Missionary Madness

    This Fall has been such a blessed season of getting to visit with missionary friends from all over the world.  It has been a sweet reminder that the seeds planted in my heart for missions in my younger years are still growing and blooming even though I am not personally an overseas missionary.  And it has been a call to pursue through prayer all those friends who are.

    When I was student at Covenant College, I lived in Honduras for a semester.  During that semester I was invited to join the missionaries in a weekly prayer fast where we focused specifically on missionary friends serving all over the world.  It was a way to remember that the body of Christ is so much larger than our small everyday interactions (whether at home or overseas), and a way to be cognizant of the fact that God is at work in the world!  It was a habit that ensured we would not forget the world-wide church, and a discipline that produced humility by reminding us that we are smaller than we imagine ourselves to be.

    Since becoming a mother almost 16 years ago, I have tried various ways of continuing these habits with my children.  I have made bookmarks, missionary boards, popsicle prayer sticks, read missionary letters out loud to the family, and set aside specific days for prayer for specific missionaries.  But somehow the habits always get taken over by new routines that come from entering into new stages of life with the children.  While I do hope to regain some of these meaningful habits with the family, I recognize that the most impactful way I can encourage a community of missionary mindfulness in my home is to actually have missionaries in my home - to listen to their stories and to pray together in person.  Obviously, this won't happen all the time, but I believe that whenever there is an opportunity to visit in person with our missionary friends, we should lay aside  everything  and lean into those relationships!

    So...when I read Larry and Allison's newsletter announcing their trip to the States, I jumped on the opportunity to have in-person fellowship with their family.  As I was searching through old pictures, I realized that it had been 5 years since our first family trip to Honduras when we were able to visit - the Okies and the Smokies.  They were traveling through Atlanta a couple of different times, so it worked beautifully for them to spend the weekend with us.  Throughout our visit various children in both of our families suffered sickness, and the weather was extremely cold.  But I so enjoyed a sweet afternoon coffee with just Alison (while littles and sickies napped and Tom and Larry and the older kids hiked up Kennesaw Mountain).  We were able to talk about the joys and trials of motherhood and the balance of ministry and family.

    Shortly after, we had the pleasure of visiting with Christ and Sharon Struna, another missionary couple from the Congrejal River Valley who we had lived life alongside so many years ago in Honduras.  What a joy to hear their honest stories of trials and joys, and to know that even in this God is at work.   

   Last, but not least, we were able to reconnect with Andrew and Jina and family at the Stavens' house in Flinstone.  Even though they are now missionaries in Africa, all of our lives overlapped in one way or another through living in Honduras.  We truly never know how the seeds will grow, but I am blessed to see that they have been growing all along!

TWO

Dearest Cuatro, though it is now December and you turned 2 back in September, I will still pause to share some things about the ways that you have been growing.

Yesterday we were sitting around the kitchen table when I noticed a roach on the floor.  I exclaimed, "Roach - get it!!"  You are well trained in this regard, and so you jumped up crying, "roach, roach" and ran over to get a napkin.  When you came back to pick up the roach, it started crawling away.  Your expression of surprise and joy was so appropriate that everyone else started cracking up.  Then you threw back your head with gusto and proclaimed, "That was hilarious!"  Your pronunciation was perfect, and your timing right on.  None of us had ever heard you say hilarious before, and so it sent us into a round of uproarious laughter.

I share that story because it is so representative of the joy you bring to our family.  You are full of wonder, you laugh and play hard, and you constantly keep us on our toes.

Some of our favorite phrase from this past year are:
pancan (pancake)
Limby (your name for yourself)

SEVEN!

Birthday date with Papa

Dear Raindrop,

Tomorrow you will officially turn seven, though we have already celebrated your birthday twice now.  The first celebration was at Abe and Bethany's house.  We shared dinner together and ice cream pie, then exchanged gifts since you and Caroline have birthdays a few weeks apart.  They gave you a blue Timex watch, which you had been wanting for a while now.  Then you and Caroline stayed chattering the night away.

The next morning we all piled in the van to drive to the mall where you got your ears pierced.  You had been wanting to pierce your ears for a long time, and you were so excited to finally be doing it.  You did a great job with the actual piercing, but the after pains kind of surprised you and you started to get panicky.  You looked all flushed and I worried you might pass out.  But after talking to Marit on the phone you felt a lot more at peace.  She shared her ear piercing experience with you, which made you feel like your experience was more normal.

Your second birthday was at Gran Jan's house.  She fixed your favorite meal of chicken squares and peach Bavarian salad (A.K.A. jello).  Grandmother Woodard joined us and gifted you with $17!  GranJan gave you film for your polaroid, and Corrie gave you a beautiful Japanese washcloth.

