Guys. I’ve only played this game a handful of times since buying it, but I could very easily make this one an obsession. Calico is perfectly themed for cold weather gameplay. Who can resist a cozy evening of fun with adorable kitten tiles, colorful quilts, and real-life friends?!
In the grand scheme of board game choices, Calico is on the lighter side, but it’s still both challenging and fun. The rulebook is laid out in an understandable way, and there’s a beginner version that you can play through until you feel comfortable with normal gameplay.
Number of Players: 1-4
Age: 10+
Playing Time:30-45 minutes
Object: Lay tiles to complete patterns and earn points by sewing the best quilt.
Rules Rundown: Here’s a link to the rules – or you can get a general idea of the gameplay for the beginner version below.
Place Millie, Tibbit, and Coconut (3 of the cat scoring tiles) at the top of the table – along with their matching mini cat tokens. Randomly place 2 black and white pattern tiles under each cat tile. (These are the patterns that each cat “likes” for this game.)
All patch tiles can be placed in the bag, and button tokens can be placed in the middle of the table.
There are 108 patch tiles: 6 different colors and 6 different patternsButtons are placed on your quilt if you can connect 3 tiles of the same color
Each player receives an empty quilt board. Pick out the 3 designated design goals and place them in their correct locations on the quilt board. Everyone works toward completing the same designs on his own board in the beginner version.
Empty quilt boardGoals placed. Goal 1: collect 6 unique color/pattern tiles around the top hexagonal goal tile. Goal 2: find 3 tiles of one color/pattern & 3 of a second color/pattern. Goal 3: find 2 tiles of one color/pattern, 2 tiles of a second color/pattern, and 2 tiles of a third color/pattern.
Draw 2 patch tiles from the bag and place them next to your quilt. Each turn, you will lay one of your tiles anywhere on the board, attempting to strategically place it somewhere that will help you complete your design goals. You’ll end your turn by drawing a new tile from the “market” (aka, the bag).
That’s the gist of it! There are some other components (you can receive additional points – in the forms of buttons and kittens – for connecting colors/patterns of specific quantities), but the basic gameplay truly is a simple process: draw a tile, place a tile, and replenish your tile.
Here, I’ve already played a few turns. I need to pick one of my 2 tiles (on the side of my board) to add to my quilt.I’ll add that navy blue flowered tile to the bottom right corner.Coconut the cat likes the “flower” and “cross” designs. Once 5 of those tiles touching, you gain a kitty!I have more than 5 “cross” and “flower” tiles touching each other, so I earned a Coconut kitty, worth 7 points. This will be good in the event that I don’t meet one or more of my design goals.
To be completely transparent, Scott isn’t a huge fan of the theme. (I mean, what almost 40-year-old man wouldn’t think that trying to attract cats to a quilt is his idea of a good time?! Heh.) At its core, its just another drafting game, so the hubby is willing to overlook the crazy kitties for my sake. My older two kids can handle gameplay without help, but my 9-year-old loses interest if we’re playing at the 4-player max.
There is also a single-player version of the game that I’ve tested out. I give it a thumbs up! For me, this game has been solid add to my collection.
These monthly photo dumps may look a little different since we’ve relocated, but hopefully the mix of ministry pictures and family happenings can still give you a good idea of what’s going on – both with the Mitcheners and with our favorite ministry in the DR. Enjoy these 31 January shots!
