Look who's eating real food . . . what a messy kid! He just starting eating bananas and apple sauce in the evenings while we eat our supper. He is so hard to feed , he just wants to keep spitting it, he'll get it though.Christmas cookie extravaganza!! We had fun making Christmas cookies as a family. I will post more pictures of our family Christmas later, I forgot to load them from the camera on to the computer, and I am not at home right now. We had a blast together celebrating though. Hope all of you had a blessed Christmas. We miss all of you.

First thing that we want everyone to know is that the surgery went very well and I am at home recovering now. This is not the most flattering picture, but honestly . . . who looks great after a day in the hospital after surgery huh?!? I have four incisions on my abdomen; one on my belly button (from where they had to put the camera in) one right below my breast bone (where they pulled the gall bladder out) and two on my right side (where they put tools in to dissect the gall bladder) . . . sorry if this grosses anyone out, but I know there are people who want to know details, so there you go.
We are blessed to have my sister here to take care of this kids (and me) we truly could not have done it without her. I had no idea how incapacitated I would be after surgery. I am beginning now to be able to do small tasks like fold clothes (if I take it slow) and feed Eli (if he is laying next to me), I can't actually hold either of the kids yet, but I know in time I will get there. My sister has been a blessing beyond words and it puts me close to tears when I think of how she has really been there for us during this hard time. She has been waking up with Eli in the middle of the night, when he decides to have a bad night, and she has been cooking for, cleaning up after, feeding and bathing the kids, doing laundry, baking, and the like . . . so much for us. Most of all she has been moral support and making sure that I take it easy, she is such an amazing person!! Thank you SO MUCH sis!!
While I am recovering Andy has been a big help with the kids as well . . . he took Gabby and her cousin to the Petronas Towers play area, there is a big water area with a waterfall for the kids to play in as well as about a million playgrounds. The outings are complete with bringing home treats for the moms =+)
These cousins met for the first time when my sister and niece came over . . . what can I say? Love at first sight!

Here is Eli enjoying the tree in all it's, . . . and his glory =+)
We were also thrilled to get the package from o-hills . . . it came the day after I came home from the hospital . . . talk about a pick-me-up!! What a blessing!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! We simply cannot say it enough we are awestruck at your gracious giving . . .we had such a blast opening the package. It could not have come at a better time!
Mmmmmm candy!!!!!
I think this little girls smile says it all!!

Gabby was SO excited to get a letter from Grant . . . thanks you Grant, Gabs misses you so much!
We could not believe the size of the package, you guys are amazing!
We are so excited about the Kettle Corn, there will be enough for many a movie night to come. Thank you again for being such amazing friends, we miss you all and hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and remember who is the real reason for this wonderful season!! We are blessed with the result of the surgery and my recovery being slow but sure . . . keep seeking Him and know that you are all in our thoughts. Thank you for keeping us in yours.

Merry Christmas from the Benezettes here in warm Malaysia, it is hard for us to believe that it is really Christmas time when it is in the 90's here!! We had a really good time buying and decorating our own family Christmas tree.
I wanted to post on more time on the blog before my surgery, because I don't know when I will be able to post again after that.
I (Bethany) am having surgery to have my gall bladder removed on Thursday morning at 9 am December 14th our time (which will be Wednesday night the 13th your time for those of you in the U.S.). We would really appreciate your thoughts during this time, we know that He will carry us through!
My sister is flying over to help out with the kids while I have surgery and spend two mandatory days of recovery time in the hospital. I am so glad that she is coming, it really puts my mind at ease.
Merry Christmas from Gabby and Eli, they are both growing up so fast . . . what joys they are!



Family picture time =+)! Not exactly dressed in Christmas colors . . . it was a spur of the moment thing, we just set up the camera on a tripod. We want to get a better one if we have the time.

Thank you for thinking of us so often and for all the phone calls and comments here on the blog to let us know that you are all still out there and thinking of us, it means SOOO much to us!! It has been a rough go of it here so far, but we are growing and being stretched in ways that we never knew possible. We (try to) consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds. Our love to all of you!

I decided that our blog was a bit heavy, so I wanted to count our blessing on it. We are loving our cute kids (who are staying well for the most part) . . . we had a blast at our thanksgiving feast (where 35 friends from our community came to hang out with us). . . we are progressing at our language learning (though slow at times) . . . we are growing closer and closer to our father with each passing day and with every new trial and frustration. Please remain steadfast in keeping us in your thoughts, we had a meeting with a surgeon today and he recommended removing my gall bladder. We have another meeting with a different surgeon on Saturday for a second opinion, please hope with us that it goes well and that we become confident in the path to take with this gall bladder thing. Thank you all, we miss and love you dearly!
Our cute kids . . . so in love with them!!
The olive queen . . . olives are hard to get here, we got them special from the American store for our Thanksgiving feast and Gabby was stoked to have her olives!!
Here is our language helper Azhar piling up the food on thanksgiving, he is a really cool guy!!
Gabby really likes helping out with Eli, she loves to try and feed him his bottles now, they are so cute.
Cute, cute kiddos!!

