Children's Institute and Nursing Home Ministry

It's been a long time since we've posted, and I'm still hoping that there are at least a few faithful followers out there... :) Life has been so busy lately but I wanted to share a few pictures from the Children's Institute (held at Straitgate) that Angela and I helped with (from Oct. 31-Nov 5) and some pics from our fam's ministry to the "old folks" here in Faribault. :) Here's some from CI.

The best kids on the team--Emma, Caleb and Elliot

Caleb and Elliot again :)

Coloring--peacefully--at the table :) and believe me, those peaceful moments were very rare!

The Big Kids' team, with Ellie and Joseph as their patient leaders. Their team was so much bigger than our team, and I have no idea how they managed to get through the week and still be sane!

Every time we went to large group, we tried to make things fun by changing our approach on the classic marching line. This one, however, didn't turn out quite so well as we hoped. Let's just say that the stairs posed a little bit of a problem! :)

Ellie and I had a ton of fun acting in this skit, and I was supposed to play a bratty little girl. Believe me, it really wasn't too hard to play a bratty girl.

Eric did a hilarious skit about this kid who wasn't supposed to play in the mud, but did anyways, but only little steps at a time. We (especially the teachers) could NOT stop laughing :)

Angela, Victoria and Emma

Our team :) A few of the kids were NOT too excited about getting their pics taken! (Obviously.)

Large group

Mr. Rabbi and Eric creatively teaching the kids the new name of God.

Another skit...I had no idea what my lines were so I was reading my "map" practically the whole time :)

Victoria and I

CUTEST KID EVER!!!!

Another skit :)

Concentration...

Someone's not too interested :)

Delicious

After everything, Daniel M., Joseph and I all made our SUPER cool cookies. Joseph's were the blue dudes with pink mohawks, mine was the orange dude with sunglasses and the sick pink sash, and Daniel's was the green woman...with white hair? :)

Daniel shows off his beautiful frog. Or turtle. I forgot what it was :)

Just had to add this adorable pic of Danny with his missing tooth. I had to work really hard to get it!

OK, now for our nursing home pics. First off, the reason we go, practically:

                                     

                                                                       Miss Nancy :)

Her fave thing to do is color pictures. She made me one a few months ago.

She wanted a pic with our whole fam, and she got it :) Mom said we should use that for our Christmas pic. I beg to differ.

We really enjoy singing and playing for the folks at the nursing homes that we go to, and it's neat to be able to share what the Lord has given us! This is everyone's favorite nursing home to go to, because some of the people there are so friendly they could all be our grandparents! :)

Dad's Post

What a great trip - spending time with my great kids (sorry Sarah, I mean "Children") and great wife. God provided for us throughout the trip - safety, provisions and fellowship (AKA family fun).

The tail end of the trip was most memorable. As we were approaching Chicago from the East on the 90 tollway, there were three highway patrol cars escorting a wide load ahead, blocking all lanes as we travelled at 25MPH. We followed for at least a half-hour until we were losing our patience. I suggested that we pass the squads on the right shoulder. An officer would then chase us, opening a hole for those thousands of cars behind us to flow past the other two officers. I figured we would be a "sacrifice" so that others could be free. It was easy for me to suggest since Janet was driving at the time, but Alas, she did not obey and we just plodded along. We finally found a road that headed south (we were headed north) and took it, hoping to find a bathroom. We stopped at a gas station - no bathroom! Then we stopped at a White Castle - no bathroom, etc., etc. Finally, after getting  back on the highway, we found another exit, and everyone was happy! or at least happier...

We can't wait to get back to see you all. We appreciate pastor's preaching (!) and miss you guys more than ever.

Videos from Kalahari

I had to post some videos so you all would see what a fun time we all had at Kalahari! Pictures could never do it justice...plus, we didn't get too many in the first place because we were having too much fun sliding and getting soaked! Here's Dad going down "the toilet," of as Mom prefers, "the vortex." :)

Next, yours truly (Amy :) going down the toilet! I was a little scared at first, but it was so worth it,

I had to do it twice. :)

And the tube vortex, which definately was a family favorite! You went MUCH faster with 4 big people. :)

Niagara Falls and Kalahari Resort

We went to Niagara Falls on Monday--the weather was beautiful. They were so amazing!! We went on a boat tour that went right next to the falls. Good thing we all got ponchos, otherwise we would've gotten terribly soaked! (We did get  wet, though.)

Perfect shot of the falls

Rainbow in the mist

Our family in front of the Maid of the Mist boarding station. How do you like our beautiful uniforms? 

The bridge crossing from Canada to the United States

Gotta get some funny pictures!!

     Mom seems like she's looking way far away

 

See the rainbow in that one?

Saw the camera and smiled!!

Just like her to always be smiling!

Betsy again, waiting for her picture

Poor kid looked so miserable...

Horseshoe Falls with a little mist

Mom thinks I'm cuter than the rainbow!!

The Maid of the Mist boat

Our family--always together

Just being silly again

6 beautiful children--mom loves us

Danny and I taking a rest

That's waaaayyy down there!!!!

Next stop: The Kalahari Waterpark!! We got there on Monday night and stayed until Wednesday morning. We got to swim and go down water slides and coasters all day Tuesday!

Only 2 of the waterslides (out of a ton)

That is the little kids water park. Those are the only slides Betsy would go on, though! 

That is the zip-line tower. Isn't that high?? Dad says he thinks that's how tall Haman's gallows were!

A very small part of the HUGE waterpark!

Amy playing with MY disco ball on MY sword

Danny and Angela chillin' out

That is the end of my first post and near to the end of our amazing vacation!