I have been thinking of a title for this "Final Post" (not that I will ever have less things to say) and I had thought of many, here are a few:
"Out of Africa... Thank God!"
"And miles to go before I sleep"
"And scene!"
"Home again, home again..."
"Bring on the hot water, scrub brush and anti bacterial soap!"
But none of them really had the potency to describe it, so how about this...
2 years of waiting and red tape
Mountains of paperwork
6 planes and over 60 hours of travel.
4 beautiful girls and 1 amazing wife waiting at home.
27 days in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Hundreds of friends, old and new, supporting our adoption journey.
1 little boy who has changed our lives forever.
I remember the first time we saw his picture. We pray about it for days, but I think we both new the answer... He was ours. He belonged here with us.
That feeling was confirmed today as he played with his sisters, took his nap, ate his meals and ran around our house and yard like he owned the place.
He fits here. There is that forever kind of belonging that a family has that just sort of settled in here
today. The security of knowing that, come what may, we are all in this together, forever, no matter what. Family.
As I walked down the terminal at BOI to introduce our son to Kate and his sisters last night, the weight of it all actually hit me (course that could have been 30 some hours with no sleep too) and I felt such a rush of expectation and relief that it nearly knocked me off my feet until, thankfully, I heard a voice behind me say "Brent". No, not God. No, who else could it be coming in to BOI at 11:01pm on a weeknight than our friend Bob B. At just the right time his greeting helped me to not get so distracted by the "bigness" of the situation that I miss one of the coolest moments of my life.
So, we walked down the corridor and through the glass doors to our waiting family and friends. we are tired but thankful for the deep, abiding grace of God and His incredible miracle called family
I will blog more soon about the actual trip itself, but I wanted you all to know that we made it home safe and sound, no worse for the wear.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Who's Pushing This Van?
Well, no exit papers by the close of business Saturday... This bummed me out. So, rather than drowning my sorrows in a large pack of Belgian cookies, I spent some time in prayer and then determined to wait the rest of the day to cancel my Sunday tickets home. I figured if God could get my visa into the Congo so dramatically and miraculously then He could certainly get us out the same way! It was not to be, and I could have been embarrassed (having shared my plan with those around me) but i determined a long time ago that I will never feel stupid leaving room for God to be miraculous.
So we are staying a little longer.
We were picked up to go to church today by a really sweet American missionary family. It was wonderful getting to know them over lunch afterward as well. They have been here for six and a half years (what am I complaining about right?) with Mission Aviation Fellowship. Since MAF is based in Nampa, Idaho, we will get to see them again next year when they come through to their head quarters! Really great people and nice church. It was fun to hear Christams songs sung by an African choir! They were so awesome!
Saturday night we ventured out with a driver to the Shop Rite to have dinner at the fast food restaurant inside. Shop rite is a super ice (even by western standards) supermarket and it was decorated for Christmas with tree-shaped stacks of toys and lights and the whole bit! It took Moses a little bit by surprise and was slightly over stimulating. But he loved the Hungry Lion... Similar to KFC, the Hungry Lion is a chicken place and a welcomed change of fare. He particularly liked learning to use a straw! This was more of a challenge than I thought it would be and we both ended up with quite a bit of Sprite on us!
On the drive home we saw the newest big hotel to be built here, a high rise that has lights embedded into the outside and puts on a Vegas-worthy, multi colored light show at night. Now I know why our power goes out.
At one large intersection, we came to a stop and noticed a taxi van (think vanagon) moving very slowly through. It was PACKED with at least twenty people and moving at a snails pace. Then we noticed that it wasn't running, it was being pushed through the intersection... BY ONE MAN!!!
One guy pushing pushing twenty or so people through the intersection in a stalled vanagon! What a metefor for this whole experience!!!
We had a good laugh with that one!
I am here with some really neat other families who are adopting. (some from Idaho even)
I am so thankful for the fellowship and camaraderie, it has been great getting to know them all.
