first day home...

My first day of our two weeks home started with outpatient surgery. This came up suddenly, because last week my dermatologist found that a mole removed last month was malignant melanoma. So, I got the "day off." With the help of Daniel and Mom Arnold, I've been napping or sitting on the couch all day. (I guess that's what it has to take to make me catch up on the blog!) The incision was about 4 inches long on the right side of my abdomen, so I'm supposed to take it easy for a few days. The melanoma was found early enough that it had not spread to my blood stream or other organs, so surgery is all that's needed. This kind of thing is always a wake-up call to be spending all our days living the Christian life to the fullest, because we never know how much longer we have. Not to be morbid, but any of us could be in our final year of life right now. Enjoy every precious gift of family and friendship, and savor each simple pleasure of life. Live each day in the blessed hope of the gospel, awaiting our adoption as sons when God will claim us as Him own!

89.4%

Our support is coming up steadily, and with a few more churches, we will be able to purchase plane tickets and start packing. In a way we feel so ready to go, but in a way it feels like we have no idea what we are about to do! But God knows. He is behind and before us, and lays His hand upon us.

Lucy modeling her little wooden shoes.

my little Dutch pair

Pella, Iowa

We had a meeting in Pella, an adorable Dutch town. Felt like you were right in Holland with the narrow, colorful buildings, bakeries, windmills, and tulips everywhere you looked. The town was gearing up for their annual Tulip Time Festival, and the tulips were at their prime. All the main roads were lined with rows and rows of tulips, and the parks were amazing. We toured the largest traditional windmill in the US, and came within feet of the swooping blades. The Dutch in me really came out, and I just had to go get myself a pair of little wooden shoes to take home with us!

Liz, Uncle David, and Aunt Dawn

at the dairy farm

It's time to start up with the blog again, if you all haven't given up on me by now. Traveling has been busy. We ended this last trip with 7 beds in 7 nights. And Daniel has pretty much monopolized the computer with his ordination coming up on the 16th. :o) But we are home for a few weeks now, and the doctrinal statement is turned in!

While we were in Iowa for two weeks of meetings, we stopped in by Daniel's Aunt Dawn and Uncle David. They took us along to the farm where they buy their milk and eggs. The kids got to drink fresh milk and learn about where their milk comes from. Looking into the huge tank of milk really surprised Caleb.