July 15: Miami trip pictures!

We're enjoying our time in Miami, having fun with family and friends. We are keeping busy, and here's a link to some of our pictures on facebook!

July 11: Danny and Leah

We had fun today taking engagement pictures for Danny and Leah... Dave took this one!

July 3: fun!

Danny and Leah!

We were very happy to receive a phone call from Danny on January 2nd, letting us know that he and Leah got engaged on January 1! They are planning a July wedding.

We have known Leah for several years. Danny met her when he went to Miami in June of 2004. She is the niece of former Abidjan missionary friends of ours...

This is an old picture and I'm waiting as patiently as I can for a new one!

Happy 23rd Father's Day, Dave!

Dave has been a great dad to Danny, Joey and Jacob over these years! Today is the first Father's Day with none of the boys at home... Jacob is in the same country with us, but at the beach for a few days with some friends.... We are both blessed to be the parents of our boys-- and I'm thankful for the father our heavenly Father has given them!

Remembering Dad on Father's Day

Remembering Dad on Father's Day, originally uploaded by MaryD SN-MN.

On Fathers Day, I'm thankful for my dad. He died almost 17 years ago, but I still miss him! He was a great dad to me, and a great grandpa to Danny and Joey. He would have loved to be a grandpa to Jacob, Lilly, Maggie, Jack, Luke, Jennifer, Paul, Anna, Matt, and Stevey too! The center picture in this collage is from Father's Day in 1990, his last "good" Father's Day with us. (The next Father's Day was pretty sad, with him ending up in the hospital and dying the following month...)

Although I remember him on many days, today is special-- and I just want to say Thanks, Lord, for the great dad and the many great years of him living on earth as my father!

(i know some of these pics don't fit quite right... but it's the best way i could get it to work!)

Danny

We haven't written any update about Danny lately, and our friend just sent us this cute picture of Danny and his wonderful girlfriend Leah... so I just thought I'd post it here for you to enjoy as well! Danny is working an internship this summer at a bank in Miami, as well as continuing classes (is still living on campus.) He's keeping busy! And we miss him!

Christmas Eve family photo

Christmas Eve, originally uploaded by MaryD SN-MN.

Christmas eve: handsome guys!

handsome guys!, originally uploaded by MaryD SN-MN.

prayer card

prayer card, originally uploaded by MaryD SN-MN.

And the family picture has been made into a prayer card! (With the help of a graphic-designer and photoshop!

August 20: Family

Family Picture August 20 (1), originally uploaded by MaryD SN-MN.

It's been so great to have Danny with us for these past weeks. He is returning to Miami tomorrow, and we will miss having him here! But we are excited for all that he is returning to in Miami-- including a very special girl and the return to full-time college.

The Cabin

We all enjoyed spending lots of time at my mom's cabin, by ourselves as well as with different friends and family members. If you'd like to see more of our cabin pictures, click here!
(For best viewing, click "view as slideshow"!)

end of the run

end of the run, originally uploaded by MaryD SN-MN.

Despite the fact that it was in the 50's and rainy, these guys were not deterred from tubing or skiing! But they looked pretty cold by the end!

tubing

IMGP3645c, originally uploaded by MaryD SN-MN.

All three of the guys really enjoyed, both riding on the tube, and driving for others!

knee-hockey

One of the first things that got unpacked from our boxes when we got to our furlough house was the knee-hockey equipment! Many tournaments have been played in the basement here, and constantly skinned knees are the order of the day!

July 4

July 4, originally uploaded by MaryD in Senegal.

We are off on an adventure-- taking the train downtown, to enjoy the riverside happenings and watch some fireworks. Danny has joined us, and it's fun to be all together in Minnesota!

Happy Birthday, Leah!

January 1: Danny

Danny lives in Florida, where he is working and attending college part-time. He is our first-born son, and though he is not a Decker-living-in-Dakar, he is very much a part of who we are!