Keep you all posted on the exit papers and homecoming flights! Thanks for your prayer and for keeping with us by reading this little blog.
So we are staying a little longer.
We were picked up to go to church today by a really sweet American missionary family. It was wonderful getting to know them over lunch afterward as well. They have been here for six and a half years (what am I complaining about right?) with Mission Aviation Fellowship. Since MAF is based in Nampa, Idaho, we will get to see them again next year when they come through to their head quarters! Really great people and nice church. It was fun to hear Christams songs sung by an African choir! They were so awesome!
Saturday night we ventured out with a driver to the Shop Rite to have dinner at the fast food restaurant inside. Shop rite is a super ice (even by western standards) supermarket and it was decorated for Christmas with tree-shaped stacks of toys and lights and the whole bit! It took Moses a little bit by surprise and was slightly over stimulating. But he loved the Hungry Lion... Similar to KFC, the Hungry Lion is a chicken place and a welcomed change of fare. He particularly liked learning to use a straw! This was more of a challenge than I thought it would be and we both ended up with quite a bit of Sprite on us!
On the drive home we saw the newest big hotel to be built here, a high rise that has lights embedded into the outside and puts on a Vegas-worthy, multi colored light show at night. Now I know why our power goes out.
At one large intersection, we came to a stop and noticed a taxi van (think vanagon) moving very slowly through. It was PACKED with at least twenty people and moving at a snails pace. Then we noticed that it wasn't running, it was being pushed through the intersection... BY ONE MAN!!!
One guy pushing pushing twenty or so people through the intersection in a stalled vanagon! What a metefor for this whole experience!!!
We had a good laugh with that one!
I am here with some really neat other families who are adopting. (some from Idaho even)
I am so thankful for the fellowship and camaraderie, it has been great getting to know them all.
Keep you all posted on the exit papers and homecoming flights! Thanks for your prayer and for keeping with us by reading this little blog.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Thankful
Sitting here on the bed and watching my son sleep reminds me of the greatest part of the last three weeks here in the D.R.Congo... Time with my son.
Getting to know him has had its challenges but has been a joy and treasure I know is unique and I will never have again. Especially when I get him home to those sisters of his, I may never even see him again! But when I think of the craziness of life and how hard it is to squeeze in dates for the kids and quality time, how blessed am I to be here with him, as challenging as it has turned out to be(see earlier posts) and as much I desperately miss Kate, Ava, Leora, Ellis Mae and Violet, (see earlier posts) and even with the lack of hot water (see earlier posts). This time with Moses Blessing Jones has been one of the coolest things I have ever been able to do.
A recent stat says that there are nearly 150 million orphans in the world, that number has been rolling around in my head since I left the States (don't worry Kate, I won't get any ideas). It is a hard number to fathom. But being here in Africa again, I see the deep pain of hunger, poverty and disease. The injustice of those in authority toward those who are powerless and my heart aches.
Several days ago while coming home from the market, a very thin, malnourished woman tried to stop me, but unlike most who are selling something or asking for money, she pointed at Moses, who was in my arms and then she tried to hand me her little son. After several attempts and many words in Lingala, i realized that she was trying to GIVE me her son. To take home.
He was naked from the waist down, with the distended belly and sores and skinny as a rail. I was so shocked and moved i couldn't even speak to say "no, I'm so sorry" or whatever might have seemed appropriate... I could hardly breath as I walked away from her and her saddness at my refusal. There are so many things I could say about this but words seem weak. Sorry, I know it's not the humorous post you are used to reading from me (see earlier posts) and I know its almost Christmas (so I heard!) and we don't like to hear this kind of stuff, but it's real and it just actually happened to me.
I prayed for that little boy tonight, he was about Moses' age, and if I see them again I am getting them some food. But then what?
That experience made me so grateful to be here bringing my son home, to have a place where my kids can safely sleep, food to feed them well everyday and that they never feel the awful pain of real hunger.
