Pets or Pests?

Now that the inside of our home is done for the most part, we're working on the outside...our butterfly garden. We had fun with one of these in the past when we had our own yard and so we're at it again! We love the dozens of butterflies that visit and the flowers and colors are all so pretty. Anyway, pics of the garden are yet to come once we've completed it. In the meantime, we've also attracted these mutant gargantuan grasshoppers! They're like two inches long and quite creepy (for mom anyway). As you can see by the reflection on the sliding glass door of my camera lens, I was NOT opening the back door for a better view!

Cirque du Soleil: Saltimbanco

We were blessed by a friend who works at the YMCA and was able to get tickets to this show. What a delight! The acrobatics were astounding. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before. The kids were glued! Yesterday happened to be the 25th anniversary of Cirque and so blinking clown noses in little silk pouches were given to everyone for a photo opportunity at the end of the show. It was truly an incredible experience, and one we would not have been able to afford anytime soon as a family. Thanks Amber! And thank you Suzanne for always being ready with a camera!

Fine Arts Afternoon

Yesterday after church was our fine arts afternoon where kindergartners graduated and parents got to share how proud they were of their kids' achievements and growths both academically and spiritually over the last year. All students received certificates and were honored with a luncheon and cake. Benjamin gave the opening prayer. I am so proud of my kids for a wonderful school year, another year completed...but most of all for the leaps and bounds they grew in their relationships with the Lord this past year. There have been signs of real maturity and some awesome Christ-like character developing. My babies are becoming young men and women of God! Oh my!

Crocodile Dock

VBS was this last week and, as usual, the kids had a blast. We went to an evening VBS this year in Zephyrhills. It was awesome. The group was smaller, but the kids loved their crew leaders, new friends, the games, crafts, and snacks, and the incredible truths they learned about God's Word through fun activities, silly songs, and story reinactments.

Ragman

They're home!!!! John, Ben, and Michaela made it home safe from their Honduras missions trip, where some days it reached a blistering 110 degrees! They ministered at a boys and girls orphanage, built an outhouse for a single mom and her four kids, assembled and delivered 48 food bags to underprivileged families, and performed skits to share with others the gospel of Christ. Above is Ragman, a very powerful skit portraying how Jesus takes on our infirmities and sins, died for them, and then rose again to bring us eternal salvation. Here is another ten-minute power point presentation on the trip.

They're Off!!

Hope for Honduras from TPCC left this morning and took with them John, Michaela, and Benjamin.  It seems like forever ago we started the journey to this trip...fundraisers, missions meetings, practicing skits, and on and on and on!  And as usual, there were a few snags leading up to departure day, including a flu bug circulating through team members and an earthquake in Honduras only 72 hours before trip time.  It wouldn't be a missions trip without the enemy rearing his ugly head, now would it?  Michaela had a few nervous tears at the airport, but Ben was so excited he could hardly sleep last night.  While there, they'll be visiting orphanages and feeding centers, delivering food bags to underprivileged families in villages, and sharing the love of Christ with everyone they encounter.  I am so very excited for them and can't wait to hear about all that they do and learn down there.  Pray for them...and for those of us "left behind"!

Babies!!

Jonathan, Amarisa, & Her Dolly

Amarisa on the Computer

Eliana

Elizabeth (aka "Little Bit")

Bath Time & Jonathan Learning How to Put a Diaper On!

Jonathan and Amarisa

Me and Amarisa (I'm just a little proud, aren't I?")

Jeremiah and Nathaniel

You know I have to brag on them whenever I get the chance.  We had the awesome privilege last night of babysitting the triplets and Nathaniel.  The kids love spending time with them and would rather babysit them than go to Busch Gardens is asked!  Anyway, here are some pics of the evening.  The one of Jeremiah and Nathaniel was actually from a few weeks ago, but Nathaniel was playing shy last night and would not let me take his picture.  Micky's not in any of the pictures because she was at Acquire the Fire.