Zach's New Moves...

Eating while asleep...
Pulling himself up..
The Bumbo back bend...
Sitting up by himself...
Impersonating Baby Huey!!

Turning 36!!!

That's rite. Tomorrow I turn 36. At least tomorrow here, other parts of the world I will still be 35 a bit longer. Taylor thought I was 40 Katie thought I was 13. Or vice versa ~ anyways. I am blessed. The number is not significant, but I am grateful that God has allowed me another year with my family. This has been a remarkable year for many reasons. It will be a great day. We will wake up and have our devotions, do our schoolwork, go to the park, flute lessons and out to dinner. This is not a perfect birthday to some but for me the only thing missing is Jason!

I am losing my voice, so tomorrow I will be quiet before the Lord. God often uses tough measuress to get me to stop talking!! The past week has been full of fevers, soar throats, contact allergies, other allergic reactions. Our family has taken a beating in the sickness catergory. But as I told the girls, stand strong. We won't go down without a fight. Satan is trying to defeat us while Daddy is away. We will not let him win. We are a bit slower but we have not been overcome!

We have to remember that even in our daily walks that the battle already won we do not have to struggle. Jesus has won the battle and will provide. He always does. Like a meal from a friend, a neighbor who picks up your dog food that you forgot at the commissary so you don't have to run back out, a sister in Christ who makes you laughs and encourages you! A husband who is faithful to call and pray with you! A daughter who cooks a wonderful dinner by herself, kiddos who try to help even in the little things, like making Bubby laugh or keeping him out of trouble so I can shower and know all is well for that 10 minutes.

Thank you Lord for all the good things in my life.

Bubby on the Move

Zach is movin' and a shakin' nothing can stop him from getting where he wants to go...

A tribute to being 3

Being 3 is the best. Katie just does what she wants to Zach, here she is

putting matching caps on and just loving him.

" Momma I need Zachy in the basket" sure why not. He is happy anywhere!

Here Katie had called me " Momma help I'm hot" As I start to take

her dance clothes off, she had put 6 different leotards on. No wonder she was hot!!

This was Katie getting herself ready to go to the Doctors.
Head Band On - check
Socks Pulled Up - check
Groovy Dance - check
Proud 3 year old - check

Life Is Good !!!!

Crazy Hair Night

Wednesday night at church it was crazy hair night in children's church. We went a
little pipe cleaner crazy but we all had alot of fun!!!

YOU ME

I recieved a phone call from a local Okinawa woman last week. Her name is Yume - "just like you and me she said". She just wanted to talk about Jesus. So I sat and talked with her. She calls phone numbers to talk about Jesus and share what He has done for us. It has been great talking with her. She said that she just calls numbers in order from 1-??? and talks to whoever will listen. We read scriputres together and share with each other about Jesus and His promises.

It has been really wonderful. She is very kind and is knowledgeable in the Word. It is a strange thing to encourage someone from another country and share since we are sisters in Christ but have never met. What a bold witness for Christ she is. What an example of sharing the gospel. She will call me again next week and we will talk about God's promises. Today we read

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

12 And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. 13 Let us hear the

conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments,

For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment,

Including every secret thing,Whether good or evil.

What a neat thing to read and discuss God's word although she is a stranger in this world she is not a stranger in the body of Christ..

Katie Turns 3

Katie had a great day! Our friends (Meghan, Dustin, Lily and Annie) came over to celebrate with us! This is really the first year Katie totally gets that it is her birthday.

So she was really excited. This is Katie pretending she is a clown with a tutu on her head...
Zachary (wearing what Jason calls his jail suit) and I hanging out..

Jason surprised us all with Jelly Bean the clown. He came and did a few tricks,
made balloon animals and really cracked us up.

I was a little worried when Jelly Bean sat down in this chair it was Jason's when he was a boy. But the chair survived..

Our friends listening intently to Jelly Bean... Meghan helped Jelly Bean out with several tricks. Meghan loves clowns!! Surprise!! Surprise!!

Meghan doing her thing..

Zach partied out!!

What's a birthday without a little Karaoke..

More Jelly Bean!!

Okinawa World

A nice Japanese man offered to take our picture, little did we know

another man was giving us bunny ears in the background!

Traditional Eisa Dancers

Gyokusendo Cave - the stalagmites and stalactites in this cave were unbelievable.
Some were as big as 20 meters high. The cave was enormous and we really enjoyed it.
It was also pretty neat to see live creatures as we ventured through.











The Snake and Mongoose Show
We started off watching a snake and mongoose race. The snake was a bit slow, the mongoose won. The girls were very brave and wanted to sit in front. We sat in back with the strollers. They had the infamous Habu and a Cobra. The last picture was our big moment. For those of you who know me well this picture will shock you. I must say my smile wasn't really a smile it was fear personified! The things we will do for our kids.. P.S. only in Oklinawa can you play with a mongoose on a pink leash!!



A little Habu Liquor?? Yummy..

Pet Mongoose anyone??
A lizard hut that Samantha could have stayed in all day.
The Cobra
The Habu
The first and the last time this will ever happen !!!