A Birthday, A Dedication & A Baptism

 This is one of two new posts, so please check the one below also: "A death, a birth and a graduation."

This is my last time to post from the Philippines!  We plan to fly out tomorrow and begin our 4-day journey.  Please pray for us as we travel with 1 Great God, on 2 continents, with 3 small boys, for 4 days, 5 Beckers, 6 flights, 7 cities, and will we get 8 hours of sleep a night?  Pray for grace and strength!

 Today, on our last day, we celebrated Luke's first birthday!  A year ago I was giving birth at home to this little precious lamb.  Nate caught him with his own proud Papa hands.  Elijah and Malachi were excited to hear him wake up, so they could start celebrating his birthday together!

 We had saved this present from Grandma Bruce for this special occasion.  You see the cute guy with his birthday shirt, but you do not see Elijah and Malachi about to rip the wrapping off for him.  Fun brothers!  Luke had fun drumming the box while his brothers played with the new toys.  Thanks, Mom and Dad!

 Then at church we dedicated Luke Robert to the Lord!  Some of our most special friends were there as "Ninongs" (The Filipino "God-parents" idea).  Thank you, Lord, for such precious friends and for this loving community.  We will miss you all, but we hope to be back soon!

 Pastor Norman prayed to dedicate Luke's life to Jesus, praying that he would come to salvation and live for the Lord. 

 Luke's little friend, Elleya, was happy to share crackers.  What cute buddies in their darling church clothes (thanks, Mom, for the outfit--perfect for the dedication!).

 To add one more special aspect to the day, it was baptism Sunday!  Elijah loves to see people choose to "follow Jesus." He can't wait to be baptized, but he said, "I want to follow Jesus," a precious declaration from my son's mouth.  Yes, Lord, may all our sons put their faith in You at an early age and follow you all their days!

 Here's a back view, you can see Elijah is front and center.  Here you can also see our church body!

 After church we had a little pizza and ice cream lunch at the covered court by Nate's class.  It was a little bitter-sweet because it was also our "Despidida" (going-away party).  It was very special to be together with our closest friends one more time.  They are like our family here.

Luke loved tasting chocolate for the first time.  He lasted through the party, but then wiped out for a 3 hour nap.  Thank you, Lord, for our boy and for his special first year of life!  Now we are ready to fly!

A Death, A Birth, & A Graduation

 This was a full week, with packing, saying good-bye, finishing up grades and concerts, and writing tons of emails to prepare for our time in the U.S.  To add to the emotional side of the already mixed feelings I felt, my son's 4 year old friend died and was buried.

 It was so sad to see Elijah (pictured in orange) and Jerard's twin brother, James (pictured to E's left) throwing rocks on the grave to help bury their little buddy.  Elijah came with me to one of the viewings, and he really took some time to process Jerard's death.  Then he traced his hand in the guest book and waved good-bye.

 Here is Jerard's little "Barcada", as the Philipinos call it--his group of friends.  Elijah is hugging his friend James.  How sad to have little kids like this have to stand in front of their friend's grave.  Give these little people grace, Lord, and also may they know you love them.

 Then at the opposite end of the emotional spectrum, there was Ate Emelita, ready to give birth any minute.  Some ladies in my Bible study had been gathering clothes to help with her 7th baby (9th pregnancy).  One of our partners in the U.S. sent the money to help pay for her labor and delivery. 

 Just a couple days after the funeral this little guy was born!  I couldn't have been more on a roller-coaster of events!  What a healthy guy!  I got a text that she was in labor.  Then a few minutes later I got another text "Gawas na!", which means he is out already!  I couldn't believe it!  The head started poking out in the taxi, and she waddled in to the doctor at the public hospital just in time for him to slip out with no pain!

 Praise the Lord that I was able to be here, and for His provisions.  This sister in Christ wanted to choose a name that showed how God had blessed him more than any of her other babies, that he would also be a blessing.  Interestingly, before I got there she had already chosen a name: Jesse!  It is very Filipino to name a baby after someone who had a part in the birth.  I am honored! 

 Jesse and Jessica both mean "Wealthy one" or "Blessed one."  Jessica meets Jesse!  Am I ready for a fourth?  Um....let's wait until the big trip around the US with 3 small boys is over to find out if I am ready or not!  Praise the Lord for this bundle!

