Quick update

Hi all, I just wanted to give you a quick update. It have been very hot here (90s) and Luke does not like the heat. So we decided to go camping close by where we could use the AC in the trailer and I could commute to work. Daniel is not with us, as he flew to Missouri to drive back to Washington with his friend Josh. Yesterday evening we went to my friend Craig and Eileens house and they leave very close to a lake. We had a great time picnicing and enjoyed playing on the jetskis and inner tubing. We were blessed to meet a couple Jay and his wife Lee who have been following Luke's story.

I know there are so many of you out there who have been following Luke's progress via the blog and I hope that someday I will get a chance to meet each of you and to be able to say thank you for the encouragement you have been to our family to keep pressing on and pray for Luke's complete healing.

A priceless smile

Here is a picture of Luke Smiling. I was playing with his legs and he laughed a bit of a snort. We were excited to see such happiness on his face. Before the accident Luke was a very happy little boy.























Here we are on the beach in Newport OR just a few days before returning home.

We are home again!

We arrived home this afternoon after being gone for 39 days and over 3500 miles. WOW! So much has happened on this trip. When we started the trip both Isaiah and Ezekiel had training wheels on their bikes and now both ride fine without training wheels. Daniel learned to surf. I taught Sue, Daniel, Amy and Natalie how to play pinochle. Maybe I taught them a bit too well as I did not win very many games. At the beginning of the trip Luke would smile occasionally, and now he smiles daily. The other day I was playing with Luke's legs and he began to smile and then it turned into a big smile. At one point, we think he laughed, although it was more of a snort then a laugh. Needless to say we are very excited at this development.

We feel sooooo blessed to be able to take this vacation and had a wonderful time. I will post some more pictures in a day or two.

Thank you to everyone that has been praying for Luke and our family. Luke made it through the trip and stayed heathly. There were a few moments of anxiety, but all in all an awesome trip.

One of my favorite moments on the trip was getting a chance to be a part of the children's ministry in Mexico and to participate in their water baptisms. On the Sunday morning that we went to church in Mexico it was a blessing to see the children in the classrooms we had painted. At the end of the service Pastor Juan had us come up front along with a missionary couple and a children's pastor from another city. Pastor Juan asked the people to come forward and thank us for ministering to them. It was humbling and a blessing to have so many people express their thanks to us. I know for our entire family this was definitely one of the highlights.

Take care and we love you all

We are in Sunny Newport OR

We arrived in sunny Newport OR yesterday afternoon. Needless to say it seems very cool, okay cold to us. We adjusted to the hotter CA weather and now are wearing coats and sweatshirts, as it is in the low 60s. It may be cool, okay to us it is cold, but it is beautiful. It is bright sunny weather and we are looking forward to a week of nothing. Just like last year we are looking forward to no schedule and just doing whatever we want. Sue is at the beach with Natalie and Luke. Daniel is swimming in the pool with Isaiah and Ezekiel. Amy is reading at the trailer and Lily is resting. I am here at the club house blogging and looking for a cheap ticket for Daniel to fly to St Louis to visit a family friend Josh.

Needless to say with this laid back schedule, we may or may not blog the next few days :)

Take care and have a wonderful 4th of July as you celebrate the freedoms that you enjoy living in this great country. And to those of you outside the US, blessings on each one of you.

We are in Santa Clarita heading for Oregon

We spent several days at Lake Perris State Park and were able to visit with our nephew Joseph and his wife Gina. We had a great time with them. The past two days we have been in Santa Clarita next to Six Flags Magic Mountain. We closed the park both nights at 10 pm. We will be leaving in the morning heading north and arriving at Newport Oregon on Friday.

Thank you for your prayers, Luke has been doing much better.

By the way, did I mention that it was hot at Lake Perris. I know it has been in the 90s back home in Washington, but that would be cool, it was over 100 the day we arrived. It is a dry heat compared to Washington, but it is still hot. We have AC in our trailier and I wasnt sure it was working, as the trailer was very warm. We were not sad to say goodbye to the desert.

