The U.S. of A

I am currently making my way back to my sweet Macedonia.  It was an absolute privilege to be able to go back to North Cakalaky for my best friend's wedding.  She was such a gorgeous bride! I LOVE her new husband, Luther a.k.a Luta.  He is a true country boy who loves God first and loves Amanda with all his heart. They are so precious together and I am so thrilled that at the perfect time the Lord brought the two of them together to become one and share their lives together.  I couldn't be happier for them or more pleased with their union.  I love you guys!!!!!

Fun in the photo booth! 

Beautiful Bride!!!

I also had a blast soaking in some American culture and food!  

• There is a restaurant in the Charlotte Airport that is called, "A Taste of Carolina."  If you really want a taste of Carolina walk past that restaurant and stop by the place just down the lane called Bojangles.  Fried chicken, french fries with amazing seasoned salt, dirty rice, buttery biscuits, sausage gravy smothering mashed potatoes.... That is a true taste of Carolina. YUM! 
• Dunkin' Donuts coffee is WAY better than Starbucks, and the giant cup of iced vanilla caramel coffee with a side of blueberry munchkins AND a Boston Cream doughnut was one of the best breakfasts I have had in a really long time. 
• It is very easy to be a glutton in America. Ha. Ha.  
• America is SO busy. It kind of makes me nervous. 
• I have never really 'heard' the southern accent until this week.  Ha. We are a bunch of country bumpkins, but we sure are sweet. ;0)
• There is a possibility I may be more Macedonian than American now.  I wanted to shake everyone's hand or give them a big hug and kiss on the cheek every time I saw them. And please, someone, can we just sit down and have a 2 hour cup of coffee together?! Why all the incessant working?!
• Radio stations in America play the same five songs over and over and over and over again! I now know all the current hits by heart.  Consider me up-to-date.
• Sitting around a campfire or fire-pit cooking hot dogs on a stick is by far one of my favorite things in the whole wide world to do! Thanks Davises for making it happen for me. It was SO FUN! I love being at your house!
• My momma's country style steak and my daddy's BBQ chicken with his homemade sauce could make for a whole show on food network. 
• Everyone's home in America smells good. My momma's smells the best. :) It smells like home.
• I discovered that I may be the only person I know who just randomly breaks out in song and dance (except for maybe my Ginna and Hannah).  Maybe I am living my life in a musical. I don't guess that has anything to do with America, just an observation.  
• The Holder von Trap family broke it down in all our harmonious glory to 'How Great Thou Art' at church on Sunday. So FUN! Then we got to listen to my dad bring "the boom" from the Word. It was such a blessing to hear him preach again!
• I LOVE the clearance racks!!!!!!!!!!!

America, I love you, and I am so proud to be a part of you, but I am SO glad to go home where things are a little slower and we can just sit and have coffee for a few hours.  So come sit in my living room (attn: Kevin, Luta and Amanda) and we will take it easy for a bit.

"There is really no sacrifice."

Observations in Travel

I am a people watcher.  I could sit for hours at an airport and watch people go about their business assuming that no one sees them.  Well, world travelers, I see you.  I have noticed, observed, learned, and/or enjoyed quite a few things on my journey to the states thus far. Here are just a few

