Life goes on...

My brain is tired but I wanted to share a few pictures of life here.

All those toys and all the kid really wants is a cardboard box or a bucket of water!

Typical family dinner, except Annie doesn't usually sit in the high chair - she's too small for it, I just like trying it out. :)

Will has made a habit of dragging his chair, motorcycle, cars and books outside in the mornings. He sits and 'reads' by himself in the shade outside his bedroom window. Usually Auntie is hanging laundry up in the sunshine and I am attending to all of Annie's needs inside. I think Will got the idea from our weekend practice of taking chairs to the backyard and reading, singing, playing and talking together.
Will is such a loving big brother to Annie. He continues to be thrilled to have a sister and he loves to talk to her, play with her, share his toys with her, and be with her. I love watching them together. Today I was sitting at the table holding Annie while Will was finishing his lunch. Annie was grinning at him, and he started giggling. Pretty soon they were just looking at eachother and laughing back and forth until Annie got hiccups! I felt left out of whatever joke they were laughing at, but it was just so fun to see them so happy together. I pray that God will guard their relationship and make it rich. I hope I can video them together and post it on here sometime soon.
Here's a picture of Will helping Auntie shell peas. He loves to participate in everything she does around the house. I have no idea how we would survive without her tremendous help!

Home Again

We just returned home from a short weekend in Shimla. I guess the only people who knew we were gone were the people we went with, although only the destination was last-minute. The truth is that we've been exhausted lately with work and caring for our family, so when our quarter break arrived, off we went without time or energy to let anyone know! I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the wide variety of landscapes and being away from home with no cooking and cleaning to do. I loved spending time with friends and my wonderful family, and walking and sleeping. Unfortunately, the drive was long and the days we had in Shimla were both holidays- first Holi (a Hindu holiday of color-throwing...) and then Easter (a precious Christian holiday!). We did manage to see a zoo and the Liverpool vs Manchester United 'football' match (on TV of course). Enjoy a few pictures of our time away.

Pete, Dot and Maureen looked after our kids and spoiled them so much.

Trying to make sense of the map. Notice the compass and you'll see why:
Yes, we were 'colored' during Holi.

Celebration of Holi in Shimla - yes, everyone does walk around all colored like this.

Busy Weekend

Monday: "Here's the pile of diapers I went through this weekend! Thanks to Auntie, they're clean!"
- Annie

Jesus Loves Will

This is a video of Will singing tonight at bedtime.

Happy Kids

Annie gives us the most beautiful smiles!





Will is full of fun - here he's basking in the sun on the 1st of March!

...everyone's doin' it...

Before I get too caught up on work, I figured I'd try out this "bloggin" thing cuz "everyone's doin' it". I find it so fun to view the blogs of friends and family- so many people living fascinating lives, learning so much and sharing their thoughts and experiences. I hope that my posts will bring you great joy as well.

"Detta är den dag som HERREN har gjort;
låtom oss på den fröjdas och vara glada." Psaltaren 118:24
"This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 ~New American Standard Bible (©1995)

This verse is old in my mind. It was one of the first songs I learned in Swedish and I don't remember not knowing it. It brings back dusty Bangui days and bright Yaounde haze as my mind jumps to a phrase which I determined to live out late in High School:
"Wherever you are, be ALL there."
I hope to not forget that THIS is the day that the Lord has made! Therefore I can be full of JOY and can LIVE in this place and time for Him.