Happy birthday to our Becca Grace! We’ve had a great two weeks celebrating in the midst of Micah’s birthday and Thanksgiving festivities. Becca’s countdown calendar had a Clue Game theme. Each frame that was opened included a treat as well as clues to who did NOT commit the crime. Becca started the game by making her own guesses. Treats included ice cream, going to the salon for nails and hair, movie, sleep-over, gifts, etc.

Becca’s birthday fell on a Sunday, so we celebrated on the Friday before and then had a sleep-over Sunday night. Becca made a brownie cake with peanut-butter icing and decorated it herself. We had lasagna and salad for her birthday meal, played Cadoo, ate cake, gave gifts, and then watched a slideshow of pictures and movies from her 14 years.

Becca is in the 8th grade and is an avid reader. She has read almost all of Dickens’ works (saving a few for our plane ride back to the US next year). Recently she was reading the works of Shakespeare. Becca is a very expressive pianist and works hard each morning to practice. She gets up at 5:30 every morning to start her day and practice the piano; she’s usually the first person up every morning. Becca teaches our younger kids a SS class during our Khmer Bible study. She plans her own lessons and activities, working through the Bible. She also teaches an English class every Sunday afternoon to our neighbor kids. Becca also enjoyed writing. She has several different non-school writing projects in process. She also produces a family newspaper once a month. Becca enjoys art – painting, drawing, and lettering. She also crochets stuffed animals. It’s been fun to watch Becca grow in so many different creative abilities.

Sunday night Josh left for Pastor’s Bible school, so Becca and I had a sleep-over. We ate popcorn and played lots of Dutch Blitz. For Becca’s birthday movie we watched Lamb & Flag Studio’s Corrie Ten Boom’s The Hiding Place. It was an excellent production and well worth the time and money to rent.

We’re delighted with God’s gift of Becca and His protection in her life. Thankful. Happy Birthday Becca!

Today is Micah’s 3rd birthday! This is Micah’s first year to have a birthday countdown calendar, and all he cares about is being able to put it in his shelf once it’s completed. When I told him it was his birthday he said, “Then I can put the calendar in my shelf.” We went swimming for his birthday last Saturday.

We gave Micah his birthday present several weeks ago when his old moto broke. We didn’t want him to go weeks missing out on all the fun riding with Ezra.

Micah is a fun little boy who is full of energy and is almost always ready for a good time. He loves laughing and being a goof. He’s mostly potty-trained and still wears a diaper at night. He still sleeps in his pack-n-play. He eats a lot – but it’s not very evident from how skinny he is – he still wears size 12 month shorts.

He loves playing with Ezra inside and outside. They are double trouble and love laughing together. Micah loves to build with Magnatiles and to play outside with trucks in the dirt. He loves to be read to and enjoys joining in with Ezra’s school, learning his letters. I’m surprised at how much he is able to do with Ezra. Every time I see those boys playing together I’m so thankful God gave them to each other!

Micah wanted a tiger cake for his birthday. He helped bake it the day before and watched me frost it this morning. Tonight we’ll have spaghetti for dinner, eat cake, give gifts, and watch a slideshow of pictures of Micah’s 3 years. Isaiah gave his present (play dough) to Micah this morning to spread out the fun during the day!

In the afternoon, Isaiah made a fort with the boys and they did a craft together. Micah enjoyed his cake and loved the gifts his siblings gave to him: Becca – clothes, Anna – a giant dump truck, Clara – small truck, Ezra – guns.

We’re so thankful for our Micah and look forward to seeing all the ways he’s going to grow this new year!

One of the things I love to do is help people learn/memorize Scripture through music. The Word of our Lord is strong and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword. My hope is that people will know God’s Word and that He will bring it to their minds throughout their lives.

Today we celebrated Cambodia Coronation Day by crowning 7 Kings and Queens of Cambodia! The morning included crown-making, face-painting, and the coronation with entertainment included. This evening we will have a piano recital with recitations by each of the newly crowned monarchs.

Last Saturday we had a family carnival for our kids just for fun. It included lunch downstairs and several games, then ended with ice cream and soda.