hello...

The reason I haven't been blogging is really kind of fuzzy to me. I've been trying to figure out what has been keeping me from it and it really comes down to a few things. Lack of time is one...but not the biggest factor. I suppose I really do feel like I don't have that much to write that anyone would be interested in. Once I realized that I was quite frustrated with myself because...well...

Blogging for me has never really been about pleasing everyone else...it was about sharing and having a place to share my heart and what God is doing in and through our lives...regardless of if there are many readers or 1 (me). So while I feel insecure that I won't have as great of posts as when we were in Thailand and I feel like, at times, that we don't have as much value (totally a lie from the enemy) I will keep writing just for the pure joy and fun of it.

Life is anything but boring since returning from Thailand...it's fast...it's beautiful...and it's hard at times. There are days were I really do long for Thailand and a missionary's life...no central heat/air and all! And then there are days when I thank God...literally...that I can run down the street to Wal-Mart and witness to someone in ENGLISH! ;)

But I think the biggest thing that God has been really teaching me over the past few months is just to trust in Him. It seems like that is a continual lesson in my life...I just keep getting to deeper levels of trust each time. This time it's trusting Him even now...even now when my friends are a drive away...when there's a church on every corner...when my days are so much easier in some ways...

Even now...I just read a book called Even Now...and while I didn't mean to bring that into what I was saying...there it is. Even Now is a book by Karen Kingsbury and it was an incredible read...so much so that I finished it in 3 days...and kept my house clean, kids homeschooled and didn't lose it! hehehee...good book...

The kids are doing wonderful...Josiah is like a bright shining light...sometimes the light is blinding because he's going a million miles an hour and sometimes he is a steady glow that is absolutly mesmorizing...Jude is such a unique individual...and so sweet. He's so unique infact that I know of about 10 people that mimick his phrases in their everday life...NORMALLY!

And Jossalyn...oh the beauty that is Jossalyn. She's just stunning to me...and so full of joy - but her red headedness is really starting to shine through. Just yesterday I heard her screaming from her brothers room and then she would stop and then start screaming again. I thought her brothers were giving her a hard time and I went in to see what they were doing and I found Jossalyn sitting against the wall with a MagnaDoodle.

You know the little board things with the magnetic pen? Well, she's sitting there drawing on it and then she goes to part of the board where the string that is attached to the pen won't let her reach and she starts screaming and turning red while staring at the string and yanking at it!!!! I couldn't believe it...I watched her for a minute just to see if that was really what was happening and sure enough...she was mad and frustrated with the string!!!

John has been home since the Indonesia/Malaysia trip working very hard everyday at the JGLM headquarters. He will be heading off to Colorado next...I think. I've been thinking a lot about missionaries and praying for the ones I know and my heart is really moved for them. I wish I was wonderful at making videos so I could paint a picture for you to understand missionary life. But the truth is...you may be able to get a little bit of the picture but until you've walked it out then there is no knowing it...

And when you have that understanding it brings about a patriotic feeling. I know that word is used for your country...but it really describes the feelings I feel when I think about the missionaries serving and giving their lives to live their lives before men and be soldiers for the Lord on foreign soil. I want so badly to prepare love boxes to send them...and shower them with the love that they deserve in all aspects...gifts...money...prayer...being there...

I am praying that God allows me to find a way while we are here to bless them greatly. If you know of missionaries that your church supports or that you really appreciate...send them a letter...or an email and tell them. Put together a care package...even if it's small and show them you love them by sending it to them...and best of all...pray for them!!!!

Our God is so great and so wonderful...it is an honor to serve Him...in America or on foreign soil...so until next time...night night...