An early Christmas

We have been traveling for the past 4 months, so much of our stuff has been in storage for that time.  Last week we arrived back in North Carolina and will be here until we depart for our new overseas home on Dec. 29.  With less than 6 weeks left in the country, we pulled everything out of storage so we can re-organize, get rid of things we won't want in 4 years and pull out the things we want to take with us. 

A couple of days ago we opened up one of the boxes of B's toys, which he hadn't seen in the last 4 months.  It was so fun and a bit hilarious to watch him excitedly exclaim over each thing he pulled out.

"My water airplane! It's landing on the sea!" (pulls out his sea plane and "lands" it on the coffee table)
"My flipper!" (pulls out his Dutch slipper and tries to put it on)
"My police car!" (pulls out his Texas state trooper car) "There is a police car guy inside.  And a police car mom, too!"

Now we have to decide which toys are the favorites that we will take with us....we certainly don't want to fill up our precious space (6 suitcases) with just toys!  Although I know a 2-year-old who wouldn't mind that...

This is an old picture...but shows B enjoying his toys!

B Quotes: "Bruther" edition

B: "I'm a bruther.  J is a bruther.  Papa is a bruther.  Mama is a....[pause]...girl bruther"

B Quotes: Nov. 7 edition

A couple weeks ago we went to the dentist for check-ups.  We were waiting in the waiting room to be called back when an older gentleman walked out.  He had white hair with a long white beard.  He was heavy set and wore glasses.  Anyone who saw him would immediately think: Santa.  He fit the description perfectly.  He stopped when he saw B and asked how he was doing.  B, in typical 2-year-old fashion, hopped around while saying, "good".

Then, Santa, with a twinkle in his eye, asked, "I hope you are being a good little boy.  You know who is coming soon?"  B didn't miss a beat, with great excitement he blurted out, "THE DENTIST GUY!!"

Santa was obviously a bit surprised, "Ha ha...er...ho, ho, ho". :)

We weren't about to tell him B's never even heard of Santa....but at least now we can say we've all met him...at the dentist. :)

B Quotes: Oct. 31 edition

So were were talking about the Fruit of the Spirit the other day.  B's been struggling with some of them... like kindness (particularly toward his little brother), gentleness, love, etc.  So, I thought, maybe it would be good for him to memorize Galatians 5:22-23.  After I recited it to him a couple times, it was his turn....

B: "Love, patience...carefulness...."

Hmm, I guess I know what else we talk about a lot...


Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  Against such things there is no law.

The King's Heart...

It seems like it is quite often that we find ourselves in this situation.  A situation which looks impossible to us...where we think that humanly speaking, there is no way for it to work out.  And yet, each of the times that we have been in this situation before, it HAS worked out.  God has worked miracles.  Literally.  Let me review some of the amazing things He has done in our lives...

February 2012- After 6 weeks of phone calls and stress and being told it was not possible, my medical insurance came through...within 3 weeks of J's birth!

January 2012- The day before we arrived in North Carolina, we had the exact amount of money that we needed to begin our next class with our organization.

November 2011- Our monthly financial support jumped 18% in one week...the very week that we prayed God would direct us as to whether we should stay or move on.  It was a very direct, obvious answer to our prayers.

January 2011- Three days after K completed the job interview with our organization, within the 2 weeks we had to find the next job, we got word of a flight instructor position open at LeTourneau.  He was employed there 2 weeks later. 

December 2010- After waiting 5 months, we received K's green card in the mail...within 7 days of moving across the country!

Should I keep going??  I feel like I could.  God has done some amazing things in our lives!

So, here is the current situation we are faced with:  We have tickets to move out of the country on Dec. 29.  We have been waiting 10 months for K to have his US citizenship interview (which was previously scheduled in January, but we had to delay it as we were moving across the country).  Nothing has happened since January.  And we cannot move until we have the interview and citizenship.  All of the inquiries we have made into his case have led to nothing.  The most recent letter stated that they have to perform additional review to the case and that if we do not hear a decision within SIX MONTHS to contact them.  Seriously? Six months?  

Well, I was so encouraged by a reminder from a friend today.  

Proverbs 21:1

"The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it wherever He wishes."

Remember all He has done in the past!  And He can do it again. 

Would you pray with us that, in His will and time, K's citizenship would come through?