a big plan for her. Her mom fully trusts in the Lord, and also shared that they have had some amazing people they have connected with in a support group. She says God's plan might be for them to share Christ with these and others. I am so thankful I have met this family and they will always be an encouragement to me. I will always pray for this sweet little girl, Anfisa, in Kazakhstan, who has completely stolen my heart! 

Back in Kazakhstan

Our first days in Kazakhstan have been so amazingly fun. We have enoyed getting to see the town and learn our way around our new neighborhood. It's been fun to have some thunderstorms in the evenings too! The food has been great and the kids love trying the new cereals. Fruits and veggies are very cheap so everyone is excited about that. We are loving reconnecting with all our sweet friends here!! 

Sports Camp in Kazakhstan

 We are having a great time at "English In Action" sports Camp, here in Kazakhstan.  The children we are serving are from an orphanage here in town. It is such a heavy burden I wrestle with in my heart to comprehend that these sweet kids have no mommy to care for them and cuddle them. It is just not ok. I have completely fallen in love with one little boy. He and my daughter Sara could absolutely be twins, and his is about her age. I am really praying that someday the Lord will allow us to adopt a child if it is His will. This precious little boy will now be one of the children who I don't get to keep, but who will remain in my heart forever. I pray, and will pray for the rest of my life, that this sweet boy grows to love the Lord with all his might, and serve Him faithfully.