spring. . .

brings all kinds of baby animals.  And we loved the chance to go enjoy them at a friend's house!

And then when we got home, what a treat!  A full double rainbow.

a sunset. . .

how do you sled in the desert?

On sand of course!

When dear friends ask you to spend a Saturday away from home with them it is sometimes easy to think of all the work that needs done around your place.  But when you accept the invitation, you end up being very blessed by the day.  What fun to visit some new places close to our new home.  After a picnic lunch and sledding down the sand dunes, we enjoyed the canyon with much awe.  What a perfect place to sit and sing praises to our creator!

---

Truly,

How Great Thou Art!

one of my favorite things. . .

What a peaceful morning!

Mom working in her corner, boy weaving, and girl doing embroidery.

Yep, that’s what I call WONDERFUL!!!

what is a dust storm?

If you would have asked me this question a couple of months ago, I wouldn’t have been able to answer it.  But now I know.  A dust storm is when you look out your windows and the view that you usually can see is simply not there.  It seems like a combination of all the freshly worked fields and the strong spring winds.  Very fascinating for us newcomers!  It also means that when it is all over and you go to your window (which is closed and locked) and find a layer of sand or fine grit on your window sill.

before

during the storm

before 

during the storm

before 

during the storm

And yes!  We are really starting to love it here!  J

how?

How is a boy supposed to concentrate on his school work when the neighbors are doing this?

Maybe some could pass it up, but not the boy at this house.  J  He thinks this is GRAND!  After walking down and watching for over an hour, he still wasn’t ready to come home.

there's no place like home

After much living out of suitcases, living out of boxes, and unpacking, it’s starting to feel like home.  It was too cold to work outside when we first got here, so Joe set to work stripping wallpaper and painting.  Our dear landlords had already freshened up all the bedrooms, baths, and laundry.  That left the living room and kitchen for us.  It would have been fine to leave it for a while, but it sure felt nice and fresh when the painting was done! 

There are SO Many things that are different here than what we were used to, but we are really enjoying it.  It feels like so much has happened since we arrived, and it has all helped us to feel settled in.  We have met new people and experienced new things.  It is very interesting to learn about the agriculture, plants, animals, sights, and sounds.

But it also doesn’t mean that we have forgotten everyone “back home”.  Far from it.  Every so often Elisa says how she misses all her family and friends back home.  We all do.  Sometimes It’s easy to wish that everyone we know could be in one place, but we know that this is not God’s plan.  I pray that we can be His salt and that we can be scattered to season all the ends of the earth! 

May God be Praised for His Loving Kindness.