Playing Catch Up

I have been really bad this past month on updating our blog. So much has happened so I am now subjecting you to a really long update....

First, I'll catch you up on our mission adventure. We received an email a couple of weeks ago from GFM questioning whether Kansas City is a good location to start one of their schools. We have questioned that very same thing considering KC is not as diverse as their other 2 locations (Atlanta and Houston). GFM's current mission statement, though, includes teaching "families to live on mission wherever they are", and we feel that this is needed everywhere and is an area we have a heart for. If their mission is narrowing, though, a GFM school in the KC area may not be needed. This is not huge in itself, Tim and I are content to let God lead us in whatever direction whether or not starting a school in KC is in the picture. On the other hand, this may impact whether we should be attending the school at all. If we are not planning to go to the 10/40 window or start up a GFM school and this is their whole purpose, then we are not the right ones to go. It has been a confusing couple of weeks as we have been processing and talking through all this. I personally am having a hard time dealing with whether I heard God right or whether I am hearing Him now. I really wish He would just send me a letter in the mail telling me exactly what we should be doing and how we can be serving Him best. :) Please be praying for us - that we will be listening to His direction and not our own desires.

Last week we went to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for 5 days while Tim attended a work conference. Besides the 9 hour drive each way, we had a wonderful time. I am getting a lot more adapted to traveling with little ones and am more confident in taking care of them by myself in hotel situations. We visited the water park that was on-site every day and I took the boys to an apple orchard one morning. It was beautiful!

We started potty-training Joel 2 weeks ago and what progress he has made! It took him TWO full days of peeing in his pants before he went on the potty for the first time. If Tim hadn't encouraged me to try another day, I would have given up. I did countless loads of laundry and was quite frustrated with the whole process. Over the first week, he progressively got better and I learned not to ask "Do you need to go potty?" I learned quickly that a 2 1/2 year old's response will always be "NO!" (followed by peeing in their pants). I just take him when I feel like it has been a while or when he asks. He hasn't had an accident in 4 days now.

To top off the last couple of weeks, we celebrated Caleb's first birthday and my dad's 55th birthday this past weekend! They share a birthday so I will always get to spend my dad's birthday with him now :) I can't believe is has been a year since Caleb was born. He is such a joyful and peaceful baby. He is so calming to me and I thank God for blessing us with him. Along with Caleb's birthday party, we also dedicated him with our close friends and family. My dad led the dedication and Tom (Tim's dad) also prayed a blessing over us. It was very special and I'm thankful for everyone who is keeping us accountable in raising our boys to be like Christ.