Growing UP!

Caleb is 4ft 2in (46 lbs of energy)
Titus is 3ft 6 in (32 lbs of love)
Abe is 2ft 2 in (24 lbs of joy)

Van update

We have had so much trouble with our van..and it has been the same problem. Here is the story May we had it fixed in WV, then in Greenville in September, we had problems in WI, broke down again in October coming home from MN first in WI then in Ohio just before we got to the WV (yes twice int he same trip home). Each time it has been this box that holds the electrical computer house for the van. And each time it had leaked when it rained and caused damage. So in WI we spent two days in a hotel waiting for it to get fixed we were thankful the Lord made it a convenient exit where we were able to find a Ford dealer across the street from our hotel. It was also nice that the hotel we were stuck in had a heated pool. Then in Ohio we were able to make it off the exit by drifting. Mike called Enterprise right before they were about to close and they had no one to "pick us up" but Mike was able to walk the mile to the store and get a van for us to go home in for a good price and while there he had a great opportunity to share the gospel with the lady there. The next day we borrowed a truck rented a trailer and had to go back to pick up the van. Mike was able to see the lady again again and give her a salvation book called "Done" which she was going to read on break that day. We dropped the van off at Ford and they had it 2 wks before we got it back. All in that time we prayed and looked for a new vehicle. It was finally fixed on Tuesday morning Mike went right from picking it up to an hour a way where we had found to vans online. Mike spent many hours looking at vehicles in that area, but we didn't have peace about it. We figure it was the Lord's way of telling us to keep the van for now. So then we drove it to PA Wednesday morning. We are thankful we haven't had any problems since...even had some rain :) On our way up to MN we did see a lot full of 2008 vans fully loaded at a really good price so on our way back home in a week we plan to stop in there again and look. Titus is glad he really likes our van (Mostly the DVD player) we all like it and we have put a lot of work into it now...tires, belts and such. So even though it has passed the 100,000 mile mark we know it and what has been done with it. So there is always a risk in getting something new so we are just continuing to pray for the Lord to give us wisdom in this area and in his time to show us when to trade it in and get something new.

Grandpa's 90th Birthday

Originally it was going to be a surprise party but with so many family members coming in, it was revealed the week before. Grandpa Bennett is Mike and my only Grandpa still alive and we treasure him. It was good to see him still in good health since we were last with him. The great grandsons sang Jesus loves me and Happy Birthday to him. Mike made a video presentation from his life and there was also a reading of what life was like in 1919 as well as some funny memories of Grandpa. It was a good time of fellowship and reminder of how precious family is. It was nice for us to see a lot of extended family we don't often get to be with as well. Happy 90th Grandpa..we wish you many more :)

CANDY Candy candy!!!

We went to Michigan, without our van (still in the repair shop) for Grandpa's 90th birthday party. While we were the3re though several of his family churches were doing activities for the kids. On the one Wednesday night there was a Harvest party. Caleb dressed as Handy Manny and Titus got the faithful dog costume. Abe dressed as a Chinese boy. Then On Friday some of the local businesses also gave candy out to the kids who came by and that night they went with cousin Matt to another family member's church who does a trunk and treat activity. Unfortunately it was raining, the kids still had lots of fun as they moved the games inside for the kids to play and then receive candy. They sure did end up with a lot and they had lots of fun.


I thought it was funny that even a month before Halloween Caleb said, "Halloween is my favorite holiday!" We never even have celebrated it..I think he just liked the thought of getting candy..too bad his mom is pretty restraining on the sugar, they usually get one piece of day, which means it will take us at least till Easter to finish up their stash! Nothing compared to my dad and uncle stories of full pillowcases yes pillowcaseS.

Pumpkin Carving

Titus and me worked together to make a big toothy grinning pumpkin
Mike and Caleb's pumpkin...Caleb drew the face, Dad cut it out.
Abe says Hello pumpkin man! not really but I think that is what he was thinking.

Letters I and J

Finger painting insects, making homemade instruments, and icing cookies were some of the fun things we were able to do during I week. Half of the week was spent at the farm and half in MI. J week was spent in PA mostly. It is hard enough to get the special projects in and even harder to get pictures so I don't have any for J week. We are learning about Joseph right now in Bible class though and the verse was Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life." Although Titus doesn't always get all the words right usually the wrong words are because he has personalized them..which is pretty cool..like he says Jesus says to me... Our themes were jungle, jumping, Jack, and months that start with J.

