Lydia is 6 years old!

August 9, 2009

So Lydia is now 6 years old! July 31 was the big day but we got to celebrate all week. On Monday we had the team over for cake and presents. Lydia gets so excited about her birthday. I think she started the count down a few months ago. She was so thrilled when the time finally came. Her mother on the other hand is always sad to see another year gone by…oh, all the good memories. We put decorations up for the big day and made a rainbow number six cake. Of course the highlight for Lydia was the presents. She was very happy. On Tuesday we had a princess birthday party with Lydia’s friends here in Soroti. What fun! We made crowns, played birthday bingo and musical chairs, frosted cupcakes, and opened more presents. Wow, what a good birthday.

Then we headed to Jinja for a couple fun days. It was beautiful out and both days the girls swam for about 5 hours. It was so nice. Finally on the 31st, Lydia’s birthday, we were in Kampala and went to her favorite restaurant with a trampoline. They even sang to her and gave her a birthday ice cream. Lydia told everyone all week that it was her birthday. She even had a group of other missionaries sing happy birthday to her in market. Being the social bug she is she loved everyone sharing in her joy.

It was a great week and Lydia is worth celebrating! She is a gift from God. Her love and joy are contagious. God is using her to love many people. God be with Lydia and fill her with more of you each day of her life.

We are back to being our little team again (Sliedrechs, Bokmas, Karen, and us). Our summer visitors all left last week. The business is over. That is good and bad. We will miss all of them yet it will be good to slow down and fall back into a routine again. We are adjusting. It is unbelievable that Sliedrechs leave in two short weeks for four months and then we will only have two and a half months and we go. Time, it seems to fly by lately.

We had a wonderful week away. We spent two days in Jinja at one of our favorite resorts. It is always such a blessing to be away as a family enjoying the fun and beauty of the pool and gardens. We had fun with Sliedrechs and the summer visitors swimming and eating out together. Then we were in Kampala for a few days. We went to two craft markets. I bought a whole bunch of paper beads and necklaces. They are so many and they are so beautiful. I hope to use them when we are home visiting churches. The ladies got manicures and pedicures (well I didn’t I got my haircut) while the guys watched the kids jump on the tramp and drank milkshakes. Guess everyone was happy. Our kids went to see their first movie at the theater. We saw Up. Lydia thought it was pretty special. Grace was a bit scared. At night we ordered pizza. Can it get any better? Life is good. On Sunday we went to the international church and headed to Entebbe (where the airport is). We spent the afternoon at the zoo. We had such a nice time there. Then it was time to let our guests fly home.

Our family stayed in Kampala a few more days. We got the van fixed again, got Lydia’s immigration done for another year, and Luka got immunized. Now we are home. I have been sick with intestinal problems since then. Actually the whole family does but mine is by far the worst. Luka doesn’t have it thankfully but he has an on going cold and cough. Hopefully, soon we will all be feeling better.

I forgot to tell you what Grace said after the fall at Sipi Falls. We arrived at Sisiyi Falls where we camped and she got out of the van and announced, “Don’t worry guys there are no vines here!” I thought it was really cute. Yesterday the blind came to see Josh. Grace came in the house and said, “Dad, the old people with canes are here.” Funny girl.

Luka is now sitting up on his own. He sure is a sweetheart.