Snapshots from our Home Service (Part 2)

     It's been harder than I would have imagined to go through pictures from our home service to do a few "recap" blogs.  I simply can't capture everything, and I'm coming to terms with that.  I think I finally have all of the pictures gathered, though, that I will use.  I've been finding that extra time has been a precious commodity these days! 

     My friend, Maggie, that I've known since kindergarten, was in Spokane during the few days we were there before we headed to western WA for a month.  I was so thankful that the timing worked out so perfectly, and it was really great to catch up with her.  Growing up in a small town, there are these precious few people that I knew from K-12th grades.  Maggie is one of those people that I think of often and have many memories with as little girls. 

     I took this picture of Irene, Ella, and Ike when we were on Orchas Island for Leif's cousin's wedding.  I forgot to post it on the last blog, but it's too sweet of a picture to not post at all!

     My aunt, Claudia, came and unpacked/organized our kitchen when we first moved in.  She also came back and packed it all back up when we left.  This was such a HUGE help and blessing to us!  We made this selfie on her phone to send to her son (my cousin), Brian.  =)

     One of our supporting churches is very close to my Grandma's lake home on Coeurd'Alene Lake.  The church in Harrison was so wonderful and welcoming and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them (they had a BBQ after the service and we were there for a few hours).  The rest of the extended weekend, we played in the water, went on walks, did different science experiments,

caught bugs and lizards,

and went on little adventures in the canoe.  During this afternoon, I stayed with Ike while he napped on the dock, but we all went out together, too.  

     In September, my mom, aunt, cousin, and I took an overnight trip to Coeurd'Alene.  It was really fun to be together- talking, eating good food, walking, shopping, and just enjoying one another!

     I shared that my mom homeschooled Anneka during our time in the States.  I did little preschool activities with Ike and Ella in the mornings.   Leif often taught little lessons, too, or we would each take one of the kids.  Ella really likes to paint.  We were blessed with a really long and warm summer that lasted well into the fall.

     Ike loved my Dad's shop.  He would play with my Dad's tools, and especially loved the electric drill (my Dad took off the drill bit, of course).  Here, he's playing with the air compressor.

     Thanks to the generosity of friends, each of our kids had a bike to ride while we were home!  At our apartment, we kept two trikes that often Ella and Ike would ride around on... even when it got cold!

     My parents often would have a fire in their fire pit for roasting hot dogs or marshmallows.  The kids loved this.  Here, Ike was hitting a ball for Anja (the dog) to chase.

 

     Back in June, before we left for the States, we asked Anneka what she was most looking forward to in America.  It was always the same and VERY emphatic that she couldn't wait to have a lemonade stand!  My mom went over money with Anneka in school and they made a sign together.  The girls enjoyed selling lemonade, but I think Anneka realized that it was a little more boring sitting there than she had anticipated.  =)  Several friends came to the stand.  It was really nice to talk with them. There was one guy who came back probably 4 times for a cup and paid $1 each time.  So cute. 

     We enjoyed getting together with my good friend, Sarah, and her kids.  My girls love her daughter, Naomi.
 
     Her little son, Jonah, is so cute.  He and Ike are just 9 months apart.  

     My grandma bought special puzzles and toys to have on hand when our kids came to visit.  They enjoyed playing with them and spending time with her!



     Our good friends, the Curtises purposely planned a trip around being able to come and stay with us.  We felt so honored and had a great time with them.  This day we went to Riverfront Park in Spokane. 

 
     We also went to a place with them with big trampolines and these foam pits so the kids could jump and get out a lot of extra energy!

     Anneka and Katie made dinner and dessert for us one night.  Ella got to have a special night at my parents (Baba and Grandpa).  My parents often took one or two kids at a time and enjoyed bonding with them individually.

We enjoyed going on walks with my mom.

     This is kind of a goofy picture, but I like it because of the memories it represents.  This church (Crossroads) showered our family with gifts after a special lunch they had after the Sunday service.  They were so generous and thoughtful and blew us away.  The kids loved every single thing they got.  It was seriously like Christmas.  The other reason I love this picture is because the person talking with me is Don Johnson, an amazing man who loves Jesus and encourages us very much.  He came and visited us last summer in Siberia on a trip he made around the world.  He also has taken special time and care to write (snail mail!) to our kids and send pictures of our time together while he was here.  It is so neat the people that we get to meet and so encouraging to see God at work all over.  One thing that struck me in America this time back was that as a country it seems that people are falling farther and farther away from God.  But in each church we visited, there were those few faith-filled people who are shining a bright beacon of light in the darkness.






     Speaking of faith-filled people, Ron and Gretchen are also very dear to us and they also have visited us here in Siberia.  They invited us and my parents over for dinner.  It was late September (I think) and it was almost 90 degrees out!  The kids loved playing in their big yard.   Ike got soaked playing in their little stream.  =)

 
     On several occasions we got out our kite and flew it with the kids.  One time we met a family that had moved to our little town on faith.  They believed that God had called them there and had left their lives from across the country and were trusting the Lord to provide a job and just the right ministry for them.  We stopped by their place one night a few weeks later to take them flowers and pray for them.  It was neat to encourage one another.

 

     After sharing at a church in Deer Park, we went to my friend, Sarah's for the afternoon/evening.  She had bought pumpkins for the kids and we carved them together.

          The kids loved jumping on their trampoline.  This picture was taken at Leif's friend, Jason's, but we got to enjoy several trampoline experiences.  =)




     And I'll end this blog with pictures from Anneka's birthday.  Leif's mom, Irene came and stayed with us for the week surrounding Anneka's birthday.  On her actual day, we had a lunch party at home with the foods she requested (chimichangas, macaroni and cheese, pear slices, and blueberry pie that Leif made).  Then for dinner we met up with friends at McDonalds.  The kids had fun on the indoor playplace together.
    

     Then on the weekend we went to Greenbluff and enjoyed various fall activities like the corn maze....

.... and getting trapped in a gorilla cage...

... and riding these fun pedal cars...

... and riding on the "Little Toot" and a bigger train around the property...

... and meeting the gorilla face-to-face.  And a bunch of other fun things.   I think Anneka felt special and had a good time.