Vessels: August 2008

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Life with the Choates

I know you thought this was a blog about life with the Mc's but we wanted to share the week we've spent with some of our dear friends and kindred spirits from America. Aaron and Joanna Choate are friends we met in January 2006 during our initial Wycliffe orientation. They have 4 children and with the exception of our youngest who are almost exactly 1 year apart, everyone else is just a few months or days older than one another. They are the flip of our family in that they have 3 girls and 1 boy --Sarah, Benjamin, Olivia, and Katherine. This makes for a perfect arranged marriage plan! (Seriously, Austin is convinced he and Sarah are going to someday marry.)

Romela with Katherine and Weston

They arrived on Tuesday and plan to travel to Madang (another part of PNG) for their Pacific Orientation Course. When they complete this in December, they will then travel to the Solomon Islands to work on a translation which was begun by another family of translators. We feel honored and blessed that they were able to pass through. Our kids have had an amazing time together. It's been so fun to see our kids take ownership of their town and home. They so proudly showed the Choate kids their town, boat, and stomping grounds.

Austin ferries the kids to the Kwadima

We had 2 sunny days and made the most of it by taking the Kwadima out to a small island where we played in the water. Tim was also able to get in some water safety training for this sweet family before they head out to their island location.

Water Safety training with Benjamin

Sarah and Austin were the first ones in the water

Aaron trying out his new shark bag

Aaron and Olivia

For a family used to the inland, we were so proud of their adventurous spirits and quick adaptability. Check out their blog for more info: http://achoate.blogspot.com

Friday, August 22, 2008

Birthday Sail

Tim had a wonderful birthday sail despite some dismal weather early on. Unfortunately, a few of our celebrants didn't fair so well in the choppy seas. Kylah was sick every couple hours, Austin was green for awhile and Weston got seasick for the first time ever. He didn't know what hit him. It was sad but very funny at the same time. Thankfully, everyone was feeling better when the cake was served.

Adam..before the fall

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Jungle Boy

Lucas does his share of climbing as well.

Thus the grey hairs on Mommy's head.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Bucket Bath

When Tim and I went through the Pacific Orientation Class ten years ago,

we learned how to take bucket showers.

Lucas, however, prefers the bucket bath.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Yummy Mystery Fruit

We have no idea what this fruit is called but Tim recalls seeing something like this in Little Havana.

Whatever it is, we love it, despite the eyeball texture of the clear fruit!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Happy Birthday Tim!

August 17, 1968

I wasn't alive on this day, nonetheless it is a very special one to me.

Timothy Lee McIntosh entered the world and though it would be 21 years later before he entered mine, I still joyfully celebrate his beginning. Photos of his life are currently limited to those we've taken during the last 2 years of owning a digital camera but wanted to share a little of the man I love. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Babe!