Christmas is Coming!

Christmas is coming soon. I am so excited! Did you know we get presents? I just had a birthday so I know all about presents. Are you looking forward to Christmas? I am, but for more than just presents. At Christmas we get to celebrate Jesus’ birth. That is more exciting than presents. Jesus came to us! He  loves us enough to come to earth as a baby. 

Trust me, I know about babies! Ben is two months old now but he still cries more than I would like. He has started smiling which is fun. I love having a brother, even if he still wears stinky diapers and wakes me up at night. Can you believe that God became a baby because He loves us? How amazing, I wouldn’t want to be a baby again.

This year lets remember that there is more to Christmas than presents. We should thank Jesus for coming to us. Merry Christmas or in Swahili “Krismasi Njema.”

Love, Timbo 

Getting Ready and Being Prepared

Mom and Dad have been getting ready for Uganda. We want to be ready to go as soon as all our support is raised. Some things are fun to do; I got to go shopping this fall and buy lots of summer clothes on clearance. Mom says that it is summer all the time in Uganda, so I need summer clothes in lots of sizes. I am also learning some Swahili. It is fun to learn new words. I know how to say elephant (tembo), lion (simba), giraffe (twiga) and lots of other more useful words.

One of the things that is not as fun is getting shots. To go to Uganda I need to get six shots that I wouldn’t need here in America. I have had three and will continue to get more as we get closer to leaving. To be ready to serve Jesus we need to be prepared. What are some ways you prepare for serving Jesus? Are you reading your bible so that you can know God better? Do you pray for your friends who do not know Jesus? We need to be ready to show Jesus' love to everyone we meet. As we are getting ready to go to Uganda, we are also making sure we are ready to serve Jesus here as we are able. 

 

By the way, I am loving being a BIG brother. Benjamin is cute when he is not crying. He does sleep a lot though... I can't wait until he is big enough to play with. The Swhaili word for the month is "dawa" which is the word for medicine. I will be excited when all these shots are over. Love Timbo

Taking Care of Each Other

I want to introduce you to Benjamin Daniel. He is my brother and he was born September 23rd. I am so excited to have a brother. Mom and Dad like him too. Ben can not do much by himself yet. He needs mom to feed him and he needs his diapers changed. He can’t play yet. Mostly he just eats and sleeps.

Because Ben needs so much I try to help when I can. I give him toys if he is crying. I put his dirty diapers in the trash. Sometimes I help dad pick out Ben’s clothes. I also help mom find the pacifier when it is missing.

It is my job to help take care of my brother. Did you know that we are all brothers and sisters in Jesus? We are all God’s children and we should take care of each other. We should love and be kind to each other. We should help in any way we can. I pray that you will help those around you this week and show Jesus’ love to them.

Getting Ready

Dad and Grandma Laurie call it "nesting," and Mom calls it "organizing." No matter what you call it, Mom is very busy getting things ready for Ben. She is going through boxes of baby clothes and getting out the small diapers. Mom has been giving Dad lots to do. He has set up Benjamin's baby bed and got the boxes out of the attic for Mom. It seems like we are ready.

I have been helping too. I sorted through all the bibs and told Mom which ones I liked. I even threw a bunch on the floor. Mom made me pick them back up. Do you like to help? I love to help Mom and Dad. I can't wait for Benjamin to get here so I can help take care of him. The doctor says everything looks good. We should get to meet Ben face to face in just 4 weeks. So exciting!

Building the Kingdom

Grandma Laurie and Grambo are putting an addition onto the house to give everyone more space. There will be a new room and bathroom for Grandmom Rambo and a new small bathroom for everyone else. I have been watching the builders closely. I stand at the window and tell the builders what to do. They have done a really good job and are almost finished.

I have learned by watching the builders that for a house to be built all the different builders have to work together. The plumbers, electricians, painters, contractors, roofers, inspectors and builders can not do their job if they do not work with the others. Each person has to do the job they have. No job is more important than the others. If the plumber didn't come we wouldn't have water. If the roofers did not do a good job we would have lots of extra water. Everyone has to do the job they have been given and each one has to get along with everyone else.

It is the same in God's family. We are all working together to build the His Kingdom. We all have different jobs: pray, give, share, preach, go. But none of our roles can be truly effective if we don't work together. My family can not go to Uganda if people do not pray and give to our ministry. We would not even be planning to go if someone had not shared with us and preached to mom and dad.
Will you do your part and will you pray that I will learn to do my part? I am trying to pray every night for a missionary family. I will learn to share with others what God is doing in my life. Those are the jobs that God has for me now.

Missionary Kids Hanging Out

We went to camp for Memorial Day weekend. It was great! Who wouldn't love the sand, water and friends there? This weekend was extra special because I got to hang out with some friends we have not seen for awhile. Elsie Jayne and Lucy Coppedge were at camp because their Daddy was the speaker. Elsie was nice and shared toys with me. She is a year older than me and was quite helpful and fun to play with. I tried to play nice with Lucy. She is a year old and kept following me around. Mom really likes Lucy and kept holding her. I was not a big fan of mom holding another kid, but I decided it wasn't worth fussing over.

