We have been so busy this year back in the states. Father's Day was our one year anniversary back in the states since we flew back from Quito, Ecuador. June 15th we were in Durham, NC, a place that we have many friends, that we called home for 5 years. Here is a picture of the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. My parents flew to Texas to have Christmas with the grandkids. We drove to Marlow, OK just before New Year's Eve. In January Ben and Beka began school at Norwood Elementary. It was about a mile from the house. Many times the kids would ride bikes or walk. It was great to have them at the same school. Abigail began preschool at Charity Lutheran Mother's Day Out. Nate began homeschool using K12 curriculum through the TXVA program. We had lots of field trips and reading. In March Phil went back on a mission trip to Quito. They had a blessed week with Arizona SBC believers. We went to the Dallas Zoo and Come Worship Texas in Alvarado, Texas. I know the name is odd, but it was a Christian concert with Francis Chan as a guest speaker. It was awesome. Nate and I also saw Pillar, Skillet, Jeremy Camp, and Mercy Me from the front row. In May we began packing up for our departure from Texas. We'll write about the trip next.

Rebekah's Graduation

Rebekah Praise graduated from kindergarten. Here she is with the Norwood Viking in Burleson, Texas. Beka is 5 and worked very hard to learn: count to 100, the alphabet and its sounds, reading and writing sight words. May she continue to grow in the Lord's wisdom.

How can a young person keep his life pure? By keeping with your word. Psalm 119:9