Hannie's graduated!

Hannie is no longer a kindergartner! It's official! The Fruit of the Spirit award of Patience was given to her! Her teacher said that when she was building in the block corner she was so patient if her blocks were knocked down or bumped. Her responsibility for the ceremony was quoting their "C" verse and their "S" verse. Her whole class learned a verse for each letter of the alphabet. (C is "Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right." Eph. 6:4... and S is "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found." Isaiah 55:6.)

We raced from swim lessons to graduation, in case you notice that her hair is wet/drying!!

When we got home that night, Hannie got her first official Bible. Not a kiddy one, a big, full one! It's the Young Women of Faith Bible. She's pretty excited to be able to read her own Bible now!

We're proud of our Hannie girl.

camera, shoes, mac and cheese

God loves a cheerful giver. Have you ever heard that? I have. And now that we're out fundraising, we kinda like that verse a little more! Heh. We want to meet lots of cheerful givers! While at the same time, we're learning how much He loves - and blesses - cheerful givers! Let me share just three examples with you that happened to me in the past month or so!

First, my camera.

You might know that I love taking pictures!? Well, a while back, we had some good friends of ours just give us an extra digital camera that they had! What a blessing, huh?? Our first digital camera. We've had it for about a year... then "someone", someone little, wanted to take a picture, and opps... it dropped. So! The camera still works but won't zoom in and out and is a little picky about when it wants to turn on and off... Heh. So for my birthday I got about $100 all together to spend on "something for yourself". Oh good, I though, I could save a little more and maybe get another camera! I checked out Overstock.com and everything! Heh. Then...

Wouldn't you know. I was watching Life Today and at the end of the show, like usual, they showed kids who need help. While that was on, I "happened" to pick up a letter from Samaritan's Purse asking for help. When I got to the page about disabled kids who need help and the suggested amount was $100... I just got teary and thought, "Oh no, Lord, you want me to give away my birthday money, don't you...??" (Okay, not so cheerful, I admit!) I wanted to buy a new camera! Then I heard His voice in the depths of my heart... "Jill, how did you get that camera in the first place?" It was like He was kinda saying, trust Me...

So, out of faith, I sent of my birthday money and just kinda moved on. Okay. Did it. Off we go. Not so bad. Didn't think a whole lot about the camera since there was really no way to get a new one now anyway! Then...

Here comes my folks up for a visit. When my Dad tells me... he was gonna give me his nice, new, lovely, digital camera when we left for Russia but it looks like I could use it now. He's planning to get a new one sometime anyway... Ahhh! Wouldn't you know it! I could have all charged forward and spent my money on a camera that I wouldn't have needed! (Or got a cheap little one and never "needed" a new lovely one...?) Now, by following what I felt the Lord was saying, someone somewhere has what they need - and so do I! Can you believe it??

Then, Shoes

During one of our Bible studies with Blake and Crystal, we were encouraged to look past our own big "needs" and to reach out to someone else with similar needs. First I had to figure out what I think I need... Well, Kevin is the busiest husband in the world! Heh. (Along with thousands of others...) But the first one I thought of with the same type of busy husband was our music/youth pastor's wife, Emily. She's a friend of mine anyway and I just thought maybe we could have a playdate to get out and visit. The book stressed that you don't have to reach out with money or big things but a word or encouragement, or time, or a hug or something like that. Emily and I went out for a playdate...

While we had our playdate, we talked about shoes and how Ruth's was getting big holes in the toes. I said after our next paycheck, I'd go out to get her new ones! Then wouldn't you know... later that afternoon there's a knock on our door! Emily's standing out there with two new pairs of shoes for Ruth. She said she just felt like God was encouraging her to go get them! Wow.

The other part of our Bible study was about how when we reach out to others, God sees that and uses others to reach out to us, too. Not always the same person or the same day - but sometimes!! Heh.

Then lastly, Mac and Cheese!

Kev and I were talking about saving money. I told him, well, if we just have mac and cheese for several meals, then we could maybe get caught up with all our travel expenses from itinerating... Wouldn't you know, a day or two later, Blake shows up at our door with a big box filled with about 15 individual boxes of macaroni and cheese, extras from his office!!! We couldn't believe it. (or we could...) Kev's joke now is that next time we say that, he's gonna say we'll have to have steak for the next month! Heh. Never know...

