Off to Romania! Part 1

Natalie and I, along with our amazing Bridgeway Team, headed off to minister in Romania on June 27th.  Our team of 11 was great!  We had spent a good part of the spring and early summer meeting and planning, as well as working together on fund-raisers.   Here's our team the morning we are headed out to SFO to catch our flight to Amsterdam:

Ready, set, go!

Waiting to board-

 

The layover in Amsterdam.... and our three favorite Dutch Brothers!

 

Bringing along three guys was something to be excited about!  The kids over there just loved the guys and immediately turned them into human jungle gyms!  (Later, they were recruited for an afternoon soccer match with the older kids.)

 

Together with the Heart2Heart staff we did week-long VBS sessions for kids at two different orphanages.  We had a wonderful time presenting a Bible story with a skit, crafts, and games.  Our drama productions were close to Broadway in caliber - we spared no expense in costuming and staging, and our actors, well, look out Tony Awards, here we come!  Of course I'm being facetious here, because what happened was amazing!  The Lord was able to use what we had (limited resources, an outdoor park, and willing hearts)--He is always able!-- and we were able to teach the kids about His Power and Amazing Love for them.

 

And the fun of games!

And crafts!

 

More pictures of the kids can be viewed in the slideshow on the left of the blog.

 

The theme of our first VBS was "God is Amazing!"

or, in Romanian:  "Dumnezeu este minunat !"

 

He surely is!

 

 

 

My Little Buddy in June!

One of our favorite books - The Napping House!

I see the flea!

 

Father's Day 2013

Here's our two men of the day for Father's Day, surrounded by beautiful women!
(One beautiful woman is missing...  I can't remember where Chelsea was, which is why one should write and post pictures of events right after they happen, not 3 months later!) 
I love that we live close enough to get together often. 

Addie had a special card for her Papa!

 

June and A Quick Trip to Bishop

Natalie and I had a "road trip" to Bishop in early June to visit the Kaisers and celebrate with them Zak's High School graduation.  It was so good to see these wonderful friends!  Their new house in Bishop is beautiful and so very comfortable and welcoming.  I just wish Bishop was closer!

Natalie and Laura getting decorations and food ready for the Grad Party.

Me and Kel

 

May Birthdays and Mother's Day

Here's my wonderful family celebrating the three May birthdays and Mother's Day!

 

One of the birthday girls.

My "Kids"!

Me and Gaga

To start with, I get to spend quite a bit of time with this little cutie, and I am blessed to have that time!  These are pictures from earlier in the year and she has grown and changed a bit, but you will see more of her as I get caught up!

 

Time For Catching Up!

I am way behind in posting anything about our activities, so I am going to make a run at it because we have done some really fun things and have wonderful pictures from each event!

Here goes....

Addison's Easter Egg Hunt

Chris and I had so much fun being "Papa and Gaga" last Saturday!  We joined Eric and Chelsea and Addison at their church's Easter Egg Hunt and enjoyed watching Addison experience the fun.