ECHO

ECHO :  Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization

Last week was a wonderful, refreshing experience for us.  We travelled to ECHO's farm in Fort Myers, FL for a MedSend (organization for Dianna's med school loan repayment) sponsored conference -- Health, Agriculture, Culture and Community.  The conference focused on best practices for community health, innovative agriculture techniques and whole-person care.

ECHO's Mission: "to equip people with resources and skills to reduce hunger and improve the lives of the poor."

ECHO's Vision:  "to honor God through sustainable hunger solutions."

To learn more about ECHO check-out the website.

As you might imagine, ECHO's farm was a natural fit for Dean -- we are seeing how God will put his forestry background into use.

Demonstration for gardening where land limited.

Roof-top gardening techniques for inner city

Malibar Spinach...one of our staples in Niger

Moringa
AKA: miracle tree

Just a few of Moringa's "miraculous" traits

So...who took care of Gracie while we were busy in Florida?

GRANDPARENTS!!

We were able to arrange long layovers in Atlanta, which allowed for a smooth Gracie drop on the way from Wichita to Ft. Myers and pick-up on the way back.  Gracie enjoyed time in Aiken and Columbia with Nana, Papa and other family members.  She particularly enjoyed a Zoo trip with cousin Dylan.

Mid-week, Nona picked-up Gracie for some quality time at Nona's house with horses and a visit from Papa Jeff, too!

Thanks Papa Jeff for the beautiful pictures!!

Despite all the fun and activity in FL and SC, we were all ready for our Atlanta airport reunion on Saturday night.

Enjoying an "early" birthday cupcake
before saying good-bye.

ATL Plane Train...such a big girl!

Traversing the airport in style

AND....we would like to introduce "officially"  Baby K5!!

Baby K5 at 10wk 6d
Due late November 2013

We are praising God for this new little life He has entrusted to us and trusting Him for a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery -- truly our Thanksgiving baby!!  Please join us in praying.

Echoing HIS praises,

DD&G

Hope this Easter

HE is RISEN!

HE is RISEN indeed!

Hopefully you started your day with similar greetings.  Today is the day we set aside to celebrate our living Lord and King!!  We are blessed to freely gather and worship together offering praise and honor to our risen Christ.

We were blessed to share our joy with international friends -- two men who joined us at Heartland for worship and a young family who joined us in our home for a meal!  Just a few weeks to months ago, these friends were living in refugee camps a world away.  Now, they are tasting freedom and new life.  It is our hope that it is LASTING freedom and life experienced only in Christ.

G with her new friend.
She is only 3 days older; they are quite a pair!

Here are few other pictures from the day...

Excited in her new outfit!
Thanks, Nana & Papa!

Bunny Cakes for breakfast
(actually banana bran muffins)

CHEESE!!

Today, we celebrate the LIFE we have in Christ.  It is through Him alone that we truly live.  It is also through Him alone that we find HOPE.

Family portrait
Easter Lilies in Memory of our other 3 children

We ask that you will join us in praying for God's blessing in sustaining a fifth little life that he has brought into our family.  

(YES -- we are announcing BIG news!!)

Baby K5 only recently made his/her presence known to us.  He/she is still too small to even be seen well by ultrasound but is still a life made in God's image with an eternal purpose in mind.   PLEASE pray with us that this little one might join us here on Earth to live out his/her days bringing glory, honor and praise to our GOD!!

Hoping in HIM,

DD&G

Marching on...

Well, time certainly is MARCHing on!  How has another 6 weeks past since we've posted?  Once again being on the move has kept us distracted from our blog BUT has kept us enjoying God's call for our life.

February seems a blur.  One of the highlights was celebrating Missions' Month at Heartland!  We were blessed to hear how God is at work around the world (Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia) as well as right here in Wichita.

In between Heartland events and our work schedules we managed to MOVE all our things out of storage and into a new 2 bedroom apartment in northeast Wichita!  We have loved living with our dear friends, the Cardwells, and will cherish the times we shared and memories we made these last 6 months (as well as ones still to come...just not necessarily under the same roof!).

Gracie now has a BIG girl room -- Pink and Ponies -- her latest favs!

G's 1st Impression!

She has done very well with the transition, not only out of the crib and into a daybed but also another preschool change.  We are very thankful for this adaptable, spirited child the Lord has given us!

And since we didn't think this was enough activity for February, we completed the month (and started March) with 3 back-to-back mission conference weekends in South Carolina and Kansas.

Aside from an unprecedented FOOT of snow which delayed our departure by a day, our travel was smooth and uneventful.

Shoveling Snow with Daddy

A lil' taste (another frosty smile)

The first Global Impact Celebration was at ECBC in the Charleston area.  Our flights were rerouted directly to Charleston (opposed to original plan for overnight with Dianna's brother in Coumbia), so Nana & Papa met us at the airport with hugs (and a vehicle)!

The conference allowed time to reconnect with old friends while making new friends, too!  Gracie enjoyed spending time with M & G in our host family's home : )

Then a drive to the upstate to see Nona and Papa Jeff as well as our dear Clemson friends who hosted a share time for folks to learn more about Chad.