We took a quick trip to Ohio to visit family. Cal has claimed this kitty as her own and treats him like her dollbaby.A winter wonderland! All 3 kiddos loved the snowy fun this month!Cal got a fancy paint set for Christmas and has enjoyed trying her hand at some canvas painting.Back in the DR, many of our teachers, staff, and admin attended an ACSI conference in townKids were happy to return to school after a 2-week Christmas breakMs. Rosa warmly welcomed her secondary students back to classKrista and I were able to take a trip back to Freedom this month to help with some projects on the ground!We helped deliver a good number of sponsor lettersWe met the newest member of the Freedom ground team!Some afternoon iced coffee and computer work overlooking my favorite school buildingI would never admit to having favorites, but Cristofer has always made me feel like I’m HIS favorite with his big hugs and sweet smilesOur high schoolers are already preparing for their Independence Day celebrationLuis Manuel and Enmanuel asked me to take their picture – Roger enjoyed photo bombingOh.my.word. I couldn’t get enough hugs from these two sweeties! This little family has my heart for sure.Commence the food photos! 🙂 A typical school lunch at Freedom.Gotta catch a “sunrise over Freedom” shot, of courseYuleisy fixed us a huge spread of Dominican deliciousness. Locrio is a fave, and my family was salivating back home when I sent them the pictures.Salami and peppers served over bolloThis is heaven on a plate for me: Dominican avocado and fried plantainsI was able to spy on Scott playing bass Sunday morning from a couple thousand miles awayAnllelo has just 1 1/2 years left before graduation. He was one of my kindergarten babes! He helps the kitchen staff with breakfast jobs each morning before the majority of our students arrive.Jhoan! We miss this guy! Krista and I timed our trip perfectly! Some wonderful friends were also visiting while we were there!Exciting to see some work happening on a new playground area specifically with our pre-schoolers in mindAustin talked to the student body one morning about evaluating what is in your heart – whatever is found there will come out in your words!Ms. Diana working with her group of girls in English tutoringSoaking up those cuddles!Sweet dreams, little man!Headed back to INFor my birthday, my family indulged my board game obsession by getting me some fun new titles. Now, to find the time to play them! 🙂I know this little gal will very soon exchange her Barbies and doll-playing days for more grown-up activities. I’m dragging this season out for as long as I can because little girls don’t keep.
We all go through seasons of mourning. I suppose you could say I’m in one of those seasons now. The different ways I’m grieving aren’t super connected to each other, but I’ve been lamenting several “deaths” in recent months.
1.) One year ago today, we received the unexpected phone call that Scott’s wonderful dad had passed away. It’s still so strange to think that the hugs, laughter, and memory-making for us as a family of 11 ended very suddenly 365 days ago.
I don’t like that Ted is gone – or that the family trips he loved to plan will no longer take place in the same way. I don’t like that he wasn’t at the church’s annual chili cook-off last week – or that there’s this giant Ted-shaped hole in the handbells choir where he used to fit.
I could pose the question, “What good has come from losing Ted?” At first glance, it certainly seems like there isn’t a good answer…
2.) I’ve been mourning in other ways as well. I’m also grieving the “loss” of a ministry I love.
After Ted died, we felt like the Lord was calling us to move back to the States to be closer to family. There have certainly been adjustments for us as we settle in to new rhythms. The kiddos are getting used to going to a new school and church. Life has been busy. However, I find that in the quiet moments, my mind can sometimes wander. I’ve realized that I am mourning the life that was mine for the past 12 years.
Ironically, the simplicity of everyday living is gone – even though I now have every modern appliance and convenience at my fingertips.
The friends who worked alongside me and experienced some very real, shared hardships are thousands of miles away.
The little sea of brown faces that I’ve come to love so dearly are just found in pictures now.
Again, I could pose the question, “Why, God? How is it good that I was removed from this precious place? Wasn’t I doing my best to serve you?”
A cursory look at my circumstances doesn’t seem to warrant such loss…
3.) Perhaps this sounds strange, but I’m also mourning the decline of our nation. To me, it’s fairly evident that the principles upon which this amazing country was founded are no longer prioritized.
Many of our Founding Fathers chose freedom, liberty, honor, integrity, and sacrifice as their guides. Some even chose Jesus. If I think too much on the current state of our nation, I literally want to bring out the sackcloth and ashes.
Sadly, I believe that this blessed land needs to experience some true hardship before a humble turn back to God will ever happen.
This is where that beautiful little Beatitude in Matthew 5:4 comes into play. Yes, I’ve been experiencing the loss that comes along with these “deaths.” But if I really think about it, I must admit that God has been so good in the midst of pain and sadness.
1.) For example, I’ve found comfort in knowing that Ted’s faith has been made sight. Because we can’t physically see him anymore, it’s hard to imagine just how happy he must be, spending the rest of eternity in the presence of the Savior.
In addition, Ted’s testimony lives on in others! The way that Ted was “salt” and “light” to those around him made a difference. In particular, I think about his grandkids. What a spiritual heritage they have because their grandpa was willing to daily live out his faith. And when I think back to Ted’s funeral, I’m still so encouraged by all the people who came – both to support our family and to honor a man who lived a good life. The stories others shared of how he touched them meant the world to me.
2.) While the ministry of Freedom has not ended, our leaving the DR has made me feel as if I’m personally experiencing another death of sorts. Yet, even as I go through this hard change, Jesus’ promise of His presence has proven itself true for me!
