these days....

-Today is the one week mark until our Show Hope medical team leaves for China. We've been preparing this trip for so long now and it's exciting that it's almost here! I'm looking forward to seeing how God is going to work in and through this team as they show Hope and are a part of giving life-changing surgeries to these orphans.

-While my family spent Easter in Sanibel, Florida, I was home in PA for work as our trip is one week away, so I went to my friends' house in Virginia for the holiday. It was a great weekend as I met their precious new daughters, Jaden and Eden! The weekend was filled with holding these precious girls and playing with their sissy Story, talking to there older sister Zhana who is currently in the Army in Germany, practicing Spanish with their wonderful nanny Nilda, playing pool, watching ridiculous Youtube videos, taking walks and skipping rocks, riding dirt bikes and quads, having water fights and a bon fire, going to church, and going to the movie theater to watch Soul Surfer (which about half way through the screen went black as the fire alarms blared! Thankfully it was a false alarm, but proof that something out of the ordinary always happens when our families are together!) I am always so encouraged by their family and their love for the Lord, and blessed by their kindness and generosity.

Sunny Easter Sunday! Joni and Eden, me and Jaden

Nilda, me, Stephen, Corey, Ty, Joni, Story, and George

Jaden, Eden, and Story

-As I was pulling in the driveway from work yesterday, I was surprised to see my brother Jon outside! I thought he had to go straight back to school from his Easter break in Sanibel, but he's here for the weekend! It was great to have him keep me company on my evening run and totally keep my pace up! Wish we could go together all the time- I'd be getting to the pace I want a lot faster! :)

-The past two nights we've had the biggest thunder and lighting storms that I've ever experienced- seriously epic. However, my poor dog Ace hates the thunder and I woke up early this morning to a crack of thunder and him jumping onto my bed (which I've never seen him do before) right on my head. Shaking, he curled up under my arm until we both fell asleep again. I totally had this epiphany after this little episode- how many times do I act like Ace did but towards God when something terrifying is going on. I get so scared because I can't see the situation from His perspective. While God has everything under control, I'm terrified of what the "thunder" might do to me. How often do I sell God short for who He really is- the Creator of all of this. Why do I so often lack trust in Him?

-The torrential rains that we've had here in Bear Creek are keeping on my mind the many people who are suffering from the record breaking tornados we've had in this country. I'm praying for all of you who have been affected, that God will bring you comfort in Him during this time of suffering.

-Today my family came home from Sanibel after eight weeks, and so the quiet house all to myself ends and craziness begins :) It was great to have dinner (salmon made by our sweet next door neighbor) with all my younger siblings and nieces and nephews for the first time in a while- I've come to enjoy each time that I'm with my younger siblings like I never have before because these times are becoming fewer and fewer as I know that soon I will be living far away and won't be around to see them grow up so quickly and beautifully as they are. To watch them growing to honor God and become who He is creating them to be is one of the greatest blessings that I have, and one that I took for granted for far too long. They are each a blessing to me in such unique ways and it's my prayer that I can always be a godly example for them to look to, just as my older siblings are to me each in a different way.

After dinner we talked with my brother-in-law Dan about his last trip to Haiti with his new job with Convoy Of Hope- about how much we love our dear friends Ray and Joan Conn who run the Restavek Freedom Foundation and other work the God is doing there.

Meanwhile the kids enjoyed the outdoor weather...

The boys played by the pond

and the girls (and Tristan:) played "olden days" while taking care of the sheep, chickens, and cats (and preparing for our pony to come home) that they missed so much while in Florida!

And now, for some humor to lighten your day, I'm going to leave you with something to watch that I personally think is one of the funniest videos ever made. Click HERE to watch!

A Time to Rejoice!

Today my dear friends George and Joni brought their two new daughters, Jaden and Eden, home from the hospital! They were born two weeks ago at 3 lbs 10 oz and 4 lbs 10 oz and had to spend their first two weeks in the NICU, but that's it! This in itself is amazing because the nurses said that they never send twins home together because they develop differently, and especially the fact that one was THREE weeks behind the other in growth. They are totally healthy, and the reason I'm writing this is because their lives are really a miracle! In fact, so is their mom's! About halfway through her pregnancy she started having complications, and the doctor told them there is no chance that both babies will live. As Joni says, "I am so aware of what the doctors said, 'you have a zero chance of making it with these babies.' God can do plenty with zeros." Praise the Lord for this miracle! I don't always know why God allows us to go through dark valleys in life, through circumstances that are totally beyond our control, but one thing I know is that so many times it seems that He just wants to show us that He alone is the One who is in control of our lives, and He desires that we put our trust solely in Him- that if the doctors give us a zero or a one hundred, in the end the result is up to the Father. Joni herself went through severe physical complications after giving birth to the twins, and according to our human standards almost didn't make it. But here again God was clearly showing us that His hand was with her all along and He IS a God who desires to show us His power by coming through in miraculous ways.

