Christmas is a coming!

Merry Christmas to one and all... well... soon it will be. It has been a while since our last post. Let us just say there has been a lot going on.

After returning from the wedding of Lee and Rachel Ken jumped right back into things to wrap up the end of the first quarter.

Then... we had some random illness' in the family which hit all of us... some over lapping others. I think we had a stretch of about eight or nine weeks where there was at least one sick soul in our family. I tell ya - *sigh*.

Then there was the Messiah Choir, which Joy participated in. It was an amazing time and amazing program.

Now, with the Christmas festival program coming this Friday we're once again struggling to get through another week. And then... Joy came down sick with some sort of derivative-like death sickness last Thursday. She has been out of school two and a half days with less than a week to go before the concert.

After the Christmas program we rapidly will wrap up the first semester. We're anxiously awaiting the arrival of Joy's brother and family. They will arrive Christmas Eve afternoon. We've a few trips planned and are very excited to see them all.

We're working on our next newsletter but doubt it will get out in the mail before January. Those of you who are on our e-letter list should receive it before then. There is a link on the main blog page to subscribe to our e-letter, if you would like to.

Merry Christmas to all, from Kenneth, Joy, Abigail, Emma, and Sara.

Congratulations Lee & Rachel

We want to wish Lee and Rachel Sims a heart-felt congratulations! Lee and Rachel were married Friday night. It was a blessing to be able to be in attendance and witness the awesome moment.

Joy and the kids are in Guatemala. They continue to recover from a recent virus which ran around our home. It started with Emma, then passed to Kenneth, then to Abigail and then to Sara. Joy started coming down with it early this past week.

Many thanks to all who continue to support us with prayers and financial gifts.

Volcanic Eruption - we're safe

Huh - just found out that Volcan Fuego blew its top today... We're ok... Some pictures are available on one of the news sites.

On the road again...

I just can't wait to get on the road again.  Who on earth ever wrote those words?  I think they were at the end of a furlough when they did!  We have had a very enjoyable, albeit busy, time visiting friends and family (many of whom are ministry team members) for the past month.  You know that feeling you get though, when you are ready to be back in your own bed again - no matter how wonderful your trip has been - that's where we are at.
We are currently in New York City while Kenneth finishes up his work here at the church.  We were treated to Mary Poppins on Broadway yesterday, which was a great break from the ordinary.  For Emma and Abigail, for whom life is a musical, it was a dream come true - a dream they had never even thought of since they had no clue what Broadway was.  Today the girls are at a Day Camp that the church runs, and having a great time.  We hope to visit with some friends, see some sights, eat some more Chinese food (hey, we're in China Town), and spend time together before we go back to Guatemala and hit the ground running.
We appreciate your prayers during this time of transition back to what is our "normal."

Cloned... *sigh*

So imagine my confusion this morning, whilst I was updating our bills, when our online bank statement said we withdrew money from our checking account at 10pm on 6/22.... and then again at 8:57pm on Monday night?!

:9/

Imagine my surprise (or lack there of) when I checked with Joy and she knew nothing about it either. Apparently one of our fine establishments here in Guatemala took some extra liberties and cloned my credit card. The toll? As it stands presently just over $517 missing...

I spent time talking with our bank, State Farm, walking through the details of what we need to do next. Obviously, my card has been flagged and canceled. There will be contestation papers awaiting us in NH when we arrive next week. We don't use Joy's card very often so they kept it active.

Oh the funs of life...

-knme

Survival is for the Fittest, eh?

It is Wednesday, day number four without Joy - who is teaching at a Guatemalan music camp in a nearby town.

When asked, "how you doing without Joy?", I've been responding with, "oh, we're surviving." My hat goes off to any and all single parents, or parents whose situation results in one parent carrying the bulk of the load for any period of time.

Parenting is difficult at the best of times... ok, nap time is normally a pretty good time. In our case the shoe is on the other foot from April when I was in NY and Joy was here with the kids.

Praise the Lord for the Rivera Family who have offered to take the girls today. I will keep Sara and take her to the Canadian Embassy to submit her Canadian Citizenship documents - Oh, yes, we know how to have a good time in our family.

-knme

What a blessing!

Loren & Bambi - we miss you!

Friday morning I (Kenneth) took Loren & Bambi to the airport. This ended an amazing visit of some very awesome friends.

Many things were done, places visited, and LOADS of "Ticket to Ride" was played.

Tomorrow Abigail heads off to her very first summer camp. What are we going to do without her for the next five nights?! Emma and Sara are going to be somewhat lost without their big sister around.

After Abigail returns then we have a couple days and Joy heads off to teach at a Guatemalan Music Camp. She will be gone for five or six nights. When she comes back we quickly pack for our trip to the States. Loads of work remains to be done before the trip.

That is all for now...

-knme