Love your Journey: 2009

Family Life

You would think with a new baby, mom would slow down and spend some days at home adjusting to this new life but not when that mom is me and that mom is married to Nat Zook! Here we are visiting Mrs. Liberty while my good friend Michelle was in from Canada. Now I know your thinking we are nuts and though you may be right we are not as out of our minds as one would first think. I'm sure the mere mention of New York has your mind filled with thoughts of endless walking in a sea of people who have a destination in mind and will not wast a moment getting there. That may be the typical trip to The City That Never Sleeps but this trip, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. We sat on the boat to Liberty, sat on the bus to see the city monuments and sat in Central Park. It was a hole lot of sitting but a hole lot of fun!

A must have in New York is a street hot dog!

Looking back at photos of Alexia I can hardly believe how tiny she was. Here she is doing her famous supper woman pose for you. And, I might add, she looks particularly small in her HUGE diapers! Nat and I are going green with our kids tushies. We got the one size fits all cloth diapers from BumGenius. The only deal is that they were a little too big for her in the beginning.

But then I found the perfect shirt to fit the diapers!

Yes Alexia my love, your diaper does make your butt look big but you are the cutest, sweetest thing I have ever seen!

We had an awesome visit with my mom and sister! And yet another trip for baby.This time Washington! Watching my sister interact with Alexia reminded me of the days her and my brother were young. At age 14 I had a 3 year old sister ( The beauty in the above photo!) and a new born baby brother; both of whom I could not get enough of. It wormed my heart to see my sister form that same bond with my child.

I thought this was hysterically appropriate! Willit Run

Just had to stick that in there.... for no particular reason.

Nat has been busy training for this years Black Rock 125 mile bike ride. The three Zook boys completed their mission in 9 hours! Not bad boyz!! Nat and Nadon say the wives are going to do it with them next year..... we will see about that.

Life Is Changing

Getting ready for the biggest change of our lives had me juggling every emotion known to man...... or pregnant women! (I think there are a few emotions only known to pregnant women that have not been named yet, cause I could think of what to call it!) As Nat and I set up the babies crib I don't think reality was sinking in yet.

Nat is blowing up tub getting prepared for the day our little one was due to arrive. Call me crazy but we have decided to have our first child at home. All natural. No pain killers. From what I was told and read about, having a water birth helps counteract some of the birthing pains. I can't really say that I felt a difference from the contractions inside the tub as I did outside the tub and I can't say that I would not have taken an epidural if it was available but I can say that I survived.

As thousands of women before me.

I could stretch out my legs with my back and feet touching each end of the pool. I never actually completed my birth in the tub. Because the tub was slippery and I had the urge to move.. a lot... the midwife suggested a different position out side the tub. She must have known what she was doing because in two more pushes Alexia was in this world!

Nat is giving all the birthing details to my mom on the phone as he admires his first child. As much as he hates it, I have to brag about my husband. I really don't know how I would have gone through the last few weeks without him. He has worked a full days hours and then comes home and relives me from my duties as a mom. He is even willing to get up in the middle of the night to attend to Alexia's needs.

This girls proud Daddy couldn't stop taking photo's of his precious angel

Yep! She is going to be a Daddy's girl!

Enjoying the peaceful moments

I have vowed to myself that I would do my best to enjoy every stage Alexia is in and not wish her months and years away. I know she will never be this small again and I want to hold onto every moment because before I know it she will be walking out my front door ready to start her own life. May God grant me the skills to prepare her for that day; and the grace to prepare me for that day!

Highlights of the last few months

My husband who never quits working is helping his brother-in-law

add two extra rooms to their house.

Enjoying a camp fire and a outside dinner after the boys finished a hard days work.

Nat's younger sister got married!!

We love you Merv and are so excited for you both!

Went on a day trip to Cape May with our good friends!

We had our first garage sale. This would seem like to big deal to some of our friends and family out side of Lancaster County but if you lived here you would see this event in a different light. Garage Sailing is like the presents under the Christmas tree that get the kids out of bed at an ungodly hour in the morning. And I am not exaggerating by any stretch. There are tons of garage sales to choose from, every single weekend in the summer, and half of them begin at 6:00am. Did you catch that?! They open at 6:00am and you can be sure to find people arriving at 5:45 just to make sure then can get the first pick of the goods being sold!

The boys had a good time cooking buggers and hot dogs for our hungry shoppers

Nat surprised me with a camping trip for my birthday.

The coolest cake ever!

