A Loooooong weekend!

Our first "official" road trip

We visited Southlake Christian Church, Crown Point, IN, this last Sunday, and were blessed to have lunch afterwards with folks from the church at Ponderosa. The drive up took 2 days, we stopped halfway in Lincoln, IL to stay with our good friends, JD and Norma Harrold. Since we are coming back up to this area next weekend, I decided to stay here (at my in-laws in Crown Point, IN) this week. Bill went home with Katrina on Monday, and plans to come back here with her on Friday, God willing. We will then go to Remington Christian Church together on Sunday, and return home together that night. So, this "weekend" has turned into a week away from home, and from my husband and oldest daughter. I am enjoying the extra time with Bill and Carolyn, though. Carolyn even baked me an early birthday cake-- German chocolate... yum yum... my favorite!!

I am REALLY looking forward to seeing Billy and Katrina again this weekend.

The three kids crammed into the backseat, with our luggage piled into the back.

Jonathan having a nap with Grandpa.

Heather and Katrina enjoying bike riding around Grandma's neighborhood.

Jonathan smiling with Grandma.

An early birthday cake, yum, yum... Thank you Carolyn!

Almost 2 months old

Jonathan turns 2 months old in 3 days.

Graduation!

WE GRADUATED!!

This Saturday, we graduated with our MAs from Lincoln Christian Seminary. We started on our degrees in 2004, so it's been a looooong time!! Yippeee, we did it!!

At the reception before-hand.

Walking down the aisle together again!

YES, WE DID IT!

Future class of 2020, and 2022!

And... future class of 2027!

Story time

Can you be addicted to blogging? Anyway, that is beside the point. I just had to post this picture of Heather reading Jonathan a bedtime story. It was so sweet how she was reading to him, and he was looking so intently at the book. SOOO CUTE!

We leave tomorrow for our first "weekend away", which happens to be our graduation from Lincoln Christian Seminary. I'm interested (terrified?) to see how the first road trip with three kids is going to go. It's relatively short, only 2 hours non-kid time. So, that should round up to about 5 hours of "kid time" travel! We'll see how it goes tomorrow...

Field Day

Today was Field Day at Katrina's school. We went to cheer her on. She was in two races, and in the "tire squeeze". I uploaded a video of the tire squeeze, so I hope you are able to download it. Go to the bottom to see the video.














Grandma and Heather cheering from the sidelines.

We used an umbrella to create some shade, it was surprisingly sunny!

Jonathan kept cool in the shade, with Daddy nearby.

I hope you can view the video!

Shriner's hosptial visit

Today was Jonathan's consultation visit at Shriner's hospital. It went very well. They took X-rays and photographs of his right foot, just to document what it looks like now.

The doctor that we met with agrees that Jonathan will be able to stand and walk at a normal age. He will need a special shoe, though. So, we are making plans to come back in January (Jonathan and me) for a few weeks for that fitting and general check-up of the foot.

All the nurses thought he was SOOO cute! It was amazing how many babies we saw there, many for club feet. It is such a blessing that there is treatment available for club feet in America. In Arusha, so many people end up as cripples, just because of club feet that could have been corrected with casts or surgery in infancy. It really makes you think.

The Shriner's are doing a great job and helping so many people! Thank God for them!

Toothless grin

Katrina has lost her top middle tooth now... she looks like a real 1st grader now!

Another beautiful spring day

This Thursday, we went to the part with my parents for a bbq, and bike riding. It was lots of fun. I haven't been on a bike in years!

Grandpa and Heather heading to the bike trail.

Grandma and Katrina on their way to the bike trail.

Jonathan enjoying being held.

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We bar-be-qued some burgers.

MMMM... s'mores!

Rolling, rolling, rolling...

Heather is on the road!
She patiently waited until this month for us to be able to buy her a bike of her own.
She is enjoying riding up and down the street with "sissy". Yeah for Heather!

Billy patiently spent all day trying to buy/install training wheels.

And we're off...

Today, we visited Ferguson Christian Church, one of our supporting churches... in fact the first church that supported us while we were still living on campus at St. Louis Christian College back in the day...

This begins a busy schedule for us, visiting supporting churches. We will be at a different church almost every Sunday now until we return to Arusha in August. We are going to try to see as many of our supporting churches as we can, which will mean many miles under our wheels, many fast food meals on the road, and of course... getting to get reacquanted with those churches that believe in us and have been standing behind us.

Let the adventure begin!!

Day at the Park

We enjoyed the nice weather this Saturday, and spent the whole day at the park. Heather learned how to swing on her own... YEAH! Go girl!

First time swinging alone!

Jonathan hung out in his sling all day, he loves snuggling next to mommy.

Weee!

Yes, that is a McDonald's sandwhich... WHAT?! That counts as picnic food, right??