Company !!!

We love to have people visit us, stay with us, work with us, eat with us, play with us!  We love company!  "grin" 
Since the end of the convention we've been blessed with the visits of lots of friends and family. 
I wish I had more pictures to post, but here's what I have. 

 We can't get enough of these girls.  Oh my they are sooooo much fun. 

 Here is our diminutive swimming visitor!  Alaina loved being in the pool.  She's learning little by little how all this works.  It took a while, but she did let go of Daddy and float a bit, brave girl!!

We set this little pool up on the deck for Stephen.  Notice he has swim noodles conveniently located  so he can float if he chooses.  "wink"

When you asked him what he was doing he'd hardly look up and just said "swimming, swimming". 

 
Our Mexican relative Matthew stopped in for a brief time.  HA! Boy can he eat a relative out of house & home. He didn't stay too long though.   "wink"

He who finds a wife . . . . .

We are incredibly blessed!  Our whole family is excited to announce Andrew's engagement to Fiona Forster!  
(picture taken in Kampala at the restaurant where they had their first date)

 Thanks to Skype -- Andrew has been able to introduce us to this sweet, beautiful, sparkling woman. We already love her and look forward to welcoming her into our family!!

 Here is Fiona enjoying a game reserve in Kenya.

Fiona is a CPA.  She and Andrew met through his work with EarthWise Ferries.  
She loves the Lord and has a heart of caring for others. 

Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves and Fiona has walked this out in personal sacrifice and service.

They plan to marry here in the States and we can't wait to meet her in person. 

Imagine - - - the Lord taking Andrew all the way to Uganda to meet his wife.  WOW

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 18: 22

May Happenings

May had some wonderful happenings.  One of the happenings was Andrew. 

He made a quick visit home!

 We always celebrate with food.  Actually that is more important than usual when Andrew comes home, because he can't get many of our foods in Uganda.  example - watermelon, blueberries

{Of course we have to feed everyone else as well. } "wink"

"Partners in crime." -- according to Haley

You did notice my beautiful Mother's Day flowers from the kids, Ken and my sweet Mom?! 

I must have forgotten to say "smile". 

We love you Andrew.  XOXOXOX

Those Thomas Sisters !

We had a wonderful visit from my Aunt Marylyn.  She is Mom's younger and only sister. 

She calls us all honey, says ya'll and speaks with a warm southern accent.  (I love to listen to her talk.)She stayed with Mom for 2 1/2 weeks and they had a blast.  (Such a blessing to have a sister!)

We headed up to a large green house in Sturtevant that has a cute little sandwich cafe' and gift shop.  That's not even mentioning the rows and rows of beautiful plants.  (Boy, talk about temptation.  You'd be proud of me ----- I only came home with one Caladium plant.)

Is it true that you go through a second childhood when you are mature enough that you don't care what others think??  YES  They were so much fun!  We laughed at all their remembrances.  Oh the stories.  They ate their chocolate first and didn't hesitate to joyfully encourage and love on each one of us.  Wish I'd gotten more pictures.

Thank you Mom and Marylyn for all the fun.  We hope this Texan can come up again soon.  XOXOX

The Incredible Inflating Baby!

 

 This is what James looked like when I saw him last.  (Grandma commentary:  Cute isn't he?)
 

This is James now!!!  (Look at that double chin!  Those rolls!  smooch) 

 When we were there he got his first bath.  He did great.  He scrunched up his face but didn't cry!  (marvelous child)

Look at him  now!!  (Old Pro)  He's really doing well and Gretchen says that he's started smiling!!  I think he looks like a balloon that someone has started blowing up.  (Isn't he darling.  Can't wait to get my hands on this baby again!)

Opening the Pool

The pool at our new house is a blessing from the Lord.  We really enjoyed our previous pool and I thought that when we moved we'd have to give that up.  Then we found this house and low and behold there was a pool!! It's a beautiful pool with a deck.  Nice, no more wobbly ladders to climb. 

Since the pool hasn't been used for 2 summers the water that was trapped in the pool cover was AWFUL.  Imagine 2 years of stinking rotting leaves.  It was slimey, green, buggy and disgusting!  My sweet and faithful husband spent two days removing the trapped water and then conditioning the pool.  I'm thankful that he's practically a pro at this time. Most folks would have been too intimidated by the job.
 

I'm glad Ken started the job when he did.  Today when the air temperature hit the mid 90's we were ready to have our inaugural swim!!  Whoopie!!

The water was a balmy 72 degrees.  {You could have heard us screaming at least a mile away as we got in.}   Once the numbness sets in it's great fun.  "grin"

Come join us . . . . . once it warms up a bit. 

Can you guess which one of us was brave enough to jump right in??

Grandson #2

Our family has been blessed again.
Today is the birthday of 

James Edward Phillips

6 lbs. 11 oz

He has a healthy set of lungs and nice dark hair!  Happy Birthday James!

He is Kyle and Gretchen's 3rd child.  Nate says that 3rd children are perfect.  I couldn't agree more. 

You just HAVE to read this book!

 

As I was talking with my friend Sherry K about Uganda she asked if I had read this book.  I hadn't.  Then I found it on Amazon when I was ordering something else.  

It is the story of a young American woman and what the Lord does in and through her as she "works" in that country.  I thought that since Andrew is in Uganda that I should read it.  I am so glad that I did.  

On one level it helps me to understand what Andrew is facing everyday.  I hardly can imagine.  I shutter to think of it.  On the other hand I am challenged, encouraged, convicted.  I cried my way through the book.  After reading it, my faith has been refreshed.  I find myself hungering and thirsting for more of the Lord.   
It comes at a perfect time in our family's adventure.  We have just moved.  We are in a neighborhood for the first time in many years.  I have been seeking the Lord for my new neighbors.  My heart swells with excitement to see what the Lord has in mind.  I find myself trembling and saying Yes Lord, Yes Lord, yes yes yes.