Ready.Set.Go.Thailand

Check out the missions blog! This is where we will be posting while we are gone.

http://thewellmissions.wordpress.com.

Christmas 2009

Just wanted to give you a sneak preview to our Christmas this year. Darlene's family was in town and we have had a wonderful time! Presently, we are playing games, blogging, and watching a special on the Rocky Mountains. Our bellies are full and we are warm. We are so thankful for the blessing of shelter, food & family!

In this picture L 2 R: Leonard, Jonathan, Allie (holding Kiera) Jessie (holding Brianna) Lauren, Melissa & Chandler. We have a tradition of having cousin Pajamas on Christmas eve.

Girls Weekend in Laguna Beach!!

The three of us out on the balcony of the hotel in Laguna - ready for dinner!

Great friends Danny and David Roberts met us for dinner.

Check out Danny's blog: igorandandre to the left - he is a very talented artist!!

Allie & Jesse Go to Napa!

Just a quick pic of Allie & Jesse in Napa. Jesse's parents surprised the kids with a family trip to beautiful Napa Valley.

Just For Fun

Kendall and Peyton making brownies in Carmel with Auntie D!!

Park City '07

Spring 2007: Skiing in Park City, Utah with a few of my high school friends. It was a great time! Skiing, great food and even better friends!

Honesty & Integrity

I recently was reading a chapter from a book and was reminded of what my parents always told me. It's sometimes easier to do the wrong thing, but it's always better to do the right thing. Our integrity matters more than our reputation because we cannot control what others think of us . . . and that is our reputation. But our honesty and integrity does help dictate our reputation. That is in our control . . . and what really does matter is how we take care of the little things day in and day out, when you think no one is watching. Because someone always is and for sure God is . . .

Allie and me!

Since I last posted a picture of me and Lauren, I wanted to post one of me and Allie. This was taken by a dear friend at a baby shower. Its fun to live near Allie because we sometimes get to go to the same parties!! We both wished Lauren lived closer so we could see her more often!

Visit with Lauren

I had a little get-away down to Laguna to hang with Lauren. Sure miss her and wish we could see her more often! Anyway, this is a picture of us at one of our favorite places in Corona del Mar.

Eric's Yearly Death March Con't

Reflection Lake - Joe's ceremony

A couple of years ago, one of the Eric's backpacking buddies and great friend passed away unexpectedly. This year, they were able to hike to the lake that Joe loved and spend some time thinking about him and spreading a few of his ashes. What an amazing lake!
A cup of courage!
This picture makes me think of one word. Peace.

Eric's Yearly Death March

Outflow of Reflection Lake
Reflection Lake
The group!
Alpinglow in the high Sierras

In July, the annual Eric Hanson Death March takes place. This year marked the 20th Anniversary of this trip. Eric and his buddies always have an amazing time. See for yourself in the pictures!

We are going back to Thailand!

One of the little villages that we will be visiting. This is the village we worked in last January. We will be about an hour's walk from this village working to build a school and hostel. (it also takes an hour to drive because you have to go around the mountain instead of over it)

We wanted everyone to know that we are going back to Thailand in January to do another project. One of the things we are hoping is that we can get many children sponsored as this will provide a way to keep teachers in the village and will also help with meals for the students during the day. Check out this website if you want to sponsor a child: http://www.nextlevelmissions.org/

Bill and Kristi McGee - they graciously offer their house as a place to stay!  
Friends Bruce and Kathleen - I think they were discussing global warming or something like that!
Bill, dear friend and old roomate Marilyn and Jerry.  You may not know we all went to boarding school for our high school - living in dorms starting at age 14.  In many ways our friendships that have lasted so long are a result of raising each other during our teen years.
Marilyn, me, Bruce & Kathleen

Julie and Marilyn getting in the limo that took us to dinner!
Sheri, Julie & Darlene at dinner - Del Mar Beach - the view was amazing!
Marilyn and Kristi showing the wonderful carrot cake Kristi baked for us - it was yummy!!
Kathy and Julie
Great picture of all the girls!!  Kathy, Darlene, Sheri, Kristi & Julie across the top and Marilyn and Kathy sitting.  
I've just had a wonderful time with some high school friends in San Diego!!  The girls try and get together at least once a year, sometimes husbands and other classmates tag along with the fun.  We have done a pretty good job of staying in touch!  Whether its snow skiing, gathering at McGees house, or somewhere else, we always have fun.  This year, Eric could not come along so it was mostly a girls weekend for me, although Bill did manage to have a couple of his buddies from our class there so he would not be over run by the estrogen!

