Happy Chinese New Year! (yesterday)

Happy Chinese New Year!

<--Bethany chose to go to Culvers in January to celebrate "Gotcha Day"!! Its already been a year!

It has been quite awhile since we've updated and we are going to make a better effort of doing so. We are preparing for surgery for Bethany tomorrow. Please pray for her and our family this week. She is having the first of 2 surgeries within a 3 week period. The first will be to sew her tongue to the roof of her mouth and then wire her mouth shut for 3 weeks. She will not be able to talk and we are concerned about her nutritional and hydration needs. Certainly the doctor and his team will have some advice for us but this is all new for us!! We have tried our best to explain to her what is going to happen, but it is so much for a 4 year old to understand. Please pray for the emotional and physical comfort for her in the next few days and weeks and that Mom and Dad will know how to reassure and encourage her during this difficult time. We will be updating her progress here.

<--Bethany's 4th Birthday, Dec 11!

In the mean time, here are some more recent photos of the family...

<--Matthew's 10 birthday party! Notice the sweet Lego cakes...

The kids like playing the "sandwich" game. Check this high stack out!-->

Summer Part II and into Fall Y'all

Strawberry-Rhubarb pie at my Aunt Jeannie's. Doesn't that look spectacular? It tasted even better!


Bethany playing at Grandma and Grandpa Hay's house.

Bethany and Grandpa

We took a trip to the North Shore and this was at Duluth Harbor at the lift bridge.

Trent received his first bible at church. He is really taking off in his interest and ability to read.

Toby demonstrating my wood graining project.

Bethany's dedication at our church. We're thankful for a strong community of believers!

Still here... Summer part 1...

Camping in June with lots of friends at Baker State Park. First the adults... (and Chewie)

and then all of the kids... (I think there were actually some missing)

Fishing with the kids... or should i say the kids fishing with their bait assistant dads!

Becky looking as beautiful as ever!

For some reason I can't get rid of the text underline here. This is Bethany and I at Trent's soccer practice.

Over the 4th, Matthew ran in the kid's Pan-O-Prog fun run. He placed third overall. It was a lot of fun for all of us.

Matthew and I went to camp Nathanael earlier this summer. It was a great time for just the two of us to ride horse, shoot things, make things out of wood, sing songs about God, discuss some important life stuff and just hang out!

Matthew really enjoyed shooting targets and earned two merit badges for his sharpshooting ability.

What made the experience even better was that we were able to spend it with some good friends of mine. Here we hiked out into a field filled with ticks, built a fire and had a hobo supper. It was sweet! Except, of course, the tick part.

Matthew is doing piano lessons and has been doing soccer. He's doing well although can be our most challenging child at times as his will is strong. I'm sure someday we will be thankful for that!

Trent has started 1st grade and is our most happy go lucky child that goes with the flow. Unfortunately this causes him to go a long with the flow too much depending upon who he is hanging with at the time. Trent has just completed a great flag football season... more to come there...

Toby and Bethany are at times the best of friends and others, the worst of enemies. Both are doing well and clearly have accepted each other as brother and sister. I know I fought with my sister battle royale style growing up so I guess all is well there.

More to come about how our summer wrapped up!