Tomorrow morning Papa will take you out on a breakfast date, then we have a few little gifts for you, and we will enjoy the freedom we have as homeschoolers to start school after your birthday. :)

I was remembering your birthday last year in Honduras, and how the students made you a birthday cake and sang to you in class.  I think that trip was truly transformational for you - giving you a vision of how you can help and serve - young as you are.

This past year you have grown in both discipline and imagination.  When you asked to get your ears pierced again at Christmas we said we wanted to see you grow in the daily disciplines of making your bed, brushing your teeth and doing your morning chores without having to be asked.  That incentive really increased your motivation, and I have truly seen a change in you in this regard.

You have also grown in imagination through your relationship with our very own Lucy Mountain fairy - Glory.  I love watching you respond to stories with joy and surprise, and the way you look for whimsy in unexpected places.  You are our first child who is willing to believe in fairies, and I think you might actually get to meet one someday...

This Summer you spent a significant amount of time reading out loud to me, and I feel like you are on the cusp of the reading magic taking over and making reading more enjoyment than work.  I am so excited for this for you, as you love stories so much, and I am excited about many of the great stories you will get to listen to with Ambleside Online Year 2 this year.

You have really blossomed in your love for soccer, participating in a week-long camp with your siblings, yet you still enjoy dressing up and accessorizing.  You are a mix of strong and tender, and I love you so very dearly.  You and I will always share a special third child bond...

I love you,
Mama

Instituto El Rey art class

My Girls!

1st Grade

Michaelmas with the Phillips

After Aida's winter piano recital

In a cave atop Kennesaw Mountain

A day of sewing Bible bags

Atlanta Botanical Gardens with the Boggs!

Annie graduates from KSU!

Lots of time this Summer with the Boggs

Barnes and Noble with the Phillips and Okie girls

Butterflies and the Chattanooga Aquarium

.49 cent ice cream with Papa

NINE!

Dear BRO,

You are 9, and life is speeding quickly by.  You are a climber, a runner, a soccer player, a jokester, and a friend.  You are both serious and wildly funny.  You are a hard worker - extremely diligent when you set your mind to tasks before you.  You love working in the garden and checking on the crops.  When we come home from a trip, you can't wait to take a walk in the yard and inspect the plants.

This Spring we had the opportunity to go on migratory bird walks with the Audubon society, and your knowledge of birds doubled.  I loved watching you identify new species and enjoy learning more birds by sight and sound.

You have been playing Homeschool soccer for several seasons now and are thoroughly enjoying it.  This Summer the World Cup was taking place in Russia, and we were able to watch a lot of the games from home.  You were quickly able to learn the major players' names and distinguish between teams - learning the country flags and understanding the official rules of the game.  It was so much fun to watch alongside you.  When the games were over you would rush back out to the yard and practice dribbling and shooting some more.  We decided to sign you all up for a British soccer camp for a week, and I've never seen you so exhausted before.  But you loved it!

Speaking of camp - you went to camp Westminster this Summer with sister for the first time.  Although you enjoyed the camp, you said you were homesick and couldn't wait to get back to the house.  Maybe you were missing the yard and the plants in particular?  Either way, we missed you, too!

The Sunday after camp, you were baptized and joined the church.  It was such a beautiful thing to witness this growth in your life, and to hear you articulate a desire to share your faith with the church, and to participate in the life of the church more fully - starting with communion.  One of the most beautiful things about it was that it was done in community.  This Spring during small group the parents were praying for you boys - that you would grow in knowledge and insight as well as in grace and love.  Your friend, Daniel was baptized before you, and then you stood up alongside William and Miller to all 4 become communing members together.  I hope you will be encouraged by their friendship and community for years to come, and that when you "remember your baptism" you will see it in this broader context.  It is a gift.

This Summer Kara assigned you your first jig on the violin.  You learned it in one day and couldn't wait to share it with others.  I think it has inspired you, and I can't wait to see what will come of it.  You have moved into a 3/4 size violin, and the sound from the instrument is so much clearer and sweeter than your old violin.  Some days I just sit and listen and am amazed.

You love listening to The Green Ember series, and just finished reading your first novel - Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nihm.  You went from that to Beowulf, and I can't wait to see what you pick up next!

I love who you are and can't wait to see who you become.

Love,

Mama

Holding the sloth with joy

Trying to get Cuatro to participate in a first-day-of-school picture

The Boggs and Fire Making

Booth Western Art Museum

Thanksgiving hike

Fall Violin Recital

The big snow! (14 inches in Kennesaw)

Caddie Woodlawn party with Writing Co-Op

                                     

ONE!

