Pictures Pictures Are so Fun....Pictures Pictures Why Upload Just One?

What's the point in taking all of these pictures if I don't share them? Besides, posting pictures is easier than thinking of something clever or interesting to say. Avery took this. She is practicing her photography skills.
All of the kids from the ENTIRE Fetzer Academy at swimming lessons. Most classes in America have this many kids in just one class. All the kids are stretching before lessons. These lessons are a part of their P.E. for the month of March.

Ally working on her freestyle stroke.
Jaxson trying to perfect his kicks with the swim tablet.
Parker is a great swimmer, but he's not really into form.

Look how long and tall this guy is!!!

She is 4 and he is 5 months. He will catch up to her one day. You can see his length really well next to her.

This is what we do while the kiddos are in school!!!

Jaxson still loves to freestyle dance. Now he dresses up like this before he puts on a show. He refuses to take any kind of dance lesson and says he can teach himself.

Jaxson 6, Ally 7, Parker 9, getting ready for the first day at Fetzer Academy - all smiles, but kind of nervous, too!

My sweet girl let me fix her hair and snap some quick photos of her.


The first "I've found me toe picture." I love when they find their feet. I call this picture PEAS and TOES!!!
More Peas PLEASE!!

Sunny Smiles

The sun is shining over here in Lima and it's a sweet feeling 78 degrees. And how about the fact that we can actually enjoy it since Jaxson is about 95% better and I am on the tail end of the Mastitis, as well, only dealing with residual body aches and fatigue. John's neck is at least rotateable, as if that was even a word. Weeks like last week surely make us extra thankful for health and easy sailing days. :) And we press on towards tomorrow with much hope.

Jaxson

After going the homeopathic route yesterday with no improvement, today I went to the sweet doctor who helped deliver Miles . He put me on a very strong antibiotic and also gave me and anti-inflammatory that he made me take while in his office. He was very concerned with how severe the mastitis is. Within hours of the medication I felt SOOOOO much better. Praise God! I can actually move my arms and my body again without terrible pain. The body aches have decreased as well.

Please continue to be lifting up Jaxson. Here is what his skin looks like tonight - AFTER BENADRYL! You should see it without the medicine. We are thinking it is a virus after talking to two doctors. He is not feeling well and the hives are moving up to his face and out to his limbs. Please pray this passes soon.

Happy Blogging Anniversary

Kind of random, but I realized I have been blogging for exactly 3 years now! WOW! So glad some of our memories and adventures are preserved in written form. I will continue to blog as long as God has us on this overseas adventure.

A tough week

What is going on? First John threw his neck out on Monday. It is about 10% better, but he is still suffering and can't really turn his neck. He has to turn his whole body to turn and look at something. Then, Avery's eyes have been gookey green with a ton of puss. It's quite disgusting and I have no idea why. And last night I came down with the worst Mastitis I have ever had which has included a fever and crazy body aches. And just when I think my cup is about as full as it can get.....Jaxson gets these:

I think they are hives, but I don't know from what. Needless to say, John left the conference early today to come rescue ME/US . And have I mentioned our freezer/fridge, that is only a year and half old, won't freeze anymore and we are losing food right and left? The repair guys came last week, charged us a bunch of money said they fixed it and now it is exactly the same and they won't come back. Spiritual warfare or life?

Mastitis

Mastitis came on fast and furious last night: fever, body aches, fatigue, headache, extreme tenderness. UGH!!! John won't be home until past 10 p.m. tonight. I beg for your prayers.

Maximum details in mimimal words

An update in as few words as possible:

School: AWESOME!!!!

Homelife: WONDERFUL!!!!

Refrigerator: Broken. Repaired once already! Broken again! Scammed! Out of money!

John: IMPROVING! THANKFUL for this week's FELLOWSHIP!

P90X: HARD! WORTH IT! Bring it!!

Weight Watchers: Down 15 lbs since beginning! -10% of overall weight!

Driving in Lima: Angry! Frustrating! Stressful! Pray 4 SAFETY!!!

Avery: Goopy eyes! Ear ache! Luvs 1 on 1 time!