BWM Annual conference

Sorry it has been so long..I'll try to catch you up in the next couple days. Well this is a picture from our annual Baptist World Mission meeting during the night of our annual parade of nations. Hard to believe it has been a year since we have been appointed. We have enjoyed deputaion and yet we miss regular church ministry and we look forward to getting to New Zealand. It the picture with us are the Comstocks, they were also appointed last year to go to the field of NZ. We had many chances to talk with them during the conference which was so good..since we will be laboring together. They have 2 young children and we will actually be with them this coming week again in MN at a missions conference. I am excited for the kids to meet and get to know each other. This past year brought a lot of change to the staff at BWM. It was really nice to get to know the wives of the new staff. It was also a more relaxed week (maybe b/c we were getting appointed or maybe b/c my parents kept the kids for the week). It was a great week of blessing. We really enjoyed talking to so many other missionaries and getting to know some of them better and meeting new ones as well. During the week we also got to present NZ to the 3rd and 5th grade classes at the school. We love doing that and the kids always have great questions...like if we are going to have a pet sheep or penguin?
All the messages of the week dealt with Christ is the answer in times of crisis. Dave Cannedy reminded us to "Hold the Fort for Christ is coming, Jesus answers still." Dr Allen reminded us of each of our roles in evangelizing the lost. Dr Moritz was able to come back for one evening and he preached on taking heart. Preach the saving glory of God, Depend on the glory of God and Anticipate God's eternal glory. Then Dr Loggins finished the week with having us take a look at where our treasure is...that is an indication fo where our hearts are. What a good Week of fellowship and challenge!

How do you get swine flu?

No we don't have the swine flu but we have had some sickies at our house this week. It at least has happened between meetings which is always a blessing! Our van is still "sick" too. Gdma Martz has been kind enough to let us use her car..even to go to Indiana for the Baptist World Annual meeting. They fixed what they thought was wrong with it but something is still reading wrong. We do plan to trade it in once this is fixed and get a different vehicle. Please pray with us as we look for a good deal and a reliable vehicle. We still have several meetings in November to get to.

Home?

I'm afraid our boys may be associating home with hotels..especially after this week. We were in MN Saturday night and all day Sunday. Mike got to do all three services Sunday and we got to fellowship with Pastor's family over a nice home cooked dinner. That evening after church thought he Pastor told us there was a big storm heading in so we might want to take off. Sadly Mike had not taken a nap that afternoon in hopes of a good night sleep....so 20 minutes later we were on our way. We made it to WI (about 3 hrs south) when our van decided to start acting up...Again. We made it to the nearest exit and found a pretty cheap hotel...next morning we were thrilled to find out their was a Ford dealership around the corner. They were able to look at it at 1 and even find a part we needed about an hour away that they picked up that night, they finished putting it back together the next day. Seems there was a Ford bulletin out how to fix this box that holds the elecrical parts and the place in Greenville had not followed the directions to seal it right...so they paid for all the work here at this place. In the meanwhile we visited the heated indoor pool quite often and caught up on some school work. I also got to skype with my sister Holly in Cameroon Africa one of the afternoons. Wednesday she was headed on a bush trip where she had to carry all her supplies in on her back. I know she is very excited and we are all jealous of the wonderful opportunities she has living there.

Mommsen's Pumpkin Patch

I spent hours looking for a pumpkin patch for us to go to while we were at NBBC, to no avail. But I did find this one on our route to MN. It was a little chilly as I said earlier..with a little snow on the ground here and there but we had a nice time at this place. Caleb's favorite was Pumpkin catapult and canon. Titus liked the bounce house. I think Abe's favorite was the fort..mostly because he was allowed out of his stroller and be FREE!
The place had a corn maze, wagon ride, animals to pet as well as the other things I already mentioned. Lots of fun, I love my family and chances to do things like this together :)

