Favorite Things--Photo Bomb

Yeah, I know. It has been forever since I wrote an actual blog that doesn't involve family.  Well, people, family, these little people, this is what I do.  Day in. Day out.  Sure, there are lots of people in and out for coffee. There are lots of ministry things happening. LOTS! And one day, I will write a blog about those things. One day when I can organize my thoughts and gather some composure over all that God is doing in our midst and all that He is orchestrating around us, I will write it all down in an organized fashion.  But for now, here is a little glimpse into some of our favorite things and our little family that is living in the middle of it all...

Making cookies with these two and that beautiful piece of machinery in the background.  That, my friends, was an amazing gift from my MIL. Isn't it gorgeous?!  It makes cookie-making-chaos with the wee ones a little less chaotic.  And every time we make cookies we talk about that wonderful Grandma and how she blessed us with such a tremendous gift.

Here is Kate enjoying one of our favorite drinks, Salep.  It is actually Turkish (so many things here are--500 year occupation doesn't die out over night). It's milky, cinnamony and kind of like drinking a yummy pot of oatmeal.  Sound weird?  It's amazing!

That boy--teething, coughing and still happy as a horse. 

Making pancakes with Batman. My dream come true.

Rollerblading and...

 biking with this view.  

Climbing trees...

Kate excelling in school!!! She is blowing my mind reading and writing fluently in two languages. (There is a whole blog coming on this girl and school!)

This boy and his flair for the dramatic.

Daddy-daughter love.

Happy baby who sprouted 5 teeth practically overnight.  You never would have known he was teething. 

Belly laughs and brothers.

 

This man and those babies. He is the most amazing dad who has the adoration of these three little ones. He is also one year older and feeling it. :)

Girl time-showing off our newly painted nails.

Mommy date with this kiddo on a gorgeous day.  He is enjoying another one of our favorite drinks.  Hot chocolate Macedonian style (maybe Balkan style).  It is so thick (think pudding) that you have to eat it with a spoon. YUM!!!

This city!  We have so much love for this city and the people that live in all those homes on that beautiful hill!

10 Years

Brian and I made it!!! 10 years. 10 amazing years! 10 fun years!

10 years of excitement

1o years of travel and adventure

10 years of chasing that man up mountain trails and up mountain faces and down rivers and around golf-courses

10 years of walking hand and hand around fun European towns 

1o years of late nights and long talks

10 years of groggy mornings and big cups of coffee

10 years of packing and unpacking and packing again! 

10 years of living out our passion for Jesus together as one! 

10 years of sharpening one another as iron sharpens iron! 

10 years of growing in love with each other more and more every single day

10 years of the occasional fight and tears (shocking, I know.)

10 years of lots of grace!!!

10 years of SO MUCH HAPPY!!!!

(I could go on, but I don't want to be annoying.):)

In 10 years we have grown up a lot.  Let's face it, we were babies when we got married. But that's not so bad. It just means I got to spend more time living my life with the man of my dreams, the man who DAILY challenges me to follow harder after Jesus, the man who is ambitious and self-less and faithful and loyal and kind and who makes me laugh at enginNERD jokes, not because I understand in any way what he is talking about, but because he is just so darn cute. I am so honored that ten years (and a few weeks) ago, he said "I do." to me. He daily lives out that covenant he made, and I am more in love with him today that I ever imagined I could be.

10 years and 3 little ones later, we are still going strong.  Here's to another 10 and another 10 and another and another and another.... only by the grace of God!

Photo Bomb

 

A couple of weeks ago we were able to get away for a little ski vacation. We met some friends in Bansko, Bulgaria and had a blast! Brian was able to snowboard, we took the kids sledding and were able to spend a little time teaching them to ski. 

They both did so good skiing. I was shocked. Kids just have no fear.  I think they only fell one or two times.  Kate did take out the park bench at the bottom of the slopes cause she couldn't get stopped, but other than that, it was all fun!!!

Their athletic daddy's children.

Kate and I (with Isaiah in tow) had a fun girl's day while the guys golfed.

We found a golf course really close to where we were staying.  Golf courses are non-existent in Macedonia and my boys LOVE golf. So we were super excited to find this place!

3 little monkeys

This is a common sight around the Balkans.  Shepherds are still alive and active in this part of the world. I love it.  

And horses pulling wagons is also pretty common to see.  There are days when I would rather not have to dodge the sheep, wagons, and cows out on the main roads, and then, there are days when I absolutely love it. We live in the middle of the old way of doing things and the new modern way of doing things.  

And then there is Kate and Thomas' way of doing things.  What is the best way to transport their little brother?  The dump truck.  Isaiah loves it. 

Upside down Isaiah. He is hanging onto my legs which is what is does most of his waking hours.  

Here are the kids with a package we received from one of the small groups from our church.  

Mac and Cheese!!! She is so happy!

Thomas is holding up goldfish and screaming with glee. Y'all, this kid was SO excited that he got goldfish!!!  

American goodies!!! YAY!  Thank you to those of you who sent us this box of love.

That's all for now.  Hope you enjoyed another glimpse into our life.