Miles: Hyper, adorable, PERFECT!

Ministry: On hold during conference!

Oasis: Fleas AGAIN - after 1 week of visiting!

My Spanish: TERRIBLE! :)

Jessica overall: Transitioning better! MASTITIS!

Swim lessons: Nice treat during hot summer days!

Homemade Iced Coffee: Not as easy to make as it looks!

Time with the Lord: Refreshing, consistent and needed daily.

Facebook: Don't miss it at all!

John

Last night while we were exercising, John pinched a nerve in his neck pretty severely. He didn't sleep much and was in a load of pain this morning. He went to the pharmacy to get a muscle relaxer around 6:30 a.m. - this from the man who never takes any medicine, so I know the pain must be pretty intense. Anyway, he is attending the Central and South America Young Leader's Conference that is being hosted here in Peru all this week. The meetings start bright and early and go until the late afternoon or into the evening. He is learning a lot about his leadership style and some holes that he needs to work on. It is an honor for him to be able to partake in this. I am just praying that the pain and the meds don't interfere with his day or week. Poor guy!

We are having a crazy situation in Oasis. A young man who used to be the worship leader of the church plant stopped coming about 4 months ago. He just stopped showing up for no reason. When John talks to him he says he is going to go and then never shows up. He has told John at least 5 times or more that he will be there. Well, a neighborhood in Oasis gave John a piece of land to build a church. Now there are all kinds of problems in this neighborhood and the young man who quit coming to church wants John to give him the land or for John to plant a church on it and he will take care of the land. When I say land, think like the size of your living room kind of land. Anyway, I am not doing this story justice at all. The original plan was that the guy and his family were going to help start a church on this land and would have part of it be their house. They are living in the smallest room (like 10 x 10) right now. There current room is going to be torn down by the community because of community politics. So this family will have no place to live. Well, now they are calling John and wanting the land or to help start a church so they can live on the land, but they still don't come to church. Even last Sunday John spent the afternoon with the guy and he said he would be at church when it started. He never showed up AGAIN!!!! Well, last night this guy's mom, who John doesn't know, calls BEGGING John to give the land to her son and to intervene and talk to the leader's of Oasis. It's NOT our land. It is land that belongs to the community. It's so hard because we don't want to see the people without a home, but would we give the land to someone who never attends church to be a caretaker of the church? Plus, John isn't going to start a church there anymore so he says the community can just have the land back (he doesn't feel like it is his) and do what they please with it. But this family thinks it is our responsibility to go to the leadership of the community and beg them to give "our" land to them. Mama MIA!!!! All I can say is PRAY!!!! John is confused and torn and quite irritated as well. He really doesn't want to be in the middle of ANY of this drama.

Baby is crying. More later.

transitioning is not for me

Have I mentioned that I don't do well in transition? Not even in transitiong to school life for the kids. I am super tired and have no desire to exercise. Just getting through the day is good enough. Hopefully next week the transition stage will be calming down for all of us. The kids are doing EXCELLENT!!!!

Jaxson is going to Kindergarten!!!!! :( :) :( It is what is best for him. I'm sure that class is advanced, too, if the first grade class is any indicator. Thanks, Jennifer, for your encouragement and e-mail as it helped seal my decision. Jaxson is 6 and needs to play, not do school for 7 hours and then 2 more at home. I do not want my kids to lose their childhood in the name of education. Avery is thrilled to have her best-friend back since he will only be at school 3 days a week. So tomorrow he stays home with us. I am glad to have him home again as well. And I think the afternoons will go better without all the stress of trying to fit a square peg in a round whole if you know what I mean.

I went out with John today, and the two little ones, to do visitation. On a side note, have I mentioned how easy it feels when we only have 2 or 3 kids? Anyway, I got to see my friends Jenny, Christina and Brigida (all Peruvians) out in our area of ministry. It was wonderful to catch up with them and hear what is going on in their lives and hopefully encourage them. I felt the Lord lay on my heart to buy food for my friend, Christina, and her family. They hadn't eaten anything today and I had no idea. They only had a glass of milk that the government gives them. She was so thankful and just kept saying that it was "divine." I have to agree. I can't tell you how much it filled my soul to be out doing what God has brought us here to do. I know John does it daily, but it was nice for me to "personally" be on the front lines. I will go back in 2 weeks.

