Cupboards...

...are fun to sit in.

MacBiedebach

Into the swing of things

Aunt Sharon, this is for you! Brian's sister has an amazing golf swing and we're hoping our seven year old who got two clubs for her birthday will take after her :)

Strike a pose

I got to hold almost one month old Abigail Floreen today. She had it all together, cool, calm and collected!

Touch it

This small blue headed lizard faked death and then the kids had fun picking it up and scaring each other with it. It was quite something to see how he pretended to be all stiffened. Eventually the kids let the poor creature go and no I didn't touch it.

Seven

Can't believe our big girl is seven. She is a delight and is a helpful big sister. Just this week she has been bathing Allison and washing her hair for me. Ami loves to stay up a little later than the others and have me read to her. Her dad is her hero and she does what she can to please him. Also, you may notice from the pictures that her bed she has just slept in looks rather neat...well that's because she won't get under the covers - she doesn't like to leave her bed a mess in the morning and she doesn't always have time to make it. She is so funny that way. AMI, we love you so very much and pray that you will love, serve and please God all your days.

Our traditional wake up in the morning and presents in bed celebration.

Busy at home

We're back into our routine here in Lilongwe and things are starting to get busy. The children have to be at school by 7:10am and so to get them out the door on time is always a bit of a tight squeeze, but no tardy slips yet, whew! That is one of the many advantages of homeschooling- you don't have to drag them out of bed:) Anyway, the older two are enjoying school and Bradley is having better days.

I am enjoying spending time with Benjamin, while Allison takes her two hour morning nap. If Ben could have it his way, I would sit and read to him for the two hours straight...he doesn't get his way:)

Brian is continuing to preach through the book of Acts on Sunday mornings and I thoroughly enjoy listening to him expound the Word.

I have been feeling better and better as the weeks have gone by and am so thankful for that. Also, for those who have asked, my mom is doing well, but we still covet your prayers on her behalf. Pray she would continue to trust the Lord as she deals with her cancer and that He would be glorified in every moment of every day He gives us to live.

Our friends, Matt and Rachel Floreen, who serve alongside us here have returned to Malawi after being in the US to have their first child. Abigail Elizabeth was born on 25th August and is already an international traveller at just three weeks old.

Week flown by

Allison giving a hug to Steve. He works in our home.

Tyre swings at the tea garden. And Ben showing off his belly.

Hot months are coming-everything is starting to look dry.

Time for hats and lots of sunscreen.

Digging in the mud, aka flower bed, is so much fun.

Look what I got.

Sitting in the shade.

Drinking a milkshake which was more like chocolate milk :)

Bradley's class performing in chapel.

Ami and her teacher singing a song in chapel.

Bradley, getting so big.

Let the flag fly high

The current flag of Malawi was adopted on 29 July 2010, after the Democratic Progressive Party-led government had proposed a new flag. The stripes were altered from the previous flag to match the original Pan-African Flag layout, with the red stripe at the top, the black stripe in middle, and the green stripe at the bottom. The rising sun at the flag's top was replaced with a full, centred white sun representing the economic progress Malawi has made since becoming independent. The opposition United Democratic Front is challenging the flag change in court.The flag was endorsed by the President of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika, who approved the flag change on 29 July 2010.
1964–2010
The previous flag was adopted on 6 July 1964. The rising sun represented the dawn of hope and freedom for the continent of Africa (when the flag was created, countries in Africa were just beginning to be granted independence). The black represented the indigenous people of the continent, the red symbolized the blood of their struggle, and the green represented nature. The flag resembled the Pan-African flag designed by Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association, with the red and black bands reversed and a red sun in the top. It also resembled the flag of the now-defunct Republic of Biafra

IMAGINE THE UPROAR IF THE STARS AND STRIPES WERE TO HAVE A FACE LIFT.

I'll give the meat a skip

Meat being brought into Lilongwe. Brian took this picture and he was amazed at how they trampled all over it and then tossed the chunks onto the floor of the meat shop. Reminds us of the slaughtered goats that you can see on the side of the road as you drive from the airport into the capital city. Things to look forward to dear friends and family:)