For the Nation

The country of Indonesia is experiencing some serious situations... situations only God is in control of. I was in the country for 10 of these events. I have experienced two of the earthquakes. It's not nice, honestly, to experience the things that I was in.

Please join me in praying for this nation. The Lord I know has something planned when He is literally shaking the nation.


2010

-- October 25: A powerful earthquake hits a remote island chain off western Sumatra, triggering a tsunami that officials say has killed at least 272 people, with over 400 missing.

A day later Mount Merapi erupts in central Java, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee the country's most active volcano. At least 29 people are killed.

-- October 4: Flash floods that strike a district in eastern Indonesia's West Papua province kill at least 148

-- February 23: At least 85 are left dead or missing after a landslide near to Bandung to the south of Jakarta

2009

-- November 8: A landslide in Palopo district, South Sulawesi province kills at least 30 people

-- September 30: Earthquake hits near Padang city in Sumatra, killing at least 1,100 people

-- September 2: Quake rocks Java, killing at least 100

2007

-- December 26: Over 130 die in Java floods, landslides

-- July: Over 130 die in Sulawesi floods, landslides

-- March 6: Sumatra quake kills 73

-- February 1: Jakarta floods leave at least 80 dead

2006

-- December 24-29: More than 300 dead and missing after Sumatra floods. 350,000 left homeless

-- July 17: 650 die after an undersea quake strikes off Java, unleashing a tsunami

-- June 20-24: Sulawesi floods leave 350 dead and missing, 13,000 homeless

-- May 27: A quake in Indonesia's Yogyakarta region kills 5,800 and leaves 1.5 million homeless

-- March 28: An 8.6-magnitude quake on Nias island kills at least 900

2005

-- February 21: A refuse landslide buries a shantytown southeast of Jakarta, killing more than 140

2004

-- December 26: An undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra island triggers a tsunami that kills 220,000 in countries around the Indian Ocean, including 168,000 in Indonesia

**Please pray that Jesus will be known throughout the land in all these events!!!**

Praise God

So I'm going to Florida for a conference/workshop next week and I have been praying for someone to come with me to be with A. The day to leaving kept coming closer and the ticket prices were getting more and more expensive... Almost gave up on going to the conference/workshop because I didn't have childcare.

The Lord is good and compassionate!!! He loves me. TR, the most amazing woman, e-mailed and asked if she and her daughter could come... I was thrilled. Those of you who know TR, this is no easy decision... with her hip issues, sitting on the plane has got to be the worst thing, but she loves us so much!!! I love that TR and OR are coming with. OR and A get along so well... it's such a blessing to have them come... It's not just TR that's awesome, but her wonderful husband who is giving her permission to leave the other 4 kids with him to take care of us!!! Unbelievable how this family has taken care of us, since day one... when I walked down the aisle... TR was there getting everything ready and timed the door to open for me to walk down the aisle... and now their family I feel is taking scripture seriously when it says to care for the widows and orphans.

Thank you so much R family for loving us and taking care of us in so many different ways. I love you and A loves you all so much!!! Thanks for making us family!!

highway

interesting how culture shock is not just going to another country, but also coming back to the known.... you just get thrown off a little bit. just wanted to share a little...

1. the first thing that shocked me was getting on the highway after the airport. there was a billboard advertisement for a perfume, but it was a naked man with the bottle in an inappropriate place. just totally blew my mind how we just think that is normal. i think i would have thought it was normal if i were not in another country where modesty is high priority for over a year.

2. when we drive, A keeps asking if we are on the highway. she thinks even the streets are highways. i have to keep explaining to her that the roads here are just bigger than home.

3. shopping is so overwhelming. i cannot believe all the different options for cereal, milk, everything... just a whole row of the same thing just different brands.

4. parks. we went to the park today... A was surprised at the park. i too realized how much i missed parks where you could take kids for the afternoon... clean nice parks...

5. closed toe shoes... i haven't worn shoes in over a year. it's kind of crazy how your feet have to adjust to that also.

6. all the channels on tv.

7. fall. i don't think i ever thought fall as "freezing", but we are freezing. we went to the park today and we were the only ones with jackets, gloves and hats. i mean seriously, there were kids in shorts and t-shirts... it was 47 degrees.

**more to come, i'm sure**

if only the world knew...

i don't know how many of you are on facebook. i have over 300 people that are "friends" on my facebook. some i am so close to, others i haven't talked to since high school, but is a tool to keep up to date with those you used to hang out with.

today as i was checking my facebook, my heart became heavy and sad... so many need Jesus, even in my list of 300+.

i wish people knew just how much God loves them and how they just need to stop rejecting Him in their life. i wish there were more and more people spreading the gospel so that people could hear... i wish i was more diligent in telling people about the love of God... the perfect gift He gave us through Jesus' life.

if only the world knew.