Please pray for a medical issue that I am having. Please pray I will have wisdom in how to handle it and how to proceed. ;) Thanks!

School Day

A few highlights from the first day of school yesterday:

Before school started the kids lined up with their respective classes to say a prayer and the pledge.

There were about 8 sets of parents there to drop the kids off. The moms and dads both came and the parents hung around about 1/2 hour afterwards to chat. It was really sweet. What great parents! What great kids!

Jaxson ran off so fast that he didn't even kiss or hug us. He couldn't get to his class fast enough.

Ally and Parker, of course, gave us hugs and were nervous but excited.

They jumped in the van yesterday afternoon and promptly told me that they never wanted to be homeschooled again!!!! They proclaimed how wonderful their days were, how much they learned and how they couldn't wait to go back tomorrow (today).

The school will be doing "Oliver Twist" the musical.

For P.E., the kids will be going to a local pool to do swimming lessons for the month of march.

The children not only have to learn their AWANA's verses, but also a special verse each week for their classroom.

The principal and staff, all supported missionaries, are Godly, kind people. I really appreciate their hearts for my kids and for prayer.

The morning and afternoon went smoothly. I was super exhausted by 6:30 p.m. and I must say that women who work and send their kids to school are amazing. I am home and still the getting them out the door and then doing the afternoon routine was a lot more than I am accustomed to. But we will get the hang of it.

Jaxson has a lot of catching up to do in reading. We studied for 2 hours last night. Please pray he can catch up because he would be further ahead in kindergarten and wouldn't be challenged. But now, he is behind in their reading program which, in my opinion, is super advanced (2nd-3rd grade level - Abeka).

Avery is a bit sad and missing the kids a lot. She isn't talking much and kind of mopes around. :( That has been the only negative so far.

Pictures of their first day to come soon!

Phamily Life

The most up to date PHAMILY HAPPENINGS in very random order!

Yep, this is our little 4 month old who is suppose to be delayed with a weak head. He is now rolling from his front to back AND back to front.





Mommy, I'm going to eat you up!

I'm ready to crawl!



Avery with her new umbrella (not that it rains here) and her birthday scooter!

Scooting away!

What does a 9 year old boy do for fun? Build a tree fort, of course!

Mommy's Photo shoot!

Baby's FIRST cereal!

OH YUMMY!

I am too cute! I use to look like Parker and now I am looking like Jaxson.

My mommy thinks I am too young for a biter biscuit, but boy do I love them.

Everyone is doting over him as he eats his first cereal. I'm not sure who was more excited them or him.

Playing in the local splash pad.

Que RICO!!!

My VERY first bite EVER!!!!!!

The two of us!

Peek-A-BOO!

Precious FEET!

He can't decide which fingers he wants to chew.

Avery gave the baby ALL of these stars for eating his cereal. She said, "Good job, Miles."

Just hanging out.

A Golden Beetle from our back yard.

Avery's 4th birthday cake!

The cake says, "Happy Birthday Avery!" They call her Abril, here because Avery is difficult to say.

Ministry life

The family celebrating Abigail's Baby Dedication.
Local missionary, Miguel, and the home where his small home church meets. He has been working in a small corner of Gosen for 5 years and we believe God is opening up the doors for us to partner with him and reach the area on a much bigger scale.

Outside of the house where they meet.

Gosen. 1500 homes. Miguel (see pict. below) and John are partnering to reach the area.

A Peruvian Missionary, Miguel, who has been working for 5 years to plant a church. This is one of the houses where he is having a Bible study with about 20 people.

Just one view of one area God has called us to work in.
Area is called Jose Galvez. Have not found any Baptist churches in the area.

I have NO idea how this picture got stuck in here. LOL! It is us with our missionary friends, going to a local petting zoo last week. Meet the McLambs!! I decided to keep it in anyway.

John and Alberto, Miriam and Abigail as she was getting dedicated to the Lord!