Poured Out

It’s always fun to look back at the end of something important and see how far you’ve come.  Aliyah finished her 100 Reading Lessons Program yesterday, something she’s been working on since September.  She is very excited and is happily reading books to her siblings and Mom and Dad.  We have a party planned in two weeks with her friends to celebrate.  Today she finished the schoolwork she had left for this year and Hannah won’t be too far behind.  I am proud of both of them, and it’s so amazing to see how their appetite for learning has grown.  I really believe that one major goal of early childhood education is instill a love of learning.  To hunger to know and understand is the foundation of education.  So it does my heart good when one of my children asks a question like Aliyah did tonight.  We had read a devotional story about a preacher who preached to an empty church, except for one person.  That person went on to become a preacher and brought many people to Christ.  Aliyah said, “Mom, I have a question.  How exactly do you tell people about Jesus?” We had a great discussion.  Then a really neat time of prayer.  Often it seems like the kids “rush” through their prayers.  The new devotional book gave some really specific things to pray about, which Aliyah prayed for really clearly.  When it was Hannah’s turn, I said, “Just pray to God like He’s a friend right here in the room.”  She paused for a long time and then started, “Hi God.  It’s me, Hannah.”  Then she went on to pray a really natural heartfelt prayer.  Soooo wonderful as a parent to experience these moments.

On the Mariah and Joel front, Mariah’s eye is turning lots of lovely colors but not causing her any pain.  Tonight at bedtime she was stalling and said, “I don’t want to go to bed until my eye is all the way better.”  Nice try.  Milk that injury for all its worth!  She is so sweet and funny.  Joel cracked us all up tonight when he found Mariah’s pacifier and while shouting out, “Pass – pass – pass” proceeded to try to put it in the mouths of everyone in the room.  He also kept putting it in his own mouth (he has never used a pacifier) and doing a little dance in a circle while the rest of us laughed.  These little people are so funny.

It appears that we have found a car to replace our faithful little Astra which has gone the way of all cars now.  It’s been a process but we have found a used Mazda 323.  We should be picking it up on Thursday.  It’s nice to have the looking stage over with.  And we thank God for the way He has provided through a special gift from friends to allow us to buy it.

Peter is out tonight teaching the second part of his “One-on-One Ministry” seminar that he’s doing at a church nearby.  Tonight’s subject was counseling and mentoring.  Next week will be conflict resolution and evangelism.  Pray for fruit.  And pray for him as he’s got a lot of upcoming ministry to prepare for.  This weekend he’ll be at a retreat teaching “Better Bible Study.”  Then it’s time for him to prepare all his messages for the OM Holland conference and the seminars for the conference we’ll be attending in France.  We’re all looking forward to the trip, but in the meantime still enjoying being home.

Well, yesterday we had a visitor for dinner. A friend from Portland was in London this week for work and came across the city to see us. His name is Kevin, but Mariah has dubbed him, “Heaven!” She was running around telling Hannah and Aliyah, “Daddy’s gone to the train station to pick up Heaven!” She called him that all evening, much to the delight of the whole family (and “Heaven”). We had an enjoyable evening with him. Today has been a warm English summer day. We have to make the most of these – they’re not too common – so we set up the paddling pool for the girls and they had a blast. Of course, they eventually came in with chattering teeth requesting some hot chocolate but hey, they had a good time! Last year, their paddling pool experience ended with blue lips so they told me they stayed out a long time today so their lips would turn blue again and I would give them hot chocolate. I gave them the non-sugary option – warm apple cider. Honestly, Moms can be so mean sometimes!  It’s been a really relaxing day, with lots of time spent together as a family. It’s so great to be home and be able to really spend quality time together – lots of laughs and joy. We went out for a walk tonight which was cut short because, at almost the same instant, Aliyah stumbled into a stinging nettle plant and Mariah tripped on the concrete path and fell on her face. Unfortunately, she was wearing sunglasses so she got a nasty cut and a black eye where the glasses pressed into her face. Thankfully, she didn’t seem too traumatized and is peacefully sleeping now. We are grateful for your prayers. I really feel God is giving us some restful days now as we re-cooperate from our US trip. Peter preaches the third of 3 sermons on the end of I Peter tomorrow at Oakhall. Pray for fruit.

Sorry for the internet silence in recent days. No real reason other than busy-ness of life as we settle back in. Mariah has given us some laughs recently. Yesterday Melanie was chatting with the older two about the subject of “eloping” (Hannah asked!) After a while and some good explanation of why it isn’t a good idea they both stated that they don’t want to elope (good news). Mariah, floating around and wanting to be involved in the conversation then announced, “I don’t want to go to jail!” This is all good news for us as parents. The other day I took Mariah and Joel for a walk and Mariah noticed the graffiti on a fence. “Daddy look! Somebody coloured on the fence. They should do that in their colouring books!” Anyway, we are well and enjoying the weather (at least the children are enjoying the time in the backyard). I speak on Sunday, then a seminar on Tuesday and then a weekend event the following weekend . . . busy days. I’ll just updated the schedule.

Well, it’s been a few days (and nights too!) and little by little we’re unpacking everything and getting settled in.  The older two girls and I have been in a “throw away” mood so as we’re unpacking and putting away we’re also doing a lot of de-cluttering.  I figure if we haven’t missed it in 3 months, it might not be too important!  (Looking at it another way, we have to make space for all the stuff we brought back with us, especially books!)  Our garbage will be extra full this week and we have already taken 2 bags of stuff to the charity shop with 3 more ready to go.

We felt very welcomed home when we arrived.  Friends had put up “welcome home” balloons and banners for us, planted flowers, left dinner in a crock-pot and made up the beds for us.  Several friends have stopped by with cards and treats.  It is so great to be back.  Of course we were sad to leave Oregon, but it feels great to be back and it is nice to know we were missed.

