Scott's 12th Birthday!

This evening Scott had his birthday party! He had an Oreo cake - yummy!



One game the kids played pitted two players, locating a piece of gum hidden under whipped cream without using their hands, chewing the gum, and being the first to blow a bubble. Lots of fun!!
Becky was in charge of the games. Here she's explaining a candy corn hunt in the hallway! Thanks, Becky!!!

Balloons are always a hit at a party!


Blowing out the 12 candles!

Eating cake and snacks - always fun!




Happy Birthday, Scott! Now that you're 12, I guess you can use six straws to drink your cola!

BFA Visit

We had a great visit with Kurt and Kelli last weekend at BFA! Kelli has all her posters up in her room (39 posters right now!). She enjoys her dorm and loves her roommate, Ami!

We took pljeskavica and cevapi (Serbian hamburgers and meat sticks) and cooked a Serbian meal for the kids. They really enjoyed a taste from home! Josh Manley joined us (his family is in Slovenia).
We drove up to HochBlauen, the top of the mountain above Kurt and Kelli's dorms. What an incredible views of Germany, Switzerland and France, depending on which side you looked at!


Creeking the birthday boy is a Sonne dorm tradition. Kurt helped creek a dormmate. It's funny to watch the event!
Kelli and Scott enjoyed having some sister/brother time together. You can't tell it in the picture, but snow was falling!


Silly kids....!

School was about to start, so we had to say good-byes. It was a great family time together. Thank you, Lord!

Fall Bike Ride

On Saturday we got out the bikes, worked on them a bit, then went for a ride around town.


The leaves are beginning to change colors, the temperature was in the 70s, and it was just a beautiful day!

Baseball!

Scott has recently started practicing with the new kids' baseball team. He is now a Junior Angel!

Last weekend, he was able to go to Belgrade for a tournament. Since there were only two players from the Junior Angel team, they joined the team from Kraljevo - the Seven Crowns. Scott plays right field. He got an RBI and one run in one of the games! We're so happy for him!

Back home from Germany - minus two!

We made it back home from our trip to take Kurt and Kelli to Germany. It's a long trip - almost 20 hours one way!! The trip home was much quieter without Kurt and Kelli! But, they are enjoying school and dorm life so far.
Kelli enjoys her dorm - it's smaller than the others with only 14 girls. She likes her roommate, Ami (pronounced Ah-mee, not like Amy) - that's her in the picture with Kelli. Kelli has joined the Drama Outreach Team, is looking forward to daily hikes up the hill behind their dorm, and is working on making a website for herself and for her dorm. She was excited to get into Graphic Design class; she's the only freshman in there and is loving it! She laughs because she has classes with some of Kurt's good friends! Kurt told us that whenever he sees Kelli, she has this huge smile on her face. We're so thankful that Kelli is liking BFA.

Kurt was excited to be back in his dorm with his fellow Sonne Knights. His friend Brian (on the left) and another friend Josh are in his dorm as new students this year. Kurt's also glad to have Andrew (on the right). He grew up in Belgrade, and he and Kurt have become very close friends the last few years. Kurt jumped right back into BFA life, including spending the first night camped out at the school with other guys (BFA tradition). He has his own room this year and is loving that. He even told us that it helps him study better! Yea!

This year, there are 10 IMB students at BFA from our region (CEE) - that's a lot of acronyms! The kids from our region are growing up! We're thankful for your gifts and offerings to Lottie Moon Cooperative Program that enable our kids to go to BFA for high school. Many of these families would otherwise have to return to the States. It's such a blessing to be able to have this opportunity for our kids and for us to remain on the field and work for the Lord here. Thanks!

Go Karts!

Last night the Coombs and Sharpes held a farewell party for Kurt and Kelli. We had fun eating snacks, telling stories and laughing. Then we loaded up in the cars and headed to the go kart track. Kurt stayed ahead of the pack most of the time, whipping around corners and having a blast!






Scott is quite a driver! He even passed Kurt on one corner! After a while, I had to look away! Last time we rode, everyone had helmets. But this time, they didn't have the helmets! Mother's worst nightmare!




One stipulation to us going was that I would drive this time. I puttered around the course a few times, but finally got the hang of it (still not near as fast as the kids!). Wheeeee!

Tomorrow morning we leave to go to Germany to take Kurt and Kelli to BFA. Thanks for your prayers!