Today is Labor Day, and I am sitting here remembering last year at this time, how we had just welcomed you into the world, and you were amazing, and you were a gift.  You were gifted to us exactly a year to the day after miscarrying your older sibling.  The Lord works in mysterious ways, but he is always working together all things for good...

This past year has been full.  It has been full of love as we have been overcome by the joy you add to our family.  It has been full of adventure and renewed friendship as we were finally able to return to Honduras as a family of 6 after 10 years away.  It has been full of sorrow as we walked beside a good friend as she struggled with breast cancer, and as we had to ultimately say good-bye to her (even though we wanted to hang on more than anything).  I struggle in my limited vision with understanding God's goodness in things like the seemingly premature death of a dear friend whose children are young and left motherless. And yet the Lord is working together all things for good... and you are one of the many tangible reminders of that to us.

You are so full of life!  You were walking by 9 months, climbing up the sofa and the window-pane by 11 months, and now you are running away with glee anytime you get your hands on a forbidden electronic device.  You are a lad of great imagination - a true opportunist.  You are an idea generator, much like your oldest sister, and you keep us on our toes chasing you around (but we are 10 years older than when she was at your stage, and I fear a bit slower).  But now there are three others on our team, and together we are by the grace of God keeping you alive. :)

You love to laugh and "tell jokes."  The other day I came to get you after your nap, and as I walked toward your crib, you started laughing and dancing your body around.  When I got close to you you took the pacifier out of your mouth, stuck it in my mouth, and giggled with glee.  I was so surprised by it I couldn't stop laughing, too.  It was almost as if you had planned the whole thing out.

You love playing fetch, and you have recently started trying to throw the ball back to us instead of simply running it back.  You also have started picking our hands up off the ground and opening them to place an object inside.

You love to eat.  Pancakes and kefir are two of your favorites, but you also love raw veggies from the garden and grapes and berries and almost everything we give you.

You love your siblings and friends and excitement, though you are starting to feel the separation anxiety pains.  We will have to see how things go at school on Mondays since you will be there much longer than last year!

Your eyes are different colors - with the left one being more hazel, and the right one more blue.  We keep wondering if they will continue to change, or they will stay that way forever.  You are strong, and confident, and adventurous, and a joy.  We love you, happy birthday!!

Photo credit: Miss Raindrop

I want that butterfly!!

I love my pacy!

I love the sprinkler!

I love playing!

I love eating!

I love climbing!

I love airplanes and making messes!

I love adventures!

I love my life!

Roatan: Part One

        I opened my eyes, stretched, and yawned.  It was morning.  Small shaded shapes came through the window onto the bed that my brother and I were sleeping on.  My brother had just woken up, too, and we looked out the window together.

A tree blocked the full view of the window, making it hard to see out, but there were six nests cradled in the crooks of the branches.  The night before we had watched a crow add a piece of straw to one of the nests.  We waited to see if another bird would come, but we watched in vain.

So we decided to climb out of bed and down the latter, for BRO and I had been sleeping in a bed up in the loft of our cabin. Since it was only 5:30 in the morning and breakfast wasn’t until 8:00, we thought it would be the perfect time for a swim.

Papa, me, Benjamin, Eliza, and Tante Corrie put on our swimsuits and took our snorkeling gear down the short path to the ocean.

                                               *** Guest Post: Miss Songbird ***

Rice and Beans and Bags of Rocks

       When we were in Honduras this Summer, we went on an old yellow school bus to visit a friend’s house.  The bus was so packed with people that some of us had to stand up.  The mountain road was bumpy, and the bus swayed from side to side.  When we went uphill it was so slow that I wasn’t sure we would make it.  But when we went downhill it was so fast that I thought we might fall off the mountain.

When we got to our friend’s house we ate rice and beans for lunch, which is one of my favorite meals.  After lunch we played hide-and-go-seek with their four children and climbed a guava tree that had branches that were spread-out and good for climbing.

After lunch my family walked down to the Congrejal River, which was behind their house.  The river had strong rapids, and there was a rock in the middle where the water was deep.  We tried to cross to the rock, but the current was strong we could barely make it.  Mama and Aunt Corrie had to help us get back to the shore safely.

The shore of the river was filled with rocks the size of golf-balls.  We gathered some bags of different-colored rocks to bring back home with us.

      If I ever lived in Honduras, I would probably work as a farmer at the Orphanage, but visit Las Mangas often to go swimming!

                                               **** Guest Post by BRO ****