Time Flies When You're Having Fun.

Another week has passed and once again there was so much to write about, I didn't write about any of it. So here are a few pictures of life and what we've been up to. Things here in America are good, cold, but good. We're glad to be back and continue to adjust...

Benson is getting huge, he loves sitting and looking at things. He is smiling now and just the cutest little thing!

We went for another skiing day! It was great! I made it all the way down the mountain without falling - amazing! I can't wait to get back up there and try and get better so I can finally race Joey down the slopes. Isn't Mt. Rainer beautiful!

There is a trampoline outside our back door and Josiah is in love with it. He stands looking out the sliding glass window and tries to jump (he hasn't mastered that skill yet). He loves to bounce around out there and giggle till his belly hurts.

One of the greatest parts about being in the states is getting to spend time with family. Amos and Simon are my two oldest nephews and they are so good with Josiah and Benson. They love to kiss the boys' cheeks and take them places. They live just down the road so we get to see them a lot. It is such a blessing. We're looking forward to many more play dates in the future!

Time for Mom

Just before we headed overseas last year I had the opportunity to attend a "mommy group" that my sister-in-laws and some of their friends had started. It was a lot of fun to visit with them and a great way to be sent off on our adventure.

Well today I was once again blessed to see these incredible women. It was so great to listen to their hearts and laugh with their stories. Each of us are at similar places in life with young kiddos and lots of adventures. It was nice to talk with one another share the various things God is teaching us without the structure of a book or paper. As the Lord brought to mind various subjects we shared and encouraged each other.

Josiah liked playing with the other kids, although he is still trying to figure out how to do that exactly. I am excited for the weeks to come and the opportunity to get to know these ladies better as well as the opportunity to be mutually sharpened. God is so good isn't he?! Providing encouragement and challenge through friends and loved ones! It doesn't hurt that we get to eat yummy food at the same time too! Praise the Lord!

Winter Fun

I grew up as a skier, a water skier that is. Joey however grew up as a snow skier and his family has a long family tradition of skiing. In fact his Grandfather was a founder of Crystal Mountain ski slopes here in Washington. So when winter hits we hit the slopes. Now the first few times I went skiing it was definitly a laughing matter. I spent more time on my bottom than on my feet. Joey fell down a couple times he was laughing so hard! Needless to say it wasn't the most fun I've ever had and I wasn't sure snow skiing was for me.

Well its been two years since we've really had a chance to go skiing. Babies and living overseas have kept us off the slopes until this year. Last wednesday we bundled up the babies and gathered the gear and off we went. There were 18 of us including 4 kiddos under the age of 3. I was anticipating huge rubbish parties but it ended up being one of the best times I've ever had on the mountain.

Since there were so many kiddos who wouldn't be joining us we decided to alternate taking runs. I was able to head down the mountain twice. The first time, in the morning, I was my usual scared self. I tried to think positively but all I could think of was my buns hitting the snow as I jumped off the chair lift. Miraculusly I never fell off the chair lift and I even made it down most of the run upright. The very best part is that now when I fall down I can get myself up! No more rolling around in the snow desperatly trying to get my legs under me. I've finally gotten pretty good at getting up!

Me, Sarah & Gretchen ready to take a run.

So for my second run I made it without too much fear and without too much falling! It was great. I loved it. The kids had fun too. Benson didn't know we weren't at home, things are pretty much the same wherever he is. And Josiah survived with no nap and a few cold fingers from the snow. His favorite part was going up and down the stairs with Gramps. All in all it was a great trip and I can't wait to hit the slopes again!

Josiah and his cousin Thomas eating Oreos, cookies make cold fingers warm again!

Christmas Photo Extravaganza

The whole Easley clan at Christmas dinner

Ooohh, whatcha get?

Cheesy stocking face

All the Easley cousins, James(3), Josiah(14mo), Simon(5), Benson(7 weeks), Amos(6), Judah(8), Esther(3) & Thomas(18mo).

Benson in new Christmas clothes, too cute!