On US soil

(just so you know that the little baby behind me was pulling my hair, hence the face)

Praise God for safe travels. We didn't get as much sleep as I have wanted to. A was a little restless on the plane. Got a few hours here and there, but in my mind it was going to go much smoother. Praise God for such a gracious man on the plane who had the honor of sitting on the other side of A. He was getting some personal things done and on his way home to his two kids. So when A was getting fidgety as she was sleeping, he took her legs and put in on his lap. She was kicking him like crazy and he was just so nice about the whole thing, saying that his kids do the same thing. Awesome how God puts a recently remarried single dad next to us, so he really understands.

It was great to be greeted by a whole group of people who love us with hugs, balloons, signs and smiling faces. It was great!!!

America is such a different place for us now, but yet still so familiar. I think we're going to have a great old time.

Please pray for my laptop. The Lord has been protecting me through jetlag really to not be bothered by it much, but when we got to the house we are staying at and I unpacked as everyone was entertaining A, I realized my laptop was missing. I had checked it in thinking that I did not want to be hassled in line through security every time. When I went to get it, it was gone. Sad. I have reported it, but the lady on the phone said that they have a policy where they are not responsible for lost electronics in checked-in bags. I can't remember who said this, but it's so true, if people know that they are not going to be responsible, then of course things are going to go missing. I'm really praying that it will show up, if not... we'll see...

As for now, JM (Red), has let me borrow her old laptop. It's great to have so many people love you and want to be with you.

Thank you for all your love and support!!! We're going to have a great time while we are here. Please pray that each day will be filled with what the Lord will have for us.

Please intercede

Tomorrow at 1PM our time, we will head out of our house to the airport and get on a really big plane to go to Chicago. Now some people say we are going home... and not that it's not our home, but really home is where you live right?? So it's kind of funny it's not going home, but we are in a way. Sometimes I long to just "go home"... where Christ is and where P is. But til then... we'll enjoy all our temporary homes here.

So as we head out, I want to pack up my computer tonight in my check-in, I would like to ask for a few prayer requests:

1. Please pray for good good-byes... we're coming back, but not everyone will still be here, so I just pray that we'll have good sweet good-byes.

2. Please pray for good sleep tonight. Not sure if A is really excited, but she just keeps getting up really early (5:30 AM). Pray that she could get good sleep... if she's up, then I'm up.

3. Please pray for safe travels... rent-a-car with driver to the airport, the planes, our transits... everything.

4.Please pray for health. A has had a bit of a cold lately and I'm getting over a cough. We've been pumping in the Vitamin C (just what we are supposed to get in a day), so please just pray that when we wake up in the morning we'll be really good.

5. Please pray for me as I travel for hours upon hours alone with A. Pray for patience and good rest for me that I could sleep when she sleeps.

6. Please pray for emotions... I'm a basket case... I'm coming back, but good-byes are just hard. And A is feeling it too.... she'll really sad about missing her cat. So just pray that God will be with us through this also.

When P died, it was 2 months before we were to go back to the states together. This is my first time leaving the "right" way from here... it's been hard honestly packing "to be home for the holidays" when that was our last desire together... and it never happened.

Thanks for all your love... We'll see most of you soon hopefully!!!

Proud...

My dear A.

Tomorrow we will wake up to one more sleep until we go back to Chicago. We are both so very excited. But before we go on our next adventure, mommy just wanted to take a moment to tell you how very proud I am of you... how you are such a joy in my life...

When daddy and I started to think about having kids, we thought that we would wait... wait a while before having kids. But God had other plans. We were so very excited to have you enter into our lives. You were truly a blessing from the Lord.

As you grew, we could see that you were truly a child with a joyful heart. You have a gentle spirit and we could definitely see God working in and through you since you were very young, when you kicked your legs in praising God while listening to Psalty, when you clapped your hands at church to praise God, when you would share your cookies with others during church... even though you were so young. You care so much and I know that it's because God has uniquely created you in that way.

You and I have been through a lot these past 2 years and 4 months and I praise God that when daddy and I decided to let God control when we were going to have kids, we got you right away. You have made me smile and laugh so much these past so many months. Some days I survived only because of you. You have been so patient and loving with me on hard days... hugging me when I cried and sitting on my lap looking at me worried. You are truly a gift from the LORD.

I really think the Lord has some tremendous plans for you and I just pray that you will grow in obedience to what He has for you.

Thanks honey for trusting me on this journey. Thanks for putting your faith in Christ at such a young age and trusting God. Thanks for your hugs, your pats on the back, your kisses and your encouraging words. Thanks for daily telling me so many times that you love me and how much. "I love you up to Jesus' head, daddy's head, 259 rainbows and 20 10 trees."

I love you from the bottom of my heart. I can't wait to see what the Lord has for the both of us next. Let's keep trusting God and obey, no matter how hard it is for us because as we have seen, He's provided and we are filled with joy.

I love you...

Love,

Mommy