Beach Day

We take most Mondays as our off day.  We don't really get a weekend around here and so we decided after Kate was born that we were going to have to set aside a day every week to spend time together as a family and rest.  Monday is that day, and as much as we can, we protect it.  This week, we decided to take the kids to the beach.  They were so excited.  Brian made the kids biscuits shaped like floaties and Thomas decided he would keep with the theme and just wear his floatie to the table.  

Brian took us to one of the beaches on the other side of the lake and it was BEAUTIFUL and quiet. So nice!

 Thomas is crackin' Kate up like always. Love it!

This was the view from our spot.  

The kids and I had a splashing contest and my abs got a workout.  

Sweet baby conked out mid-afternoon.

We went on a bear hunt, which turned into a frog hunt because over in this little shady area there were frogs everywhere.  The kids loved it. 

We saw teenie tiny fishes, great big momma fishes, baby froggies and great big momma froggies.  

("Three little speckled frogs sittin' on a hollow log...")

This was exactly what our family needed.  We enjoyed His creation, enjoyed each other, laughed, and read and talked about Scripture.  It was restful, relaxing, and so much fun! I can't wait to do it again soon. I love that the Lord made the Sabbath for man and not man for the Sabbath.  He supplies all of our needs! What a wonderful day!  

Beautiful Ohrid

Have I ever mentioned how beautiful I think Ohrid is?!  People, this has got to be one of the most beautiful places on earth, and it is so unknown to most of the world. It's sad really.  The history, beauty and quaintness of this town create an atmosphere in which one can just slow down, take in the sights and sounds and take it easy.  After six years here, I still love watching four old men sit on one park bench while their wives sit on the one across the park as they all talk about life, politics, and grandkids.  I still love seeing the fishermen staked out at the end of the quay waiting for the catch of the day to come. The tall grass reeds that sit in front of them provide a truly tranquil environment as they wait for the first bite.  I still love the view of the old town, and I still love to wonder how life must have been back in the day when the fortress was utilized as their refuge.  I still love walking the cobblestone streets (though it is seriously not as fun pushing a stroller). I love passing the people who have lived here their whole entire lives and who have seen things that I can only read about in history books.  I still love sitting at coffee and talking for hours as I look out over the beauty all around me.  I still love when random parades appear in the middle of the walking street. I love this town.  I love its people.  I count it a privilege to live here and raise my beautiful children here.  I am beyond blessed that God has chosen to plant us here for this time in this place.  

People (Macedonians and Americans alike) continually ask me, "How long have you been here and when are you leaving?"  I like that I can say, "I have been here 6 years, and I am planning on staying for many more years to come unless God says otherwise."  Most people respond with, "Wow, you must really like it here. Most of us want to leave and go to your country, and you want to stay?!"  I do love it here, but I love my Heavenly Father more.  I will stay or go in accordance with His plan for me. And while He has me here, I plan to dig in deep, to love hard, to serve passionately and to share boldly to the glory of God our Father.

Be the Danger

We posted this video on here years ago.  I just came across it again, and I thought it is a good reminder for all of us.

"What if our default was to go rather than to stay?"  Let's be the danger.

Just Drinking Coffee

Away from my kids.
Time spent with broken hearts.
Life shared with others.
I was just drinking coffee.

He's gone for the majority of the day.
Cooked dinner for just me and the kids
Fell asleep alone again.
He's just drinking coffee.

Five thousand miles away are
Family, friends, familiarity.
We're just drinking coffee.

Scarce fruit on the vine.
Exhausted.  Weary.  Worn.
We're just drinking coffee.

Loved. Redeemed. Forgiven.
Sweet surrender.
Obedience.
We're just drinking coffee.

Listened. Cared. Loved.

Earned trust.

Shared Truth.

We're just drinking coffee.



"Though the fig tree should not blossom,
    nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
    and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
    and there be no herd in the stalls,
¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
     I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
¹⁹ God, the Lord, is my strength;
     he makes my feet like the deer's;
    he makes me tread on my high places." Habakkuk 3:17-19

Kiddos

I LOVE this picture.  Kate can't hardly stand it. She is so excited it is finally summer. 

Brian was mad I put this on fb, so I am guessing he is not going to like the fact that I just posted it here. C'mon it's cute stuff.

Girl Time

Saturday we had our last ladies' time before the fall.  We had a blast meeting with all of these ladies (and some not in the picture) every Saturday.  

We started off going through the book of Ruth which was really good and ended with a lot of good discussions. When we finished Ruth, we read "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow together and discussed it every week. It was a super fun time, and it was encouraging to see how God worked in each of the ladies' lives, including my own.  After each discussion and study time together, we taught them how to make some American food, which was a blast.

We will start back in the fall. Be praying that I will know exactly what we should work through next, and pray that God will continue to work in the the hearts of each of these women throughout the summer.    

