They're Here!!!!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Ben, Julie, Malachi, Mikayla, and Sylvia arrived at our house last night around dinner time.  We were so excited to see them!  It's a treat for us to get to see them more than once in a year!  Ben is traveling around the US promoting a new venture at their school.  The program is called Ekklesia Mountain High.  Here's a blurb about it from their website:  http://www.emhweb.org/

“Ekklesia” means “assembly,” or literally, “called out.” Christians are those “called out” to be a witness for God’s kingdom. EMH is about allowing students to experience education in a new way as they explore this idea of calling and community. EMH gives 11th grade students the opportunity to participate in a semester or a year of challenging academics, unforgettable outdoor adventure, and incredible spiritual growth as part of a community set in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Learn about Christ’s vision for community, leadership, and discipleship. Prepare for college, form lifelong friendships, and shape an eternal perspective as you participate in four 10-day courses in the Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming wilderness, a 20-day overseas mission adventure, and much, much more. Take your education outside: outside the traditional classroom, outside your comfort zone, outside the common experience.

This program is something that Ben has always dreamed of leading.  I'm so excited for him and can't wait to see what God will do with EMH! 

This morning Ben drove back to Amarillo for a presentation.  They were in Amarillo a week ago, however, they got there just as the snow storm arrived and the town was shut down for the day (meaning his presentation was also cancelled).  While he was out of town, Julie invited Kelly over to visit.  Kelly used to live in Colorado and now lives in the DFW area.  She brought her boys, Matthew and Andrew, with her and they had fun playing with Malachi and Brody.  It was neat to get to meet one of Julie's friends that now lives close to me.
 
Andrew, Kelly, Julie, Sylvia, Mikayla, Matthew, and Malachi

Brody and Andrew are a year apart in age...

and so are Malachi and Matthew

They had fun playing together, but it seemed like a lot of the time it was the older boys vs. the younger boys! lol