Whatever and whoever Almighty God has blessed you with in your life, be thankful and demonstrate your thankfulness with your life.
More posts to follow... I will try to rustle up some humor for you next time.
Getting to know him has had its challenges but has been a joy and treasure I know is unique and I will never have again. Especially when I get him home to those sisters of his, I may never even see him again! But when I think of the craziness of life and how hard it is to squeeze in dates for the kids and quality time, how blessed am I to be here with him, as challenging as it has turned out to be(see earlier posts) and as much I desperately miss Kate, Ava, Leora, Ellis Mae and Violet, (see earlier posts) and even with the lack of hot water (see earlier posts). This time with Moses Blessing Jones has been one of the coolest things I have ever been able to do.
A recent stat says that there are nearly 150 million orphans in the world, that number has been rolling around in my head since I left the States (don't worry Kate, I won't get any ideas). It is a hard number to fathom. But being here in Africa again, I see the deep pain of hunger, poverty and disease. The injustice of those in authority toward those who are powerless and my heart aches.
Several days ago while coming home from the market, a very thin, malnourished woman tried to stop me, but unlike most who are selling something or asking for money, she pointed at Moses, who was in my arms and then she tried to hand me her little son. After several attempts and many words in Lingala, i realized that she was trying to GIVE me her son. To take home.
He was naked from the waist down, with the distended belly and sores and skinny as a rail. I was so shocked and moved i couldn't even speak to say "no, I'm so sorry" or whatever might have seemed appropriate... I could hardly breath as I walked away from her and her saddness at my refusal. There are so many things I could say about this but words seem weak. Sorry, I know it's not the humorous post you are used to reading from me (see earlier posts) and I know its almost Christmas (so I heard!) and we don't like to hear this kind of stuff, but it's real and it just actually happened to me.
I prayed for that little boy tonight, he was about Moses' age, and if I see them again I am getting them some food. But then what?
That experience made me so grateful to be here bringing my son home, to have a place where my kids can safely sleep, food to feed them well everyday and that they never feel the awful pain of real hunger.
Whatever and whoever Almighty God has blessed you with in your life, be thankful and demonstrate your thankfulness with your life.
More posts to follow... I will try to rustle up some humor for you next time.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
I Love the Taste of Deet in the Morning
So i thought i was Getting a sore throat... Til I remembered that earlier Moses Blessing had said something while i was spaying myself with bug spray. With out thinking I answered "what"? And as I did so I Injested a bunch of 40% Deet bug spray... You know, the heavy duty camping kind. It was gross. So I'm not sick, I just have a chem lab growing in my throat.
The time difference seems like no big deal, but 8 hours of difference between here and home in Boise is starting to feel like forever! We wake up just as they go to sleep and are prepping for dinner when Boise wakes up. It makes me thankful for my European and East Coast friends who post to Facebook or are making news during our day here! It helps keep me in the loop and not make me feel like I am in.... I don't know, say the Congo?
Today, Moses Blessing gave me a 'thumbs-up' for his peanut butter and jelly sandwich! I have been working with him on this for a while and he finally did it, unrehearsed and unprompted.
He is really enjoying his photo book of Kate and the girls and as we flipped through it again today I noticed that there are pics of the girls from this whole last year, with varying hairstyles, changing ages, lost teeth and Violet from zero to six months. I hope he doesn't think we are going home to about twenty different sisters!
We are doing ok without the $35 pull-ups (see earlier post) just two accidents in the last few days.
We had some laundry done, we gave it to them Monday and picked it up today. I provided a very thorough list of each item by color and size. I went out to get it and they pointed to baskets all around the room with, what seems like, every single other guests laundry in them! I took my list and went through each basket until I had found everything! Can't complain, just thankful to have some clean clothes!
no news of exit papers yet, hoping to hear something tomorrow, Thursday.
