Just one more sleep

until we see your sweet faces! My sister, her kids and my mom all arrive tomorrow. We have waited so long for this. Next week Sunday, my dad and my brother-in-law arrive and then on the 16th my brother gets here. We're ecstatic! But where did our friends, the Taglieres go to? Well, the Floreens have graciously opened their home to them so that there is space for when our family gets here. Also, tomorrow is the children's Christmas play at church and so it's going to be an extra busy day. Thanks for praying for Danny, Laura and their family!

Taglieres

We love these dear, dear friends and are so excited that they are with us here in Malawi. They are going through a major trail right now and we would covet your prayers on their behalf. You can read their story here at http://www.three-times-a-mom.blogspot.com/

Happy Ten Years

I would marry you all over again! Those were our words to each other :) We had a wonderful anniversary and celebrated by going to Kumbali Country Lodge for the night. We can hardly believe we've been married for ten years. God has been so faithful and gracious towards us. I love my gorgeous Bied!

Happy Thanksgiving

Malawians do not celebrate Thanksgiving. We however, did enjoy a delicious turkey feast together with our friends here on campus.

Bradley's class got to see a live turkey today-it belongs to a family here on campus.

I was looking back at past Thanksgiving photos- check this one out. Bottom left-Franklin with the glasses was oneof Brian's first friends when he moved to South Africa. Virl and Nike Tait-he is the pastor at Grace Christian Church (RSA) where Brian was for eight years. In the white shirt is Matt Floreen-who is in Malawi serving with us. In the green shirt is David Spencer whose parents have been in Malawi for 20 years. Kerry Drew and Beth Mack are there too and also the Proudfoots. Bottom right- Tony and Santie McCracken!

International Day

The Academy where our children go to school have an International Day every year where children and parents alike get to enjoy foods and cultural traditions from various lands. It was a most interesting and fun day!

Bradley went as an American football player and Ami as a pioneer.

Go Bokke! The South African Okes.

The Malawian Group was the largest.

Vocalists from Mingoli Band singing the Malawian National Anthem.

Dancers from Burundi joined in on the morning. They came from the Burundi Refugee Camp in Dowa.

A friend in Ami's class. She is from Japan.

Where's Wilbur?

He's still in the pig pen behind the water tower, getting rather large I might add. So much so that we've had to board up his cage a little more. He has attempted to escape twice-I expect the flower beds are more appealing than the mushy food we give him :(

Twenty-one sleeps!

We haven't spent a Christmas together with everyone from my family (dad, mom and siblings) in seven years! The last Christmas altogether was in South Africa in 2002. Last year my dad started making plans to get us altogether. My sister, brother-in-law and their two children will fly here to Lilongwe from London. My dad, mom and brother will fly up from South Africa. We are SO excited! Not too many people would be jumping over the moon with joy if they knew they were headed to Malawi for Christmas. But of course, it doesn't matter where you are, it's who you get to spend it with that makes you jump for joy! Our kids are counting down the sleeps. A true blessing and we're thankful to the Lord for providing for us all to be able to do this.

My brother-in-law and my dad. Grant got a teeny weeny present.

Biedebachs and Kelders at the lunch table - no kiddos!

OK not a good pic of my sister, but yes, she was there in 02! Texas Biedebachs-we look so forward to putting up our tree and stars!