Sunday night my cousins, Caleb and Seth, came. I love playing with them. I am the little guy right now, but once Benjamin gets here  I won't be the littlest. We 3 boys have a lot of fun together now. We don't fight over toys as much as we used to, and we actually play together now.

I also got to hang out with Lucas and Timmy Bowen. They are missionary kids to Paraguay. Timmy is a lot like me and not just because we have the same name. He is adventurous and has no fear. He likes the water and likes to climb on things. He is three and a half and I had a lot of fun trying to follow him around and do what he was doing.

Dad took a picture of the missionary kids in the sandbox. We didn't really cooperate for the picture, but who can blame us with all the toys and sand. It's so great to have a worldwide missionary family.

Home Is Where The Tent Is

We are traveling again. I know, it seems like we are always on the road. Good news is that I am getting used to it. I am a pro at napping in the car and I don't whine too much any more. When we are traveling, instead of my old pack 'n play, I get to sleep in a tent. It is part of my growing up, at home I sleep in a "big kid bed" but when we travel I get to sleep in a tent.

I like my tent because no matter where we are staying my tent is the same. We have stayed with lots of different people so far. By different I don't mean weird or strange, they are all great. Any way, we are in Jackson, MS visiting our friends from Wesley Biblical Seminary and from Bellwether Church. Mom and Dad seem to be having a great time seeing old friends and making new friends. I am meeting people who keep saying, "oh you've gotten so big" and "I held you when you were born." I just have to believe them because I don't remember anything from our time here a year ago.

We still have a week of our trip left and lots more people to see. Mom and Dad don't want to leave without getting to see everyone again, so bug them if you don't have plans set up yet.

Pretending at the Museum

Hello everyone! This week I got to go to the Jersey Shore Children’s Museum with mom, Aunt Kelly and my cousins, Seth and Caleb. While we were there we got to pretend to be lots of fun things. Do you like to pretend? I had a good time. Here are a few of the different roles I played.

We were in a doctor's office. I was practicing holding a baby since we are going to have a new baby soon. Well, soon used loosely, mom and dad keep saying I will get to see the baby in September. I don't really know how far away that is.

Next we have a picture of us at the post office. Working together and having fun doing it.

Here is a picture of me and Caleb doing a news broadcast. He was doing the headlines and I was his assistant.

Seth found the construction site. Earlier we had fun building a house together (sorry no cute pictures, we were both too busy to look at the camera). But in this picture you can see we are enjoying the trucks and cranes.

Caleb found the dinosaurs and had a blast. I just enjoyed it too. Who wouldn't love playing in the sand and roaring like a dinosaur?

But my favorite, you guessed it, the basketball court. They had basketballs and hoops to shoot in. I could have played there all day. 

I had a great day and had a lot of fun pretending. 

Baking with Grandma Laurie

The other day Grandma Laurie was in the kitchen busy making rolls. Her church, Trinity United Methodist in Clayton, NJ has started a soup ministry on Saturdays. Grandma makes the rolls. She was busy and I decided I should help. I climbed right up on the stool and demanded to be involved. She gave me some dough. I didn't like it at first, it was sticky. But after mom added some flour and put some flour on the counter I had some fun.

After she made little balls she put them on a tray. I, of course, also wanted to put some on a tray. Grandma would not let me put my dough balls on her tray (something about other people eating hers or germs or something...), but she gave me a tray to put mine on.

It is fun to help. Are you a good helper? Do you offer to help when you can? It is always more fun to work together than by ourselves.

I've got some news!

Well, I figure it's my job to keep all of you up to date on what is going on in the family, especially since I know mom and dad are pretty bad about keeping their blog updated. So, I don't know if they have told their blog readers this yet or not (you know, since I can't read yet or anything), but... there's a baby joining our family! 

I know, you're shocked, right? I was when I found out too. Honestly, I'm still not quite sure what to think. Mom and dad seem pretty excited, but I'm not so sure. 

It's a good thing I got to meet Adalynn Gormong and Ella Engebretson while we were gone though. At least now I know what a baby is anyway. When I first met Adalynn I wasn't so keen on the idea of my mom and dad holding someone else, that's my spot!

But after a few days I started warming up to the idea of having other little people around.

That doesn't mean, however, that I'm ready for a little sister yet. I know mom wants to have a little girl, but I would rather have a brother I can play with and I think dad agrees with me. It's only fair though, because when we get to Arua mom and dad will be working with the Coppedges, Uncle Billy and Aunt Jo, and they have two little girls, Elsie Jayne and Lucy. I don't want to be the only little boy--who know what they would do to me!

