I cried

     I can tend to be an emotional person.  I sob at movies, even the happy endings.  Every graduation, whether I know the graduates or not, makes me cry too.  But, our crazy mission field life has made me immune to crying over good-byes.

     We have said good-bye to so many.  Leaving family and friends each furlough.  Leaving dear teammates in Haiti.  Short-term staff, groups we connect with, students after they graduate.  They all eventually leave.

      So even though I love people, I can't ever make myself tear up, it just seems natural to say, "Hope to see you again one day."  And give them a smile on their way.  So, often times when people are saying goodbye I try hiding or being busy elsewhere and I try never to go to the airport.  I don't know why, just it's such a usual occurrence and I don't want others to think I don't care, I just don't get emotional since it happens so much.

     I did cry today over a good-bye.  My parents got to be here for Christmas and it meant so much as being in a new place, I was more homesick than usual.  I have also been having several pregnancy problems that have required me to rest more.  So, having my mom cook, clean, and entertain the kids for the week was so nice.  So, when she hugged me good-bye and whispered, "Please take care of yourself so the baby is okay."  I did cry.  We want this baby so much and starting a school while doing daily necessities and having my mom here to help in this time was really special.

     We hope you all have been able to enjoy wonderful time with family this Christmas!

Merry Christmas from us!

     Someone we know here was talking about how for Christmas they wish they could afford a tree for their family to decorate in their home.  I immediately thought.....not just a tree you need, but a special Christmas dinner, a few gifts for your family, and some stockings.  How can I pull this together in 2 days?

     And then he cut me off and said, "But we don't need a tree because we got the biggest gift already...God's love in His son Jesus."

     No matter what you are going through or missing, we are praying that you are filled with God's love in knowing His son this season and all the time!

     We'll head to Christmas Morning service at 6 a.m. as is tradition here and then read the Christmas story together and enjoy ham as a family.  We're especially thankful to have extra family this year when homesickness sets in since my parents were able to come for the week and our friend Andrew is here with us through the season.

Special Times - Special People

We have lots of groups come, but not many bring their children with them.  So it was such a treat for our friends from CO to bring their whole family.  Our kids loved the time with them and we were thankful to have friends here!

We did our 1st Kids Klub at WISE with a "Birthday Party" for Jesus celebration!  Thankful for Villa Heights coming to partner with us in all the work here.  Their leader Justin was Brice's roommate in college and he and his wife have faithfully supported us for the last 9 years, so was great to have them both come share here!

A local church, Ruby Christian Church, came out to have a workday at WISE to clean and ready the dorms for the new students.  How encouraging to have their partnership!

We went to the prison (yes, even our kids) and put on a program for the prisoners.  We were thinking caroling outside of the cells.  But, they had us in an auditorium and do a 45 min program for the prisoners.  At the end Brice spoke a few words and said, "God sent to his son to a dangerous world.  I have 2 sons.  I would never put them in a dangerous place.  And yet God did, because He loved us so much!"  We all had a good laugh as not sure you could get much more of a dangerous place than a prison for your kids:)

Villa Heights sanded and varnished beautiful chairs for the classrooms.  So our student Sis Anne came and sat for us.  We are ready to have our students back and praying as they are making preparations to come!

Irony

    We are now praying and searching again for a school cook.  We are hoping to have one that is right by the property, so she can be here at the crazy hours of the students.  But until we have that happen, I am going to fill in with the cooking:)  I love cooking, thought I may not be the best at it :)

     But, the crazy thing is I made made it through the first trimester of pregnancy with minimal morning sickness.  Now that I am in 2nd trimester any smell of food makes me lose the food in my stomach.  I am hoping this is just a phase...so the idea of being the cook as this goes on will surely be only through the Lord's strength, as so many things seems to be on the missions field.

New Baby Coming Here....

Love our adventurous life....We started marriage and Naiyah's life in CO in the US, then moved to Haiti where Beck spent his first few years, then we joined with WISE and Pax was born and we started in St. Vincent, and now as the school moved our new little one will call Barbados home!