Loved ones in Oregon! (First half of July)

We've been so busy I haven't even had time to throw pictures up on the blog for those of you who follow us and are praying! Thanks for praying for Will. It's been amazing how well he's been doing! We feel your powerful and effective prayers on our behalf. All the kids are just doing fabulous, praise God! No illness to speak of, either, and super sweet fellowship, fun travels, and beautiful sights to see. We're in Arizona now, but I'll have to put the California pictures up another time. It's time to pack up and move again! On to Dallas, taking three days to get there in time for the quints' 6th birthday.

Thanks for praying!

Carrie

With another best friend and fellow mischief-maker from childhood, Amy - and her long-suffering mom, Aunt Linda!

My best friend from childhood, Kathryn

The Oregon cousins in Aunt Jody's tie-dye creations!

Isaac and his cousin-brother (as they say in PNG) Ethan

Isaac with both cousin-brothers, Ethan and Levi. Ethan visited us in PNG last year! They're wearing the hats Marmi and Papa brought them from their trip through Austria. :)

Traveling and fun on the Oregon farm

In Spokane city center

The quints' temporary best friend, Donkey. 

My dear friend Chris's amazing mom!

Up in the barn!

Zoo: Then and Now

November 2013
Marcie, David, Gracie, Seth and Will

June 2018
David, Gracie, Seth, Will and Marcie

Many Glacier, Glacier National Park

Selfie with my beloved Isaac in the lobby of the Many Glacier Hotel 

My beautiful girls crossing Swiftcurrent Lake in the ferry boat

My handsome men inside the boat

My happy boy hikers! On our way to Grinnell Lake and Glacier. David smiling for the camera, then Will ahead of him, with Seth in front and Marcie on Isaac's shoulders. Gracie was behind with Marmi and Papa, I think. 

The whole family, happy together on a beautifully clear day!

Dad and son - super special times. Isaac has such an amazing attitude about his younger siblings.

The wind was whipping up against the stone wall!

Gavin's turn to be in the photo with Papa snapping it. Isn't the background INCREDIBLE?!

At Grinnell Lake.

On our way back across the lake. Marmi with Will, Marcie and Seth on the front bow of the boat.

The flowers at the hotel were gorgeous. Isaac was a good sport to keep standing in photos for us. :)

Fun in the [COLD!] snow: Glacier National Park

The climate sure changes when you hope a plane and fly far north, then drive deep into the Rocky Mountains!

Camping was an unqualified success, helped hugely by Marmi and Papa keeping two or three kids each night in their cute nearby KOA cabin. The kids loved it!

The kids lined up their camping chairs to sit where they could see Marmi and Papa's approach -
it was nearly a year-and-a-half since they'd seen them last!

Together again! At St. Mary's Lake

Isaac showing off his awesome breakfast sausages, a huge treat after four years in PNG

Big helpers David and Seth bring campfire wood to Daddy, Marcie in the background.
Will and Grace were at Marmi and Papa's cabin that morning.

Breakfast always tastes better out in nature, even when it's just cold cereal.

S'mores! Yummy for David and everyone!

David and Will enjoy the fire and dry cereal

Joy overflowed into group hugs. Seth is very into hugging and having family hugs.

Fun in the [HOT!] sun

Boy oh boy, we hit TX at a terribly hot time! The kids keep saying it's too hot in America. We're spoiled, living in the mountains of PNG! However, we're managing to have a busy, happy time nonetheless. So much excitement! On the whole, the kids have done great. Will is the one who needs the most prayer for ability to transition and feel at ease. His broken collarbone (he fell off of the monkey bars our first week here after four years of climbing monkey bars in PNG with no problems!) only gives him pain when someone jostles him or he falls into something, as happened tonight, but the FIVE crowns he needed on decayed molars really put him over the top! It was quite painful for a few days. The other kids' teeth are fine, but he is prone to cavities - largely because he eats to self-comfort, I think. Life is just a little more upsetting for Will. The lack of cheese pizza tonight was heartbreaking to him, for example. We got him some on the way to where we were having a supper snack, so it all turned out okay. :)

A picture from the zoo last week, thanks to our lovely babysitter Naomi from when the kids were little bitty! More to come, but it's bedtime now.

Love and gratitude!
Carrie

In Dallas after a wonderful trip!

I could tell lots of people were praying! Seth was absolutely fine, the other kids were a bit sick but did great, and we made it here with no issues despite a delayed flight and down-to-the-minute connection at LAX. The kids were such troopers! They did better than I'd even hoped! Now they're having the time of their lives discovering all the food and toys their loved ones in the area have showered us with! Our spacious apartment was spotless and stocked with food and cleaning supplies and treats, thanks to Aunts Pam and Cyn, my parents, Aunt Mickey, Aunt Deb, Reid, Claudia and Steve (awesome bunk beds!), PLUS we have a beautiful new-to-us Suburban parked in the front! Thank you ALL who made our arrival so delightful! I'm LOVING getting to know my nieces and nephew - first time meeting them!

Gratefully,
Carrie

My phone is dying and we don't have internet right now on computer, so pictures later