This week Maria celebrated her 1st birthday! Our sweet little girl has made amazing progress with her walking in the past two weeks and is now on the go. We’re all so delighted with our little girl, and all her siblings love her. She’s a spunky little girl who loves to talk with expression and hand motions. (The dress is the one Yayyi gave Anna for her 1st birthday.)

Maria had two birthday parties – one at Canaan Land with her cousin Levi who turned one the day before. Emily made smash cakes for the birthday babies, and Maria loved hers.

Maria’s second party was with the extended Jensen family. We spent Saturday evening until Tuesday morning with Josh’s family. We all enjoyed a relaxing time being together!

My birthday is two days before Maria’s, and I also had two parties – one with the Rodriguez family and one with the Jensen extended family. Dad J and I share a birthday! It was special to celebrate with friends and family.

July 10th we started our last weeks of traveling before we settle in PA to start packing to return home to Cambodia (we’ll get back to my parents on the 29th). On the 10th (Wednesday) we drove to VA and stayed with the Gustafsons’ again. We were able to return the stroller they kindly lent us during our travels and enjoy being with them again. Thursday we spent six hours revisiting The National Museum of the United States Army. First we went through the special D-Day exhibit. Then, once again, the older kids went through the exhibits, while the youngers enjoyed the area designated for younger kids. It was a very rewarding day for me as I watched our kids live out our educational goal for them: Learn to Learn and Love to Learn.

Friday we drove to Charlotte, NC and enjoyed visiting with the Cole family. We spent evening Friday and Saturday morning together. It’s been over 10 years since we’ve seen the Coles, and it was a delight to catch up with them. Becca especially enjoyed their girls and spending time talking about literature. The boys had lots of nerf wars. The little boys enjoyed grinding coffee beans with Michael.

Saturday afternoon we drove to the Lake Toxaway area and started the Sutter Family Reunion. (I don’t have the pictures from this but will post what I have.) Besides my older brother’s family who was in the process of moving to Florida, everyone was able to attend. The 16 cousins had a great time hiking, playing games, biking, and running around the campus together. Ezra learned how to ride a bike without training wheels (we started by pushing him down a grassy hill to help him get his bearings). Thankful for the time everyone had to get to know one another and play together.

You can tell from the picture that our girl knows she’s a ham! Maria took some steps last month, but she hasn’t taken off yet. She wants to run and doesn’t have the patience to practice walking. Sadly, Maria will not nap in a bed. She sleeps great in the car or will fall asleep when I hold her, but she up the minute I try to put her in her pack-n-play. At nights she’s up multiple times. The constant travel and changing rooms has been hard on her. BUT she’s a pretty happy girl most of the day. She loves to play and laugh and eat. Everyone adores her! We love you Maria!

Last Friday we had the special treat of getting together with the 2 other families, plus one college student, from our Cambodian missionary family: Farmers, Smedleys, and Jon Pawley. We all just happen to be in PA at the same time. We met at a park and spent several hours fellowshipping. The kids enjoyed playing games. It’s always a treat to be with family from back home in Cambodia!

Saturday we headed to NJ to take a scenic train ride starting in Flemington with the “2 Wheelers.” It was fun to have a train ride – everyone enjoyed it!

We spent Saturday late afternoon and evening with the Puccios. The kids enjoyed swimming. It was fun to watch Mr & Mrs Puccio, who were my SS teachers, take the same interest in our kids as they had with me and my friends throughout our childhood years. These are precious people who I’ve known as long as I can remember.

Sunday we were at NDC, in Piscataway, the church where I was born. There are still a handful of people there from my growing up years.

Sunday evening we met at my Uncle John’s house for a get-together with family. All my Dad’s siblings were there and a few cousins. My brother, Sam, came to see us with his family. They are moving to FL this week, and we really appreciate their making time to drive down to see us during their very busy week.

Monday we visited again with my Uncle John. Over a year ago he ended up in the hospital with multiple blood clots in his leg and almost lost his leg and then his life. We’re thankful for the progress he’s made so far, but he has a long way to go. It was good to spend time with him. This was also the first time for me to be back in my grandma’s house since her death….a bit sad.

We left Texas on June 20th for our two-day drive to Tennesee to visit our good friends the Burkes. (We stayed over-night in Memphis.) It was great to visit with Sterling and MK and meet their girls. We were with them from Friday afternoon until Sunday after lunch. Always a pleasure to be with Cambodian friends. Sunday evening we arrived in Cincinnati and stayed in a hotel to be near The Creation Museum.

At the Creation Museum we split up into two groups: Josh, Becca, Isaiah, and Anna made up one team; Clara, Ezra, Micah, Maria, and I made up the other team. This allowed us to go at an enjoyable, appropriate pace for each group. The older group went to a lecture on the Golden Ratio, while the rest of us toured the museum. We met for lunch and then went to a lecture on animals and then went to the planetarium. In the afternoon the older group went through the museum exhibit, while the rest of us walked around outside and then went to the 4D show on the Days of Creation. The older group went to the 4D show after we did and by then it was 5pm and time to head back. We’re very thankful for our friends who arranged for us to use their friends’ lifetime passes to the museum – which included entry and the planetarium showing. (Note – this year kids 10 and under are free and both the Creation Museum and The Ark Encounter. So if you have a lot of young kids, this is the year to go!)

Monday evening we had dinner with the Lyons family. This was our third time to see the Lyons. Our first visit with them was planned and the last two were unexpected. Every time we say goodbye we say, “See you in 5 years.” And then somehow 5 years goes by really fast! The Lyons (who live in SC) just happened to be visiting Michael’s parents in Cincinnati.

Tuesday we spent the day at The Ark Encounter. We enjoyed the zoo first, hoping that the crowds in the ark would lessen in the afternoon. Everyone enjoyed The Ark Encounter. At the end of our visit we attended a drama by the BJU drama team on the lives of two Russian pastors. After the show, we headed to Lexington, KY to spend two nights with our friends the Raslaus. We had a great time of fellowship with this kind family. Then Thursday, June 27th, we headed out to drive to PA. Thus completes our long trip: GA–>AL–>TX–>TN–>OH–>KY–>PA. We had a wonderful month visiting with friends in many states. We’re thankful for each one of them and the time we were able to spend catching up on their lives and being encouraged on the Lord’s work in their hearts.