•  The fact that even though the lady just came on the intercom and said our flight would be delayed an hour, didn’t change the fact that everyone wanted to crowd around the check-in desk just so they could get on the plane first.  This is something I don’t think I will ever understand.  Someone enlighten me.  What am I missing out on by waiting like a civilized person? Is there a band, balloons, or free chocolates waiting on the other side of the check-in desk as a reward to those who risked life and limb (theirs and those belonging to other passengers) to get through the gate first?  Sit down people!!!
• The passengers (mostly Eastern Europeans) who believe that if a breeze hits you, you will shrivel up and die are donning coats with hoods and putting blankets over their heads while dodging the unadjustable air conditioner with all their might.  Bless.
• American customer service is THE BOMB!!! The customer is always right, always gets what they want and it is always followed by a smile and a “what else can I do for you.”  Do NOT take this for granted my fellow citizens. (But also don’t go to other countries expecting it.  It just ain’t gonna happen.)
• Americans are very smiley people.  Where did we learn this? Kindergarten? This was written before I got into JFK airport. I don’t think anyone there smiles. 
• There is a man sporting a lovely mint green surgeon’s mask on the airplane. Not a bad idea. My only attempt to seal out germs is with my scarf around my face.  I’m not thinking it is as effective.
• Showing Captain America on the plane to America on an American Airlines flight puts the signal out to all those thinking of doing us harm, “Don’t mess with us. We will take you out.”
• A very small person must have designed airplane seats.
• Everyone around me brought their bedroom shoes to wear on the plane. Is that normal? I don’t think I have ever seen that before.
•  Traveling can be very straining on relationships. I have over heard at least 4 fights today.  (That’s right. I am listening too.) Although, the two adolescent girls in front of me have only seemed to grow closer as we have progressed in our flight. They stared out the window together with wide eyes during our ascent. Then they giggled at all the nifty gadgets they have in their hermetically sealed bag of airplane goodies. That’s right, they shrilled with glee at the pillow, blanket and headphones they had in their seat.  A trip to the bathroom also brought on bright eyes and laughter.  I am sure it had to do with the fact that they felt like they had stared death in the face and survived. They seemed to enjoy their butter sauce with pasta and spinach (?) more than anyone else on the plane. Now they are cuddled together sleeping. I may have some lessons to learn from them
• The poor man behind me really wanted “wodka” (vodka). Bless him.  He couldn’t understand that the lady was telling him it would cost him $10 and they only accept major credit cards. With every sentence she uttered, he just kept saying, “Wodka. Wodka. Wodka.” She gave up and walked away. He went without a drink.
• Smoking in the bathroom? Really? Are we in high school again?  Buy some nicotine gum. Get a patch.  Kick the habit.  For goodness’ sake, put down the toxic stick and respect the no smoking sign.
• JFK bathrooms almost make the airplane bathrooms look good. Bleh!
• There are A LOT of people living here who don’t speak a word of English.

The trip was great --interesting to say the least. There is so much more I could post here, but I will leave it at that.  For now I am now cozy warm in the bed I grew up sharing with my sister. Bliss. Just remember, I'm watching. :)

Sisters

Hannah and Ginna, two girls, a LOT of spunk, and a WHOLE LOT of LOVE!  Hannah and Ginna are the two girls who came to volunteer at our coffee house.  They have been here for almost a year, they are amazing!!!  The way they love one another is an amazing picture of the body of Christ. The way they love my family and me humbles me with gratefulness. The way they love the Macedonian people is an example of the love of Christ.  They are such an incredible gift to me and to all with whom they come in contact. Please pray for them as they strive every day to be obedient to the Father and love and serve the people around them every day!

Ginna, just wrote a beautiful poem and posted it on her blog.  You can check it out here.

Петка -- "Petka"

Kate is a star student in her “gradinka” (preschool). She loves going to school, which is such a huge blessing.  Her Macedonian is getting better and better with every passing day.  Praise the Lord for the brain of a child.  They just play and learn a new language in the process. Amazing!  Her teacher is precious.  She sits with Kate a little bit every day to work with her one on one, and with 46 kids in Kate’s class, we are SO very thankful for that one on one time. 

Kate goes to school 4 days a week and normally gets a 5 written on her hand every day.  A “5” or “petka” is basically an A+ here.   YAY!!!  We are so proud of our little girl.  Continue to pray for our sweet Kate while she is in school. Pray that she will have good relationships with her classmates and teachers and that she will continue to learn the Macedonian language!

And when she is not rocking it at preschool, she and Thomas are boogeying down at home.  Auntie Ginna made this video of the kids last week while Brian and I were in Greece. So fun!!!

Josiah, We Miss You!!!

