Some changes and an update

Okay, I (Natalie) have mostly been posting here, but Ryan and I have decided that we both want to contribute.   So, we are going to start each post with our name, so you will know who is writing.   This is going to be fun.

So, I am going to start by being honest, what's new?   Things are rough!   Yes, I knew this was coming and no, I was still not ready for it.   Ryan and I were fussy with each other and had to regroup today and get on the same page.   It has been several of days that have just been crazy weird and wild.   We had a family lunch with my parents and brother scheduled, but it had to be rescheduled and now they have the flu :(.   We had family coming in for Ryan's ordination service, but got snow instead and everything was rescheduled.   We packed our bags and were quickly overweight...onto plan b.  We sold our vehicles and had nothing to drive, Mari-Madeline had some weird virus.   You see what I mean, just a crazy week.   As, I sit here looking at it all, I can also see God at work.

Blessings during this all, I got to see a friends baby for the first time...what a gift from God.   A friend volunteered to drive us to Atlanta so we can fly out.   We sold our cars, and everything else we needed to sell.   We got to see one last snow.  More of Ryan's family is able to come to his ordination service.  We are learning what is really important when we pack.  We have our health.   This week I have learned to accept help from friends.   I am learning to let God be in control all the time!

So, even though it was a rough week, God was always there.  

We will be leaving Columbia on Tuesday February 15 and heading to Atlanta, we will overnight there and fly out early the next morning.  We have a layover in Florida and will get to Honduras just after lunch.   We will travel the rest of that day and overnight in a city.  On Thursday we finish our travel and get to our new home.

I will try and upload some pictures and update in Honduras.

Ahh, moving pains

No, not sore muscles, but pains of the heart.   We are so excited to move, but at the same time it does hurt to see your life changing.   The change is for the good, but still it hurts.   Today Ryan and his friend are removing the last of the items from our house.  After today we will have our mattresses, a tv, and a few items that Ryan's dad is keeping for us.   Laundry baskets will become our new dresser drawers and the kids plastic picnic table our dinning room table.   I will admit I am hiding in my room.   LOL!   I had to go make all the decisions about the items to be moved and then I retreated to my room.  I am not avoiding the move, but I am not actively involved. 

The tears have started to flow the past few days.   We are not heartless just because we are moving to another country to do God's work.   It is not any easier to leave friends and family just because we are Christians, we are still humans.   The one thing we do have is the peace that only God can give us and that is enough.  God is enough!  This past weekend we were able to see some of Ryan's family and tell them good bye or see you later and it was hard, but as we drove back to Tennessee we agreed we are ready to move.  You see we were at peace as we waved to them through the van windows, we felt God wrapping His arms around us and encouraging us all the way.  

Walker asked me today for our digital camera so he could begin making his memory album.  He has a list of people he wants pictures of and I am pretty sure 2 of the chickens are on that list also.  So, if you see Walker with a camera, just smile and say "CHEESE" because you are moving to Honduras with him.   This is going to be a fun activity for him and will give him something to do as we finish out these last few weeks here in the states.

The girls have been using more Spanish these days and are ready to be re-united with their loveys in Honduras.   They are so ready to see their new home.   Lorelai has a dear friend I want you all to pray for.  Her name is Meghan.  Meghan is Lorelai's age and they are good friends, Meghan wants to be a missionary also.  Please pray for her and her family as they follow God's will for their lives.
Mari-Madeline is just so loving and easy going.  She has been battling allergies for a few weeks so pray she feels better soon.

Thank you for all of your prayers.  Please continue to pray for our families and friends during this time of change. 

The Kids

So, today I thought we might look at life from the kids view.   Each kid has had their ups and downs and each one is equally excited.

We might as well start with Walker.  He has always been more outspoken about his fear and concerns, but when we made a pros and cons list he was very surprised to see that the pros out weighed the cons.  He is very excited to learn a new language, meet new friends, and as a young Christian participate in spreading the gospel.  The other night he had an amazing bible study in the book of Philippians and found encouragement and joy from Paul's letter.  He even made the remark that he felt like Paul was writing to him.   It really was an amazing example of God's love for each of us.   He has placed a sense of peace around each of us and is with us every moment. 

