She's A Big Girl Now!

In the past week Lucy has learned to do the following things all by herself:

swing on the swingset at the park

snap her fingers

button her jeans


She is amazing!!  Growing up right before our eyes at lightening speed!

Sunday Sneak Peek

Turkey

Ironically, it is a bit difficult to get a turkey here.  A few larger markets sometimes have turkey meat.  But, its pieces like a breast filet, legs, etc. not a whole bird.

I went last week and ordered a whole bird from the butcher.  He said it would be no problem, took my information, and asked what size I wanted.  They tend to get really large turkeys since they cut them into smaller pieces.  I asked for an 8 kilo if possible.

They called me on Monday to let me know that my turkey was in.  I asked them to hold it for me until Friday.  So, yesterday the girls and I went to get our bird.  It was sitting out with all the other meat out in the case.  Thank God they had not sold it!  I would have flipped out!

We got it home and stuck it in the fridge.

The water was cut from about mid-afternoon on.  I kept waiting for the water to come back on, but by 9 o'clock I gave up.  So Justin and I used some of our big reserve jugs of water to wash the bird.  Then we layered three garbage bags, put some salt water in, and dumped the bird in.  We put it in a plastic wash basin and set it on the balcony to brine.

Pretty soon I'll start cooking the thing.  I could only find a smallish roasting pan.  So, it will be a bit like fat turkey in a little pan.  To top it off, our ovens here are quite small.  It is quite possible that the turkey will be touching the oven on all 4 sides!  HA!

Oh the joys of Thanksgiving!

Black Friday

I do not miss Black Friday.

I do not miss all the psychotic behavior around finding the "it" gift.

I do not miss the way that commercialism has ruined the celebration of our precious savior's birth!

Thankful

This year has been such a rollercoaster for us.  But really, what year isn't?  So many things have changed in just a year.  We are finally more settled and happy than ever here.  We have really seen the Lord work on our behalf and provide just what we need.

So this year I am feeling just so thankful.

We have each been so healthy- hardly a sniffle among us!

When Justin was struggling to find a job, HE designed the perfect job and handed it to Justin.

Our friendships have gone deeper and are such a blessing to us.  It is finally so comfortable, even preferable to hang out with our local friends.

The kids are doing so well in school- both socially and with their studies.

We have "creature comforts" that make our life easier- dish washer, washer and dryer, and a car.  (Even after a year, every time I throw something in the dryer or go somewhere in the car I am just full of praise.  Such small things can really make a BIG difference!)

Our new team is such a blessing.  They challenge us and encourage us.  They help us focus and prioritize on the Lord.  Plus, they are fun to be with!

We have precious wonderful families.  Even though it is really hard being so far away, we are so thankful for technology that makes communication easy!  (When Hudson Taylor shipped out to China in the last 1800's they said their goodbyes and took their coffins with them.  They knew that it was probably the last time on earth that they would see their loved ones!)

We have an incredible support base.  Our needs are met and we feel so loved, encouraged, and prayed for.

The Lord has faithfully answered each of our major "HELP!!" prayers.  Like I mentioned before, He gave Justin an amazing job.  He changed our landlord's mind when he wanted to sell our flat.  He got Lucy into a more convenient kindergarten class.  He changed the minds at Samsung when they wanted to drop their contract with Justin's company.  And so many more.  He has tenderly watched over us, and we praise and thank Him!

When I look around me I see my wonderful, loving husband, my beautiful, spirited children, and the life we have created together.  We are living out our long-time dream of serving the Lord overseas.  It's not perfect and more often than not, it's hard, but I am so thankful.

Most of all I am so thankful for the hope of Heaven.  I am thankful that the Lord, in all His power, might, and majesty cares enough about me to number the hairs on my head.  And I am thankful that Jesus would humble himself and walk through life on earth to offer himself up as our sacrifice.  I do not deserve such extreme grace, but, by golly, I am so thankful for it!!!

How to Explain Thanksgiving

Hardly anyone here has any idea what Thanksgiving is.  When I do mention it to someone they are curious what we are actually celebrating, who we are giving thanks to, and what for.

It's a little bit complicated to explain because, as Americans, we have strayed so far from the real meaning of Thanksgiving.  It used to be a holiday to thank the Lord for all that He had done and is doing.  But, nowadays, it is more of an American holiday, and Americans are all sorts of religions.

So... how would you explain Thanksgiving?  And, what are you thankful for?

Blissful Loafing

Yall, we had another great weekend.  This weekend was totally different from the past several ones.

We had quite a bit planned for both days, but at the last minute absolutely everything got cancelled- even though the activities were completely unrelated to each other.  It was a gift from the Lord.

The Gift of REST!

Amen and Hallelujah!

I did not realize how tired I was until I slowed down a bit.  The past month has been a blur and we have been going at a pace that really wears us down.  It was such a blessing to have two full days to relax and play together.  We just holed up and didn't hardly see another sole!

Can I brag just tell you that we all slept in till after 8:30 on Sunday (a miracle in itself).  Justin fed the kids breakfast (while I slept in even more... I know!) because he is a saint.  Then we all managed to roll ourselves to the couch and watch Chicken Little.  Then Justin and I took a nap together until lunchtime!

GASP!


Oh the lethargy!  It is bliss!

(*Disclaimer: I did go to the market on Saturday evening to stock up on food for the week.  So, I'm not a complete lazybones!  Just a partial one.  And, NO, I will not reveal the percentage!)

By Sunday evening we were rested and catching up on a few little projects that had been lingering on our To-Do lists for months.

So, in the end it ended up being the perfect weekend- lots of rest and a bit of productivity, too.  Praise the Lord!!  He knew just what we needed.