So maybe the verse could say something like God makes a lover of giving - cheerful! We are so excited to see God at work in our lives! It actually is fun to give! And to recieve. What a dealio.

ballerina and Israelites

Just had to share a pic or two of our lovely Hannie ballerina! She did both tap and ballet this year. Lovely.









And then the Israelites are from the kids school... their Spring Concert. Can you see Benjamin and Hannie... :)



Gotta love it!

Obey and Trust

Trust and Obey
For there's no other way
To be Happy in Jesus
Than to Trust and Obey

Comon, don't tell me you didn't sing that when you read those words? At least a little hum? Well, that's one song we've played a lot lately. It's on one of our Big Daddy Weave CD's and for some reason Hannie has taken a liking to it. Me, too. Maybe that's why. Regardless. It's a good theme song, wouldn't you say?

After pondering the phrase, "Trust and Obey", I came to realize that right now it seems more appropriate for me to sing, "Obey and Trust". (I know that's not a rhyme but...) It just seems like we reached a point of saying, "Okay Lord, we're gonna obey you and say yes to missions. Here we are! Here we go..." Or not so fast. After our initial step of obeying the call that we felt impressed upon us, we are now sitting in a position to TRUST. It did take some trust to say the initial "Yes" then we thought we'd be off to obeying as we packed our bags! Well. We are learning to trust God in more things as we wait for the day to come to pack our bags to go.

I'm learning to trust Him day by day in more ways than before. Trust His timing. Trust His good plan. Trust His care. Trust His involvement in every area of my life.

And I'm learning to obey Him day by day in more ways than before, too! Obeying down to the "little" everyday things. Obey Him when He says... Give Thanks in All Circumstances. Rejoice Always. Submit to each other. Respect your Husband. Be United in Love. Encourage each other. Watch your Words! Remain in Me.

Trust and Obey.
Or as the girls sang,

Trust and Obey
For there's no other way
To be Happy AS Jesus
but to Trust and Obey.

Jesus must have been pretty happy. I choose to be happy too, as I trust and obey...

Obey and Trust.

coughing and singing

This past week, I've had such a bad cold. Friday it seemed to be getting better so I figured I'd sing back up while Kevin lead worship at our home church on Sunday. Well, Saturday night my cold got worse. Crazy. We were planning to sing a praise song in Russian after we gave a quick 5 minute update. And we have the next two months away. It would have been easier to say, naw, not today, I'm sick... but this was our chance.

In the inspiration of Brother Andrew, whose book I just finished reading - good book, I decided to sing anyway, putting it all in the Lord's hands. Brother Andrew would bring Bibles behind the Iron Curtain where they were forbidden. When he would cross the border, he would set some Bibles on his front seat so that he would get through because it was in God's hands and not because of his cleverness. Then time after time he would drive right on through and get his Bibles delivered!

Now, singing a special number in church is maybe not the same as bringing Bibles to those who need them... but it was still a step of faith! All in God's hands. All in His control. I'm learning, even if it's baby steps!

By the way, my singing may not have been perfect but we did get the job done fairly successfully... and now on Monday, I've been coughing like crazy and can barely talk! So that morning was my chance... coincidence? God IS in control.

(The book I read about Brother Andrew is called The Narrow Way and was written along with Jars of Clay... His organization is called Open Doors if you want to google it! Good stuff.)

Benjamin's bowling party!

Benjamin turned 8 years old March 31st! Eight years old. For his party, we invited some of his good buddies over for cake and ice cream and then we headed over to the bowling alley. Besides having friends, cake, and gifts... Benjamin won the bowling game! He got a whopping 99! A couple weeks later he got 131! Our bowling champ.

Here's a few pics of his big bowling birthday bash! :)

Whoo-hoo!!

belief... rewards

Mark 5:34
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

Mark 6:5
And because of their unbelief, He couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place His hands on a few sick people and heal them.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Okay... what do these verses have in common? Heh. They are all one's that I've read in the last couple days. And they all speak so strongly about how important it is to BELIEVE, have FAITH. Our faith, or our unbelief, will directly affect the work God is able to do in our lives. What a powerful inspiration for us... "Lord increase our FAITH!" (Luke 17:5) He is able to do anything, will we let Him!?

