I usually don't buy my wife dead flowers for Valentines Day because of being too practical. Both of us would rather have something living, like a plant, but the Tulips reminded both of us of Russia, where Tulips were abundant (during the summer) and they were very inexpensive.

Here's the Cake that Laura made for me for Valentines Day! It's a red velvet cake and it used to be my favorite .........until I started eating my wifes pies, which are the best pies in all of the world.

During this great month of February many great people were born, such as Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Edgar Bryan and the list could go on and on. Oh by the way, I celebrated one as well! :) My kids wanted me to have a party since it's been almost 10 years since I've had one, a party that is, not a birthday. So we had a bunch of friends over and wished we could have had more, however we were concerned about parking and not having enough space. So we enjoyed a good time of fellowship together with a bunch of our friends here from CNC. Then on my actual birthday we went to my favorite restaurant, Skyline Chili. After that, we went to a Brass Concert at the University of Cincinnati. Being good Missionaries, we found out that the concert was free, otherwise we would have opted for listening to Brass on a CD.

BTW: Here's a few of the questions that were asked at my birthday party to see how much you know about me.
1. How much weight has Daryl gained since he got married?
2. What is his favorite sport?
3. What is his favorite car manufacturer?
4. How many states has he visited?
5. How many countries has he been in?
6. What is his favorite non-veggie food dish?
7. What was his favorite dog's name?
8. What is his hobby?
9. Is he right handed or left handed?
10. What foreign country did he enjoy visiting the most?
11. What historical place did he like visiting the most?
12. What Bible College did he graduate from? (smile)
13. Is he an early bird or night owl?
14. What is his least favorite household job?

Hello, after a one month break! Yes we are still alive and God is helping us but I've chosen not to keep updating. My kids and wife have been after me to update the blog so I've given in to their wishes. :) I started blogging primarily just to keep people informed as to what was going on in our lives while we were on the Mission field. So now that we have been home on furlough, I kind of put it on the back burner because I'm not one to just surf around and read other peoples blogs. I also am not one to parade everything that is going on in our lives, so I just thought I take a break.

Continue to pray for Laura's back! Progress is very slow and she's still in pain! Pray that God would heal her, for His glory!

Once a month, the youth from Christian Nation Church try to go to the Ronald McDonald house. We bring all the supplies, cook the meals ourselves, serve it, and then clean up.

Many of the people that go to the hospital need to stay there long term, for different reasons, the Ronald McDonald house, provides a place for these people to stay. One man who we met on our most recent visit brought his little boy all the way from Chicago for bone marrow transplants. The boy must be here for 45 days and this boys father is staying the entire time. One can read the hurt, on the guest's faces. It is definitly an eye opener! It is a joy to be a light in their very dark world!

Here is Grandma Bryan with her long-time friend, and prayer warrior, Mrs. Downing.

These two saints enjoyed having fellowship together and Laura said she was so blessed just to be able to take Grandma to visit Sis. Downing and sit in on the rich fellowship.

Sis. Downing has never met us before in our lives, yet she said she has been praying for us every day. May God give her many more years for we can't live without the prayers of our dear prayer warriors who support us so faithfully with their prayers.

Here's Grandma Bryan playing dominoes with our kids. I wonder what it feels like to get beat by a 100 year old lady! I don't know because I didn't play.

She's a great lady and God has blessed her with many long years.

What do you do when you are 100 years old? We've had the wonderful opportunity of keeping Laura's Grandma for the last 2 1/2 weeks. Laura's parents are visiting their other favorite Missionaries. Grandma Bryan is 100 years & 6 months old.

She loves to read and has been reading us out of house and home. Just last week she read 5 or 6 Missionary books, just last week. Here she is reading the Sunday School Papers to the kids.

Yes, I'm still alive and doing quite well thank you!

Special Prayer Request:

Please do continue to pray for Laura's back. She is in much pain and she needs a special touch from God. Basically for the last 4 plus years, she's lived in pain almost daily, sometimes worse than others. She's been a real trooper and if it were me, I don't think I would have lasted as long as her, in fact, I know I wouldn't have lasted as long. She has had an MRI as well as several Doctors have told her that surgery is not necessary, but her body isn't responding well to treatment. We would appreciate your continue prayers in this matter. Natasha also is being treated for a form of scoliosis and pray that God will help her body to respond well to the treatment as well.

Thank you for your prayers and for your support!

God bless!

Here's Bro. Walter our elder statesman who has been on his knees most of the time laying tile. He's doing a great job and we are so thankful that he was able to come on the team.

This one is just for my family, since they requested it. I'm measuring for where the outlets will go. These are installed after the sheetrock and fastened to the sheetrock with little clips to hold the back of them.

Keep all of us in your prayers and that God will continue to help!

This is the sheetrock that has been pasted to the walls. Here's Steve and Donnie! (Sorry for the fuzzy dust in the air)

We're thankful for Ronnie being real tall!

We are working hard and God has been giving us strength each day. Thank you for your prayers because the days have been long but much work has been accomplished. I am very pleased with how things have gone. The guys are doing a fantastic job and God has put together the right team for the job. He does all things well!

Thank you for all of your prayers! God has been helping and we were able to crank out a lot of work today. Sorry for not having a picture, but this boy is tired! I'll try tomorrow!

We were able to get lots of sheetrock hung and keep motoring along. I will also try to get a picture of the tile guys as well.

Keep praying and thanks for your prayers!

Here's Steve and Ronnie hangin the rock!

The second floor is almost finished, with the exception of the taping and finishing. The Lord willing we will begin the third floor on Wednesday. Continue to pray for strength and that all will go smoothly. God has been helping and the guys have been working "overtime" to get as much as possible done.

Thank you for all who have made this possible through your giving and prayers. It is a HUGE, HUGE Blessing to Sally Sebo.
Thank you especially to the Beavertown God's Missionary Church, where most of these men are from. May God bless you for your passion for Missions!

Here's Jeremy Zechman taking a short break to spend a few moments with Nellie and Elvi from The "House of Hope".

The bosses are really working us hard!!!! You'll have to guess who they are! Seriously, God has been helping us toget a lot accomplished. There's still lots to be done but after3 days of work, I'm real pleased with all that has been accomplished.

Here you can see Steve and Don hanging or should I say, "pasting" sheetrock to a block wall. I think this was a first for all of us, but it works!

We enjoyed a wonderful meal at "House of Hope" Childrens' Home along with the Pastor and his family. Here's some of the guy enjoying the food and fellowship.

Here's a good picture of what we've been working on. The insulation for the side wall is almost finished. Monday we will finish the slats on the ceiling, frame out a place for the "pull down" stairway, finish the insulation and then sheetrock.