Sunday Sneak Peak

We had the best time on our team retreat!!  It was so great to get away from the city.  The adults worshipped and wrote our team contract.  The kids played outside for two full days.  We all hiked, played games, and had a bonfire together.  It was such a great weekend!  

When we got out of the vehicles at the national park to go for a hike, one of the little boys on our team said, "I guess we're not in [country of service] anymore!"

It was a far cry from the big city that we live in!

Here are a few pictures of God's amazing creation:

And, of course, some pictures of my babies:

"Noah won't play with me!"

Callie dueling with our team leader

Dear Swiss Miss,

I think I love you!

Nothing turns a long, cold rainy day into something fantastic like you do.  Thank you for being so yummy!

Yours Truly,
Elizabeth

Sunday Sneak Peek

This weekend we went from this:

PamelaCookPhotography

To this:

 

It was so fun!

So much green.  So little time...

Should I be Concerned?

When I was in America this summer I went to the dermatologist for my acne.  Yes, I am a 34 year old woman struggling with acne.  Life can be so cruel.  It just gives me more to hope for in heaven!

Anyway, my sweet doctor prescribed tetracycline.  It has worked so well.  Praise the Lord!! Hopefully, I can mark acne off the list and get on with worrying about wrinkles, slow metabolism, and why my hair is falling out.

Well, until I read this...

And I thought acne was bad! 

Reconciliation

So many of our friends here struggle with anger, forgiveness, and reconciliation.  Middle-Easterners tend to be a bit hot-headed and are especially talented at holding a grudge.  So, as we walk through life with them, we end up doing lots of peace-making.  Or in reality, encouraging them in baby steps towards peacemaking.

As I always say... it is a slow, s l o w process!

Anyhow, our team leader is a writer.  This year he is working to produce monthly videos addressing hot-button (Kindgom) topics that those around us here face.  This is the english version of his latest work:

Would you pray for it to be a powerful tool for the kingdom?

The Story of the Prophets

Have you ever seen this?



It is an amazing Gospel message that workers like us are translating into the local languages and using to share the good news with Muslims all across the Middle East.


Just for kicks, here it is in our local language so that you can hear how we speak.



Please pray that the Lord would help us to boldly share His amazing truth with those around us.

A Year Ago

Around this time a year ago, two amazing things happened:

1. Justin got a new job.  It has been such an amazing blessing of provision straight from the Lord.

2. Loraine came to live with us!  I LOVE her so much.  Now I can wash sheets whenever I want.  Not just if it's sunny!

Sacrifice Holiday

Today is the first day of the 4 day Sacrifice Holiday.  I wrote all about it here.

It is kind of a dark and weird time.  Especially the first day, when most of the sacrificing is being done.

We had our weekly small group (team) fellowship this morning so we had to get out.  (Usually I like to hide int he flat and not open up the curtains!)  I had to beg the kids not to look every time we passed some family hacking away at an animal.  It is so gruesome!!

We tried to take a shortcut exit, but it turned out to be right where one of the main animal sellers/ sacrifice places was.  So we were stuck in gridlock traffic watching them cart off animals in all different forms.  From trying to force cows into their vans (yes, I'm serious) to wheelbarrows full of entrails being carted away.  Not fun!!!

I felt a bit traumatized!

But by the time our meeting was over and we got home most of that was over.  The weather was nice and we got to spend some time outside playing.  Then the fun part of the Holiday starts- the visiting.  We went to visit one friend yesterday and will try to go to several each day throughout the rest of the Holiday.

The kids are just happy to have a few days off from school.  Well, that and of course, they love being stuffed full of candy at everyone's houses as we visit!

Testify

After leaving that desperate post up for so long, I just have to lighten the mood of this blog a bit!

Our sweet Lord has changed my "UHG" into praises!

Our landlord emailed us to let us know that he had changed his mind about selling our flat!!  Not only that, he said that they don't want to sell it for quite some time and even apologized for causing us so much stress!!!

Thank you, Jesus for this answer to prayer!  He is so good to us!


Do you know that in the past few months we've seen Him move miraculously several times on our behalf?

Just before school started, Lucy was put into morning kindergarten.  We really needed her to be in afternoon kindergarten, so we prayed and we asked those around us to pray.  Would you believe that the principal called the day before school started and an afternoon slot had opened up.  That was a miracle in itself- everyone here wants afternoon kindergarten!  Not only had the slot opened up, he was willing to give it to us (knowing we would not pay him a bribe of thanks like many of the other parents would have).

A month ago, Justin's company's major client decided not to renew their contract.  Justin's company was devastated!  That one contract accounts for about 90% of their business!  So, again, we prayed, and we asked everyone we know to pray.  Again, the Lord heard our prayers and moved on our behalf.  The contract was renewed.  Not only that, but it forced Justin's company to see how dependent they are on that one contract.  So, they have begun to work a little harder on projects that had been on the backburner and develop new new projects to spread their business out a bit.

A few weeks ago I was really on the fence about returning to language school.  We prayed about it and asked others to pray, too.  We started to look into it, but the class I needed was not going to be offered.  So, again He heard and answered my prayers.  This time with a "No," but to be honest, I was just as thankful to have an answer!

Finally, there was our apartment event.  Our landlord just called completely out of the blue to tell us that he wanted to sell the flat!  I was devastated!  This flat is perfect for us, and we have invested 2 years of our lives into these neighbors and this neighborhood.  I was not ready to go anywhere.  So again, we prayed and had those around us pray.  And, again, the Lord answered our prayers.

I know that often times we don't get to see the Lord work this quickly and this favorably (in our opinions).  So I just needed to write it down and tell everyone about it.  He really is good all the time!

"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." Eph. 3:19-21