Preschool Time

It seems like just yesterday, we were praying for a baby and this week Carson headed off to preschool.  Yes, it is only from 9:00-2:00 a couple of days a week but for a mama it is still hard to put your child's learning into the hands of someone else.  I love the school that we chose for that very reason.  They treat it like a school, but God's handprints are in everything that they do.  I love that he has a verse to practice this week, and that this week's focus is not just the color blue, circles, and number 0, but that it's also to learn to be a great friend.  His teacher has been amazing, and we are only one week into this process.  I am so thankful for God helping us make the right choice, and I am confident that it is HIM because many prayers went up about all of these decisions.  Here are some pictures of our little man's first day of school...PRESCHOOL!

Wild Oak Ranch

This past weekend we were able to spend some family time at the Wild Oak Ranch in San Antonio. 

Daddy doing a Cannonball!

Carson and Granna

Tick Tock...Tick Tock...

the clock strikes 1!

Carson playing in the sand.  This was probably his favorite part of the trip!

Carson and KK dancing at the Fiesta!

Silly Faces!

Carson, Granna, and KK

Carson, KK, Mom, and Dad

All Smiles!

Grandy, Carson, and Granna

Grandy and Carson

One Cool Dude!

Ice Cream, Ice Cream, We all Scream for Ice Cream!

 

 

This summer has been filled with fun and lots of ice cream.  Here Carson is enjoying his scoop of cookies and cream as we talk to neighbors passing by. 

 

 

Man, we are going to miss Daddy being home for the summer!



Summertime

While we were in Nicaragua, Carson spent the week with Grandy, Granna, and KK.  Here are some pictures from their fun adventures!

Picnic after church

Carson's first time to go fishing!  Worms, yuck!

Here comes the first catch!

Carson chasing Deputy Dog, aka Lucy!

Carson playing ball with Nannie!

Carson at the farm...

Whose in the tent???

It's Grandy!

Smore time!  Yum!!!

That was good!  Love ya'll!

Nicaragua 2013

This past week, Brandon and I spent our time serving the people of Nicaragua.  We joined together with 38 others from our church and several others from a church in Virginia.  For the past 8 years, we have heard our missionaries talk and seen pictures from friends, but until we actually experienced it for ourselves, it was difficult to comprehend the needs that are so prevalent in this third world country.  I wish I had the words to describe the needs that are present and the way that God is responding to those needs.  I wish the pictures could tell their story...

The Schools

Griselda and her 2nd grade class



Children sweeping and mopping their classroom floor.

Lunch Time: Each student brought a bowl and cup.  The teacher would fill them up with rice and beans that one of the parents prepared the night before. 

One of our teachers taught the kids how to play "Duck..Duck...Goose".  Here they are playing it for the first time.  It started to rain, but that didn't stop the kids from having fun!

Los Pepitos

These were some sweet, sweet kids at Los Pepitos. 

This little girl had a hearing impairment.  She was so excited when she realized that I could sign a little.

Casa Materna

These girls were in their 9 month of pregnancy and staying at Casa Materna.  Here they are sewing a new pillow for their new arrival.  Eleven girls were there for the night, and the facilities had 4 twin beds.  They were going to sleep two girls per bed, and three girls would sleep on the floor. 

This little boy became my friend at Casa Materna.  He was one of the employees' children.

The Town

Some of the girls walking to the mission after getting a cold Coke.

Chelsea, Randi, and Jeana

The Water

Here we are completing step 1 of the process to make a water filter to install in one of the homes of  a local family.

As we were making filters, a truck filled with cabbage drove by.  As the truck hit a bump in the road, two heads of cabbage fell out.  We watched as two local boys jumped over a barbed wire fence to take the cabbage back to their family.

Here Brandon is washing the sand so that it can go in the filter.

Randi, Kari, and Jeana

The Mountains

The beautiful mountains of Jinotega.

After a thousand-step hike up the mountain, we made it to the cross.  What a beautiful view!

The Friends

Brandon and his friend, Harvey