"the woods"

Our first week found us waking early. I enjoyed several mornings of peace and quiet beside the pond, watching the ducks and listening to the birds flittering about and waiting for the sun to make it's appearance. Isn't it beautiful? I like to refer to Paul's parents property as "Grampy's farm." It's not really a farm, but they have a barn and chickens, ducks, cats, a dog, turkeys a tractor and a garden...so it feels pretty close to a farm! PJ has taken to calling it "the woods." Two days after we were here, we went over to our home church and PJ asked if we could go back to "the woods" referring to Grammie and Grampy's house!

The ducks never cease to entertain me. I could sit out there all day and watch them. One of them has a nest in the barn...so hopefully we'll be seeing some ducklings around so long as nothing gets them for their dinner.

The boys swinging on the tire swing.

If you know Paul, then you know his love for fishing. He has wasted no time in teaching PJ and Calvin the ins and outs of it. Here he is teaching PJ to reel in a big one...they caught five fish today at the intercoastal! (more to come later on that)

Adele is also enjoying the laid back life of a farm. She now says "duck" and "oh" for "no". She always wants to be outside and like her brother PJ, loves the cats and dog.

She is also enjoying her cousin, Erin, who is just nine months older. They usually get along great, unless one of them is tired (and that is usually Adele...and she gets mean).

The boys have enjoyed their boy cousins but Calvin also pals around with Erin some too, as they are only a year apart. Lego-mania and all kinds of pretend play unfold when the boys are together. It's fun to eavesdrop in on their play and we thank God that they live right next door...as I think their being here has helped with our children's adjusment to life here.

I know so many of you are praying for us, and we are so thankful for it. God's grace is sufficient. It's been so fun to share with two churches and many supporters what God has done in Bangkok in just the four years we were there...our hearts ache for Thailand but we know God will continue on His work among the Thai people while we follow His call here...it isn't easy though!

We will be traveling a good bit in the next month and a half so please keep us in your prayers. We leave Thursday to visit Paul's sister and family in western Florida for a few days, then Paul leaves late next week for a rafting trip down the Colorado River with his dad and brothers. Around the 29th of May we leave for Pennsylvania where we will spend a month visiting supporting churches and friends while staying with my parents. The end of June we will head back to Florida to move into our home in Orlando. So, we would appreciate your continued prayers for us. Living out of suitcases gets old after a while, but pray that we would find joy in and not get tired of it anytime soon! =)