Teaching English in the Preschool

We just finished up teaching English to the older kids at the preschool today.  It was SO much fun!  I have missed working with giant groups of kids more than I knew, and so the last two weeks were so much fun!!! This morning we did a little program for the other kids at the school and some of the parents.  

 The two groups of kids did a great job singing their ABC's and Head Shoulders, Knees and Toes.

They loved the Itsy Bitsy Spider, the Teenie Weenie Spider and the Great Big Spider.

They had a big ole time singing about the animals on Old Mcdonald's Farm.

But I think Hokey Pokey was by far the favorite of the kids and teachers alike. Quite frankly, I think we could have just done the Hokey Pokey every day for two weeks and they all would have been happy. :) 

We taught all 45 of them a few simple phrases in English to go along with their songs. 

At the end of the program, we had certificates for all of the kids. They were so proud.  And now everywhere we go in town, kids say, "Mama, that's my English teacher." Then they proceed to say the few things they know in English.  Love it!  What a great opportunity that will hopefully afford more and more opportunities and conversations in the future! 

Better to Give

On Tuesday afternoon we had the opportunity and privilege to be able to go into one of the hospitals here and give out some dolls that had been made by a precious lady from Philidelphia Baptist Church in Connelleys Springs, NC. Sadly she has gone to be with the Lord, and so she isn't here to know the incredible blessing she was to 30 kids and their parents on Tuesday afternoon. I rejoice to know that she is with her Lord praising Him for the great things He has done.

We made a packet of goodies for the parents and the kids. There is no cafeteria at the hospital for the parents to swing into while they sit day after day at the hospital and so we wanted to bless their hearts too.  We threw in some chocolate, water, pretzels, coffee, candy and tissue.

Hannah and Jessica put together a cute little coloring book and we got some crayons and candy for each of the kids to go along with their little baby dolls.

Because it is a state run hospital, they would not allow us to hand out Bibles or other Christian books, but we were able to set some up on a table in one of the physical therapy rooms.

You can see the little baby doll sitting on the bed by the little girl.  Precious.

This little boy below was amazing.  "K" had just gotten to the hospital that day and he is waiting to have two brain surgeries and most likely a kidney transplant.  He was the most energetic little thing. He gave all of us chocolate and just talked and talked. After he walked us to the room with the Bibles so we could get one for his mom, he walked us to our car.  Precious.  You can pray for him today and tomorrow and pray that we will be able to visit him and the other children again.

Oh and so you know, all of the Bibles and books that we set out got taken by the staff and moms.  Amazing! God is good. Pray that they will read them and that what they read will take root in their hearts to the glory of God.

Magically Delicious Baklava

Who of you out there thought that baklava was strictly a Greek dessert???  One of my pet peeves is people taking credit where it isn't due them. Well, that is what the country down south has been doing with baklava for years. Baklava is actually a Turkish dessert that was brought to the Balkans during the Turkish rule (Ottoman Empire), and it is a regular sweet staple in the Macedonia diet.  A precious friend of ours taught Hannah, Jessica (our summer intern) and me how to make it all by ourselves, and guess what?! It wasn't hard at all. In fact, it is quite possibly one of the easiest desserts I have ever made.  

First, thaw out package of store bought phyllo dough. Take 2 pieces of dough and set it on your working service, cut it long ways down the middle, and drizzle a little cooking oil all over it. Then you fold each piece in half. At this point, you will have a piece of phyllo dough that is about 3-4 inches wide.  Then put a large spoonful of chopped walnuts or pecans near the top of the dough.  And then comes the fun part...

You roll it up like a paper football.  Fold it over 3-4 times just to make sure the nuts are held in tight.

 And then you put your little phyllo triangle in a greased pan.

Keep going with that process until you have a whole pan full of 'footballs.'

Drizzle a little more oil over the top. 

Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. Keep an eye on it though. You only want it to get golden brown.

While it is in the oven mix together 4 cups sugar and 4 cups of water and bring to a boil on the stove.  This is the "sherbet" or syrup that you pour all over it once it comes out of the oven.

As soon as it is out of the oven, pour your "shebert" all over the top of it. Be generous. You want it to soak all the way through.  

And then enjoy!!! It's SO good!!!

There are many different variations of Baklava.  I have had chocolate baklava here which is amazing!!! Sometimes they roll the baklava up like cylinders and other times it is in a perfect rectangle. I think our friend taught us the simplest version of it, and it really couldn't have been much easier.  So take some time, make some Baklava and while you enjoy the deliciousness, pray for the people of Macedonia and the Balkans.

"Then Sings my SOUL!"

Don't you just want to join the little stinker in the next verse?! 


We recently received this message from the president of our organization:


"I know you will rejoice with me in the fact that this year's offering [Lottie Moon Christmas Offering] was slightly more than one million dollars above our 2010 offering, making it one of the largest responses in history. This is a significant statement in a year of tough financial realities that has created major difficulties for many organizations like ours.  Thankfully, our convention still regards the work we do together as a real priority."  


