Hello Again

Wow, its been quite awhile since our last post!! April 11th. Where have we been????
Well, still here, enjoying the storming weather. We're doing fine, getting along fine, moving along fine, but I guess nothing to write about. :(
Well, that's not totally true. We've got a first!!!!
The girl's First movie, and our first movie as a family and my first movie in about 5 years!!!!!!!! Yep you read right. Its been roughly 5 years since I've stepped foot inside a movie theater. How you say? Kids is my answer. First I was too pregnant that the thought of sitting that long was unthinkable, plus what if I went into labor! Then just when it got settled down??? pregnant again! Why can't that man leave me alone?! LOL.
So we saw UP. Very cute, the girls enjoyed. Stood, asked questions, made comments - ah movies with kids. So of course, being the geeky parents that we are - we took pics! Kevin paid the next day with his back, but he didn't want to miss out on this first.
The movie? Cute of course. Made me cry in the beginning and of course had the girls asking questions, but a nice little tale - pixar rocks!!!
So hopefully not too long until my next post. I'll try to share more, stay in touch more, keep you up to date on our ordinary lives.

WHAT A WEEK!!!!!

Ever have one of those weeks? We did. Now, it wasn't a week you regret or cause you to want to hide under your pillow - but it was a crazy wild week. One thing after the other. Most of it good, one thing - not so good!
First we got to enjoy the Fair totally free!!! Thank you Lord and thank you Aunt Tobe. We paid $4 for a huge lemonade and that was the extend of it. The girls had a blast riding on the kiddie rides, especially Emily. Her favorite, based on the size of her smile, was the Himalayan. It basically went around and up and down, but she had a complete blast. She also enjoyed the roller coaster. I think she'll have to travel with her Aunt Melinda & Uncle K.C. if she wants to do anything more wild than a kiddie coaster - cause this mommy & daddy don't do coasters!

Second event, well this will be short, was my birthday. Love how the girls got gifts on MY birthday. They were picked out for me, but what I was going to do with two princess crowns and a Dora and Princess watch are beyond me?! LOL. And as you can see from the pictures, Katie and my nephew Malachi were anxiously awaiting the cutting of the cake. Thanks to my dad for cooking me a BBQ meal - my sister made amazing wings, and we had a nice time celebrating. There's also a pic of an exhausted Katie who fell asleep watching TV on the chair and a pic of her hair on a very curly day. 


And lastly, the not so good part. We had an Aguirre event. About a week after we moved in, we replaced the carpeting with pergo lament. This Wednesday we stepped on the floor and water gushed up between the seams. Uh, oh! On Thursday Kevin set about ripping up the base boards, quarter round, and flooring - yep major water! But from where?
We thought the toilet (our room shares the wall with the bathroom). My dad removed the toilet, but everything looked okay with the pipes. So what could it be? Maybe the bathtub??? So I filled the tub full of water and then pulled the plug. Within a few seconds a flood of water came through the wall into our room! So it was the tub. After cutting into the drywall and exposing the plumbing that's directly connected to the tub - we discovered the culprit. A HUGE crack in the pipe. So every time water when through that pipe - it came into our room!!! For Three Months!!!!! So in one day Kevin & my dad replaced the toilet, repaired the pipe and by 8pm the bathroom was back in working order.
However, the concrete floor is still moist so we're waiting for it to dry before replacing the flooring. Tomorrow the plan is to cut out any damaged drywall and replace it. The fortunate part of all this is my parents are home on vacation, so Kevin & my dad were able to spend the whole day fixing the issue. Mom and I ran to Home Depot a few times to get the things they needed especially when they used a chiseler to remove the concrete flooring around the pipe so they could remove it. They wore earplugs, we left the house!

So that was our week. Hope your's was just as exciting! LOL. Monday is back to a normal routine - homeschool, housework and the rest. This week already looks promising with a few new things on the horizon. Have a great week and remember HE IS RISEN!!!! God blessings to everyone this glorious day.

Kid Crazy

Holly it's too quiet, where are they? and what are they doing? Then a little noise, a little giggling, and then a click! In the bathroom? Minny mouse and Barbie on the toilet together, this was there last picture with my 300 dollar camera. Lets hope Disney and Mattel don't see this.

Life in Motion

Here's Kev's first play-around with iMovie. Not bad - of course the subject is my favorite! LOL



here's just a vid of Katie and a pop tart - she's too funny.



