Live Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

Our time before we left was winding down. Our availability for fundraising efforts was limited. But we finished strong When we would start to feel tired and like we couldn't finish a fundraiser we would remind each other that we could do hard things and it was preparing us for the unknown challenges we would face in Ghana.  Each effort completed was a miracle and witness that if we trust in God and do all we can He will bless our efforts and miracles will occur.  There is no other explanation for how we made 15 orders of cookies or bars, each of which was a dozen treats; babysat 8 times; mowed 2 lawns, hosted a double movie night with firepit activities at the same time; cleaned 28 trash and recycling barrels; sold concessions at 2 more flag football games, and help with yard and house work for a neighbor - all in our last month in the United States, on top of regular life and all the preparations to be gone 6 months. There is nothing impossible when we partner with ...

Once tickets were bought it was time for the next big expense -travel visas. On October 10th I started filling out the paperwork and collecting the documents. I thought this would take a couple hours at most. I didn't have to search for documents just fill out forms, copy documents, put them in order and send. How hard could it be? I even had great advise from Becky to save time by filling out the information that would be the same for everyone on a single form; then make 6 copies of it; on each of those copies add the personal information needed for each individual; then make 1 copy of that form (each person had to have 2 complete and identical copies of every requirement); finally make 2 copies of each required documentation, including notarized forms for each traveler under the age of 18 with signatures by both parents at the notary or even more paperwork.  There were so many papers and so much whiteout needed. I was shocked when it took 2 full days to get everything right. On O...

After watching airline prices since August, I felt I needed more of my time freed up to prepare other details; so on October 8 I searched for and reached out to 4 agents. I replied immediately with a phone call. I told them our purpose, range of travel dates, and our budget. Marvel from ASAP travel took down the information and said he would call when he found the best deal. He found an ok deal but I wasn't impressed. The next day he called saying that their expert team went to work on it and found an incredible deal. I thought I would do one last search myself. I found 2 travelnopyions yhat were less expensive but had LONG layovers. If I knew more to do or felt more confident in Spain or Istanbul an 18 hour or 24hour layover might not be too bad. Having never traveled internationally and suspecting we may spend more for sleeping, site seeing, and transportation I decided maybe it would t really be much of a savings. It was still hard to purchase the deal found for us. Ben and I pr...

October 2 marks 1 month until the layoff. There is excitement for what the future holds, but also a sense of sadness with a 14 year chapter of our lives coming to an end. Many are surprised to hear that we don't have hard feelings toward Ancestry.com considering the layoff, but they have been an excellent employer and very generous in having given us 3 months notice that this was coming. I also feel anxious for the future -anxious as in excited and nervous. Some moments my heart races or I feel the weight on my chest or shoulders -I almost feel paralyzed. When I pray for peace it comes and I don't feel paralyzed but that with Jesus we can do all things.  We are comfortable with stability and the known. I think God is wanting us to grow outside of that and to trust Him more. In just having faith and moving forward we are seeing more and more how aware of is He is and how merciful to shower us with miracles and blessings. 

As I mentioned in the last post we had an emergency with significant unexpected expenses on September 20. Before I get to that I have to set this up in hopes that the miracle will be more recognizable.  In a perfect home of order and an ideal life -which don't exist in the way I dream them up- we were going to have our personal items packed up in 1 to 1 1/2 weeks. This would free up time later for all of the things that couldn't be done so early; and for more time to go to many or our favorite local places and spend more time with family and friends. I've shared how all my kids can be hard workers even when it comes to doing jobs they really don't like. At different times one or another of them will step up and go way above and beyond my hopes. Before I came up with the brilliant idea mentioned above our Eliza had already started packing up her stuff. Since we had to start somewhere and our library is in her room I decided to work in the same area so we could spend time...

Social Media is overwhelming to me, but with the help of my wonderful children and husband we started a new Instagram " joyfuljourneytoafrica "and Facebook page " 16 hands, 8 hearts, 1 dream " on September 17. Our prayer is that we will meet more people were they already spend some of their time and whatever their interest. Please follow , share  with any and all you know,  comment,  and  like . We had hopes of have some personalized artwork done by our talented friend Adam. Due to an emergency and unexpected expenses, which I'll mention is a post very soon, we had to postpone. Sadly he isn't going to have time anymore to do the artwork because he is leaving to be a full-time missionary soon. Our next preference was to have a unique family picture taken that depicted our social media names. Thanks to our wonderful neighbor Tonya we have a picture we LOVE! Many times things don't turn out as we initially picture them but what God allows to happen is jus...

Many people would consider September 11th as significant. For our family and our friends the Thorson's it was additionally special as its the birthday of our friend Cory and birthday eve for my husband, Ben.  But what made this year especially significant was that it was also the day they moved the first of their items into our home. We were actually out when they came the first time so when we got home we were amazed to see how much they could fit, Jenga style, into the garage. As Ben likes to say -its like the events of our lives are coming together like two sides of a zipper. They are living with her family with 5 of their 6 children, until we are gone. I won't pretend I don't feel an urgency to be gone as soon as possible, it's all my own feelings though. They are SO patient and reassuring.  We each feel so blessed by how the timing is all working out.  I know I've said it before but I'm humbled again and again by how precisely God has orchestrated the detai...