Then Hebrews goes on to say that we must believe that that He exists... which most typical Americans would tell you is true. There is a God. But how about the second part that we must believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Are you earnestly seeking Him with expectation of His great rewards? I mean, comon, just think of what great rewards there could be from the Creator of the universe! And this is what He asks of us... to believe that He'll do it!

Wow.
BELIEVE!

Christos Voscres!

Christ is Risen!
(A family picture of us after the Easter service at our home church, VCC, here in Grand Forks, ND.)

Happy Easter! We celebrated Easter at home this year with my folks and my 98 year old grandma. They had planned to stay home but then decided to come celebrate with us since we might not (hopefully not) be here next year! So it was good to spend time together. We went to our home church together and sang some lovely songs about the Lord. What hope we have! Christ is risen - risen indeed! Cristos Voscres - Va Istina Voscres.

Let me share a couple pics with you here. Hope you all had a great time remembering the Lord's incredible sacrifice and awesome power to overcome death and to bring us hope and a future!

(The bunny cake was a gift from our neighbors! What a cute, little masterpiece!) :)

(The kids are sitting at our counter behind me... they ARE there celebrating Jesus with us! Heh.)

think about it

Think about what you're thinking about!

It seems like I've heard a lot about thoughts lately. Well, for the past year or more! Heh. God's thoughts for you are good, positive, for-you thoughts. You can do all things through Christ. You are His child. You are a brother or sister in Christ. You are victorious. You are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. You have a hope and a future. He has good plans for you. He will always be with you. On and on... The enemy, however, is trying to get you to think all the opposite thoughts. Whatever lie he can get you to believe is good for him - bad for you. He wants you to feel overwhelmed and defeated. He wants you to forget your future and your hope. He wants to you not get along with others. He wants you to feel alone. He is a liar. God's thoughts are for you. The enemy is out to destroy you. God's words for you will build you up. The enemy's will tear you down. God wants you to live in joy and freedom. The enemy wants you to live in guilt and fear.

It is wise to stop to think... who's words am I listening to? Which thoughts are playing in my head. Truth or lies? Choose wisely who you listen to. Fill your mind with the Word of truth. It's a matter of life and death!

2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

lavish

Today we made fruit pizza to surprise Kevin... shhhh... he's still not home yet from itinerating this weekend. It's a good surprise since it's his favorite. Well, when I made it, I couldn't find the recipe but I've made it enough that I could wing it. It's not that hard, really. In the end, I decided to look up the recipe for the cream cheese frosting in a book my good friend, Emily, gave me when we got married. (At the bottom of that page she wrote *Em's favorite!) As it turns out, that recipe was probably bigger than the one I usually use. So we ended up with LOTS of frosting.

As I plopped it on the sugar dough crust (or sugar do, as Hannie called it), I thought back to the book I'm reading with another good friend of mine, Lisa! The book is She's Gonna Blow by Julie Ann Barnhill. In this book, she just talked about the frosting her grandma would make. When she would plop it on the cake, the cake would shake from the weight of the frosting. She said her grandma would LAVISH the cake with frosting.

God says he lavishes two things on us. Love and Grace. I've always thought that was cool. Of all the things he chooses to lavish on is it's His love and His grace.

So I did as Julie Ann Barnhill suggested and called the kids back over for an object lesson with frosting. Just as we're lavishing this crust with frosting, that's how God lavishes His love and grace on us. (Ruth and Elijah got into a disagreement over something in the middle of the lesson but I think the kids still caught it!)

When we were done admiring the frosting, of course, they got out spoons and ended up using fingers and whole hands to clean out the mixing bowl!

Lavish love and grace. Accept it and do it!

be a rainbow

As I thought about our new suncatcher, I realized a couple things. Being in the light has always sounded good to me. (LOVE the DC Talk song, "I wanna be in the light, as Your are in the light...") Now I know that if I was a clear piece of glass with Christ shinning through me, that'd be cool. But when I looked at the suncatcher, which is a piece of glass that's got several different cuts in it... it got me thinking about trials and suffering. The Bible talks about Christ's suffering and our suffering and how they are or can be for our benefit and His glory. I thought, maybe in the light of suffering, we reflect more rainbows instead of just white light. More detail of the light. More character of Christ.