Northland Baptist Bible College

Mike and I graduated from Northland in 2001, stayed on 2 more years to work in the extension office, Mike also worked on his Masters in Biblical Counseling. It has been since then, 2003, that I been able to return. It was different (so many new faces and not being in the dorms and with the students all the time). It was still so good though to be back and catch up with many that had impacted our lives as well as meet many new people. Saturday night we arrived in time to even see the end of the guys soccer game. Sunday we spent the day at the church we attended while we were at Northland, Grace Baptist. It is still pastored by Dr Kimbrough but they have moved to a new building. We got to sit and listen to SS then they broke up for fellowship time that was followed by Mike giving our presentation and then preaching. Next we went in to share with the Junior Church while the adults split into groups to talk about how to flesh out what was just preached. Then we got to go out to eat and fellowship with the Kimbroughs...we love and appreciate them so much. Monday they highlighted our family as the alumni of the week and following that Mike got to meet a student who's dad lives in NZ as well as others who had questions. It rained a lot the first couple days we were there so we were frequent visitors of the gym..which the boys really loved! Tuesday Mike got to do chapel at the local high school. Wednesday was a little nicer day. Caleb got his 6 wk report card..all A's but a little room for improvement. He also recited the Lord's Prayer perfectly. Then when we went to leave for church our van wouldn't back up. We are thankful we were able to borrow a school van for the evening. We went to Norway Baptist, it is a new church plant since we had been around, but another close friend the Belfords help Pastor there. We really enjoyed the spirit of the people there as we spent an hour and a half in the service and prayer and then the people continued to stay around another 45 minutes to fellowship. Carissa Belford and I were on the volleyball team at NBBC back many years ago and she invited us to come over Friday. It was nice to catch up with her and the kids loved playing together (8 all together). We got to see them again Friday night when we went to see a Senior vs Faculty basketball game. Thursday we took a walk at Reflection Lake. It is such a gorgeous place to reflect and take pictures. Also on Thursday Mike got to play lunch bunch basketball for the second time and I got my haircut as well as going to chapel. In the evening we all took a trip to the daily grind. One last thing...I love playing volleyball and so it was such a special blessing when I found out there was tournament going on that weekend. Mike said he would watch the kids so I could play. We got 5th but had such a good time playing. Saturday morning was very cold when we left to head to MN. All along the road we found light snow gathering, I was hoping for fall to last a little longer but that was pretty accurate of how many days were at Northland.

Reflection Lake

Letters E F and G

Before we left to go North we had a whirlwind of a week, unpacking from FL and getting out all the much warmer clothes to head to WI and MN. We spent time doing the fall banners you see below and spending some extra time with the grandparents. I also had to do lesson plans for the next couple of weeks and make more thank you cards. Unfortunately, it leaves me feeling slightly guilty when I don't do all the neat activities I was able to do with Caleb at 3 that I'm not doing with Titus...like painting Easter eggs or making a face out of elbow macaroni on E week. I did have him decorate eggs on paper this week and we were able to read a little more than normal since we were home. He learned his E verse very well to, "Even a child is known by his doings." Our little entertainer!
These have not been easy weeks to do many special school related activities with the boys, neither have they been good blogging weeks with being on the road, areas with poor Internet, and trying to get home with a bad van. Week F was spent up at Northland Baptist Bible College. Monday we learned about fish and frogs. Tuesday Fire and Fox. Wednesday we talked about body parts that start with F - then Titus made some funny face pictures using stickers. Thursday I would have liked to play flag football but it didn't happen...Titus did make a flag out of construction paper though. Then Friday we talked about Fall and Farms. Thursday we actually took a hike in the woods, it was gorgeous up in WI as we were there right as the leaves were changing. Then Saturday we went to a Pumpkin Farm that was really cool!
A beautiful fall picture at the farm. The next week we were suppose to get home Tuesday afternoon but with all the car trouble we didn't so I didn't even have G books with me :( Titus drew a really cute Curious George this morning though and he did a good job drawing a picture for his verse this week, I John 4:8 "God is Love." We did sing quite a bit this week and talk about the Golden Rule and Giving thanks.

Fall Banner

Can you even believe October is here? Well at least being north it feels like Fall and the leaves have started to change. I love Fall and have missed it the last few years we have been in Florida. Since we will only be North the rest of the year I had to change out all the clothes this past week while were home. Another thing we decided to do this week was a craft. I found it in the Family Fun magazine. We went out and found some leaves one morning, traced them with Elmer's glue gel in the afternoon then had to let them dry for a day. The next day we took acrylic paints and water and painted the banner (pillowcase). After it set for 2 more hours we washed them. It was much prettier before we washed them. the paint didn't hold as well as we hoped and still plan to redo Caleb's. I think we may have watered the paints down too much. It was neat how the glue left a pretty white void for the outline of the leaf and its veins. It was a nice fall project I would do again! I also got my fall decorations out this week. We left again Friday to head to WI and MN.

