You have to start somewhere, right?

Well, it's been a while, again.  Sometimes I don't feel compelled to put my thoughts into a blog and sometimes I feel like sharing.  Today is one of those days.  After a long blogging absence it's hard to get back in the groove, but you have to start somewhere, right?

We are doing well.  The boys are getting SO BIG, as is our crazy dog Cody.  We started homeschooling about three weeks ago and we are all really enjoying it!  Last year we used Abeka, but it was bits and pieces from different years so the teacher manuals didn't always correlate with the kid's books or manipulatives and we found it to be too repetitive, too much seat work for busy boys in my opinion.  Several friends recommended My Father's World and it has changed our lives!  Due to our schedules Ben and I take turns teaching the boys and we miss it when it's not our turn.  The curriculum is hands on and has great readers.  The boys enjoy learning and reading together and for that I am very thankful.

God is doing some great things in our ministry here and we are embarking upon a large building project.  It's scary on one hand, but on the other hand we know that God has a plan and will continue to open doors and provide the necessary funds.  My prayer for this year is that we grow together as a family and that our faith is strengthened.  It's so precious to hear the boys pray and ask God to provide.  The beginning of the year is always crazy with the local and the trade schools starting, the sponsorship program and now the building project which includes many meetings with the architect, builder, mayor, etc.  Please pray for our Love Guatemala staff and our families during this wonderfully hectic time in our lives.

I am so grateful to have friends here that we can connect and do life with.  I can't imagine this journey without them!  God has also brought many new (and old) friends to visit us since we've moved here.  It is always refreshing to have friends come and minister with us.  Many times it's exactly what we need at just the right time.  God has used these people in our lives to confirm our call to live in Guatemala as well as encourage us.  I can't tell you how much it means to us to know that we have friends and family who are praying for us and for the ministry here.

A very patient friend took some family pictures for us in December.  (Thanks Chris!)