House Update

Pictures of the progress on the house this week on our blog.  Little by little we are getting there.  Actually, they get a ton done each week but it is now hard to capture on picture.  They tell me they will be done by the end of the month then it is my turn to make it home.  Wow.  I am praying God prepares our family for our move.  We are so excited yet it is still leaving a home we love and change.  

Thanks for praying with us,
Mandy

Guestroom and shed almost done!

Putting cement ceilings in our house - interesting process

Handing cement up pan by pan

Mixing all the cement by hand - for the whole house!  What a lot of muscle work!

Septic tank work

Emalai enjoying the village

Neighbor kids excited about their watermelon 

Path from our neighbor's, Charles, to our house

Happy Harvest

Our team and friends enjoyed a "Harvest Party" this week.  People could dress up if they wanted to, we played games, painted pumpkins, and of course ate well - lots of pumpkin goodies!  Here are some fun photos...

Here is our family all dressed up

Lydia was a waitress (which Sarah says she would be good at all the time)
and Grace is Belle (found the dress at the second hand market years ago)

Luka, he is... well he called himself a runner or was it racer?
He couldn't decide what to be - hunter, farmer, David and Goliath with Dad - he was quite concerned about it all week.

Emalai was an elephant for all of two minutes - she hates hats!

I was a football player/fan and Sarah here was our nerd.
Funny thing is she asked to borrow Josh's shirt.

Aunt Suzanne was Sarah Abraham's wife

And the Tiesinga family were the seven dawfs - so cute!

We even made carmel apples - yummy

We had fun playing group games

This is Luka as he was falling in the sac race

Then we had a skit where the people behind were the hands for the person in front.
The kids thought it was SO funny!

And our house - not much to show because the work has moved inside and details are underway.

Guest room ceiling underway

Another mock wedding reception - raise the roof!

October 26, 2013

How do you feel on the day your brother gets married and you can’t be there?  I find it easiest not to feel.  If I just don’t think about it maybe it won’t hurt.  But when I stop and think about the fact that I am missing all the emotions, being with my family, sharing in all the special things…I will never see my brothers face when he sees his bride or hug him on his big day…I just cry.  I want to be there!  I want to be apart of his special day but instead I will forever not be in the photos or apart of the memories.  It hurts.  I love my family.  Selfishly speaking I wonder, does anyone understand or care that I had to miss a very important event with my family and that I am hurting today?  I know they do, but truly I think people are afraid to care for people where or when they might be hurting.  I hope I take time to acknowledge people’s pain and be there for them.  Any how, that’s how it is.  I am so happy for my brother, Paula, his wife to be, and my family today.  I am praying they have a wonderful time celebrating what God has joined together!

We did also have fun again celebrating from Uganda.  We pulled off another mock wedding reception.  This time my sister and her family are also here missing out so they joined us too.  We also made a wedding cake that I am proud to say turned out beautifully.  We did a cake cutting and since the bride and groom were not with us we each chose a partner and fed each other cake.  It was funny to say the least.  Josh and I went last and of all things he shoved it into my face so I shoved it right back.  The kids thought it was hilarious.  And of course we had another dance party.  We had a great wedding reception – thanks for giving us a reason to celebrate Chris and Paula!

And the house – we have a roof!  They also put in all the fence posts, gate and lots of other details.  This week they will work ceilings.  It is changing and exciting.  Thanks Uncle Larry for all your work!

Please pray for Malai.  She has an ear infection and upper respiratory infection.  She was really hurting last night but started medicine today.

Oh, now Grace developed a fever too.  Thanks for praying for us!

Porch roof on

Painting tresses with oil to keep unwanted bugs out - I think

Starting the house roof