We are in full-packing mode now! The packing has been much easier this time since we never fully unpacked from this last move. The real trial is trying to prepare ourselves for our 33 hours of travel with two small children. They seem very excited to go and Jackson is most looking forward to riding a plane (I doubt that novelty will last long) and to seeing a camel! Hudson enjoyes helping me pack (and unpack :) ) and is gearing himself up for learning Marathi by watching these cute, catchy, animated Marathi songs that a new friend gave us. I'm hoping in a year from now we'll all be able to understand the catchy tunes and sing along.
We are really excited with a dash of "anxious" thrown in there. It's really hard to believe that after 2 1/2 years of praying, planning, preparing, packing, and some other big P words, we're finally going to S. Asia! We are so excited to get set up in a home of our own. I'm especially excited about this because after 6 years of being married, it will be my first home to pick out and furnish/decorate! The idea of being able to unpack and not have to repack everything we own, for an indefinite period of time, sounds wonderful too! We can get on to more important things like learning a new language. We are super excited about learning Marathi and pray we'll be decent at it and not easily frustrated.
We've had a memorable time in Vancouver and have been stretched enough that it should make a positive difference in our next move and adjustment period. The boys have loved being here and there's been no shortage of fun things for them to do. But I'm excited to see their reactions to S. Asia and see it become their new home. I know in a few years it will be all Hudson knows as "familiar" and will hopefully feel like home to Jackson too. I'm so thankful they are at such a sponge-like age and that they'll make friends quickly and soak up the language. Knowing their personalities, I don't think finding friends will be a challenge. Jackson could make friends with a rock!
We leave January 21-Please pray for an uneventful and restful trip (esp. for the kids). I hope that in just a few days we'll be able to update you on how much we love our new home!
January 18, 2012
January 6, 2012
I want to be thankful!
One of our favorite "kids" songs goes something like this: I want to be thankful, I want to be grateful, I want to remember everything that the Lord has done...
Every time I sing that with the kids I feel conviction in my heart. Am I really living thankfully, gratefully, and thinking on all the things the Lord has done in my life? I think one of the best ways for me to change my attitude from that of discontentment and complaints, is to think on all the things God has done in my life. Amazing things, big and small, none of which I ever deserved. It is so easy to forget what God has brought us through and how He's blessed us, if we're not intentional at recalling them and praising Him for it all again and again. Thinking on His goodness renews my faith in difficult circumstances and gives me a heart full of gratitude.
I was reminded of the need to be intentional in my thanksgiving today when one of our trainers said he can tell if a person is going to "make it" living abroad by what they talk about soon after they arrive. Are they complaining about all that they dont' have anymore, or constantly pointing out the things they don't like about their new culture? Or are they constantly showing their appreciation for the blessings God has given them, little and big? I want to be the latter. Not only b/c I want to "make it" in South Asia, but because I want to have my heart full of gratitude to my God who so deserves every praise I can muster. I want to be like the Apostle Paul and "learn to be content in all circumstances." I also just hate getting into the attitude of being a complainer. It weighs heavy on me and is like a cancer that grows and spreads to others. That's not what I want to grow and spread to others. I want the love and worship of God to grow and multiply. And I believe those are even more infectious.
So I'll start with sharing all that I'm grateful for in this particular season, in this particular place the Lord has me in. 1) I'm grateful that He's brought us to this point, ending training and soon to arrive in the place we know He's called us to. It's been 2 1/2 years of preparation for this and I'm so grateful He's allowed us to here and that He is true to His promises. 2) I'm grateful for all the investments that have been made in us over the last 5 months and all those that gave sacrificially to make it happen. 3) I'm grateful for a family that has supported us although doing so has required much sacrifice on their part, that they did not wish for. 4) I'm grateful for a husband who not only loves me when I'm at my best and worst, but who encourages me, challenges me, and helps me. He is the best partner in this adventure of life that I could ever ask for. 5) I'm so grateful for the two precious boys that God has blessed us with the privilege of parenting. They are not only one of our foremost means of God's sanctifying us, but fill our home and hearts with laughter, love, and joy! We understand God's love for His children more and more everyday and we hope to be blessed with more of our own. 6) I'm thankful for friends, near and far, who I can be transparent with. Who rejoice with me, cry with me, and encourage me. I have the pleasure of having quite a few godly women to look up to and be encouraged by their example. 7) And last (but not exhaustively so) I am so thankful for "seasons" of life. It gives you patience for the difficult elements of the present, something to look forward to and anticipate God's further work in your life, and closure to not be afraid to move on to the next thing. Our "next thing" will be quite an adventure I'm sure, but each season seems to be so in its own way.
South Asia...I hope we're ready for you! 2 more weeks and we'll be "home."
Every time I sing that with the kids I feel conviction in my heart. Am I really living thankfully, gratefully, and thinking on all the things the Lord has done in my life? I think one of the best ways for me to change my attitude from that of discontentment and complaints, is to think on all the things God has done in my life. Amazing things, big and small, none of which I ever deserved. It is so easy to forget what God has brought us through and how He's blessed us, if we're not intentional at recalling them and praising Him for it all again and again. Thinking on His goodness renews my faith in difficult circumstances and gives me a heart full of gratitude.
I was reminded of the need to be intentional in my thanksgiving today when one of our trainers said he can tell if a person is going to "make it" living abroad by what they talk about soon after they arrive. Are they complaining about all that they dont' have anymore, or constantly pointing out the things they don't like about their new culture? Or are they constantly showing their appreciation for the blessings God has given them, little and big? I want to be the latter. Not only b/c I want to "make it" in South Asia, but because I want to have my heart full of gratitude to my God who so deserves every praise I can muster. I want to be like the Apostle Paul and "learn to be content in all circumstances." I also just hate getting into the attitude of being a complainer. It weighs heavy on me and is like a cancer that grows and spreads to others. That's not what I want to grow and spread to others. I want the love and worship of God to grow and multiply. And I believe those are even more infectious.
So I'll start with sharing all that I'm grateful for in this particular season, in this particular place the Lord has me in. 1) I'm grateful that He's brought us to this point, ending training and soon to arrive in the place we know He's called us to. It's been 2 1/2 years of preparation for this and I'm so grateful He's allowed us to here and that He is true to His promises. 2) I'm grateful for all the investments that have been made in us over the last 5 months and all those that gave sacrificially to make it happen. 3) I'm grateful for a family that has supported us although doing so has required much sacrifice on their part, that they did not wish for. 4) I'm grateful for a husband who not only loves me when I'm at my best and worst, but who encourages me, challenges me, and helps me. He is the best partner in this adventure of life that I could ever ask for. 5) I'm so grateful for the two precious boys that God has blessed us with the privilege of parenting. They are not only one of our foremost means of God's sanctifying us, but fill our home and hearts with laughter, love, and joy! We understand God's love for His children more and more everyday and we hope to be blessed with more of our own. 6) I'm thankful for friends, near and far, who I can be transparent with. Who rejoice with me, cry with me, and encourage me. I have the pleasure of having quite a few godly women to look up to and be encouraged by their example. 7) And last (but not exhaustively so) I am so thankful for "seasons" of life. It gives you patience for the difficult elements of the present, something to look forward to and anticipate God's further work in your life, and closure to not be afraid to move on to the next thing. Our "next thing" will be quite an adventure I'm sure, but each season seems to be so in its own way.
South Asia...I hope we're ready for you! 2 more weeks and we'll be "home."
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