Dance

Well, not it's Mark's turn to get in the fun!

Watch them dance!!

Our Ymca had a dance for dad or grandad's and daughter, granddaughter. Faith wanted to go, because Grace had gone with Mark at a similiar function at our Vineyard Church in Ohio. So as you can see she's really dancing up a storm.

Bazan visit

Jack and Ginny came and visited us a while back. (Remember I'm a speed limit now), Mark took us on many high adventures. Some too scarey for me. We had a very nice visit and really are blessed by friends still coming to see us.

Great grandma's christmas book

Yes, I know it's April, it is spring around here, but I knew great grandma would like to see Faith reading her Christmas book, that's Sam by the tree. We finally got a cord to work so we could download all the pics on Mark's camera, so sorry I'm out of order. Love me anyway

Elijah the flying man

I just came across this pic of Elijah flying in his uncle Mark's room. (The advantage of having a teenage uncle.) He has just had a birthday and we are all so in love with him. He is the best hugger and such a man of God and faith. I am blessed to know him and have him in my life.

Goodbye's and Hello's

Well we had to say goodbye to Mike, Jo, Grace and Faith. They have moved to Chardon. They seem very happy about it, but grandma is happy for them, but sad for herself. Two girls gone, two girls come. This is the gang with Aliyah and Ariel on their last day. I am very grateful to God that the cousins got to know each other and we were blessed to have them here for 14 months. I pray God's blessings on their new adventure.

Mother

I don't want anyone to be under the impression that I am only a grandmother. It sometimes hard to believe, but I still have a very vital teenager in my home. He has been God's blessing to us since the day he was born. God knew our crazy diverse family needed a baby to unite us and that we'd need his creative, young, God thirsty presence when all our other kids had long gone to make lives of their own. I am very grateful to God's wisdom and foresight into our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Poem by Mark

I do not understand

why an infant's life is taken for science

why ignorance is bliss

why being loved is often times hard to accept

But most of all I do not understand

why people always take what they have for granted

I've seen people rich with money longing for a happier life and people with happy lives wanting to be rich with money

What I understand most is my God's love for me

Even though I screw up

He is by my side

Even when I turn my back on Him

He pursues me.

Aliyah and Ariel

Aren't they beautiful. They got a good bill of health from the doctor. Aliyah, the one, who was in the hospital has grown the most and is 6 lb 13 o, and Ariel is 6 lb 6 o. They are sleeping a little better through the night. Two hours instead of half an hour and being more awake during the day. It's hard work being born, growing, changing several time zones.

Farewell to the boys

Here we are in the hotel room after 4 hour train ride. It was fun. Ella, Joel, and I walked to a food place to bring back food to the room. It's always interesting seeing new places, foods, smells. Funny I don't really remember seeing Abram with a pacie. Ella just sent me this pic so I thought I'd add it. Note you can go to Ruth's blog now. Finally figured it out. (well Marky came down and said move over).

Aliyah and Mark

Proud grandpa gets to hold Aliyah on her Good Friday arrival. He was so happy to hold her after all the anticipation. He was hoping to take her on his bike race next weekend, but too many objections. (Ha Ha) He kept the company going and worked on some projects around there new house to get ready for the new arrivals.

Elijah and Ariel

The pure amazement and love for their sisters is great to see. We teased they needed triples so each of the boys could hold one. But alas we will learn to share. Elijah faces just lights up. I don't have a picture of Samuel, but he was sitting up on the table holding a bottle for one of the girls in her little sit and he said, I just can't believe I'm doing all this. (He had earlier helped his mom get a great burp) He's really liking being a big brother for the first time. Isaac and Molly really have an incredible testimony and so many wonders to tell in this great journey God has taken them on.

New grandgirls!!

It's hard to believe I could have more grandkid news, but the latest, greatest is that through God's wonderful provision, our new little girls Aliyah and Ariel are home safe in Asheville with their three big brothers and travel weary, but very blessed parents. I spent the night Friday when they all came home and Judah woke up at 6 am, I tried to convince him sleep was a good thing, but he really wanted to be with his new sisters. He was so sweet and so helpful. He has already become a very protective big brother looking out for his girls. What a blessing to have such grandchildren.

Sad farewells

The time went by very quickly. The whole gang took the 4 hour train ride to Bucharest where we stayed at a hotel because our flight out was very early. Simeon and Abram liked having a tv in their room. One of my hopes was having time to really connect with my grandsons so far away. Simeon and I had a wonderful morning where we made faces and imitated each other and had some great conversations. Simeon at one point said grandma mary I've been trying and trying, I've really been trying to figure out how God can have no beginning and no end. OK wow. This is not something I've thought a lot about let alone tried hard to figure out and I have 50 years on Simeon. I can only say they are a wonderful family who God has blessed and they are a blessing to many. It appreciate God allowing me to go to Romania and see another part of His miraculous work.

Violin

Joel, Simeon, and now Abram are learning to play the violin. Ella and I got to listen to Joel play a few pieces that he said were for young players, but you could of fooled us. We really enjoyed it. We were also surrounded by some of Joel's lastest art pieces. He has done a series of paintings for the chapel at the drop in center. They each depict a bible story representing the nine lifestyle celebrations of the Word Made Flesh community: intimacy, obedience, humility, community, service, simplicity, submission, brokeness, and suffering. (for more go to the website, www.wordmadeflesh.com) Abram's love for the violin could give you joy and bring you to tears.

Plane etiquette

One of our fun stories of the trip was that after I traveled by bus from Asheville to Lexington so I could leave from there with Ella we got a call from Monica and Simeon. While talking to Simeon he said, " Grandma Mary, if your plane crashes will you be sure and call me?" We enjoyed that line throughout the trip and beyond. My bus was late coming back to Asheville and when it turned 11:00 Ella said to Chuck, well Mary hasn't called yet, but I know she knows what to do if the bus crashes!

Space travel

This was a day of travel to space. We packed there little John Deere lunch boxes with food for the trip with a few surprises and ate our lunch on the porch Joel built on the side of their house whoops or a space landing. Though we thought the weather was going to be cold we really had great weather. It was nice to be able to walk in nice weather. We took the boys to the park and stopped at the grocery. We did need Simeon to tell them milk, because our version didn't translate well. We made it successfully!! Grandma Hunter did a lot of Easter egg hiding and it took the two of us to keep up with Abram's rides down the slide.

Rice fun

Here is Abram playing with his rice. This was a fascinating activity most days. I watch Ella clean up afterwards and thought it was a snap, but I managed to get rice everywhere. But we did have Joel to sweep up after the rest of us tried. This is a very cool activity with noises, textures, creativity. Enjoyed it. This is their kitchen and the steps up to more rooms for others living here.

The new home

Well for all who've asked about Joel's and Lau duplex. Here it is!!!. They have made the foundation walls and while Ella and I were there were able to lay pipe for electric and plumbing. They were happy to be able to get a couple extra days in while the grandmas where doing boy watch. Please pray for grace to accomplish this project in His time and for provision for all that is needed. Pretty cool to literally build your home from scratch. Glad we could be a little help.

Traveling Klepacs

Well, I'm going to have a pictureless blog. Because of privacy issues we can't post pictures on blogs I discovered. Isaac has traveled to Ethiopia to see Aliyah who is in the hospital and Ariel too!! We are happy to report that Aliyah is doing better and should be out of the hospital soon. I will be leaving for Romania on Wednsday. I am really looking forward to all God has in store for me. Your prayers are desired!