We’ve all been enjoying the slower pace of life – a chance for the kids to stay at home (instead of back-to-back social engagements) and just dress up or play play-dough.  There’s been more time to read together too.  I took stock today of what homeschooling we need to finish for this school year and there’s not too much.  So we’ll start tackling that next week.

While I’ve been organizing, Peter has been preparing his sermon for tomorrow.  He’ll be preaching at our home church here on the second half of I Peter 3.  This will be the first of a 3 week series that he is preaching.  Pray for a clear mind for him and powerful impact in people’s hearts.

A current challenge for prayer – Joel and Mariah are sleeping terribly since we have arrived home.  Of course they are jet-lagged so hopefully it’s going to change soon.  But they keep taking turns crying (Mariah coming out to us) which wakes the other one up and stresses them out.  I think they’re both struggling to adjust to their new/old beds.  Peter and I did not get much sleep last night.  By the time they finally went to sleep, we were both so wide awake (jet-lag!) that we just stayed up for awhile and didn’t get to sleep til 3 or 4 am.  I know this too shall pass – but we’d appreciate prayer for wisdom that we’d handle it wisely and with good attitudes.  Mariah was struggling with sleep and getting out of her bed before we left and then did fine on the trip so we’re not sure if this is the same old thing or just jet-lag.

And finally, I will end this long post with a request for prayer that Peter and I would both be able to re-establish good routines, especially time with God.  Without drinking from the well of His Word and communing in prayer, we will dry up and have nothing to pour into the lives of others.  Honestly, it’s been tough to get time with God during our time in the U.S.  Most people don’t realize that when missionaries come home for a “break” it’s not so much of a break.  We’ve had a really wonderful time, but it was very busy and hard to keep to a routine (not an excuse but a reality nonetheless).  So pray that we would make Christ number one in our lives and spend regular time with Him.

It’s four in the morning, good jet-lag time!  So I’m up and am hoping everyone else will either sleep more or go back to sleep.  We arrived home safely at 3:30pm yesterday.  The journey went very well.  We were sad to leave Melanie’s sister and family at the house, then Mom and Dad at the airport.  We were able to check-in without any drama, even discovering that Joel was entitled to check a bag (meaning we didn’t have to pay for the extra one we’d packed!)  The first flight to Denver was short and sweet (2.5 hours), with Joel sleeping on me for most of it.  Then we had three hours in Denver airport, before flying 8.5 hours to London.  This flight wasn’t perfect, but it could have been much worse.  Every child cried at some point, but they all slept too.  I had Joel the whole flight (fitful sleep with crying in between, but we made it).  Melanie had Mariah next to her and on her the whole flight (some crying but sleep too).  These long flights are all about patience.  Patience with children understandably distressed.  Patience with passengers that put their seat back at the earliest opportunity.  Patience with being 6’3+ and not fitting once that seat back is back.  Patience with passengers who go to sleep with their light on so the baby in the row behind can’t sleep properly.  Patience with cabin crew that never respond to the call button.  Patience, and character building.  Melanie was composing in her mind the analogy between long-haul flights with children and giving birth.  I’ll let her explain that if she wants.  But all in all, it could have been much worse and we are really thankful.  We arrived in London, all our bags and car-seats safely on the carousel, then a Polish porter helped bring them out to our waiting friends.  It’s sad to leave friends and family, but great to come back to friends too.  We all crashed by about 7pm, and children have woken periodically since about 11pm!  So that’s it, another transatlantic journey behind us!

We came over with as little luggage as possible.  This was partly due to travelling in CA for two weeks and wanting to be able to breathe in the car.  The other reason was that we knew we’d have stuff to take home.  We were right.  Homeschool materials for next year, books, clothes, etc.  So we have four boxes and five duffel bags packed.  This afternoon we need to get the other stuff in the last box.  I just spent an hour on the phone due to a fraudulent purchase on our credit card.  The card is cancelled and thankfully the “thief” didn’t strike again.  So, tomorrow we head to the airport.  Pray for no drama at check-in (ie. anything being overweight, unnecessary delays, seating arrangements, etc.)  We fly out of Portland at 1:33pm, change in Denver I think, then arrive in London at 12:15pm on Wednesday.  Please pray for children to smile or sleep, but not scream or lose their lunch!  We are sad to leave, but excited to get home and see our friends there again.  Thanks for praying for us as we travel!

So, some pictures from our week with aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. in Bemidji, MN and on the farm near Oriska, ND!

Here’s Joel winning hearts in his own winsome way . . .

Hannah did what she does so well, made very close friends very quickly – here with cousins Grady, Rylie and Cassidy . . .

Mariah also had a great time with cousin Ellah, almost two peas in a pod

Joel learned the fine art of dunking a basketball . . .

Aliyah is an animal lover – here with one of the toads they “loved” relentlessly from puddle to puddle!

Hannah also loves animals, and if there are no horses, then a cat will have to do . . .

The girls love to dress up, so they did . . .

No farm visit would be complete without some tractor time . . .

Isn’t that right, Joel?

We’re in packing mode.  We made it safely back from North Dakota on Tuesday without any drama.  Someone usually gets sick when we fly, and it is Mariah.  Hopefully the cough won’t go round the family.  Yesterday I purchased the extra boxes into which we are trying to squeeze the stuff we’ve accumulated here – mostly books (homeschool curriculum, reading books, etc., plus a great used-book seller here in Portland closed down while we were here . . . bargain time!)  So for the next few days it is about being with family, trying to get healthy and packing packing packing.  I will try to get some pictures of the family reunion on here though!