As many of you know Nat and I are expecting our first child. This unexpected turn of events has had us dealing with a number of emotions. First there was the initial reaction of shock mixed with giddy excitement. Then there was disbelief...... is this really happening. Once my belly started to show it was like..... "wow! I'm really going to be a mom soon!" Now that we have allowed time to let this joyous news sink in and become a reality in our minds we are getting increasingly excited about the arrival of this new life. I, for one am excited to get this squirming baby out of my belly and let my body function normally and I am sure Nat is looking forward to getting his mentally sane wife back! But more so we are looking forward to the laughter and joy our baby girl will bring to our home and we are grateful God has blessed us with such a gift. And I am grateful to have a man as wonderful as Nat to share this life journey with.

Nat being crushed by four delighted children who are oblivious to his agony!

One Year Anniversary Photos In South Africa

First thing I did after entering South Africa was buy myself the best tasting ice cream bar known to man! I was introduces to these delicious treats by my good friend Ruth when we visited Israel in 2007 and I was delighted to find them in South Africa as well!

We enjoyed a few restful days at Mercy Air before the long plan ride home.

This place is an oasis for weary missionaries!

I was surprised by a beautiful bouquet of roses given to me by Ron & Barb!

Spent the day doing some sight seeing near Mercy Air.

This would be Nat looking over a REALLY big cliff. Seriously this photo does not do justice. I could hardly take the photo.

Sitting in the rain forest

Enjoying the view

Nat looking cool!

Another beautiful view at "God's Window"

Just a funky plant

Some gorgeous water falls

Went four wheeling and it was a BLAST!!!

Nat & I are using the practice trail to get used to the bikes.

Going over a really rickety bridge!

We came from the bottom and now we are at the top!

Stopped for a rest to enjoy a snake and this amazing waterfall.

Sitt'n in this fun tree swing/chair.

Gearing up for the ride back

After all that adrenaline of four wheeling we took a dip in the spring pools.

It was VERY cold, I might add!

Topped it all of with an amazing evening out for dinner!

Last days in Moz.

In our last week of serving in Mozambique the internet was being less than cooperative so I am just going to recap on a few things. I spent some time with Alta preparing some crafts for her ladies ministry. Not only do the ladies learn to read and write in their native language, but they are also being taught life skills such as sowing, crocheting, beading, and embroidery. And let me tell you, these ladies are no amateurs. The embroidering they do could be sold for top dollar out here in the West.

In May of 2007, Nat brought the Jortosh team, who specialize in children's ministry programs, to Mozambique to help with the construction of his house. Aside from entertaining the kids, speaking at churches, building a school roof, and working on Nat's house, the team also donated 6 manual (none electric) sowing machines to be given to Alta's ministry. I followed up with Alta to find out how the sowing projects were benefiting some of the ladies in her program.

I met with Louisie and Isabelle who both are without any family. All the ladies were tough to sow by Gabriel, the man of all traits, who is featured below with Nat making windows and doors. The ladies are payed to sow clothing and bags for the school children at the ASAM school. They are also aloud to use the machines to generate their own source of income. These machines will remain the property of ASAM Ministries but are used only for the gain of the locals.

Louisie and Isabelle send a worm THANK YOU to the Jortosh team for sending them these machines. The income provides food and warmth for them in the difficult living conditions of the bush.

Some projects are used for the missions purposes such as school uniforms and book bags for the children and some are a way of teaching personal business skills. The women make things such as pillow cases, aprons and throws, all embroidered with the most beautiful designs. These are then sold to teams who wish to bring back souvenirs for their loved ones. The profit is given to the ladies so they can purchase more material to make more merchandise.

I also had the joy of helping the orphan girls make earring for themselves and their sponsors. These earrings made out of....... get this, coca-cola caps........ will no doubt be the next fashion icon in the Mocambez area of Mozambique!

Angelina made her two pair of earrings faster than I could put the finishing clamp on the sample earring I used to teach her how they were made!

We could tell her earring were well appreciated when Heather and I noticed Angelena dancing around in order to make the earrings bounce.

Nat spent most of his days in his glory...... working in the wood shop with Gabriel making doors and windows for orphan homes. A few years ago Nat began teaching Gabriel the trade of wood working because he saw some potential in this local man who was hired for some temporary work on the farm only to return to find that Gabriel had far exceeded the talents he has been taught....... this man has has wood in his DNA.

There are are two things I can't seem to escape these days, cutting hair and painting. Though I thought it would be more fun to paint Heather than the walls!

After a busy week Heather, Rick, Nat and I took a day off to head to the dam for a little fishing and sun bathing. We caught too much sun and no fish. Everyone is complementing me on my great tan. I tell them I got in one day and I had to pay a hefty price for it. I burnt myself so bad this day that I could hardly walk for two days without wincing in pain. I did find out about an interesting home remedy for a nasty sunburn. Water and vinegar! Thanks for the great advice Alta!