Our June Going-on's

June 5th we moved to our new place in Wichita. We attended our first ever "Homeschool Convention" and suffered a fair share of culture shock on that one! Didn't realize that the majority of the homeschoolers that I am surrounded by homeschool their children out of necessity. With diligence and a good attitude, but often because their is not another option. I didn't realize that there is a "Homeschool Movement." I guess that's what happens when you are gone for 3 plus years.

We were on the Kid's "Summer Camp" circuit, speaking at several different ones! Our kids enjoyed being able to attend and we had fun sharing stories and pictures of our world with the children.

Good times with Dave, Laurie and their girls. Ethan busted his chin on "water slide" in our backyard and Austin got a first hand lesson on super gluing wounds. I'm sure that will be helpful for future accidents.

All in all, a good month of settling into our new and temporary normal.

Family Time in May

This May we spent lots of time with our families. We were able to join in celebrating Lauren's 10 year old birthday, celebrated Austin's birthday with both families and were a part of my cousin's wedding. We lived out in the country with Austin's mom and did our best to be helpful around the house and farm/land.

We also enjoyed some of the American cuisine that we had been missing. Elli worked on developing a taste for American loaf bread and deli meat; both very foreign tastes for her little pallet.

What we came home to

I know that there is no way I can go back and blog about all that has been/happened since I last blogged. Yet there is so much I wish I would have blogged about; wish I would have captured. So I'm going to try and capture the highlights, knowing that I'll still miss things. By this point in time, we've seen many of the people that even read this blog, so you know much of what will be posted. I guess it's more for me than anything else.

Thursday, April 22nd mid-afternoon we got a phone call that we honestly never had anticipated. Papa Frank, Austin's dad, passed away. The shock, the sadness, the weight of how far away we were is more than I can describe, but yet I can re-live it all instantly as though it were just yesterday.

Thursday night we had dinner and prayed together with our dear friends, who are really so much like our family. They all pitched in from finding us tickets, transporting us over the mountains to the capitol, to packing up our house after we left.

By Friday noon, less than 24 hours after receiving word, we were leaving our valley. We had just traveled this same road 3 days earlier when we returned from sending my parents back to the States. We arrived in Wichita, Kansas Sunday evening, after 10 p.m. Sweet faces of dear family and friends met us at the airport. And then we traveled on to Southeast Kansas. The relief was real to finally get there and be with family, to grieve together.

Monday night, on ultimate jet lag, we stood with Vickie and greeted all who came to the family night at United Chapel Church. It was so right to be able to stand with family. The memorial service was Tuesday morning and the funeral home was full to overflowing. It was a powerful testimony of a faithful man who loved God and loved people!
We came home to lots of time together with family; to lots of reliving memories and creating new ones; to support, love and prayers; to more opportunities for trust.

First Day of School

It's been far too long since I've blogged. I've had every intention to, but just haven't done it for one reason or another (hundred reasons). But I thought Ethan's first day in Kindergarten was a noteworthy occasion to get some pictures up! My big 5 year old boy has been in school for 2 days; 9 a.m.-4:10 p.m.

Of course Mommy had to get some pictures before I would let him out the door.

Ethan wanted to wear the shirt that Aunt Jenni had bought him for school. Despite it being hot, this is what he wore!

Elli wanted to be a part of the photo shoot.
With her toy cell phone, she clicked countless pictures of big brother
. . . all the way to school!

This was Ethan's pose idea
"Look Mom, I'm going to school!"


We didn't even make it out of the school building and Elli was asking "Where's my Ethan? I want my Ethan." They are really great buddies and she (and Mom) are really going to miss him!

Here's Ethan's desk, laden with a bag full of new school supplies.

And this is his teacher. In my opinion, she's one lucky teacher!