New family photos

Some of you probably already saw these on Facebook, but for those who didn't:

This was taken Saturday before Marmi and Papa left on Monday. *Sob* I'm so glad we got a great family photo in before they left. Seth was asking me yesterday, "Where's Papa??" He seemed to understand the answer. The kids are already pretty used to the idea that people leave on an airplane to go back to America. Such is the life of a missionary kid! We're blessed to have loved ones here in the first place - so, so blessed!

[Aside: Even though I'm wearing jeans in this photo, it isn't really culturally appropriate for me to do so during the day here in PNG. No one saw us, though. ;) Normally I wear skirts or dresses, although more and more PNG women are wearing baggy capri-type pants and even (very occasionally) skin-tight jeans. I love skirts and dresses, so for me it's no hardship just to stick with those during the day.] 

Thank you to Susan, who took the kids' 3rd birthday photos (and Isaac's 11.5-year-old photos). She does an incredible job! Unfortunately the last photo is blurry, but I still really love it. Thank God the kids were so happy during the photo shoot! We only had 20 minutes before it started to POUR rain. 

We're all doing well. Gavin is med-evacing a PNG woman from the bush because her labor was "distressed," poor lady! I pray she's at the hospital and safely operated on or otherwise delivered of her baby/babies by now. He got the message too late to help last night, so all night long I thought of her in that agony, waiting for first light for Gavin to take off and come get her out of the bush. (She was at a remote aid post.) I love this part of Gavin's job. He does, too, although he just feels terrible for the poor women he's flying. But he's getting them to help, thank God!

I am moving into the laboratory at our clinic starting the end of the month. There was a need for a replacement lab tech, so I got "promoted." I'm thankful for my Biology degree and all the hours I spent looking into a microscope. My favorite class was microbiology. :)  I'll do blood draws; various tests - malaria, HIV antibody, urine, blood sugar, pregnancy, etc;, blood slides and counts, and more. One of my best friends, Natalie, will be my trainer and supervisor. I'm really excited! I'll only be working two mornings a week, so it's pretty perfect for a busy momma and household. 

Better run - Will is hungry! He wants Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, though, so he's out of luck on that count. ;)

Love and gratitude,

Carrie