I’m so happy that Freedom’s work continues on. To know that the boys and girls I’ve loved for over a decade are still being poured into by others is such a comfort. This ministry never was and never will be “mine.” Jesus simply allowed me be a small part of it for awhile. What a gift!
Katie with some of our secondary gals
But God’s goodness doesn’t stop there. Now I have the privilege of serving with Freedom in a different capacity, 2,000 miles away. I’ve been able to continue working behind the scenes in a way that will hopefully serve to tell Freedom’s story of God’s provision.
On top of that, I’m grateful that we’re settling in to this next chapter here in Indiana! Our kids are making sweet friends and experiencing things they weren’t able to while living in a foreign country. I’m truly excited for these new opportunities that they’ll have to make Jesus famous right here.
10/1 – Getting ready for a band/choir concert
3.) As for my nation, I’ve lived long enough to understand that God truly does know best. There is no assurance that “my people” will return to Him in my lifetime. Hundreds of thousands of Israelites never experienced the land that was promised to them. Hundreds of thousands more watched their nation turn to idolatry and sin time after time. The thought that America is walking that same path saddens me, but the promise that rang out across that mountainside long ago still holds true today: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
I am comforted to know that someday – even if I must wait til my Savior’s return – things will ultimately be set right. Everyone will bow before God and acknowledge Him as King. I am so looking forward to that day! Until that day, may I do my part to offer His Good News to those who need it.
Jesus said that the good life belongs to those who mourn. What a strange statement. But it’s true – life is good because the Creator of the universe has promised to comfort and uplift.
If you play games often, then perhaps you’re “moody” like me. Sometimes I want a game that is complex and deep; the challenge is the draw. Other times, I just want a light and easy game; spending time with others is the priority.
Shifting Stones definitely fits into that latter category. While it’s technically a competitive game (there is one winner), it doesn’t feel tense. When it’s not your turn, there is plenty of time to talk and laugh with others.
This abstract pattern game is super easy to learn, and I fell in love with its design as soon as I opened the box. The tiles are durable and interesting, and the rules are concise and well-written.
While the box states that you can play up to 5 players, I’d recommend sticking to 2 or 3 people for best results. (There are rules included for a single-player version. It isn’t too shabby – if you’re in to that sort of thing.) My biggest complaint for a game with 5 people is that the wait time between turns feels a bit long. Of course, people want to strategize and think through their moves, but the board will change by the time it gets back around to you. It feels like there’s no point in strategizing until the player directly before you is moving tiles.
I’ve included some of the specifics of the game below.
Number of Players: 1-5
Age: 8+
Playing Time:20ish minutes per round
Object: Form patterns within a 9-tile grid to score the most points.
Rules Rundown: Here’s a link to a digital copy of the rules.
Set up the board by randomly placing the 9 double-sided tiles in a 3×3 grid. Pass out 4 pattern cards to each player. On your turn, you can perform any number of the following actions using your 4 cards:
Flip a tile (by “paying” with one of your pattern cards)
Move a tile (by “paying” with one of your pattern cards)
Score points for completed patterns
If you want, you can skip your turn in order to draw 2 additional cards, bringing your hand up to 6 cards. However, you cannot skip twice in a row.
When you’re finished with your actions, draw your hand back up to 4 cards so you’re ready for your next turn.
Rating: 7.5/10
Overall, I think it’s a great addition to your game collection – especially for the price!
Wow, what a hot June. Crazy that this is “the end of the road.” In just 10 days, we touch down on midwest soil for good. We got to say lots of goodbyes and finish most of our packing this month. God is good!
Noah spent this school year running sound for morning assemblies. I’m proud of his hard work!Marcia came over one last time – we had some good conversations. She braided Cal’s hair!Cal made a new friend the first week of summer!The aftermath of the braidsOur friends are still dropping off plastic babies all around our apartmentCaleigh’s purple stripes are sadly going away! It was a lot of work painting them, but she loved them!A few more beautiful sunsets to enjoy this month.Cal enjoyed one last summer program – and the fun obstacle courses that came with it!Paper plate reminders from summer campClaire loves Freedom, and we were so glad to see her one last time in the DR!We went with our summer interns on a boat trip down the Soco RiverWhere we stopped on the riverbank for some coffeeEthan teaching Leyton a card gameFishing on the riverCoffee!Jade and I enjoying our coffee on the riverbankGoodbye, sun!Hello, sun!Our Kindergarteners got some extra English practice from some Ohio friendsA friend came to visit, and she cooked our family dinner for the week!Saying goodbye to delicious fruit!Leyton listening to the morning devotional time with AlbertoAylin loving a horsey rideSo fun to play one last game of Dutch Blitz with a few of the best!Memory verse scramble!
