Life is a whirlwind!

It has been 5 months since my last post. Wow! I didn't mean to leave everyone hanging for so very long, but I have to say these past few months have been the busiest we have seen. We have traveled back and forth across the state of North Carolina too many times to count (at least right off hand)! We have also been to Florida and back and Scott has traveled up to Maryland, not to mention the two weeks he spent in Pavia, Venezuela with a NC District team at the end of July.

What a whirlwind of events, meetings, services and life has occurred during this time. We have spent a week and a half at Camp Dixie as Camp Missionaries, taken supplies to the OBX after Hurricane Irene, ran a 5K for Compelled by Love, and hauled 2400 pairs of shoes to Franklin, NC to participate in NC Women's Ministries Shoe Outreach for kids in need of shoes.

Sharing @ Camp Dixie with over 700 kids in 2 weeks

And in the midst, we have celebrated 4 of our 5 children's birthdays. We also celebrated with our beautiful daughter, Moriah, as she was Crowned as an Honor Star and Bronze Medal of Honor recipient, on August 13th, her birthday, to make it even more special.

Life has been busy to say the least.

And now, here we are in the midst of the holiday season. Having celebrated with our family for Thanksgiving, we are now making plans for Christmas gatherings here, there and everywhere as we share in our final services of the year.

This just makes it all become more real. Each last event here or there that we will participate in before we leave for the mission field; our last Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, etc. for at least 3 years in the US.

It is all getting closer and closer and I for one am getting a little twitchy about it! I am not nervous or worried or scared, although if I put a great deal of thought into it, I would be all the above!

I just know that I have to start getting my ducks in a row. It is time to make lists and pack things away and sell things and all the other 2 million things I need to do to prepare for leaving.

There are days when I look at my house and wonder how in the world am I going to condense our life down to 14 black footlockers each weighing no more than 50lbs. I am just praying that we can add a few more without too much extra cost when the time finally does arrive to leave.

God willing, in His perfect timing, we will be in Costa Rica for Language School hopefully sooner than later this year. Once 100% of our cash budget and monthly support are raised, we will be given clearance to leave. That could be as early as May or later on in August.

We have had tremendous results in the last month and have seen God's hand directing support from all directions. When we sent out our November newsletter, we were at 43% of our monthly support promised. As of right now, we are bumping 57% as God has brought in faith promises, not in large amounts, but in everyday, ordinary amounts at a steady rate.

He just keeps reminding us that in His timing, His perfect purpose for our family will take place. We (mostly me) just need to keep our eyes on Him, take each step in obedience and follow His call.

The season we now celebrate is the very reason we go!

How can we not share this wonderful story with anyone who will listen?

May your Christmas be filled with all the wonderful joy that His story imparts to us!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours,