Finally, the update from the 2nd weekend visit

Just getting around to putting up pictures from Mom and Dad's 2nd weekend visit. We didn't take a whole lot of pictures like I was hoping but that is a good sign right? We were just having fun!

Saturday we had lunch at a fun favorite restaurant in Wake Forest then hung out at the house that evening. Sunday, after church, some of Mom and Dad's friends came over for a cookout, full with home-made ice cream. What better end to a hot summer day?

Monday, we went up to Mike's parents lake house. And, then watched a great 4th of July fireworks show.

Another fun weekend that went by way too fast!

8 years...already??

It is hard to believe that 8 years has past since our wedding day! I don't think that either of us would have predicted our last 8 years and would have never imagined that our lives together have gone the way they have, but we are both so thankful that God knew and had it planned for us! And, that he walked with us each of those days...and will continue to in the days ahead.

I'm so thankful for a husband who has been patient and waits on the Lord for His best! I look forward to the next 8 and beyond!

First Stop

Mom and Dad have the opportunity to be back in America for a 6 month break. During this break, in addition to many fun family get togethers, they have meetings with their sending organization as well as speaking engagements with churches. Our house was close to their first speaking event and to Richmond which is where they had to go for their meetings.

On Friday, we enjoyed a home-cooked meal with ribs, fresh peas, sweet potatoes and corn bread. And for dessert, we took them to one of our favorite places, Yogurt Mountain.

Saturday began with a breakfast trip to Big Eds.

Then, we headed over to the NC Museum of History. Mike and I visited it sometime last year but didn't have a chance to be there long. The exhibits change periodically and this time we saw items from the NC Sports Hall of Fame, a military exhibit, and a wood working/cabinetry exhibit.

After resting for a little while...and realizing our air conditioning wasn't working and checking on that...we enjoyed dinner at another little favorite place of ours called.



We FILLED ourselves with Italian food at its finest! And then had more desserts than we could count! Needless to say, we left with a few bags of leftovers which we enjoyed for a few days afterwards.

On Sunday we went with them to Pine Ridge Baptist Church in Zebulon, NC. Mom and Dad shared a little about Guatemala and what they have been doing in Guatemala. They also shared with the church how they could be involved as well. Many people expressed how much they enjoyed Mom and Dad's talk and that it was one of the BEST missionary visits ever!

An added bonus of speaking at this church was that Mom and Dad got to be with a family from their church in Augusta that they knew before moving to Guatemala.

For some strange reason, we didn't take a lot of pictures of us together. I guess visiting together after not seeing each other since before Christmas does that! :) They are heading back to our house now and will spend this weekend with us too. I'm sure we'll manage to find some picture taking time this weekend! Check back later for pictures from this weekend.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Happy Father's Day to the BEST Dad in the world!!

I'm SO glad he is going to be in the same country as me today!!

Welcome Back Dad! I love you!

Ever heard of Christmas in July...

Well, that makes Thanksgiving in June, right??

Sweet friends of ours realized that Mike would not be able to participate in Thanksgiving this year due to work travel and decided to have a dinner just for him. We got together on Friday night for a full Thanksgiving dinner, complete with the kids running around and playing while the adults sat at the table and talked through the evening.

We filled ourselves with Turkey and cornbread dressing, garlic mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, apple/cranberry crumble and of course an assortment of desserts! The only thing missing was a football game.

During dinner, we started talking about a fun place to eat in Raleigh, Big Ed's. The group started talking about when we could meet there - how about tomorrow morning?? I told Mike I didn't think I could go tomorrow since I had work, totally forgetting that it was Saturday and not the day after Thanksgiving which I normally work! We really were in the Thanksgiving spirit!

We did meet at Big Ed's on Saturday and had the most amazing breakfast together! All 10 of us! I just think we might be doing this again in the near future...

We are so blessed to have friends who love and support us! Looking forward to many more fun times together.

Hidden for a time...

Wait–verb (used without object)
1. to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often followed by for, till, or until )
2. (of things) to be available or in readiness
3. to remain neglected for a time

We find ourselves waiting for many things - some wait for the bus or payday, others wait for vacations or holidays, some wait for visitors (like my parents coming home for Stateside), some wait for children to arrive...others for children to leave. Whoever we are, we will at some point find ourselves waiting. Sometime waiting causes us to feel rejected and grieved. We do feel neglected...even to the point of thinking that maybe God has forgotten about us. But it is WHAT we doing and HOW we respond in the waiting that makes the difference.

I was reading through some familiar Scripture this morning. Scripture that has carried me through some of my own waiting. The verses are found in Lamentations chapter 3.

"The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord." (vs. 22-26)

These verses have brought perspective back during some of my most difficult days of waiting. They have been a reminder to me that the Lord is good to those that wait. What I found this morning were verses that follow these...hidden for a time...

"For the Lord will not reject forever, for if He causes grief, then He will have compassion according to His abundant lovingkindness." (vs. 31-32)

What a wonderful reminder that the Lord will not forget me and He has compassion on me! The definition of compassion is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. The Lord has been walking with me through this waiting period wanting to take away my suffering...What an amazing thought!

I am so blessed that the Lord has provided for us some of the very things we have been waiting for...and has provided in abundance more than we could have imagined...but only and all in HIS timing. "For the Lord will not reject forever...The Lord is good to those who wait for Him."

So, what are you waiting for?

Wakeboard Season has Officially Begun!!

...for Mike, that is! The water is still a little cold for Miriam.

We have been able to go out with our friends the Thompsons a couple of times so far and had so much fun already! We are just really ready for warm air and water temps! May is just around the corner though.

First time out - the gang - Josh, Wes, and Mike. Bianca and I (and Isabelle) were along for the ride this time.

It started out with a little game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide who would be first out. Thankfully, Josh and his ingenuity has rigged up a hot water hose so they can warm up the wet suits before making the plunge. I think the water temps were in the upper 50s this day.

This past weekend, Mike was able to have another good day on the lake. He had his best fans cheering for him!