A Whirl of A Post!;)

 

 The end of last year, into this new year, was really full!! First off, Ryan and I flew to a wedding in Washington! My good friend, Christine got married on  December 16th to a very special guy! We really enjoyed finally getting to meet Jonathan after hearing all about him!;) Much to our joy, the Lord provided money for the trip and we were very honored to be able to share in their day!!!:)

 The wedding topper made this cake!;) Both Jonathan and Christine are pilots!

 One of my favorite pictures..;)

 With both sets of parents-McDonalds on the left and Millers on the right:)

 Cake cutting!!:)

A picture with the happy couple!:)

We were very happy to be able to get a ride down to the Brimlow home and visit briefly!! Their family was planning to drive down to CA for a conference in the next few days, which was our ride home and we were grateful for the time to rest, relax and visit before the long road trip!

 Ryan and I really enjoyed helping harvest the beets in the garden before we left!:) Uncle Daniel is always so kind and makes us feel right at home by giving us things to do! This was a really cold, wet job but we enjoyed it!

 Washing down beets with Ryan by the barn.:)

 I was very excited to meet Micah! He drove over to meet and visit with us! He and Daniela have been in a relationship now for awhile and we are praying for them as they seek God's will. It's funny how time changes things-last time I visited, Daniela and I worked together and talked about our desires and hopes for the future. This time I had to share her company but it was just fine! Micah is a neat guy and really loves the Lord-he even helped with the beets and we had fun getting know him better!:)

 Ryan and Nathan talking about phones and technology...:P We enjoyed getting to see Nathan as he was not going to be driving down with us but, leaving shortly for Columbia.

We left for CA Wednesday morning at 3 am!! We drove  20 hours with a few quick stops for bathroom breaks-very important- and a chance to stretch the limbs. I was never so grateful to stand up!

 Bible reading on the road.....

 After the LONG drive we finally pulled into the Los Angeles area where Mom and Dad met up with us to drive us home! Here's the whole van load left to right: Ryan, Emily (a friend of the Brimlows), Anna, Uncle Daniel, Myself and Daniela:)

 

 

Next came Sophia's Birthday party! This is something we all look forward to! It's always a good time of visiting with family.

 Opening a card.....

 We really pack their dining table!:D

 Daddy and Evie watching the kiddos play......

 In the jumper!!!! This was a major source of enjoyment for the cousins and siblings! There was NO weight limit so even some of the adults were trying it out, including, Uncle Victor, Mommy and Daddy!;) It was so fun to see the little ones come down screaming and laughing!

 I love Samantha Jane's expression here!:)

Saying goodbye with a cupcake...or two....:)

 After we left the party, we drove up to Corona to meet and visit with Daddy's cousin, Rodney and his family who were visiting from Canada. Daddy really enjoyed seeing him again, as it has a been many years since they last visited!

 This is a present from Oma!! We love having this picture-it's such a treasure to be able to see what Daddy looked like as a baby! Wasn't he adorable!?

 The boys always enjoy playing Oma's wii-especially games like saber-duels and tennis!

 Building a "domino set" with Jenga blocks-it works.;)

Evie enjoying Oma's dogs with Rodney's wife and daughter.:D

 

 After a wonderful Christmas, the van was loaded up and packed for Oak Glen! The Brethren meeting ( where Mommy was saved as a little girl) was unable to hold their annual conference up in Murrieta, so the Lord opened the door to have it at Oak Glen Christian Conference Center. This was especially fun as it was cold and we actually had some snow!!

 Mealtime....

 The Tang family joined us this year and we really enjoyed their company! They slid into the whole weekend really well!

 Volleyball during free time in the gym!

 The fountain in front of the dining hall froze!

 More volleyball!

 Dinner with Mr. and Mrs. McDonald-it's so funny how both our families go back in the meeting, before Christine and I ever met at Kako!! The Lord does that-it's really special!

 Mom and Mrs. Tang talking over dinner!

 A lively breakfast table, with Natey, Caytlin, Kristie,  Joanna, Joshua Tang, Joshua Sebo and Daniel!:)

New Year's Eve they had a talent night. just like previous years. So this year, Caytlin and the Tang girls, Kristie and Joanna sang a trio, Natey sang a solo, and Daniel played the ocarina

 I enjoyed visiting with Mrs, McDonald again!;)

 Table groups on the last day! The Mc Donalds and Uncle Paul!

 Osborns and  Rugas- old family friend of ours and the McDonalds-and some new Persian friends!

 The Tangs enjoyed meeting old friends of ours and making their own new friendships!

 Mommy and her Evie girl-she's growing up so fast!

 The meeting chapel......

 Uncle Joe and Aunt Grace-we love these people a lot!

Our two rows....right in the front so we will be good and quiet!;)

 The weekend flew by and the new year dawned on us quickly! We had a wonderful time fellowshipping with family in the Lord. When the church comes together to worship, we all come as one body. Despite our different backgrounds we have that common bond-Jesus Christ and that bond draws us together. Through this bond Christians from all walks of life can come together and encourage and strengthen one another in the Lord. We enjoyed prayer meetings in the morning, delicious meals, convicting and challenging messages, as well as quality time visiting and sharing with fellow believers one-on-one, enjoying God's goodness!

 After we had loaded up the van, Mr. Tang proposed going for a hike as they have some really pretty trails. Even though we've been there many times we never actually had hiked them till this trip! It was actually a pretty intense hike for our group and almost everyone made it to this spot-including Daddy, Mommy, and  Ryan who carried Evie all the way!!! This was one of the funnest hikes I've ever been on! This picture is taken about 3/4 of the way up. We had planned to go all the way up but just as we thought we were nearing the top, we realized there was still quite a ways to go, so we headed down as Daddy was ready to go.