I know that sometimes God answers our hearts cry in ways that give heavenly joy and sometimes He allows us to through pain that our humans minds simply cannot understand or see purpose in, and I know that He calls us to respond with joy in every circumstance (James 1:2-4, 1 Thess. 5:16-18).

You give and take away, You give and take away. My heart will choose to say, Lord blessed be Your name.

We are forever grateful that this time He responded with YES and chose to let Joni, Jaden and Eden continue to live with us!

The girls are welcomed into their family by their big brothers and sisters, Zhana, Tyler, Stephen, Corey, and Story.

Jaden

Eden

Jaden Eden

Our Week

While my parents were in Haiti this past week with my three younger sisters Abby, Mariah ,and Katie, and one of my older sisters, Emily, I spent the week at our house in Sanibel with my little brother Nathan and foster brother Jeremiah, along with our dear friends Scott and Kerry Hasenbalg and their three sweet kids, Cole (our boys age), Maya, and baby Leah. In order for my parents to be able to go to Haiti, they had to have someone who is legally allowed to stay with Jeremiah since he is their foster son and I as a sister am not yet over twenty-one years old. Since Scott and Kerry have completed their adoption paper work and are allowed to do respite care for foster children, they were willing to come down and stay with us for the week.

Before my parents left, I had some apprehensions about caring for Jeremiah for a long period of time without either of them around, plus schooling him. Well, was I in for a blessed surprise! Every morning we went to the quiet room at the library, and not one time did he have a bad attitude or complain about his work, as I had anticipated. Some of what he does is challenge for him, and knowing that sometimes he acts out when others teach him and having never taught him before myself, I didn't exactly know what to expect. Not only did he do all of his work well without giving me a hard time, but I really enjoyed it! There were two big lessons I learned this week with this- that it's critical for me to keep my calm and patience no matter how long it's taking to teach a concept that he can't seem to grasp. This is important when teaching all children, but especially Jeremiah and children who have come through difficult circumstances and how important positive reinforcement is for their fragile emotions. And not only did our schooling go well at the library, but Kerry did school with Cole and Nathan (about the two easiest kids to teach ever!) and Maya with her kindergarten. Every afternoon the three boys and Maya played together like the four best behaved children in the world. I must say that much of this is due to the fact that Cole's 9-year-old mind is much more like a very wise adult and he was the mediator many times, keeping Lego, swimming in the pool and other activities running smoothly. Kerry and I repeatedly said throughout the week that we couldn't have this any easier. Fully aware of my preconceived notions about the possibility of how the week could have unfolded, I continually gave my worries to God, knowing that He alone is the One who can give us peace. It ended up to be one of the most enjoyable weeks ever for me, and I think this was God's way of letting me know that He desires to bless us a we are obedient to Him. He clearly showed me this week that He will take care of me as I give my worry to Him. Jer only had one real issue on the last day, and Kerry was able to calmly talk it through with him. I know that with every difficulty we go through with him, he is learning how to love and be loved. I'm thankful that even in the frustrating times God's plan is at work and He will work all things together for good for those who love Him.

As we had a great week in Sanibel, Mom, Dad, and the girls had a very great week in Haiti, working with many organizations including Restavek Freedom, Love A Child, Convoy of Hope, and Mission of Hope Haiti. My dad is also part of getting prison ministry started and is working with a friend from El Salvador who runs a very successful prison ministry there along with their organization called El Vinculo De Amor (The Love Link).

As the kids played at the pool or beach each afternoon or were at Sea School or Logos (kids program at church) I got to spend time with Kerry shopping and having fun, but most importantly being encouraged in the Lord by her and Scott. Every time I am with them I get such godly counsel, and because Kerry understands me better than anyone I know and is so wise in the Lord, she is never ceases to constantly bring my focus back to honoring God in every area of my life. One of the big lessons I learned this week was how important it is not to strive. I shouldn't try to live by my own time and make things happen by my own power. I'm only setting myself up for failure and disappointment. When I submit to God and His timing, then I will accept everything He calls me to do with obedience and in turn He will bless me as He sees fit. Life will go according to His plan, causing me to have peace in my heart, knowing that whatever comes my way is from Him and must be necessary for what He is preparing me for. Even as we were talking about this, my mind went back to several occasions where things came together that could've only been God- things that my striving for would have only disappointed me and taken me away from enjoying the moment of life that I was in, which is another lesson I learned. Thinking too much about the past or the future, or wishing to be in other places or with other people only robs you of enjoying the moment of life you are in. Enjoy the moment, because soon life will be over and you don't want to look back and have missed the joy of fully living life at each moment. I will always be grateful that no matter where I am in life, I can always count on Scott and Kerry to give me counsel that will point me back to honoring God.

To wrap this up, I'd like to share some pictures from our fun week!

five cuties- my week in a nutshell :)

helping his little friend through the deep water

discoveries in the tide pools

daily swiming :)

helping his short buddy make a shot

daily bike rides!