keeping cool with friends

We have a couple of neighborhood girls who like to stop by our house most days, usually at lunch time when school breaks. They hang out, get a snack, eat a meal, ask for milk, play with the kids, talk with me, etc. I took these pictures today when they came by for their lunch with the kids and I. They'll often stop by again later in the afternoon after school gets out.

The hot season is in full force now, so these girls and our kids get along really well as they look for ways to stay cool. Today they really made me smile- they had the hose running, spraying water everywhere as they hit the ball back and forth, laughing and playing. Then the girls had to go, so they jumped on their bikes to run home and change into another uniform before heading off to school again. Cute as can be.

Celebrating our anniversary!

with Eva, Elijah, and Zach along on our date.

 Life with young kids is such a blessing, and life with young kids is so exhausting. But there's no question in my mind, the blessing trumps the exhaustion a million times over. This picture is so classic- it's our wedding anniversary, and we're all there at the table together. It's another picture of the kids b/c they're still too young to take a picture of their happy parents. It's not that we dream of heading out to celebrate with a car full of kids, but sometimes that's just how it is. So at the dinner above, the kids got to celebrate along with us. And let me tell you, they were so excited. Isn't that sweet? It's God's good gift to Nathan and I that we get to be here in a place that challenges our definition of what ought to be. It's God's good gift that we know love, experience sacrifice, and that our lives are often not ordered the way that we would order. It's the blessing of God that fills our table with joy. Thankful- 6 fabulous year of marriage and 3 happy kids who join in the celebration! 

My cute boys. The snake Nathan killed tonight would have been sitting between Elijah and the wall.

the new warehouse

There's a new building under construction! The lease is up on our old office space, and God has provided some property just outside town with owners who have begun building a warehouse just right in size to meet our needs. We are in exciting times of growth, which also means we are very pressed for space. This new building has been provided in perfect timing, just what we need, great location, ready for growth. The warehouse space will be for storing the ceramic filters, plastic receptacles, boxes, rattan stands etc.

The warehouse isn't just for storage, it's the place where packaging the filters up for sales happens. It's the place where the filter components are packaged up, sealed, boxed, and sent out for waiting buyers! This view is standing at the front of the building, looking towards the back. What will soon be staff offices can be seen on the right hand side.

Daily offerings are made on this spirit shelf inside by the workers to ensure the spirits are happy with what's going on. It looks like there's an energy drink there today, along with the typical candles for burning.

These are a couple of the workers who have been laying the cement. This work crew lives in the building while on the job, and pictured here is their meal preparation in progress.

This is the view standing at the back of the warehouse, looking towards the front. Future offices are now on the left hand side.

If you were to climb up the ladder as I demonstrate below, you'd be standing on top of what will be the offices here. This area up top will be for light storage, boxes, rattan stands etc. You can see our bike and kids trailer in the back of this picture... we all biked down to see the progress one Saturday morning. It's a fabulous ten minute bike ride from our house, four minutes by car.

Though this picture is quite dark, it won't be once glass is added to the front where the sun is pouring in! This area is part of what will be office space.

And here is the front! The right hand side will be glass windows with the office area behind. The left hand side will be warehouse, storage, assembly area. More photos to follow once this place is fully operational, stocked with product, and business is booming!

fun, fun, fun!

pool fun in the jungle river!

filters into local schools

Yesterday, the kids and I decided to go along with Nathan to deliver water filters to schools here in town. It was such a fun morning! The kids started out pretty shy, but as the morning went on, they got braver and were happy to see so many of the schools here. It helped that the teachers were so friendly and kind to the kids and gave them bags of chips to eat all morning long.

We went to eight different schools to hand over the water filters, with a standard routine of little speeches, taking pictures, and snacks for the kids. Over 1,000 dollars were given to these schools in the form of water filters, some schools being quite large and receiving many filters.

The kids were either waiting in this picture for the presentation to begin, or waiting for pictures to finish up afterwards. 

 Elijah all smiles from so much attention and so many chips.

he must be hungry

Wondering why this little guy doesn't have any clothes on, dirty as can be, butt cheek hanging out of diaper? My best guess here is that he was playing outside, probably sitting in the dirt, then turned on the hose or tap outside soaking himself in water, then the clothes came off. Now he's hungry, so he's carrying plates on his head to the dinner table. ha! There is always a laugh with young ones around isn't there?

WARNING for the Faint of Heart... snake pictures posted below

 Elijah found TWO snakes this morning while he was running around outside before breakfast. That kid is so hilarious- he calls Nathan to kill a snake he sees, then afterwards while walking back to the house says, "Dad, I saw another snake this morning too." Sure enough, there it was, still where Elijah saw it. Nathan threw a rock on the 2nd snake, just to pin it down so he could get all the kids around to see what a snake looks like head raised and trying to strike. (We're trying to teach Zach that snakes are dangerous).

 Today I'm thankful for Nathan, who arrives within seconds of any loud scream he hears, ready to kill a snake. Like when I spotted a snake a meter from my foot a few days ago, jumped backwards fast and far, then screamed my best snake scream which sounded something like this, "Snake! Snake! Snake! Snake! Snake!" You get the idea. Nathan was at my side within seconds, armed with whatever he grabbed on the way to whack the thing and kill it. And I'm thankful for Elijah who can spot a snake like no one can. I'm thinking about sending those two out every morning before the rest of us venture out.

I didn't get a picture while the snake was pinned under the rock... one day I might have my wits about me while the snake is still alive, but so far, I have about 0% fight and 100% flight, so going to get a camera just hasn't happened. The snake looked like this though, mouth open and trying to strike. If I were Zach, after seeing this, I think I'd get the picture that snakes are dangerous, but one never knows for sure.

(picture credit: http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-is-worlds-most-poisonous-snake.html)

Nathan took this picture in the emergency room hospital across the border. I think he was taking this shot while I was getting the gash in my hand cleaned out along with a tetanus booster. (gash from rusty fence metal, not from a snake). It's a little hard to see, but so we know what we're watching for, the seven snakes to look out for over here are the following: 

1. White-Lipped Pit Viper  2. Siamese Russell's Viper  

3. Malayan Pit Viper  4. Banded Krait  5. Malayan Krait  6. Cobra  7. King Cobra

So that's how my morning started, with a sharp spike in my heart rate. Someone please tell me what these spikes do for a person's health... I'm beginning to worry about my poor heart. Also any advice on how to conquer snake fear would be appreciated. While I'm at it, any advice on how to teach young kids about dangerous snakes? What to do when one sneaks inside your house and you're on your own? I'd also appreciate an invention that allows me to do the wash without having to put my toes next to the washing machine, as the head of a snake sticking out underneath is still clearly etched in my memory. Anyhow, on to the day. The kids are waiting. Things to do. Thank you for being my listening audience. I think I'll start out inside today and hold off on the laundry for just a bit.

Just another evening rounding up the turkeys!

pulling nails out of boards

our explorers

It's "take Elijah to work" morning!

Six Wonderful Years! Yehaw!!!

 2007

"And they're off"

Whoa, how did this happen? Eva joins the family.

 2008
This year was in the states

 

 
Jan's first "out West" experience

 

2009

Elijah's successful initiation into the world of men.

 Eva 2, Elijah 8 mo

2010

Eva turns 3 a week before child # 3 comes. Thanks for waiting, Zach.

 2011 

  Love being a Dad!

Love being a Mom!

 

4 month interlude back in the states

On top of the hill where we got engaged

2012

 

 Eva 4, Elijah 3, Zach 1

2013