Back to School

Back to school already? Where did the summer go? Jenna, Jessica & Michaela reported a good first day of school, though it was mostly going over rules and procedures. Don't they look grown up? I keep saying I'm too young to have two daughters in middle school!

Trivia question of the day: did the Wall girls enjoy High School Musical 2? (see answer below)

















Answer: Bet on it!

Birthday Girl!

My family spoiled me with a yummy "Mary" cake (the recipe is from a wonderful cook, Mary Biggers) on my b-day. Great to talk to my bros too!! We look forward to being together for Garrett's baptism on Sunday afternoon : )

Livin' Inside Out

Our church Quest group put on its annual summer musical today entitled Livin' Inside Out In an Upside Down World! It was really cute! Garrett had a solo which sounded great! Blake was very animated and was easy to spot at the end of a row. Both are glad all those rehearsals are over...

Summer Giboney Swim Party

Every summer, Carrie hosts a swim party for the Giboney cousins. Yesterday was that day for us. A good time was had by all.


Little Ashley -- can you say "Yummy"?
















Dinner out on the "Back 40"
















Cousins and cards -- a winning combo

One More Nairobi Pic

One of my favorite memories of our trip to Kenya was an early morning 5-mile run with the kids of the Made-in-the-Streets ministry. For years at the LA Marathon, I have finished the race about 2 hours after the Kenyans do (out of the top 10 finishers at LA each year, about 70% are from Kenya). So it was no big surprise that I should finish behind many of these athletic young guys, who were far better acclimated to running at 5,000 feet than I was.

Austin goes green

While Garrett and Blake were at King's Kamp, Austin took a series of free golf lessons at beautiful Los Verdes. On Friday there was a putting tournament in which Austin placed 3rd. There was one shot separating 1st and 2nd place and one shot separating 2nd and 3rd place. It was a close contest!

King's Kamp

The cousins (Jenna, Jessica, Michaela, Garrett and Blake) are all together at King's Kamp this week. The theme this year is from Matthew 6:21, "for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Kind-of pirate-y like, matey! The big ship is in the bowl area where everyone meets for devotionals. Please keep them in your prayers!!! I missed seeing Andy and Carrie when we dropped our kids off, as we got stuck in a terrible traffic jam on the 91 E because of a brush fire. Took us 4 1/4 hours to get to Kamp, rather than the 2 it usually takes. Boy, were we GLAD to be there!

More lake fun

This week the Thomas family and the Katch family went to Lake Havasu for some "get-away" time. We relaxed, played, ate, and enjoyed being together!!!

Les Mis

Austin is performing in a community production of Les Miserables this weekend. He starts out as a convict and closes in a tuxedo for Cosette's wedding. He has several small solo lines as part of the ensemble. Since he's performing with a group of older (high school mostly) students, he is amazed at their talent!

First time

After making & serving lunch to some local day laborers with a church camp program, Garrett and Blake splurged and got their first ever double-doubles from In N Out. Ben would be proud!

Nairobi Mission Pics

Carrie and I arrived home safely on Monday morning, jetlagged but none the worse for the wear, following a two week mission trip to the Made-in-the-Streets Ministry located in Nairobi, Kenya. Our time there was very meaningful for us, particularly in terms of getting to spend time firsthand participating in various aspects of this ministry that takes street kids from the slum and provides for them food, housing, clothing, education, job training, love, and exposure to the Christian faith and life.

Highlights of our trip included worshipping with the street kids and ministry team, spending time with ministry leader and preacher Francis Mbuvi (Andy), getting to interact one-on-one with kids (Carrie), going for an early morning run with some of the boys and girls (Andy), getting to visit the mean streets of Eastleigh (where relationships with street kids are cultivated and where they are introduced to the ministry), going on home visits of locals in the Kamulu community, and a two day safari toward the end of our stay. It was wonderful to get to see firsthand the changed lives of these kids who have been given a new chance at life.

Carrie and friends
















Andy and Brad wrap up a painting project
















When in Rome...





















Carrie with her friend Brenda





















With Brenda at one of our Mural Projects

















With MITS Preacher Francis Mbuvi
















With Anastasia (L) & Jackie (R)
















At a home visit with a local family
















These kids love to be in pictures!
















At Nairobi Airport beginning our trip home