 Most of our hiking group-we are missing some people...:P

 On the way down from Oak Glen we stopped at the Los Rios Rancho to buy some apples! Mr. Tang wanted to stop for a snack and we enjoyed walking around this fun store!

 Moms:)

 It's here already! How time flies!

 Some awfully friendly customers!;)

 We have a friend who had her wedding reception here! It's so lovely!

These four had a lot of  fun together! (I've really enjoyed watching my siblings as they are getting older-they are such loving friends! They are growing up and it's an interesting thing to sit back and watch them interact.)

 The hike left us  all hungry and so Daddy invited the Tangs to Mexi Casa! However, as we were up in the mountains busy with the retreat, we failed to remember it was New Year's Day! Well they were closed sadly but, Mr. Tang invited us to try "real" Chinese food!! We like to be adventurous and try different things as a family-this was a lot of fun!

 There were many things to try out and the Tangs enjoyed watching our expressions as we tasted them! Everything was good!:P The soups were especially yummy! After we finished eating, we looked around the market (the restaurant was in a Chinese mall)! It was all very interesting, and exciting as the Tangs answered all our questions!;) Mr. Tang also helped us to find the correct ingredients we would need to make won-tons (something Opa taught us how to make) which we all enjoy!

 

 The next day we worked away in our pajamas at making these wantons! (This picture is especially for you, Opa!;)

 Us three girls at work-well if you can call what Evie's doing work....;)

Dad wanted to taste test a wonton. That would have created a domino effect of little hands (and not so little) following their Daddy's example:)

 It was then home for the next few days to wash and repack for Ironwood! This year our family went to  Nehemiah Work Week! We really enjoyed it and hope to go again next year!!

 It's a wonderful "cowboy" sort of place and everything is western themed! Including western movie theme songs that play as you walk across the porch to register! Makes you feel like a real cowboy, minus the gear!

 Almost all of our name tags!:)

 Settling in-the cabins are so cozy and beautiful! We just fit and were very glad to be able to be all together! Since this was our first time we didn't know they provide linens, so we packed all the blankets we had, pretty much, only to find we didn't even need them!:P

Evie exploring  the main bed

 Our  front door to the left and the dinning room just behind us. It was very convenient.

 In all the busyness of the weekends and retreats, this little girl had gone from pulling herself up and standing to really walking!!!!! She is now a good little walker, though still wobbly, she loves to be free!!! Her little legs are getting stronger everyday!

 They had delicious camp food!;)

 A quick family picture we grabbed at the beginning of the week-there was no time for it otherwise!

 Here the working starts-Daddy and the boys dug 3 or 4  large holes in an effort to locate a pipe blockage. They found it! They don't call this Nehemiah Work Week for nothing!  It feels great to get into bed each night and of course the morning comes too fast!;)

 The three little boys were part of the pygmy crew which is the children's work group and they did their share of the work! The boys helped pick up and clear areas of trash, leaves, bottle caps, pull up old carpet from a putting course etc. and re-stock LOTS of firewood!

 During their free time they loved riding in the "Barrel Of Fun!!" I love how Timmy is sticking out his head to talk to one of the pygmy leaders! His expression says, "Now I can get out of here if I need to, right???"

 (Mommy and the kiddos during naptime) Breakfast was at 7:30, we started work at 8 am and EVERYONE worked. Mom helped in the kitchen making food the first two days, after that she spent the next two assisting on the pygmy crew. All of that with Evie on her back in a pack. Ten o'clock was a  very welcome drink break and then it was off to take a nap (just the little ones.) The rest of us worked till lunch time. At noon we ate lunch and then went back to work till 5:00.   Next came a meeting, followed by dinner and then free time.

 Waiting for the end of the day work meeting to begin, in which everyone comes together to share what got accomplished and what the Lord was teaching them through their work!

 The pygmy crew always had fun transportation!

 Working hard.....

 It always felt like the guys did the really hard work but, someone's got to keep the restrooms clean! Here Anne-Marie and I were just finishing up!

 I told you they work those kiddos well! The little guy holding the shovel is Andrew Reece, a friend who keeps me laughing!;)

 Dish Duty for Caytlin and her new friend, Naomi!

 Mealtime was always a welcomed event!;)  It was a really tiring but fun week.

 Joshua and I celebrated our birthdays this past month! He turned 7 on the fourth and I turned 20 on the eighteenth We both enjoyed celebrating, with an evenings at the beach!

 Finally, last weekend, was our church's Men's Retreat! Dad, Ryan, Daniel and Isaiah enjoyed going again this year. By the Lord's provision, they were able to drive up to Victory Ranch Friday evening!

 Watching a session by John Piper, speaking on the lives of different Christians. They said all the videos were really good!

 A good sized group

  question and answer time

Like I said, these past two months have been so full of the Lord's blessings and lessons! What He has in store for us this year, we do not know. With plans to do schooling and work we know the Lord has lots to teach us! We look forward to the great things He has in store for us as a family, and as individuals!

Sometimes we can feel like we aren't doing much or going anywhere and then suddenly in a whirl the Lord takes us here, there, and everywhere! The waiting can be so hard and we wonder when things are "still" if God has forgotten us?? He hasn't. He is simply teaching us to be patient, to wait on Him and do the next thing. He has our best in mind but, He wants to teach us things that we will need for our future in serving Him, our families, ultimately bringing glory to Him!!

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."  
                                                     Jeremiah 29:11