Popping Bubbles

Joshua showed off his hidden talent today, bubble popping. Enjoy these cute pictures of his first experience around bubbles.

Finishing Up Well

One week from today, Jacob and Anna will finish up with fifth and thrid grade. Two weeks from today, Jeff and I will fly back to the U.S. with Sarah and Joshua. In between now and then, we need to finish up well here at BFA and say goodbye to the students and staff who will be leaving. Before we can look ahead, here is what our family has been doing this last week.

Last Wednesday, Jacob's class participated in the big event of the year for them. They played the underground railroad game from 9:45- 11:45 p.m. The game gives the kids a chance to pretend that they are actually slaves on the underground railroad running from slave catchers. There were a number of "safe houses" that they had to make it to with out being caught. Jeff was a slave catcher searching for run away slaves. Jacob had a blast and really dressed up for the event. Anna was able to go along as well and help Jeff.

The next day was a German holiday. So we decided to actually have a family outing. We took the kids to the Basel Zoo. Sarah was so excitied to go and see the animals. It was a great day of family down time that we haven't had for a very long time.

Anna's thrid grade class shared their talents with the parents on Monday. Anna recited two poems and played two piano pieces one of them was a duet with her teacher Ms. Allen. The class also demonstrated some skills that they learned in P.E. like climbing the rock wall and jumping on the trampoline. At the end, Sarah was allowed to jump on the trampoline with Anna which she loved.

This next week will be busy with finals, music concerts, recitals, awards night, Spring party and graduation. All of the above must be attended and participated by the Principal of the school. Jeff will be very busy! Pray for Jeff as he runs from activity to activity and that he can remember what event he is at. He is still a bit amazed that he is in this leadership role right now. Pray that we will finish our school year here well.

The Last

I'm finding myself saying the phrase, "the last...." more and more these days. Today was the last playgroup time for Sarah. Every Wednesday this school year, we have met with other moms of preschoolers at the high school gym. For one hour, the kids can run, jump, climb,play and especially swap snacks with eachother. It has been a good outlet for me in the middle of the week to take Sarah and Joshua to. Here is Sarah posing with some of her friends from the playgroup.

Joshua has even been able to strike up a friendship with fellow baby, Rochelle three months his junior!

We have other sadder "lasts" around our home this week. On Monday, Jacob woke up to find that his pet fish "Spot" was no more. The last of the two fish we bought for the kids at Christmas past on. Jacob was very upset by it. I was a bit relieved because we were getting ready to make posters asking for someone to take care of Spot while we were in the States. I guess, God took him sooner so we wouldn't have to deal with finding him a new home.

Jeff and the kids cleaning out Spots tank last week. A few days later, Spot was no more.

Change is never easy, these next two weeks will be very emotional for many of us here at BFA. We will say many goodbyes to students and staff. Jacob and Anna will say goodbye to many of their friends. Some of their friends are moving back to America for good. Others will be going back for a year furlough which means that they will not see them for two years because then we will be gone for our year furlough. The realities of being an MK is sometimes hard for Jacob and Anna. They don't like always saying goodbye to good friends. But God has blessed our family during our eight years here and he will continue to provide for all of our needs. He will even give my children new friends! I'm glad that they have eachother to develope a close bond with too.

A dedication

I am a bit behind on this post. On Sunday, we were able to dedicate Joshua and Sarah at our Church. It made it extra special that it was on Mother's day. There were a total of six new ones dedicated. I guess the missionary community is alive and well.

The four kids at the begining of church. They took up an entire row! Joshua is giving himself a pep talk saying, "don't spit up, don't spit up!"

Joshua loved to look around while he was up front and didn't fuss at all. Sarah was so cute, when the pastor asked her what her name was she said, "I two, I'm Sarah!"

Later in the day, I took this picture of the kids playing on Jacob's bed. Pray for us, as we have the responsibility to raise these four children up in the way of the Lord.