I know I am rambling, so I will say goodbye for now. Will blog again in a couple days when we reach Newport, unless we have internet at our hotel along the way.

God's blessing on each one of you.

Leaving San Diego tomorrow...Please Pray

We will be leaving San Diego tomorrow and heading to a state park east of LA. We won't have internet access for 5 days, so after this post it will be quiet on the blog for a few days.

The last few days Luke has struggled with his breathing and has needed oxygen at night. He has also had some problems with throwing up. Please pray that God would touch Luke in both of these areas and allow us to finish this trip in a strong way.

Many have told us of your faithfulness in reading this blog and praying for Luke and our family on a regular basis. I want to say Thank You and we appreciate you. We will be meeting a few of you on the remainder of our trip.

God Bless and we will let you know how Luke is in a few days.

Love GSDANIELL

Trip Pictures from Mexico - Water Baptisms

Miguel baptizes one of the children
















This is at the start with Pastor Juan, Miguel and me in the deep end and the people ready to be baptized on each side.
















Here we are baptizing one of the men
















Here you can see there were a lot of people watching all around the pool
















Group shot of all the people that were baptized. I think it was 44 people in all.

Trip Pictures from Mexico - Childrens Ministry

Miguel and family. They host the weekly childrens ministry at their home every week. That is Pastor Juan holding the hotdog :)
















Isiah and Miguels daughter enjoy a mango freeze, kinda like a popsicle.




















Pastor Juan enjoys a mango freeze while a couple of people watch Mexico play in the world cup. Notice the TV in the tree.
















Natalie and Daniel help children make bracelets and necklaces.
















Isaiah jumps right in and makes a bracelet
















Who is that boy behind the painted face
















We paint children's classrooms and we paint kids too :)

Trip Pictures from Mexico - Painting Classrooms

One of the rooms before starting




















Sue starts the red
















That is bright yellow! Canary Yellow to be exact




















Natalie starting the red on the other end of the red wall.

















Finished room
















Finished room

















Finished room
















Kids on Sunday in one of the painted rooms

















Kids in one of the painted classrooms

Trip Pictures from Morro Bay

Dad, this sun is bright, I am glad we have sunglasses on, arent you?
















Look Mom, I put on some sunscreen
















Sunset on Morro Rock




















Mom, I really like this vitamin D

















Amy with Lily in the surf and a large flock of pelicans in the background

More Trip pics from Santa Cruz and San Simeon

Three little monkeys wearing their monkey shirts
















I really enjoy this relaxing, especially when I can get wet!
















Amy and Daniel in front of San Simeon (Hearst Castle)
















The front of the castle
















Now this is my kind of pool, too bad there isnt any water, a dip would be nice right now.

Trip Pictures from San Francisco

Walking down Lombard St
















My this boat ride is windy!
















We all made it on board the cable car
















I love my brother, and I love my sister
















Zeke, smile for the camera
















How much longer do we have to wait for some fish and chips?
















Amy wrestles the machine and WINS!!!
















We are enjoying this cable car ride
















Famous museum of amusement machines at the Fisherman's Wharf
















Finally, we have fish and chips at Fisherman's Wharf

Trip Pictures from Santa Cruz

I really enjoy this relaxing with family and sunshine. I was needing a little vitamin D :)
















Roasting a marshmellow at the group campfire
















I like this hammock
















Here is my bed in the trailer, that is my food pump hanging.

















Daniel hangs ten for the first time at Santa Cruz

Trip Pictures from Paradise

One cool kid!




















Can I make this hole in 1?

















Does anyone care if I move this ball a bit closer?
















Hey Mom, look I can ride a bike! Isaiah can now ride a bike without any help.

















Oh, I really enjoy this relaxing, no doctors, no nurses, just family, fun and sunshine.