Hayden's 10th Birthday

For Hayden's 10th Birthday we headed back to Tama Hills Recreation Center for a Weekend in the Woods.  He invited 5 of his friends to stay in 2 cabins for the night.  We did a fortnite theme and created a challenge on the grounds.  I hid Ammo Boxes all over and gave the kids a map and clues of where to find them.  For energy they had chug jugs at the start.  The boys all loaded into the battle bus and started their challenge.  It ended up taking a lot of hiking, walking, and exploring to finish!

Challenge map

Challenge Checklist

Headed out on the Battle Bus

Grab your Chug Jug!

We found the H box

Everyone got ammo for their nerf guns

Next they had to shoot 3 cans at the archery range

Off on the trail to find the A Box

Found it filled with Med Kits

They had to do 7 fortnite dances in 3 bunkers

Challenge complete...headed back to find our loot bags

After the challenge we cooked out for dinner and then headed up to the lodge game room for some more fun.

We headed back to the cabins for icecream sundae's and a movie.

The next morning we all had breakfast at the lodge

Hayden had a great time with his buddies!

Where you Go, I'll Go

"Where you go, I'll go; Where you stay, I'll stay" Ruth 1:16


In January we had another photo shoot with Ginamarie Photography.  We wanted to do a Mt. Fuji session before leaving Japan and winter is the best time to get a clear view.  We didn't get a perfectly clear view but that sort of sums up our time in Japan.  Not perfect, but we make the best of it!  I always joked I would follow Eric anywhere....but Japan.  Little did we know what God had planned for us!  I did follow Eric to Japan and although it has been a challenge in many ways we did "find joy in the journey" and have tried to "bloom where we are planted".  We are coming to the end of this journey and I am super excited for what lays ahead.  I didn't understand God's plan when our orders changed and everything seemed to be going wrong.  Almost 3 years in, I am grateful for all the amazing things we have experienced while in Japan and the forever friends we have made.  I will continue to follow Eric wherever he goes and know that it is always God's hand leading us.

Here are more pics from our photo shoot with Fuji-san...