The Update That Finally Was

Many months ago, before we realized we owned The House That Wouldn't Close, we never dreamed we'd still be here about to celebrate Christmas. We thought we'd surely have experienced our first October spring in South Africa, which is not that different from October autumn in Texas. Both have weather that can't make up its mind. (Seriously, this was The Summer That Wouldn't Quit Us, was it not?) We were itching to get going, believing we'd deploy in September, then October, surely November...okay, January, it is.

Alas, The House That Wouldn't Close.

God's timing is not always our own (I've heard that once or twice) and, it turns out, this period of time is exactly what we needed. The extra time has allowed us to serve here, whether through outreach programs at church, prison ministry or in the boys' school. In addition, it's given us a chance to catch our breath. We did not realize until after all the hustle and bustle of getting the house ready, having it on the market and then waiting for it to close, how much we needed this time of rest and rejuvenation before we head out. So, though we couldn't have guessed it six months ago and we couldn't understand it one month ago, God's timing has been good and right and just what we needed.

As always.

And then The House That Wouldn't Close finally did the day before Thanksgiving.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

HA-LE-LU-JAH.

AMEN.

I should probably mention here that we have plane tickets purchased and we leave January 12^th. (YIPPEEEEE!!!) While we are thrilled out of our socks to have reached this point, we may very well come out on the other end of that plane ride with a lot of newly developed perseverance if James 1:2-4 holds true. In fact, y'all can go right ahead and pray over that nearly 24 hours of travel, pretty please. Ick. Did I mention the kids are traveling with us? Melatonin, anyone? Dramamine? Benadryl?

OhdearLordhavemercyonoursoulsandallthesoulsseatedaroundusandgoaheadandblessthecabin crew,too,andpleasedon'tletthekidshavetogotothebathroomonthatflightatallbecausebathroomsand turbulenceandmygermaphobiadon'tgowelltogetheratall,ever.

Amen.

And, so, as we come off a season of thanksgiving a few weeks ago, we are counting our blessings. We are thankful for all those who have listened, prayed with and encouraged us through this entire 13 month process. We are grateful for the life and health of loved ones. We are so blessed by the family who is letting us live in this apartment rent-free so the kids could finish the semester.

We could never repay all those who helped us get to this point, including all of those who gave their time, talents and energy to prep our house for the market all the way to those who finished scrubbing shower doors and mopping floors a half hour before we handed the keys over to the new owner. It is ridiculous (in a positive way) the way our friends and church stepped up. Everything from repairing fences and installing floors, to yardwork, to repairing our A/C, to doing our laundry to providing meals to painting to steaming carpets...it is UNBELIEVABLE and so very humbling.

We are also thankful for God's provision through other believers who are able to partner with us financially. I'm not sure I've ever worshipped God in a grocery store before, but, it struck me a few weeks ago, as I stood in the cereal aisle and looked down at my cart, that I couldn't even feed my family if it weren't for the support of friends. The way to a mama's heart is her kids' stomach and I can't tell you what a powerful moment that was to stand there and see such tangible blessings because God works through His body of believers to provide for us. It made me tear up there in that aisle and it makes me tear up sharing this with you. Seriously, thank you for the gift of helping us feed our family.

In short, you guys are really, really good at making people feel loved. And really, really good at being the Church God intended. Really, there is no way to thank all of you who have given and given and given as you could to get us to this point. Body of Christ in action. We are so blessed and so touched and so grateful. And so ready to get to work so, with God's blessing, you can see what your giving produces!

We end this note with hearts so full and wishing you and your family the warmest and merriest Christmas. There is so much to be thankful for. Most of all, believing that

The Son Shines,

Brian, Jen, Noah, Tyler and Anniston Joy

P.S. Please keep your prayers going! Please pray for health for all family members so we can enjoy Christmas with all our loved ones. Please pray for travel safety as we are on the road a lot the next few weeks. Please pray for the kids as they transition to their new home. They have ROCKED it so far! Please pray for our families as we say goodbye. This isn't easy on any of us and, though it's never supposed to be easy to move overseas, please pray for precious time. Please pray for political stability in SA. Please pray for us to wrap up final details (like visas) without a hitch. And, if I didn't make it clear enough earlier, y'all can go right ahead and pray over that nearly 24 hours of travel, pretty please!!

P.P.S. FBC's missionary page is under construction. If you would like to join the adventure with us with either a year end gift or through monthly partnership, you can go to:

www.fbcmckinney.com

Under “Connect”, click on “Missional Life”

Under “Missionaries”, click on “Support missional life”

Enter your username/password or create one if you haven't before

Select TYW08 (our account) from the drop down menu.

Thank you SO much for partnering with us in this way as well!

