We began our Stateside Assignment back on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Here we are at our mission house in Guatemala City before we left for the airport that morning.
One of the highlights of our time in the States was getting to spend several holidays here with family. Our first one was Thanksgiving.
our family on Thanksgiving Day 2013
December brought us our first road trip and our first speaking engagements. We traveled to Georgia and enjoyed some time with the Pearson family and the Parker's. Those are precious folks!
All loaded up and ready to go! We were in a Georgia state of mind, ha.
While in Atlanta we were able to visit the Atlanta Aquarium. We loved it!
We also visited Stone Mountain and saw it all decorated for Christmas.
Christmas was special this year and my boys were spoiled, spoiled, spoiled!!! We all were!
Our family Christmas 2013
January started off with a bang. Fireworks are a family favorite.
Our family on New Year's Day 2014
Cruz started preschool at First Baptist Brookhaven in January. We were blessed that he got to participate.
first day of preschool
We took a weekend getaway with our friends the Brown's to Orange Beach, Alabama and had the best time. Our most favorite part was putting the kids down at night and then drinking coffee, playing cards, talking, and laughing until the wee hours. Fun, fun times!
Our family at Orange Beach, AL January 2014
January also brought us our first snow. My boys loved seeing the snow and getting to play in it. I'll treasure those memories!
Our family enjoying one of many snow days we got to experience in the States
February brought us a lovely Valentine's Day. We celebrated with a trip to New Orleans.
my little super heroes on Valentine's Day 2014
Our family in New Orleans on Valentine's Day 2014
We did a swamp tour in La Place, LA on the way down to New Orleans. Loved it!!!
We also visited the New Orleans Zoo
March was full of travel. We took a Spring Break trip to Pigeon Forge, TN with family. Some of our highlights were a stop by Noccalula Falls in Gadsden, AL, getting to visit with Mrs. Fran, Gatlinburg, Cades Cove, a helicopter tour, and the Dixie Stampede. It was a very fun trip!
Our family in Gatlinburg, TN March 2014
Our family on St. Patrick's Day 2014
In March we also spent a week at the International Learning Center near Richmond, VA with the IMB. It was a fun, refreshing time for our family.
boarding the plane from Jackson to Richmond
Cruz started tee ball in March. He had a fun time and we loved that he got to participate in it.
Our family at one of Cruz's tee ball games
We started April with a trip to Pascagoula, MS for a speaking engagement. Like every other trip we took we tried to make the most of it and squeeze in all we could while there. This trip was no exception.
Our family on the beach in Pascagoula, MS April 2014
We also had a trip to Covington, LA for a speaking engagement. We enjoyed getting to catch up with our former pastor and his family while there.
How do we keep such a busy schedule with small kids? Coffee- lots of coffee, ha. This is us at the Starbucks in Covington, LA
Our sweet little Ben turned two in April and we celebrated big.
Our family on Ben's 2nd birthday at the MS Children's Museum
Easter was a special time this year getting to celebrate in the States. Holidays are always some of the hardest days to be away from home while in Guatemala.
Our family on Easter Sunday April 2014
We celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary in April with a day trip to Natchez, MS. One of my favorite memories was a carriage ride tour around the historic downtown area. It was lovely!
Our family on our 18th anniversary in Natchez, MS April 2014
May brought us Mother's Day- one of my favorite days of the year. There is nothing I love more than being a mom to my two precious boys!
Mother's Day 2014
Cruz finished preschool in May.
last day of school
We moved from Brookhaven to Gallman in May and spent the last few weeks of our time here close to family.
moving day May 2014
Cruz turned four in May and we had him a Batman themed celebration. I'm glad that both boys got to spend a birthday with our families in the States. They were spoiled again!
Our family on Cruz's 4th birthday May 2014
We began June with a family vacation to Gulf Shores, AL. My boys had such a fun time playing in the ocean, the sand, and the pool. It was our last big trip while in the States.
Our family at Gulf Shores, AL June 2014
Father's Day June 2014
And now here we are the end of June and the end of our time here. It's gone by fast but has been busy, busy, busy. In addition to the things mentioned above we have also enjoyed many other fun times and meals with family and friends. I have had countless lunch trips to Porches (and LOVED each one). We have spent many afternoons at local parks. We have been booked full with speaking engagements and met many wonderful, kind, and loving people at each church. It's been busy but it's been amazing too. We've seen and done more in the last 7 months than many folks will do in years. We've seized the moment as the saying goes and made this time in the States a very memorable one. It's time to get back to work now and do what we're called to do. We're ready and excited about what the future holds for us back in Guatemala.
Our little family June 2014
Would you pray for our travel day on Monday and our transition back to life in Guatemala? We would really appreciate it!
Thank you for sharing your journey. You have a beautiful family.
ReplyDeletemike in Wisconsin