our loveable, squeezable 4-year old!

It's such fun to celebrate the life of someone you love so much!

He's been counting down the days for quite a while now! 

Here's some pictures of a little party we had 

the night before his birthday. 

The next day was his actual birthday.

 Because he loved Wendy's SO much while we were in the states, 

we created a Wendy's menu for him:

 "chicken nuggets, fries, chepit (ketchup), and frosty"!  

Have you ever made a homemade frosty?  Delicious!

Thanks for the recipe, Mom!

 Not only did he leave Wendy's, 

but he also had to leave his "rocket bike" in the states.  

You should have seen his face when he saw his new bike!

Later in the day we went to the park so he could 

try it out better!

 Birthday boy with his cute brothers!

We ended our day by playing legos altogether.  

The only bummer about the day was that daddy was sick!

Thanking the Lord for the time we have with this little guy!

grandmas!

We are blessed with two very special grandmas!

Today we were able to spend time with both of them;

we helped my mom decorate her house for Christmas,

then my husband's mom came over and baked 

Christmas cookies with us!

We're thankful for all the love they both show to

our boys and the different gifts they have that add

to our sons' lives!

our precious 3 year old!

You've been counting down for while now!  Each evening you remembered the important task of cutting one link off your birthday chain.....5-4-3-2-1-Happy Birthday!  

To begin your big day, you and I ate breakfast together in the back of the truck just for fun and your eyes totally lit up when you saw the race track, even though you play with it every day!

 

 

After breakfast, Daddy took you out and let you 

pick out your favorite car! 

In the afternoon we celebrated with some of our friends!

(Found these cute, car-themed ideas on Pinterest!)

(The Koolaid says anitfreeze and the pop says motor oil.)

 

 We followed Paraguay tradition and took your picture 

with each person/family that came.

Right now your life is all about daddy and mommy, 

your big brothers, and cars.  You're full of excitement, 

willing to share, always ready to give hugs and kisses, 

learning about obeying God.  

You are one of a kind, little son, and we love you!

palm trees!

I know I've shown you these palm trees already but

I just can't get over them!  I LOVE seeing them every day!

They make the neatest sound when the wind blows through 

its leaves - so calming!

These trees are in our neighbor's yard but sometimes

the branches fall in our yard.  Below our boys are 

helping you understand how large each branch is!!

I can't help but love these little boys God gave us!

I love it when they come up with creative ideas

and I love their laughter.

Below you can see two creative ways they have used 

the huge palm branches - I'm sorry you can't hear

the laughter that went along with it!

(A slippery slide.)

(A race track.)

a cozy Saturday afternoon!

 My kitchen was filled with the smell of Sopa Paraguaya

baking in the oven for tomorrow's lunch guests.

 Our porch was filled with boys and legos

and happy Spanish chattering.

 One bed was filled with our sick little boy, 

getting some healing rest.

I guess the only thing that wasn't filled was the 

gas tank for the oven.  It, of course, ran out right 

in the middle of the Sopa Paraguaya baking!  

But my husband, filled with joy at the opportunity 

to serve :), ran and got more!

the air in my lungs, your lungs, right now.

goodbyes for good reasons.

     Last month we helped another missionary family pack up their house for their 6th move.  They left before sunrise the next morning, moving about 8 hours away.

T helping load the moving truck! 

The "chica" in the green shirt and glasses beside me is 

the wife and mom of 5 who moved. 

  

C and I enjoying their friend before he moves.

J playing away with his friend while the adults
pack, clean and load!

      Three years ago now, we arrived here in Paraguay along with several other families with young children.  Although we were encouraged to spend more time with Paraguayans than other American missionaries, we did look forward to our weekly meetings at the Mission!  After a week of straining to understand Spanish and attempting to string together words to make a sentence, it was so nice to hear and speak in English!  It was a relief to hear that others were struggling with home sickness, funny to share language bloopers we made that week and comforting to know that there were other people who understood what it was like to be an adult who could only communicate at a 2-year-old level (it probably would have helped to have those cute chubby cheeks and adorable grin that makes everyone smile!)!  So, in a sense, we “grew up” with these other families!

     Well, three years later many of us have completed or almost completed our Paraguayan language and culture study.  We are ready to embark upon the next step: reaching the unreached.  This was the first family to leave the "nest".  On one hand, it is hard to think about not seeing them each week.  On the other hand, the Paraguayan tribal group they are moving to may one day know and understand  TRUTH!  

So, although it was hard, 
I consider that a good reason to say 
"Goodbye!"