'Twas the Concert Before Christmas

Last Friday was Nate's concert "'Twas the Concert Before Christmas." I had fun helping him get ready. I had the 5th grade girls over to help me make snowflakes, which we used to decorate the stage.

They are so fun and creative. I love spending time with them!

Here are our lovely creations! Now to hang them on the stage--we leave that up to Mr. Becker, who climbed the TALL ladder himself!

The night of the concert, my eyes were on this handsome man!

Here the 5th grade class performs in front of the curtain.

Behind the curtain the high school Jazz ensemble performs, along with Mr. Becker on trumpet (notice the snow!).

The middle school band sounded excellent! Notice the Sousaphone on the back right! Last week something was wrong and the student found an egg shaker stuck in there. I think Elijah must have thought it was a basketball hoop while he was in Papa's class! Woops!

I got to dress up and be the MC. That is always fun. I miss teaching in a classroom sometimes, so speaking is a fun way to be involved in what Nate is doing.

The festive Beckers! Time for a date!

Thank you, Lord, for all you have provided, and for my husband. Thank you for his gifts and talents and for using him here in music! Praise You, Lord!

At Home

Malachi likes to hide in Mama's closet. Peek-a-boo!

I found you! (Our house didn't come with built-in-closets, so I got this little piece that is fun also for the boys to hide in!)

Sometimes you leave your 2 year old by himself so you can get something done. What do I find when I wonder why he is SO quiet? He decided to make popcorn! I was so inspired that I got a picture then had him pick it up and we actually made it into popcorn. Yum!

This is one of the huge blessings of our new house. There is a place to play outside, so now we can have a swimming pool! Elijah loves going on his boat.

I include this photo so my mom can see the view of the side "yard". Lots of cement, but a good place for the boys to ride their cars around (see Malachi).

Two boys swimming. This is a great activity on any sunny day!

Water basketball.

Malachi is learning to eat with a spoon. He gets angry if I take away the spoon--he wants to do it by himself!

Here's one of our lovely papaya trees, being climbed by the lovely Amor! One is ready--can you tell which one?

Ready to eat! Amor is my priceless helper--what would I do without her!

Here's the other side of the house. Pictured are Malachi's bedroom window (in front) and our window (with the air con). Elijah loves looking for snails. The boys can go all around the house on the cement with their cars.

Here's Amor and Elijah making Christmas cookies (for the Thanksgiving dinner!). Elijah had his own ball of dough and kept saying "Just a taste!" I think "a taste" is like a whole meal for him!

International Day

I have to admit, these boys are pretty cute in their costumes! A student gave this Korean outfit to Elijah when he was only 6 months old! Now at age 2 1/2 he finally fits into it! Malachi is wearing the one Elijah got when in China. He's also pictured here playing the Chinese flute I bought there too. Such international boys!

International brothers holding hands!

I am wearing my Thai skirt, and here we are at the new playground. The boys are obviously not into the photo session!

This is a colorful one! It had been a while since I pulled out the camera.

Elijah with some Korean students. The Korean families were SO happy to see Elijah in their costume!

And...the Becker family. Nate Filipino, Jessica Thailand, Elijah Korean, Malachi Chinese!

Malachi loves his Papa! Nate is wearing the traditional Filipino "Barong", a see-through shirt that is supposed to be so fancy for men (Filipino men get married in these, preachers preach in these).

My two Korean girls in their lovely dresses--posing with the fun boy, Elijah!

Here's some of the Latina moms serving the food. (There were "passports" to go around and get samples of food from many places. It was top-notch!)

Elijah found his little friend Sojo, wearing a Costa Rican dress. So adorable!

Later the dancers inspired the kids. I let them have a little fun while Nate's students played their instruments. People seemed to enjoy the little ones taking the stage.

Malachi is clapping and dancing on the left there, and Sojo looks so happy!

Malachi looks like such a gentleman, coming upon his little friend, Lillian. "May I have this dance?"

Nate and his students playing international music.

Building and Rebuilding

Tomorrow is the dedication ceremony for the new covered court. As you can see it is right in front of Nate's classroom. Now, when we join him for lunch, we can eat lunch right by his class. Also notice in the back left of the picture a white gate. Just out that gate is our new house! It's so close we can hear Nate's students playing their music! We don't have a key to the gate, though, so we still walk around to the other side.

They also built a new playground right by the court. What a blessing! It's almost done. Elijah can't wait to go down the slides. Now we are getting REALLY close to Nate, with the house in the back gate and the park out his front door! How blessed we are to be so close.