And lastly Emily enjoying some ice-cream and veggin' out on the TV!

Our Favorite Jon

We had the privilege of watching Jon play soccer this afternoon. The girls were very excited and Kevin took the opportunity to take some pictures with our new telephoto lens. He's a cutie and was a real joy to watch, as you'll see from the variety of his game faces! We especially enjoy the picture of Jon & Emily walking along after the game, like a high-school-jock-with-his-girl moment.

It was a great game and everyone did a great job, even Coach Dave! Don't worry mommy, I'll have a CD for you at church tomorrow. And I thought this was a great shot. (Jon's the one in the middle with his tongue out)

Two Weeks...

Well we have been busy. Third week of home schooling and we're chuggin' on. This week has been rough. Its been good, lots of little extra projects, but Emily's been less than cooperative and I haven't really been in the mood, but we both got it done. Its not always so exciting, but I guess I'm enjoying all the extra projects. For Valentine's we baked heart shaped cakes. The girls did all the mixing and pouring and we even colored the cakes. For Prez Day we make magnetic badges and today we painted sugar cookies. They didn't come out like I thought, but the girls enjoyed the painting part - and of course the eating part.

I'm also adding in a little science. On Thursday we listened to our hearts. My mom (elem science teacher) provided the stethoscope so we listened to our heart at rest then the fun part!! Bouncing on a trampoline got our hearts going. We listened to them pounding harder and faster. Emily was impressed but more interested in bouncing. Next week we'll be growing a soybean. I got this little kit so you can see the roots and everything. They got excited about growing green peppers in south africa so hopefully they'll enjoy this too.


We also got some more work done around the house. My parents had (had) a gazebo type thing attached to the porch, so the hubby took to tearing it down. I got to clean out the adjacent flower beds. We'll hopefully be planting some veggies and herbs there. The struggling rose plant is going to that big garden in the sky.


And here's just a picture of Emily being silly. It was a site to see!


On the job front we've got some things moving and shaking but nothing concrete. It feels like we've been here forever, but it just been over 2 months! But we're trusting in the Lord because He is faithful, He will never leave us or forsake us, He has a purpose and a plan, He will direct our paths. And so we lean on Him and not on our own understanding. But trust me, we do question, we do complain, we do beg to know why, and then we come to our senses and remember that He's in control!

Its Official

We're poor! LOL

We got our taxes done today. It made me laugh. Don't know why. Maybe seeing the real figures on paper made me realize the scope of our predicament. But hey, what can we do?

The good thing about being poor? Lots of extra deductions and special "poor people" tax breaks. So now we're waiting to see what God has in store next!

Don't worry, I'm not. It really does make me laugh inside. Maybe its a nervous laugh, maybe its a "how did we get here" laugh, or maybe its a "can't wait to see how God pulls us out of this one" laugh. As the good word says (that sounds a little southern doesn't it?) in Matthew 6:25-34

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Plus Paul says in Philipians 4:12-13:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Treasure or Trash

Oh it could have been such a beautiful picture of my little Katie, but the camera caught something we obviously missed!

Don't see it? Click on the pic for a better view.

First Week Of School

Yes, it was OUR first week of home school. After readjusting, moving, readjusting, settling in and the rest I FINALLY got to start home schooling Emily. Our first week went well. She was eager to do the work, which at this level takes about 45 minutes.
We pray with Daddy, then its Bible study, phonics, numbers, review and an activity.

Our first week was a study in Creation (where else should you begin but in the beginning!) She learned her first Bible verse.


I just used the camera on the computer to record. We did record a cleaner version, but this was just easier. Sorry for my laziness. Must be the cold. And yes, that's a camera - she was taking pictures

We worked on the letter "i", its sound and names (capital and little).

We also worked on our numbers. We were to work on 1-2-3, but she caught on really quick so I added 4. She had to tell me the number, then show me how many items were equivalent to that number. We used some plastic Easter eggs I found in my mom's closet. I had to keep searching the house for them because the girls kept playing with them. (hey, my own Easter egg hunt!) I did start out with 10, but 2 have gone missing. Good thing they're not real eggs! Thus she had to borrow two eggs from the #3 to complete the necessary amount needed for #4.

