students

The same jokes this first year class was giving each other four years ago...

were the SAME jokes they were ragging each other with today!  I can't believe these students are about to graduate!   The above photo has dwindled down to 10 over the years, but they have truly grown as men, as brothers, as pastors and we pray, as servants.

I always get all choked up and motherly this time of the year.  Most of these guys might be older than me, but working alongside of them these past years and seeing their ministries and walks with Christ deepen has me so proud.  As with every graduating class, they are ready to be done with tests and studying, but hesitant to leave the unique family and community they've been a part of this past four years. 

 They're not the only ones moving on!  Sofia is off, darting from person to person and taking up to 8 or 9 steps to get from one place or another.  She still wants a finger or skirt hem to keep her confident, but I'm having to face that my little baby isn't so little anymore!

We were blessed Sunday to be able to drive the hour to Giselaine's church and to be a part of the worship service there.

Both Sofia and Lily know Giselaine as "Granny"...she spoils them, brings them treats, pushes them on the tire swing, and dotes on them.  Sofie was quite content to hang with Granny most of the service, and didn't mind one bit being an active part of the "announcements."  

 Matt had the privilege of preaching, and it was just all around a blessing to be a part of His Body in Grison-Guarde.

School with Lily has been going a lot better...As soon as Sofie is down for her nap we get to work, and with tons of patience, changing it up, and the occasional jelly bean, Lily's able to focus and work through lessons a lot better than she could at the beginning.  

As we've been working on the m, s and a sounds, she realized today that she could use the "L-I-L-Y" she already knows and the new "M-S-A" to write Aunt "Lisa", which excited her to no end!  

So thankful that from beginning to end there is so much learning, growing and maturing to be done in Him.  His Word is truly new every day and this walk with Him one that never need grow stagnant!