Katy-Bug, Lady-Bug

It was great to spend time last week with our little Thai foster baby, who has now grown up into a beautiful 11 year old. Here's a few photos of our little Katy-bug-lady-bug.

July 4th- Fun at the lake

We know one family that really knows how to celebrate America's birthday and treat their guests royally. Montana has definitely become one of our favorite states and the beauty there is beyond description. Here's just a few photos from one of the most spectacular 4 days we've ever had! Thank- you to all the Lockards for being one of our favorite families to play with on July 4th!White Fish lake is beautifully set in the middle of mountains. This is looking out the view from the dock. Mikey jumping off the side of the boat to get cooled off.

Hours of tubing around the lake-- this time it's Collin and Mikey.

Mike on the jet ski with mountain beauty in the background.
Mike's turn to ski.

No lake time is complete without playing some late night cards.

Fireworks on the lake. Take your choice of seat... a few on the tube, a few on the jet ski, and a few in the boat.

Preparing for our own homemade fireworks show. It's more fun for some people to do themselves then to watch!

It's all about the right synchronization, too.

On our way up the mountain for more great views. Hiking and checking out the views from up high!

Peaceful quiet dock in the early morn and late afternoons.


The zip line had to be the highlight and most thrilling.
Thanks again - this year's celebration was a close tie with Pelican!

Harleys at Glacier

Selling his Harley Sportster and giving up the rides was one of the sacrifices for Mike when we came on staff with Campus Crusade and moved to Asia over 30 years ago. The summer before we joined the staff of CCC he rode from Iowa to California and back passing through Nat'l parks along the way. Mike loves riding, and thanks to some great friends, he is still given the chance to get out on a Harley occasionally. Last week we were in Montana with our wonderful friends Ken and Amy, and had one of our best rides ever. In my quiet time that morning, I read in Psalm- about "gazing on the beauty of the Lord". I knew that our ride through Glacier was going to be beautiful - but I had no idea how absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking the views would be. Being so up close on a motorcycle made it even more incredible. Thanks, Ken and Amy for letting us enjoy God's miraculous creation with you in such a glorious way. This one was taken as we were approaching the big mountains up in the distance. One thing I enjoy about riding is the uninterrupted think time, and extra time to pray as we ride along with no outside distractions. It was a great time to pray for our daughters (especially Lori who we hadn't heard from in a month) and other various people who came to mind.The most beautiful combination I enjoyed was the mountain flowers next to snow covered mountains. I also love the reflection of the mountains in the lakes and the mirror affect. The only disappointment of the day was that we drove pass some beautiful views on the way up and our plan was to stop and take photos on the way back down-- but once we got to the top a rain came into the mountains and we rode through rain all the way back down and I couldn't take any pictures. Most of these photos were either taken with my little 'point and shoot' going up the mountain or in the rain coming back down. It was so fun to slip and slide through the snow in the middle of summer. The guys at the top. The girls at a refreshing mountain stream.

There were so may sensations to enjoy as we rode along: the fresh smell of pine trees, the cool touch of a mountain stream waterfall when we drove real close to it, and the majesty of huge mountains way off in the distance. "Oh Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creation. " Psalm 104:24

Day at Disney

Time is still moving a bit fast for me- and I have some catching up to do. We’ve been in the USA for ten days now and landed with our feet running. After a day with Jon and Marisa at their summer project in Santa Cruz, we drove with Collin and Summer down to LA to visit Bethany and Jenny (who was visiting Bethany) in Fullerton. Two six hour road trips with a 4 and 3 year old back to back, helped us be reminded that we are now in a different phase of life. We loved our time with Collin and Summer.

Thanks to Bethany and her network of friends , we got free passes for a Day at Disneyland! What a fun day it was for us to see “The happiest place on earth” through the eyes of our grand kids.

Starting out the day in matching shorts for Collin and Papa!

Alice in Wonderland

It’s a Small World (Jenny’s favorite)

The rides are starting to run together—but I think this is Peter Pan!

Between a Grandpa and Grandma and two Aunties and two of Bethany's friends, Collin and Summer had no problem getting around.

One of my favorites cuz ya always have to get a picture with some of the characters at Disney.


Since Bethany lives so close, we strategized how to get the most out of our day. It worked great to go for four hours in the morn, home for naps (for toddlers AND adults) and back again in the evening for 5 more hours and fireworks. Here we are on the tram returning in the afternoon with Michael.

Entering the park again for round #2.

A kiss for the princess in front of the castle! :)


At this age, it was obvious that Col and Sum could not always differentiate between make believe and real. This video is a classic example of Collin on the jungle boat ride—constantly searching in every direction for surprise animals to come out.

