Thankful for the Body

Just as the hand doesn't hear or see from the elbow all that often, they are joined together, working to carry the baby, or wash the dishes, or any other number of things. The Body works together sometimes completely unaware of how it all comes together to support and bear the weight of the rest of the Body. Knit together. Functioning at its best, together. We have seen this very thing play out in front of our eyes many times over the years. And if you are at all familiar with this blog, you have heard me ramble on and on about how much I love the Body of Christ and about how very grateful I am for it. I can't get over it. It's kind of amazing! I am most thankful for the head, who is Christ, who moves in and through the members to cause them to hold up one another, loving one another and bearing with one another for His great Name's sake. This used to be a great mystery to me, but this week, it became even less of a mystery and more of a reality to me. And it is one mystery for which I am so thankful and by which I am overwhelmed with love for my Lord and the members of His body.  

Less than 48 hours ago, we put a volunteer team from our home church, the Summit in RDU, in a taxi to head back to their homes.  We had a phenomenal week with them in which we felt loved on and encouraged.  We partnered with them to love on the people of this town with servant hearts in acts of kindness.  At the beginning of the week, they led a seminar to encourage our small group to have a servant's heart, a heart like Jesus, and to branch out in their community to meet needs around them.  And then they spent the rest of their week living out the words of that seminar, that were basically just words from scripture.  Here's where it gets great (as if that wasn't great enough), the Lord, in His goodness, used the work of four different churches, three of whom weren't even here physically, to meet some needs and partner together with us this week--and none of them know one another or planned these things.... But God did!  

A church in Nevada, full of people we've never met, contacted us and asked what they could send to support us. Praying about it, I requested that they send school supplies to be given to kids here, and they did. 

Yay! School supplies!!! AND American CHOCOLATE!

So with our family and this team from the Summit, we packaged them up to be ready to hand out to kids here. Summit brought more candy and school supplies to add to these bags and along with handmade dolls from another church in NC, we headed to one of the hospitals in town to hand them all out to the kiddos who are there for long periods of time.  

After that we headed to the schools to help teach English and give out pencils, some other school supplies and CANDY!  We had a blast teaching the kids some English songs and helping them all practice the English they already know.  The local news did a story on us in the schools that you can see HERE. (Once in the link, scroll down to see a slideshow of pictures they took of us interacting with the sweet kids.) 

The group also helped hand out the final seed packets.  They loved on some of our closest friends with gifts and time in their homes. They loved on our small group by teaching them about being compelled by the love of Jesus and then modeling it for them. They loved on us, as they brought us awesome gifts from the states!

Gifts included, but were certainly not limited to, Anna (from Frozen) Captain America and one of the coolest bouncy balls ever. The kids were thrilled! So thankful! 

On Friday night, while the guys played chess with some friends and watched the kids, the ladies helped me do a women's event. A lady (again, that I've never met) gave my mom a TON of Mary Kay samples. Mom sent them, and after they sat in Brian's office for a couple of months, the Lord opened up a door for us to use them to have a make-up night as one of the women on the Summit team had an understanding of what to do with all the make-up. Her mom used to sell the stuff! And yes, that is most definitely a God-thing, cause had it been left up to me... those poor women....  

We had a great crowd and lots of fun. The ladies LOVED the make-up, heard the good news of Jesus' love for them and many walked away with their first Bible and the knowledge of how to have a relationship with Him, their Creator--who makes all things beautiful.

Such an amazing week!!!

And two days after the dust settles, I still sit in awe of the goodness of our great God who is sovereign over EVERYthing, even Mary Kay make-up. No one knew how God was going to use those dolls that were sent, or the school supplies, or the make-up. I couldn't have told you even a week ago how it was all going to play out and work together for His glory. But He did. 

He knew about the mom I would meet in the hospital who would give me her phone number and take a Bible, promising to read it, and He led a lady, over 5 years ago, in NC, to sit and make over 100 cloth dolls. 

He knew that those school supplies would be a blessing to little boys and girls sitting in a hospital as well as in the schools here, and He led a church in Nevada to collect them and ship them our way.  

