OK, so I've been AWOL lately. Haven't written much at all, and Lancy is asking that I post some pictures for her. So, for my daughter far away on the other side of the world, here is some info and some pictures.

It has been a busy summer, in that we continued to do school just about everyday. Janelle has been doing quite well, with just an occasional day of melt downs when she gets frustrated with school or with being told no. It just dawned on me this week maybe one of the reasons why she does not like to be told to stop bugging the kids, or no, she can't have something, or that is not the way to do something is because of the idea of saving face. In China, and other countries in that part of the world, saving face is important. More important that telling the truth is telling someone what they want to hear. China is/was loosing "face" over just the idea that others were questioning whether their gymnists were of age. It is just soooo important to be right. And I think that is maybe why Janelle hates to be told that she is not doing something right, or be told no. She will get pouty and go to her room if she even thinks that someone thinks she is wrong. Something to think about, anyway.

Today she has finished 3rd grade. Not bad, when you think that she just started 1st last November. I think that the 4th grade books will be much more of a challenge, and will take up a lot more of my time. My goal is for her to finish 4th and a good part of 5th this year.

Taylor is doing great in 1st. He finally lost his first baby tooth a couple of weeks ago, at 6 1/2. He was pretty pleased that the tooth fairy brought him 10 pesos. He was also surprised yesterday at the dentists office when she pulled his other 3 bottom baby teeth. Actually, his permanent teeth have been in for over a month right behind his baby teeth, and they needed to come out. Taylor also wears an expander these days, like a retainer after getting braces off. The doctors/dentist want to expand his upper mouth, getting his teeth better aligned so that he can have his bone graft surgery, probably sometime next year.

LiAnne is enjoying one more year before formally starting kindergarten, though we work on numbers and letters everyday. She really wants to know how to read, but doesn't want to have to learn the names and sounds of all of the letters. She also wansts to add and subtract, but only recognizes the numbers 1-6. Just hard to convince her that you have to learn step one, before going on to step two. She will be 5 next month.

This Sunday the church will celebrate its 5th anniversary here in Bernal. We have been working on special activities for the service on Sunday. I got curtains made for the 8 windows this week. It will sure look different on Sunday when people arrive. Richard is working on a power point slide show with pictures from all 5 years, which will be fun. I'll be sure to put pictures on the ministry blog after Sunday.

I was very thankful to talk to my Dad yesterday. Last month when he went to the eye doctor he found that the sight in his one eye was almost completely gone. It had gotten worse quickly. The doctor tried a new procedure, and when he went back yesterday found that the sight had improved quite a bit. Even the doctor was surprised at how good it was. So, we are very thankful to God today for that blessing, and pray that it will continue to improve.

OK, that is it for today. I'll try to post a bit more regularly in the days ahead.

And now, Lancy, these pics are for you! (though actually, blogger is going to put the pics first, and the text last!)

A Quick Beach Trip

LiAnne and I made a quick trip to the beach to take a few pictures.....not. Oh, how I wish we could...too bad we live so far from any beach. But, I kept seeing my friends scrap their summer beach trips and wanted to do one too, so I did. Here is what I came up with. Photoshop is so much fun when you can prove by a picture that you did something that you really didn't do.

More to come...but first both Taylor and Janelle have to have haircuts. And if you are wondering when I find time to scrap, it is usually between 9:30 and midnight, when I should be sleeping!



We met with the others on our team this morning to make plans for the months ahead, youth group, ladies meetings, adult activities, and inter-church activities. School starts here next week, so things will slowly get back to normal. I made stir-fry for lunch...and I think that they all ate more vegetables today than they usually do in a month! Veggies just aren't on the menu much here in Mexico.

Amanda made it back safely from Thailand on Sunday night, and starts Character Camp at College of the Ozarks on Wednesday. She will be leading a group of new students as a "Mom" next week.

Welcome to Beijing!

As mom to three kids from China, we will be watching the Olympics this year as much as we can. That said, we'll see. We were hoping to watch via NBC online once we read about that. It sounded like a great way to see more....but when I tried to get it going last night, I found out that it is only available in the US. Local Mexican coverage is.....well, to be nice, blaaaah. I always say that to be on TV here you have to be dumb and blond, and have a high, squeaky voice....hehehehe. Sorry for any blonds reading this, but you probably aren't in the dumb catagory, and certainly wouldn't have the squeaky voice. I guess that it can't be any worse than the last two times we have watched it here, basic coverage, but better than nothing.

Watching this video makes me want to take another trip to Beijing! It is a great city, with so much to see. Enjoy! (Oh, and if you don't understand what they are saying, just come ask Janelle!)

*******You'll need to scroll down to the bottom and but the music on mute in order to enjoy this video.

One sweet granddaughter.....

Jocelyn

The phone call....

