Cameron's Home & Sunday Worship!

Last night Amber & Eddie brought Cameron home after his two week stay with his grand-parents (Lynda's Parents). He had a fun time and was able to spend one of his weeks helping out their church by running the sound equipment during their Vacation Bible School (VBS). Of course Cam's new puppy Bea missed him and was so happy to greet him when he walked in the door.

Cam hamming it up with his puppy!

Today (Sunday) Kevin re-joined our church's worship team for the first time since last October, he took time off as we prepared for our travel to China, our almost 3-week China trip, school, projects, and letting his wrist heal from an old injury that flared up. (Kev did play drums for Cam's  piano teachers church on Easter and one other week - but each time he did his wrist would swell and hurt for the following week)

Cameron joined the family for our first service before heading over to the church he attends where Eddie is the worship leader.

Practicing before the first service starts.

Mid-Summer Harvest

Not much going on, we experienced some cooler weather this last week with a heavy marine layer (mist/fog) early mornings.  Cameron comes home tonight after his two week stay with Lynda's parents. Hannah and Bea are looking forward to it.  Lauren knows Cameron is away but we think because she saw children come and go from the orphanage that it is no big deal to her.

Our grapes are really producing, we have been harvesting off the vines in the back near the pool area and soon should start getting grapes from the vines in the front yard.  We have picked a bunch of peaches and are looking forward to more and soon pears and figs!

With the hotter weather we experienced last week some of our heat loving plants are really blooming, here are some photos of the harvest, soon to be harvest and flowers in the gardens.

Peaches and Grapes harvested from the backyard.

Fig Tree & Grape vines.

Bougainvillea, Agapanthus, and hens & chicks blooming.

A dragon-fly landed on the Vue's antenna and would fly around and land again. Lynda captured some photos of it landing and flying around.

Fun in the Sun!

Today we spent some time with friends from church who used to be missionaries in Papua New Guinea (Kurt, Melinda, Nadia, & Bella). The girls loved having some friends over to swim and play with and we (Kevin & Lynda) enjoyed the adult conversations and friendship.

BBQ of burgers, bratwurst, and fresh grapes from one of our vines and peaches from one of our trees!

4th of July & 6-months with Lauren

Well we celebrated the 4th by taking it easy around the house and later in the evening Amber and Eddie came over for the firework show which went off after the local minor league baseball game ended.  (The Diamond Stadium is just a little over a mile away and we have a clear view since we leave on the side of the hills across the freeway)

On the 4th we also marked 6-months since our "Gotcha-Day" with Lauren.  At times it is hard to believe it has been 6-months and other times it seems so much longer.  Lauren continues to adjust to her new family, home, language, and food.  (we are continuing to adjust to the change in life having Lauren in the family).

Kevin did not do much on the 4th as he somehow injured his back and was not feeling well as a result, so Hannah had to wait until after Amber and Eddie came over to swim, which was a little too late for Lauren.

Here are some photos from the 4th - the fireworks pictures are not the best but we'll post them since we took them!

Bea still waits for her boy to return home.

Bonus Post for Today - more VBS Photos

Just a post of some of the photos that were included in the slide show that was shown to our church today of VBS for the children this last week.  We downloaded the pictures that the girls were in to post here.

Lazy Summer Sunday.

It's Sunday with the outside temperature today around 105-F, so during the heat of the day we all took to hibernating indoors (including the dogs).

Hannah napping on her room floor.

Lauren just getting up from her nap.

Bea

Nala

Mia

Bear

Kevin

Cameron Heads Out on Vacation?

Cameron took off early this morning as Uncle Roger, Aunt Karla, and RJ took him up to stay with Grandpa and Baba (Grandmom) for two weeks.  It will be a working vacation for Cameron as he is going to be running the sound system for their church VBS (vacation bible school) and helping Grandpa with some projects around his house.

Hannah was sad to see her big brother leave, Lauren still has not bonded completely and just rolls with "whatever" as long as she still gets three meals a day she is happy.

Our new dog the basset hound that Cam called Bea is really missing her boy also, she has gone to the door several times and into his room looking for him.  She will really miss him tonight as she is used to sleeping in his room. Looks like she'll be in our room for the next two weeks!

Cam's stuff packed for his two week vacation.

One last check - yep - it's all there!

Hannah not too happy about her
brother leaving.   : (

Showing dad something on his iTouch.

Heading out with Uncle Roger.

See you in two weeks Cam - We love you and will miss not having you here!