He knew make-up would draw 11 new women (+ 9 others) into our coffee house to hear the news of Jesus and He even ordained a girl, from NC, who knew what to do with all that make-up be here to lead that night.

And what's more, He knew my son would be head over heels in love with an apron, yes, an apron, because it has golf clubs on it. So he had a lady make one for him and his daddy. 

Their new aprons that they couldn't be more excited about! Don't they look studly!

He knew the look my kids would make when they got new toys from America. 

He knew the week would be exhausting but full of opportunities and so he called many of you out to pray for the team, for the week, for the work. You prayed for strength and for His word to go forth and your prayers were answered. 

He knew! And He ordained it all! WOW! What a great God we serve!!! 

Y'all, He gives good gifts to His children. Do you see it? He works in and through His Body of Believers to bless, support, encourage and further His work on this earth. Man, I can't wait until heaven when we will all be together around his throne praising Him for letting us, different parts of His Body, be a part of this, His work. Until then, though, I'm gonna praise Him with a grateful heart for how I've seen His hand move in the big and small things this last week and through the years! 

Praise His Name!

A Macedonian Taste of Fall

Some of you, ok one of you (but I know more of you are dying to know), asked what the picture of the jar of ajvar was that I put on fb.  Ajvar is the taste of Macedonia in the fall.  It is what you smell as you turn every corner around town.  Smoke billows from giant wood burning outdoor stoves as the Macedonians char their crops of red peppers on it. Kilos and kilos of red peppers are seared on all sides. Then they peel the peppers, grind the peppers and throw the peppers in a big pot to boil with some seasonings. And then you get ajvar--jars and jars of ajvar that are made in nearly every home to eat all throughout the winter months. 

This stuff! with some white feta-like cheese, called sirenje, as it's accompaniment. So SO YUM!

It's a staple in every Macedonian diet. And I guess like some in America would judge the arrival of fall by the pumpkin spice latte's return, it's not fall in Macedonia until red peppers are roasted and boiled down into this yummy paste. And while I don't love everyone's ajvar, our neighbor makes what I am sure to be the best ajvar in the country. Slather a big scoop of it on some bread--not WonderBread, but real actual fresh baked bread that will go bad if you don't eat in 24 hours, cut a piece of fresh sirenje, and you have a traditional Macedonian meal that is magically delicious!

And for a little TBT (throw-back Thursday) here are some more blogs on the deliciousness of ajvar and how it's made and Macedonia in the fall. Enjoy a pumpkin spice latte for me while you read about our little Macedonian world in the fall.

They Saw Beyond the Landmarks

Sunday, we met a couple that is new to Ohrid, Americans, CPers for the last 30 years in Mexico, and they think God may be calling them here. They spent a little time in Italy working on visa stuff before continuing on to Macedonia where they knew God was leading them to at least explore. They joined us for worship and then we took them for lunch.

After enjoying our meal, telling them about the city and hearing their heart, they said a profound thing--a thing that I think most people living in America don't realize, the thing I think the church in America needs to hear. They said, "We have worked in a very poor part of the world where people would never want to vacation.  Living there was hard. Since we've been here we keep thinking, living here will be easy, but there is such a spiritual darkness here. You can feel it.  Europe is a Godless place, and you can feel the darkness."

Yes. Easy to live. Mostly comfortable. No mud hut in the middle of a nowhere village with generators as your only source of electricity. WiFi is everywhere. The bathroom situation--well, it's not all that dramatic--most of the time. It's gorgeous. Even if you don't live in a city that is gorgeous, there is one just an hour or two away.  There is little to no threat of war in most places (or so that used to be). Alps and beautiful mountain ranges everywhere. Gorgeous beaches line its coastline. 1000 year old churches. Architecture with personality. Cobblestone streets. Beauty everywhere.

