60 Days and counting!

This is a picture of, well, nothing, but I wanted to show you guys how empty it's getting around here!

This is Josiah’s class at RiverTree this year. This was just after their “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” puppet show. They did so well, and Josiah was Peter and had a couple of narrator parts. And, I promise I fixed the boy’s hair, even though it didn’t last long. :)

Here is Josiah and Claire making their paper chain to count down the days until we move to TX and in the back ground you can see our borrowed couch from loving friends!!

Our new favorite past time! Puzzles!

It’s getting real people!! We have 60 days until we move back to Mount Pleasant, TX for a few months before the BIG move to Brazil. To say we are getting excited is an understatement!!  The kids made a paper chain to count down the days until they get to be with family and friends in TX.  They can’t wait to swim, and camp, and fish, and generally be outside all day! 

My rock star hubby gave me a weekend away with my sisters and mom for my mom’s birthday! It was incredibly good for my heart and we had a BLAST.  We did the Painting with a Twist thing, got massages, and ate yummy food all weekend.  It was total bliss. I’m not usually the kind of mom that needs regular breaks from my kids to stay sane, but I tell you what, I see why people do!  I came back feeling refreshed and energized and ready to pull up the sleeves and get to work.  And, it couldn’t have come at a better time, with D leaving for 8 days to Brazil in just a few days.  The Lord knew I would need that time of fellowship and relaxation to gear up for the long haul. Especially since I came home to FIVE sick kiddos and a sick hubster!! SNOT everywhere!

We have begun the process of selling all our stuff!  We were, until recently, without all our couches, coffee tables and a few other things.  Some sweet friends let us borrow a couch when they found out we were on bean bags! :) It was so funny seeing the kids faces as they woke up to an empty house! They were almost as excited as if we had gotten NEW couches! Seeing the emptying house has made us all feel the reality of the situation.  One good thing is it has added a lot of space for the kids to play, and excitement and readiness for our adventure.

Two weeks ago we had our final GO Team (Global Outreach) interview.  It was more intense than I anticipated, but we felt very loved. We got the go-ahead and were officially appointed as Global Partners (what our church calls missionaries) with our primary sending church, Bethlehem Baptist Church here in MN.  We could NOT be more honored to represent this church in Brazil and receive their support.  We also have the privilege to partner with other churches like Trinity Baptist Church and Calvary Chapel in Mt. Pleasant, TX; as well as Briarwood in Birmingham, AL. We are so thankful for such a deep sending base of churches who see our vision for the church in Brazil and who are willing to “hold the ropes” for us as we go.

Thankfully, we are approaching 80% of our support-raising goal.  That means we still need a few more people who could give 25$, 50$, or 100$ (or more!) a month to help us reach our monthly needs.  We have to get to at least 90% before we can even buy our tickets, etc...  If you think the Lord is leading you to give to our mission, please consider at least pledging now.  You don’t have to start giving until we leave, if you don’t want.  Just click the “Give” tab at the top of the page and you will be redirected to our sending agency. THANK YOU to all who have given and are giving!!  God is using you for His glory!

As we get closer and closer to the biggest change of my life, you can imagine that my excitement and worries are in a constant battle.  I am more excited about this move than I have been yet, and still I have my days, well nights really, of worry. We still haven’t decided about schooling for the kids, where we will live, how or IF we should ship stuff, and will I somehow ruin my kids if they don’t live next to their grandparents? I am so thankful when the morning comes. Somehow when I worry it tends to be in the night, and God is always so faithful to calm my fears and worries in the morning in His word. After a particularly difficult night of worry, the Lord met me with Psalm 57 in the morning. Here it is:

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,

for in you my soul takes refuge;

in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,

till the storms of destruction pass by.

I cry out to God Most High,

to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

He will send from heaven and save me;

he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah

God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

My soul is in the midst of lions;

I lie down amid fiery beasts--

the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tongues are sharp swords.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth!

They set a net for my steps;

my soul was bowed down.

They dug a pit in my way,

but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah

My heart is steadfast, O God,

my heart is steadfast!

I will sing and make melody!

Awake, my glory!

Awake, O harp and lyre!

I will awake the dawn!

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth!

I love it that the psalmist’s cries for mercy are met with the Lord sending out steadfast love and faithfulness and ends with the psalmist giving thanks AMONG THE PEOPLES and a declaration that the Lord’s glory be over all the earth.  I’m sure you can imagine the strength that was given to my soul.  As I cry to the Lord he meets me with steadfast love and that love makes me want to go to the nations, and for me Brazil.  The love we receive from the Lord is not only for our good but for us to overflow into the nations.

I’m sorry this blog is so long. I guess that’s the point of blogging more frequently. :)  Here are a few pictures of the past few months.

Thanks for reading and following along as we have this crazy adventure! Many thanks to those of you who have seen the same vision we have and are partnering with us!!  It is a JOY to serve the Lord with gladness!