The next day after driving back to return Col and Sum to their parents—as if we hadn’t had enough rides--- Mike, Jon, Marisa, Jen, and I raced two blocks down to the Santa Cruz board walk just before it's closing at 11pm to ride the world famous “Giant Dipper” roller coaster- as we had to leave town the next morning.

I sort of had some mixed feelings about the day at Disney. I didn't like the huge crowds, over charged pricing, and rah-rah overstimuation of the day. But then I was amazed at how well they really do somehow manage the masses of people with efficiency and keep the place clean and well-kept. It was so much fun for one day with the grand kids (maybe once every several years)—but I honestly do not quite understand the Californians that go there weekly. Except for the fact that in one full day, we still only manged to get on about 10 out of 60 rides. It was definitely a day to be remembered by all of us. For those of you who have asked to see ALL the day’s photos—you can have a look at my Disney Facebook photo album.

Phonecall from Lori!

Tonight we finally got that long awaited phone call from Lori. It had been exactly one month since our last call from her when she went back into the jungle hesitantly. We were thrilled to hear her voice and to know that she is back to her normal self again. Her team had officially completed the Extreme Team training and now she will begin preparing for her assignment in Bolivia. She has not had the sleeping problems since she returned and is on no medication. She was her old self again talking a mile a minute trying to tell us all that she has been learning. Thank you so very much for praying for her during that very dark time in her life. Tomorrow she said she was going on a four hour boat ride on the Amazon river to visit a family that she knew. Within a few more days, she will be able to communicate with us again-- but for now we are just thrilled to know that she is safe and happy and enjoying Jesus!

Pray for Kate!

Happy Birthday America! Today is July 4th and we are looking forward to a beautiful day in Montana celebrating this country that we are so proud to call home. We do not get to be in America every year on this patriotic day- so this is a treat for us. However, we have mixed emotions. We've had a a tradition with some best friends for many years of celebrating the day together - if we are in America. We've gone with our friends, Ken & Amy and Brian & Shirlee to their cabin In Minnesota several years and partake in all the 4th of July traditions. This year our rendezvous was at their cabin in Montana. Brian & Shirlee are not joining us because of their 5 year old granddaughter who just found out only a few days ago that she has a malignant and aggressive tumor on her brain. She had surgery yesterday and the prognosis is not good so far. Our hearts are so heavy for all of them. Please pray for Kate and her parents, Aaron and Holly and her siblings, Olivia and Will. Stephanie (Kate's Aunt) was on Jon and Marisa's team in Thailand for two years. Their family is all like family to us and this situation is so heart wrenching. Please lift little Kate and all the Boucks up in prayer with us. Our hearts have been so heavy for them ever since this whole ordeal started.

They have created at website and they are very good about keeping it updated throughout each day. It is http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate/mystory

You can also hear Aaron and Holly ask us to pray for them at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ese3zYZ-NA4

United States of America

Life has been a whirlwind lately and the whirlwind landed us in California yesterday. First stop was to visit Jon, Marisa, Collin, Summer, and Hayley in Santa Cruz, a touristy area where they are living. Their summer assignment is the Campus Crusade Santa Cruz summer project and they are staying at the Peter Pan hotel. It has been fun for us to meet their staff team and some of the students. This is the greeting team at the San Fran airport where the hugs began. Peter Pan hotel is a haven in the midst of a rough area of Santa Cruz. The five of them are living in one hotel room with the kids sleeping in closets made into rooms. We got to join the project for dinner the first night. They eat one meal a day together in this courtyard of the hotel and invite friends that they meet each day to join them for dinner. Two testimonies are shared each night and the guests get to hear their life stories and meet new friends.

That evening was their weekly meeting at a church nearby that they are able to use. It was exciting for us to hear some of what God is doing in and through students lives this summer at this one project.

The next morning we took an early morning walk near the touristy area for breakfast.
Silly Summer!

Papa and Collin

Baby Hayley is at the age where she's changing alot and becoming her own little person.

Waz up, girl?

Collin is as sweet as ever and still "all boy".

Father-daughter photo on the wharf with boardwalk in background.

We watched the seals off the docks on the wharf for quite awhile... interesting creatures.
After breakfast, Mike and I took a road trip with Colin and Summer to visit Bethany and Jenny in Fullerton. Bethany has moved into her first apartment and got her first car after 5 years of dorm living. She's transitioning into life in the adult working world now, but it's hard in Calif. when jobs are not real plentiful. Tonight we're staying at her apartment and spent sometime together catching up and sharing pictures. We are so thankful to have this time with our girls, even if for a brief few days.