Lauren & Cole

Lauren and friend Cole - Taco Tuesday!!!!

Allie - Dodgeball Queen

Allie and team mate Phil - they are in the playoffs! 

Random Pictures - Ecuador

Here we are in the dugout canoes that we used to paddle down the Puhoe River.  We spent about an hour and it was so beautiful!!
This was a very typical scene we saw each day up in the Andes Mountains.  These women all came to our clinic to be seen.  
Some more pictures of Ecuador!  Enjoy!

2009 Beach Reunion

Friends Adrianne, Lauren, & Liza - the young ones are Lucas and Laura
Mike, Steve and Armando - college buddies of Eric's!

2009 Beach Reunion

Eric and friends Bruce and Denny

The amazing sand hole - this was the best year ever and was a big hit with young and old alike.

The girls 

 Daniel, Lauren, Darlene, Eric, Allie & Jesse 

As usual, the beach party was wonderful and we had a great time with family and friends!                                                                                        

Auntie D's girls

The girls on the beach
The Bell familyThe Bell Family - Kendall, Brad, Peyton & Jen
So here is a picture of some of my favorite little girls Peyton and Kendall.  Their mom, Jen is a talented photographer as you can see by her pictures.  It has been a privilege to be a part of their lives and I look forward to continuing to watch them grow.  Brad and Jen have done a wonderful job with their girls!!

Lauren & AP - back in the day!
Lauren and dear friend Liz
Lauren and childhood friend Noelle!
Recent pictures of Lauren.

The entire team including some Canadians, Dr. Bill and his son Eli from Indiana, Debbie from Virginia, the local Ecuador team, and our team from The Well Community Church: Joel, Sarah, Sabrina, Kaitlin, Kathy, Katie, Emily, Susie & me.  

The team in Ecuador!!  This is a picture of our fantastic team at Quilotoa Volcano (which is now a crater as you can see.  

Behavior and Belief

This is a wonderful review by Harold Penner (our daughter's father-in-law).

Enjoy!!

Titus, Behavior and Belief
Titus 3 by Mike Slayden
The Well, Sunday, August 2, 2009

The behavior of belief
Mike grew up among vacinated Christians who were motivated by guilt.

This morning Ella came into Mike's, just wanted to be with her father.  
To be with him. This is what our father wants.

Verse 1: Remind them. This is not new information. Seven things:
1. Government: Submit to authority and to our leaders, those set over  
us by God (not set over us by votes, or by the majority)
2. Obey the law. Don't buck the system.
3. Be ready for every good deed. (By their DEEDS you will know them).  
Faith without works is dead.
4. Malign no one. Temptation to slander others. Put aside anger,  
abusive speech
5. Be patient.
6. Be gentle. Don't force others.
7. Meekness and humility. Not arrogant and boastful. Live out The  
fruit of the spirit with everyone...joy, gentleness,

Now Paul lays a foundation for why should we be this way.
In the past we were blind and deceived.  Slaves to a life of self  
satisfaction. Total depravity. Natures set apart from God. His  
enemies. There is none righteous. Wrathful. A bleak picture before the  
cross. A wreaked, empty life.

Far too often we forget the grace of God in our lives. A good  
relationship with God begins with a right view of myself before the  
cross.

Verse 4: BUT His kindness, love and mercy. Riches of his kindness  
draws us to him. Love (pheleo). He likes us!

He saved us. God had the plan. He initiated everything for us. There  
is no boasting. He power washed us from the inside out. He gave us a  
new nature. He gives us a new inward life. He makes everything new  it  
is in every sense a fresh start. A new beginning

Secondly, Jesus renews us by the Holy Spirit. He gives Him to us 100%.  
He lives within us.

Verse 6: He richly blessed us with the Holy Spirit  We are declared  
righteous. Those who have believed. Influence the world around us by  
how we love. An aroma. Do my actions draw others to want to be like  
me? Our lives are meant to meet the needs of the people around us.

Further instructions. In verses 9-15: avoid foolish controversies. How  
to deal with divisive people. Leadership transitions etc.

Summary: Your life with God must look different. It is a transformed  
life because of what happened to you and today based on your belief  
(faith) it will pour out of you in your behavior.

The last day in Belize
Laminai - climbing the ruins
Laminai
Dinner in Belize
More Belize!!