Wow! A Whole Year of Fun with Jonathan!

Today is Jonathan's First Birthday! What fun! We had a little party today, and I hope to post some pictures and a video in the next day or so.

We also had a "virtual" birthday party with Dave's family over Skype. They were in Spokane Washington (and via speakerphone from Idaho) and they had a nice chocolate cake, a candle, and even a present for Jonathan (which will be mailed later!). They very much enjoyed eating Jonathan's chocolate birthday cake in front of us on the video, although we didn't get to taste any.

Indulge a mommy, I must share an obscene amount of pictures from Jonathan's life over the last year. It's been so much fun!



34 weeks and counting! (He was born at 38 1/2 weeks!)


 

Just born! Our little Pumpkin born just 10 days before Thanksgiving....and we were soooooo thankful!



His first bath! Daddy got to do the honors, with the nurse's help!

Footprint time!

First meeting with Grandma Coral! (Still on November 17, 2009!)

On our first or second day at home, a photo session with Dave's parents! Yep, we are pretty happy to get to bring him home.

Grandma Coral stayed for 3 weeks to help out and play with Jonathan too!



A little jaundiced and a little sleepy!

3 week old macho man!




January -- 2 1/2 months old and a real chunk! His really FAT stage!



February -- an official family photo with Jonathan at 3 months old. Thanks again so much for this picture, Mark VanDonge! http://markseye.com/



Ash Wednesday -- Jonathan actually really liked the service, but stayed up too late and this is the result.



Hmmm....at 4 months this bathtub is starting to feel small!

A squishy, juicy healthy 5 month old Jonathan!

5 months old here. A special visit from Grandpa Ron from Tennessee!

5 months : Found his feet!

This trick is always good for a laugh!

Baptism day! April 11, 2010 at Walla Walla First Presbyterian!



All together with his cousins on Baptism Day!



Here he's telling you all about his first swim at Aunt Ruthie's pool in Spokane! I think this was in June -- so 6 months old.

7 months old in July, just a few days before we left the country. He's playing with his friend, Sammy Franklin!

Okay, we're at 7 months now and some of you probably think this has gone TOO far with too many pictures! So I will stop now, but come back in a few days for a video from Jonathan's birthday party. Much fun was had by all!

Just want to say again, how THANKFUL we are that God has given us this little boy to live with us.









Update on Volcano -- Is Merapi going back to sleep now?

If you haven't noticed much in the news about our volcano here, it's because it seems to be settling down. Thank you Lord, this is what we've been asking for!

The experts have not lifted the evacuation zones yet, but many of the refugee camps are emptying out as people are heading back home to their villages. Over 200,000 people were moved into a safe zone, but I'm not sure how many actually sustained damage to their homes and land? For these people, who suffered loss of loved ones, homes, possessions, cattle, and crops -- the recovery will be long.

There is optimism, however. The farmers, who have lost their crops for THIS season, are expressing excitement over how fertile the land will be in the next season. Volcanic ash is very good for the soil.

The Christian university in the city south of here will be working with Merapi victims in the long term. I know of one worker who is looking for specialists who can help the farmers and villages figure out how to get their irrigation and water systems functional again. This university is also doing trauma counseling, I know. Can you imagine fleeing from a burning cloud of steam, or being burned by one?

And dozens, DOZENS, of burn victims are still suffering in the hospitals. Some of them will die, and many will live on with severely debilitating scars and permanent tissue injuries.

I do hope this is my last volcano update of interest. We hope Merapi goes back to sleep ...but for how long? The last eruption was in 2006 -- a mere 5 years ago.

Thank you for your prayers, and please may they continue!

Update on Volcano -- Refugees and helping them

Merapi remains a concern. As many of you may have read, a large eruption on Friday blasted a village 10 km from the summit with a hot ash cloud, killing dozens. The evacuation zone is now extended to 20 km (9 miles).

Although there have been no major eruptions since Friday, as you can see from the photo below, the output from this mountain continues to amaze. President Obama is having a short visit to this country today. I just read he may have to leave early because of concerns the ash clouds might interfere with the airplane.

The volcanologist says he doesn't think the mountain has had it's climax yet. A large city is 25 km (15 miles) from the mountain. Most of the refugees have been seeking shelter there, but it is getting more and more ash and may be in danger if there is a larger eruption.