Well, Andy is doing a little better every day and we are so grateful for you lifting him up. We now have a new situation at hand though that we would appreciate you keeping in your thoughts. I (Bethany) had another attack of pain under my ribcage on the right side, I have had this pain before and went to the doctor in the U.S. for it before we came over here but that Dr. said that it was just acid reflux and gave me a prescription for Prilosec OTC. Well I went to the doctor yesterday for this pain and he did an ultrasound on my abdomen and found about 100 stones in my Gall Bladder. We are not sure yet if it will have to be removed or not, but the possibility is high. We would truly appreciate your thoughts during this time. Any words of encouragement would also be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your love and concern, we miss all of you . . . you are family.

Just to keep you all posted about Andy, the blood tests came back and he does not have malaria, so that is great! One of the counts were low though, and it is the count that detects dengue fever. The Doctor said that it was not low enough to be Dengue Fever yet, but it is definitely borderline and he is fighting some sort of virus that is for sure she said. She said that if in a few days he is still feeling awful, to come back in for another blood screen and some more tests. We are just hoping that he starts to feel better so that we can put all of this behind us.

PLEASE BE THINKING OF ANDY!!

I just really wanted to remind you all to keep Andy in your thoughts. He is getting worse, he is dizzy, a fever off and on, achy, his leg muscles are weak, he is nauseated, and very tired. He went to the Dr. this afternoon, the doctor drew some blood and as we speak I am waiting for them to call us back to hear the results of what it may be. Andy is in bed sleeping right now, taking a long nap. Please ask for his healing! Also please keep me in your thoughts . . . those of you who know me well, know that I jump to conclusions and worry easily, he is in His hands and I know he is safe there! Please ask for my ability to rest in Him!
Thank you all, we love each of you so much!

Please be thinking of our family, we have all been taking turns being sick. I (Bethany) was sick the night before last (fever of 102, chills, achy all over) and now Andy has it and I am afraid that the kids may catch it. We appreciate all of you and the friendships that we share with you. You are all dear to our hearts!
We have found a "nanny" for the kids while Andy and I have our language sessions Monday through Friday 10am to noon. She is a really sweet lady named Ima (pronounced ee-ma) and the kids love her. Ima is so comfortable with them too, makes Andy and I really feel at ease leaving the kids with her.
We hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving, we are celebrating on Saturday with some friends here. There is so much to be thankful for. One of things that we are thankful for is that our apartment did not burn down when too much power was put into one outlet in our wash room, the plug literally melted to the outlet . . . scary stuff. We know who is in control.
Thanks for remembering us even though we are not near! For those of you who did not know this, you can leave comments on this blog that we read. I check for new comments every day. All you have to do is click on the little thing at the bottom of each entry that says "comments" then write a comment and post it . . . truly simple and such an encouragement to us to know that you are thinking of us! Thanks for the joy that you bring to our lives . . . we miss you all dearly!

Everyone meet Daisy . . . the newest addition to our family. She is an Angora Rabbit. We made a deal with Gabby . . . because of the potty training setbacks when we got here, we told her that if she could go a week without putting pee pee or poo poo in her panties that she could get a bunny . . . can you guess if she was successful or not? She has now gone two weeks to the day without any accidents . . . we are all sooo pleased!

Malaka family picture zoomed in a bit, so that you can see our faces better . . . we know that is what you want.

A WEEKEND IN MALAKA!These lizards were across the river from the restaurant where we had lunch on Sunday. We thought that they were pretty cool.
Gabby, Eli, and I on one of the pieces of antique Chinese furniture that was rampant in the hotel where we stayed, The Baba House. . . it was all so cool.
Eli and I posing in the doorway of the hotel.
The kids and I posing in and by one of the antique boats at the museum there in Malaka.
Everyone was so amazed at how brave Gabby was with this monitor lizard, it even scratched her pretty badly a few times (not even one tear from her) and she still thought it was super cool that she got to be near and touch this animal. It was someones pet, they had in on the street for people to get pictures with.
Our brave girl!!

We bought both of the kids hats, the sun was brutal as we walked the streets!
This Christian church was founded in the mid 1600's , by the Dutch while they occupied Malaysia. It is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) Dutch architecture in the east.
Aren't those flowers just gorgeous!! We really enjoyed the beauty and uniqueness of this small Malaysian town . . . one of a kind!


What's a historical town without a cannon displayed?? Unfortunately, this one must have been mistaken for a trash can, it was filled with garbage . . . such a bummer!


Our only family picture that we have from our weekend . . . a tourist couple offered to take it for us when they saw us taking turns taking pictures of each other.

We went to little coastal town south of Kuala Lumpur this past weekend. Above are some pics of our weekend, it is a really old historical town that has some really cool museums and old Chinese buildings . . . some really awesome architecture. There is a lot of really fun shopping too . . . a really neat night market, and some really really good food too. A really great cultural experience, that was what Malaka was!

Andy entertaining Eli with his new guitar.
Sibling bonding . . . they are really starting to enjoy each other.

Big smiles from the "speed Demon" as his shirt depicts.
Daddy and Eli having some fun . . . Eli has become a face grabber, as he starts to learn how to use his hands.