But It. Is. Hard. If you are in anyway walking in the light of salvation, you can feel the darkness. You can see the darkness everywhere. People are hard and cold. People are hopeless and broken. They are taught to not feel--or not to show their feelings. It's shame. It's only expected that the man of the house is looking at porn and most likely committing adultery left and right. Women are going on depression meds in exponential numbers. College educated men are driving taxis or sitting at home because there are no jobs. There is brokenness at every turn. The religious leaders only want their money. The saints they pray to can't hear their prayers. The candle they lit can't make them feel better.  The motion they made over their chest in the form of a cross is only a hope for some kind of good luck. "As long as you believe in something" they will say, while they really don't believe in anything.  They will proclaim themselves atheists as they drive by the church and cross themselves "for good health."

And so what our new friend said wasn't something that I had forgotten. It wasn't news to me. I live comfortably in a dark and broken land every day. What made it so profound to me was that she had only been here a few days, and she knew it. She felt it. She saw it everywhere and in everything. The lack of light. The need for hope. The need for God. And I thought, I wonder how many American Christians do their European vacations and miss it. They see a pretty church and think about the amazing church history here, but they don't open their eyes to see. They don't let their hearts feel that the history doesn't matter if the effects of it have died.

So when you plan your vacations on pinterest and save your pennies to go see Notre Dame, pray that God will do a mighty work in and throughout Europe again--one so mighty and so powerful that the enemy will not be able to hold it.  Pray that the hard concrete hearts of Europeans will be broken over their sin only to find joy and healing at the cross. Pray that they will be saved in mass numbers, that the believers will bear much fruit and that the glory of God in this part of the world will be displayed for the rest of the world to see.

For more info on work in Europe visit: Look Beyond the Landmarks or IMB Europe

A Little Poem

Almost everyday, Kate has a new poem to learn for school. This week, Macedonia celebrated its 23rd birthday, and so one of the poems this week is all about their country of birth or "Father Land".

(Thomas is waving the Macedonian flag he made at school this week, and while he looks less than thrilled, he really was quite excited to be waving his flag.) 

Technically this isn't Kate's 'father land,' but she was born here. We brought her home from the hospital in this very country. She took her first steps here. She said her first words here. She learned Macedonian right along with English. She learned how to ride her bike on two wheels on these streets right outside. This has been the only home she has ever known. Our beautiful Ohrid is the only home any of our kids have known. We love Macedonia and we are so very thankful for every moment we have had here.

The words of the poem are

The Picture of the Father Land

The picture of the school. 

The picture of the park. 

The picture of the birds.

 The picture of the air.

 The picture of the heart, the soul, 

happiness.

The picture of love is the picture of the father land.

Sweet, right?!  I can't help thinking of heaven. We live for the land to come, the home that Jesus is preparing for us in His Father's house. But here and now, the picture of those birds and the park and the heart and soul and happiness: it all points to Jesus. The picture of love: it IS Jesus. The land that we love so much here on earth can't begin to compare with what awaits us in eternity. We were made for more! And so, I remind myself of that, of Jesus, of His great love for us. And while I'm here, I will strive to tell everyone I can of that heavenly home where they, too, are welcome because they are so deeply loved by the Father. Oh that those around us would just taste and see the picture of His heart, His soul. There is happiness--joy and pleasures forevermore. Oh that they would see the picture of His great love!

Risk It All

This video is one of those that I could watch 100 times and it would still send a chill up my spine. It would still make the hairs on my arms stand up. It would still make me want to Risk. It. All.
Risking it all and following Jesus - A Future City - David Platt from IMB on Vimeo.

I understand that we can get really wrapped up in emotion and feelings, experiences and the hype that comes with them. We can have those "youth camp experiences" and go back to complacency and our 'spiritual formalism' tomorrow. And then, we can get wrapped up in the day to day mundane. There is nothing wrong with the day to day. Let's face it, there has to be some sort of daily grind to pay bills, to feed our kids, to educate them in the gospel. Shoot, somebody's got to clothe, feed, and teach these little rascals to read and write. And it is good and honorable to do these things. But y'all, if the Word of God doesn't move you, if the gospel isn't moving you to do more than the mundane, to step up and out of your comfort zone, to attempt some big fat out-of-our-mind-things for the one who left His throne to DIE for us, then maybe we need to re-examine our days, our hearts. That doesn't mean the same thing for all of us. I get that. But our God is the God of the nations, and His love for the nations should compel us to love the nations like He does. He is deserving of the worship of people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and it is time we stop fighting over styles of worship music and colors of carpet and start falling on our faces in worship on that very carpet to beg God to move in mighty ways among the nations. And then to offer ourselves, our bank accounts, our very lives as tools in God's hands.  He wants us to be a part of it.  We have been given much, church, let's be faithful in using it to advance the Kingdom of God in our homes, in our hometowns, and around the world.  Let's not let the excitement that we feel when we watch a video like this one dwindle into complacency by bedtime. Let's risk it all!!!

