Ambergris Caye with Grandma Bonnie

When we first started telling folks that we were moving to Belize we were told about this beautiful paradise where the daily temperatures range between 85 and 90 and where the skies are blue but the water is even bluer! Where palm trees wave in the sea breeze and where you live in flip flops. Well we finally were able to visit that part of Belize! It was absolutely beautiful!

'Ambergris Caye is the largest island in Belize, and the main destination for travellers to this western Caribbean nation. San Pedro is the only town on the island. Ambergris Caye has been the hub of Belizean area maritime trade for centuries. Fishing, coconuts, and chicle were historic means of islanders support, but the last thirty years have led to a large growth in both the Belize dive and scuba trade, and ecotourism.'

We were blessed to stay for four days in a very nice resort which Grandma Bonnie was able to secure with her time share group. Our family was blessed to stay in a lovely 2 bedroom apartment with a pretty view of the gorgeous ocean. The highlight of the vacation was the trip to the reef in a glass bottom boat where we visited Shark Ray Alley and Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Grady and I were able to snorkle with the children with the sharks and rays as well as explore the coral reef amidst the colorful fish and creatures. Our favorite was the sea turtle who we saw grazing on the sea floor and also the 200 pound grouper who opened his huge mouth and lunged toward Grant! Having the glass bottom was such an amazing blessing also.. the little girls and Grandma were able to view some of the sights without getting wet! :) Thank you Grandma for treating us to a lovely time ♥

Amanda and Ashley

Rye-Bo



The little girls could have stayed all 4 days at the beach digging!



Grady catches the big one!



Grant flies the kite grandma bought him







We spent a bit of time at this beach- it was somewhat private and also very clean



The funniest thing- San Pedro town is filled with Pit Bulls! But we determined that they are definitely nicer Pit Bulls than in the U.S. On two separate occasions, Grant had a Pit Bull following him. Both of them adopted him and stuck to him like glue. Now I can see why the Pit Bull has a following of loyal owners. These were some sweet dogs!

Amanda is feeling a lot better, praise the Lord!

A local boy runs down the beach

Another friendly Pit Bull beach dog

Someone is growing up!

Grace and I in the golf cart



There are only a few motorized vehicles on Ambergris Caye. The common mode of transportation is via bike and golf cart.


We used to think that photos like this had been photo shopped!







Grandma with the older children















We stayed on the third floor of this complex

Here the glass bottomed boat is waiting for us to board

Grace was very excited to go on a boat! We were concerned she would be scared with the glass bottom and the loud motor but really she did great!

San Pedro Town from the sea. We didn't know this color of blue even existed!

..or this color of blue

Grandma Bonnie

Here the boys look through the glass bottom. The entire bay which is between the shore and the reef ranges between 6-20 feet so you could see through the clear water to the bottom.

Here we see a 3 foot long nurse shark. The children and Daddy snorkled with a school of these as well as sea rays! Sure wish we had some under water photos.. hmm maybe I can borrow a few from Google....

We saw a Sea Turtle just like this one, grazing on the sea floor

Blue Tangs were everywhere among the coral

The Sting Rays were unbelievable! SO pretty!

This young man, Samuel became our wonderful friend on the trip. We had quite a few conversations with him. Please pray for him and his family.. and that he would draw closer and closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus!

Goodbye Ambergris Caye!

As the sun set and we sailed away on the ferry which took us from the Cayes back to Belize City, we saw a group of dolphins, playing in the wake of the ferry. I wish I could have caught it with the camera.. What a blessed time together, enjoying the creation which God has created.

Amanda Nicole

There have been many inquiries about Amanda recently so we thought we would give a quick update on her health situation. After travelling to the U.S in January and finding out that her vitamin D level was extremely low we have been giving her 50,000 international units twice weekly. We also found out that her atlas vertebra was completly out.. that was the culprit for the migraines. After getting a few adjustments, the headaches have almost completely disappeared! Her energy level is up and she has a lot more strength which most likely is due to the vitamin D vitamins. She is still suffering from the tachycardia which is a mystery but we are so grateful for the improvements! We are also so grateful for everyone who has helped us through this and have been praying for Amanda. Mostly we are thankful to the Lord for the many lessons that he has taught and is teaching us through it all.

We love you Amanda!

Maria's House

Maria and her family need a new home. Their roof leaks and the outdoor kitchen has little ventilation and fills with black acrid smoke when they cook. We have been able to visit a few times to sing and pray for the elderly wheelchair bound grandpa. This past visit the family told us that they were hoping to build a smaller home behind the current one in order to have sleeping quarters which is not always leaking during the rain. With a recent donation we hope to help build the smaller home and to improve the current one.. to convert it into a kitchen with better ventilation and a new tin roof.

