Real epic times on the Raptors Powerhouse Field... Capture the Flag (poor showing for the adults in our brief adults vs. kids faceoff), Soccer (much stronger competition, Grandad really nailing it on goalie), Football, Kickball... And we all walked off the field on our own two feet. 👍👍
· Spring break trip to a little cabin to rest, hike, read, and play games
· May roadtrip to North Carolina to visit Ben's parents, as well as a visit to the ocean and tour of the USS North Carolina (accompanied by Amy's parents)
· Enjoyed a brief family getaway to the Upper Peninsula in August with some great hiking and exploring
· Ben and Victor had a tremendous adventure visiting Global Partners, the Moes, in Papua New Guinea in August. Highlights included hanging out with the Moes' boys, a helicopter ride to the remote village where they serve in translating the Bible, and getting to meet with the missionary community's youth group.
· Victor (13): started a boys' Bible study with some guys in his class, still enjoying piano lessons, small group, youth group, homeschool co-op, and friends, joined the young men's choir, working hard and doing great in 8th grade
· Josiah (11): joined the Middle School crew! In addition to digging into 6th grade schoolwork, also continued piano lessons, played Upward basketball, and moved to his own room in the basement this year, where he is keeping two houseplants alive and enjoying his own space
· Elliot (9): now in 4th grade, continues to be a quirky, exuberant boy-to-the-core, always ready to wrestle, roar, and engineer Lego feats of ingenuity, but also sweet, tender friend to Jemima
· Calvin (7): fills notebooks with his imaginative drawings, quips and puns like a middle schooler, and (fittingly enough) loves to read Calvin & Hobbes, Garfield, and the Chronicles of Narnia
· Jemima (4): the little lady of the family, Queen of the Irrelevant Comment during family Bible reading, delights us with her sweet kisses on the cheek, her constant motherly care of her baby dolls and stuffies, and her joy to curl up on a lap to read a story. Takes inordinate pleasure in high heels, pretty dresses, and Ben's painting of her fingernails
· Amy: digging into ancient myths and Greek tragedies (for teaching Grade 9 English), as well as teaching a Grade 5/6 writing and Grade 9 Logic & Worldview class at co-op, enjoyed a year studying Romans in women's Bible study, and dabbled in buckwheat flour and sourdough add-ins in the kitchen
· Ben: phenomenal time on the trip to Papua New Guinea, still loving to pastor middle schoolers and their families at The North Church, ran the Tough Mudder in June (and has been struggling with plantar fasciitis ever since)
Quotes:
Jemima: I've got my glide up shoes (light up shoes) on so I know where I am.
Jemima, praying: Dear God, please help the Northern Lights to turn off when it's daytime.
Jemima to Mom, after we listened to "Let It Snow" on the radio: Is this song not your favorite?
Mom: Yeah, it's not my favorite, because it's not actually about Jesus. Jemima: Is it about a princess?
Calvin (overheard): Jemima, you're in a bath, and in a bath, you're supposed to get wet.
Elliot, in robot voice: Hello, people, I have come to… Jemima: Dance. Calvin: Destroy you.
Josiah: I'd like to buy something at least a little useful. Even like a fake passport or something.
Ben, saying he was taking zinc because his sinuses had a lot of pressure after returning from PNG.
Elliot: Stick it up your nose, so it will help your sinuses.
Jemima, driving in rustic UP Michigan: Daddy, I'm looking for animals. Dead animals.
Calvin: Josiah, do you think I should have a weeding-themed birthday party?
Victor: I've been searching my entire life for a white chocolate ice cream, and there it was, in front of me on the shelf.
Ben to Jemima: When did you last go to the bathroom? Jemima: June.
Jemima: Mom, you pick, blue or red. Mom: I'm blue. Jemima: No, choose the other one.
Elliot: I know what we can get for Mom for her birthday. Bigger pans.
Jemima, marching into the kitchen: Where is my baby sister?
Jemima, playing with Calvin, who wanted to keep doing Legos: Mom, my little baby kid, that kid, doesn't want to go to grandma's house.
Josiah: Dad, you don't just need your car tools. You also need your kids.
Jemima, frequently at the beginning of this year, offering the affirmative: Yepskidoodles.
Jemima: Mom, can you fill up my water bottle? Because my tongue is starving.
Mom, to Josiah and Elliot: Both of you wear gray uniforms tomorrow. Jemima: I like gray unicorns. Victor: No, gray uniforms, not unicorns. Jemima: But I like unicorns.
Jemima, discussing ages of siblings: And Mom, you're Victor's age.
Jemima: This ponytail holder was outside. It is not yours. It's God's.
Jemima: Walking down the stairs, I hurt my ankle over my hand. (wrist)
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost.—1 Timothy 1:15
Dear friends,
We made it! At 10:30 this morning, we touched down in Minneapolis! God brought us safely back home again. Thank you all so much for your prayer during our trip. We really needed it the whole time.
We have been noticing how nothing really went wrong on our trip except for the episode on the way back. God has used us to bless the Moes and the community of Ukarumpa beyond our expectations.
For example, during the Men's retreat, someone commented that they had not had anything like that for over two years!
Thank you for your prayers and support!
Victor and Ben Katterson
This is the day!
Chain link activity: Eat a special treat and pick up Daddy and Victor at the airport!
We spotted Ben and Victor's plane from the airport dog park as they descended!
It was a joyful reunion to finally get Victor and Ben from the airport this morning! By the time he reached us, Victor was back on his feet (albeit hadn't eaten any food for 24 hours), and we loved hearing bits and snippets of their trip as we drove home. Nausea hit Victor again after being up for a while, so he retreated for a long afternoon nap, but before we left for Wednesday Connection (our last one in the park), he was able to eat and keep down a bowl of soup.
I didn't want to leave Victor home alone, and Ben wasn't quite cogent enough to be driving the other kids on his own, so I took the other four for church in the park, and it was a grand finale to summer Wednesdays. But it was so good to get home and enjoy everyone under the same roof again.
Prayer requests: Strong systems that acclimate to this side of the world and grace and strength to bear into the new season of school, work, and ministry. And a Spirit-enabled receptivity for us at home to ask good questions, smooth the transitions, ease the baton-passing of roles, and generally provide a good landing place after such an intense and wonderful ministry experience.
[From Amy]
Dear friends,
As many people started praying last night, God worked. Victor tried some Dimenhydrinate Dramamine (per our great pediatrician's suggestion), and he was finally able to stop vomiting and get some sleep.
At midnight I heard that their LAX flight had been delayed, so they needed to switch Chicago flights, now to arrive at about 1030am
At 603am Ben texted to say they touched down in Chicago. Victor is doing way better and has been able to keep fluids down. Praise the Lord! One more flight to go...
Thank you so much for your prayers!
Much grace to you,
Amy Katterson
Tomorrow is the day!
Chain link activity: Make welcome home signs.
Mostly we just sit on the couch and look at books here
Well, maybe not always...
We enjoyed our last morning with Grammy and Grandad! I got to meet a friend for coffee and do a Costco Business Center run, and after lunch we said goodbye as Grammy and Grandad headed home.
We heard at suppertime that Ben and Victor landed in LA, but that Victor has had vomiting pretty much every hour, through the 14-hour flight from Brisbane and since landing in California. Feels like a long time til they'll reach Minnesota (tomorrow at 9am).
Prayer requests: Victor to be able to get some fluids down, stop vomiting, get rest, and have grace to endure the final two flights. And a peaceful, grace-filled re-entry into the wilds of fall and school.
