Today we went out to the park just blocks from our apartment. It was so nice to relax on the grass. Jamin took a little nap and accidently got sunburned! poor guy! he's only red on half his face... but, we never get burned here, so i wasn't thinking and even tho we were in a bit of shade, i guess it wasn't enough! Reese and Ben went to look at the animals they have in the middle of the park. Gazelles, tortoises, monkeys, ostriches, and if you click on the second picture you will see LIONS! I know! I was shocked to see a simple park here with such dangerous animals so close to our house! Kind of funny, but I think we'll be watching our backs when we visit again!

Early morning fun...

Jamin is getting so big these days. I set him on the little rug we have and he looks around, trying to join in on all the fun Reese is having. He has rolled over a couple times and loves to play with his feet now! He is interested in toys, so i often hand him something that rattles and he gets a kick out of it. He loves his sister and always gets a huge smile when he hears her voice in the morning. She loves him too.

Reese is so funny. She now likes to have her little dolls talk to each other and do fun things. Yesterday 'Bubblegum baby' was at home and 'Dora' came by for a visit. They decided they would climb up Camel Back Mountain, which really was just a few books stacked on each other. Poor Dora fell and needed a bandaid, so Bubblegum found her one and took her home for a nap!

So, our Mac electric cord melted. It took a few days but we found someone who miraculously welded and taped and how it is working we aren't sure, we are just being super careful with it. It's working now, and that is the main thing! We'll just keep praying over it!! While out of commission we missed out on all our email addresses and Skype. But, we are now back in business! Funny how our lives can easily revolve around the computer... work, entertainment, education etc.

Not really any pictures to post at the moment. But, that doesn't mean our life hasn't been moving along! Right now we are hosting some friends of ours for a few days. They just arrived in the country and we wanted to help them adjust slowly by providing a place for them to just rest and take life a moment at a time. They have a little guys who is three years old too! He and Reese have been playing together so well. She is the princess and he brings her the toys...

A friend of mine is being induced today. I am praying and thinking of her. It has caused me to think too. I remember when Reese was first born it was if I had finally 'found' myself. I have loved being a mom more than anything. It really completes me and give me so much joy! As I get older and experience more of life i've been realizing more of who I am. I mean for so long I thought I knew who I was, a Christian, wife, student, muscian... I love reading, sewing, coffee, candles on a cold night, bible studies with girlfriends... And of course I still love and am those things, but i realize, that I'm becoming more confident in who God has made me. I stand firm in my convictions of how God is leading me and teaching me and growing me. I may not have made it to the point another friend has, but confidently I am who I am. I may never be good at school and make A's, I may never be able to speak my second language very well, I may never be able to live like the people in this nation, but I can train my children to TRUST their Father God, I can host friends and bless them in my home, I can serve my husband with joy and enable him to accomplish his job more effectively.

But my greatest prayer is that I be found obedient to my Lord. We face pressure on every side, but we are not crushed. Fear can overwhelm and difficulty overpower us but the blood of Jesus is greater. There is power in his name! How great He is...

Can you believe that this is her 'clean' bath water?

I think it turned out pretty well!

I had been saving my hair highlighting kit for a while and decided that my birthday was a special time to use it. So, since my sister Kate wasn't here to help me, i had to rely on a tiny mirror to help me see the back and my years of experience doing it to other people. It was going okay, but i got to the point where i really couldn't see the back! So, i have to post a picture of my amazingly wonderful husband who was willing to help me! He did a great job and i'll post some 'after' shots of my hair soon.

We celebrated my birthday with friends over for brownies and ice-cream. They sang to me and we i blew out all 27 of my candles! This was the first time we have had ice-cream in our freezer since coming overseas!

I had alot of celebration for my birthday this year. On the 6th we went out to a coffee and dessert shop and purchased three of their specialties. We sat around and sampled the decadent chocolate cake, the "New York" cheesecake and carmel, cream crunch! It was a special treat!

Found my precious kids sleeping in similar positions tonight. I almost laughed out loud at Reese's pose, but remembered she was sleeping. Oh, how i love them!

Thankyou Shannon! We loved our crisp corn taco shells (only one broke on the way across the world!). We loved the canned refried beans that took seconds to open and microwave! We loved the taco seasoning that made the meat perfect! You thought of it all - we love and miss you!