We did have more pics from earlier in the week, but the camera did something weird and they're all gone. Which stinks because the pictures from Kevin's trip to Colorado with the snow and his visit to New Jersey are gone forever. He's most upset about the picture of his grandmother who is quite sick, and at 89, that's not always a good thing. Anyway…

Yes, we did most days in our pajamas. But we're that kind of family. If we don't have plans to be out first thing, we can spend all day in them. Especially when its cold outside. Nice warm pajamas just seem to keep the cold out better. But I promise myself I will be more disciplined next week and get dressed first. But we did start on time - 9am - so that was a bonus. One step at a time.

Our special project was making a tree from leaves we picked off the ground outside.




And since we were talking about creation, what better place to experience God's handy work than the zoo. So off we went. Got our annual pass so we're set (now we know we'll be moving soon - just from experience). Here's a few pic from that.

So that's our news of the week. So each morning I turn into "teacher mommy" (she just started calling me that) and Emily becomes "student Emily". Katie's participation is limited. She does most of the coloring work. Emily's not so much into it. It took her two days to finish one picture. She does dig the computer though.

The Battle

Accessories

Katie's too funny, and too cute. Here she poses with all her divaness. As I type she's got another outfit going with purse, wand and princess shoes. The shoes are courtesy of Vicky and your money was well spent! They trance around in these shoes all day!!!

Spreading the Word

Thanks Kristel for posting this. Thought I'd post it too. Who's Norma McCorvey? Watch and you'll find out. I think its amazing that she never had one!

We're Still Here

Thought I'd stop by and say hi to those of you who keep in contact via blog. We're still trying to figure out what's what. Some days are fine (most days), but some days are full of anger (like today) at our situation, at the person who we feel put us here, and just the general state of our lives.
I've often thought about how our lives (people in general) go day by day, yet for someone, today is not an ordinary day. As one person lives their life as they lived it yesterday, for another today is absolutely nothing like yesterday. I feel like that person. I know life goes on, why shouldn't it, but for me, today (figuratively speaking) is NOTHING like yesterday. Yesterday I was serving God, working with kids, learning how to live in a foreign country. Yesterday I was seeing kids come to know Christ as Lord, seeing Him change their lives. Hoping to see them moved radically for God. Yesterday we were planning a high school ministry to reach "the unreachable."
Today I'm (we're) trying to figure out what happened. Why am I now living with my parents, with seemingly no foreseeable future. Now I'm wondering what it was all about, why we were asked (by man and God) to go in the first place.
I know, I know, God has a plan. I know He is faithful. Its just hard when you're sitting in the pit to see that tiny speck of light at the top and wonder when and if you'll be able to make it out.
I'm tired of thinking about it. I'm tired of waiting for something, anything to happen. We are moving, we are looking, we are interviewing, we are trying, but every thing's in slow motion. Every thing's so far off. Each option has hope, each option has pros, but each option has its obstacles.
Okay, I didn't mean this to be a bandage ripped off for you to see the wounds - but I'm going to post it anyway. Why not right? To sort of segue a bit, I was thinking about 2008. What did it teach me? What did I get from it?
• God can ask an awful lot!
• Man, no matter how righteous he APPEARS to be, is still man
• We have an amazingly supportive family
• We have some amazing friends! (You will never truly know how much your words of encouragement from start to finish have meant.)
• We have been so blessed by those who's faces we've never had the pleasure to glance upon.
• God can speak to us so clearly that we can't hear anything else
• I have an amazingly, humble, and heroic husband.
• God loves me and He knows
• I'm "empty-handed by I'm safe in His hand"

