Hello everyone. This has to be our longest lull in blogging--24 days! Yikes!
Where have we been??? Why don't we blog?
1. We were traveling to the Philippines on five airplanes and three airlines, stopping in Seattle
2. When we got back we had major jet-lag and then got sick with colds
3. We didn't have the internet hooked up at home, so if I had internet time it was only a few minutes before Elijah was crying (parents, you understand)
4. I was afraid the blog would turn into an "Elijah blog" since the only pictures I really took for three weeks included Elijah in every one! (SO cute, who can resist!)
5. After such a long lull I felt like I had to post something good, so it kept becoming a bigger task
Hopefully I will be back on track now because I got the internet at home and I'm getting the feel for when I can do things like blog. Right now Nate and Elijah are sleeping, so here at 7 a.m. I am able to share with you!
Here are some of my Elijah pictures--I can't resist! I'll try not to make every entry about him, but oh, he is a big part of our lives now.
Our Filipino friends were very excited to meet Elijah! They were there to greet him right when we got home! They are already teaching him Cebuano!
This is Elijah's first time to the ocean!! I'm sure it won't be his last. I just love the ocean and meditating on God in His Creation. Here Elijah is three months old!
Elijah loves his daddy!! Sometimes he cries and then I pass him to daddy and he is all cheery. There's nothing like a Daddy's sweet kisses!
Nate and I led worship at the staff retreat. I am learning that if I agree to do anything it will certainly include Elijah too! These are early music lessons from two music teachers--maybe when he is 5 he will play all the instruments =)
The people at church were very happy to see us return as well as to meet Elijah. It is wonderful to be so welcome here and loved by the people. We love the Filipinos!
Elijah can smile now and is very precious when he greets people. It is hard to get places fast because everyone stops to say hello. He helps us make lots of friends. The Filipinos first impression is that he has a dimple in his chin like his daddy, but they call it a "divided chin". 
Do you think Elijah is already thinking of his Creator? He loves to look around and see the world. We're praying that he will come to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior--pray with us.
Here is my friend, Emi. I was so glad to be back and to be able to catch up with her. We will be spending lots of time together now that I am a mom too.
Good night, everyone! I love watching him sleep! Well, he's awake now and talking so I will end here. I hope you enjoyed the pictures!
Another school year has begun. This year is full of changes for us. One great change is that while we were gone the school built a new band room for Nate! We were really surprised that when we left it was grass but when we got back it was like this! Wow! Praise the Lord that work continues on the new performing arts building, so we won't have to have concerts on the covered court anymore. 
I LOVE to visit beginning band class the day they play their first note. I wonder how long it would take to load a video of the note that I took. Well, just imagine middle school students making their own sound all at once. Elijah was startled to hear the loud sounds! We know from experience that soon they will be playing as a band together. 
Elijah was excited to visit his daddy at band class. He wanted to play a new instrument, too, so we chose the Suzaphone. What do you think? A great first instrument, I'd say!
We always wondered if the suzaphone was so big you could fit a student in it. Now it has been done. Does he even know what we do to him?
Yesterday, Nate was teaching in the middle school chapel. He is responsible to oversee all the chapels this year in the elementary, middle and high schools. Here he is teaching students strategies to memorize God's Word. Pray for him this year as he has this important role in teaching students about the Lord.