Here is Martha, cooking in her smoky kitchen

Grandma came with us to visit Maria and check out the place where they hope to build the home

Here Maria (the older Maria) shows me her prized possesion.. a lovely hutch that she received for her wedding.. her husband later left her with three children to start a new family. She has such an amazing attitude about it..she even sends bread over to her husband and his family because 'it is not the children's fault that the adults made bad decisions'. She keeps praying that he will return to she and her children. Unfortunately she suffers from seizures and other serious health problems which does not allow for her to work and provide for her family.

This is the spot where Maria and their family hope to build a second smaller home behind their current one.. which will enable them to have dry sleeping quarters.

Goodbye for now Maria! We hope to start on the building project soon!

Life Here

Since the Kings have left it is back to 'normal life'. It has been a bit of a discouraging few weeks.. bad news on the immigration front and bad news on the permit front.. a very loved pet dying.. bug bites and even a week long violent flu bug! *but* though we may feel a bit pressed right now, there are also wonderful things in our lives as well! We are so blessed!


You would think it is 'Fall' here! In just a few days the beautiful tree in front of our house dropped all of it's leaves and started pushing out new lovely green ones! We are used to that being about a 6 month process.. it is so wonderful to see it all happen within days!

Raking up the piles of leaves~

Just days later, these pretty leave emerge!

Our lovely Molly, just days before she died. :{

Poor Ash was attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes! They love her because she is so sweet of course!

These goats will hopefully be 'Mamas' soon!


Here the boys rebuild their bikes which they got from the bike auction. It has been a fun project for them. What they purchased for $30 has ended up costing them upwards of $60 in repairs but hey, the experience of the project has been priceless! :) :) :)

Farewell Molly

Our sweet Molly who travelled with us on the airplane to Mexico and by bus through Mexico died a few days back. The ticks here are terrible and although they do not carry the dreaded lyme's disease, they do carry something called tick fever. Once we figured out something was wrong with Molly, we rushed her to the vet but unfortunately she died in the car while on our way. The vet took one look at her and confirmed what she had died of. Goodbye 'Moo'. You were such a sweetheart.. thank you for being Grace's companion on our long trek to Belize and for keeping Amanda on her toes with your cute Cocker antics. You will be sorely missed..

Goodbye for now :'(

Well the day has finally come. The first stop we made was a small, patio-sized restaurant for one more meal of belizean chicken and cold Cokes.. for old times sake..

We will miss you all so much! Thank you for being such a wonderful friend.

Next, it was off to the airport..

Becca reads a goodbye letter from Ashley

Little Laura just loves Bro Jeremy. She heard Jeremy and Stephanie's children call him 'Papa' so much during their stay that here she is telling him 'Bye-bye Papa'. We all lost it over that!

Willow has been such a wonderful blessing to have here in Belize. She is a true friend to Amanda as well as a devoted follower of Jesus. Her sweet spirit is such a joy to be around!

The tables are turned this time and we are the ones being left behind. A lonely feeling for sure! :)

God be with you 'till we meet again!

We headed up to the area where you can watch your family and friends board.. we were able to wave one more goodbye

1. God be with you till we meet again;
by his counsels guide, uphold you,
with his sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain:
Till we meet, till we meet,
till we meet at Jesus' feet;
till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

2. God be with you till we meet again;
neath his wings securely hide you,
daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again.
(Refrain)
3. God be with you till we meet again;
when life's perils thick confound you,
put his arms unfailing round you;
God be with you till we meet again.
(Refrain)
4. God be with you till we meet again;
keep love's banner floating o'er you,
smite death's threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again.
(Refrain)

Goodbye for now dear friends. Thank you for coming all the way here to experience Belize with us! Thank you for sharing your lives with us and for being an encouragement. Thank you for your support and for your love for our lord Jesus. We will miss you so much.

More fun Times with the Kings

Rio On Pools

Enjoying the Belize Zoo Together

Joshua, Matthew, Jonathan, Laura, Becca and Gracie

The Jaguar is always a favorite at the zoo











Twins! The whole time that Willow was here I kept mistaking her for Amanda! LOL. On the last night the Kings were here, we also noticed how Jeremy and Grady were dressed exactly alike. We were all laughing and called them the twins also.

Goofing around on our last night together.