I didn't take many pictures this last week, but the other morning, I caught Abby in the pantry. She loves fruit and found out where I stash it. Although she can't open it, she really tried.
Jeremy has now been back from Thailand for a week. It has been great having him home. I sent an email to family and friends, but I wanted to post this on the blog as well...This is our story....
I hope that everyone is having a blessed 2010 so far. Jeremy and I knew that this year would be the year of great change for us, but I don't think we could have imagined when we moved to Idaho in 2008 just how impactful coming here would be on our lives. I want to give you guys a little background so you understand how we got to where we are...
As you all know back in January 2008 we answered the call to move our family to Idaho to help plant Connections. That experience has been challenging and also so rewarding on so many levels. Moving out of CA was a big deal for me and although hesitant at first, knowing God was behind the move, put my heart at ease. I have made friendships I never knew I would, have met people we would never have met and have impacted the kingdom in ways I never knew were possible. In May of 2009, Abigail joined our family and made us a family of 4. She is a joy and makes me smile and laugh everyday. It was around that same time that Jeremy and his good friend Dimitri did a 3 day fast. While he was in prayer, the Lord placed on his heart a desire to go to Thailand to serve the Thai people.
In October, we took a leap of faith and bought his ticket. Jeremy would be gone January 30-March 2nd. He was excited to have a date and I kept praying for my heart to be open to whatever happened while he was there. I know now, that many other people were praying for me also. At this same time, I began to do a daily bible study with my cousin, Jenny. We had started in Romans and gone back and forth between the old and new testament. It was so good to have the accountability. I have grown a lot spiritually thanks to that.
So, January 30th came and we took Jeremy to the airport. That was an emotional moment as I hugged my husband for the last time until March. The whole month was a work in progress on my heart. At least that is how I felt. I had moments that I was mad at God for calling my husband to another country. I had moments that I just sat and cried, I missed him so much and I felt like I was missing out on all the awesome God things that were happening. He was growing closer to God in leaps and bounds and I was being left behind. After the pity party for myself, God began to wake me up in the middle of the night to pray for very specific things. All of a sudden, I felt like Jeremy was right next to me. Not sure how else to explain it, but I could "feel" his heart. The rest of the month was much better. I let go of the fear and replaced it with love, it was a defining moment for me.
When he returned last week, it was such an awesome moment. To hug him again, to see the kids faces when they saw him. To have him just be here. He sat me down and started to tell me what God had taught him while he was there. He told me that the Lord had very clearly spoken to him, that we need to sell our stuff and move to S Thailand to continue to serve the Thai people. Had he told me this 10 months ago, I would have walked away and cried. This time, I just looked around at our house and our stuff and said "okay, let's do it."
This is the plan right now..We have been praying for a departure date and the Lord clearly told us June 14th. That is when we are leaving for S Thailand. We plan to spend a month going around the different provinces and praying over them, to decide where best to live.
Jeremy has been with his company, Fast Break Tech for 6 years. He talked to Steven and he has agreed to buy him out. They are doing a vaulation of the company. Whatever that figure is, it will be our income while we are there. Jeremy has a couple other ideas for jobs also, while we live there. At this point, we have no set timeline as to when we will return. It will be for as long as God calls us to be there. I'm excited for us and our children to reach beyond ourselves to a world that desperately needs the love of Jesus. I am so humbled that he has chosen us to be those people.
Please be in prayer for us, our financial goal for support is to have $1,000/mo secured before we leave. We have no doubt that God will provide for us, in ways that we don't even know about now. We love you all, Lisa, Jeremy, Makale and Abby
On Saturday we woke-up to snow, it of course all melted a couple hours later. I will miss Fall and Winter, they are my fav times of the year. It was a fun week, the weather has been so nice and Makale now spends a lot of time each day in the sandbox and on the trampoline. We have started to post our stuff on Craigs list in prep for the move. We are going to drive to a city in OR about 45 min away so apply for our passports next week and then get our visas. We bought our tickets this week also, officially leave on June 15th.
Abby has been teething and the only thing that made her happy was eating cheerios off the carpet.
The weather has been really nice this week, except for some wind. Makale has re-discovered the trampoline.
The kids "talk" to each other from the door, it's pretty cute. Today, Abby saw that Makale had gold fish and put her hand out for one in the car, he preceded to feed her fishies while we drove, it was sweet.
We have sold the train table and the futon in preparing for our move. The front room is now a big play area for the kids.
I met my friend Brie at the park on St Patty's day. Makale ran himself tired and slept 3 hrs when we got home.
Jordan and Abby swinging
She didn't like avacado for awhile, but enjoyed it again this week
On St Pattys day while Makale napped I baked sugar cookies. When he got-up we frosted and decorated them.
The finished product..so yummy
Makale winking and enjoying his cookie