Another parent saw a rat here in the house last night, running down the hall! I thought I had heard scratching in the walls last weekend and that confirms it! AND Contrary to our interpreter's assurances, we saw a GIGANTIC spider yesterday as well! Good times. Nearly all of you have heard or seen first hand my love of spiders, so I was not pleased. Not pleased at all. It was sort of on the out side of the building tho and after a few snapshots were taken, it met an untimely death. Gross. It was about the size on an iPhone, legs and all.
The guest house is surprisingly clean though and has a very capable staff who make sure it stays that way, including the occasional ant infestation or cockroach.
I think I have mentioned it before, but Moses Blessing is a very tidy kid. He likes everything clean and orderly, in fact one of the words he learned first and uses multiple times a day is "garbage". He loves to put stuff in the basket and put the basket out for housekeeping to pick up. He loves to separate out the recycling and strains to finds small piece of trash to put in to the garbage.
He also loves to brush his teeth... Much to his mothers delight!
Today was reall pretty, sunny and about 24 with a nice breeze coming over the river. I may have mentioned this before too (sorry it all runs together) but Kinshasa where we are (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Brazzaville (the capital of Repulic of Congo) face each other on opposite sides of the Congo River. Apparently this is the only place in the world that two capital cities of separate nations can literally see each other! It is pretty amazing what you learn around here talking to those passing through and spending hours googling what there is to do in the DRC!
...each time I check Google still says.. "nothing"
The time difference seems like no big deal, but 8 hours of difference between here and home in Boise is starting to feel like forever! We wake up just as they go to sleep and are prepping for dinner when Boise wakes up. It makes me thankful for my European and East Coast friends who post to Facebook or are making news during our day here! It helps keep me in the loop and not make me feel like I am in.... I don't know, say the Congo?
Today, Moses Blessing gave me a 'thumbs-up' for his peanut butter and jelly sandwich! I have been working with him on this for a while and he finally did it, unrehearsed and unprompted.
He is really enjoying his photo book of Kate and the girls and as we flipped through it again today I noticed that there are pics of the girls from this whole last year, with varying hairstyles, changing ages, lost teeth and Violet from zero to six months. I hope he doesn't think we are going home to about twenty different sisters!
We are doing ok without the $35 pull-ups (see earlier post) just two accidents in the last few days.
We had some laundry done, we gave it to them Monday and picked it up today. I provided a very thorough list of each item by color and size. I went out to get it and they pointed to baskets all around the room with, what seems like, every single other guests laundry in them! I took my list and went through each basket until I had found everything! Can't complain, just thankful to have some clean clothes!
no news of exit papers yet, hoping to hear something tomorrow, Thursday.
Another parent saw a rat here in the house last night, running down the hall! I thought I had heard scratching in the walls last weekend and that confirms it! AND Contrary to our interpreter's assurances, we saw a GIGANTIC spider yesterday as well! Good times. Nearly all of you have heard or seen first hand my love of spiders, so I was not pleased. Not pleased at all. It was sort of on the out side of the building tho and after a few snapshots were taken, it met an untimely death. Gross. It was about the size on an iPhone, legs and all.
The guest house is surprisingly clean though and has a very capable staff who make sure it stays that way, including the occasional ant infestation or cockroach.
I think I have mentioned it before, but Moses Blessing is a very tidy kid. He likes everything clean and orderly, in fact one of the words he learned first and uses multiple times a day is "garbage". He loves to put stuff in the basket and put the basket out for housekeeping to pick up. He loves to separate out the recycling and strains to finds small piece of trash to put in to the garbage.
He also loves to brush his teeth... Much to his mothers delight!
Today was reall pretty, sunny and about 24 with a nice breeze coming over the river. I may have mentioned this before too (sorry it all runs together) but Kinshasa where we are (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Brazzaville (the capital of Repulic of Congo) face each other on opposite sides of the Congo River. Apparently this is the only place in the world that two capital cities of separate nations can literally see each other! It is pretty amazing what you learn around here talking to those passing through and spending hours googling what there is to do in the DRC!
