I meant to blog this last week but I've been a little distracted. Moving to Korea for a year has made me feel a little distracted and some days overwhelmed. Anyway . . .
Todd occassionally likes to surprise the kids when they wake up with a chocolate donut. Simple pleasures for them and lots of kudos for Dad. Here is the scenerio one morning when Lia woke up before Zach:
Lia running from the kitche to the living room with a look of fright: "Mom, Mom, come quick! There is a monster in the kitchen. Hurry!!"
Me: "A monster?"
Lia: "yes! a monster! hurry!"
Me: "Lia what did you do?"
Arriving in the kitchen and finding that the "monster" had eaten the top of Zach's donut and 1/4 of Lia's donut.
Me: "Lia."
Lia: "Mom, it wasn't me. It was the monster."
Me:explained how Zach was going to be sad about his donut and sent her to the bathroom to wash her hands and face.
Lia: "Mom, it really was the monster."
Todd enters the room. Sigh.
Todd: "Lia, you are going to have to finish this donut and we will give Zach your donut." (the top wasn't missing, just a couple of bites)
Lia (running to her room and very angry): "Dad, I don't like what you're saying to me."
Friday, June 26, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Where you go, I will go . . .
Our family moved to KC two years ago. The two years that we've been here have been both beautiful and hard--they are two years that we wouldn't trade for anything. We have seen God work in our lives, enlarge our hearts and show us His unfailing love and faithfulness.
At the end of May, just before our vacation, we found out that Todd lost his job (this is the 3rd job he has lost since we moved here--crazy!). We were confused, sad, disappointed and yet hopeful. Once the initial sting wore off and we had time to pray and process with friends, we began to feel like God was somehow in this loss and in our confusion.
As long as we've been married, Todd and I have prayed prayers and dreamt of living oversees to teach and be part of another culture. We've never fully pursued this but most of you have probably heard us talk about this desire.
A couple of days after Todd loss his job, he was having lunch with our friend, Glenn. They weren't even to Panera when Glenn posed a question, "Todd, have you ever thought about teaching/living internationally?" Todd, somewhat surprised, "Yes! Kim and I have always wanted to do that." That ended up being their entire lunch conversation.
That conversation led to a contact that Glenn had recently made, which led to another contact, multiple e-mails, phone conversations, prayer and a job offer.
In all of this craziness we see God's hand leading us and providing for us. Our family has accepted a one year teaching position in South Korea. There is an option to renew for a second year but we will evaluate that in the spring. Todd will be teaching Science to 7-12 grade students in a private Christian school for Korean students--all teaching is done in English. Todd will receive a salary and our housing will be provided. Zach and Lia will be able to attend the school for free and most of our health insurance is paid for. We also feel this is a missional call for our lives. So, we keep saying, "We are on Mission to S. Korea!"
We are preparing, emotionally, physically, practically and spiritually for this new season. We have not confirmed a specific date for departure but it will most likely be the week of August 10. This will enable us to settle into our new home, learn a little about our new city and begin to adjust living in S. Korea. Todd will begin teacher orientation the week of August 24.
We would value your prayers as we embark on this new adventure. We know that Jesus hears us when we pray and we ask that you join us as we pray into a few areas as we prepare to GO!
* That we would be able to rent our house and sell our car.
* That we would meet all of our financial responsibilities. Todd is still unemployed and I'm working as much as possible at Starbucks. (Cool story though--today we received two letters from the state of Missouri. They had made errors in our 2007 and 2008 returns and owed us money. The total was what we needed for our July mortgage payment plus $100--God is indeed faithful!!)
* For peace and joy to fill each of hearts as we prepare to GO!
* That our passports would arrive in a timely matter so that Todd's visa can be processed.
There are other things that we are going to start praying into as well but these are at the fore-front of our minds/hearts at this time.
Yes! We are really moving to S Korea. Wow!
At the end of May, just before our vacation, we found out that Todd lost his job (this is the 3rd job he has lost since we moved here--crazy!). We were confused, sad, disappointed and yet hopeful. Once the initial sting wore off and we had time to pray and process with friends, we began to feel like God was somehow in this loss and in our confusion.
As long as we've been married, Todd and I have prayed prayers and dreamt of living oversees to teach and be part of another culture. We've never fully pursued this but most of you have probably heard us talk about this desire.
A couple of days after Todd loss his job, he was having lunch with our friend, Glenn. They weren't even to Panera when Glenn posed a question, "Todd, have you ever thought about teaching/living internationally?" Todd, somewhat surprised, "Yes! Kim and I have always wanted to do that." That ended up being their entire lunch conversation.
That conversation led to a contact that Glenn had recently made, which led to another contact, multiple e-mails, phone conversations, prayer and a job offer.