I’ve been called an old soul on occasion, and I’m not even mad about it. From books to music to movies, I will pick “classic” over “modern” 9 times out of 10. Apparently, enjoying really old games is wrapped up in my old soul vibe. Today’s featured game is Pit, and it’s probably the “oldest” game we own. It was first published 120 years ago!
I remember playing Pit often as a kid. I’ll always have a soft spot for the 1973 edition my family owned, complete with its mustard-colored artwork and bright orange bell. I imagine I drove my parents batty dinging that bell every chance I’d get.
Pizza and Pit with college pals in 2006
Scott and I have tried to be intentional this year about making Thursday game nights a priority for the fam. While I wouldn’t characterize my children as old souls, they do enjoy a good game of Pit. To up the ante last Thursday, I offered them an added incentive: whipped cream! Whoever won each round got a shot of whipped cream straight from the can. Yes, I bribe my children with sweets and junk food.
Back to the game. Pit is a set-collection game that relies heavily on your ability to negotiate in a chaotic, real-time environment. Think Wall Street. In my opinion, the more people that play, the better the game. Generally, I enjoy peace and quiet, but tranquility is not the name of this game. If you’ve got young kids you put to bed early, I’d advise choosing something else to play, because this.gets.loud.
You can check out some more Pit details below. Prepare to embrace the chaos, and enjoy some time with your friends and family!
Number of Players: 3-8
Age: 7+
Playing Time:30-60 minutes
Object: Be the first person to “corner the market”: collect all 9 cards of the commodity of your choosing.
Deal out the deck to the players. Use only the number of commodities as there are players. (If 4 people play, choose 4 commodities. If 7 people play, use all 7 commodities.) Players’ hands will not be even if you choose to play with the “Bull” card and the “Bear” card. After organizing your cards, decide which commodity you will attempt to collect. (You can change your mind at any point during play and choose to go for a different commodity.)
Since I already have 3 wheat (plus the bull), I’ll probably start by going for wheat. I only need 5 more!
When the dealer strikes the bell, the exchange is open. Players can simultaneously begin trading anywhere between 1 and 4 commodities – just make sure that all cards in that trade are of the same commodity. Once you have all 9 cards, you ring the bell, and you’ve won! Easy peasy!
Count up your points. If you collected all 9 oats cards, for example, you’ve gained 60 points; if you win with wheat, you’ve gained 100 points. The first player to 500 wins the game.
The Bull and Bear are special cards that add a bit of extra fun to the madness. The Bull acts as a Wild of sorts. If you have 8 cards of one commodity plus the Bull, you can still corner the market (i.e., a “Bull corner”). If you have all 9 cards of a commodity plus the Bull, you can call a “Double Bull corner” and double the score of the commodity collected.
The Bear is never helpful. Get rid of that thing as quickly as possible! However, if you have the Bear OR the Bull in hand when someone else calls “Corner,” you must subtract 20 points from your score.
In recent years, I’ve had this low-key desire to someday become a spy. (Hah! I think I’ve read too many WWII novels or something.) When I stop to think about it, I suppose the spy life isn’t truly for me. But taking on another identity sounds so adventurous and exciting, doesn’t it?
Today’s review is all about Spy Alley! This simple deduction game gives me the opportunity to try out my bluffing skills on my kids at a low-stakes level; no government agencies are counting on me to deliver an important package to a dead drop under the cover of darkness.
My mother-in-law bought us this game for Christmas years ago. I had never heard of it and was a little skeptical that we would get much play time out of it, but it has truly been a light, fun addition to our game collection! These last two weeks, the boys have brought it out multiple times, and they’ve even taught some friends how to play.
Spy Alley definitely has Monopoly vibes. Thankfully, it is MUCH shorter than a typical Monopoly game, and you get the added fun of bluffing/trying to deduce the identities of the other players. This doesn’t have super high ratings on BGG (5.7 avg), but it has most certainly become a Mitchener family fave.
