Visitors from Iowa...

Since we have been down here we have gotten to see a few people from back home. Our first surprise was Jenny Keating, (John's cousin), she was visiting the Reece's and showed up at the church house we were staying at the first weekend we were here! I know we will be seeing more of her, she seems to like it here!
In February, Grandpa Terry, (aka PaPa per Emma) and Grandma Mary made it down! What fun to see family! The first thing Emma said when she saw them was "Jennfer?"! I think she thought that they always come together! What a help they were to me! Opening boxes, playing with the kids, and hanging pictures were just a few of the things did. We enjoyed seeing the Alamo and Riverwalk with them as well. I was very thankful to get to go to Comfort, TX for the night knowing that they were with the kids! While we were gone they took the kids to the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. The kids loved it! Emma really liked feeding the animals! This is the only pic I got of G and G. Mary took better pictures of this trip!

During Spring Break we had two families visit! Dave, Jayme, Megan and Logan Witzenburg came into town on Monday and had dinner at our house. The boys loved playing Wii. We had to make sure there was ref. because we had some real competitors in each family!!! Tuesday we went to the Children's Museum downtown. The kids really enjoyed that. Thanks for going with us guys!

Last Sunday we met with Paul and Kari Nilles at our favorite place, Freddy's! They were just back from Israel. It was nice to remember our trip from 9 years ago. We were amazed at how well the kids did while we talked. Emma really enjoyed talking to Kari about Dora! It was nice to catch up, we had not talked to them in a long while.

We are thankful for all the people who have come to see us. It's nice to see DSM faces.

We hope our next visitor is Aunt Jenn, we are praying hard!

Been to long...

Ok, the last post I made was a rather sad one! This one will be better. I must say that we are having fun getting to know other families at Wayside Chapel. I am attending a Sunday School that has been very welcoming to our family. We are discussing discipline. The couple that teaches the class have four children that they have home schooled the whole way through. What a blessing this has been for me. I love going to class to learn!
My bible study on Tuesday mornings is keeping me in the word and that has been a saving grace! The ladies in my small group listen, care, cry and laugh with me! I love each one of them!
Mops has also really helped with a need to just be social! Talking about kids, husbands, and health have been the topics this winter. I am still trying to sort out all that I have been convicted on! The gals are just like me! Trying to raise kids the healthy and right way!
I am also getting to know both of the Youth Pastors wives. Kim has two little girls who like to play with Emma and Linsey is pregnant! We can't wait to find out what she is having. I love talking about pregnancy, mom stuff and being a ministry wife with them. They know what it like to have a husband who works funny hours!
Marsha is on staff with John and she is the director of women's ministry at Wayside. She has let me talk and talk about starting a new life, missing my mom and rental houses! Can't wait to have coffee again!
On to the kids.
I was worried about Evan the first two months. All of Jan and Feb he would complain every time we left the house. He never wanted to go to church and ended up almost in tears when we took him to class. When March hit, new boy! He is his old self. He enjoys going to class and is making friends! Ones that play the Wii seem to be the best right now! Playing Wii at the Pouparts was a great highlight of our time here!
Ean is doing really well! He is reading more and more. He is great at math also! He has finished his Awana book and is now reviewing it for another award we hope!
Emma is all girl and two years old going on ten years. She is now needing to be disciplined more everyday. She is pushing her limits all the time. All of the ladies at church love to have her in class. They say she is so much fun! On March 20Th she went pee pee on the potty for the first time! We will be working on this soon, I hope. She likes to sit on the potty like the boys do! She also needs to have her purse at bed time, nap time and when we leave the house. I think she is really watching me more than I think! I am going to have to be careful. When we go shopping she likes to walk with me and touch clothes and make comments about them. I LOVE IT!
John is working a lot! He is trying to get a team together. He is really happy with the staff at Wayside. They all work together really well and are always helping each other out. When we were on a staff retreat to Comfort, TX in Feb and I really saw what John was talking about. We had a wonderful time getting to know the staff better and was really blessed by a time of sharing and prayer that we had before leaving Comfort. I truly believe the prayers from this time and home in DSM have helped Evan become more comfortable with TX. God is good!
I can't forget the weather!!! It is full on spring here! I love Spring!!! Right now I feel like it's May in DSM. This is my favorite time of the year! Everything is new. We are trying to use the park all the time before it gets hot.
I hope to not wait another two months before I write again. Hope you enjoyed!