Finishing FIRST 5

I have worked for the FIRST 5 grant program for 5 years. The last couple of weeks have been ones of finishing. Our Preschool had a 'graduation' on May 8 (see pictures--note the cute blond student :)) We also had our last Home Visits, Mommy and Me group, Family Fun Night, and a Collaboration meeting between preschool and kindergarten programs. Then I packed and brought my things home and tied up the last loose ends like turning my key and my cell phone in. So, I am done. My last day was this past Friday.

Some of the Preschool class

Congrats Olivia!!!

Olivia and I with Elaine and Maritza (two of my coworkers)


People have asked how I feel about being done. Mixed, I say. Strangely, I do not really feel sad. That may come later, but I think for now it just feels like I'm going on my summer break! There are people I will miss, but I plan to make an effort to keep in touch with them. I feel good. I feel like I completed what I was supposed to in Ivanhoe. There will always be more to do, and who knows, perhaps I'll return there someday, but for now the work is someone else's responsibility. And it feels good to know that I was faithful to my part. Beginning work this year, I knew it would be my last, and had specific goals in mind all year within that context. We made some program changes that I wanted to help implement before I left, which we did. I guess the word complete describes my main feeling upon leaving--and that is satisfying.

Silly Spring Pictures

Here are some silly pictures we've taken recently. Enjoy!

Radiant Church

On Sunday we had the opportunity to share at Radiant Church. We had a great time of both sharing our passion and the Biblical basis for our passion for the poor, marginalized, and oppressed as well as what God is calling us to in Costa Rica. As we prepared to share we (Tracey and Jeff) decided to share together each taking a little section and then going back and forth between us. While this makes for a little disjointed presentation we wanted to communicate with our actions that we are truly in this together and see ourselves as being an equal team.

We are excited to have Radiant as part of our support team and look forward to watching how God will continue to weave our lives together. Thank you to the leadership team and the church body for so warmly embracing our family. We are indeed blessed.

Garage Sale/Yard Sale

Have you ever wondered why we call these things garage sales or yard sales? Neither the garage or yard us usually for sale. A more appropriate title would be junk sale or to be more optimistic 'treasure sale'. Anyway this past weekend the families at Olivia and Sawyer's daycare all pitched in to have a garage sale for us. Everyone contributed their unwanted treasures and we sold them with the proceeds going toward our moving expenses. All in all about $340 was raised.

More encouraging to us was seeing people, some whom we know well and others we don't, continue to come around what God is doing. It is yet another confirmation to us that God is the driving force of this journey to Costa Rica. Thanks to all who helped with this garage sale, especially to Mimi for being the driving force behind it and to Malina for helping set everything up at the crack of dawn on her prom day.

Disneyland

Last week a childhood friend of Jeff's and his family came to visit for their spring break. So we headed off to Disneyland with 4 big kids (aka adults) and 4 little kids ages 3 1/2, 3 1/2, 21 months, and 9 months. We had more fun at Disneyland than we ever imagined we would. The kids (young and old) loved meeting the princesses and Mickey, watching the parades, catching a show, and riding the rides. It was also a great time for Jeff to catch up with a good, old friend and to get to know his wife and kids better. We are thankful for the time we could spend with them. Greg, Rachel, and girls thanks for coming to visit!

We rounded out their visit in good ol' V-town (Visalia) and even made it up to the mountains for a day.




For more pictures of our time at Disneyland click here:

Disneyland/Mountains

MN Trip

We had a great trip to MN. We were busy from the time we landed until the time we left and came home exhausted. However, we were able to spend quality time with family and friends. Tracey's parents hosted two support raising open houses which were a great success as significant out-going expenses and new monthly supporters were raised at these. We even managed to catch a few snow storms and visit the children's museum with Grandma and Grandpa. We also enjoyed getting to know Kara's (Tracey's sister) boyfriend Ethan.

To those of you whom we were able to see we sure enjoyed seeing you and hearing a little about what is going on in your lives. To those we missed seeing we hope to see you the next time we are in frigid MN!

The Farm

While in Minnesota in March we were able to spend the night at Tracey's grandparents farm after we shared at Rose City Free Church. It was a special time with Tracey's grandparents and to play with Olivia and Sawyer in some of the same old cars and old school desks that Tracey enjoyed playing in as a little girl.

Teacher Tracey and her prized pupils hard at work!


"Grandpa Tic Tac" (Olivia calls him this as he always has Tic Tacs in his pocket) giving the kids a tour of the farm.


Sawyer and "Grandpa Tic Tac" dancing to the player piano

To see more pictures from the farm click here:

The Farm