things Izzy wants to do in America

A few weeks ago, Isabelle started compiling a list of all the things she wants to do in America when we're there. So I thought I'd share it with y'all. I will tell you that most of these ideas have come from looking at pictures of our time there last summer & she would say, "Mommy! I want to do THAT when we go to 'merica. Write it down!" And so the list began & has grown & grown!

This was the first draft of "the list." She was so excited about it that she wanted to take it to the airport when we picked Mark up from his Ghana trip. The damage ensued to the list on that fateful trip are beyond repair so a new list is in the works ... plus more added to the list since this picture was taken.

 So proud of her list!

And, by the way, this list is in no particular order ...

1. Ride a train

2. Ride go-karts

3. Go to Shogun

4. Go to a zoo

5. Ride a tractor with Scott (my dad's former neighbor in SD)

6. Eat a banana split

7. Ride on the lawn mower with Gaga


8. Ride a horse at GB's


9. Go to the library


10. Dance with Chord & Emory

11. Drink a Sonic Apple Slush with Mimi

12. Jump on an air mattress with Matthew & Mollie

13. Swim in a pool

14. Eat a Krispy Kreme doughnut

15. Grill with GB

16. Play mini-golf


17. Go to a children's museum

18. Play with Haddon & Gavin


19. Go to Chaney's Dairy Barn & ride a tractor

20. See Grandma & Papa (in SC) & give Papa a kiss

21. Go to IKEA & play on beds


22. Light sparklers & fireworkds


23. Eat at Chuck E. Cheese

24. See Cousin JJ

25. Eat at Pizza Hut


26. Play on inflatables


27. Swim in Gaga's pool (inflatable in her yard)


28. Play at an arcade with Daddy

29. Eat a Push Up Pop 


30. Play piano with Papa (Ky)


31. Drink GB's special milk (aka - chocolate milk)


32. Go to a movie with Bebe & eat pah-kern (better known as popcorn)


33. See Ansley & Lila

 

34. See "funny guy" (Travis A) & Cara & pretty much the rest of the most recent LH team! 

 

And that's the list for now! I'm sure they'll be a few more things added to the list before we board the plane in November. And I'm sure Mama & Daddy will be making some lists of their own, too!! (Hello! Can you believe the child forgot to put Chick-Fil-A on her list?! Where are her priorities?!)

As you can see, we have LOTS to do in the 30 days we are in the States!! Hoping we can cross most, if not all, of these things off the list for the Belle. Poor Luke was so little when we made these memories the first time around. He'll be at that fun age Isabelle was when we stepped foot off the plane in America in 2010 & we really want to take the time to make some new memories with both of them! So if you can't get in touch with us in November, check the list ... we'll probably be working our way through it!

check, check, check ... is this thing on?

Silence is golden, right? We thought maybe y'all just wanted a month or so to memorize our reading list hence the reason for blog silence. Ha! And speaking of reading list ... well, Mark has knocked it out of the park & then some. Little ole me? Let's just change subjects, shall we?

For instance, did you know that since we posted our last blog we have hosted 30 people AND welcomed a new family to the Songhai team AND said goodbye to our summer interns AND took a trip out of country AND started homeschooling Isabelle for preschool? We did indeed. And did you know that hosting that many people can cause your schedule to be a tad bit on the busy side? I'm sure you all understand, so I shall not digress any further.

"Who did you host?" you may ask. Well Gaga & Papa were first up on the list, if you remember from a few posts ago. Then an awesome team from Trammell Creek who knocked the ball out of the park with painting a school AND a clinic in Tagabati while sharing Jesus with the village. Then the Foxes arrived! Next up was our partnering church from TX who also painted a clinic & shared Jesus AND saw a man come to Christ! (Read about that here) Then it was our home church from KY who did an amazing job of discipling a lone believer in his village & teaching the women in Boubon how to paint while also sharing the C2C story across 3 villages! (The women painting is a whole other post in itself as it was an awesome ministry that none of us would've ever expected to be so successful!)

It's been an incredible couple of months of ministry, time with family & time with friends. We are so blessed to have so many friends & family who sacrifice their time & resources to come here & serve alongside with us. Here a just a few pictures to tide you over until the next post .... whenever that may be!

Yay for Gaga & Papa!! They spent 3 weeks here in one of the hotter (but not the hottest) times of the year to love on us & our kiddos while we hosted a team of 14.

Mark & Cephas on their way to Accra, Ghana

Rain, rain, rain!! We LOVE rain!! We like to sing, "Rain, rain don't go away! Please come again another day!!" As you can see, Mark & Izzy switched rain gear for the day. Trust me, it was Izzy's idea not Mark's! I can't believe he even let me take a picture of him with the purple polka dot umbrella!

The Lukester ... growing up SO fast!!

Emily & Erin, our awesome summer interns!

A very belated 4th of July picture!!

More cuteness coming soon ...