Making It On Our Own

 Karis and Daisy

 Karis

 Silly Ben

Ben Daisy and Jolie

Psalm 91 by Caleb Karis and Benjamin!!!

The kids learned 2 verses a week for 7 weeks until the memorized the entire chapter!!!  Ben even helps them a little in this video.  enjoy!!!

Mike

Ben Turns 2

Thanks Nana and Papa!

Playing in the Rain

Dancing in the Rain

Not sure what they are supposed to be here!

Playing in the sprinkler

Pushing Dad down the slip 'n slide, shortly before Mom got thrown down the slip 'n slide

Blowing out the candles

Cake good!

We celebrated Ben's second birthday yesterday. It rained all morning, but that didn't bother Ben much. We had planned to play in the morning with water toys in the yard. Since Ben was OK with the rain, we just played in the rain in the yard with water toys.

In the afternoon we got ready for a dinner meeting with another family and made a cake for the big day. Everyone around celebrated. I roasted a chicken for supper with mashed potatoes (Karis' favorite). The chicken head, feet and organs went to the man that helps us around the house, he was delighted. The skin, bones and some meat went to the evening guards, they couldn't say thank you enough times. I drew a little Elmo face in icing on Ben's cake. It was a rather pitiful attempt, but he recognized it. All went well until I cut the cake and Elmo's face was on four pieces. I never could understand if Ben was upset that I cut Elmo or that he didn't get all four pieces!

Since we didn't buy a gift for Ben to bring, we had to get that here. He got a goofy little plastic guitar, which he LOVES, and some million dollar bubbles! OK, they weren't a million dollars, but knowing I can buy a couple gallon in the states for less than we paid does not make me feel great about the purchase. Ben thinks they are super wonderful, though, so I guess that works.

So, it was a pretty good day. A little weird, but a good day.

Heather

Ben "If You Give a Pig a Pancake"

This is Ben reading his favorite book. "If you give a Pig a Pancake."

Mike

Saturday Fun

It was a rainy day today. There wasn't much to do for most of the day. But around 5:00 the clouds broke and so we got out the slip 'n slide. All of the kids love water, so that's always a hit.

Thought you might like to see some smiling faces today. Gotta save my real news for the October prayer letter. Let me know if you need to get on our email list for that!

Love,
Heather

Beauty for Ashes

When we came back from our time in the states and Canada, our yard was looking a bit neglected and pitiful. With the wonderful tropical climate here, even me, being a terrible gardener, can keep a few flowers going. With lack of love and care the flower beds were a little ragged. With just a little watering and weeding they are looking a little better now.

It reminds me of the scripture where God promised beauty for ashes. We all make a pretty good mess of our lives, but with just a touch from the creator, He can make something good from what we have ruined.