Last Friday night we had a event to honor Josiah at our coffee house.  It was so good. We had all of his classmates come in to make a card for him, get a little gift that he had sent them from America and hear a message from him and Jennifer. It was so precious!  

All the kids were busy working on their cards for him.

We had a slide show running with all our favorite pictures of Josiah.

Sweet card from one of his classmates.

There is Brave Josiah saying hey to all of his friends from 5000 miles away.

This is Jule (Julianna) who is a believer from Skopje. She has been battling lymphoma for about a year and was able to share with the parents a little bit about chemotherapy and her faith in this fight.

"We Miss You Josiah!!!"

We were SO grateful for this opportunity to get together with all these kids and their parents to share with them about the Dover's faith through this horrible situation. It was also wonderful to see how many people love and care for them here in Macedonia.  

Please continue to pray for our sweet friends.  Josiah is doing well considering all that he has had to go through, and the Lord is teaching all who love this little boy about His faithfulness and goodness.  I heard a great quote in a sermon by J.D. Greear yesterday, "The biggest gift God could 

ever give us is not giving us more blessings and gifts but allowing us to know Him more intimately. Trials do that." May we all know our Creator and Sustainor more and more intimately with every passing day.  

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 

1 Peter 1:3-9

We love you Josiah, Judah, Noah, Charlie and Jennifer and we miss you more than words could ever begin to express! We WILL NOT stop praying!!!

My Sweet Boy is 2 Years Old

Thomas turned two on our team retreat which means he got to celebrate in a hotel.  We had lots of fun celebrating with our Macedonia/American family.  

Opening his first present.  

When he saw it was a train, he said "Choo. Choo."  

 I made "Boots" cupcakes. Thomas' favorite character is Boots from Dora and he asks to watch Boots all day long. So I attempted to make Boots into a cupcake. They are just monkeys, but when Thomas saw them he said, "Boots." Mission accomplished! YES!

Not the best picture of me.  Ha!

We celebrated with just our family again on Monday so we could do some of our family traditions. We got to Skype and open presents from family back home. Thanks guys!!!

And then Thomas had his cookie cake. Yum!!!

Birthday breakfast!

Rough housing with daddy. It's his favorite thing to do.

Airborne

Kate had to get in on the fun.

Whoa!

Daddy is telling him about the secret of making cookies. "Just warm up the dough." Thomas likes the idea!

My sweet Thomas Andrew, I thank my God for you. I magnify His name for you, His creation. He formed your inward parts and knitted you together.  Praise Him, for you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are the works of the Lord. Give thanks to Him and trust Him for His steadfast love for you endures to all generations.  May the Lord be your confidence. May He fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Walk worthy of the Lord, always striving to please Him alone.  He is a wall of fire around you. He is your defense and His glory is in your midst. Do not fear for He is with you always. Do not be dismayed. He is your God. He will strengthen you and help you. He will uphold you with His righteous right hand.  (from the Bible)

We love you Sweet Boy!

A Former Volunteer

One of the volunteers we had from William Carey University (check out their work here) is now getting ready to head to England to share the Good News.  Her name is Jaime Smyth. She is a singer/songwriter and now she will be a minister of the Gospel among the nations.



Pray for her today and why not go on over to itunes and check out her album.  I just bought it, and it's good stuff!!!

23 Year Old Mother of 14?!

Katie Davis is RADICAL. She gets it.  She is living a life of passionate love for her heavenly Father AND her "neighbor." She is a single girl, living in Uganda, who is 23 years old, and she is mothering 14 girls while also taking in whoever God puts at her doorstep. Her love and reckless abandon to follow the Lord is inspiring!
Check out her interview with David Platt here: Disciple-Making International

Some of my favorite quotes from it:

"Who knows what God might do tomorrow when we are faithful today."

"I will be faithful in the small. He will be faithful in the big."

"The Gospel demands the same thing from every single one of us. It demands a blank check TODAY. A blank check with our plans, our dreams and our money." -- David Platt

Check out Katie's blog here.