...each time I check Google still says.. "nothing"
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
A Rock in hand will kill two in the bush!
It's been a little bit since I blogged so here it is!
I thought i had shared this but i guess not.... We were out on one of our walks around the compound when I spotted two of the littlest, prettiest finches I have ever seen! In a city of lizards, mosquitoes and magpies it was a welcomed sight. They were a bright blue and really cute. I pointed them out to my boy... Who, without a second thought, picked up a rock and chucked it at them!
Yep! All boy!
our visas were delayed yesterday until today at three... When they did actually materialize finally. Great news! Now, in order tobret Out of here by this weekend I have to get our exit letter from the DRC authorities, and it would be pushing it to get done, but it CAN happen, so that's what I am praying for.
Wild rain storm this morning that cleared out for a day in the high twenties... Really pretty nice and less mosquitoes today it seems.... Tho they are probably on some crazy hatching cycle and will be out in full force by tonight! I fear the DRC has damaged my typically optimistic attitude!
Another couple arrived last night and got their child today, reminding me that I have officially had Blessing for two weeks today! He is doing really awesome, I think. Progress every day. Found the Jib Jab Books on the iPad which was a godsend! I plugged his picture into it and suddenly there he was in a story about truck! His dream come true really! He has started wanting me to read all of the books I brought which is great. He had know nearest in them til a day or so ago. He talked to Kate and the girls via FaceTime last night. A big step. He has not quite been sure about FaceTime or this magical Mommy I keep talking about until the last few days. I can't wait for him to meet her and his amazing sisters in the flesh! What a bunch they will be!
Ate at the Swiss/French restaurant again last nite (cheaper than the dining hall here) and the owner shared with us some of the wild and scary things he has experienced here in the DRC. Man, just when you're starting to feel pretty safe somewhere this guy has to go and tell you the truth! Dang!
That's it in a nutshell!
We walk a lot, read a lot, when he naps I read and study and clean up. It feels like its almost night time then I look at my watch and it's only 10:30am! Time feels like it stands nearly still most of the day!
I thought i had shared this but i guess not.... We were out on one of our walks around the compound when I spotted two of the littlest, prettiest finches I have ever seen! In a city of lizards, mosquitoes and magpies it was a welcomed sight. They were a bright blue and really cute. I pointed them out to my boy... Who, without a second thought, picked up a rock and chucked it at them!
Yep! All boy!
our visas were delayed yesterday until today at three... When they did actually materialize finally. Great news! Now, in order tobret Out of here by this weekend I have to get our exit letter from the DRC authorities, and it would be pushing it to get done, but it CAN happen, so that's what I am praying for.
Wild rain storm this morning that cleared out for a day in the high twenties... Really pretty nice and less mosquitoes today it seems.... Tho they are probably on some crazy hatching cycle and will be out in full force by tonight! I fear the DRC has damaged my typically optimistic attitude!
Another couple arrived last night and got their child today, reminding me that I have officially had Blessing for two weeks today! He is doing really awesome, I think. Progress every day. Found the Jib Jab Books on the iPad which was a godsend! I plugged his picture into it and suddenly there he was in a story about truck! His dream come true really! He has started wanting me to read all of the books I brought which is great. He had know nearest in them til a day or so ago. He talked to Kate and the girls via FaceTime last night. A big step. He has not quite been sure about FaceTime or this magical Mommy I keep talking about until the last few days. I can't wait for him to meet her and his amazing sisters in the flesh! What a bunch they will be!
Ate at the Swiss/French restaurant again last nite (cheaper than the dining hall here) and the owner shared with us some of the wild and scary things he has experienced here in the DRC. Man, just when you're starting to feel pretty safe somewhere this guy has to go and tell you the truth! Dang!
That's it in a nutshell!
We walk a lot, read a lot, when he naps I read and study and clean up. It feels like its almost night time then I look at my watch and it's only 10:30am! Time feels like it stands nearly still most of the day!
