I forgot to mention in my last update that we participated in the largest homeschooling conference in Michigan, called INCH. Thank you so much to Mike at INCH for having us! We met SO MANY wonderful people and several missionaries there! The majority of the missionaries, after hearing about our ministry awaiting us in Thailand, said they wished they had that kind of educational support because it so different homeschooling in remote areas. (Don't you love it when the Lord confirms your calling?) Many of the missionaries offered advice and words of encouragement that we needed to hear. Other families stopped by to sign up for newsletter updates and donated money to help us get to Thailand!
I LOVE homeschooling conventions and curriculum fairs
and the past 2 have offered a couple fun photo ops:
This is Steve from Math-U-See (with his future student, Max).
Josh Dugger from 19 Kids and Counting.
What is even more awesome is that the Lord has used these homeschooling events to connect us to well-known curriculum companies who are interested in helping us provide resources to the families will be working with!
For his next trick, Max pretends to be a table. Seriously, this little boy is busy! The day before he turned 11 months old he walked! He's now walking up to 8 steps at a time. He's still toothless, but that will changing any day now!
Ken's family flew us out to Washington state to spend a week with them. The flight seemed so short (nearly 5 hours) compared to the last flight Ken and I took to Thailand (a 24 hour travel day!) The kids did great on the flight; since we left around 8pm, Max slept most of the flight. Jack stayed awake the entire flight, and Callie fell asleep just as the landing gear came down in Washington!
DILEMMA!!!!
We had 2 sleeping children, 4 small suitcases , 4 backpacks and a diaper bag to carry off the plane. I carried Callie and Max, (sleeping children always feel heavier, don't they?) and Jack and Ken carried all of the luggage. We made it off the plane but had 15 min. of walking and trains- catching ahead of us...what were we going to do? Before I could concern myself with our dilemma any longer, in front of us was an empty luggage cart! We loaded it up, put an awake, but very sleepy Callie on top and off we went! Thank you Lord for always being with us and for literally carrying our burden of luggage!
Ken enjoyed time with his dad and mom (isn't she cute?).
She always cooks a big Korean meal of Ken's favorite foods.
The cousins were inseparable!
Callie checking out the mountains! Do you see how long her hair is?
Isn't it beautiful? I wanted to just sit and read my Bible and spend time with the Creator.
We did a lot of hiking and felt safe with this kid to protect us ;)
Back in Michigan,
HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW:
Remember that long hair that Callie had grown out for nearly 4 years? She wanted it short.
Why? Because I got mine cut. Sweet, huh? I made her wait 3 weeks to be sure this is what she wanted. She insisted she wanted short hair!
Her first "real" haircut! She was so serious through the whole experience!
Callie donated nearly 12 inches of hair to Wigs for Kids!
We donated it in honor of sweet little Lacey Holsworth, who is now with her Maker.
Today I'm reminded what a vapor this life is. Every moment counts. How will I spend my moments? It's not just about what I'm doing, but what I'm thinking about in-between the goings on of life. I was reading with the kids in Philippians:
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 1 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Phil. 4:12-13
"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." Phil. 3:7-9
Good words to meditate on!
