The Intentional Life

 As has started to feel the norm around here, we are saying good-bye to yet another family who we have come to count as some of our dearest friends.  Owen and Kaine trying to find "jungle people" We first got to know the Muellers when they moved to our area to work at Gateway Woods.  Their Kaine was just a few months old and I was weeks away from having Owen.  Madeline and Layla Within the next two years we also started working at Gateway and enjoyed having the Muellers as our neighbors on campus. Halle and Hannah They left Gateway in 2011 to pursue training with New Tribes Missions.  And now, after 4+ years of training, they are headed to Papua New Guinea. It had become our custom to make sure we had a get together each time they were in the area during their training breaks.  A little over a week ago we got together for our last one....for awhile.   One final picture! (with the addition of Meron, far right) Each ...

 May kept us hopping with the continuation of soccer three nights a week (good grief!) and various end of school year events. I realized toward the end of the month that May had been a Gateway reunion of sorts for me.  One of our former 'kids' (resident) moved back to our area.  Our whole family was pretty stoked as we are able to see a lot more of him now, and even had him join us for our Friday Night Pizza supper. And we got a card and picture in the mail from another former resident - graduating from high school and doing well! Soon after I get a visit at my office from two of our former residents, one even stayed and talked with me for an hour and a half. And to wrap it up, we attending the high school graduation of yet another of our 'kids.' Whew.  All in one month.  Seems if goes way too long with no news from anyone and then... When it rains it pours - in a good way. Amidst all the "reunions" we took in a baseball game, Mad...

January - the Flood Your grace will never be forgot Your mercy all my life February - Maddie turns 4! Will be my source for every song My story and my light March - the end of snow...finally! From mountain top to valley low through laughter and through tears April - learning patience Surely the goodness of my God  Will follow all the year April - Hannah turns 6! For all that you have done for us For every battle won  May - a much needed getaway  We'll raise a song to bless your heart For all that you have done June - moving on from our lives of 5.5 years  You know our failures and regrets You always led us home July - redefining what summer break really is   Redemption's arm has raised us up Our triumph in the storm August - first days of school all around   In unity we'll stand as one A valiantly we'll go September - the Stache Dash Shoulder to should...

We’re doing it again.  Just as we have for the last 2 years. We are buying another goat...and a few chickens. And just like the last two years, it's for someone that we will never meet (this side of heaven at least).  I hope that with this gift of food and income, that the message of the Good News will reach them too. If you want to join us in the gift giving you can go to: www.worldvisiongifts.org or www.holtinternational.org/gifts/ or http://www.compassion.com/catalog.htm All are great organizations who are reaching out in Jesus' name. So instead of a picture in the mail with a happy holiday greeting, you get this email update. And a montage of pictures taken in about 5 minutes of throwing everything together. In June of this year, Paul and I, and our 3 kids, moved on from our tenure as houseparents at Gateway Woods after 5 1/2 years.  This has been a roller coaster of a year as we struggled with burnout, saw a 75% overhaul...

Never be lacking in zeal,  but keep your spiritual fervor,   serving the Lord. Romans 12:11 As so many of these Romans 12 verses have done, this one is so relevant for the month of July. For so long Paul and I have felt used up entirely.  At the end of the day we did not have anything left.  We would literally sit on the couch and stare at the wall.  Party people, that's us. Some people get out of something before they burn out.  And perhaps we should have done that. Maybe we should have moved on when we still had something left in our burners.   Go out on a high note. But if anyone knows my husband well.  You know that Paul does not do things partially or half way. Full tilt all the way .   So, I married into that, and sometimes I have to hold on for the ride.  It comes with the territory. As we were nearing our final days on campus I felt guilty.  Felt bad that I didn't have more to give....

 June 2014 was literally unlike any summer we have ever experienced.  The last time we had a June where we did not have to supervise 5+ teenagers and make sure we had work and activities planned daily, our children looked like this:   2008 Hannah (2 months!) was in the midst of battling acid reflux that left her screaming more often than not.  Owen was a curious 2 year old. But now, 5 years later, we had a June filled with Soccer games, graduations from 1st grade and Kindergarten, family vacation, getting back into gardening ( call me crazy, but I love pulling my own weeds!  Someday I'll wish for that help of teenage residents, but for now, I'll enjoy it .), VBS at church, and catching an EVENING ball game. June 13th we said goodbye to the crazy, rewarding, fulfilling, draining life of Houseparenting at Gateway Woods.  We stepped into the world of preparing for teaching High School Math, Chemistry, and Physics (Paul!) and me taki...