Sweet Season

December through February is a sweet time in Alotau-literally. It's pineapple season and our market is full of them. I've never tried pineapples as perfectly sweet and juicy as these and we eat them on a near daily basis knowing that the season will end before we've had our fill.

Come Snorkel With Us

Blue coral

We found Nemo!

Snorkeling is one of our favorite things to do as a family. There are so many reefs at shallow levels and therefore all the kids can join in. Weston loves the water but doesn't snorkel yet. He's fairly content to float along in his lifejacket (still held by Mom or Dad) as long as he doesn't get salt water in his eyes. Kylah is our little mermaid and snorkels with such grace. Austin loves the adventure of it. I think he's really looking for treasure. And Lucas, as you know, is always on the hunt for critters. Come join us anytime.

Brother Cuddles

I am always thankful for moments like these when I remember that the boys DO love each other.

Soccer Mom

It's easy to be a soccer mom in PNG. I don't have to drive anywhere as all the games are held in our big backyard. I don't have to buy uniforms as shorts are the only required article of clothing. And, as long as the coconut trees in our yard continue to produce their fruit, providing snacks for break times is a breeze. The PNG boys love climbing the trees for the coconuts and Austin enjoys whacking off the tops with his bush knife. Ah, the life of a PNG busy soccer mom.

Finally, a pet for the Girls! (But we'll share with the boys.)

Meet Bagi (Bah-gee), our newest family member. You can imagine how thrilled we have been to have a puppy in the house. Actually, I am most thrilled to have a domesticated animal living under my roof. She is part Rottwieler and part Ridgeback. We have had her since October and she is already getting so tall. Kylah and Austin most love cuddling her. Weston loves having someone who he can "boss" around, and Lucas is increasingly disappointed with the fact that she is growing out of the puppy stage. The fact that she nips at his ankles doesn't win any points with him either.

Sweet Boys in the Morning Light

I want to say so much but you will just have to imagine the welling up in my heart as I caught this scene on camera.

Forever Love

Have you ever loved someone forever? I look to my Father as my example when my husband aggravates me, the kids push my patience and the neighbors are un-neighborly. God loves me with an amazing love. I deserve so little and yet He lavishes me with MERCY.

He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him.His salvation extends to the children's children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. Praise the LORD, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Yes, praise the LORD, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! Praise the LORD, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom.Let all that I am praise the LORD.

Psalm 103:7-22

Why we praise Him!

Recently the kids have memorized Psalm 103. Austin and Kylah have all 22 verses down and Lucas has memorized the first 6 verses and verse 8. I'm so proud of them!

Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's! The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

Psalm 103:1-5

I'm not sure what is in Lucas' s future but I do believe animals will play into it. He loves finding and holding all kinds of critters. This was a little chick he held on a recent island fishing trip with Dad. This week I failed to get a picture when he showed me the honeybee that he was holding. The bee was crawling all over his hands. He was so proud. I was the one who freaked out!

Success

One of Austin's favorite pasttimes in PNG is fishing. On a recent outing with Dad, his friend Liam and Liam's dad, the boys worked together to catch this fish. We eat more fish since living here but it is hard to beat fresh fish for dinner.

Not your usual bathroom sign

Hero in our House

Dad is known as a hero in our house. He is the ultimate snake handler, rat catcher, roach killer, spider shooer. He doesn't always like the job very much, though he does enjoy the gratitude and praise his girls pour on him after a successfull capture/kill. He scored a major victory when he captured the elusive giant spider roaming our halls. I think the inches on the rulers over here must be a little inaccurate. He certainly looks 8 inches when he is skittering across our floor. :)

Uploading Again!

WOOOhoooooo! We are now reentering the blog world! The last few months have been excruciatingly difficult to resize/upload/download anything on our computer. I spent 3 hours one night trying to upload 3 pics and never had a moment of success as it kept timing out. We nearly lost our computer that night as it was on its way out the window. :) We have recently added memory to our computer and it feels like a new machine. (Now if we could just increase our internet speed......) Please continue to bear with us.