Mari-Madeline has been so excited from day one.  She has really taken to her Spanish lessons and finds joy in learning a new language.  She has had the fewest concerns of all and they are generally friends and family.   She is so excited to begin a new adventure that will forever shape who she is.  

Lorelai, well she is Lorelai.   She is a mess.  She has a very twangy southern Spanish and tends to make up her own words.   She has a harder time with transition than the other kids, but she also follows the lead of the two big kids.   She tells us all the time how big and mighty God is and I pray she will continue to feel His presence as we  move.

The kids have eagerly been finishing up their last bits of school for a few weeks.   They have been very creative in their playtime since all their toys are gone.  We will all admit to too much television these last few days, but with all the snow and wet weather we have done the best we can.  

Please join us in praying for our kids as we begin a new beginning and say good bye to the old.   The kids will be moving away from family and life-long friends.   Just this past week the kids realized that they would not be seeing their extended family members for a very long time and they all had their sad moments.   In the next few weeks if you around our kids, I ask you pray for them, but offer them a word of encouragement.   We are not brave, we are not special we are the same as you, we were just called to a different area of the world to spread God's word.  Moving is hard even when it is not to another country, but when we place our trust in God anything is possible and He will provide what we need.

Thank you to anyone who has ever loved on, taught or just had a special relationship with our children.  You have made an impact in their lives and I just want to thank you for that.

Encouragement and Prayers

Emotions are a part of moving and making changes, and so far we have had our fare share of them. For the most part we are all excited, but we have our moments when we are weary and tired. We recently started a study on the book of Philippians and to read the encouraging words that Paul sent during his time in prison is just humbling. I mean we are living a life of luxury compared to that of Paul during his imprisonment, yet he was able to send words of encouragement and joy to the church. If he can do that, then we can do anything God calls us to do.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

always offering prayer with joy in

my every prayer for you all...

Philippians 1:3-4

We have several prayer partners that are dealing with illnesses or other things and we just want to encourage you and to let you know that we are praying for you as well. You are a part of our family and we want to lift you up in prayer. We want to encourage you to communicate with us via email or comments or even a phone call if you have something you would like us to pray about. Yes, we are busy moving and yes, we will be far away, but we are never too busy or too far away to pray for those we love.

We still have our moving date set for February. We have a date we would like to leave by, but we are still waiting on paperwork. We are enjoying our last days here in the states as bitter sweet as they may be. We have begun our goodbyes and see you laters. Today we learned that some people we know would like to come do a mission trip where we will be living and that was like a hug for my heart. God truly listens to each and every concern, fear and worry and has taken care of these for us. I have asked for so much comfort and He has provided it all.

We will update you as soon as we know our moving dates. Please continue to pray for our paperwork and travel. Please, join us in praying for our families also. As hard as this is for us it is even harder for our parents and siblings. I know God will be with them, pray they have peace and comfort as they too begin to say their goodbyes to their children and grand children.

God's Clock

Time seems to be moving so quickly these days. It seems as if God has sped up our clock. This is very exciting, but at the same time can be stressful if we allow it. I find myself pulling closer to God during these moments. I know He has a plan and if we listen to Him and obey Him it will work out for His glory.

We are almost through packing. All of our things we are taking will need to be in Mississippi before January 17th. They will then make their way in a large shipping container to our new home in Honduras. To me this kinda says, okay, this is permanent, we are moving! Exciting and frightening all at the same time.

We need prayers for the rest of the things we must finish here in the States. We are having to get a lot of documents "authenticated" for the Honduran government. This is a time consuming and confusing process. We also are working with the Honduras Consulate in Chicago to obtain our residency papers. Please pray that all of this will be taken care of in a very timely manner and that there will be few obstacles in the way.

Thank you for your prayers and partnership in our journey.