O Happy Day!

CONGRATULATIONS, SCOTT & MELISSA, ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT! THIS IS A CHRISTMAS YOU WILL NEVER FORGET!

Off to Gulfport Mississippi

The Lubbers Family, minus Stephanie, is off to Gulfport Mississippi this afternoon. We have a 17+ hour ride down, in two 15 passenger vans (with 25 people from our church), driving straight thru the night tonight and starting work right away Tuesday morning. We're staying at Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church with 100 other people. We'll be doing roofing work and debris cleanup.We'll be home Saturday morning.

Stephanie leaves for Washington Tuesday morning.(Thank you to Micki for an early morning ride to the airport).

We'd appreciate your prayers.

A VERY BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!! WE LOVE ALL OF YOU! Al and Karen 

Here's the evidence....The men just can't party like the women!! Sleep on, Gary! 

December 15: Parker turns 8! Have a happy birthday, and keep learning everything you can about this great world of ours! 

This cutie pie is going to be ONE tomorrow...December 13! Happy Birthday, Devan!!! 

When you eat like this on Thanksgiving.... 

...you feel like this!! 

Happy 48th Birthday, Elaine...tomorrow, Dec. 12. Enjoy a wonderful day! 

Happy 41st Anniversary, Andy and Mic! (December 3) 

Hey, Jeremy! It's the BIG one....21! Happy Birthday tomorrow...November 29.  

The Thailand I love

The Compassion Thai Headquarters

Ying, Yui, and Ping...The Amazingly Dedicated Thai Compassion Staff

The Tail End of the Rainy Season

Part of the Temples of Budha

A Sponsor Child's Family and Home

Education

The Spirit of the People

Typical Home

The Lighting

Riding Elephants

My Compassion Sponsor Child and I

The Panda Wedding

It's almost Nov.16 and Matt's 17th birthday! Happy Birthday, Matt! You have more teenage birthdays behind you than ahead of you. Enjoy..these years just fly by! 

Kev n Renee...again

Here's another picture of the soon to be newlyweds !!!

(Keven likes this picture better)

HEY RACH! You are 54 today! But you don't look it, and you don't act it! That's what counts! Have a great day! (I love this picture!) 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JILL! (NOV. 14) A smooooch for you! This is a perfect day to NOT act your age! So enjoy!! 

A new baby

I have a new nephew, and to quote Stephanie..he's "stinkin cute". Dean and Michelle adopted an African American baby- he is one week old today. His name is Ezekiel Layne (Zeke was Dean's nickname when we were young, Layne was my dad's middle name).

If you want to see pictures check out the Dykstra Family Website at www.dykstrafam.blogspot.com .

The picture we've all been waiting for.....

Congratulations to the newly engaged couple.

Keven and Renee we're so excited for you !!!

Spain pics

So yes, I have been back for nearly 4 months now, but I just got the rest of my Spain pictures online. (Hey, I'm a Lubbers, we never do anything right on time) :) Here is the link to the rest of the Spain pics from second semester....

http://community.webshots.com/user/StephanieinSpain2

Dennis, Happy 39th birthday today!! Hope you have many, many more! (I think I got that number right!!) 

Just 'Cuz It's a Great Picture

The Road Less Traveled By...

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveller, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference...Robert Frost

Having survived the train trail less traveled by, I shall now venture off to the country less traveled by. Thailand here I come. See you all at Thanksgiving!

A picture just for the fun of it...the "babies" of the family! 

Happy Birthday, Al! (Nov.1) Just add 30 years to Keven's age, and BINGO...it's 56! 

Birthday wishes!

Happy Birthday, Keven! (Nov. 1) You're 26...and almost married!! Congratulations on your engagement! You must be on cloud 9 these days!! Looking forward to seeing you at Christmas! God bless!

Happy Birthday, Jaden! You are 3 years old! Eat lots of birthday cake and have fun blowing out your candles! (October 24)