P.P.P.S. Boy, I should've just kept going with the letter! Last post-script, I promise. :) I am thankful for the reminder last week as I looked at pictures and heard updates on kids in South Africa that two dear friends just spent time with. It was such a great reminder of who we're going to serve over there. There are a bunch of kids we love from afar and can't wait to love in person! Praying you'll get to come meet and fall in love with them as well! You'll be forever changed!

School Socks

Last year, we began the tradition of "School Socks" to celebrate the first day of school. And, yes, I did stick with calling them that since, well, it is school and they are socks. And, the alliteration.

Alliteration always adds an amusing aspect.

Anyway, here is how they went down this year.

I love surprises! The boys closed their eyes with great anticipation.


While the boys' eyes were closed, Anniston saw an opportunity and the kleptomania in her came out.

She tried to make a run for it but was stopped at the door. She wishes she hadn't been so obvious carting the stolen goods away. And that diapers had pockets.


The hands-down favorite item was candy with a laster pointer that made shapes. Tyler's was a dancing lizard and Noah's was a fighter jet. $1, people. $1 for hours of fun AND a lollipop.


And Annie Girl even got to eat some Goldfish after all!


Getting Goldfish gives a girl a great reason to go good.

Changes...They Are A'Comin'!

So maybe you noticed the blog has been out of sorts...since April 1st. I've had lots to share but have kept quiet because, well, SOUTH AFRICA. Which means getting the house on the market (tiling, laying new sod and new carpet, painting, purging, packing, blah...), raising support, spending time with family (a trip to Kanakuk Kamps, my brother came here for a week and we spent a week with Brian's family in Red River), visas, passports and a whole lot of whatnot. I kept thinking things would slow down and I would have time to blog after the garage sale...or when school ended...or once we cleaned the garage...or once we got the house on the market...

You get my drift.

All that to say, I've made myself stay off here because I can get lost in writing and this summer was really not the time to get lost in anything but the website of South Africa's Home Affairs, trying to figure out visa bureaucracy.

Aside from the triple digit heat that won't quit us, nothing has made me feel more like I was in hell than that website.

I jest, of course.

Sort of.

But as we are spreading the word about our move, this blog address gets published and then people come and they see that the latest and greatest news in our life is imaginary bats.

So I thought I'd drop a little post on here to explain some things.

First, I went batty on April 1st but I didn't go dead.

Second, my sweet friend, Kim, won a blog makeover. And then she generously turned that makeover to me. So, before you know it, this blog is going to get herself a new look.

The good news (for me, at least) is that I expect to get back to writing once the house sells...or once we get rid of everything except what will fit in 10 suitcases...or when school starts again...

You get my drift.

Stay tuned!!!

Going Batty.

Snapped some awesome pics of some special visitors! Check out the pics below...

From a friend's FB wall

From outside our window. I'm thinking there are about 200-300!

They are EVERYWHERE!

And, finally...

APRIL FOOLS!!!!!

This prank delivered to you by the rockstar girls of my Bible Fellowship Group!! :) We are clearly either clever or going batty due to motherhood and this is the kind of thing that keeps us going.

(Happy April 1st).

Aching to Be Older

Dearest Tyler,

Today, you made me some promises. And, since you are four (and a half), I am documenting them here because I plan on claiming these promises for about the next five, ten, fifty years.

Today, you were not so happy you are not yet in kindergarten. You express your utter disdain for that fact every single week. It is one of many elements of your life with which you get disgusted. I get it. Kindergarten sounds so fun when Noah talks about parties, bingo nights and all the fun things he gets to do. At least once a week when we drop Noah off, I get to hear you, very indignantly, state that you are going when you are five.

Today, I tried to offer some solace by telling you how very grateful I am that you're four (and a half). I told you that I'll be sad when you're all grown up because there will come a day when you won't fit in my lap anymore. To which you made your first promise...

Even if I can't fit in your lap anymore, I will still kiss and hug you, Mommy.

And then this string of promises...

I will still see saw with you.

I will still draw you pictures. And drawings of hearts.

And I'll still draw you snowballs. If we get white paper.

Today, you made me the best promises a four (and a half) year old can make a Mommy.

Someday, I'll hold you to them.

Especially the kisses and hugs part.

And maybe even the see saw part.

Fastest Mind in the West

I hear too many great conversations to let them slip by. So here is a new label called, "Conversations of Note" to help me remember these someday when I'm rocking in a chair at the old folks' home and need a good chuckle and a reminder of what the good ol' days were like.

Dad had gathered boxes for our upcoming move. As he loaded them into the van, he said, "This is a good one for your records."

I tried to think of a gentle way to break the news to him as I leaned over and whispered, "Hey, Dad, they're called CDs now."

To which he replied, "I meant your financial records."

Fast thinking on your feet, Dad!