Visitors From Across The World

Two weekends ago Matt's cousin Melinda, her husband Micheal, and their three kids, Jessica, Josiah, and Eli came to visit us. It had been 9 years, I think we figured out, since they had seen each other last. Melinda and her family are missionaries in Nepal. They have been there for nine years now, only coming to the U.S. a few times for shorter stays. They are in the U.S. for nine months visiting family, friends, and supporters. The first part of their time here in the U.S. is takinga 8 or 9 week road trip (with the entire family) to visit many of these people.

It was the first time I had met them and it was the first time we each got to meet each others kids. Jessica is 5, Josiah 3 and Eli 19mo. They were all born within months of Jack , Mallory and Rachel! Needless to say the kids all had a blast! The girls played dress-up nonstop. The boys enjoyed jumping on the trampoline and playing soccer.

We went to the pumpkin patch one day and all picked out pumpkins to decorate. The kids had fun painting the pumpkins, gluing on eyeballs and pom-poms and sticking pipe cleaners in their pumpkins. They each created a unique pumpkin masterpiece of their own.

On Sunday we decided to just have church at home. We sang songs, talked about a story from the book of Matthew, and prayed together. They taught us some Nepali words and songs. The kids' favorite part was when we did a mass prayer, a Nepal tradition. It is when you stand around in a circle, hold hands and all pray out loud at the same time. It was an amazing morning, and God's presence was very clear, even if it was just in the playroom of our house.

Overall their visit was wonderful and I feel so lucky to have met them and to have heard what they had to share about their lives. They are an amazing family. (Hopefully I will have some pictures up soon!)

Did You Know?

• An extra pair of socks kept in the diaper bag can be a lifesaver at a restaurant, when used for sock puppet entertainment.
• Apparently, if you don't have a Kleenex available a stair case hand railing is a good place for a booger.
• Fruity Pebbles and milk, if left for more than 10 minutes, is the equivalent to cement or super glue.
• By the time you clean the downstairs of your house the upstairs of the house that you just cleaned can be destroyed.
• Places like the post office, bank, library, and grocery store have the power to change your children into possessed little beings.
• Flat paint was invented by someone who didn't have kids.

Bad Blogger...Bad

I promise I am going to spend some time blogging tonight. I have so much to share. We have been going, going, and gone some too over the past three weeks. I hope to get some blog time tonight after the kids get in bed.

Prayer***UPDATED

Matt's grandma came through her surgery well. The doctors said the surgery went as planned and she is expected to make a full recovery. Praise God!

Thank you for all your prayers.

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This weekend has been kind of rough for Matt and his family. His grandma (mom's mother) went into the hospital over two weeks ago with a severe case of sinusitis. On Friday, we found out there was a golf ball size abscess on her brain. The infection got into her brain and she will undergo brain surgery tomorrow at 7:30am.

This evening Matt received a call from his dad telling him that his mom, Matt's other grandma, had passed away in her sleep this afternoon. She was very old and had been in poor health for many years.

Her funeral is going to be on Wednesday. So right after Grandma Barbara's surgery on Monday, Matt's parents will leave on Tuesday to be with his dad's family here in Beaver, Oklahoma until Thursday. This will be especially hard for Bonnie( Matt's mom) who will have to leave her mom so soon after surgery, at such a volatile state. Please be in prayer for our families.

The Mom Song Sung to William Tell Overture with Lyrics