Yesterday we put together our second set of bunkbeds! We’d promised Anna that when she was wearing underwear consistently, we’d give her a bunkbed. Goodbye pack-n-play! Isaiah got to move to a top bunk as part of his birthday countdown calendar. Clara got Anna’s pack-n-play matress. Becca was thrilled to have a bunkbed next to hers and have Anna as her new shipmate

Setting up the beds was an all day event. First thing in the morning I started washing everyone’s sheets and mosquito nets. The first half of the morning the girls and I moved tubs, swept, and dusted. The second half of the morning Josh and the kids put the beds together.

The afternoon was spent putting bedding back on, arranging fans and other electronics, and rehanging mosquito nets.

Our kids were thrilled with the new arrangement. Anna looks so cute in her big bed. Isaiah loves being on the top bunk. Becca said it was the best night ever. The kids were wild with excitement. They have decided the beds are ships. Giggles and screams of delight came from their room long after I was done putting them to bed. I finally had to tell them to go to sleep…Isaiah promptly fell asleep. Love these days of delight!

Happy 14-month birthday to this rambunctious little girl! Climbing has become a favorite activity. The other day Anna came to get me since Clara was on top of my kitchen work table trying to open a soda can. We’re constantly having to move chairs and other containers to prevent Clara from climbing.

Clara has also become meticulous about throwing things out the window or off the porch. We thought she had gotten over this hobby. She’s very deliberate about what she chooses to throw over. Once some neighbor kids came up with over 10 alphabet blocks Clara threw through the porch railing. One day I watched her throw 2ft long pick-up sticks out the window. She kept running back for more. She even was able to maneuver a broom through our porch railing. She held it there by the bristles without dropping it, since she saw me looking at her. Crazy girl! I always have to be on the alert!

Clara’s getting some more teeth. She just loves eating mango/passion fruit smoothie ice pops. She’s such a clown!

This month Clara has made progress sleeping through the night.  We’re looking forward for this to be her new normal!

Love this little girl! Can’t get enough of her giggles and crazy villain laugh!

Meet Puimeng, a 61 year old Singaporean lady who is a missionary in a Jarai village near our town. Puimeng came to Cambodia about 2.5 years ago to help a church in the Jarai village of Le. She is very much”alone” in her work and we admire all that she does for the sake of the Gospel. Her main ministry is running English classes and Bible clubs in the village church. I love that she makes her students memorize the verse in Khmer before she teaches it in English.

We’ve enjoyed having regular fellowship over lunch with Om (older aunt) Puimeng about twice a month. Our kids love her.  She often does craft projects with them that she’s given them. Recently I’ve been having a prayer time with Puimeng at the end of our visits. It has been a great encouragement to me to be able to pray with another woman in English (something I’ve missed since moving to Cambodia). I’m very thankful.

I hope that when I’m 61 I’m like Puimeng – faithfully ministering to all people even if it means great discomfort and isolation.

Don’t let this picture fool you, this 13-month old is full of energy and mischief! Clara regularly laughs her “villain laugh” and looks like she’s wickedly pleased with getting away with something. She’s always trying to climb on the school table or any other tall surface she can get to. Take her outside and all she wants to do is climb the tall steps back to our house. (B&W picture credit goes to Gregory Whitaker.)

Clara bottom two middle teeth are starting to come in. On top her side tooth still reigns and it looks like the other top side tooth is starting to come in…not sure where her top middle teeth are hiding.

Clara loves to feed herself – she does not like to be fed! She happy and funny…as long as she gets exactly what she wants. She has learned to yell “MAMA” and I sometimes call her the Queen of Hearts for it sounds like she’s yelling “off with her head!” Love this little girl who brings so much laughter into our home.