A tractor ride at Nona's house

Followed by time in Aiken (Dianna's hometown) for the second Global Impact Celebration at MBC.

Flag display at MBC

During our brief stay in Aiken, we certainly didn't want to miss celebrating Dianna's grandfather's 88th birthday!  Looking forward to more...

Great grands helping him blow out the candles on his "88" cupcake-cake

We returned to Wichita for a brief day and half of clinic before driving west to Pratt, KS for the third Global Impact Celebration at 1st UMC!

Exploring Pratt's wildlife museum...trying to "pet" the fish

G helped color cards for children's mission outreach 

Singing "This Little Light of Mine" at rehab center

"Lighting" their world (conference theme) by delivering cards
 and goody bags to the center's residents

Thanks to everyone who hosted us and helped make these conferences special!

A week ago we returned to Wichita and unpacked our bags (for a while at least).  Whew...

It has been busy, yes.  Oh but SO encouraging and exciting!  The reality of our coming departure is sinking in, especially when we take time to look at the calendar.  Lord willing in 4 months we will leave Wichita and return to TEAM headquarters for our final pre-field conference.  Then we are hopeful to spend 3-4 weeks in SC with family and friends before departing for French language school at the end of August!!

As we reflect over the last year -- we were in Chad on a vision trip exactly 1 year ago -- it is amazing and affirming to see how the Lord has provided and paved the way for these next steps.

Marching on in Him,

 DD&G

Merry with Thanks!

This title seems fitting for our combined Thanksgiving & Christmas post -- we are merry and full of thanks!

For Thanksgiving we drove to Kansas City for fun-filled family time with many (not all) of the Kubaczs.  It truly is a blessing to have family close by which draws more family near during the holidays : )

Gracie enjoying the feast!

Girls with Uncle Josh

We attempted a photo shoot with the girls in matching outfits...

which turned into a playground photo journal (as expect for two two-year-olds).

Although not pictured, we enjoyed spending time with Nona, Boppy (aka Papa Jeff), Darol, Cheryl as well as JAM (thanks for hosting)!

Upon returning back to Wichita, we had the wonderful opportunity to attend a Christmas party (hosted by our church and a local international student outreach) for some of the refugees we have met over the past few months.  We shared some Christmas traditions with them -- giving gifts, making ornaments (with the kids), eating Christmas cookies -- and read the Christmas story.  

It was a sweet time of fellowship.

Dean chatting with some of the men.

Ladies visiting after the gifts were given.

Decorating star ornaments

Gracie helping unwrap a gift...she couldn't resist : )

For Christmas we headed east to South Carolina for more fun-filled family time.  
But before we went, Gracie got to see this winter season's first snow.

We -- as we're sure many of you can relate -- celebrated Christmas in many "parts" this year.

Part 1: pre-Christmas time with Kubacz's at Nona's house

Ginger-Barn
Baked by Nona
Designed by Cherith
Assembled by Cherith & Dianna
(not pictured but..decorated by little girls)
Eaten by ALL

"Alphabet Train" puzzle time with Boppy!

Horse ride with Nona, Uncle Josh & Anabel
"Pinky is my favorite" --Gracie--

Part 2: Plyler "extended" family Christmas

No photos but we had fun reconnecting with Dianna's Aunts, Uncles & Cousins.

What did Dianna unwrap at the annual Plyler family gift exchange?

A pink microwave bacon cooker!

(for those unaware, Dianna was the only vegetarian present)

A visit with Mary (Dianna's college roommate) & Brandon topped off the evening...thanks for stopping by!

Part 3: Plyler family Christmas

This year we opened our gifts on Christmas Eve morning -- the 2-year-olds present didn't seem to mind celebrating a day early!

Electric guitar dogs
definitely a hit!
(Good job Papa!)

Nanny & "Great"-granddady
We are SO blessed by all the time we share with them.

Gracie & Dylan

Part 4: Annual Plyler Christmas Party

It was fun (and nostalgic for Dianna) to celebrate Christ's birth at Millbrook Baptist Church's candlelight service followed by Jesus' birthday party.  This has been a tradition for the last 20+ years and has made countless memories.  Thanks, Mom & Dad (aka Nana & Papa), for always making Christ's birth a celebration in our home!

Part 5: Kubacz Christmas

Mid-morning on Christmas Day, we headed back to the upstate for another round of Kubacz family time.  Nona hosted a lovely dinner party, and we were able to connect with 3 (out of 4) of Dean's siblings, his Aunt & Uncle, and a couple cousins, too!

Story time with Aunt Cherith

 Part 6: LeGrand Family Christmas

Back to Aiken in order to spend some quality time with Dianna's cousin, Derek, who drove up for a quick visit.  Then more gift exchanging at Nanny & Granddaddy's house.  

How blessed we are to have this wonderful time with family!

And even more, how blessed we all are to have reason to CELEBRATE:

Christ is BORN!

And after all was finished, we attempted to catch G in this year's Christmas dress smocked especially for her by Nana...

Classic pose for our little girl!

A very MERRY Christmas to each one of you!

Love, DD&G