In the face of suffering, be a rainbow.

rainbow day

We got a suncatcher! So we hung it in our dinning room window that faces the south. Now all day we watch the rainbows move around our dinning room/living room/kitchen. We LOVE it. How exciting to find a rainbow on your toe or on your chair!

The other morning when we got up Ruth saw the sunshine and said, "Oh! It's a rainbow day!" She figured Hannie would be excited to see the rainbows when she came from kindergarten. She was.

miss out

The other day was Spring Break. All four kiddos were home and playing with matchbox cars. When it came around to nap time, everyone went to bed but Hannie decided that today she did not want to go to her room for any quiet time! She wanted to stay up and play... and besides, everyone else already took the "good" toys to their rooms! She was getting all worked up and crying. I told her I might be able to work something out just for today since it was Spring Break and Benjamin was home. But she would have to get herself under control first. She did not even try to get herself under control because life was too hard and everyone had it better than her... She got more and more worked up and said a couple thing to her mother that were inappropriate. At that point, I told her she would have to take a nap in her own room with her own toys. When I told her that I was going to let her play in Benjamin's room with him and the cars... she went crazy! She screamed and threw an even bigger fit! A few minutes later I went back to her room. She was quiet and resting now. I told her that she could be playing with Benjamin but because of her big fit she, she missed out. She missed out on something better just because she couldn't calm down and wait...

That's when I realized that God used Hannie to talk to me.

The Lord likes to do that. A child will lead them. And I have four right here! We are so learning patience and trust as we continue to itinerate and raise our budget for missions. One day I even had a fleeting thought that it would be good to just get over there , even though I know that He's got a good plan that will work out best. I would just like to be THERE sometimes! So it was right around then that I said those words to Hannie. Like the Lord was saying to me, "Don't throw a fit and miss out on something better. Calm down and wait!"

cute kids

Just gotta share some cute kid stories every once in a while... :)

Kev's folks were here last weekend and his brother, Scott, flew up to meet up with all of us, too. So we had to pack up and head to Fargo to pick him up at the airport. While Grandma Sharon and I were telling the girls about out trip to Fargo, Ruth wondered where that was. Hannie quickly replied, "That's two Veggies away!"

Saturdays, we try to have "Saturday Snuggle Day" when all our family hangs out in the morning, we make pancakes or go to Uncle Blake's for waffles. We also like to make funky pancakes. Our typical is vanilla flax seed pancakes. Recently, Daddy made some kind of banana pancake. Then the kids love to top them with different things. So as Benjamin looked at all the different toppings on the table, he decided to add them all to his pancake. After a mix of butter, peanut butter, syrup, powdered sugar... He looked down at his creation and said, "Look, it's an extravaganza!" (He wants a dictionary for his birthday...)

Ruth turned four years old on March 5th. She had her first friends party and was allowed to invite four friends for her fourth birthday. She was so pumped. All day long whenever I would say her name, she'd correct me and say, "Call me 'Birthday Girl!'" Then when Crystal stopped by to visit, she asked Ruth who was coming to her party in the afternoon. Ruth's reply was, "Oh, my best friends!" When Crystal asked which friends, Ruth just shrugged! Ha. Best friends when you're four are apparently the ones who will run and play with you, whoever that may be! She did have her friends over and had a lovely "Sally" party! (From the Cars movie...)

Elijah is just cute, cute. Let me think of what he's done today... Heh. His latest word is, "Funny!" He says that all the time with a little throw back of his head and a big laugh. "Funny, Mommy!" Kevin taught him to say, "What'd you say?" And he says it really quick and cute. My favorite is when he says, "luf oo, too!" after we tell him we love him. If you ask him if he'd like to do something that he would like to do, he'll reply with a, "Yup!" He also can tell you what his name is if you ask, "What is your name?" He'll reply something like, "Zisha!" (Lijah.)

Our children.

library

I love having four kids! They can argue and bug, but boy, can the PLAY. The other day, Hannie got it in her head that her and Ruth needed to make a library in our back guest room. So they got out some boxes for shelves and pulled tons of books down there. They had a toy to scan the books that we checked out and even closed the library while they were away... The library is still set up right now waiting for more play tomorrow! (When Benjamin was a baby, he'd call the library, the "li-boobie". What a hoot.)