Praise the Lord!!!  Thank you so very much for your gifts of love so that we can be here. Thank you on behalf on my colleagues who are spread out all over the world engaging peoples in war-zones, poverty, hope-lessness and fear.  Thank you for loving God and the glory of His Name among the nations, tribes and tongues.  Words cannot fully express our gratitude!  Praise the awesome Name of the Lord!


And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,
 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

                                                                         Revelation 5:9-14

Mama Hen

I love this video of Thomas and Brian trying to round up a baby chick.  The best part is at the end when Mama Hen made it clear her babies were not to be touched.


I find that I am the exact same way. You can mess with me all day long, but when my kids are involved, this Mama Hen's feathers get ruffled pretty quick.  Kate is at the age when she is starting to understand that we are not like anyone else in the town.  I am so thankful that God has blessed her with some friends at school and in our small group.  And yet, I know she feels the difference.  It hit me at a birthday party with some of our American friends who live about 2 hours away.  Their daughter and Kate stood together and literally wept as they said good-bye to each other. As they did this, they were planning when they were going to see one another again. This is a 3 year old and a 4 year old.  Good-byes and inconsistency have become their lives, and they are learning how very painful it is.

I want to take all the pain away. I want to protect my babies from those hard moments that make up a big chunk of our life overseas, and yet there is really nothing I can do. Sure, I can make sure things stay consistent at home and make sure I am there every night to tuck them in.  I can hug them and tell them every thing is going to be alright. I can pray over them and teach them to rejoice in the Lord always. But I can't protect their little hearts.  I can't take away the feeling of loss. I can't really do anything. It is only our Heavenly Father, the Creator of their little hearts, who can make it all ok.  It is He who has called us, and in so doing He called our children as well.  Only He can give them peace that passes all understanding.  He is good and wise.  He loves them with an everlasting love and He will work these small pains out in their lives for their good and His glory.  It is all a sure reminder of the call on our lives.  It is a small suffering that we are to count as joy.  And so as Thomas says, "fo' His gwory" we will strive to live our lives as a sacrifice trusting that God will guard the hearts and minds of our sweet babies as we obey Him.

Be praying for our family as we have some hard good-byes coming our way. Our Hannah and Ginna will be finishing their term and returning to the states in July. They are very much a part of our family, and we are going to miss them immensely.  Pray that our Father will be our strength and comfort, and that He will comfort our little ones.  Pray that this Mama Hen will rest in His peace and trust Him daily with the hearts of her little chicks.

Tis the Season for... VOLUNTEERS

Volunteer season is upon us once again.  We love volunteers.  They are always such a precious gift and end up ministering in ways they probably never even imagined.  

We just finished up with our first team, of sorts. One lady from the Church at Brook Hills felt led to come all this way, all by herself, to give out free reading glasses.  This was such an answer to prayer as we regularly hear the excuse "I can't read the Bible because I can't see."  Well, sweet Darleen came to help remedy that situation.  She gave out almost 250 pairs of reading glasses.... in 7 hours.  Whoa! 

We figured since we had the glasses, we would offer a free eye exam for the people coming in too.  We just asked a local doctor to come in and help us out for the day.  She did great and I think the community was touched by this ministry.  Every one left with a pair of reading glasses and a new book explaining who Jesus Christ is.  Pray that they read it and come to know the truth.  Thanks again Darleen!

Other volunteer teams have done anything from prayer walking and handing out literature to handing out school supplies to helping at the Red Cross.  

As a volunteer, you can take fun rides in crazy old vehicles.  

And rides on... other things

You can lose miserably at chess. But always with a smile. ;0)

You can teach American football to a bunch of clueless Macedonians who think they are getting ready to play rugby

You can teach English to 5 years olds in the preschool.

You can teach American dances and end up doing the Macedonian Oro.

You can learn to cook traditional Macedonian food with nationals.

You can take fun pictures with a million people and feel really really famous.

You can love on our babies (one of my personal favorites).  

You can teach kids about Jesus and do fun crafts with them.

You can drink coffee with tons of people in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

You can do a seminar on parenting or marriage (or anything) and tell people about Christ being your strength.  

You can hand out school supplies to kids in need. You can pick up trash around town. You can come to help disciple our new believers. You can come just to love on our team. You can come do just about anything. We love volunteers. We always see fruit from our teams, and we are so thankful for those of you with a willing and obedient heart ready to serve and ready to show the love of our Savior.  If the Lord is leading you to come, shoot us an email. We will put you to work. 

Kate and Creation

Kate asked me a two days ago about how God created the world. She said, "I know He created different stuff on different days, but I don't remember what." I told her we would go through and draw what God created on each day and then she could know. This was the result of our "exercise."  Click on the picture to get a better view!

I am very proud of my girl!