 Then to end it all, the high school seniors graduated!  This class is extremely special to me because they were once my 6th and 7th grade Bible students.  Through 7 years, Nate and I had the opportunity to invest in them spiritually and intellectually through teaching music and Bible and worship leading.  What a wonderful bunch of kids, many of them hoping to go on in ministry and serving the Lord.

Nate was so handsome in his Filipino barang (the traditional shirt you see the men wearing).  He was invited to give the opening prayer.  I am proud of this man.  Nate, you worked so hard and now you are done with another year!  Thank you, Lord, for this blessing also!  We have so much to praise You for!

May: Growing Boys



Luke turned 11 months on April 27th,
but I was so busy I didn't get his pics 'til May 1!  Handsome guys!



Luke is such a joyful boy.  Thank you, Lord!

He's learning to pull himself up and stand.

May 8th, Elijah turned 4!  Here is his fire truck cake.
(Cheri, thanks for the new bags!)

We got to open Grandma's present--3 boys!
(P.S. This post is mostly for my Mom!  Bear with us here on the multiple
family pics =)...also this is only one day of the many we've had lately--no time for pics).

A new outfit from the Grandparents.  E loves frogs!  Special birthday boy!

The party started with E's favorite game.
We did "Pin the dalmation on the fire truck".

His little friends gathered by his side for story time.

I'm thankful to Rachel for taking pics for me.
If you enlarge this, you can see how sweaty I am!  You'd think
I had really gone into a fire or something crazy!

Our buddy Michael came to join the fun.
I laugh the most at myself in this one, drippy sweaty Mama,
pouring out buckets of love for this guy.

Here are the attendees, with Elijah in the middle saying,
"I'm FOUR!"

Little firemen putting out the big fire with spray bottles.

Swimming fun (after the crazy water balloon toss in the front).

Mr. Becker brought his band class to the house (out the back gate)
for a "Happy Birthday to Elijah" song.

Then for a surprise date, I took Elijah to find some real fire trucks.
His face looks so terrified in this as I just randomly posed him for a pic.
He was afraid it would start moving for a real emergency. I guess
I should have prepped him more before the picture.
Did you know they have green fire trucks?!  Also white, red, yellow...

There were no firemen at the green one, so we found the
oldest station in the city.  Elijah still isn't sure about this,
but Mama knows it will be FUN!

I think I'm having more fun than E.  We got to sit in the truck
and how fun to randomly show up and get a tour!  Only in the Philippines!

For fun they even rang the bell for us, and this
fireman got his gear on and slid down the pole for a demo.
This time I had to prep E so he would know it wasn't a real emergency.

I think this was a pretty fun date. Do you recognize that cute firefighter?
Yes, I remember being in elementary school and wishing I could try it on.
Now is my chance!  E didn't want to try the hat.  Very hot and heavy!

Finally, at the end I think he was warming up to the truck.
What a fun birthday!  I can't believe in four years you can graduate from college,
or you can have 3 babies!  Crazy years--full years--special years!

April Was A Full Month



The Women's Livelihood Center
was dedicated in April.



Pastor Norman and Pastor Alvin led in the prayer
and Scripture reading.

The left side of Weng-Weng's house upstairs
is the room where the ladies will make
cards and other projects.  This house was built
with donations from some of our readers here!
Praise the Lord for using this house for His glory!

Here's the ladies who are excited to be a part.
Feel free to order some cards online with Care Channel International.

Nate also kept busy preparing for the "American Pop Forever"
high school musical performance.

Students had fun learning about oldies songs from the US.

Nate's favorite part was the music of course!  The jazz band!

You should see this guy directing from the piano!  It is so fun for me
to see him totally in his element!

Here's a view of the singers/dancers and musicians.

Here's my favorite view of Nate's hands in action.

Now to change gears, this is posted partly for my Mom and grandparents.
Here you can see Lavelle's name in the program for her graduation!

Lavelle gets escorted in by her proud father.

Here's the fam!

Lavelle smiling with her classmates as they perform a graduation song.

Lavelle and her parents!

Me and the fam!

Mom, this one is for you!  She carried this around so proudly!

Lavelle's classmates.

Me and Lavelle!  She did it!  Praise God!