For me, there is one “con” in this game. It’s entirely possible to get eliminated fairly early if someone makes a lucky guess about your identity. If the rest of the game goes long, any eliminated players must obviously wait to start another round. My kids have generally found that it’s worth the wait!
Number of Players: 2-6
Age: 8+
Playing Time:30ish minutes
Object: Take on a secret identity, collect the necessary items for your country, and make it to your embassy before you are discovered by the other players.
Rules Rundown: Here’s a link to a digital copy of the official rules.
Deal a secret identity card out to each player. Pass out scorecards and $10 times the number of players. Simply roll the die and move your character the correct number of spaces. You can buy any item you land on (or win a free gift) in order to collect the password, disguise, code book, and key for your country. Each time you pass go, you collect $15.
The point of the game is to buy “extra” items to throw opponents off your scent. For example, if you are Russian, you may want to buy German and American items as well, placing them on your scorecard in order to keep your identity hidden.
At any point, instead of taking your turn, you can try to guess an opponent’s identity. If you guess correctly, your opponent is out of the game, and you collect all of his or her money, cards, and scorecard items. In addition, you have an important decision to make: will you take on your opponent’s identity to try to throw everyone off, or will you stick with your original identity?
If you try to guess an opponent’s identity and you guess incorrectly, unfortunately you are out of the game. There is one exception to this immediate elimination. If you land on the Spy Eliminator Space, you receive a “free guess” on any player who is also in Spy Alley. If you guess wrong, there is no penalty!
Ratings: Scott – 8/10 Ang – 8/10 Noah – 10/10 Leyton – 8/10
Do you refuse to play board games in your house because they tear your family apart instead of bring everyone closer together? I’ve certainly experienced some tense moments when playing with particular friends or family members whose competitive genes run strong. (Yes, I’ve even endured the dreaded Monopoly board being turned over. Cue the PTSD for this conflict-averse lady right here.) I’m all about having a good time – it ain’t gotta be that way! Hah!
Drumroll please… enter The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine. This trick-taking game takes euchre-lovers to outer space – as a team! Instead of trying to beat each other, you work together to complete missions of varying difficulty. If you understand the concepts of following suit and trump, this game should be easy to pick up. Yet, it’s challenging and addictive. In our house, we have a hard time finding a good stopping point because we’ve got to complete “just one more mission”!
Number of Players: 2-5
Age: 10+
Playing Time:5-10 minutes per round
Object: Complete 50 missions together as a team.
Rules Rundown: To start, here is the online version of the rulebook. Below, I’ll run through one particular mission scenario so that you can get a general idea of how to play.
First, evenly deal out the entire deck. (The deck contains 4 suits: pink, yellow, green, and blue numbers from 1-9. There are 4 black trump cards that override any of these colored suits.)
Identify who the Captain is for the round and set the Astronaut marker in front of that person. (In this example below, I am the Captain because I have the black 4 – the highest card in the game.)
Mission #10 in the Logbook asks the astronauts to flip over 4 random task cards (the smaller cards in the center of the table above). Starting with the Captain, each player must decide which of the task cards he or she could win.
I decided to take the green 8 as my task card, and I placed it in my area to remind everyone that I must win the green 8. (I chose that task card because I have the green 9 in my hand, which is the highest green card. Since I will begin the game as Captain, I can easily play the green 9 first. Everyone must follow suit, and my fellow astronaut with the green 8 should have zero obstacles to laying the 8 down for me to take.)
In the picture below, you can see two things happened. First, players 2-4 chose their task cards. Secondly, I decided to communicate something before we begin play.
Player 2 needs to win the pink 4, Player 3 needs to win the yellow 7 (currently in my hand), and Player 4 needs to win the green 5.
In The Crew, each astronaut has a green communication token. Once per mission, each player is allowed to give one “clue” to the others regarding a card that is in his hand. Simply place that card on the table face up. By placing the green token on a particular part of the card, you tell the others that the displayed card is your highest card of that color, your only card of that color, or your lowest card of that color. (Above, I communicated that the green 9 was my only green card – a move that was honestly unnecessary since I have the lead.)
Here, I communicated that the 8 is my highest blue cardHere, I communicated that the 8 is my only blue card.Here, I communicated that the 8 is my lowest blue card.
Getting back to Mission #10. I led my green 9, and the other astronauts all laid a green card because they had to follow suit. And look! Player 4 played the green 8; I completed my task on this mission. Now I’ve got to help the other astronauts complete their tasks.
