Dad's Trip to Togo

For the last several weeks, I have been living vicariously through my Dad.  He and a group of 13 other men from our area churches went to Togo, West Africa, to help with the construction of a new ABWE hospital.  This was a trip for strong, skilled men ... but, oh, how I wanted to go!  I was glued to Facebook and to this blog each day that they were away.  The regular updates were such a blessing to those of us who "stayed by the stuff" as Pastor Bill put it.  Obviously, the pictures below are not mine, but I wanted to share a few snapshots of this incredible trip.  (Credits to: Ethan Molsee, Kelly Munger, Kathy Gieb and others?)

The men worked hard to dig trenches, build cupboards/shelving, paint, put in electrical and phone wiring, organize building materials and repair vehicles/equipment.

Our church raised money to purchase study Bibles in French to distribute to national pastors who have no such resources.

Dad and his little MK buddy - he's always popular with the kids!

Several of the team members gave blood at the established hospital in southern Togo before returning home.

There was a wonderful crowd of people at the Boise airport to welcome the team home.  After prayer, we broke out in song.  "To God be the glory.  Great things He hath done.  So loved He the world that He gave us His Son.  Who yielded his life an atonement for sin and opened the life gate that all may go in.  Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!  Let the earth hear His voice.  Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!  Let the people rejoice!"

Last team picture in their matching shirts.

The Cook family - glad to have Dad/Grandpa home!

SCHOOL'S OUT!!!

We did it!!!

Our first year of homeschooling is complete.

Ally learned how to read, to add and subtract, tell time, measure....

Sierra learned to how write in cursive, carry over in addition, borrow in subtraction...

We did an OT survey course and finished AWANA books for Bible.

We covered ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, India, Greece, and Rome in history.

In science, we studied animals classification, the human body and basic botany.

Both girls can define and identify nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, prepositions, etc. 

Now ... if only I could teach this one to stay in her own bed all night long!!!  (Yes, that's Valerie underneath Marc's pillow and mine.  ARGH!)

Once I have time to process this whole whirlwind of a year and really analyze what went well and what needs to change, I'll do a follow up post.  For now, it just feels good to say that our mission is accomplished.  My obsessive/compulsive side is pleased that all workbooks are completed, text books have been read cover to cover and all progress charts are completely filled.  Time to PAR-TAY!

14 Years Later

Thanks to my precious sister, Susie, I have some delightful pictures of my Mariachi wedding to share with you today, our fourteenth wedding anniversary.

I'm so glad that she "doctored up" these less-than-professional snapshots of our special day.  They're priceless!

And now for a walk down memory lane...

 This was our very first ever picture together at the end of my sophomore year at Master's.  Marc had begun to stalk me and I had begun to notice.  The week  after this was taken Marc was on his way to Morocco and I to Brazil.  So....we began to write letters.

  Once we were back to school in the fall, we officially started dating.  Santa Barbara was one of our favorite spots to visit on the weekends.

I had registered to attend IBEX (Israel Bible Extension) in the spring, so Marc sent me off with a fantastic date at the beach the night before I left.  That's a saxophone-kazoo duet in the background there.

Marc was able to come to Israel for a visit over his spring break.  Of course, my prof. and good family friend, Todd Bolen, enjoyed poking fun at us on a field trip to Tirzah by having him read a portion of Song of Songs 6 aloud to me in front of everyone.

And then it was back to CA for graduation!!!

On our way up to Idaho to work at Camp Maranatha for the summer, we made a detour into Yosemite.  I didn't know that Marc had a ring for me and he hadn't planned to give it to me quite so early in the summer .... but, well, it just happened!  And it was perfect.

One of our engagement pictures.

 Wedding Day ~ May 23rd, 1998

The next six years were spent teaching in California and spending just about every free minute with our dear friends, Josh and Janella.  This was a "Tacky Christmas Party" that we hosted for the college group at church.  Classy, ain't we?!

We welcome Sierra Elise in June of 2004 and moved up to Idaho the next summer to be near family. 

Ally Grace was born in Meridian, Idaho in 2006. 

We had to take the girls back to Dodger Stadium while on a family vacation in 2007.  Marc and I had been "regulars" in the bleacher section for the first 6 years we were married.

Valerie Joy completed our family in 2009. 

We are so thankful to God for His many blessings toward us.

14 down .... 41 to go!

Oh my! Oh me! Look who's THREE!

Valerie had a bit of difficulty trying to figure out how to hold up three fingers...

...but she finally got it!

Friday, May 11th (the real day) started with donuts and a couple of presents.

Then we spent a couple of hour playing at Jabbers.

(Our first time and all three of the girls, plus Riley, LOVED it!)

We grabbed our first snow cones of the season before heading over to the park to let Valerie try out her new scooter.

We discovered that even three year olds can't afford to miss a nap!  She conked out on the couch while I made dinner that night.

Day 2 - The PRINCESS PARTY

Valerie and Annie (Susie's little girl) have back-to-back birthdays so we've combined the celebration for a couple of years now.  This one was a royal to-do!  Check out that cake.  Susie has a very creative friend who designed this one for us.

We had a perfectly gorgeous day for a party!  The kids always enjoy a good hunt, so we let them loose in the back yard to look for cut-outs of castles, wands, crowns, etc.

And then it was time for crafts....with lots of glitter and glitz!  (Where's Riley-boy?!)

I had to include this picture of how my darling little princess insisted on wearing her shoes...wrong feet and wrong toe slats.  Makes my back shiver....but she prefers it that way!

Then it was time for cake and presents!!!

I can't believe that my baby is THREE!  Now, it's time to plan another party for two more special little girls.  We're going with a VERY different theme for this one.  Come back in June to check it out.

For My Daughters

My precious little baby girls ~
The first time I saw you
I gazed in awestruck wonder
At your perfect frame so new.
Your little limbs, your sweet, soft skin,
And the beating of your heart
Were formed by God's perfect design.
You are HIS work of art!

My dear, trusting young daughters ~
Each day brings something new.
New words, new thoughts, new feelings,
Are being formed in you.
My greatest joy and calling
Is to guide you on your way.
Your simple faith amazes me.
God's grace is on display.

My courageous little ladies ~
You're more independent now.
You want to try things on your own
Which, of course, I must allow.
Along the way you'll meet success
And many times you'll fail.
But hold on to God's sovereign hand.
He will make you prevail.

My talented young beauties ~
Your gifts will be unique.
But no matter where your talents lie
I pray HIS fame you'll seek.
Use your art, your wit, your music
To enrich the lives of others.
But use them more than anything
To adore your Heavenly Father.

My virtuous sisters in the faith ~
Is what I pray you'll be.
That we may share God's gift of grace
Through all eternity.
I pray you'll love your husbands well
And train your little ones
To love, and serve, and pray, and give
Until our rest is won.

Through all the years God gives us here
Whether they be few or many.
And whether we may just scrape by
Or be supplied with plenty.
My soul's greatest satisfaction ~
More precious than any other ~
Is to know you are a child of God
And be entrusted as your MOTHER!

Val Val Lately

While preparing for bed a few nights ago (notice the princess nightgown) ...

Mom: Valerie, are you my princess?
Val:  (in a growly voice) No!  I is a very bad girl!  See me?