Mother's Day

I hope all the moms had a special day. This was my first year to celebrate with four children. All my kids gave me cards and I received a nice bouquet of flowers too. Anna wrote me a special poem that she composed herself. I'd like to share it with you if I may:


My Mom is Really Great!

My mom is great-
Really really great!

My mom cooks
And I like the way her food looks.

She makes peas and carrots
But never cooks parrots.

My mom is a great friend
And when I need a lend
She comes in a flash
With a big dash.

My mom is a janitor.
And really can get the room clean.

My mom is a gardener.
And is nicer with flowers than mean.

My mom is an athlete
And can go here and there.

And when she needs help
I really do care.

My mom is like me.
She likes the things I do.

My mom is great!
I hope yours is too!


HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

With love,

Anna

Update

Time for an update on our family happenings. I know everyone is dying to hear the latest news about us be it ever so random and mundane.

Lets start off with little Joshua, he turned five months old yesterday. We really didn't do anything for him on his special day except maybe mention it at dinner out loud to eachother. He is changing though and trying so hard to roll over. He is so close yet just can't quite kick those little feet over. He is still such a good and content baby.

Sarah, is doing very well with her potty training. I would go as far as to say that she is about 90% there. She will go on the potty every time she is asked and is just now starting to realize when she has to do the number 2's . I am very pleased by how relatively easy it seems to be going for her and me.

Sarah and Joshua enjoying a nice sunny afternoon with Grandpa Bob.

Jeff, has spent the last week running from meeting to meeting and only having enough time to kiss the kids in the morning and miss them before they head off to bed each night. Tonight, he was responsible for saying goodbye to all departing staff at BFA. We had our yearly staff dinner, it is a formal time with a nice meal at a resturant. This is a special time to thank all staff for their service at BFA. Note- all staff must raise their support to come and teach, so this is a nice little perk. Here is Jeff reading praises that he wrote for some departing staff tonight. I think he did an excellent job. Sorry that the picture is so dark.

This weekend, Jeff and Iwill help run the concessions stand both on Friday and Saturday for the Sophomore class at the home soccer games. Sunday, we will attend the Junior/Senior Banquet. Then our busy week starts all over again! Keep praying for our busy days that we can get the rest we need. We are all suffering from head colds at the moment.

Graz part two

Here are some pictures of our time in Graz this past week. Jeff and I attended a conference for European Christians who teach in public schools. We met many nice people from all over Europe, from England to the Ukraine and everywhere in between. Jeff and I were the only Americans there.

We enjoyed the sights of Graz, a very ethnic city in Austria. It is a major hub for Muslim imigrants.

Walking down the major shopping district in Graz with a traditional street car pasing by. Most major cities in Euorpe have a large castle in the center of town. Graz is no exception. On top of the castle is a large glocken turm.(clock tower).

We took advantage of a nice warm afternoon and stopped at an outside cafe on top of the castle and enjoyed a beautiful view of the city.

We enjoyed our time away it has been almost four years since we were last able to get away somewhere over night.

These are the stairs that lead up to the castle. It was quite a climb up.

I saw this man in dressed in traditonal Austrian clothing strolling down the street and decided to take a picture.

Our last evening at the conference we had a social night. We learned some traditional Austrian folk dances. Other groups shared some traditional songs. Here is a group from Romania singing for us.

Graz, Austria

Jeff and I just got back from an educational conference in Graz, Austria. It is close to the birth place of Arnold (Governor of California). We had planned to spend a day and night in Vienna, but our plane tickets got messed up so we only spent time in Graz. We were still able to enjoy our trip and time in Graz and just do things on our own time frame and not worry about the kids schedules. We didn't eat at McDonalds at all during our trip! We were also able to recharge our batteries for the next five weeks and meet many wonderful Christian teachers from all over Europe. These next five weeks will be incredibly busy for us before we fly back for some time in the States the first part of June. I will post some pictures of our time in Graz soon. For now, I am happy to be home with the children again and ready to sleep in my own bed!