Our little Peanut

In many pictures, our youngest seems like she doesn't know how to smile. It is either no smile or she has the cheesy "Say Cheese" kind-of-a-smile-but-not-really smile:) Here is proof that she really DOES have a beautiful smile. What a precious gift she is!!

For the latest updates on life at Koinonia, go to http://www.summitfirekoinonia.blogspot.com/. Keep praying! The danger is not over, but definitely reduced greatly. The Lord is so good! He protected Koinonia and all the staffs homes in a miraculous way.

On to life in our house...we were driving by Starbucks the other day and Anna pops up, "Mom you gonna get a popacino?" (translation: frappacino:) Caleb calls it a freeno frappacino (translation: carmel frappacino:) The only reason he says it that way now is because he gets laughter out of everyone (especially mom) when he says it that way. They are funny kiddos!

Please pray for Koinonia!

I walked outside this morning to get the mail and the smell of smoke was what I was met with. I'm not completely positive, but I think the smell was from the Summit fires in the Santa Cruz mountains. Koinonia Conference Grounds is in the area of the fire and the fire has come VERY close to it. Please pray for the Lord's protection of these grounds and also for the homes of the camp staff: Dave and Kim, Daryl and Tami, Pablo and Amy, Kathy, and the other staffers who live on site. Emotions were starting to well up yesterday as I thought about camp and all of the good memories that I have of my years spent there. But there was also a sense of peace in the promises of the Lord. As Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes ALL things (and that includes devastating fires) to work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are the called, according to His purpose." In that, I rest and pray.

Washington DC....The field trip of a lifetime

Did you know that we were in Washington DC 2 weeks ago? Charley, Kristina, and I left Monday the 5th and then came home on Saturday the 10th and it was wonderful! There is so much to write about but I will just give you the highlights and our favorites. Probably my favorite part of the trip was going to the Lincoln Memorial. It was amazing!! I just stood there looking up at this massive monument/man and kept thinking, "I can't believe I'm here!"

We also enjoyed Mt. Vernon (George Washington's home) and spent quite a bit of time there.

The Vietnam Memorial was quite sad to be honest. Sooo many names. We went to a book that they had at the end of the memorial and looked up where the "Epps" names were. No relation to us, but it was interesting to find them.

We went to the Capital, the Supreme Court, the Air and Space Museum, the National Archives, the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, the Korean War memorial, the Iwo Jima memorial, WWII memorial, the White House (we didn't go inside), Arlington National Cemetery, etc. Whew! I'm tired just writing them down. We even went to a Washington Nationals game! It was a great trip. We are so blessed to live in a free country.

Instead of having the red, white and blue race (as it is in the Oakland Coliseum), the Nationals have the presidents race where the "presidents" (Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Roosevelt) run around the field and you cheer for them. Kind of fun:) The picture to the right is the exact place at the Capital where presidents are inaugurated. Notice Washington Monument in the background.

Well, we finally did it! We have a blog. Hope this keeps everyone up to date with the goings on of the Epps family with pictures to come later (when we learn how to do it:)