Summer Ends, School Begins (Kind of)

I just love the beginning of school. I love school supplies, lunch boxes, new shoes, sharpening pencils, packing backpacks, and the excitement of a new beginning. Yep, I am a nerd. Yesterday was the official end of the summer lazy days, and I am happy happy happy!  Summer is fun and long-awaited come May, but really, I need some form of structure and try as I may have, it just didn't happen this summer.

We tried to take last week and do a few things to end the summer with a bang.  In lieu of driving 3 hours to the nearest water park, we decided to just take the kids to the beach here that has a water slide and a dock to jump off of.  So fun!

Muscle Beach-- Davis Family Tradition

This kid seriously loves the water. He is also, by far the most dressed child at the beach.  We get all the stares cause our children wear bathing suits (most children run around the beach naked here), and Isaiah is almost completely covered cause we are all informed about skin cancer and terrified that if we don't cover every inch of him we have doomed him.  We don't try and explain that to the people who ask us why our baby is wearing a shirt, why he is wearing a bathing suit that almost comes to his ankles and why we lather our children up immensely with copious amounts of sunscreen. We just smile and say, "Oh, he's American." and that seems to be an ok answer for their inquiring minds. 

Out in the middle of the lake on a paddle boat.  Gorgeous!

You see their feet? The water is so clean and beautiful! Cold as ice, but bearable on a hot summer's day.

Brian tried to teach the kids how to do a cannon ball, which really just meant lots of entertainment for the Macedonians on the beach. :)

The day after our big beach day, we took the kids to the middle of nowhere on top of a mountain for a one-night camping trip.  Camping is one of those things Brian and I both did growing up, and we wanted the kids to have the joy of sitting around a campfire, roasting marshmallows, dodging spiders,  and sleeping on an air-mattress that deflates through the night leaving your bones grinding into the hard ground at 3 'o clock in the morning.  We were the only people for miles... well, other than a shepherd and one fellow riding through the fields looking for cows.  That's right ladies and gentlemen, there is no need to be afraid of bears or mountain lions, but you better watch out for the wild cows.  Truth be told, I think the sheep-herding dogs are some of the most ferocious animals I have ever seen. So other than one (ridiculous) encounter Brian threw himself into, we stayed as far away from the sheep as we could.

Wide open spaces and clean air made for one amazingly relaxing get-away. Isaiah was in heaven.

The boys loved the fire.  

We had a stash of marshmallows from the states. So we enjoyed boo-koos of s'mores. We even had s'mores for dessert after breakfast the next morning. Nutrients galore.

Yum!

Hiking with daddy.  

Hide and seek in the woods. 

We all had so much fun, but alas, the summer has come to an end (Amen!). School started back yesterday.  I love and hate the first day of school here. I love it cause it is the first day of school. I hate it because it is basically just open-house. The kids go for an hour the first day, get their supply list, say hey to everyone and come back home.  So today, we walked Kate to second grade (American 1st grade) to stay for an hour and a half. Ugh! Enough of this easing them in, already. Let's do this thing. Kate is ready to get started full-time. The child is ready for homework and book reports and science projects.

Thomas getting ready to go into his school for the beginning of his last year of preschool. What?! He was super brave walking into his school this year. Answered prayer!

Our cutie little Kate.  She had her back-pack all ready and was super disappointed they didn't get any books and that she didn't get to break in her new pencils on the first day.

Three beautiful babies!!!

