Friday, May 14, 2010

Great News!!

Well, it's official. We are going to be grandparents!! We are so excited for Allie and Jesse! They are expecting their first little one in December. Lauren is very excited to be an Auntie. One of the things Allie asked us to do is decide what we want to be called - Jesse's parents are Oma and Opa - the traditional German grandparent names. We also have a few great grandparents in the picture. I suggested Nanna and Popa, but Eric vetoed Popa. So someone in the OR at Fresno Surgical Hospital suggested Grammy and Grumpa or Grumps! Of course Eric liked it and I tried to gently tell him that maybe this was not a compliment!!?? But for now it seems to have stuck and we'll have to see over the months what transpires for sure. We are so grateful for this little blessing and pray for continued growth over the next months and that Allie will stay healthy. Jesse has been a big help to her during these first few month where where she is a little green. More to follow!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Eric's Birthday Party 2010

Happy Birthday Eric!
Joni & Bill Carveth, Greg & Cindy Mellor and us!
Friends Joni, Margie, sister-in-law Caty and me!
Cherie Smittcamp and Allie Penner
Jesse & Allie hosted the event at their home. The pizza oven was a hit!
Gordon & Caty and Eric's parents Harold & Harriet. Blake Smittcamp in the background. Watching Eric open his gifts.
Aubrey Rose Smittcamp - helping Uncle Eric blow out the candles!
Gordon & Caty, Eric, Thea & Carly and Jesse enjoying the heat by the pizza oven!
Harold, Eric and Gordon. Father and sons. Missing Mark!
Eric and friends - Gordon, Todd, Brad & Michelle Richmond
Mike and Jake Pizzo
Pizza is ready!!! Cherie Smittcamp and Mike Beers serving up the slices!

Carmel AT&T




Sheri, Marilyn and Darlene.
We have been friends from high school!




Joni, me Marilyn and Sheri





The beach

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Thailand January 2010

Typical huts that we stayed in
Meal time!
Allie, Darlene & a few of the little ladies from the school!
Eric inspecting the dam that was built last year in the village of MawKrow
Andrew bringing The Word with Somsok who is the local evangelist in the area and works for ITDP - he also was our translator for the clinic. He speaks Thai, English and Karen.

And some more

This picture was taken in the village we were in last year - Maw Krow - where we did a water project. It was amazing to see the difference water makes - gardens, fishponds, cleaner village and a real sense of pride. This was Jean (2nd from the left) and my house mom. She was so excited to see us and wanted s to stay! She loved meeting Allie!
The sprinkler system on the gardens at the school.
This young mom and her baby were burned on the 2nd day we were there. The little baby boy was burned pretty badly - we were able to treat them each day and by the time we left they were healing nicely!
Taking a break from driving on very rough roads!
The fish pond at the school - you can see the school in the background. This is the Ma Ho Jo/De Bu Se La Ka area.