Pumpkins

Papa, Mama, Koen

Today we carved pumpkins. We got a few smiles for photos, but Koen didn't really enjoy the process until it was all over. He didn't want to touch the "goop." But, he was quite thrilled with his Blue's Clues themed pumpkins.

Getting Out

We were in need of a break from the stress, and the Lord provided enough sunshine for Mom, Koen and I to head to the pumpkin patch. Koen enjoyed a wagon ride behind a tractor at the farm, as well as hay maze, perfect for his age.

Koen and Grammi (my Mom)

Please pray for my mom's surgery. It's early tomorrow morning. They will remove the lymph nodes in her neck, as well as the surrounding tissue. She will lose the sensory nerves in that area, and have a large incision. It's a much more major surgery that I thought, but the recovery shouldn't take as long as the last surgery. She will then need radiation for 5-6 weeks, starting about a month after this surgery. We are hoping she can be done and feeling better by Christmas, but we will be cutting it close. Pray for faith, and healing. Thanks so much.

It's Fall

Yes, it is fall, and it is getting cold and wet around here!

This weekend we had our Campus Crusade fall retreat with students from around our area. Koen and I decided last minute to go along, as the retreat was only one night away instead of the usual two. So, Friday morning we took a ferry (Koen’s first ferry ride – he kept saying “boat, boat!”) across the Sound to Poulsbo area. As soon as we got there we set up our room and put Koen down in his play pen in the big closet. Thankfully, he fell asleep for a little bit, while Keith set up the meeting room. Several hours later the rest of our staff team arrived, and then the students.

The retreat went well. Koen and I didn’t get to listen to any of the speaker (due to sleep time, or Koen’s unwillingness to stay put and quiet – surprise, surprise!). But, we did get to sit in during some of the worship, and join the group for meals and free time. Many of the students took to Koen and would pass him around. He had a good time playing in the dirt, swinging, and running around in the fields. He’s so social – he has a good time no matter who he’s with.

The students were great. I was amazed at the maturity of many of them, and there were actually a lot of guys! Usually there are way more females compared to males involved in the ministry, but this year seems much more balanced.

Monday was Keith’s day off so we went to a pumpkin patch near by. Koen got to pick out a little pumpkin (he insists they’re called “apple”s) but most of the large ones were rotting already. We also went in a corn maze and were lost in it just long enough that Koen was getting antsy and hard to hold. It was all of our first corn maze experience, and wasn’t quite as fun as we had hoped. Here are some pictures from our adventures:

Family Photo at the Farm (missing one very important little girl)

Koen getting licked by his mooing friend

It's just a little too heavy!

On Papa's shoulders in the corn maze.


Koen's little "apple"