Happy Birthday

Just wanted to take a moment and say Happy birthday to my wonderful husband! He is my hero, best friend and the rest. (Don't want to get too mushy). I always say after all these years (18 years- wow!) I still like him so much!
He's the best daddy. He loves his girls more than anything. He's their daddy, and you couldn't tell him or them anything different! He's always a source of strange information. He knows really weird words, like pugilist, and almost every geographical position of every country of the world. I didn't even know the position of all the States until I married him (shame I know). He's taught me lots about things I had no interest in before, but now can at least have an intelligent conversation.
He's often the braun when we do what ever project I've convinced him we can do. He's my jester, confidant, debator, political insider and sports almanac and encyclopedia. Though I can do a play-by-play pretty well, if I do say so (and I do). No, I don't always agree with his point of view, but don't tell him that! :)
So just wanted to brag on the perfect husband (yeah, I know you THINK your husband is perfect too - but my husband IS perfect - for me!) Okay, maybe not perfect, but close enough. God gave me the man I needed, strong but gentle. He's not afraid to say what needs to be said if the occasion calls for it. So very long ago, on one of our first dates we were at a restruarnt. He returned his steak because it wasn't cooked the way he liked it. For some reason that impressed me (still remember it 18 years later!) I guess cause I would have just eaten it.
He's a man who loves his family, and loves his Lord. He's heart's desire is to serve Him and to walk the path that God has for us. He wants to hear those words (as do we all) "Well done good and faithful servant." He's probably more knowledgeable than some of you may think, that's accolades for Pastor Basile who encouraged him even when he was far from home.
He's a servant of his country, having served in the Air Force and a provider for his family. He's generous, kind, loving and I couldn't have been blessed with a better life partner. I still like him so very much!
Happy Birthday Mr. Logan, you are loved, honored and adored by your little family and I dare say, by your friends as well.


Also wanted to share some photos from Christmas up until this weekend. For those not on Facebook, click here to see the pictures.

Fashion Diva

Our Emily is getting bigger. I know, that happens despite our desire for them to stay little and cute. So once we got back and had the luxury of wearing shorts more often I realized that many of her shorts no longer fit! Wow. I guess a year of winter can do that. So with Christmas money in hand we headed to our favorite store - Target. As I browsed around I found these cute plaid shorts. Well, I thought they were cute.
They came in three colors - pink, blue, and green. I asked Emily which color she wanted. She said she didn't like them. I thought she was just too busy climbing through the clothes to be bothered. So I grabbed a blue pair.
I find its easier to take clothes home to try on and return them rather than trying them on at the store. And that's what I did. I waited until we got home and Emily was in a more calm state of mind and tried on the three pairs of shorts I had purchased.
When I tried on the cute plaid shorts, she said, "Mommy, I don't like these."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because people will see me in them and they look silly." was her response.
Oh, no, I thought, she's developed a fashion sense! No more making her wear what I think is cute! So I was a dutiful mom and returned the shorts (which were too big anyway) and replaced them with a skirt, which she happily wore the next day. So now I'll have to ask her opinion before buying her clothes. I'll just have to be careful about those $100 jeans and $200 shoes she'll be begging me for in a few years!

As a side note, I'm working on the Christmas pics. Will post some with a video hopefully tomorrow. Now that the holidays are official over we've got lots to do to get ourselves up and running again. Blessings on the new year and see ya soon.

Happy New Year

Well another year has passed and we look forward to what the new one brings. We already know that we will soon be inaugurating (is that a word?) a new president. We already know that we will be watching our wallets a little more closely. We know that 2009 will see many young people joined together in marriage. We're sure that some of you may be adding to your family. But there is still much we don't know.

We are still unsure of the plans the Lord has for us personally. We do know they are for good, and not for harm. We can only trust in Him, for who else can we trust. 2008 was a wonderful, God-given adventure and we are thankful to Him for blessing us. We are thankful for the seeds that were sown, and we pray for the opportunity to sow many more.

So what's happening so far? What have we been up to these two weeks? Well Christmas of course! It seemed to be all consuming in a passive way. I guess jetlag can really make things seem out of sorts?? We've been fixing up our "room" here at my parent's house. We got the wood flooring in (Kevin did most of the hard labor) and I'm finally finding more clothes (been cycling through three pairs of shorts and a couple of shirts for the past two weeks!) I'm still getting the room set up, but you'll see pics. 

The girls are settling in nicely. So they're fine. I guess kids are more resilient that way. It did take us about a full week to get back to EST. So at least that's out of the way. Now just what to do about jobs. 

Hopefully with the holidays and vacations behind us we'll find out some answers! We have been desperately wanting to move forward, but forced to "stand by" as the rest of the world seems to be enjoying the slow down. So prayerfully we'll have an idea if Kevin will be heading back to AT&T or not. He's got an application in with the local hospital, as well as the conference with MCYM next weekend. Please pray for traveling safety and God's wisdom. I'll be staying behind with the girls. We've also been asked to consider a bi-vocational position at a church in central Florida.

What types of things are you looking forward to this new year, not just resolutions. I for one don't make resolutions. Why set myself up for failure I say. I know I won't accomplish most of them so as the song goes, "every day is new years day" so I just plan for that day. Sometimes my only resolution is to get the laundry done!