Kittens at their new home

We were looking for families for our four kittens and a visitor decided to take two of them to live in the yard at their church.  Their children loved them and we were so encouraged that they went to a wonderful home.

Our new (old) house

We have moved back to the house we lived in two years ago.  It is near the sea with wonderful neighbors.  We praise the Lord, right after we moved in, the new owner started putting up a porch that provides a shaded place for us to sit and eat and enjoy the view of the nearby pine trees.

Our two dogs are happier here because they can sleep in the cool dirt under the fruit trees. 

We painted the living room of the house we moved out of.  We want to be a blessing and leave a good testimony.

Cool place to eat

We recently found a new restaurant near our city that is up in the foresty hills a bit.  You can sit with your feet in the water while you enjoy fresh fish.

Jet's new friend

God sent a street puppy with a limp to our doorstep and we decided to keep her.  She is super sweet and energetic and has made a great companion for our Jet.  He brings toys to play together and they like to wrestle.  We thank God for healing her limp so she can run and play. Her name is Melahat.

Three new editions

This is Jet, our big baby.  He gets bigger every week.  But he is a sweet, fun and calm puppy who loves everyone!

 This winter we finally bought a wood stove to heat our living room.  We loved it!  It was toasty warm inside and we made tea and roasted chestnuts on it!

 We invested in a beautiful dining room table that is one of a kind and my favorite color!

What a blessing!

 I got to see my friend Kristi 8 years and 4 kids later!  It was good to remember all the wonderful times we spent studying, praying, and serving together during college. 

 Her family gave my sister and I the gift of free passes to Magic Mountain and we headed out with four kids ready for the day! Also, notice they are wearing the socks I brought them as gifts :)

 There were lots of fun surprises like running into these guys, riding Batman 3 times in a row, and free food and desserts all day!

We had fun riding on stuff with the kids, and God blessed us with enough time to ride on everything we wanted to without waiting in many long lines.  It was a perfect day!

Good friends

 This may be the last time I see this family before they head off to where God will use them to reach many.  I have their Hope key chain to remind me to pray.  They bring hope to many.

 I am always up for an encouraging chat over dessert with my friend who has been with me through thick and thin and is always just there to listen.

 My sister and I stopped at my friend Tammy's house for Halloween night and got to watch the candy fiends collect it all and then they spread it all out on the table and the trading began!  It reminded me of all the fun we had each year trick-or-treating and then eating it for months!

Tammy brought all her kids to stay with us for a week and we had loads of fun together.  We enjoyed pizza, lazer tag, the children's museum, baseball in our yard, and playing games together.  I really enjoyed getting to know each of her kids better.  When my dad shot a deer early one morning, they all wanted to see it, so he brought it home and after that every time we sat down to eat, one little guy kept asking, "Are we eating that deer?" 

 We went to visit my good friend Kari and her son points at my dad and says, "I want HIM to play with me." And then when it was time to read books he says, "Can HE read books to me?"

 My dad was the star of the evening for two-year-old Ollie :)  I always love spending time with Kari and her kids.  They are like little pieces of my friend whom I love so much!

Thankful for family

 I am always thankful to get to see my gramma and hear more of her stories of experience and fun.  I love eating fun foods like tater tots and mac and cheese with her too!

 My niece came with me on a trip to visit a good friend at her farm and also to share with a group of young people.  It was an adventure for both of us.

 My parents came with me on an overnight trip to share.  Here we are relaxing and reading after a long day of visiting.

My uncle came to hear me and visit and told me that he prays for me every night.  Family are the ones who support you forever no matter where you go.

This sweet girl is one of the things that I am always happy about, and she makes everyone she is around happy too!

One of the best parts of this trip was getting to see my niece's kids for the first time in person.  I can't tell you what those hugs and smiles meant to me!