Today Ruth and Elijah made a fort together and laid down on their bellies side by side to watch BOZ out of the door of their fort. Too cute.

Then tonight I went down to see if they were ready for bed and they all were sitting on the floor together listening to a Dan and Louie CD. It was something they all thought was funny and had to hear it over and over again, laughing together!

Gotta love those brothers and sisters!

are you in bed?

After putting the girls to bed and going to fold some clothes...

Me: Benjamin, are you in bed?
Benjamin: No.
Me: Benjamin...
Benjamin: Hee, hee... I'm hiding. Hee, hee...

I finished folding the few shirts that I had left and went looking. Elijah was already in bed but was no help at all in helping me find his brother! He was just in his crib unzipping his jammies. Heh. In the end, I found Benjamin... under Eli's crib!

never been in a wedding

I have never been in a wedding. Besides my own, which was very lovely and wonderful. But I have always kinda wondered if I'd ever be in someone else's wedding? Some of my friends have eloped and some have never married. Now most of my good friends already ARE married. So. My last hope on being a bridesmaid in a wedding was set on my brother, Blake. I figured he'd at least try to talk his bride-to-be into sneeking in there somewhere!? (Maybe Kev's brothers will think of me, too??)

Well, here I am! Who would have ever imagined. Blake is indeed getting married. The wedding is set for this summer. And wouldn't you know, I get to be a bridesmaid for the first time! (At age 31! Heh.)

But here's the kicker. The blessing on top of the blessing. Blake is marrying one of my best friends! So not only do I get to be in his wedding... SHE has chosen me to be in HER wedding... as her matron of honor! What a joy. I am so delighted.

I'm thrilled that I get to stand up for Blake and Crystal. But on top of that... I'm thrilled that Blake found a lovely lady to marry and that Crystal found a wonderful man. And they're my brother and my friend! Crazy. Double the joy, huh?

God knew all along that I would get to be in a wedding besides mine and that it would be above and beyond all I was thinking of! He's knew the day was coming and now we're rejoicing together! How fun.

Matron of Honor along side, Kevin, who's the Best Man, for my brother and my friend. I just gotta read that again to let it sink in. There's a smile on my face!

The kids are all going to be involved in it, too, and Kevin's parents are coming up from Arkansas! Whoo-hoo.

I'll show you the flower girl dresses for Ruth and Hannie... lovely, lovely! :)

Thank you, Lord, for such a treat!

Py

Our kids know their names in Russian. Since they have Bible names, it was easy to look up how to say and spell them. Benjamin is similar and looks like "BeH" for "Ben" but is said with a "V" sound instead of a "B". Hannah is AHHA and is said more like "Ahnnah". Did that make sense? No hard "A" sound. Ruth's name looks pretty different. We call her "Roo" and in Russian it looks like "Py". The "R" is a "P" and the "oo" is a "y". Neat. So "Py baby." :) "Ruth" will actually sound something like "Roof." Heh. Elijah has all different letters so I can't show you how they look! :) But to say his name sounds like "Ilya." He already knows that is his name along with the English "Elijah."

Benjamin even printed out his name in Russian and took it to school to show the kids. Pretty fun.

Well, Elijah is handing me an alphabet book! Ha! So I better go teach him our alphabet!! Time to sing some ABC's...

can't see me

I've always kinda liked camouflage. Maybe it's 'cause my Dad always has liked it, too, but doesn't get to wear it because his someone he's married to thinks it's gross. Anyway. The other day Kevin and I went crazy when we saw camouflage pants at Old Navy for 75% off. I talked him into getting some with me, which is something we never usually do... spend money for something goofy like that. But we went WILD and both got some camouflage pants! Whoo-hoo. Look out for us... but you won't be able to see us in our camouflage!

when I'm grown up...

Benjamin is all about what's right. He's about justice and fairness. The other day after supper, Kevin and I had two of the deserts that we'd given the kids... I forget if it was cookies or what. Ruth totaly thought she should have another one since we had one. After a few minutes of Daddy saying, "No, you had yours..." and Ruth saying, "But YOU had two!" Benjamin thought it through and said, "But he's the Daddy so he gets more." Then he thought a little longer and said, "I can't wait until I'm grown up and can have all the pizza and candy that I want to have!" We laughed that that's the conclusion he came to. Ah yes, being all grown up has its perks! :)