Sitting at Grandma Langton's counter

All the Langton Cousins, Benson (7 weeks), Josiah (14mo), Kallen (2), Kynlee (6mo)

Gotta love the swing!

We're Back!

We arrive back in the states a week before Christmas an have been busy settling in. We spent the first week adjusting to the season, the weather and so many other cultural things. Then we had an excellent Christmas (I'll try and fill you in on that tomorrow) and now I am trying to get organized before the new year arrives.

It is such a blessing to be back in the States, surrounded by friends and family. We are so thankful for all the Lord has done in our lives over the past year and all the joyful adventures we've had. Thanks be to him, I hope and pray he was glorified in our lives over the past months.

A rubbish party for the road.

There is so much I could write about and so little time to write. As we speak we are in the final days of our time overseas. It is hard to believe a year has come and gone. I was looking at pictures just yesterday remembering our time here. It has been so full. Full of laughter, tears and mostly joy. I have enjoyed my year here and am incredibly sad to have to go. I just now feel as though I am settling in and getting the hang of things.

Isn't that how life goes though? Just as you get settled in a stage of things, or with a routine things change. At least in my life it works that way. You know I am glad. Glad because the Lord knows I enjoy my ruts and my routine. He knows that I would gladly do the same thing day in and day out and that I would unknowingly miss so much. Mostly I would miss the opportunity to trust him and lean only on him. With life always changing I am constantly being pulled to my knees. It is so awesome to watch him show his faithfulness again and again.

Yesterday the Lord proved his faithfulness again through the ever common rubbish party. We were traveling back to the city so we can catch our flight today. We were on the auto route, the last leg of our 8 hour drive. Joey noticed that when ever he turned the turn signals on the radio turned itself off and on again. Pretty weird, but shorts are pretty common in our van so no biggie. On we traveled until the radio just started turning off and on constantly, and with that Joey noticed that the dash lights were starting to dim. Uh Oh! It was looking like our battery was loosing power and not recharging.

We were pretty much out in the middle of nowhere and not sure where the next rest stop was. We shot up a quick "Get us to the next rest stop Lord" and kept going. As we were anxiously waiting for the signs to tell us how far the next stop was we passed a vehicle assistance car. Isn't God great?! Shortly after that we saw the rest stop. When we got there we praised the Lord for getting us that far on a very low battery, by that time our lights were really dim, the speedometer had stopped working and we were sure the car would die at any moment.

Joey got out to talk to a guy there and see if they had any batteries. Would you believe it we couldn't find the battery?! They looked and looked. Finally we had no choice to continue down the road and pray we made it the 45km home.

Our lights were so dim everyone was flashing us and we could barely see the road. The moon was shining bright though and we did our best to stick with the cars in front of us so we could find our way. As we entered the main city there are about 5 police check points. Joey did his best to avoid being noticed by the police by following pretty close. At the last check point though they pulled him over. We were sure we were going to get a ticket and have to turn off the car, and we were SO close. We had no dash lights, no head lights and all they noticed was our light over the license plate was burned out. God must have been blinding their eyes! They sent us on our way with no ticket and blessings.

As we pulled up next to the house we were both aware of how faithful the Lord was. He carried the car exactly where it needed to go and gave us an adventure along the way. How fitting that he would end our time here with another rubbish party where his glory and faithfulness is displayed. We fly out today and after a few layovers arrive in the States tomorrow night. We will never forget our year and the way God worked. All praise to Him!

Family of Nerds

I was looking through some of our pictures yesterday and I just couldn't help but sharing these great pictures with you. They aren't our most attractive, but they sure do make you smile.


Our newest addition, Benson, we got this while trying to snap a passport photo. Not exactly sure what he is doing, but man its cute!

Here is Josiah with his winning performance in "my life is over" Believe it or not moments earlier he was giggling!


In my defense, I have no idea what I was doing.


And last but not least, Joey. Its hard to catch goofy pictures of Joey because he usually has the camera, but hes just as nerdy as the rest of us so you just have to wait.

There you go, a couple of laughs from a couple of nerds :-)