Camp Director?

Our options have broadened. We are still looking at possibilities of right now going into international missions, but we've said from the beginning that we wondered if there might be something else first. About a week after I let my employer know I was leaving, the director of Bair Lake Bible Camp asked me if I would be interested in being a candidate for stepping in and directing, as he was stepping out into some new ventures. So directing a Bible camp is now in the mix of where God may put us. That would mean moving just a mile down the road, as they want this person to live on camp grounds. There are many details we don't know yet, and we still have a lot of praying to do, but we are excited that this may be where God wants us to "minister before Him." In a couple of weeks we will start the interview process and they want this person to start May 1st. That would be great timing. But we are keeping an open heart for whatever God wants us to do still.

from Jay

Hi, this is Jackson. Please check out the link you see to the right of this. It's really cool. It's the one about firstgiving.

bye.

Hold it Loosely

Last night Trevor was reading 'The Fellowship of the Ring' aloud as the kids drew with crayons, paper and colored pencils spread out on the carpet. As the kids hear words they don't understand, they frequently stop Trev from reading and ask the word's meaning. At one point in the story Jackson stopped him to ask, "Daddy, what does content mean?". Sometimes I answer and sometimes Trevor does. This time as we were making eye contact trying to decide who should answer, we heard, "It means to be satisfied" - Ellie had stepped up to the plate.

What does it mean to be content? God's asking the tough questions: Will I be content wherever we live? With all the changes happening in our life I am struggling with the very thing we tell the kids all the time: hold it loosely. Though we have said from day one that this is God's home, as the reality of letting it go draws close, I see in me a temptation to strengthen my grip. So today I am praying, please Lord help me hold it loosely. Help me remember that it is Yours and that the very concept of possession is just my imagination because it's ALL Yours.

"when nothing satisfies you, hold My hand"

-Jennifer Knap

Significance of 2 Chronicles 29:11

Well, the word is out. We are being called to stand before Him and serve Him, to minister before Him and burn incense. It's not that we have not been doing this already, it's just that He is asking us to go and do this. So, I will soon be leaving my job and we will be looking for a place to serve our Lord. It's kind of a neat position to be in. Here we are God. Where should we go? At this point, that could mean going a mile down the road or going across the world. We're not sure. But we are ready. God has been so gracious in His leading us to do this. It has been a gradual pull away from "things" and moving our whole family to a place where we are open to whatever He has. We're all tempted to fear. There are so many questions that are not answered. But there is also peace. We know that the "burn incense" part, which is representative of our prayers, is so very important in all of this. We will not hesitate to ask friends and family for prayer. And we will be in prayer more than ever. "Apart from Me, you can do nothing." Lord, the only thing I know to do right now is to cry out to You and to trust that You hear me and that You will catch and hold us. Thank You for the victory that is Yours. Thank You that we need not worry. This is all a God idea, not a good idea. We want to praise You. We want to know You. We want to see Your face. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty!

A Budding Photographer's Winter Portfolio

Tater took these shots a few days ago. He really loves to take pictures!

Cubed

It's Rubik's Cube mania! Jackson can solve one side of the cube in 1:58. Look out cute little Chinese girl who can solve it in under 4 minutes - Jackson is on the move. How is this possible? All thanks goes to his coach/daddy.

We missed it

I missed something amazing last night. Just before we went to bed we were checking for emails from our friends in Kenya (our concern for their safety has grown because of recent upheavals in Nairobi) and in the process saw that during the early morning hours today there was going to be an amazing meteor shower. The peak of action was supposed to begin around 1:30 this morning. Trev and I agreed that we would not set out alarms, rather we would see if we woke up at that time because of some kind of supernatural nudging. If either of us woke, we'd wake the other and head outside to view the spectacle.




I woke up at 1:25 a.m.




Bitter cold night vs. warm bed = warm bed wins. At the time I felt only a trace of regret as I turned over to get back to sleep. I thought how loving I was being to Trevor to let him stay warm too.

Now I am fully awake and I fully regret by bed's victory. It's not just the falling stars I missed. I believe God had something for us and we missed it. I hate it when we do that.

Trevor called today. Normally this wouldn't be something to blog about, but today he called from Liberia, Africa. He left with our friends Matt and Michelle on Christmas day to go get their three adopted children and bring them home. They will be home on Dec. 31st and I think it would be best to wait for him to write about his experience.

My role in all this is nurturing the combined children of our two families. Let's just say I've stepped into the world of seven children and conversion vans.

Jackson's been sick, really sick. But thankfully he's smiling and eating today. And that awful fever is gone. Last night I really felt like Jackson's illness was Satan's attempt to wedge his way in. Thankfully Tater came to my side and his faith-filled prayer for his brother encouraged my heart and I knew God was going to heal Jackson. And He did. Like I said, he's smiling and I haven't seen that for 2 days.

Ellie's 11th

A few braids to make the "Watoto" birthday slightly more realistic.

Happy Birthday Ellie!

Did you find them dancing in the house of the Lord?

Definitely - when the Watoto DVD's playing!

Bringing Bethlehem to Jones

Last night people from all over Michigan came together to bring Bethlehem to Jones. Some were angels. Some were shepherds. Some brought cookies. Some brought a goat (sacrificing the former-pleasant aroma in their van). The snow fell and the roads became challenging so many stayed tucked away in their home, but a few brave souls ventured out to see and hear the story of our Savior's first coming.

The stable is stable at last!

Though we had gathered for the purpose of creating a nativity scene, the weekend evolved into much more. An amazing blend of family and friends filled our home and the combination was incredible. Family? Friend? After a while the two blended until it became almost impossible to tell the difference.

Today was full of good-byes despite our hopes that the snow would continue to fall and that everyone would be snowed in and have to stay longer. We are so thankful to everyone who embraced being slightly to majorly inconvenienced in order to be here! We miss you already.

A Multitude of Heavenly Hosts!

Liberia Bound

Travel day is approaching! It's looking like they will be leaving Dec. 29th.

And the winner is...

Every dog wins!