4th of July 2024

It was especially exciting to get to be home this year to celebrate the 4th of July.  We started the day with a family cookout.   We enjoyed a huge spread of foods for our lunch meal. 

 

Independence Day 2024

 

 

 

a group photo with some of David's family

(a few had already left)

 

 

That afternoon we were back out at the Sojourner's lake to swim.

 

David doing a flip off the diving board.

 

Cruz jumping in.

 

They took many turns on the zip line.

 

 

They also enjoyed tubing.

 

Cruz and Maddox

 

That evening we enjoying watching the celebration fireworks show put on by the Springs of Praise church.  It is an annual event and always spectacular.

 

 

 

 

a video showing highlights of our day

 

Summer Fun with Friends in Mississippi

One of the main reasons we decided to travel home during the Summer of '24 was our boy's strong desire to spend time with their Mississippi friends.  They have a core group of friends from our home church that they just love. Every time they get together it is like no time has passed since they last saw each other.  Those type of friendships are special.

Making two vacation trips home during one three year term is not something we normally do because of the expense.  But, as our boys progress through the teen years, it might be something we consider doing going forward at least until they graduate.  It has definitely helped them feel better connected to our family, their friends, our home church, and Mississippi.

 

The second day we were home they headed off to a water park for the day.

 

Having fun at the Grand Paradise Water Park in Collins, MS.

 

 

We spent numerous days at the Sojourner's lake. 

Here are Cash, Cruz, and Jett.

 

Jett and Cruz
 

a video highlighting our days at the lake

 

 

They also enjoyed hanging out with Jude at 6 Mile camp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They spent a day at a trampoline park.

 

 

Cruz and Jett

These two are more like brothers.  They were born on the same day and year.

 

 

Sweet friends!!

A collage from a few years ago. 

 

Ben, Jett, Cruz, Jude, and Cash

A photo from 2019 when they all came down to Guatemala with their families on a mission trip.

 

These next videos are from the zip line with Jude at 6 Mile camp. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, they spent as many days together as possible.  There were also many sleepovers.  They enjoyed video games and movie nights.  They also loved getting to attend several Monday Night Live events.  This is a county wide youth activity that our home association does every Monday night of the summer.  It's like a weekly youth rally that a different church hosts each week.  They have games, worship, and a meal together.  This has been going on for more than thirty years now.  We took kids every week when we did student ministry prior to moving to Guatemala.  It is a Copiah county tradition that I am glad our boys were able to be a part of.

 

 

A group photo on our last night in the U.S.  This was taken after Wednesday night prayer meeting/ youth group. I am glad we got to end our time there with church friends.  

 

The countdown to Summer 2025 has begun.  We will be starting our Stateside Assignment in late-June.  We cannot wait for another summer in the South!!

Lake Atitlan With the Browns

This is another post from our visit with the Browns, who are long time friends from home.  We spent their first day walking around the Antigua Flower Festival.  The next day, after church, we drove to lovely Lake Atitlan for a quick overnight stay.  

 

We stopped for lunch at Pollo Campero in Tecpan. Sara Madalin requested to eat Pollo Campero at some point during their trip.  She had remembered eating at one on their last visit back in 2016 when we lived in Chiquimula.  If you would like to read about that visit with the Browns, click on these links- Browns 2016 Visit  Part 1 and Browns 2016 Visit Part 2.

 

We arrived in Panajachel, got checked in, and then spent as much time as possible soaking in these gorgeous views.  Pictures just do not do it justice.  It really is spectacular and breathtaking!

 

The boys on our 14th floor balcony that we rented from Airbnb.

 

The kids wasted no time getting ready to swim.  They went back and forth between the pool and hot tub while the adults enjoyed sitting still and drinking coffee.  It was a win-win for everybody.

 

We enjoyed a stunning sunset view and took a few photos before heading out for supper.

 

me and my precious boys!

 

I am blessed!

 

We have been friends with the Browns since our college and career Sunday school days.   We are so thankful for their faithful friendship over the years.

 

Reagan, Sara Madalin, and Malinda

 

Cruz, Sara Madalin, and Ben

 

Lake Atitlan at sunset

 

We had Circus Bar pizza for supper.  It is a Baptist tradition to eat there.  

 

Breakfast the next morning consisted of pancakes for the kids.  They were covered in nutella, strawberries, ice cream, and whipped cream.  They loved them!

 

After checking out we drove over to the Atitlan Nature Reserve.

 

 

We started off by visiting the butterfly exhibit.

 

 

 

 Malinda and Reagan in Panajachel.

 

We then got our gear on for the zipline.  The zipline in Panajachel is amazing! 

 

The kids on one of many bridges we had to cross.

 

Reagan and Malinda on the bridge.

 

Sara Madalin and Cruz

 

 

 

 

The zip-line ends with a ropes course.

We ate lunch at the nature reserve restaurant (their nachos are delicious!) and then made the drive back home.  It was a quick overnight trip but fun-filled from beginning to end.