Celebrations galore this week!

This week we have had two birthdays and an anniversary. Whew! And those all within two days!

On Tuesday, the 21st, John and I celebrated 14 years of marriage. Every year we are just amazed at how old we are getting! (although I prefer to think of it as gaining wisdom). We remember thinking ahead to when would be married for 5 years, that then we would have been married for a long time - then it was looking ahead to 10 years. THAT would be a long time. Well now 15 is right around the corner and we are pumped! We look forward to God's continuing work within our relationship. I just love John more and more every year - if that is even possible. Big kisses out to ya, sweetie! Happy Anniversary!

Tuesday was also the birthday of Maria, our empleada. Maria doesn't like to acknowledge her birthday because she doesn't really like attention, but we don't care. She's gonna get a birthday in this family! She also won't tell us her age - this we can't figure out because getting old is not an issue in Peru - in fact, the older you are, the more respect you get. So we don't understand. But it hasn't kept the kids from periodically asking her age - she told me one time that sometimes she has nightmares where the kids are all asking her over and over how old she is. I laughed hard at that one.


As you can see, she really was pleased. The kids all made her Feliz Cumpleaños cards and John and I gave her a John Piper book in Spanish. She's just great and we are so thankful to have her as a part of our life here in Peru. And she has a very special relationship with Colton. Which is hilarious because he is always trying to speak to her in English - but somehow they have bonded. Feliz Cumpleaños Maria! Even though we still don't know how old you are.


And finally, yesterday, the 22nd, Justin hit the big 1-2. Talk about feeling old - we are on the verge of teenagedom and we still feel like we did when we were living teenagedom! When asked what he wanted for his birthday, the only thing Justin could think of was the fourth installment of the Beyond the Summerland series - a book. That's my boy. So much to his delight, he recieved his book - and I must add, his grin did not wane when he recieved his own personl 6-pack of Dr. Pepper - a luxury here at around a dollar a can. And that would be his Daddy's boy. Happy Birthday Justin! We are so proud of you!