At church on Sunday, we prayed for God's mercy and help. Indeed, natural events like this remind us how frail we are even with our technology and "great" knowledge. Only God can control this mountain, and we hope that He will. It was heartening to also hear how many of our friends and local churches are helping the victims of the mountain:

• One church friend is involved with a ministry at a refugee camp distributing food and encouragement.
• Another church family has been donating large amount of grass for feeding cattle left on the mountain's slopes. Yes, these people care deeply about their cattle, and this is an especially meaningful service to them.
  
• Another organization is helping with refugee camps
• A friend is collecting towels for refugees
• The local Christian university and seminary have been sending in teams to help with the refugees.
• The Christian university and seminary in the large city south of the mountain have stopped operations and are serving refugees full time, housing almost a thousand on their campus.
  

As the situation continues to evolve, we are prayerfully considering how God would lead us to help also. School is still in session for us, so our first obligation is there. We are pitching in where we can with donations and offerings.

We are also making some careful and appropriate preparations in case disaster could come our direction, which is unlikely: extra food, extra water, extra batteries, a packed bag, stuff like that. Although we are 14 miles from the mountain, we cannot see it, hear it or feel it from our housse. We did have a little ash fall on Saturday, but none since.

Some of you may be wondering why so many people would choose to live on an active volcano? They know it has erupted less than 10 years in the past, and they will likely have to run when it happens again. This island has a population density of 900 people per square kilometer. It's natural that people will spread out when it's so crowded, especially on mountain land that is so fertile for growing food and cattle.

Please keep praying!

Making Progress! Jonathan walking

So Jonathan's walking skills improve every day! It's so amazing to behold! A week ago he could only take 2-3 steps and then fall. He has since gone to talking 5-8 steps, learned how to walk from point a to point b without falling, and even to decelerate and stop at a stand. Today he is practicing how to stand up from the floor and walk (instead of having to pull up on something). Here is a video of his progress over the last few days!

Update on Volcano Eruption -- This mountain is only getting scarier!

Yes, this is an actual picture from Mount Merapi from Tuesday morning. I felt a little worried when I saw this picture.


On Wednesday afternoon, the mountain had it's biggest blast yet. Fortunately, I have not heard of any human casualties from yesterday eruption. The evacuation zone was widened from a 6 km radius to a 9 km radius, which means that almost 70,000 people are now out of their homes for safety's sake. (When we realize that our home town of Walla Walla had a population of less than 50,000 this number becomes real for us.) The main volcanologist is now saying that Merapi will likely continue to erupt for weeks.

A few days ago, we looked on the map to learn that Mount Merapi is located less than 20 miles from us, as the crow flies (although it takes MUCH longer to drive there in a car.) It's so strange that we can't see it, feel it, or hear it. We are getting a small amount of ash from time to time, but that is it. It's hard to comprehend that this amazing power source is wreaking havoc in our local area. I wonder if we should make some contingency plans for our own family? We are keeping a close eye on the news and so far no one has suggested that our area need to be concerned.

But we ARE concerned for those people who are suffering in the refugee camps. God's people around us are responding: the local Christian university in our town sent at least one aid team to the volcano area yesterday, our school is collecting items and money to make baby packets for the little ones, clothes are also being collected.



Please continue in prayer for the almost 80,000 people who had fled from their homes. God will lead you how to pray. He is the only power who can control this powerful mountain. I am glad He is in control.

Walking isn't easy!

There is more happening in our lives than just an erupting volcano! Jonathan is just learning to walk!

Update on Volcano Eruption -- It Ain't Over Yet!

The lava on Mount Merapi is not flowing the way it should be, and so the pressure inside the mountain continues to build and be released in explosive bursts of hot air and gas. Sunday afternoon brought at least 5 eruptions over 2 hours. The main volcanologist monitoring the mountain says "We don't know what Merapi wants. Anything could happen."

For the first time, these clouds went high into the air (about 3 km) and blew to the east -- which means that we got a little at our house. No big deal -- Jonathan's diapers, which were drying outside on the line, got dirty with ash and had to be rewashed. Not a big deal, but Merapi refugees are very concerned about their homes and farms. Also the news reported yesterday that some are experiencing a shortage of fresh water. Please continue to pray for these needy people. The evacuation area is being enlarged every day, so more people are moving into the camps.