February is Grandfather birthday month for us. The month started off with Pop’s birthday and is coming to an end with Grandad’s birthday! Here are a few pics of Avery wishing Grandad a very special day. We were having a hard time trying to have a true smile but thought the outtakes would be fun to show.

Looks like things are in the works for a new pipeline for South Sudan’s oil. Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan will share the cost for a “massive a transportation corridor project”. To read more about the details go to Sudan Tribune…

http://www.sudantribune.com/Ethiopia-Kenya-and-South-Sudan-to,41662

Apologies as I can’t seem to create a proper link. Please copy and paste website address and head on over.

We love this little guy and are enjoying his personality coming out more and more. What a bundle of fun. Avery and he are really starting to play with each other and it is so fun to watch them interact. Our home is full of laughter, giggles and Avery and Larson “singing” to each other, what a joy.

There are a few quick and easy online devotionals I look at from time to time, upper room is one of them. Today’s devotional was about what one reader gave up for a past Lent. I appreciate this idea rather than giving up chocolate, pop, or coffee. Not to get caught up in an act, but I would like to encourage others to take this Lent season to focus on the life of Jesus and prepare our hearts for Easter. Perhaps that would be in choosing to give something up or add something like spending more time in the Word. Another site, Our Daily Bread, has some email devotionals for the Lent season.

Here is the Upper Room Devotional which can be found at, http://devotional.upperroom.org/devotionals/2012-02-19
A Sacrifice of Silence
Read James 3:2-12

It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.
— Matthew 15:11 (NRSV)

As the Lenten season approached, I wondered what I ought to give up for 40 days. I once did without chocolate. Another year I fasted from popcorn, which led me to give up going to movies also since the smell of popcorn might prove too great a temptation. These small sacrifices challenged me but didn’t promote deep spiritual reflection.

Then I thought about politics. The political climate in our country was especially bitter. People yelled at each other on television and radio. Many in our community demonstrated on the streets or wrote angry newspaper editorials. But none of these built people up or brought any grace. People made in the image of God were being cursed. Although I had strong feelings too, I decided not to talk about politics during Lent.

At first, I found keeping my mouth shut difficult, but it became increasingly easier. As time passed, I felt that I more fully understood God’s ultimate sovereignty in world affairs, and I learned to listen more carefully to the opinions of others. In so doing, I realized that speaking in love matters far more than convincing people I am right.

The Author
Deanne Overstreet (New Mexico, USA)

Thought for the Day
The love we show matters more than the good we only talk about.

Now that things are settling down and life is getting more “normal”, I want to keep up with the Thankful Thursday posts. Taking a moment to gather my thoughts, something I am thankful for is forgiveness. First and most obvious is for God forgiving my sins. Secondly, I am also appreciative of the forgiveness of others. Whether it is my attitude, words, actions, I could go on and on…I am so thankful to family and friends in my life who have forgave me and reconciled our relationships. Nothing in particular sparked this post but just years of been blessed by forgiveness of God and others. I desire to be Christ-like enough to be instantly willing to forgive as I have been forgiven much.

So, what are you thankful for today?

Our Avery is such a special gal that she got to celebrate her birthday twice, and on two continents no less! Last Saturday, we had a simple birthday gathering of old and new friends at an awesome restaurant that just re-opened. They have a great playground all around the garden to keep them entertained, so it is a treat for parents as well. To make the day even more special we took her to feed the giraffes, one of her favorite activities. She was so excited to also get a giraffe ballon animal. It lasted about five minutes but she loved it!

Here is a picture of Avery, Bethlehem and Mama Thomas! She is so happy to play with her friends again. It got dark pretty quickly and most of the other pictures I took were pretty blurry, I know now to ask Taylor to be the photographer at all birthdays to come.

I just love this pic.

We are quickly learning that you take what you can get when it comes to trying to capture a family picture with more than one kid

It was so cute. She could hardly stand it, to have her very own giraffe ballon animal was almost too much!

Earlier this month we had the chance to go to the SIM Kenya Spiritual Life Conference. Each SIM field gets together once a year for a chance to hear from other ministries in the country and have a time of worship and teaching as a team. It was a good chance to catch up on the past months we have been away and see faces we had not seen since last year’s conference. The kiddos enjoyed seeing their friends and playing on the wonderful playground.

The two little ones at the conference, Nelson Jr. and Larson. Such cuties!

Now that is a tall swing!

-Sorry for no group picture, but due to the sensitive nature of some of the work going on no team pictures are allowed to be shared online.

I am coming out of the fog after having some email and then trying to salvage some accidentally deleted pictures of the last few months. I hope to have more updates and even a video tour of our new place this week. Stay tuned!