Full of Trust

Sometimes I watch the girls and wonder what it would feel like to be carefree.  What if the biggest decision you made in your day was, “Do you want Mama to put you in the high chair or do you want to climb in yourself?”?

I watch my goofy girls in toddlerhood and see so many things I adore about this stage (I also have a list of things I do NOT adore about this stage!).  I am not two, a few decades past and now I sometimes find myself full of fear.

As we prayerfully move forward in preparation for overseas living, I realize my chief concern can be boiled down to this:

I do not fear that God is not sovereign but I do fear what His plan might look like.

Yesterday I was telling The Littles the story of when the children were turned away by the disciples but Jesus called them back (Matthew 19:13-15) and proclaimed “to such belongs the kingdom of heaven”.

I want to be like a little child.

Ski School With Daddi-o

Little A is quite the nicknamer. She gets new names to stick and so Daddy has officially been turned into Daddi-o.

You have probably picked up on this by now but The Littles love their daddy and sometimes refer to him as “Cazy” (translation: crazy). Playtime with Mama cannot compare. On Saturday, Jon and The Littles were spending time outside. I came out to “ski practice”.

I was impressed by the thoroughness of the training. First they had to put on the “skis” and hold them straight in front of them in the “water”

oops, a failed attempt!

“Try again Little A, this time, lean back and bend your knees!”

Little J’s turn, she waits patiently in the “water” for the “boat”.

she pulled up immediately…maybe a future in professional skiing?

I am so glad that all three “cazies” are mine.

We will see how this translates in actual water this summer. I am not holding my breath. ;)

Candy and Cowgirls

This will be a Memorial Day The Littles will not soon forget. 

The parade started out with loud sirens and they weren’t too sure…

but after a bit of reassurance and the knowledge that people threw candy at them…

their spirits lifted dramatically.

We headed back to my grandparents where they played with Tina the wonder dog...

if they weren’t trying to coax her out of her hiding spot.

Grandpa got out the pony cart and my now farmer husband took the reins.

The Littles had a wonderful time playing with cousin, Cat (who kept them continuously supplied with chips and candy).

And then things got even better with pony rides!

It is so special to watch The Littles ride ponies with Grandpa, I loved it when I was a child.

The Littles each proclaimed, “I’m a cowgirl!”

Definitely ponies, puppies and parades?  Definitely the kind of things that makes little girls dreams.

Weekend Travels

Dad G. has been very sick and just spent some time in the hospital.  We went to visit and hang out with family and we took the opportunity to work a bit around their beautiful property. 

(All of the gardening has obviously paid off.) ;)

A picnic lunch to finish the day (our day at least, we got on the road and everyone else stayed to work!).

Thanks for hosting Jake and Meika!

We continue to pray for Dad’s recovery, it sounds like it is going to be a long haul.

It’s Almost The Weekend!

Whew. It’s been quite a week.

How can something this sweet…

nearly make mama lose her mind?

The week came to a lovely climax yesterday at the very crowded zoo with our first public temper tantrum.  To everyone there, yes, I realize my child is screaming her silly head off and it doesn’t look like I even hear it. 

We have had quite a rough go with potty training as well and for reasons I won’t go into here, have seriously taken it to the Lord in prayer and we will see what happens.  Maybe my kids will be the first kindergartners to still be in diapers.

So, now it’s almost the weekend.  Time to regroup and practice deep breathing exercises. ;)

Working At The Carwash

Their attention span lasted for nearly 3 minutes on this activity.

While trying to get a perfect shot of Little J, Little A popped in the picture. ;)

Forget washing the car, let’s play in the puddles!

How Does Our Garden Grow?

Before our trip, we had a chance to get a garden in the ground.

I am looking forward to fresh vegetables this summer/fall. Hopefully, we will see if we can garden. :)

My newly-turned-farmer husband planted a lot. I tried to talk him down but Jon says he wants experience growing different things.

Grandma’s caution was, “It’s easier to plant it than it is to pick it!”

Amen!

Approved

Thank you for all your prayers!  The Littles did wonderful while we were gone and Jon and I were accepted as missionary candidates. Whew! Big sigh of relief and thankfulness!

We are humbled and thankful.  Though the journey ahead of us is long and can seem daunting, we praise God for His confirmation and provision. 

We do not have our exact field assignment yet, but should within the next few weeks and then we will share more details with you all.  (Although this doesn’t mean if you see us you can’t ask questions!)