Monster trucks have it

I took the boys shopping last week to have them pick out the toys they wanted with the money they were given by the Victory kids. Titus really wanted to get videos...until he saw Caleb's cool Monster Truck. Caleb's first pick was actually K'nex but with his extra he got the truck. Titus decided to only get one video (Tom and Jerry) so he could still get a truck too, he ended up with 2 trucks. Abe hot a truck too that pops balls in the air when it rolls as well as a bead mover. Thank you Victory kids.. It was so nice of you!

More time with siblings

Heading back to Greenville we didn't know how long we would be there (when the van would be fixed) but it actually was fixed by the time we returned Thursday night. Since my sister Whitney had to work Friday we decided to do something all together and went to Chuck E Cheese. Saturday we spent some time at the Greenville Zoo (another free on with our membership). The boys had been begging to go in Laura's pool so we tried that but it was really cold! We also had to catch up on school for the days we had been travelling. That night we returned to BJ to watch another soccer game. It was a busy day but it was nice to see my siblings again.

Letter D

It was hard to fit school in each morning this week so we did it in the evenings or afternoons many times. This didn't give me as much time with Titus. Besides this we had to downsize to fit in my sister's car so we left all non-essentials behind...including several D books about dinosaurs, dragons, ducks, and dogs. (we did read them once we returned to G-ville though). The boys did get to wrangle a komodo dragon at the Jacksonville zoo (one of their new exhibits). My sister Whitney works at a bakery and she brought home the boys some cute dinosaur cookies. We used spatulas one day to make duck feet. There were many other things I would have liked to have done but I think it is sufficient. Titus also was able to say his verse perfectly again this week, "Depart from evil, and do good." He loves saying the verse because he can earn a sticker..which usually ends up on his forehead. :)

Jacksonville Mission Conference

So I have blogged about many of the extra activities our family was able to enjoy while we were in Jacksonville but I wanted to share more the conference side of things. This year we were the only missionaries at the conference headed to the field. (the church is still looking for a senior pastor) However this year they have 3 new teachers who have been on the mission field so we were able to hear presentations each night..from South Africa, Saipan, and Russia. Mike was able to preach almost all the services and each night we were able to eat with a different family. We stayed with one of the nicest families all week and the boys enjoyed the big house and really cool pool with a diving board. Also during the week though Mike was able to help the church out my putting together and printing a church directory. Mike also preached the high school chapel and was able to lead a 7th grader to the Lord after his message. I was excited that I was able to teach elementary chapel, Caleb helped me and did a great job. Next we went down to the lunch room and said hi to his former class mates. On the last night the kids group of Victory presented a money gift to each of the boy to be used how they would like. All summer the kids had taken up an offering, it was so sweet of them! We love and miss our church down there but it was so good to be with them for a little while.
We left Jacksonville and went back to Greenville to pick up our van and spend a little more time with my siblings. Thankfully the van problem was not the transmission but water damage in a electrical control box. We are thankful that God has provided us with all we need for our travels, I am also very thankful for my sister who so willingly let us use her car for the week.

Little Talbot Island

We had a beautiful day to enjoy the beach this morning. We spent about 2 hrs jsut having some fun family fun, playing in the sand, looking for shells, jumping the waves, and even watching a fisherman down the beach pull in a rather large stingray. I also got some sweet shots of our 3 boys who are growing up so fast!

Jacksonville Zoo

I know we used to always go but its been a while..so we couldn't resist. Also we got to go with our friends, Mrs Joanna Rowley and son Noah. The boys had fun together as did we. It was also really nice that the rained held off till just as we are leaving. They had one new exhibit since we were here last - The Asian gardens which included a Kimono Dragon. We also saw a 5 day old squirrel monkey. A jaguar had a baby earlier this year that also had just been put on display. We fed the giraffe, Spock. We also spent a half hour cooling off in the kids splash area...that was Abe's favorite part although it did seem he noticed several animals besides. It is always so fun to go..especially when you can go with friends.

Jacksonville here we come...or not?

