An Aquarium in Tennessee?

Sergio took the kids to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, TN, in September. There was so much to see, they couldn't see it all in one day. We saw giant spider crabs, sting rays, sharks, and butterflies (why butterflies at an aquarium? I don't know either but we sure enjoyed them.)

To The Bat Cave! Actually, Mammoth Cave!

The Arces and Friensens took a trip up to Kentucky to visit Mammoth Cave National Park where they enjoyed a picnic a incredibly cool, cool, walk through Mammoth Cave. Did I mention how cool it was down there?

The Friesens Come to Tennessee

While on their way back to Canada, the Friesen's stopped in TN to spend some time with the Arce's and found a way to cool off during the hot weather by enjoying the sprinklers at Centennial Park.




























While in NasNashville Sounds (minor league team) play Phoenix, AR. Prior to the game Michael W. Smith performed a couple of songs as he promoted his "Rocket Town" ministry that helps boys and girls of Nashville. While at the game, we also enjoyed a fireworks show.

A Busy Summer . . .

Holly and the kids spent 5 weeks in CA this summer. I don't know how Grandma and Papa survived, but everyone had a great time! Here is everyone having breakfast at Dean's Cafe in historic downtown Pleasanton. This where Holly had breakfast with her wedding party on her wedding day almost 11 years ago.







While in CA, The Arce's had the opportunity to go tubing and waterskiing with our longtime friends, the Sparano's, on their boat at San Pedro Reservoir, near Yosemite National Park. Everyone enjoyed the water. Linda even learned how to ski board!

Lucinda Grace turned 2 years old in July, while in CA, where Grandma and Papa threw her an awesome birthday party! Auntie Anjanette and James came and joined us, which was awesome. After spending some time in CA, Sergio drove the family from CA to TN by way of Las Vegas, NV, where saw the famous Bellagio Resort and the Sphynx. From Las Vegas, NV, we drove on to Glorieta, NM, where Sergio taught for a week at the LifeWay Conference Center. After Glorieta, NM, we finally drove on to Nashville. Somehow, the kids didn't want to ride in the van for a while (I wonder why?).

A Day at the Lake

The Arce's spent a fun afternoon at Pearcy Priest Lake
on Memorial Day in order to cool off.




















Move over Hercules, here comes Joshua! Check out those muscles.

Luis Palau comes to Nashville!

Nashville's first City Fest was held this past Saturday and Sunday as crowds estimated at 90,000 came together to hear Luis Palau, a well-known evangelist, preach the Gospel in the middle of downtown Nashville. Sergio participated by serving as a spanish-speaking counselor, and the rest of the family enjoyed seeing everything from Steven Curtis Chapman in concert, to a BMX Motorsport Stuntshow as well the Veggie Tales. It was great!


Joshua really enjoyed getting a lizard painted on his leg but his favorite experience had to be the motorcross bike riders from Team Faith Racing that jumped 80 feet in the air and made it look easy. I think Joshua wants a motorbike someday but I doubt Holly will go for that idea.


Finally, Lisa and Linda both got their faces painted but the highlight for Lucinda had to be the Veggietales! She really likes Bob because he's very red!

All I want for Christmas is . . .

Her two front teeth have just come out. Daddy pulled out the first after it had been hanging for a while. The second, also very loose for quite some time, was knocked out accidently by big sister while on the playground. So long baby teeth.

Making More Noise

As if we needed more noise at our house, we just got a new (to us) piano after months and months of searching the local listings. It is a 17 year old, single owner, 43" Young Chang. It's a great piano that Sergio and Holly are both happy with. Now that it's been tuned, Linda and Lisa have started piano lessons. Linda would like to play the violin and Lisa would like to play the flute. Joshua and Luci just want to play.









Holly has brought out all the old music she can find and enjoys a half hour of music therapy whenever she can get it. Tonight it was Chopin, Bach, and Rachmaninoff.

Making a Joyful Noise

Quiet moments at our house are few and far between and at any given time someone will be humming a tune, singing a little jingle, or belting out the lyrics from the theme song to Star Blazers (or Celine Dion's Theme from Titanic, or Journey's Separate Ways, you get the picture). In addition to the private concert we get every day, each spring the kids get to perform (a more "sacred" repertoire) at church with their choirs.
This year Joshua made his Praise Pals debut singing two songs with the three-year-old choir. About half way through the first song he got uncomfortable with his T-shirt tucked into his jeans and decided to fix that problem. His shirt was so long though that he really had to stretch and tug to get it untucked. He tugged so much that his shirt ended up almost over his head with entire belly exposed. All he needed now was to get his arms and head out and the "show" would be over. Luckily, he didn't get that far and Mama didn't have to crawl under the chair and pretend she didn't know that kid.
In her final year of Praise Pals, Lisa sang in the spring program entitled Love, Love, Love. While learning their songs, the kids learned about God's love and how they can show God's love to others. Of course the best part of singing in choir is the cake and goodies after the concert.
Linda's choir, Praise Kids, sang a program called Worship By Design. It included several skits and songs which focused on different ways to worship God. Her part was a fifties style song complete with poodle skirt (notice her shirt is not tucked in) and do-wop choreography.

AWANA Awards

It's awards month here so we would like to take this opportunity to bring you some pictures of AWANA awards night at our church. Linda finished her third of three Sparks books and was chosen to recite the "P" of the Sparks code at the awards program. "P" is for Power. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes . . .

Lisa not only finished her first Sparks book, she finished it twice! So she received her first book award and her review patch.

Joshua finished his first year of Cubbies. He and Mama put all his verses to music and motions and every night Joshua asks to hear his Cubbie story.

Back from Chile!

Wow! What an experience! I just got back from a two-week mission trip to Chile where I led a 6 member LifeWay team to share the Gospel with the Aymara people group throughout the Northern Region of Chile, known as Tarapaca. We spent one week in the city of Pozo Almonte where we saw 62 people place their faith in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. We then spent our second week in the Codpa Valley of Chile (at the foot of the Andes Mountains) where we saw another 24 people come to know the Lord.




Northern Chile is the driest desert in the world as it typically rains only once every 30 years. If you have ever visited the Grand Canyon, imagine driving into the canyon and finding small towns scattered wherever a stream of water could be found. Where there was water, there was life.
While in Codpa, the Aymara were celebrating their annual wine festival called "Vendimia" which gave us a greater opportunity to share the Gospel as the population of Codpa doubled for 3 days from 200 to 400 people.

Thank you to everyone who prayed for the Aymara people and for our mission trip.