good things come in long posts : )

ALL APRIL PICTURES (and there are A Lot!)
We had a family birthday party for the kiddos on the 18th. I had fun trying my hand at making a big cupcake, it was cute and tasted good too.
I now have a three year old (4-23) and almost one year old (5-18). Happy Birthday sweetpeas.
Here is our family. Back row, Adams side: Aunt Debby, Great Aunt Lucy, Grandma Mary-lou and Grand-dad Richard. My step dad Chet, Emily, Nehemiah, NanNa Angela, Avi Joy and Adam's parents Richard and Cleo. (Adam's bro, Bryan, Melissa and kids George and Annabelle were out sick.)
On Avi Joy's birthday she was able to experience Krispy Kreme doughnuts for the first time. She picked out a chocolate sprinkle with chocolate milk. What a fun splurge.
Watching the Hot Now's being made.
Then we drove to hang-out in St. Louis. Pun intended : )
My dad's whole side lives in St. Louis and since my dad's birthday is 4-21, we celebrated with a triple birthday party. (It was a Read-To-Me themed birthday party, all about books!)
We went to a sushi and karaoke restaurant. She is our next Vietnamese-American Idol.
Starting with the grandchildren (Natasha, John III, Kathryn, Knowlton) we all had handprints made in concrete that are now step stones in the yard. When we had the first great-grandkids we made their babyprints too. We did Avi Joy's 2 years ago while in St. Louis.
Here is his precious step stone.
My dad, who we call Granpa Ken, along with his only two grandchildren.
The whole family (minus one... my cousins wife is a Dr. and was out delivering a baby). Ken, Avi Joy, Chris, John, Kathryn, Robert, Debbie, Jim, Amy, Sue, John, Nehemiah, Natasha, Adam, Knowlton, Dan and Nancy. What a sweet and big family.
The McHale's are crazy Cardinals fans and their Granpa Ken got them their first Cardinals outfits. THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR BIRTHDAY A GRAND SLAM!
We visited with Pastor Le from our local Vietnamese church this week. Unfortunately he will not be able to make Vietnam Family Weekend for he is officiating a wedding in Dallas but we had a beyond blessed time with him. We talked about Vietnam, its people, the church here/there, mission opportunities and language school.
One of the sweetest gifts was when Pastor Le prayed for our children. Blessings, protection, and the most touching moment was when he said "May Nehemiah live up to his namesake, just as Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem may Nehemiah rebuild the walls of Vietnam." OH the tears! WE LOVE YOU!

I am thinking about starting a blog. A non-family type. My thoughts (like would someone really like to read those?!), what I am learning about the Lord, stories, dreams, etc. Not sure if I am ready for the upkeep, its just a thought at the moment, but I have a lot going on in this head of mine and maybe its time...

This was a great encouragement to me this week:
"(May God) equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:21

Adam, Natasha, Avi Joy and Nehemiah