Because of overcrowding, Kate's school runs on shifts.  For two weeks, she goes from 8-12 and for two weeks, she goes from 2-6. Second shift is my least favorite thing ever! Just when the day is starting to wind down into nap and then dinner, we are sending Kate to school. I suppose it is nice to get to sleep in for two weeks, though. So, we will just be really thankful for that! :) And maybe tomorrow she will go to school for more than an hour and a half. Here's hoping school really starts tomorrow! :)

1st Haircut

I don't think I documented the first haircuts of the two eldest.  And really I should have. I mean, Kate went 5 and 1/2 years without a haircut--there was no hair to cut... Not. A. One.

Bless.

So, her first haircut should've been a monumental thing with photographers and fireworks and all kinds of pomp and circumstance.  But ya'll, I was just terrified they were going to cut her back to bald, which wouldn't have taken much. So, no. I didn't take a single picture as I was busy guarding her five pieces of hair.  Thomas' first 5 haircuts, before Kate's first, caused us to downplay them as much as possible.  Poor Kate wanted to be Rapunzel. She wanted bows that weren't pasted to her head, and the girl wanted to get her hair did. (And this momma wanted people to stop making comments about her lack of hair in front of her. She can understand you people! Ugh!) So we downplayed the cutting of Thomas' fast growing mop. And now, nearing her 7th year, she has had... wait for it... TWO! Count 'em! TWO haircuts! What! What!  She can wear beautiful bows without paste, and some days her hair even cooperates enough for a ponytail.  Her littlest brother, with hair as white as hers and as full as Thomas', got his first haircut last week.  He screamed through the whole thing but his two pro-haircut-getter siblings stood by him in support, for a little while anyway.

The sweet old man did the best he could with a squirmy, sca-reaming baby.

We started with a beautiful purple cover, but Isaiah wasn't having it. Perhaps, the purple just wasn't macho enough for him. Thomas and Kate quickly lost interest and became involved in their own needs and wants. "I'm hungry. I'm thirsty. I want ice cream. You said we could have ice cream. I want it now. When can we go home? I want to go home. Isn't this life all about me?" all while Isaiah continued to scream. Deep breaths everyone cause we are on display. This guy from "the cousin faith" is watching, listening. This guy needs to see a picture of love and grace, and so. do. my. children... 

Brian's barber did a great job. He has now met the whole family and seen us at our worst. Oy. And so we have a leg to stand on when we talk about being saved from our sin nature, and maybe he will begin to yield a listening ear to all that Brian has been telling him about Jesus, the Lord of all who doesn't ask us for perfection. He knows we can't do it. He just asks us to trust in his finished work, his grace that saves to the uttermost--even stressful haircut days with whiney uncooperative children. Yep, even there.

Look at that little stud and his new doo. 

His first haircut will go down in history as yet another lesson that my kids can go from sweet and supportive to flat-out mad-crazy selfish beasts in less than half a second and that I seriously need to work on a patient tone of voice that doesn't sound like something from "The Walking Dead." And well, of course the day isn't a complete loss, cause we learned even more about grace. Ha. Bless us all.

When you Completely Ignore the Opportunity

After a week of coughing and sniffling, cleaning up the effects of the stomach virus, and riding out the wretched virus myself, I was beat. It took everything I had to get to our Sunday morning worship. Weak, tired and still a little nauseous I got the kids dressed, helped my ailing husband lock-up the house and latch the children in the car and off to church we went.  By the time I got to church, the three minute car ride had my stomach whirling. I got the kids inside the church building and walked across the street with the smallest Davis to get some sort of soda in hopes of it soothing my stomach.  As I walked in I saw two very familiar faces--the guy who owns the shop, knows my story, and currently wants nothing to do with it --and the other, one of the people who lives on the street of our coffee house/church building. I said the usual, "Dobar Den." "Good day.", and really hoped that would be the end of the conversation. I didn't feel like saying another word.  I heard every word of their conversation, though, as I walked to the back of the tiny store to grab a Fanta. I didn't know what or whom exactly they were talking about, but there was camaraderie in their banter. They agreed. They were on the same side. And the side they came down on was that everyone "messes up." Everyone! No one is perfect. No one has ever been perfect. No one!

