pumpkin village

There is a place on the outside of the city that we call 

pumpkin village.  We had a great day being out of the city and 

just letting the girls run, play, and climb!  It was a lot of fun

and I even got to talk to some of the shepherdesses out their tending

their sheep.  It was a great day!  

 On the way home we stopped and bought some pumpkins.

I made pumpkin pies and pumpkin cookies, all from scratch! 

A first for me!!!

our little boy!

Abram is growing so fast!!!  He has already figured out how to get

up on his windowsill and that wasn't enough so here is sitting

on a toy on the windowsill.  I guess this is why he always has 

bruises on his head, he is always falling of something.

 I thought we were weaning him from his pacifier instead

it has gotten much worse, and now he has figured out

how to suck on two at a time!!!

 The other day Abram got the cartoon of eggs and

decided to crack every one of them, before any of us

noticed he was missing.  He was such a mess to 

clean up and the floor was horrible, but he seemed to enjoyed it!

School Days

School, School, School!!!

 Really hoping that the computer can teach Annie 

Lynne to read :)  When I'm busy with the other girls

this is what she gets to do.

 Addie is getting better and better at reading and writing.

Here she is writing her spelling words on the board.

 Ayden doing her favorite subject... reading.  

Even Miley does school with us; when the girls make her :)

Happy B-day Annie Lynne!

Our little girl turned 5 on Oct. 10.  I can't believe she is already 5!!!

We did her "party" a few days early because Kirk was leaving with

Abram for Dubai.  She was very excited about her b-day and it was a lot of 

fun.  It ended up that Kirk did make it home for her real b-day, he got home 

that night.

 This is on the morning of her B-day.  We always celebrate with a 

cinnamon roll in the shape of the number of years.  This was a lot

easier when we could buy cinnamon rolls in a can :)

 She was very excited when Kirk got home that night and he had a 

gift from Dubai for her!!!

anniversary pics

One of my friends found out that my anniversary was coming up and decided that it would be really fun for me to dress up like a national bride and surprise Kirk.  She arranged it all and had someone come and do my "henna" and make-up and give me clothes to wear.  Kirk was very surprised and then I convinced him to put on his national clothes and take a pic with me.  It was all very fun.  I don't think I have ever had on so much make-up.  The hardest part was we did this all at her house and since it would be very inappropriate for me to go out on the street with all that make-up I had to cover my face to get home, eyes and all.  How do these women do this daily I do not know.  I thought I would suffocate! and it was not easy catching a taxi and getting home when your sight is not clear.  It made me reflect a lot on how it is not only the eyes that are veiled in the place, and how hard it is to see the light when you are completely veiled.  But also thankful that we serve a Father that can lift the veils!

 Kirk being very national and not smiling, we really were going for the local look!

 The girls loved it all, especially my make-up and head jewelry 

moving day!

 first night in new house!

 the girls love the bunk beds and Ayden thinks she 

is so big with a bed all to herself!

 We even let them have a winner roast with all the sticks

they pick up out of the yard.

 Abram was really helpful taking down all the "dulabs" (our closets)

and putting them back together in the new house.  

Life these days

Well it has been about a month since I have updated the blog.  Life has been a little crazy in the last month.  We are in the new house (and loving it), Kirk has been to Dubai with Abram because he fell and broke his leg and we have been very busy just with life here.  The house has been wonderful!!!  The girls love the yard and spend hours a day outside, which is just what we wanted.  It has become our little refuge in this crazy land.  Homeschooling is going good, and all three girls are doing very well with their school.  Annie lynne is so funny and she loves her school.  Abram enjoys it to, his favorite part is climbing up on the table and sitting right in the middle as i'm trying to teach :)
Also, thanks so much for all your Pr@yers for Abram.  His leg is much better, he is back to walking completely normal.  And since none of us even knew it was broken all the Glory of the healing goes to the Father, I love telling my friends here how the Father healed him.  It has not only been an encouraging story for us but also for them.
Other then that exciting thing, life has been pretty much just going.  We are in a routine of homeschooling and language and being out in the community and trying to see what the Father has each day for us.  Some days are overwhelming with culture and language and things we hear when we are out with locals; and some days are full of security issues and dealing with that, and then somedays are just "normal" whatever that is. :)