Family

As we count down the days (16 now) until we leave to take Kurt and Kelli to BFA (boarding school in Germany), we are trying to make the most of every moment together. However, we're still busy with a volunteer team, Kurt made one last trip to see friends in Bulgaria, Kelli is busy sorting and packing everything in her room, and Scott is off each day to play with friends. My motherly instincts are kicking in - wanting everyone to just sit around me and be happy in the nest. But, this is the part of parenting that I wanted to avoid for a few more years. I have to let go. They are growing up, becoming more independent, and thriving in their walks with the Lord. God is answering our prayers that they would grow in wisdom and in stature, in favor with God and man. Both Kurt and Kelli are growing intellectually. Both are taller than I am! Both are growing in their walks with the Lord. Both are loved by all they meet. Karl and I couldn't be prouder. Thanks for your prayers for our kids. Living overseas has been a challenge, but it has blessed our kids in unimaginable ways. Praise the Lord!

Kurt -my handsome oldest son!

Kelli - my beautiful daughter!

Beginning of August

The four college students who were here all summer - Jacob, Damian, Shelly and Tori - left yesterday. It was an amazing summer! The students made many friends and had many opportunities to share their faith in the Lord. We are so thankful!

A new team arrived yesterday to help do servanthood projects this next week. They'll do lawnmowing, painting, log splitting, and more! We pray that the Lord uses them in mighty ways to bring people a step closer to Him.

Today Karl's parents are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Their anniversary was in June, but the party is today! It's hard to be so far away when the rest of the family and friends are gathered to celebrate. But, we rejoice in their loving commitment to each other.

Gathering of the Pipers

Christine and Katrina (volunteers who were here last week) joined Karl and me at the Gathering of the Pipers festival near Cacak.


Christine and I were told to put our hands on the guy's back while he played. Inspiration? Support? Don't know - it was weird!

We returned in the evening for an incredible concert of pipe players accompanied by accordians, violins, clarinets, electric guitars, bass guitars and drums. A group of ladies sang traditional songs. It was a music feast!

Kosidba

We went to Kosidba, which is the annual grass-cutting festival. They don't use lawn mowers here - it's a competition with their scythes. The festival is held on the top of a mountain with a gorgeous view!

It begins with a parade up the hill of the competitors - notice the sharp scythes sticking up in the air!


Our family really enjoyed the day in the sunshine, experiencing a part of Serbian culture.

AGM Fun

We spent the last week of June at our annual meeting. It was great to fellowship with others in our organization, to worship the Lord together and to learn more about what's going on in South Europe for the Lord. The kids had a blast - Kurt and Kelli were in the youth program, and Scott was in the children's program (volunteers came and did VBS for them!).



Kurt makes his momma proud!

Kelli is second from the right - so beautiful!

Scott is a true showman - he had the role of "Announcer" in the musical and had a solo!

Monday

I woke up happy this morning, despite getting to sleep late because of some annoying beeping going on outside somewhere half the night (with no a/c, we sleep with windows open). God is so good! We had a great crowd last night at our Fellowship and Bible study time. God is teaching me so many things about His grace and His provision. Our friends are growing in their faith as well. It's exciting to see God draw people to Him. We have new brothers and sisters in Christ, and it's so wonderful for the family of God to be together!

The kids are all heading out the door to the pool. It's so great to have all three together. We have missed Kurt so much (he was at boarding school, for those who didn't know). Karl is really having a tough time thinking about Kurt and Kelli leaving in August for school. One day at a time...!

Karl and I went up a mountain to a monastery with the volunteer team. It was a beautiful view of the valley below.

Mirela and I cheer the Angel Warriors!

Oh, how I love football! Go, Gagi, go!!!

Becky and I have some fun at English Club. This was the night we taught the students to make pancakes and syrup! Yum!

Trying to do this

Well, I began this a month ago, and haven't had time to put anything on it!
So, here goes! I'm adding a few fun pictures of the past month or so. We've been so busy! It was great to have volunteers here, to go to football games of the Cacak Angel Warriors, and stay busy with English Club.
Enjoy!

Let's Get Started

Amazing...I'm joining the ranks of those who do this blog thing. I'm doing this mostly so I can post family pictures, thoughts and stories of what goes on over here. Hope those who read this enjoy it!