This week we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. Since we’re in PP awaiting the birth of our 7th child, we were able to go out on our anniversary – there was someone to watch the kids and places to go. I can’t remember the last time we actually had the opportunity to go out on our anniversary day.

Josh bought me 15 roses, and we went out to eat and then went to another place for ice cream – we shared 5 scoops. (I’m trying to get my fill of ice cream before I have to abstain if the baby has milk allergies when nursing!) It was nice to having an evening together. Josh also bought me jewelry – blue zircon earrings and a necklace. Blue zircons are supposed to come from Ratanakiri.

So thankful for these past 15 years of adventuring with my man. It really is so much better than it was 15 years ago – to know someone intimately that long and keep on loving and keep on knowing. It’s worth it. Dating and wedding excitement is great, but it can get even better. I’m not saying that everything has always been smooth riding and bliss – but real love just keeps getting better and stronger as long as you choose to keep on loving. When we listened to Andrew Peterson’s Dancing in the Minefields later in the evening, we realized we’d finally made it to where he was when he wrote the song:

We said our vows and took the leap
Now fifteen years ago.

Thankful.

We celebrated Josh the day before Father’s Day, since Sundays are too full to add anything extra. We’re so thankful for the head of our home – the leader of our tribe. We’re blessed to call him daddy. I’m glad to have him as the man I make and raise our children with.

The kids made Josh a countdown calendar for Father’s Day. It’s based on an experience he had feeding a squawking young bird at work, that then decided it was Josh’s full time to find food for it.

Last week we had Isaiah’s 11th birthday celebration at home. On his actual birthday we were in PP, for an extra check on the baby. We had Krispy Kreme donuts for breakfast, went swimming and had lunch at the pool, and had Diary Queen ice cream on the drive back from the pool. But all this did not count as his actually birthday celebration, since we weren’t at home. 🙂

Isaiah’s countdown calendar had quotes from books he’s read, and each day he was supposed to guess which book the quote came from before he opened the door. Several of the days before his birthday we were in PP. His birthday movie was Boys Town.

Isaiah chose tacos for his birthday meal – it’s avocado season, so it’s a great time of year to make guacamole! He wanted a clock cake for his birthday. After gifts and cake, we watched a slide show of pictures and movies from Isaiah’s past 11 years.

Isaiah likes to take things apart and invent things – this past year he’s created a few board games. He like science, math, and reading. He plays outside almost everyday with the neighbor boys. He’s a good big brother to all his younger siblings.

We’re thankful for Isaiah and the gift he is to our family! Looking forward to his 12th year!

This year we’re working through Story of the World Vol 1 again. Last time we did this was March 2018 before Ezra was born, so we’ve added some students and graduated some students to this level of history class. Last week’s lesson was on The Code of Hammurabi, so each student made their own code.

Last week we took a trip to Phnom Penh to find a doctor for delivering the new baby and to do some other errands. The kids were delighted to spend some extra time with their friends the Nhoemvans. Kolianne waited to celebrate her birthday until our family came, and the older kids enjoyed a book-themed birthday party one afternoon.

Ayra and the girls spent two nights at the guesthouse, so we had lots of time together. Ayra helped watch the kids at different times, so they didn’t all have to come to the appointments. Becca, Isaiah, Anna, and Josh had eye appointment that the younger three kids were happy to miss! We went swimming on day while Josh did errands.

Our last evening we made dinner for two young men from our Jarai village, who are down in PP studying at Bible School. It was good to spend some time with them. We had a very successful trip and got done everything we had planned!