strawberries and other news

We've picked more than 40 good strawberries from our little patch out back. This is much better than last year. We're keeping a tally of how many we get vs. the birds. (They don't actually eat them but just peck enough to mess them up.) Last year, the race was close, but for now we're winning bya long shot! Suckers! I'm going to miss this kind of thing when we leave the Mid West. The sentiment is setting in, even though we have a few months to go. I guess I'm just feeling aware that its our last summer here.

Another reason to be aware that things are changing is the fact that, Lord willing, we're soon to have a


(Thanks for the sign, Mel.)

I'm really excited and am thankfully feeling good, as long as I don't think too much about giving birth in a foreign country away from my sister and mama! The baby is due right at Christmas. It's incredibly strange to have all of these changes coming at once after several years that were more predictable. We're very thankful to the Giver of Life for this good gift!