If there was ever a moment when Jesus could have entered the conversation it was right then. He could have walked in and said, "I was perfect. I am perfect. And I love you--all of you with all of your imperfections, your mess-ups, your sins, I love you. And I want to make you holy as I am holy. I died for you while you were still dead in your sin, and I want to make you alive in Me. I want you to know me and be found in me. I took all of your mess-ups, your sins, on the cross. Nails were beaten into my hands and feet and a crown of thorns was pressed into my brow. And with every drop of my blood, I covered your sins. I will bring you to life through the power of my resurrection. Just repent of your sins, believe in me as Lord, and your faith will make you well."

Did He want to use me to say those beautiful true words to them? Did he want me to speak up and speak love, grace, hope into their conversation? Of course. Did I obey him and make the most of the very obvious opportunity before me? Nope. I paid for my drink, agreed with the lady when she looked at me and said, "We all mess up. We're all sinners, right?", said, "Ciao." and walked out.

I.Walked.Out. I left two people who were hopelessly saying 'mankind is a bunch of screw-ups and we are included in that and, well, what are we gonna do about it?' to figure it out on their own.  I HAVE THE ANSWER and I walked out in silence.

I could make excuses.  In fact, all afternoon and even through the darkest part of the night, I made some pretty good points to that gnawing conviction in my stomach. I was feeling nauseous. Church was about to start. I had a very ill baby in my arms. I was ill. I had no energy to engage. They have heard me talk about Jesus before. They already know. 

Those excuses didn't make me feel better. I knew what I should've done. I knew I failed. I knew I had only thought of myself at that moment.

And so what do you do when you know you should've said something and you just didn't? What do you do when you feel guilty for not taking the opportunity that God put in your lap to share of His powerful redeeming love?

Confess to the giver of the Good News that you messed up. He is faithful and just to forgive us all of our unrighteousness. He is kind to lead us to repentance.  Let him deal with your selfish heart like a gentle Father with his child. But oh! rest in the grace that your debt has been paid in full. His burden is light. He did not save you to wallow in the guilt of your filthy rags. No. He saved you to depend on the fullness of His awesomeness. His goodness. His righteousness. So humbly come before him, and say, "I'm sorry. I sinned. Forgive me." And as He promises, He will. Fellowship restored. Peace acquired.

Remember that He is pursuing those individuals that you may have passed over. He hasn't passed them over yet. Proof: they are having conversations about the failures of mankind.  They hate it, and they want more. They are searching for better. They are searching for good.  It is His goodness that has caused them to begin to see this. He is after their hearts like a passionate lover because, my goodness, He loves them passionately! Trust in His unfailing love and sovereignty, not just over you, but also over the lost around you.

Ask God for another chance to share with these people you ignored. Look for that chance prayerfully, expectantly and readily. I believe he will be faithful to grant that request.

Be ready... for the next time. Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that it is you.

I failed miserably on Sunday, but I know that I am still accepted and loved by my Lord and Savior. I know that He is still pursuing the people here regardless of my failures. I am sure His grace is sufficient to let me keep on telling His story of how He brings people from darkness into His marvelous light.

I write this to set as a remembrance of the time I could've, of the time I should've, and pray that next time, by His grace, I will be faithful to answer those who are lost and undone with words of hope and healing.  No excuses. No regrets. By His grace...

Summer Concerts

We get pretty excited around here when we see believers and churches getting all wrapped up in Matthew 28:19-20. And we are thrilled when we see Balkan believers getting fired up about telling people the story of Jesus. Like squealing and shrilling thrilled!!!  It's big, y'all! This week a team of 8 believers from Croatia, who are members of a band called, Adonai, came to Macedonia to use their talents for the glory of God--to make His name famous here and around the Balkans.  

They preformed two concerts in Ohrid, one Friday night and one Saturday night. Between the two concerts, we were able to hand 250 New Testaments and have a lot of gospel-centered conversations with a few of the hundreds of people who stopped in to listen.

The concert was in the center square of our city--exactly where you want to be in the summer. YAY! Thomas hung out at the foot of the statue during set-up. 

Set up and warm up

Pretty cool location, uh?

