Welcome to WinklerWorld Online

Working with Daryl and Juanita is a great experience and their love for the people of Palmaras shines from their love for Jesus. I can't begin to describe the level of connection you have with the kids over the three years we have been going there. They are the best part of the trip. They are sooooo very happy to see you arrive, and want to play with you all day. They show you their coolest trinkets and want hugs and kisses all the time. They are hungry and dirty and full of life and a love that is simple and pure. You cannot spend a week with them and not fall in love with them and want to bring them home with you. The people there are the most kind and caring you have seen and they just need to know they are loved. When the time comes to leave there are long hugs and genuine tears. If you ever have a chance, if you ever thought you might want to do some mission work, if you thought you could be a blessing to someone somewhere in the world....go, and see what a blessing you actually receive and how you can continue to give and give but how you will never give more then you receive. God is good.

When David took off on his Ecuador venture this year (more on that to come...) Mama decided that she wasn't going to be left home alone for a week and deserved some time off as well. She took off from work, and on Wednesday Alexander, Mama and Nana ventured up north to Uncle Jim's cottage in Big Rapids for a little getaway. It was four days of beach, water, and relaxation blended with little boy excitement all around. Each day started with a morning walk to say hello to the big digger next door (the neighbor down the way is building a new cottage) and pick up nature nuggets for his treasure bucket- acorns, flowers, a rock or two, some birch bark... Most days included morning beach time before lunch, toy-time, and nap. Mama soaked up the nap time to color or read (I highly recommend Parenting by the Spirit for parents or will-be's or anyone, really). Afternoons were filled with more play, snack and sand time, before supper and a quiet evening. We went to visit Uncle Jim, Aunt Marlene and cousin Karen one evening for supper and after Alex went to bed, enjoyed some Serena-winning rounds of Flinch. :). Grandma and Grandpa came up Friday afternoon and joined us for the weekend just in time to take Alexander on his first speedboat ride with Uncle Jim's neighbor. Quite distraught at first, he was soon distracted by little dog, Oscar and in the end was toddling around the boat smiling and pointing. Grandpa loved playing with him in the sand and water, and Mama sifted out bowls of rocks and pebbles to be dumped back into the lake. Alexander learned that lemonade (especially the frozen kind) makes your face scrunch up when you lick it, and we all delighted each day in a nest of baby birds just outside the door. It was really a wonderful mini-vacation. We are really blessed to have such a treasure spot in the family and such a treasure-family to share with. Thanks up-north Schapers! See you again soon!

A box appeared on our doorstep the other day, and what a delightful surprise awaited us! Following a long-time family tradition, Aunt Nancy had sent to us a beautiful scrapbook filled with pictures and stickers of all of Alexander's favorite things. He immediately took to flipping through the pages, pointing out all the animals and things that he recognized. With smiles and squeals he lets us know which pictures he likes best, and sometimes mommy tells the stories about the new animals and points out all thats going on. Sometimes we have to remind him not to peel off the stickers and be gentle with the pages when he gets too excited. Shortly after he'll remind himself to be careful, "nononono" and shake his little finger. One of his favorite pages is the one with the kids and "friends." He loves the kitties too and 'barks' ("wawawawawawa") at all the doggies he sees. The pictures are simple and colorful and we seem to notice something new every time we go through it. What a treasure for both baby and mama & papa! Thank you Aunt Nancy for such a delightful gift, and all the time, care and love that went in to each page. What a very special gift, indeed!