Summer Highlights

We had an amazing summer. Fall is here in full force and it is so beautiful, the leaves have changed colors and are lining the sidewalks and streets. It makes for some beautiful drives in Storm Lake, Iowa!

Before we officially welcome Fall, I want to remember a few highlights from summer.

Alcyone and Daddy (photo by Allie Friesen)

Alcyone Simone Friesen, our beautiful firstborn, had her first birthday on July 7, 2011! 
Skills: Walking, Going down slides, Climbing on the table, Feeding Smokey our dog, Clapping, Dancing to music, Pulling things apart
Favorite games: Ring-around-the-rosy, Hide-and-seek, Pat-a-Cake 
Vocabulary: Mama, Dada, What's That, Puppy, Baby, Hot, Hi, Bye, Nooooo, Num-num, Papa (means Grandpa) and Uh-oh!
Favorite foods: Plain yogurt, bananas, eggs, cheerios, milk

Alcyone and Mama (photo by Evan Friesen)

We went to Maidstone in the southern county of Kent, England for Inga and Simon Mitchells' wedding (Inga is Allie's sister). It was a beautiful wedding at All Saints' Loose Church in the village of Loose right outside of Maidstone. The reception was outside at Simon's family home and farm. The weather was sunny and warm, and the bride was very lovely. We really enjoyed helping our sister and new brother-in-law begin their new life in Christ together!

The bride and groom (Inga and Simon) with the three bridesmaids (Juell, Erica, and Allie)
(this and following photos by Ardas Khalsa)

Mother and Father of the Bride (Jay and Pamela Gardner)

Pamela (my mom) at the reception site

Allie with her sister Erica in bridesmaid's attire at the church

Little Alcyone in her wedding outfit with Evan

Riding on Daddy's shoulders

Throwing the rose petals...or just playing with them

Another highlight of summer was going to Kansas City for two weeks in July to train and officially become missionary appointees with Avant Ministries. Avant is a church-planting organization and we are going to join a 5-year team in the Greater Rome Area, Italy in Summer 2012. We enjoyed our training (not the triple-digit weather) and are now in the process of raising support and getting people to pray for us. 

Final highlights: helping Alcyone learn to walk, finding out our next baby is a boy, feeling him kick, developing new friendships in Iowa, and growing closer to God and each other through Bible Studies and small groups. 

We look forward to a great Fall and speaking in churches, sharing our news and plans with friends and family, and the birth of our son in only a matter of days!

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