Another Tea Party with a Sweet Visitor

Maggie came and stayed with us for a few days which was so fun!  Kate and Maggie had a big time together.  Here are some sweet pictures of their tea party together.

Sweet feet.

Thomas serenaded the girls while they had their tea party. :)

We love sweet Maggie and her precious family. I think they should just move to Ohrid and be our neighbors.  Don't you?!

Musical Nights

Weddings in Macedonia are SUPER fun. You know all of those movies where a song comes on and everyone knows all the words and all the dance moves, and you are like, yeah right, if only we lived in a musical?!  Well, Macedonian weddings are kind of like a night in a musical.  

We had the privilege of getting to go to two weddings in September, and we had a BLAST!  The first was some friends of ours who live in Skopje. They are precious lovers of God and His Gospel which made this particular wedding even more beautiful!  The ceremony was gorgeous as was the bride.

Isn't she lovely?!  The guy beside the bride and groom is Alek, another friend of ours. He was the kume.

(The "kume" is the best man, and in Macedonian weddings, he is WAY important. To be asked to be a kume is a huge honor since there really is no one else in the wedding party. The kume is the wedding party all wrapped up in one dude. He is kind of like "the godfather" of their marriage and will most likely be the godfather of their children.)

The ceremony was very worshipful and so sweet.   Then, the party began.

Here are Amy and I waiting to leave the church. I LOVE this girl!!!

At the reception, the bride and groom wait outside, greet and take pictures with every single person that comes.  It takes a while.  While they are doing that, the guests that have already had their picture taken are seated in the reception hall and wait for the party to begin. Once the bride and groom finish the taxing job of smiling non-stop for over an hour, they enter the reception hall very slowly and normally go straight into their first dance.  Maya and Stefan, however, had the official signing of their marriage license at this point. Then both families and really close friends gathered around for a champagne toast to commemorate the moment.

 Then we dance and Dance and DANCE!  Everyone knows ALL the dances (different types of the oro) and all the words to the songs. It's SO much fun!

And what is a true party without a little table dancin'?

The other wedding we went to was a Macedonian friend of ours and his American bride. :) So fun!

They had a some traditional dancers perform at their wedding. So cool! (They also had a belly-dancer. I didn't take any pics of her.) 

Do you see Brian in the mix?!  

At Macedonian weddings, the bride and groom cut the cake, and then all the guests come up to their table to get their piece of cake.  The bride and groom serve every single piece of cake.  

And after the cake??? More dancing! It is the most fun EVER!  I love Macedonian weddings.  At the end of both weddings, Brian and I both smelled like we had just had a pretty intense workout. I guess that is what happens when you dance 4-5 hours in a non-air-conditioned room.  I will take that workout over P90x ANYday!!! I think I was made to live in a musical!

4 Years Old

I cannot believe my little girl is FOUR years old. Golly-day!  I am so very proud of the sweet little girl she is and of the little lady she is becoming.

 A daddy's girl to the core, and to say she has him wrapped around her little finger would be the understatement of the century.

  

Blowing out the candles.

The little girl beside Kate is Jovana, Kate's BFF.

Poor Thomas. He was partied out, so he crawled under the coffee table and hid for awhile.

The birthday breakfast.

She was showing off her first two presents.

Thomas helped me make the cake. He was part of the clean-up crew.

The cake: she wanted a Little Mermaid cake WITH the crab and fish. 

Sweet Kate Joy, Oh come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our God our Maker. For His word has given you life. Praise the Lord for His merciful kindness is great toward you. He knows your frame. He shall cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge. For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. Seek Him early because His lovingkindness is better than life. He is your help therefore in the shadow of His wings you can rejoice. His right hand upholds you. He is your defense. Trust in the Lord and do good. Feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him, for He created all things. Abide in His love so that your joy may be full. (From The Bible)

 We LOVE you baby girl!!!