Merry Christmas

from our family to yours!

Reading Christmas books

Making Homemade Pizza

Last week, Jonathan was on a trip into Mexico, and the kids & I spent the week here in Texas alone! We tried to find all kinds of fun things to do..and we did! One thing we did was make homemade pizza! They really enjoyed helping...

So far behind...

on blogging! I'll try to redeem myself the next few weeks...so check more often then you have been! =)

Life has taken on this very fast pace and it has nothing to do with Christmas!! In fact, the only thing I've done to start getting ready for Christmas is that we have a fur tree candle! And that is thanks to Jonathan!

My sister, Becka came to visit us for Thanksgiving! This is the 2nd year she has been able to do that...hope its a tradition we can look forward to in the future! We had a lot of fun while she was here. We mostly just relaxed since I was just getting over being sick and she was sick! We did work in a trip to the zoo! We all enjoyed that! Kamryn loved the pumpkin pie that Aunt Becka made!Our family at Golden Correl for Thanksgiving Dinner

Aunt Becka & Kamryn

A Sunday in PA

Here is a few pictures of a Sunday in Johnstown! This was the last Sunday that Becka, my parents, & our family was together! She had these pictures on her camera, and I just got them from her at Thanksgiving!

Passport Problems

Remember in my last update, I said that we were waiting for Jonathan's passport to come in the mail...well, a few days after that, he got a letter saying that he was denied a passport until he provided them with proof that he was indeed born in Texas! There has been some fruad in this area of birth certificates here in Texas, so I guess when they saw he was born in a clinic, that made someone wonder what was up! The problem is that the documents they are asking for are either impossible to get or very expensive to get! So, he contacted our State Rep, who happens to be a friend of his and asked for his help. He was unable to help since its a federal issue but forwarded all the information to our Congressman, who has someone working on it! Its been a discouragment to us in many ways but we are resting in God's timing and HIS plan! In the mean time, Jonathan has been able to work some and that's helping us, also keeping us busy! We are praying this passport situation is resolved soon and smoothly!

Jonathan has spent the last 45 minutes trying to put Korey to bed. He just came down here and told us that he was scared. This is how the conversation went:

Jonathan: Korey why are you up?
Korey: I'm scared.
Jonathan: why are you scared?
Korey: Of the giant!
Jonathan: Where's the giant?
Korey: In my bed.

(All this time he has this too cute smirk on his face!)

Jonathan: where are you gonna sleep?
Korey: In your bed!!!

Copper

We are so happy to be reunited with our dog Copper. While we are very sad our other dog, Cody died while we were away on deputation, God has helped us with our hurt and to explain it to the kids. I don't think Korey remembers him but Kylie does & is always talking about Cody going to heaven with Jesus. But on a happy note, Copper is doing great being back with us! She is tolorating the kids love nicely! =)
(This time he WANTED his picture taken! He said mommy, take my picture with Copper!!)

Louisville, Ky Wesleyan Methodist Church

One of our last services of our deputation tour was at the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Louisville, KY with the Gabriel Clyde family! God's presence was there in the service and I know He was speaking to hearts! We had a wonderful dinner and then stayed for their ground breaking service that evening. It was exciting to be there for that! We'll be praying for you all as you continue to serve God where He's placed you!

my girls

Just had to share this sweet picture of the girls with you all! Korey didn't want to get his picture taken...that's why he's not in it!

Update

I'm sure most of you thought the "Springer family" got lost somewhere! But we've been super busy. We arrived back in the Rio Grande Valley Oct 3 after Jonathan drove straight though from IN. We've been working it seems almost non stop at packing & moving into a new house in Texas to use as a base here for now. Its much bigger and better suits our family now that the kids are growing up! We are waiting for Jonathan's passport to get here. The kids & I all have ours but his is still being processed.

God's been so good to supply all our needs these past few weeks too!! We ended our 6 month deputation tour with only 35% of our monthly budget pledged. That was pretty discouraging to us but since we've been back God's been encouraging us to just keep going and that He is going to take care of the funds needed.

I'm still unpacking and getting life back into a routine of sorts, but I plan to post some pictures this week. I still have lots of catching up to do from our trip and I'm sure my family wants to see some new pictures of the kids!

Kylie was outside yesterday afternoon playing with our neighbour kids. While she was out there Jonathan came home and she didn't know it. So, when she walked it and saw him standing there, she let out this excited little gasp, and exclaimed, "OH! Hi Handsome!"

Rey Azteca

Always when we are in Johnstown we hang out a Rey Azteca Mexican Restruant! They've
got the BEST Mexican food outside of Mexico! The crew there is awesome and so friendly!

Aunt June

One great blessing of deputation is that a lot of times you get to see family & friends! God's blessed us very much these past few months in this area! And we are so THANKFUL for that! One special person I got to spend some time with was my Aunt June.

Creation Museum

Uncle Wesley comes to visit!

Wesley was in a wedding close to my mom's house one weekend and came to visit for a little while!

Pappy's helper

Korey discarded his precious bear to help Pappy work in the yard!

Picnic at Burnt Cabins

The week before we left PA we went to Blue Knob State Park for a picnic. We used to go there all the time when I was a kid! My kids had a blast! =) It was a very relaxing day until Korey almost ran out on the road...Praise God for His protection!!

Wednesday

Julianna & Korey
trying on a Peruvian hat

Heidi & Kylie

It was the first time I did Kam's hair like this! =)

Wednesday we were able to be at church here in Johnstown. It was kinda sad since it was our last time to be here. We've enjoyed being 'home' at the church here for a few weeks these past few months. They had a missionary service with Miss Rachel Steece who is a missionary in Peru. It was nice to sit back & listen to another missionary service! =) We will miss everyone at church here & will be praying for you!

Hermie

When we were in NC a few weeks ago, we found a box turtle on the road, & decided to keep it for the kids as a pet! Our kids, especially Korey love animals...and I was being extra soft in this area since their dog died while we've been gone. So, we got a pet carrier for this turtle and kept for it for a few days, but after awhile we figured out that it was probably going to die too, and since we didn't want to have to explain that to the kids, we released Hermie back into the woods in the mountians of VA. It was a very sad time. We all were crying but happy that Hermie could be back in the woods, and hoping he lived and found some new friends! They still are talking about Hermie but in a good way. If you ask them where he's at they'll tell you, "In the woods playing with his friends!" But sometimes Kylie gets mixed up and says that he was sick & died and is in Heaven with Jesus, like Cody.Daddy taking Hermie to the woods

He was clean but we added water to his cage to help him and he had fun! =)

Appomattax, VA

If you know much about our family, we love history! God has allowed us to visit a lot of historical places these past few months, but I think this was the most special for me! Appomattox Courthouse, VA was where General Lee surrendered to General Grant in the Civil War. It wasn't exactly the END of the war, more like the beginning to the end. But my great, great grandfather was there when that historical moment took place!
The kids & I on the steps of the McLean house, where the gerneals met & signed the treaty!

Korey's 2nd birthday pictures