Dear Family and Friends, Life continues along at its deliberate and sometimes relentless pace. We hope this post finds you well and finding deep moments in the midst of it all. Lily Grace and Sam continue to grow, grow, grow and somehow they've already wound up at ages 7 and 5! Here are some highlights from our world over the past few months:
It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since we have posted to the family blog – which will give you an idea of what life has been like in our world! We hope each of you have had a good year with special memories made along the way, as you navigate your own full lives.
Steve is marking his 13th year as part of Living Waters for the World, which continues to grow and face new challenges, with 663 water systems serving communities in 25 countries. Tonya has done some freelance graphic design work and manages the family, keeping everyone on track. Tonya’s mom, Diane, came to live with us in September and has provided a much-appreciated extra set of hands and gentle, loving spirit.
Lily Grace will turn seven! in January and is adapting well to the challenges of first grade, loving reading and math. We are still adjusting to the rigor now expected of new elementary school kids – homework four nights a week (in the first grade?) and teaching concepts we first learned in the third and fourth grades!
Sam is a happy-go-lucky four-year-old with just two gears – 5th and park – and has never met a stranger. He has qualified for our county school system’s Pre-K program, which will help in his development, and both children are benefiting from daily exercise therapy we’ve begun this fall.
Glancing back though this blog helps give us a “rearview mirror” appreciation of our many blessings. Thanks to all who have followed our journey ever since we started preparing paperwork in anticipation of that first life-changing flight to Kazakhstan six years ago. We appreciate and treasure your prayers and support.
May your upcoming holidays be full of love and laughter, praise and thanksgiving.
Lily Grace just completed her first week of Kindergarten and has had a wonderful experience so far! When we attended the parents' orientation with her teacher, we were the ones intimidated, as we had no idea how much has changed since our Kindergarten days. Wow! It's a whole new world of expectations.
Lily Grace has taken to it all like a duck to water, and loves her teacher, the structure and the challenge. We're seeing her mature in other ways, too, taking on the role of big sister more. Sam and LG were quite the pair at the park this past weekend:
We hope you've had a great summer and are looking forward to what fall will bring.
St. Patrick's Day brought a dash of warmer weather and we jumped at the chance to take our first creek walk of the year. The creeks along the Natchez Trace Parkway are perfect for this and our favorite runs along the Burns Branch parking/picnic area.
Without a second thought, Lily Grace and Sam splashed right in and had a good ole time:
Five years ago today, a precious child of God was born on the other side of the world. Eight months later, she met her mommy and daddy for the first time and we met our beautiful Gulzhanar, who continues to amaze us and fill our hearts to overflowing every day.
