NOW HEAR THIS!!

It's been over a year since I've last posted...sheesh! And for the very, very few of you that have been checking in from time to time to see if I've posted anything, I'm going to make my best attempt to update things a little more often.

For the time being, however, we'll just do a recap. Because seriously, a lot happens in a year!

KRISTEN:

• Turned 5 last December
• Started Kindergarten in August
• Lost her first tooth!
• Asked Jesus in her heart!
  

EVAN:

• Turned 2 in June
• Moved into his 'big boy' bed
• Is talking up a storm

ERIC:

• Still enjoying his job in patrol, working nights and weekends
• Built a new bumper for his Scout (read: fun car project) :)

JAIMEE:

• Completed her first half-marathon in January!!
  
• Traveled to Senegal and the Czech Republic on a missions trip
• Spent time with family remembering the life of her grandmother, who went to be with Jesus in April

Together as a family, we enjoyed some time at Disneyland, a spring training Giants baseball game, a regular season Diamondbacks baseball game, some fun time in the Bay Area, survived several "haboobs", and I'm sure a bunch of other stuff that I can't remember at the moment.

And now - the pictures!!

After crossing the finish line of my first half-marathon!
The "team" admiring my finisher's medal.


Kristen lost her first tooth! And the new one was already growing in
before the baby one fell out.


Evan in his big-boy bed - all about cars!


The first of many "haboobs" we experienced this summer. This was
taken from our driveway. And this is an unedited picture - a little freaky!

Kristen's first day of Kindergarten


Enjoying the Diamondbacks baseball game! Kristen won tickets
at school for her good behavior!


One of the shots from Evan's 2-year pictures. Check out more on the photographer's blog.


A picture of the team I went to Senegal with, along with the family
we served, the Newkirks.


The Sahara Desert is invading Senegal! There was dust everywhere and
covered everything, including the roads!


A colorful display of items for sale in Senegal.


"The Door of No Return" - This is on Goree Island, which was one of the
main slave-sending locations on the west coast of Africa. The island
is now a museum in memory of those sent to the western world that never
returned to their families and homes.


One of the main purpose of our trip to Senegal was to run a spiritual retreat
for the workers there. We led worship, spoke at the conference,
and provided all the meals for the team of almost 60 people! Which, naturally,
led to the shredding of A LOT of cheese!


This is Marilyn, and below, the Vaughns. These people are dear family
friends who work in Senegal (the Vaughns have known my parents since
high school, I think). My church in California supported these people
when I was growing up, and they were quite literally the people who came
to my Sunday School class to talk about the exciting lives they lived
in Africa. These are the people I wanted to BE when I was little!




The second part of my international trip was in Prague, Czech Republic.
Here's the view from my hotel room!


A view of the cemetery in the Jewish Quarter. Ancient and so fascinating!


My dear friend and I in Prague together.


I also had a long layover in Lisbon, Portugal (about 8 hours). Just enough
time to catch a bus downtown and walk around a bit. I still don't
know what I saw, or what's behind me in this picture, but it was a blast!
(Need to get to the library and check out a Lisbon guide book...haha.)

So that's about it! It feels good to be back, and hopefully there will be more to come - and sooner than a year from now!

Would love to hear from you! Leave a comment, just to say hi! :)