Snow! Dissecting owl pellets with cousins. Joel typing to Mima and Papa. Christmastime with family…Mima reading the Candy cane story to the grandkids…and great grandpa too 
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Go HERE to listen to us attempting to sing/play “Drummer Boy” this Christmas at church.
Otherwise here are some pics I found that would be fun to share. An early Christmas with Jen and Adrian. Check out Selah’s shocked face when she sees Daddy’s HUGE gun from his bro. Essie said, “I am NOT playing guns with you anymore!!” Dressing up on Harvest Day. A mock war during the George Washington era…complete with authentic hats we made:) Cookie making to deliver to neighbors. Playing Dr. - Thanksgiving …
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Saying goodnight normally consists of various other conversations …either brought up to stall the sleeping process or sincere questions. Tonight was the latter of the two.
With tears forming in his eyes, Kaleb tells me, “Mommy, I don’t think I believe ENOUGH to be saved.”
That made me think of an e-mail Gabe sent me when we were dating long distance from Oregon to Kansas. Gabe wrote, “Do you think belief can be made into a work?”. I am not sure why I remember that one e-mail so well except for the fact that maybe it was a good question. From the struggles I have been through to believe in just the right way with just ENOUGH feeling and constant wondering I would say that belief can be turned into a “Work”. I think I need to recognize that more and be assured by one of my favorite verses, John 6:29 “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”
After talking awhile and still Kaleb mentioning other “ENOUGHS” like, “I don’t think I am thankful ENOUGH for what Jesus did for me.” I finally said something that really helped me as well (must have been the Holy Spirit!), “Kaleb, Jesus DIED for all of our “not enoughs. He is ENOUGH. Only He CAN be ENOUGH.”
It amazes me when God uses kid conversations to minister to me as I am supposedly ministering to them.
Joel just learned how to make smiley faces I think if you click on one it will do a slide show or something. I had fun taking the pics this time..still trying to figure out lighting techniques though…
We were watching a Pocahontas cartoon after we read a book about her. Joel saw one of the main male characters in movie and asked, “Mommy dat Jesus?” I reply, “No it’s not Joel” He asks again, “Dat Dod (God)?”
“No”
“Dat Daddy???”
“No Joel its John Smith.”
“Oh, Don Smith.”
After months of struggling to get Selah to brush her hair, we finally decide to dontate the 10 inches to “Locks of Love”. She was concerned about looking like a boy at first, but then liked it and admitted that it made her happy to give it to someone who might need it. By the way, you get a free hair cut when donating 10 inches to Locks of Love at Great Clips!
Selah looking at her locks
Joel has been calling Selah Aunt Lela and Aunt Molly ever since she came home from Great Clips. I have heard from others that she kinda looks like Drew Barrymore .:)
Last year we asked the kids if they could make us a snack while we talked for our anniversary. Well this year the kids thought of it on their own and we were treated to Selah’s “Broccoli Forest”(fresh from our garden broccoli and ranch dressing complete with PLENTY of green food coloring for the “grass” 
Kaleb decided to whip up his very first cheesecake all by himself for us…it’s our favorite kind of cake
It says “Happy Anniversary” in chocolate Kaleb told us
flowers from my hubby
It seems like soon after Gabe leaves for Bolivia, problems begin to pop up here…or maybe I just notice them more…?
Last time : Joel locked himself in a room and I had to take apart the door to get him out, We had lights go out and trees falling around us in our neighborhood during a huge wind storm, The kitchen sink flooded, the toilet began having issues, the kids got sick…
This time Kaleb began throwing up after Day camp was over and then got pushed over by his sister and got a 1 inch gash on the top of his head. That was pretty scary seeing blood coming out his head and all over. He got 5 staples and is doing ok. He is feeling nauseous a bit though and I am hoping it does not have anything to do with his head injury…I think that can be a side effect…? I have been experiencing strong sibling rivalry recently as well, so if you think of it, please pray that I will have more patience…but hurry! 
Of course there are good things going on too. I made 9 jars of jam with my mom and helped her out at “camp mima”. Joel got to know his cousin Levi better. Kaleb and Selah memorized their verses and were able to go to Eagle Fern Camp last week! Thanks to Gabe’s Uncle Scott and Aunt Nancy, I was able to purchase a nice camera (a favorite, and probably my only, hobby these days:) I am very excited about using it on the kids and God’s BEAUTIFUL creation…here is a very non-flattering picture of Kaleb’s staples…he was so scared of the “stapler”. I think the drs. need to come up with another name for “staples” so the kids won’t be so scared …something like smiley clips or something eh? ok, obviously getting late here…
A couple “positive” pics of this last week
Here is Gabe’s latest update from Bolivia:
Dear Friends,My first few days in Santa Cruz I worked with a team from Gresham, Oregon. We had a number of great experiences. We visited a couple of University campuses and had opportunities to share testimonies and witness to students. One of the students asked a team member to share his story about how he got to know God. He felt that God was just a myth that people create to explain what they can’t understand. The brother shared how God had changed his life from a bar brawler to someone completely different. At one point I asked the student, what do you do with the issue of guilt? He honestly responded that this was something he would have to think about.With the team we were also able to show the Jesus film on the street, a puppet evangelism show, lay down a rough floor for a church building, teach the kids some gospel songs and shared the gospel with parents in their homes.I am in Camiri now, I got to spend some time with Eduardo, a brother who came to know the Lord a few years ago. I am encouraged to see him grow spiritually, be involved in ministry, and is now beginning to work as he’s almost finished his training as a welder.Please pray,· For the future direction of the school as we are concerned. It is bearing fruit for God’s kingdom, and yet, due to recent government changes it is found under a burdensome financial position in which to continue on.· I will be speaking at the church over the next couple of Sundays. That the message would fit the need of this missions minded group of believers.· For me as I visit different people involved in the school, that I would have the tact to say what is needed to be said while not injuring God’s people.
Well, we succeeded…with LOTS of help… in doing VBS another year. Gabe (a very last minute guy) and me (a very much planner aheader (is that a word? worked together on it… and in the process I think we were both challenged and learned a bit more about each other as well …
The coolest part was that the main point (Jesus being our greatest Treasure) was clear and we pray that the kids GOT IT! We had about the same amount of kids as last year, but had some new faces this year. Here are some pictures!
Selah and Essie leading singing with Daddy (and Bethann and Katie too
Skits…the hit of the evening
snack time
crafts
games!
ending with horse rides!
Happy 7th birthday Selah!!!
Kaleb’s old bike, but with added accessories! Got creative with the Bike basket… was a dollar store Easter basket
Learning how to skate
Selah’s well thought out cake…lollipop trees , peppermint rocks, skittles stones, and a princess floating on a Joes Doughnut down a fruit roll up river
Very excited about her very own Bible from Papa and Mima!
We love you Selah and are very encouraged to see your interest in God’s Words and wanting to follow in His ways. Even when the times get tough…Keep Persevering my little girl!
