Emily's Dedication

 On Emily's 3 month birthday (Oct. 6) we celebrated her dedication to the Lord at church.  We committed to raise her in a family that exalts Jesus, and we prayed that she would choose to follow Jesus at a young age and follow him all her days.

 Our pastor welcomed her into our church family and prayed for her.

 In the Philippines there are always "ninongs and ninangs", who are like "god-parents".  Our friends also committed to help us teach Emily about Jesus.  It is so special to me to see this picture, because at Malachi's and Luke's dedication the same people were also there.  They  have become like our family.

 I sang a "song of dedication" while Nate played the piano.  You can see a video of it on Facebook!  I got all emotional and shaky, so my voice did not work for me, but it touched Malachi's heart so much that he came on stage and started kissing his sister's feet.  Precious!

 Emily is 3 months.  Thank you, Lord, for our daughter!  I love this dress!  My sister Sarah Emily gave this to us before she was born.  You may have seen pictures of it hanging on her curtains.  I saved it just for this occasion.  What a doll!

 Here are the 3 boys before church practicing how to stand nicely during the dedication.  I love each one's expression!

 After church we had a big lunch at our house.  Here is the kids' table.  They are waiting to get their food.

 Our pastor's wife in white, and her mother beside me joined us for the celebration meal.  Also our assistant pastor's wife is pictured here with Emily.  It is a great reason to join together for a meal in community.

Joy was also there!  You remember she is our beloved midwife, who helped with the births of Malachi, Luke and Emily.  We think she is the best midwife in the entire world!

"Lord we dedicate
Yes we consecrate
our daughter to you
For your purposes
for your perfect plan
For all the things you'll have her do
Lord we give back to you this child you've given us
For she belongs to you
She's just a loan of love
A gift from above
And we give her back to You."

Please pray for Emily Amor, that she will come to know Jesus at an early age and follow Him all her days.  Pray that through her many people will come to know the love of God for us all in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Random moments lately

 Emi's 2 oldest boys got to be the characters in a children's book.  The artwork will hopefully be published soon and the profits will go back to the people of the Philippines.  Elijah had fun posing with the "celebrities" (that is how they felt).

 Emi and I together at the reception with our daughters =)

 This is a typical morning getting ready for school.  My four children all surround me.  Blessings!

 If you go to the mall, the sales ladies are happy to hold your baby while you try on clothes.  There were actually about 20 of them around doting on Emily, but as you can see the security guard coming to break up my group photo moment.

Finally, I have to post one more of my doll!  It is fun to have a girl to put hair bands and skirts on!  Coming soon, a post about her dedication!

Concert--Chiortastic Improvarama

 Nate's vocal music concert was a fun evening mixed with some improv from the drama class.  It was a smaller setting, almost like a relaxed Sunday evening in the living room.

 My limited artistic skills include cutting paper with scissors and using tape.  (You may recall my costumes during spirit week!).

 I am much better at singing than decorating.  It was fun to join Nate and the students in the"8 bar canon blues".

 This is a pic of Nate warming up his students in his classroom.  What a great bunch of mostly-Korean MKs!

 The love-birds!

I posted an album on facebook, so pardon my delay in blogging!  Sometimes I blog first and then forget the Facebook...some people do both, some only do one.  I am trying to keep up with the "languages" you all speak in the West!  Thanks for reading!  Another post coming soon (Sorry to my cousin, who said of my blogging "when it rains, it pours"--that is true!).

Friend Thomas Turns 3

 Today we had a great time celebrating with our friends for Thomas' 3rd birthday.  I loved the animal theme and the masks the kids made.  Luke makes me laugh so much in this picture (back right)!  It is amazing that I am actually posting a blog on the same day that an event took place.  We are making progress here!  It is also amazing that the kids sat still and actually wore their masks for this one (though unfortunately the birthday boy himself is blocked by the parrot in front).

 The kids went on an animal hunt.  AH!  I see one!  Wait!  That is not an animal is it?

 "Monkey says....jump up and down!"  There are 65 pictures on my Facebook album if you want to see more.

 I LOVE this one of my great friend, Rachel, and her son Whit.  So much love!  Thank you, Father, for friends and fun!

 "Pin the tail on the Lion."
"Look, Malachi!  You got the tail spot on!" (our friends are British).

Emily is so celebratory in her little party dress!  And I have to admit, I am excited to finally be back into my old jeans again!  YAY!!!  That is reason enough to party!

Chapel and Soccer

 Elijah has been loving soccer after school on Wednesdays and Fridays.  He is such an active guy and puts all his energy into it.  I love this action shot!  My boy is growing up!

 I love this action shot with Elijah and one of his best friends, Sojo.  Thank you, Lord, for friends and fun!

 I love my little doll Emily too!  This little blue dress really brings out her eyes.  What a thoughtful girl!

 Elijah's class led the chapel this week.  He was Noah!  I pray that he will also follow the Lord in faith, as Noah in the Bible did.

 It blessed my heart to see Elijah praising the Lord with his friends.  "Hallelujah, your love makes me sing!"

Here is the Kindergarten class leading worship.  Praise the Lord!

Spirit Week and Packages

 This week is Spirit week at school!  It is almost like having halloween every single day--so many costumes to think of!  Even though Elijah is our only boy in school, Malachi and Luke wanted to walk in the parade too!  Elijah was having fun on the first day--sports day!

 I love to see the little guys following their older brother, and Elijah looking up to the older boys at school.

 Meanwhile, back at the home front, Malachi got his birthday package from Grandma Bruce!  So fun!  What's inside?!

 I found the bottom of this kitchen set for sale at a cheap price at a used surplus store.  What a blessing!  Then I had Kuya Arman fix it for me and add the top shelves.  It was fun to put little things in it for Malachi, but so perfect was the fact that Mom found some pans that fit just right on the top.  Thanks Grandma!

 Malachi loves to cook, and I love to watch him pretend!

 Malachi is sitting down to enjoy the meal he just made.  Love the cupcakes, Mom!

 Day two Elijah was a King.  He looks so funny!

 And Sojo was his princess!  Oh, he got 2 princesses--Mika too!

 Day three Elijah was a tree, Malachi was the sun, Luke a leaf, and Papa was a rain cloud.

 I don't think Eljiah liked day 3 as much.  His arms were tired from holding up his branches.  Note to self: Do not make a costume that requires holding arms up for ten minutes, and do not make paper costumes.

 Malachi is one serious-looking sun!  Hahaha!  Oh, I think Moms have more laughs on spirit week than the kids do.  Who would like to make a caption for this photo?

Soccer season has started!  I am now officially a "soccer mom".  I always knew I would be one day--and that day has come!  So fun to have snacks with friends after a great rainy practice.

Emily 2 months--American Citizen

 Emily is ready to celebrate Malachi's birthday!  What a cute party dress!

 On her 2 month birthday, Emily was in Manila for her visit to the US Embassy.  I LOVE the little doll dress my mom sent her, which I saved for this occasion!

 Darling!!  Ready to report her birth abroad!

 Thumbs up!  Emily's US citizenship was approved!  Here we are in Manila just beyond the US Embassy, in the exact same place with the exact same sling we used when we took Luke here 2 years ago.  Funny to find ourselves here with our fourth child, a girl!

 The lovely couple =)  We love you, Emily!

 The next day we took the boys swimming for family day (since we had to leave right after Malachi's birthday for the airport).  I can't help it!  She is such a doll!!  She is learning to smile, and she has dimples!  Adorable!

One of my favorite pics of Emily--her first time to the ocean!  The waves scared/surprised her, but she recovered.