Kids at Alpenrose, 2013

She loves to pose

They really do love one another

Laughing as Isaac makes faces and spits...yuck!

This is a classic look we see a lot :)

Thinking his sister is funny

First summer with new man teeth.

Is Isaac done taking pictures???

Even when they look like this, I LOVE THEM!

I love these kiddos more every day.

Warrior Dash

Big finish! Sliding down together.

The race started off clean

Dirty winner.

Muddy Girl Guns

The hats and shirts we got from the race

Using the little cup of water to clean my hands...didn't work

Before. Mixed Greens

After. Muddy Messes.

Joe was fueled by free Monster drinks.

Beth with her own was of coming down

Never thought I would want to jump in this lake to "clean" off...but it was great

Anne-Marie and Kara

Adult Time--Three Dates, One Night!

Family time is rare, but adult time alone...even more rare. When we can get it, we jump on it. One night, our friends took our kiddos for a sleep-over. We had 3 dates in one night. We were given free concert tickets to Pink Martini that came with food and drinks, FANTASTIC. After that we walked around Portland with Starbucks in hand (because it was an amazing night and because we were already getting tired...it wasn't even 10) talking and enjoying the culture of the city. Our third date was a Groupon for an 80's cruise along the river with friends on the Portland Spirit. We got our second wind and danced until they kicked us off the boat. We went to bed after 2!!! I don't remember the last time I stayed up that late. :)

Kalamath, Crater Lake and Caves

Even though we were trapped inside more than we anticipated (trying to escape hungry mosquitoes that only really love to eat Mom), we had a great time together as a family. We saw Crater Lake, played in the little bit of snow that was still on the ground, spent lots of time at the pool, rode bikes, watched Chopped on the Food Network, and explored the inside of lava tube in caves just inside the CA border. As long as we are together, the vacation is a hit.

Lau Boys

What a gift to spend the day with the Lau's two youngest boys. We don't get to see them often because they live in Africa with their family. Their dad and mom work with SIM as missionaries at a Christian hospital in a Muslim area where 1 out of 6 children die before the age of 5 and was voted the worst place in the world (yes, the whole world) to be a mother.

It is was a fantastic day just playing together. It was an extra bonus for our kiddos to be reminded of the fact that the missionaries that we give to and pray for are not just faces on the fridge. They are kids they love who live in a place far away that God has great plans for. It is a good reminder for me too. As I watched them play, laugh and dig, I prayed and prayed...for God's protection over them (because physical danger is really real in Niger)...for God to raise up teachers to teach the missionary kids at the compound...for God to bring skilled workers and the funds to build the new part of the hospital that will especially help in the maternity ward...that The Lau family would feel a connection with their church family back in the states (and that we would faithfully reach out to them in addition to praying for them)...that they would be wise and strong in Jesus...that SIM would pull them out if and when danger gets too high in the area...that those helped in the hospital would hear the gospel and long to be saved spiritually in addition to physically...and that Christ would be glorified.

When we pray those things as a family, it is nice for the kids to think of times with Stewart and Andrew, their friends, not just the faces on the fridge.