Now for the update on the rebuilding of the houses that were burned by fire...

Just minutes ago I walked and took these pictures. As you can see, we can praise the Lord that all of the families have new houses, and many are better than they were before! The community also seems bonded together.

You can still see remnants of the fire...but also the resourcefulness of the people. Nothing is wasted. This boy is sawing a piece off someone's house to use for firewood for their dinner.

As you can see, some of the houses are even better than they were before the fire. This makes me think about how during the fire I was struck with parallels with the last fire and Day of the Lord; yet now I'm reminded of the hope we have of eternity, that God has planned a better place for us that cannot fade or be burned.

"Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11.16

"These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." Hebrews 11.39-40

Yes, we look forward to that city that God has prepared for us. Jesus went ahead of us to prepare a place for us. We need to be ready for him, but if we are ready, and we have placed our faith in Jesus, then all we have to look forward to is something better than we can imagine.

Band Concert and Birthday

Time has flown since I took these pictures of the first band concert of 2010 school year! Notice the lovely Susaphone in the picture. The reason, we finally found out, that the instrument was not playing right was because they found a Men's shirt stuck in the tubes!! Ah, no wonder!

The 5th grade band is playing their first notes. It is always fun to hear the contrast and how much they grow over the years.

This year I had fun being by Nate's side by playing the role of M.C. He wrote most of the script and I helped to speak between various numbers or groups performing. I was glad to have a part to help Nate with, since last year I had just given birth to Malachi and could not even stay for the concert!

Nate is always good at the high school jazz ensemble class performances. I love hearing him join in sometimes with trumpet.

My special friend, Jasmine, and her classmates came up to give me a big hug after the performance. They were relieved to be done with their first band concert. Congrats, girls! Good job!

Mr. and Mrs. Becker. Wow, it is fun to think how many performances we have been through together, but also to think of the different students that have come and gone and grown through music performance.

Many days, perhaps weeks later, was my birthday. October 12 I turned 31! I got to wear my silk green dress that I bought with Daniel in Vietnam. Fun! We went to a European restaurant and enjoyed a lovely date together!

Later we had coffee at an Itallian shop (Steven and Joy, and Daniel--all of us to this place on your last days here!). A special place with my special man! Ahhhhh!!

Family Moments in the Past Month

Sept. 21 Malachi took his first real steps. He was really practicing one night. I set up the tripod and even got a video. Now he walks everywhere, of course!

Elijah is quite an artist. He loves to do projects and use different materials. However, he must be supervised as he is only two--you can only imagine what will happen if I use the C. R. (Comfort room=restroom) for five minutes!

Elijah has been listening to Steve Green's "Hide 'Em In Your Heart" vol 1. There is a DVD to go along with the song "You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself." It is a really good teaching tool. One scene has these kids helping their neighbor mowing the grass and making cookies. Elijah and I talk about how to help our neighbor. One day, on his own initiative, he saw our neighbor sweeping water and he ran to get his broom and said, "Helping the neighbor!" The woman was delighted and happy to have his helping heart.

Malachi is "blankie boy". If he even sees one of these sarongs that we use for blankies, he starts sucking his thumb and getting cuddly...even standing up, as this picture shows from his discovery of a blankie in the laundry basket!

This one is posted for my dad and fam. Guys, don't you think his eyes in this pic really remind you of Dad?! Is there a "Bruce" trait in those eyes?

Elijah's best friend, other than Mommy and Malachi Tyndale, is Sojo. What a precious pair here doing a craft together. Glue stick is always a hit with these two.

Malachi is joyful clapping his hands. He is so responsive and such a delight! What a happy boy, full of life. Thank you, God!

Two-year-old duets. Praising the Lord together!

Malachi wants in on the action. Look at those little fingers.

Big Hug! BROTHERS! I also post this picture so you can observe the little play area we had in our carport before we moved. We spent many hours here making sure the boys did not run over each other with the big stroller. Now we praise God for a bigger place to play outside at our new residence.

I love you, brother! I pray these two will become best friends for life! And may they become brothers in Christ, O Lord!

Malachi is concerned that Mama is inside, but look at these lambs! Elijah is getting into the photo shoot, peeking through the window.

Ah! This was a moment I came upon after I put Elijah to bed! I tip-toed back upstairs to get my camera! Mother's heart melted....Malachi and Papa so relaxed and cozy together! Look at Malachi's little hand holding the shirt of his Papa. Precious!