Thursday, November 24, 2016

What We're Thankful For

According to their turkey hands, these boys are thankful for:

"doing a project, my animal friends, my Star Wars guys, and playing with my gecko friend" (Caleb)

and

"my tiger friend, tractors, Star Wars, and cups" (Kai)


Every night at bedtime we ask the boys what they're thankful for.  Their answers range from their toys and books, to chameleons, to their friend Jack (an MK in Guam), to talking with Grandma and Grandpa, to sleeping in a fort (mosquito net), to nothing at all.  Sometimes we laugh, sometimes our hearts break, but always we are reminded of the very lesson we are trying to instill in them: it's important to be thankful.




 And we are thankful, for so many things.  We're thankful to be in Kenya, we're thankful for our house that's become home during this season of life, we're thankful for the new friendships we've made, and we're thankful for the ways God is teaching us and stretching us.  And living here has increased our gratitude for so many things we tend to take for granted in America, like hot water, clean water, running water, electricity, appliances, flushing toilets, tampons, and luxuries like cheese and strawberries and skim milk.  There is so so much to be thankful for, and so so much to stop complaining about, and we are in a constant state of remembering this simple truth.

So we thank God for so much, like good books and good chai and naps that go well and rain that waters the garden and packages from people back home, but we especially thank God for these precious boys of ours, and for each other, and for the privilege of serving Him here in Kenya.  Thanks be to God!






Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Asa Walks!

He took his first steps a few weeks ago, but has adamantly held onto our fingers to walk since.  Tonight, however, Asa simply decided it was time!  Our boy is officially walking!