Spring Time

I've been doing a Bible Study on the book of Jonah recently. It's so interesting to think that all Jonah had to do was obey, it seems so easy when it's him, in a book, and we have the privileged to look back in time....but not so easy each day when there are real challenges staring at you in the face. Four of them literally staring me in the face! What if you obey and then you have to remind yourself to stay engaged in the mission each day. All we can say is it is so worth it, anything you may give up to obey a call the Lord has placed on your life. There is truly no better blessing.

A gift from the kids for my birthday.

A York Apple tree! Thanks Kathy!

This week the kids are working a lot. In school they are working on research papers. Lyonya is writing about lions, Pasah about farm dogs, Galya about sharks, and Andrew about police dogs. Writing these kind of papers is not my joy. All I can say is, "Thank you God for Cameron!" She is amazing. Through this whole process they have learned so much.

Pasha and Andrew helped one family in the neighborhood with the digging of their septic system. Lyonya has been working with Hector doing construction many afternoon. (and all last week while we had Spring Break) At the end of the week, Lyonya commented, "This is not how I saw Spring Break looking!" I reminded him it was his choice not mine. =)

Pasha was so tired this night that he missed the whole movie. We helped him to bed when we couldn't take the snoring anymore! Poor guy. Lately he is preparing for the Spring band concert.

Galya

Galya has been a huge help as I've been cleaning, sewing, cooking, planting, it doesn't matter what we do she is our girl with a servant heart. She's amazing.








Andrew has a new job. He is now assisting as an usher at church. Can't wait to take pictures Sunday for you to see. He has his headset that will link him in with the other ushers and security officers. He is in his element!


This particular night we were helping serve at the Love4Liberia Dinner raising funds for an orphanage in Liberia.

ANDREW AS A SERVER AT THE LOVE4LIBERIA BANQUET

Steve and Lyonya working the Silent Auction

The garden is in and growing. Yeah. Steve has worked so hard outside. The kids want some baby chicks so a small chicken coop will soon be on the horizon.

The big news is that Steve and I will be heading back to Ukraine at the end of May. We will travel with 2 other couples. Please pray as we seek the Lord's leading on partnering with some ministry there. There is one couple that we are so excited to visit with and see what they are doing in orphan care and how we can help them accomplish their calling. We also want to check on the kid's Grandma and help with some repairs in her apartment. We would really appreciate your prayers for guidance as we seek the Lord's agenda for us during our time there, for funding for the projects and safety as we travel.

Prayer Request for Darryl Andrews

We are calling all prayer warriors! 

Please pray for Pasha's band instructor.

Mr. Andrews is an amazing man with a huge heart for his students. He really took Pasha under his wing last year when Pasha showed up in his class on his second week in the US asking to join the band . They were both so excited and learned to understand each other even with Pasha's broken English at the time.

Right now Mr Andrews is in a fight for his life and we are asking the Lord for total restoration. You can read his story at  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/darrylandrews. Please join us in praying for Mr. Andrews and his family. Mr. Andrews has taught Pasha so much above and beyond the French Horn. The band will be performing a benefit concert on March 26th. For more details go to http://darrylandrews.eventbrite.com/

This song is our family's prayer for him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LcyQOLVS_U&feature=player_embedded

Feb. 2011

Happy Valentine's Day.....we made cookies for lots of friends and all the kids.

- Nonah -

Pasha went with Ben Lippen band  to Chicago!

Not sure who is winning Tim1  or Andrew.

Food Angels showed up again. Thank you Jesus!

Lyonya diligently studies science.

Andrew working through his math lessons.

Galya showing her newly sewn pillowcase.

"Life is full of joy!" That is a direct quote from my daughter Galya! It doesn't get much better than that. It is a year of watching all things grow and mature. Our favorite part of parenthood. We spent this week planning a garden and looking forward to warm spring days. It seems we've finally settled in a bit with school and life. It nice to have things simmer down just a little. Stay tuned though...you never know what the Lord has planned for tomorrow. 

Actually this was January..but we wanted to share!

And Again

God just keeps on showing off! I love watching the kids watch Him at work.
The food angels showed up today....twice. Once this afternoon, then again tonight with another bag of bread from a local bakery.

A lot of this food was cooked and went with our friends Laurie and Hector Pineda to their weekly outreach in Five Points for the poor and homeless. You can find out more about PurelightMinistry here.
Thank you Jesus for your provision!

THE FOOD ANGELS SHOWED UP AGAIN

Ever seen a food angel?
We have. Over and over and over.

About 8 months ago we started praying asking God for manna. At the time we had 12 people living here, along with friends, family and neighbors that always show up right at meal time. It makes for an overwhelming food budget, but we love people and we love feeding them.

So we would pray and the Lord would send food. One day friends filled our freezer and pantry while we were at church. Several times an elderly couple down the street have stopped by saying they were having a buy one get one free sale at the store, the free one is for you. When an 88 year old man hands you a 5 pound bag of potatoes it's humbling. When you cook 5 lbs of potatoes for lunch and the boys eat them all in one sitting....you thank God for His provision. It got to be so consistent that we started a manna log - a journal of God's provision! There's the venison in the freezer, pasta in the pantry, bread in the freezer and just last week we came home to 200 bagels on the dining room table.



This is what 200 bagels look like on our kitchen counter!

DO NOT WORRY
Matthew 6:25-26 NIV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

There was one night in Odessa last year that we wept as never before. We knew without a miracle from God's hand we would not leave Odessa with our 4 children- but He provided a way. There were other nights this past year we wept too---times when you don't know how to convince a child that you are not going to abandon them, but He provided a way, or nights that they dream nightmares of memories – but he comforts, or the day my mother died, and He comforts still, or the day a friendship was betrayed, but He is all we need.

We have sown in tears for the last 18 months, but there are songs of joy greater still. Five children came to a saving knowledge of Jesus in our home this past year, my brothers and sisters drew closer as we said goodbye to our mother, our family tree was enlarged as four siblings were truly grafted into their perfect places and they have grown leaves of new growth because their souls are being nourished. Our marriage has only grown closer as we've weathered these trials, one being strong when the other was weak and ready to give up. Jesus has been our faithful constant Friend. The Holy Spirit our true Comforter; day after day keeping us close to Father God.

We're looking toward a new year of stretching and continued growth, of reaching out to others as they enlarge their families through Open Arms Adoption Ministry, of learning to love one another more and of becoming a little more like Jesus each day. Praying we will all follow Jesus closely and trusting that He alone is our true Provider, Comforter and Friend. (Psalm 126 Look what He did.....Lord do it again!)

Blessings on you all!
Happy New Year!

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

Reminder to ourselves....He who promised is faithful ----remember---- “I will give you the blessings you ask for if you will not go any further without them.”

Psalm 126: 1-3 Look what He did!
Psalm 126:4-6 Lord do it again!
Luke 8:11-15 Don't forget to plant our seeds in good soil and persevere! A harvest takes time.
Galatians 6:9 Do not become weary....you will reap in due time...
Hebrews 6:12 Continue to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised!


SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS WITH REBEKAH, TIM AND THE BOYS



JANUARY 2010












DECEMBER 2010



WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES!

God Keeps His Promises


Psalm 126
A Pilgrim Song
1-3 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true, when God returned Zion's exiles.
We laughed, we sang,
we couldn't believe our good fortune.
We were the talk of the nations—
"God was wonderful to them!"
God was wonderful to us;
we are one happy people.

4-6 And now, God, do it again—
bring rains to our drought-stricken lives
So those who planted their crops in despair
will shout hurrahs at the harvest,
So those who went off with heavy hearts
will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.