Christmas 2015 Recap

December was a bittersweet month for us. It started off very emotional with extra house guests for over a week. Our adorable granddaughter and her sweet momma.

Then it was the mad/busy rush to Christmas break that involved teacher gifts, parties and kids hyped up on candy canes!

Then came the laziness leading up to Christmas Eve.

Creative thinking

An early Christmas gift from Nai Nai & Ye Ye (Aaron's parents)

Finally Christmas Eve arrived. Aaron and I volunteered to set up the cafe at church both days that we had services. We enjoyed the message, had a great dinner at a local Mexican restaurant and we were ready to slow things down.

Christmas arrived and our boys were thrilled with their gifts! We scaled it way back this year. They got new bikes, clothes and nerf weapons. Things that got them out of the house and things they needed.

We enjoyed a yummy meal as a family

It was a very laid back end to a busy month. God loved us through it all and we are so thankful of the greatest gift, the birth of His son Jesus!

Blessings,

Tracey

Happy Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

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Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar. Today is that day, so Happy Moon Festival!

On the 15th of the lunar calendar, each month, the moon is at its roundest and brightest, symbolizing togetherness and reunion in Chinese culture. 

The most common traditions for Mid-Autumn Festival are eating mooncakes and gazing at the moon together with your family!

Eating mooncakes is the most popular celebration of the day. Mooncakes are traditionally Chinese pastries, which are made of wheat flour and sweet stuffings such as sugar and lotus seed powder. Mooncake is a symbol of family reunion, and the cake is traditionally cut into pieces that equal to the number of people in the family. We did that last night but we chose a chocolate moon cake from an Asian bakery. It was "special" tasting. We also picked out other treats while there.

Last night was very rainy. Hopefully tonight the clouds will disappear so we can actually gaze at the moon! 

Happy Mid-Autumn Moon Festival,

Tracey

Full Heart

This week has been great so far! We have our oldest son visiting us for the week. Nothing makes a momma's heart full like having all her kids under one roof! 

Blessings, 

Tracey

Welcome...it's been awhile

I have had a lot of extra stuff on my mind lately, so I am simplifying things in my world! First on my agenda is deleting my Facebook apps so I can "turn" it off for now. Instagram and this blog will be my only communication. I plan on posting at least once every other day. 

See you all soon,

Tracey

Isn't it January?!

So we've had some warm weather here in KS lately! We have been trying to enjoy it while it's here. The boys raked leaves, used their imaginations with the many sticks in the yard and rode bikes and scooters. Today is our last day and then the cold weather creeps back in 😢

Blessings,

Tracey

First Snow of the Season

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the village! Last night it started snowing about midnight. I am not a fan of the cold or old snow. I grew up in Michigan so I've seen a LOT of snow...that stays for days. The kind that turns black & slushy. Despite that, I love new snow. I especially love it when it's falling & covers everything with a blanket of fresh snow. I got up at midnight to watch it & caught another glimpse early in the morning before everyone woke up. 

Today was the last day of school. The start of Christmas break! Instead of attempting to drive my kids to school this morning, I let them be kids. I let them play outside in the first snow of the season.

Then they drank hot cocoa with marshmallows & candy canes.

Then...I took them to school...late ;) . They got there in time to attend the Christmas sing-along and party with their friends.

All in all, it was a great day!

Happy snow day & many blessings,

Tracey

Clubhouse Guatemala

Aaron and I traveled to Guatemala 2yrs ago with Clubhouse Guatemala and a group from our chuch back in Knoxville TN. It was my first mission trip and was so amazing! We went there as a group to start the building process for a church in the small village of San Mateo. The people in this village were so welcoming! The children in the feeding program are given a warm meal a couple days a week after school, then they get to hear how much God loves them through stories, Bible games and music. They also get to act like kids by playing together in a safe area with people that love them! Their families are loved on as well. It's such an amazing ministry and we love being a part of it!


We sponsor a teenager in another village. Our sponsorship enables her to be a part of the feeding program and to attend secondary school. Most older children's families can't afford to send them, but Clubhouse Guatemala helps meet that need!

I am currently helping Clubhouse Guatemala raise money to purchase a large mission house in Guatemala City to start a girls home in Zone 6 that will help end child trafficking, to expand their feeding programs to 2000 children, build a new school in Pacaya and to plant 6 new churches in the next 5 years. 

Please help me reach my personal goal of $500 or more by clicking on the link or pasting it into your browser
 http://www.fundingthefuturenow.com/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1118907&lis=1&kntae1118907=2216F91031AB46B0A05DFB3C275DA079&supId=412322878&team=0&nmv=true

Any help you can gift will be greatly appreciated & will allow CG to dramatically improve these children's lives and families!

Here are some pictures from our trip!

Our sponsor child

Children during Bible study

Children eating a warm meal

These boys loved hanging out with us and helping at the church building site.

We got to share the Good News with the mothers of the children in the feeding program! At the end, Barbie & I got a hug and a thank you from everyone of them!

Thank you and blessings,

Tracey