get a load of this...

On a pleasant day in November I walked to our little storage unit to retrieve some Christmas stuff. I opened the door and flipped on the light... I noticed a dark shadow on the wall next to the door jam - about shin level. This (pictured) not-so-little, creepy crawly was right by my naked shin! (I was wearing capris.) I have become acquainted with Tarantulas, Scorpions and even some pretty knarly looking centipedes since moving to the desert but this was a first time meeting with one of these bad boys. I was pretty proud of myself - I handled his presence very calmly while I rummaged for my wrapping and bows (although I never let him out of my sight). Now that we have meet, I am surprised at the attitude I've developed, a kind of "been -there- done -that" attitude. I think God is easing me into this idea of living in and amongst large, poisonous insects. Don't get me wrong...the thought has terrified me so some time now. Give me a bear or a moose any day...at least you can see them coming and they can't very well crawl into bed with you without you knowing. And if you know me at all, you know I have a very over active imagination. So, over the last few years, Missouri and now here, my Gracious Father has been introducing me to bugs, one by one, starting with the friendly, but long legged stick bug and unusually hairy wolf spider. Now we are on to the bigger and badder ones and I'm doing great. By the time we get to the Philippines I should be able to handle whatever comes my way no sweat (as long as I have a hefty broom with a long handle.) Zach will always be the designated squasher - I don't think I will EVER be able to stomach the crunch...yuck.

I realize a few of you (I'm not naming names) may not know that this is a Black Widow Spider. This particular one was unusually large, lucky me, and this is an actual photo taken on our personal camera.

Sweet Story

The kids have been attending AWANA club at the little Baptist Church in Douglas. It is something they look forward to every week. Well, a AWANA group in Tulsa decided to adopt our family for Christmas this year. Tulsa Bible Church has been very inolved with NTMA and faithful supporters of many of our missionaries. They were glad to find out that one of the student families had young kids that attended AWANA - That's us!! They were so generous to our family and the kids loved opening the packages and personal cards from their new special friends. They asked me for gift suggestions - I told them that Tov was into any and all electronic equipment. He now has several real but retired cell phones, calculators, and a wireless phone with answering machine and other odds and ends. He has a whole office set up in his room. I love that when he talks on the phone he uses his serious, get down to business voice. The girls really enjoy their new doll house with ALL the accessories! I was just as excited as they were when we opened it up...I can't help rearranging furniture and making the living room welcoming for guests every time I go into their room to put away laundry :) Thank you Tulsa Bible Church AWANA Clubbers and thanks Auntie April, Vince and Christine for your contributions too!!! Your thoughtfulness is overwhelming.

Christmas in California

The Keller family visited the beach in Oceanside, CA!
We were only there for a few hours but it was a huge hit. Avery fell deep in love and could not contain her excitement. At one point she exclaimed in her very dramatic, schmaltzy way...I looooove the ocean Mommy. I never want to leave it!" Of course we had to say goodbye to the beach and be on our way. It took our weepy kids quite a while to recover. Just one taste was all it took. The feel of sand between the toes, the sound of the surf, the salty air...it's got a hold on us. I really think God was giving us all a little taste of what is to come.

my water babies

Watching the girls gleefully play in the water made so many memories come flooding back. Whenever we visited my grandma when I was little - the hands down highlight was pool time. We would swim and splash and grandpa would throw us high into the air...it was bliss. I don't think anyone can appreciate the warmth of the sun, the feel of the water and the smell of the chlorine like an Alaskan grown kid. Do I hear an Amen!

To Grandmas house we go

My dear sweet Grandma recently moved to Palm Springs. She was living in Phoenix but as soon as we moved to AZ she left for CA. She assures me that we had nothing to do with the move (yeah right). She moved to Palm Springs to be near my Aunt Sandy. They are best friends and it is so much fun to see the two of them in action. My Grandma is 86 and so full of life, her mind is sharp and her smile so bright. It has been such a joy to be able to spend time with her while we are in this part of the world. I think I have spent one Christmas with my Grandma in all my thirty years so this year it was so wonderful to spend Christmas with her & my Aunt Sandy. My sister Katy flew down from Idaho to join us too - what a treat! They are such delightful people and I am happy that my kids get to know them. They loved having kids around and Aunt Sandy assured me that the chaos they created was a welcome change. It was our first Christmas away from the familiarities of our Alaska families and friends, but being with Grandma, Auntie Sandy and Katy was a worth it all. It was pretty weird sitting by the pool on Christmas day but I have to say I got used to it pretty quick.