The concerts were amazing.  They are so very talented and drew a huge crowd. The first night we were able to have a table for New Testaments set up to give out to people. The second night, we were told we couldn't do that, but we were still able to give out lots of New Testaments just by walking around handing them to people.

If you look close, you can see Thomas, Kate, and two of their best friends standing up front.  

The group joined us for church Sunday morning and did a great job of leading us in worship. So good, y'all!!!  It was such a privilege to get to know them and partner with them in reaching this neck of the Balkans with the good news of Jesus. Sunday night, they headed to Struga, the town right next door. They will be in a different city of Macedonia for the next couple of nights this week. I've already heard reports that last night went great with lots more Bibles handed out and lots more gospel-conversations had.  So thankful!!!  God is SO good and SO kind!  Pray for them this week as they boldly proclaim Christ as Savior and Lord through music and personal testimony.

Summer

It is a blast getting to live in Ohrid in the summer. Granted there are days when I could do without the traffic, lack of parking and crowds, but we mostly love Ohrid in the summer (and every other season). What with kite-flying on a breezy beach and the amazing (cheap) produce that fills the corner mini-markets, how could you not like it?!  We have had our fair share of adventures this summer. There have been x-rays, stitches, lots of skinned knees and elbows, beach days, road-trips, long walks with friends, and lots of cold coffees. 

Kate finished school in June and did amazing.  

I am so thankful for how the Lord blessed her with tons of friends, a great teacher and the ability to learn and thrive in her second language. She did great, and we are so proud of her.

The teachers take a couple of weeks to prepare the report cards after school has let out. It is basically a paragraph on how she did in each subject and there were only positive words to describe her achievements.  So proud!

We let her have a sleep over with some of her best friends from school.  They watched Frozen and danced and played Barbies and giggled like little girls are supposed to.  My favorite part was listening to all of them sing "Let it Go" at the top of their lungs in English with their cute Macedonian accents. 

We have been able to take lots of days at the beach with friends.  It's where the people are so we might as well be there too. :) 

And yes, there have been days when the children have literally been climbing the walls. 

Brian was able to do the Legion run with some friends down in Greece. We are still digging out splinters from that adventure, but he had a blast.

Lots of bike-riding around the neighborhood.

The neighbors love watching Isaiah toddle by.  He stops in people's yards and says hi, waves goodbye and keeps on going to see who he can meet next.  

Brian and I celebrated our 10 years anniversary (finally) in Venice without the children (can I get an Amen!)! It was unbelievably good! So thankful for cheap airfare, tax returns, and amazing friends who we can trust to keep our babies so we can relax and just enjoy one another!!!

Tasting the local produce is always a summer time favorite.  

There is Isaiah taking a bite out of a delicious Ohrid tomato. Yum!

And the summer art projects are always fun. Who needs paper when you have perfectly good skin to draw on?!

We took a trip up to Skopje (our little American get-away) and saw a movie, went bowling and did some shopping (YAY!) AND ate Burger King and Dominoes. Yum!  (No judgement! We eat stuff over here that we wouldn't normally eat in the states just because it's American, and it is amazing after you have been without American burgers and pizza for a while.:))

The summer allows for long afternoon naps because it is just too hot to do much else.  Most people eat lunch and take a rest from 4-6.  We have joined in on the 4-6 rest this year.  It's my favorite time of day. :)  Once we rise from nap, we get ready and head outside to hang with the neighbors who are out with their kids in the street, or we meet friends for a walk by the lake in the cool evening air.  

We have had the opportunity to get to know one particular family even better this summer. Conversations and intentional time spent with them is beginning to bear fruit, and we are so thrilled to see the Lord opening their eyes to his love and their need for him.  After months of prayer, this summer afforded them the time for Brian to study the Bible with them for the first time. We are so thankful! Like always we can see the enemy trying to destroy their desire to learn about the Lord--to convince them their traditions and vain religious practices are enough, and so we ask that you pray for them to be hungry for more of the Word, to be convicted of their sin, and to turn to Him for salvation. 

There are only a couple more weeks of these dog-days.  So we are off to enjoy them.