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Sunday go to meetin'... I mean Market
I heard an amazing Kyrie being being sung at St. Anne's church this morning... As we walked past it to go to the supermarket! I know, we skipped church... Worse things have happened. Besides, I couldn't risk the market being closed like it was yesterday, and even though ppl said it would be open on Sunday I still had to check early. That way if it was closed I could arrange for transportation to another market... That could take all day and into the night here, so... I skipped church, stuck Moses Blessing into the backpack (he's pretty big for it, but thinks its awesome) and headed off through the compound gate and toward the market. It was open. And apparently Sunday is the day to see and be seen at the market cause half of Kinshasa was there! All of the Europeans, UN folks and Americans had the same idea I did, I guess. And, like me, they all seemed surprised by the others!
So, I just had to get a few things to help our budget stretch so we don't have to pay to eat every meal at the dining room here this week. After getting the necessities and a little something yummy (that bag of cubed Gouda was screaming at me from the shelf, i swear)
I went to the check out. I told the checker I needed my total in dollars instead of francs (I can't deal with all those zeros) and she politely said, in French: "that will be $95.00 monsieur" my French Is terrible, but even i could understand that!!! $95!?!?!? After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I asked to see the register screen where I noticed that the Pull-ups were $35 and the thing of paper bowls was $30!!! So I saved myself $65 and handed them back to her and asked her to remove them... Si vous plei and merci! And we think groceries are getting expensive in the states! Somebody needs to show these folks extreme couponing!
Yeah...
So Moses Blessing and I polished of a small bag of Gouda cubes today with lunch... He is gonna fit right in at home!
We walked around a lot in between storms. we woke up this morning to one of the loudest thunderstorms I have ever heard, the whole building shook. Then the sun came out and it got to around 31 or 32c... (Americans can google that!) pretty hot and the humidity makes it feel heavy.
We picked up our room and separated laundry for tomorrow and just hung out together. We are praying for his visa to be finished tomorrow! The major blessing in this process taking so long though is that I get to spend three weeks with my son! Just me and him! That is cool no matter what country you are in... Though I could think of a few...
The Internet has been coming and going a lot the last 24 hours or so, st. Anne's is on a generator that switches on and roars to a start when we lose power. It's nice, and it's loud! And every time it happens the router reboots! I have learned to work offline and then Jump on and be done as quick as I can! I have also learned to accept small typos and errors in my writing... It makes me crazy, but the alternative is unbearably tedious. Not to mention, the Internet here is like one, giant dial-up line (remember those?) that everyone in the whole city ( 7million+) has a wireless router attached too! It's a bit dodgy at best!
Please feel free to comment or ask questions on Facebook or email, i would love to read them, if the signal is strong enough...
So, I just had to get a few things to help our budget stretch so we don't have to pay to eat every meal at the dining room here this week. After getting the necessities and a little something yummy (that bag of cubed Gouda was screaming at me from the shelf, i swear)
I went to the check out. I told the checker I needed my total in dollars instead of francs (I can't deal with all those zeros) and she politely said, in French: "that will be $95.00 monsieur" my French Is terrible, but even i could understand that!!! $95!?!?!? After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I asked to see the register screen where I noticed that the Pull-ups were $35 and the thing of paper bowls was $30!!! So I saved myself $65 and handed them back to her and asked her to remove them... Si vous plei and merci! And we think groceries are getting expensive in the states! Somebody needs to show these folks extreme couponing!
Yeah...
So Moses Blessing and I polished of a small bag of Gouda cubes today with lunch... He is gonna fit right in at home!
We walked around a lot in between storms. we woke up this morning to one of the loudest thunderstorms I have ever heard, the whole building shook. Then the sun came out and it got to around 31 or 32c... (Americans can google that!) pretty hot and the humidity makes it feel heavy.
We picked up our room and separated laundry for tomorrow and just hung out together. We are praying for his visa to be finished tomorrow! The major blessing in this process taking so long though is that I get to spend three weeks with my son! Just me and him! That is cool no matter what country you are in... Though I could think of a few...