But I digress. I guess in the end, I'm more excited than not about having a baby brother or sister. Everything's better when you have a partner in crime, right?

So there you go, that's the big news in our family. I wanted you to hear it from me, someone you trust, before you heard it on the street.

Day at the Beach

Florida was GREAT. I loved seeing some of my extended family.  It was nice to go barefoot and without a coat. Really though, I wanted to show you some pictures taken when we went to the beach.

Me and Dad ready to go. Notice how clean I am.

Chasing the seagulls. Never could catch them, even though I tried.

Playing with the sand. It feels so good between my toes, and in my ears.

How did I get so dirty! Mom says it is time for a bath. The beach was SO fun.

The baby at the Gormongs

We spent five days with the Gormongs: Phil, Kara and Adalynn

I met baby Adalynn for the first time last week. Mom and dad talk about her and how cute she is, but I had not yet met her. When we first got there mom held Adalynn and snuggled her. I made it clear that it was NOT ok for MY MOM to snuggle another baby.

As the week went on I began to warm up to her. She made cute sounds and didn't cry very loud. Mom tried to feed Adalynn a bottle and I was ok if I could sit on mom's lap at the same time. The night before we left I decided I liked, maybe even loved, baby Adalynn. I gave her several hugs and even a kiss.

Phil and Kara were pretty cool too. I am glad I got to meet them since mom talks about them a lot. I know that we will be friends for a long time.

I hope that you are making good friends who you will be close to forever. Please pray for me as I am making new friends as we travel and how as I make new friends I am also having to say goodbye to friends.

Staying with Abbie in Pittsburgh

We had a blast visiting with Abbie in Pittsburgh. She made us dinner and let us relax at her house the first night. I had fun exploring. She has two sets of stairs and a piano to play with.

On Saturday she showed us around town. We rode up the incline. It was something we rode up a really step hill. Abbie said it was the way the steel workers used to get up the hill. It was a great view. We drove around and saw different areas of the city. Abbie took us to the Carnegie Library. I had fun reading books and exploring the children's section. After the Library we went to dinner then home for bed. I was a little tired.

Sunday we went to North Way Christian Community where Abbie goes to church. In the evening mom and dad left me to go see a play. I cried a little when they left because I love them, but then Abbie played with me and let me watch 101 Dalmations. Overall, it was a great trip. Check back in a week. I will tell you all about the Gormongs :)

Going to Target

 I LOVE going to Target. It is three turns from our house and it is an excellent escape from the day to day stuff. Do you remember what my favorite toy is? That is right, a ball. I love the big red balls that are in front of Target. If I am good, Mom lets me touch one on the way in and on the way out.

    When we are in Target I get to see lots of bright colors and different shapes. My favorite part, other than seeing the red ball, is seeing all the people. I love waving and making people smile. Are you being the type of person that make others smile? Are you sweet and kind to those you meet? We all need to be Jesus to those around us.
   
I will be praying that wherever you go, you will bring joy to other people. Whether you are in Target, at school, at home or in Uganda, show others Jesus’ love.

Pray for me as we are starting our big travels to PA, IN, MI, KY and FL. We will be gone a month. For details or our trip you'll have to look at mom and dad's blog. I don't care about the details, its not like I get a say... I just get strapped in and taken. I am excited about the trip but there will be lots of hours in the car seat. Pray for my patience and mom's attitude, she gets cranky being in the car. Keep checking back, I will post pictures from our travels.

Making New Friends

Over the past few months I have made LOTS of new friends. I got to visit Grace Bible Fellowship and meet the boys and girls who go to Discovery Cove. They let me play with the blow up globe and they had excellent questions.


Next I played with the kids who came for Logos at Wiley Church in Marlton, NJ. They were excellent soccer players. The kids in St. Peter’s of Ocean City welcomed me with open arms after the holidays. I played with a ball of yarn as they sang songs and learned about our ministry in Africa. I gave them each a piece of yarn and a prayer card to help them remember me.

I will be visiting Pitman UMC this coming Sunday. I am so excited. Mom and Dad made lots of good connections there, I can’t wait to meet the kids. In February I will get to go to Evangelical United Methodist in Clarksboro, NJ. God has been so good to give me so many friends who love me and pray for me regularly.

Each night I pray too. Is there anything I can be praying for you about?

Christmas

Christmas was great! It was so wonderful in fact, that I forgot to blog about it. I got all my favorite things again. My family is great. We have had a week at home to catch up from all the travel and craziness of the holidays. Things have settled back down.

All settled down till yesterday. There was happiness, disappointment, crying, prayers, excitement and rejoicing. Let's just say there were a lot of emotions. I don't really know all the details. Something about God not providing the way Mom has been praying, then God providing in ways bigger than Mom could've imagined. You'll have to read Dad and Mom's blog for the details, but Aunt Kelly said it well, "God gets us from A to B but sometimes goes by Q to get us there." SO praise Jesus we are at B.