Oops! I should’ve flipped over my green communication token to the red side – I already used up my “clue” for this hand.
For time’s sake, I won’t play out the rest of the round in pictures, but the next move would be for me to lead again since I won the last trick with my green 9. (I could wait to see if any other astronauts communicate anything about a card in their hands to help me know what to lead. If no one chooses to communicate, I might assume that Player 3 has the yellow 8 or 9.) One option would be for me to lead with my yellow 7, hoping that Player 3 can take it. Of course, I am taking a risk, but that’s the name of the game!
This #goodbye series was started so that I could reminisce about the people and places and things that have made the last 12 years so very special. It’s hard for me to process the fact that we’re moving back across the ocean after so much life has been lived here. But taking little moments to count my blessings has done my heart good as we look forward to this next chapter.
Packing has certainly been exhausting. What do I take? What do I sell? What do I throw away? Everything holds a memory. Thankfully, I’ve been able to work through rooms and closets in tiny spurts.
Well, someone in our lives has recognized that this process needs a little comic relief. Recently, we’ve received some decorative additions in our home: a ton of colorful babies have been lovingly placed all over our apartment!
Each day, we find a few more of these miniature, plastic babes – in a drawer, under a recipe card, inside a candle, on top of a shelf. It’s become quite the game. Our kids ask how many new babies we uncover each day. Sadly, we won’t get a final count because Scott was throwing them away at the beginning.
Perhaps you’ve guessed that the point of this post isn’t really to say goodbye to a billion babies. (To be honest, they look a little creepy. 😉 ) Instead, it’s about saying goodbye to sweet friends who do an amazing job of bringing unexpected smiles to our faces when life is hard.
Yes, leaving the DR is definitely hard, but these last 3 years in our new roles were painful at times, too. Yet with each difficulty came another opportunity to trust Jesus. And on the hard days – whenever we’d take the time to look closely – there were myriads of ways that our team members encouraged us. They invited us to dinner, prayed with us, organized game nights, joined us on walks around campus, and left little surprises and sweet notes on our desks. And now, they’ve given us the gift of a billion babies.
So, today, I’m saying goodbye to the supportive people who make up the Freedom team. The Mitchener family loves you all so very much!
May 2024 in pictures! Just 6 more weeks until we get on our one-way flight back to the United States. We’re doing our best to treasure each moment as we continue packing and saying goodbye.
Leyton had to make a 3D model of the solar system as one of his last science projects for his online class.Celebrating the end of homeschool!Leyton finished up his 6th grade year of online school!Cal is happy to celebrate her brothers if french fries are involved!Cal doesn’t have many more days of hanging with this cutie.Uh oh! Someone found some mud!Those are not long sleeves… All dirt!Scott and I are trying to finish up some one-time play games so we don’t have to pack them in our suitcases. We escaped the Sultan’s castle with 10 minutes to spare!This girl loves to help cook!We bought some of those gender reveal baseballs for Joan and Yuleisy!Will Aylin have a baby sis or baby bro?It’s a Boy!Yahoo!Our apartment is well-loved by the lizards – inside and out. I don’t get grossed out by them like I used to 12 years ago, so that’s something!I will miss watching Elena walk to feed the animals in the evenings when I go on my walks/runs.Cleaning up the walls before we moveLeyton helped remove his bunk bed from the wallMore dinner prep – burgers!We had week-long Mother’s Day celebrations – our students’ moms spent time with their kids at school!Cal recited a part of a poem with her friendsLittle sis and big broAustin has a running club with a few of our older students. Joan’s partner didn’t come, so Noah jumped in and ran 3km without any training!We cheered the kiddos on as they emerged from the woods!Jade planned a fun ladies’ event for us before summer season beginsOur family walk didn’t last too long -the boys got bored, but at least we got a selfie together before they leftThese little pups have been all the rage among the MKsAnother baby tooth is gone!This is what a garage sale looks like for a family of 5 and a family of 7 after spending a whole lot of years in a foreign country!Our missionary team prepared a goodbye celebration for us – we loved reminiscing by watching some fun clips of the boys from a few years agoThe Freedom staff put on a luncheon as we get ready to head back to the States – there was singing, dancing, laughter and dessert! Thankful for their dedication to this place!We will most certainly miss our fun-loving Mery!
The Mitcheners 