The Internet has been coming and going a lot the last 24 hours or so, st. Anne's is on a generator that switches on and roars to a start when we lose power. It's nice, and it's loud! And every time it happens the router reboots! I have learned to work offline and then Jump on and be done as quick as I can! I have also learned to accept small typos and errors in my writing... It makes me crazy, but the alternative is unbearably tedious. Not to mention, the Internet here is like one, giant dial-up line (remember those?) that everyone in the whole city ( 7million+) has a wireless router attached too! It's a bit dodgy at best!
Please feel free to comment or ask questions on Facebook or email, i would love to read them, if the signal is strong enough...
Saturday, December 1, 2012
I'll Be Home For Christmas...
Well, two weeks in to this process and i found out yesterday that our visa won't be ready til Monday. Then we wait still for an exit letter which can take four days. Bummer. Looks like I will be spending three weeks here in the Congo... unless God does something huge! My faith in His grace and power is still intact, tho the news yesterday was just enough to take the wind out of my sails a bit.
This is why the Bible says in Ecclesiastes that "two are better than one..." because when one is discouraged, the other can pick him up and he is not alone. Thank God for my wife and girls who encouraged me over the phone and for my son who's desire to wrestle came at just the right time! It was Smack-Down in room 117! I'm sure the neighbors thought we were killing each other, but sometimes a good throw down is just what you need!
The good news is, I only have a week left here! (sigh of acceptance)
So... Today I am thankful for my incredible wife, who is at home, singlehandedly parenting 4 girls, getting them to school, gymnastics, ballet, church, making meals, packing lunches, leading worship, praying for us here, Christmas shopping, and making it all look easy! She is the most graceful person I know. The love of my life, I cannot imagine life without her.
And for four amazing girls who are so talented and kind, and are helping their mommy out so much (right girls!?!) I miss you more everyday and can't wait to wrestle and snuggle you when I get home.
I am also incredibly thankful for the family, friends and church who have come along side us in this wild time to help, support, give, watch kids, clean, cook, do laundry, pray and do so much, you know who you are and I want you to know how thankful I am for you.
I am thankful most for a loving God, who knows everything and is working all things for our good. As the calendar roles into December (wow) I am reminded that when all the world was lost in dark hopelessness, God sent a Saviour, His only son Jesus. It is when the world around us seems the darkest that His light can truly be seen as the hope it truly is. I am so thankful for the hope I have in Jesus Christ.
This is why the Bible says in Ecclesiastes that "two are better than one..." because when one is discouraged, the other can pick him up and he is not alone. Thank God for my wife and girls who encouraged me over the phone and for my son who's desire to wrestle came at just the right time! It was Smack-Down in room 117! I'm sure the neighbors thought we were killing each other, but sometimes a good throw down is just what you need!
The good news is, I only have a week left here! (sigh of acceptance)
So... Today I am thankful for my incredible wife, who is at home, singlehandedly parenting 4 girls, getting them to school, gymnastics, ballet, church, making meals, packing lunches, leading worship, praying for us here, Christmas shopping, and making it all look easy! She is the most graceful person I know. The love of my life, I cannot imagine life without her.
And for four amazing girls who are so talented and kind, and are helping their mommy out so much (right girls!?!) I miss you more everyday and can't wait to wrestle and snuggle you when I get home.
I am also incredibly thankful for the family, friends and church who have come along side us in this wild time to help, support, give, watch kids, clean, cook, do laundry, pray and do so much, you know who you are and I want you to know how thankful I am for you.
I am thankful most for a loving God, who knows everything and is working all things for our good. As the calendar roles into December (wow) I am reminded that when all the world was lost in dark hopelessness, God sent a Saviour, His only son Jesus. It is when the world around us seems the darkest that His light can truly be seen as the hope it truly is. I am so thankful for the hope I have in Jesus Christ.
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