In all of this craziness we see God's hand leading us and providing for us. Our family has accepted a one year teaching position in South Korea. There is an option to renew for a second year but we will evaluate that in the spring. Todd will be teaching Science to 7-12 grade students in a private Christian school for Korean students--all teaching is done in English. Todd will receive a salary and our housing will be provided. Zach and Lia will be able to attend the school for free and most of our health insurance is paid for. We also feel this is a missional call for our lives. So, we keep saying, "We are on Mission to S. Korea!"
We are preparing, emotionally, physically, practically and spiritually for this new season. We have not confirmed a specific date for departure but it will most likely be the week of August 10. This will enable us to settle into our new home, learn a little about our new city and begin to adjust living in S. Korea. Todd will begin teacher orientation the week of August 24.
We would value your prayers as we embark on this new adventure. We know that Jesus hears us when we pray and we ask that you join us as we pray into a few areas as we prepare to GO!
* That we would be able to rent our house and sell our car.
* That we would meet all of our financial responsibilities. Todd is still unemployed and I'm working as much as possible at Starbucks. (Cool story though--today we received two letters from the state of Missouri. They had made errors in our 2007 and 2008 returns and owed us money. The total was what we needed for our July mortgage payment plus $100--God is indeed faithful!!)
* For peace and joy to fill each of hearts as we prepare to GO!
* That our passports would arrive in a timely matter so that Todd's visa can be processed.
There are other things that we are going to start praying into as well but these are at the fore-front of our minds/hearts at this time.
Yes! We are really moving to S Korea. Wow!
Monday, June 8, 2009
simple prayers
Last night when we got home from the Gathering we were all piled in our bed--talking and laughing. It was such a great time. For some reason during this time I thought about some friends of ours who live in Ecuador. Years ago these friends felt God calling them to move their family to be missionaries in Ecuador. I remember asking their oldest daughter about that process for them as kids. She said that it was a family decision. They were all encouraged to pray and seek God for his direction and leading. The youngest of the kids may have been about Zach's age--perhaps even a little younger. I'm sure that was hard and yet a profound experience for that little guy.
During our cuddle time I told the kids about these friends and their story. We are in another time of transition as a family. Todd recently lost his job--this is the third time in two years. We are praying. We are asking God to lead us. We desire to hear His voice. We talked to the kids about this. We asked them to pray. Not to put a pressure on them to produce something but to hopefully teach them about prayer, about hearing from God and how He desires to speak and move in our lives. We aren't sure where God is leading us. We are pursuing a few different leads and waiting.
At the end of our conversation Todd said that he thought we should pray. Lia prayed quietly--in her head, then Zach, I followed and then Todd. Zach's prayer was simple and yet moved my heart and I'm sure the heart of Jesus.
"Jesus, thank you for our family. Thank you for being with us. Give Dad a job. If you want us to move to the place that You know I don't want to move, I will go and know You are with us. Amen."
During our cuddle time I told the kids about these friends and their story. We are in another time of transition as a family. Todd recently lost his job--this is the third time in two years. We are praying. We are asking God to lead us. We desire to hear His voice. We talked to the kids about this. We asked them to pray. Not to put a pressure on them to produce something but to hopefully teach them about prayer, about hearing from God and how He desires to speak and move in our lives. We aren't sure where God is leading us. We are pursuing a few different leads and waiting.
At the end of our conversation Todd said that he thought we should pray. Lia prayed quietly--in her head, then Zach, I followed and then Todd. Zach's prayer was simple and yet moved my heart and I'm sure the heart of Jesus.
"Jesus, thank you for our family. Thank you for being with us. Give Dad a job. If you want us to move to the place that You know I don't want to move, I will go and know You are with us. Amen."
write that down . . .
On our long family road trip to Wilmington, NC Lia gave us many laughs along the way. We decided that we needed to try and document all the funny things she was saying. Todd and I would often laugh and Lia would tell us that she wasn't being funny, she was serious! We certainly didn't want to take away from how she felt but it was pretty funny and broke up the very long car ride.
Here are a few Lia quotes:
"My leg is dizzy. Take it off. I don't like my foot!"
"Take me home! I don't want to be in the car. Why didn't we fly in an airplane?"
While watching Lion King, "I don't like Simba. I only like Scar!" (that's a little scary)
"I can't hear you!"
"Oh my gosh!! We're surrounded by mountains!!"
"here's my note to you Dad, it says, "blah, blah, blah!""
Here are a few Lia quotes:
"My leg is dizzy. Take it off. I don't like my foot!"
"Take me home! I don't want to be in the car. Why didn't we fly in an airplane?"
While watching Lion King, "I don't like Simba. I only like Scar!" (that's a little scary)
"I can't hear you!"
"Oh my gosh!! We're surrounded by mountains!!"
"here's my note to you Dad, it says, "blah, blah, blah!""
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