It's been a while. . .

We've not been very faithful on keeping up with our blog lately! We can blame many things. . .the novelty of life in a new country is wearing out. . .or we've been really busy. . .or it is just so hot here this time of year any extra motion (even typing on a keyboard) causes me to break out in a sweat. But we do want to keep you updated on our lives here, regardless of how trivial they may or not be! So here's a few things that have been keeping our hands and hearts busy.

1) Illness. We've been pretty sick these last few months, taking turns with fevers and puking--a pretty hard-hitting virus that hit us all but Henry. Mae also had a UTI that meant sporadic fevers for 10 days. Charlotte had worms (giving us all incentive to take some anti-parasitic medicine). Mae has fungus in her ears. Ruth has a night cough that just won't go away. We're excited to be well again, but thankful we've been able to be somewhat "functional" throughout the process.


2) Car. Our car has been having some mechanical issues lately. After 3 trips with our trusty mechanic, it is now GUSHING power steering fluid rather than dripping it slowly! We can't drive our van right now, and are relying on our neighbors and the school van to get us through until. . .next Thursday! We just bought a World Renew (formerly CRWR) vehicle from missionary friends of ours that will hopefully serve us more reliably than our comfortable-but-impractical Honda Odyssey!

 3) Micah. Our nephew Micah is living with us for the rest of the school year (as of a week ago)! We are thrilled to have him as part of our family and part of the NCA family, where he is in the third grade. He has already made so many friends and loves school. He plays outside ALL of the time and thinks Henry is crazy for ever wanting to use "screen time"; I think he feels like he is coming out of hibernation after surviving the last Michigan winter. Henry and Micah are sharing a room, and I love hearing them "chat themselves to sleep" while laying in the bunk bed.

4) Grandpa. My Grandpa Ippel ("Henry the First") isn't doing very well health-wise, and he is now in hospice care. My parents are driving up today from New Mexico to Michigan to be with him right now. We are so thankful for God's faithfulness in my grandpa's life--if he does pass away, we will have to make a decision about whether or not I will travel to Michigan to attend his memorial service--a tricky thing about living in another country.

Okay, there you have it. . .hopefully you feel more connected to us again:) Thanks for your love, support, and prayers amidst car breakdowns, puking, house guests, and hard decisions.