Lake Malawi

Soon after Christmas, we planned to spend a couple days at Lake Malawi. My mom was not feeling well and decided not to go along. My dad, Alli and I stayed with her in Lilongwe, while the rest of the gang had great fun in Salima.

Loading up the Freestate Ferrari - just for the record, the VW made it all the way to the Lake and back with no hiccups.

A zebra - there is not great game viewing in Malawi- still fun for the cousins to see though.

Uncle Grant getting a mud bath.

Cousins, Ethan and Ami.

The cottage looks out onto this!

Lake Malawi.

The swimming pool at the cottage where they stayed.

Cousins without Alli.

That's Ami near the top. A huge frangipani tree? I think- in the beautiful garden where they stayed.

Look! SuperBen in Boots with uncle Martin.

A craftsman polishing his wares for sale.

Lunch at Livingstonia Beach. The family enjoyed a meal out and the long wait was worth it. They ate chambo, which is a local fish.


Stores in Salima.

There still has not been much rain at all here in Lilongwe, however, near the lake it seems quite green.

Merry Christmas

Blessings and love from the warm heart of Africa!

May the Lord bless you with a deep awareness of the Gift He gave us when we could not save ourselves.
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

Christmas Eve

Today the cousins had fun slipping and sliding. The ground was a bit hard, but they seemed to enjoy themselves despite the odd hard knock here and there.

Just after we read from Luke 2 and prayed, the children got to open a few gifts. It's great to watch their excitement. I don't think Ben has ever been so thrilled about a colouring-in book before.

Good Food

Pizza Picnics and Papaya Popsicles! Yum

All here

Nieces and nephews writing on the chalk board. A welcome sign for uncle Martin.

Martin arrived today, so we are altogether now and loving every minute. Linda said that she wishes our family time could go on and on. We are especially grateful that our family relationships are solid and that we can share these special times together.

Opa and Grant

One last dinner with the Taglieres and Vances before they returned to California.

Brother-in-law Grant with Julia

My dad made this great go-cart for the kids for Christmas. We had one very similar to it that he made for us when we were growing up.

Charge!

Opa also made a wooden wagon for his grand kids. We also had one like it while growing up.

Fun all the time

Soon after our cousins arrived we put up the Christmas tree together. The kids had such fun decorating-the lower front half of the tree was especially beautiful-later aunt Linda and I had to fix up here and there:)

Sweet Allison, who enjoyed it all too.

Precious Julia

Outside on the jungle gym, enjoying the wonderfully warm weather

Julia and Ben in Opa and Nanny's bed

Six blessings!

Swimming Cousins

Cousin Ethan swimming

Aunty Linda, cousin Julia, Ami and Brad

Aunty Linda brought these cool chips, called Hula Hoops and the kids had fun putting them on their fingers.

Bradley

Brad diving -Aunt Sharon we got your noodles to Malawi on our last trip and the kids have used them so much!

The lovely Linda trying to catch a tan on her very white legs!

Looks inviting, doesn't it? We are so blessed to have this gorgeous swimming pool facility here on ABC campus.

Cousin Ethan with a lizard who had lost his tail-his defense mechanism.

Christmas Play

The play is done- it went well and our family arrived safely-fun days ahead

Getting the backdrop painted.

Almost done-just missing the stars

With some of the kids on stage.

Sweet Benjamin singing his little heart out. He was a cow, Brad was a sheep and Ami was an angel.

Ami-front left