The TERMINATOR!!

Okay, so this weekend was wiggity whacked with a CAPITAL "W." I awoke in the early morning to the sounds of Delaney vomiting. I tried to be a good mother, I was rubbing her back, trying to help clean up the mess but my gag reflex kicked in. If there's one thing I don't do it's vomit. Jason being the good father that he is took over on puke duty. I awoke Saturday morning with the "feeling," it's like you just know you're getting ready to be sick. The day was gone, Over, DONE!! I was sick and puking my eyeballs out, LITERALLY. Nine hours later I finally take a look at myself in the mirror and see that the blood vessels (especially in my right eye) have broken. I look like a freak of nature people! My friends have lovingly named me "The Terminator." (Everyone insert your best ARNOLD impersonation) I mean, children were staring at me at dinner. It gives me a pretty good laugh. I've enclosed a picture of the eye for your viewing entertainment. Thank you ALL for your prayers during our sick time.

What's Happening?

Another fabulous week at FPO. When I first got here I felt like this time would go by so slow, however, the weeks are really flying by. This week had been a lot more relaxed due to shot clinics on Tuesday and today, Friday. Our focus this week has been on Church Planting Movements and how they work. I feel like I've been in a seminary class. We've been looking at the churches in Acts and listing what made a healthy church and what caused reproduction. I've actually really enjoyed it, which is shocking because I could never see myself taking those types of classes.

Jason's 30th birthday was yesterday. I felt totally bummed that he had to spend it here but we made the best of it. Delaney had a couple friends come over and we made cupcakes for daddy's birthday. Delaney and her two friends played dress up and had a tea party, it was a good day.

Tonight we went out to dinner with friends for Jason's birthday. Good fun!!

Tomorrow we are doing absolutely NOTHING!! Hooray. Well, we might go to the mall, I feel the need to SHOP!! I will probably post tomorrow about something random. Thank you mom and Jess for the letters, gift cards and encouragement, you don't know how much that means to us. Love you!!

California Dreamin'

"All the leaves are brown"... Just as we were in the midst of feeling homesick, friends from our home church, Mike and Crystal, were here at the ILC for their Candidate Conference. We weren't able to spend much time with them but it was so great seeing someone from home. They totally blessed us by taking us out for Jason's birthday Wednesday night. We are so excited to see all the families from Immanuel Baptist that are answering the call to missions.

Downtown Richmond, VA

Downtown Richmond is absolutely beautiful. Old brick buildings with so much character. We had some Mexican food and then went to Cafe Guttenberg which was a coffee/book house. Richmond is about a 25 minute drive from the campus. I was just glad to get out and about. I am so grateful for the provided cafeteria food but I can only stomach so much. Wish you guys were here, you would have loved Cafe Gutenberg.

Family Picture

Hey Mom, Jess, Jordan and Josh,

Here's a couple pictures from the Sunday before we left. We had a good time celebrating Jordan's birthday with you. Love you and miss you all!!

Happy Friday

I can't believe we have already finished week two! This week went by extremely fast. I think I'm finally starting to get used to "communal" living. It's been so strange, like I'm back in school again, living at the dorms, but my husband and daughter live with me. (Insert Twilight Zone theme song) Okay, so yesterday was pretty cool. For lunch we were told that we would have a "special meal." We were told it would be some type of Middle Eastern food. The meal was Moroccan and was actually spectacular. We had lamb meatballs, flat bread and a type of pico de gallo which had cucumber, onion, pepper and tomato. We were told we could not use our left hand because in that culture your left hand is considered unclean. We didn't use utensils either. MUCHO fun experience!!

Today was a pretty emotional day. They had a psychologist come and talk to us about the amount of stress we will be under and the effects of culture shock. They also talked to us about making sure we say "good" goodbyes. I think everyone is dreading the day we say goodbye to our families at the airport. This will be a tough day!!

Tonight a group of us went to Chipotle for dinner. This brought back found memories of home. ME LOVE CHIPOTLE!!

What did I learn spiritually this week? "God wants to be glorified in our lives." Obviously this is a very simple lesson but really got me thinking. Is my talk glorifying the Lord? Is my witness glorifying the Lord? Is my behavior glorifying the Lord? Am I willing to give it all, my life, so that God is glorified? Uh....YES!! I leave you with one last statement, "HIS GLORY IS MY REWARD!!" May God get the glory in everything I do.

Fun Times at ILC!

Hello family and friends. As I write to you I am completely exhausted. Since I spoke with you last much has gone on. Friday we had our "spiritual retreat." What a wonderful time they gave us just to spend with the Father. The setting here is so peaceful. Delaney and I often walk down to the lake and sit by the water and sing. At night when I go out for my walk all the cows are out grazing. The weather here is amazing. It's actually been cold at night and feels like the mid 70's during the day. A group of us went out on Saturday to celebrate a friend's birthday. It was nice to get off campus. I've started to get a little stir crazy every now and then. It's so strange not having a car and being able to leave whenever you want. The campus does have vans we can check out but it's not the same. Last night I baked cupcakes for the office staff and for the girls of Central and Eastern Europe. In the group going to CEE there are only two other couples and all the rest are graduated college girls. It's been fun, everyone is still getting to know each other. Delaney has started opening up so much more. On Sunday we had house church and afterwards Delaney stayed in the common area with all the girls, she showed them her pictures of family and played tea set with them. Delaney has finally bonded with some of the other kids as well, I'm excited to see this finally happening. Sunday evening we had a mapping ceremony. All the families went up and put their picture on the country they'd be serving. I think our family is the most northern family on the map!!
This week has been focused on Spiritual Warfare. The president of the IMB, Jerry Rankin, has been leading all the sessions. It's been a very interesting subject. Well, tonight we have a Ladies Tea and the women who work for IMB are going to be praying for us ladies.
Please email or mail! We miss you all.

MEET VIRGINIA!!

Finally, I post. Sorry it has taken me so long, we've been having computer issues!! So, we're finally here. Traveling on Monday was ridiculous and I mean it when I say, "I never want to have a layover in Atlanta again." We ended up having an eight hour layover. God definitely has been reminding us of the fact that we truly have no control over ANYTHING. Harsh reality!! We finally got to our apartment at 12:30 am, HELLO?! Delaney's head was about to start spinning, however, it never did. The next day we got settled in and got to see Delaney's classroom, meet her teacher and walk the campus. We reconnected with our friends we met at our interview conference, one couple is going to Iceland and the other Paris, France.
Today was the actual first day of our sessions. We went over ALOT of medical stuff and I think we're each going to have to get a large amount of shots, please pray for Delaney regarding that. I did hear about a "spiritual retreat" we get to do on Friday. Basically, they give you a box lunch and tell you to go have a quite time for three hours. I'm excited about this!! A generous couple let us borrow their car and a group of us did a Target run. Had to stock up on some Diet Coke, they don't have soda here. BUMMER!! I will learn to survive.
I miss family and friends terribly. The first couple of days have been hard, I'm excited but a little nervous at the same time. I think I've stopped asking, "What have I gotten myself into?" I think this eight weeks will be a great learning experience and I will try to keep you updated on what's going on. I'm already having withdrawals from my kitchen, I'm needing to bake something. I think I'm going to bake cupcakes for the office staff. I will hopefully post in a couple days. Please keep me in the loop of things that are going on in YOUR life as well.