That was the question on Friday night as we went to leave the BJU campus. our van wouldn't back up. It would only go up to 30 MPH. Right at 8 am Mike called the dealership and tried to get the van in b/c we were suppose to leave after lunch to go to FL. Well the person who could diagnose the problem didn't work Saturdays. My sister Laura, who we were staying with, immediately volunteered for us to take her RAV 4. We were unsure if our family would fit in so Mike started to look and see what renting a van might cost us..$400 was the cost so we squeezed and left some non-essentials behind and still made it to FL before 9 pm that night. Sunday morning we started missions conference here. Mike preached, several school teachers that were missionary kids or missionaries gave testimonies. Following that we had a potluck dinner and then we showed our NZ presentation. Mike will also be preaching tonight and tomorrow and we both get to do a chapel in the school tomorrow as well. We have already enjoyed being with our friends again. I was able to go play vball after the afternoon service as well. There was a really good turn out for that and it was lots of fun. Also this week we will have the chance to fellowship over meals and at the zoo with friends to. We are glad we made it!
Well we got a call this morning from the dealership..the estimate is for a little over $600. Our electrical box had water in earlier in its life, things inside have been repaired as well as it had been resealed earlier this year. But one main part decided it was time to short out this weekend. It was still neat to see how the Lord allowed us to be my sister's when it happened, that she could help us and we could use her car, and even make it down here to Jax. We will go back to her house this Thursday as planned and get our van back then.

Pit stop in Greenville

On our way to FL we decided to stop in Greenville to break up the trip as well as see 3 of my siblings who are there. We hadn't seen two since May and the other since February. We also got to go over to the BJU campus and watch a soccer game as well as catch up with our former teens from FL an NY. While we were watching the game Caleb asked if he could run around the track...he did... 4 TIMES!!! I think we have a track star on our hands.

C week

Sometimes it is harder to do school with all this travelling but it was nice to be back at for home just a couple days. Still those days were busy with unpacking, doing laundry, errands, taking Abe for his one year shots, and repacking. It was fun to make 10 dozen cookies for our trip down south on Cookie day. That day we also read If you give a mouse a cookie as well. We spent a lot of the week making a creation book. The other days we learned about colors, and counting. Titus has impressed me with his counting and color recognition. This week we also took another car ride..this one went South. We are staying with my two sisters who live in Greenville and able to see my brother who started college at BJ this year. They were happy to see us and all those COOKIES..although most of them are doing to our former teens who are now at college.

B week

Last week was B week while we were still in MI. Titus is much more careful about tracing the letters and numbers on the lines. He also uses a lot more color than I remember Caleb using. He is slow and careful and it seems he often spends more time at the table doing his seat work than Caleb does. For B week we improvised and used boxes for our building blocks, we blew bubbles, made blueberry muffins and had Abe's Birthday bash! One day we wore B colors - blue, black and brown. One day we blew up balloons, and decorated for the birthday party. Titus struggles more with memorizing his verses but with a little more work he has done well. This week's was "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." We are still praying that Titus will realize his need for a Savior!

Abe's Birthday Party

I have this thing where I try not to let to let my kids have sweets (esp cake and ice cream) until their first birthday. I just love when they begin my wondering what this is and then tasting the icing to digging in and devouring the cake. Abe's reaction was no different..just love it! We had The Bennett great grandparents and grandparents as well as Mike's brothers family over tonight. Mike's mom made the cake and clown cupcakes. The theme was Winnie the Pooh since it was one of the few themes this a first b-day theme. He loved the balloons and was evening trying to say balloon today (we think). We had a great time first eating pizza then the party. I couldn't believe Abe ate a whole piece of pizza before the cupcake and ice cream and their was hardly anything left when he was done..just a few crumbs. Abe went from last Thursday to taking his first two steps to today walking half the time he is going somewhere. He is doing great sometimes taking even 10 steps already. He is such a happy smiley beautiful baby. We are so thankful for this wonderful gift from God. Also this week we have begun laying him down in his bed at bedtime instead of rocking him to sleep. Another funny thing that happened this week was when the boys were taking a bath and Abe decided to join them, thankfully I was there to jerk him right back out although the top of his head did get wet. Happy Birthday my Abey Baby!

What is this? cake?

This is pretty good stuff...but let me take another bite.

Did I miss any?

I'm full....now let me down so I can play with my toys!