A Wonderful Gift

As many of you know after much prayer, seeking wise counsel and many long heart-searching nights spent crying out to God, Kenny and I resigned from our position as Team Directors with Students International effective December of this year. Our current plan is to continue to live in the Dominican Republic, as we focus full time on our Spanish studies and growing closer to our neighbors and friends. But we will tell you more about all of this in our upcoming blogs. For now..............

We would love to share with you our many blessings from a wonderful, incredible gift! 
Some might remember that in our fundraising, we only planned for a yearly trip to the states. Since we were in Washington in April helping Kenny's step-father, Marvin, we weren't going to be traveling back for some time.
During one of our July outreaches, a delightful couple from the states shared with us that the Holy Spirit was leading them to give us a gift to go to the states to meet our new granddaughter due to arrive in November and to visit our family. 
And so in the pictures below, we'd like to share just a small portion of the many blessings we received from their generous gift!

We stayed our first week with our daughter, Amy and her family. 

Our son, Trapper, moved his awesome travel trailer to 

Amy's for us to sleep in! 

Our first night everyone came over 

to celebrate my birthday and our son, Kenny Jr.'s!

Our grandson, Jonah (Amy/Jason) before heading into Rooster Valley Preschool!

Our grandson, Micah (Amy/Jason) so curious and always contemplating and wondering!

I (Karen) share a birthday with Micah(7yrs), and Kenny Jr. shares his with Jonah(5yrs). We celebrated their birthdays on Friday and then later that evening all the adults came - so the boys had double the fun!

We got to spend Saturday with our son, Trapper and his family. Trapper and Kaysee went on a date and we hung out with our grandson, Wyatt and granddaughter, Addison. We were so tickled that even though Addi hadn't seen us since April she was still happy to spend time alone with us!

Opa and Addison!

Oma and Addison!

We then flew to meet our beautiful new granddaughter, Isla. Born November 10th in Hawaii! We had been hoping that she would arrive before we were due to arrive and she did!

Our son, Cody, Kellie, and little Isla! It was so fun to spend time with all three of them! Hawaii is so "chill," so tranquilo!

Opa, Oma and Isla!

What is it about moms? We just love pictures with our children!
Love this picture!

So precious!

Once we landed back in WA, our daughter, Crystal picked us up and we stayed we Crystal,  her husband, Nick and our grandson, Carter!

They live about 40 minutes from our home town.

We had a great time walking by the lake, playing Phase 10 and eating teriyaki, Kenny's personal favorite.

Back in North Bend, we got to have a sleepover at our daughter, Lyndsey and Tom's with Ellie and Eli! So cute!

For Thanksgiving we traveled east to visit family in Northeasten Oregon. Here I am with my mom and my sister, Lisa!

Four Generations!
Mom and I
with our daughter, Lyndsey and our granddaughter, Elle!

Opa and Eli  
Lyndsey and Tom along with Ellie and Eli were there visiting!

Our niece, Reilley with cousin Ellie.

Opa, Eli and our son-in-law, Tom!

Kenny, Papa Jack, Mom and Karen

Danny, Lisa, Krista, Jimmy, Karen and Dad!
From Oregon, we headed over to Wenatchee, WA (about 3 hours west from our home town) to visit my dad. My sister, Lisa and her family along with my sister, Krista, my brother, Jimmy and their brother Danny were there. Krista and Lisa made the best meal ever!

Can you tell we're related?

Karen and sister, Krista!

Karen and sister, Lisa!

Our final weekend in los Estados Unidos was spent celebrating more birthdays! Eli(2yrs) had his Dinosaur party on Saturday.

Sister Ellie coloring dinosaurs.

I know I keep saying this but "So cute!"

On Sunday, at Addison's Winter One-derland party we all celebrated her 1st birthday!

Our son, Trapper, Addison's daddy, laughing at all the fun!

Sadly our grandson, Wyatt, Addison's big brother wasn't feeling good that day but he rallied for the party!

Birthday girl and her brother!

Our daughter, Aunt Amy with Addison!

Our daughter-in-law, Kaysee sure knows how to put together an amazing party! Here she is helping Addison open gifts.

Jason and Amy enjoying all the festivities!

Our son, Kenny was there helping out with cutting the cake and.........

He gave Addison the best gift ever! A Russell Wilson jersey!
Go Seahawks!

The rest of our time was spent hanging out and trying not to think about leaving. 

Granddaughter, Ellie, in her new outfit!

What an incredible gift!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!