Richard answered the phone yesterday morning and had a bit of a scare, as the person on the other end talked about money, deposits, protecting the family....It was a kidnapping threat. We right away asked friends and churches to pray as we wondered what to do next. There was a police car parked down the street, so Richard went and talked to the policeman, who told him to go to Ezequiel Montes and report it. I emailed my friend at the US consulate in Guadalajara, who said we definately should report it to the consulate in Mexico City.

This morning Richard decided to go over and talk to the police in EM, and was glad that he did. They said that this is a problem in all of Mexico right now. Seems that this is being done my men who call and threaten people, telling them where to deposit money in order to protect their family. Many people actually do deposit money for them. They said that though it is scary, it is not something that we need to worry about.

Mexico has surpassed Colombia in the number of kidnappings taking place. Here in Mexico it is pretty much just a money deal....people who are actually kidnapped are usually just held for ransom (as happened to some Koreans in Reynosa, a city we often drive through, just this week). The US consulate often send out warnings to us, reminding us that American's are at risk all over the world. We're pretty aware of things going on, but in 13 years in Mexico, we have never felt at risk. This has caused us to re-think a few things, like keeping our gates locked, and making sure the kids are in our sight. We have gotten used to living in a small town, and are probably just as safe as we ever were, but at least we are more aware.

So, thank you for praying, and keep praying for us, and other missionaries all over the world. At times we are at risk just for being Americans.

Of rats and flies.....

I've decided that our cat, Mrs. Sippy, from the states of Mississippi, is worth her weight in gold. We sat down to eat one day last week, and I heard her making a rucus in the living room. Went to check out what was going on. She was trying to get behind the computer. I watched for awhile and realized that she had a mouse back there. Richard came over, pulled out the computer, and out came a 5 inch rat! Yikes!! It was bigger than the cat could kill, but we managed to get it out of the house. If the cat hadn't gotten it who knows where it might have made a nest or ended up.

Then there are the flies. It is rainy season, and we live in a town with hundreds of cows, pigs and chickens. We try to keep the doors closed, but they seem to get in anyway. We can take the fly swatter and kill 20 or so, and still there are more. Oh the joys of life.....

Summer Happenings

Eduardo and Mattias Buldain, the speakers


In the kitchen


Nancy, helping serve


Our family in the dining room


It was a very beautiful place to visit and meet


Wow, these days are flying by. OK, what else is new, eh?

Two weeks ago we attended a conference for pastors and church planters. The speaker was Eduardo Buldain, Lancy's old boss from Argentina. We enjoyed being there. It was especially good to see so many young couples getting started in church planting in this area. I was in charge of the food for about 40 people. Not a big deal, until I saw the kitchen, and what it DIDN'T have. It was pretty dismal. I ended up making quite a few things ahead of time at home and doing as little as possible there. Here are a few pictures:

God's Masterpiece

Another cute picture of LiAnne.


Taylor, getting ready for the Olympics next month.



Janelle, who was glad to finally have some "America clothes".

Amanda Off to Thailand

Amanda leaves early Saturday morning to fly out to Thailand. She will be working with a missionary couple there for a month, as well as spending a week or so with Lancy. Please pray for her as she travels, and that she would be a blessing to the family she is visiting, and a witness to those she talks with.

Amanda, we are praying for you. Listen to the first song on this blog....it is my prayer for you. Love you, Mom

Happy 4th!

We are having a quiet day at home. Hamburgers, no school, and just resting after a busy week. More on that later. Hope you are having a good day!

Puppy Love

Janelle loves animals. Here she is with our two doggies--though Oyuki is now living in Missouri with my folks. She is a bit of a nervous dog, and didn't really do well with having a young girl always trying to make her do what she wanted. Our house was a bit hectic for her. She will do better living in a peaceful house and being spoiled. We still have Belle here, as well as Mrs. Sippy, the cat. One kitten has already gone to her new home, and the other will be going next week.

News from Jeff in Thailand

We went through this kind of stuff in Panana, so we aren't worried. One just needs to use common sense and stay away from crowds. Still, we ask for your prayers for Lancy, Jeff and Jessica and kids in Bangkok.

Thai Politics


For many years, the political situation here in Thailand has been anything but stable. There have been several coups, mostly peaceful, and corruption is rampant. The most recent coup of just a few years ago has not brought about the stable democracy that was hoped for. The government that took control after the coup has never gained the trust of the Thai people and has been under severe political attack almost from the day it took office little over a year ago. Over the last few days, those attacks and protests have become more serious, to the point that many here believe we are on the brink of another coup, or worse, anarchy. While we do not believe we are in any physical danger, we would ask for prayer that whatever happens with the government, that peace would remain and the Thai people remain committed to freedom, specifically religious freedom.

I would like to reiterate that we have no reason to believe that we are in any danger. Unfortunately, these types of political battles are the norm in Thailand, and most confrontations end without shots being fired. Whatever happens we know that "God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne"! (Ps. 47:8)