Christmas & Beach Pictures

We had a great 2015 Christmas Holiday Season!  We were able to get a way for a few days to the beach and returned on the 23rd and then had some fun on the 24th celebrating with friends and with just our family on the 25th.  We hope and pray that each of you enjoyed your holiday season!  Below are a few pictures from these activities:

We had a great few days away at the beach with our family and 2 other missionary families.  As you can see it is a beautiful place.

On Christmas Eve we had friends over and played games and the kids built ginger bread houses.  Everyone does fireworks at midnight here so we enjoyed them from our roof as well.  As well as a white elephant gift exchange.

We had a fun Christmas morning with the kids as well.  We had breakfast together and sang happy birthday to Jesus, opened gifts, took naps, ate Christmas dinner and played games. 

God is good and we are grateful for our family and friends to do life with.  It is always a hard time of year to away from extended family but these things help us as we start new traditions and make memories.

We hope you all had a great Christmas and wish you a Happy New Year!

Jennifer's Parent's Visit

We were glad to have some family visit over the last part of November and first part of December.  It is the first time we have been able to celebrate Thanksgiving with Family since we have lived here.  We did a lot of things together like climb Volcano Pacaya, go to Antigua and do some home visits.

 Here are some pictures from our time together:

Jennifer and her mom                                              Our trip back from the Airport

A walk to Magdalena on their first day here.


The boys opening presents from Aunts & Uncles and Grandparents!!

More gifts. Awesome Lego sets from Janet and Tony and some Notre Dame gear for Levi!


Luke got a book.                                                       Let the building begin.  Jacob was in heaven.

We (Tony, Ben, Levi and Jacob) climbed the Volcano Pacaya which is the most active Volcano in Central America.



Some time at the feeding center                               Hanging out with our friend Cesar.

We had dinner with our friends Juan Carlos and family.  We did some home visits with some of the kids in our feeding center and schools.

Some fun times at the mall as well.

Caleb's Birthday

10 days ago we celebrated Caleb's 6th birthday.  It can't be so that our youngest is 6!  I am feeling older every day! Caleb has spent more of his life in Guatemala than in the States.  He is such a sweet young man.  His personality has blossomed over the last year!  Not long ago he wouldn't even let us take his picture and now he wants to talk to everybody and introduces himself and wants to know everything about you and shares what he likes.  He doesn't like us to call him our baby but he is so we will even though he is now 6 years old.  Here are some pictures from our celebration. Tomorrow we will be celebrating Jacob's birthday.  He will be 10 already.

My prayer for Caleb, Jacob and all our kids is that they grow up knowing and following Jesus no matter the cost.  My greatest desire is not that they finish college or have a successful job making lots of money but that they realize in Christ alone is true joy and that there is no greater joy than serving Him.  Please pray with me for these young men that they know and follow Jesus and take the world by storm!

Levi bought this for Caleb.  I love that our kids want to buy gifts for each other!

Legos from Mom and Dad.  He loves legos! 

Caleb wanted to go "go-karting". 

He loves the dogs! 

Lunch.

Breakfast.

Cake! 

Celebrating with friends.