By Prayer,

Jon, Amy and The Littles

The Interviews

Thank you for your prayers.

So far our time has been wonderful, exhausting, insightful, draining, clarifying, humbling, encouraging, confusing and God-ordained.

We wrap up Sunday at noon.
Many Blessings,

“ Are You Still Moving to Ethiopia?”

So confusing, right? We talked about feeling the Lord directing us to move to Ethiopia, Jon changed jobs, we moved in with my grandma,  put our house on the market, started selling our possessions and in the midst of it, you’ve heard no concrete plan from us or action steps.

That is because we have had very little concrete information.  We have moved forward with the mission agency SIM (Serving in Missions) and have been blessed to go through their pre-app process, full application, full medical, psychological evaluations, marriage evaluations and Bible tests.

Now, Jon and I leave for North Carolina on Tuesday.  We have 4 1/2 days of interviews and meetings.  At the end of the time, we will be told if we are given an assignment with SIM or told we are not a good fit.

I have debated updating you much earlier but I have decided against it because, well honestly, we could still be rejected and private rejection feels more comfortable then public.

Now as we prepare to depart, we do share because so many of you have encouraged us and showed that you do care by asking and telling us you are praying and we recognize that we continue to need your support and prayers on our journey. The Littles could also use the prayers as they are not coming with us (but are going to be having a par-tay with my parents and then Aunt Steph and Uncle Phil!).

Thank you from the depths of our hearts for your love, encouragement and prayers towards our family.

A Little Loony

Thanks for all your potty training insight and prayers. Today we made a little progress.  I am not going to turn this blog into constant potty training updates, but right now, it’s kind of consuming us. Like every minute. ;)

The pressure is cracking her, Little A’s dinner ensemble

Yay, Little J, you pooped in the potty!  

Follow along on instagram, find us at jonyamy.

Potty Camp

Okay, if you have any children who are not in diapers and can use the potty, know that in the last two days, my respect for you has skyrocketed.

After The Littles’ naptime (in which I also blogged my despair about potty training, napped, prayed, begged God for patience and wisdom and had a nice time of Bible study) we faced the afternoon with a new attitude.  Rebekah, thanks for your comment, it actually encouraged me knowing that it was hard for someone else!  Is that weird? I am going to write my struggles here as I am hoping someone might have advice for me.

It was going to have to be a potty party. We set up camp outside, where the mess can run freely and I don’t have to spend loads of time scrubbing the mess out of carpets.

 

Here is the really difficult part, one little has picked it up pretty well and poor sister bear cannot tell when she is about to go.  Sister bear is really discouraged. Though she spends at least twice the amount of time on the potty, we have had little results.  She spends five minutes off of the potty and then five minutes on and has managed to not get a single drop in the potty!!!

On the other hand, my other little runs up, says, “potty Mama” and proceeds to sit down and pee.

Sister bear seems really discouraged and spends most of her time watching her sister play.  

I bought lots of fun rewards but I hesitate to give them to the successful child because it only makes her sister more discouraged. Whenever she has an accident, she is beside herself with sadness.

Although putting a towel on her own head and proclaiming herself “Mary Magdalene” really seems to help. I am really trying to be positive and encourage her in every way, it just isn’t clicking.

We moved to the backyard after umpteen accidents. I ran in to add vegetables to the roast and came out to find this…

Yes, they were giving their potties “underdoggies”.

I bet most potties don’t get a turn in the swing. 

(If you are ever considering getting this potty, DON’T. It speaks encouragement in Spanish, French and English.  Seriously. The last thing I need during all of this is a trilingual Elmo offering up words of wisdom).

Okay. I am done whining. I have an 11 hour break free of timers and messes. ;)

Sinking Into…

The depths of despair with potty training. I know, it has not even been 48 hours.  And I wonder where The Littles get their flair for drama?  :)

They are scared of poop in the potty…and pee. Making very little progress. 

Feel free to say a little prayer for us.

In The Neighborhood

Uncle “Day-Day” moved home from college and The Littles are thrilled to have him in the neighborhood!

And thanks to Uncle Chad, they are also learning to play baseball.

 

We started potty training today.  Wow.  Full-time job. I hope they catch on soon!

Dancing in the Rain, Part 2

After peeling off their clothes, I wrapped the Littles in towels, but they begged for Round 2.

Hmm…okay.

“Mama, my head is in a puddle!”

They proceeded to soak up puddles with their hair…

Ready for snuggly clothes

Summer rains might not be so bad. ;)