Thankful!

We had a nice visit with my side of the family for Thanksgiving.... however it was cut very short due to Chris and Sarah-Bethany both being sick... poor babies...  We were SOOOOO sad to miss out on the Thanksgiving feast with the Fryar side... still pretty bummed on that... 

**At dinner, Dad mentioned how great it was to have all of us together for Thanksgiving... then said it would be the LAST one with all of us because next year we'd be back in Brazil...  He was a little teary over that...  

BUT I, of course, also mentioned to him that HE would be IN BRAZIL WITH US for next Thanksgiving!!  He and Mom came 2 years during Thanksgiving and it was so wonderful!!  The Christmas decorations were already up everywhere in town and we got to cheer on the Razorbacks BEATING LSU BOTH YEARS!!  It was so funny because with the time zone differences... we were up yelling at the TV and dancing in the yard at 1 am!!  *That was the year with all the over-times too!!

SO.......  while it may be a little sad now.... at least we can BEAT LSU if Dad comes to Brazil!! :)

.......

But it was a bit surreal tonight as we put up our Christmas decorations and sorted through what we want to sell in the yard sale. It made me reflect over the past few years...

Thanksgiving 2009 - We had received the call from Mom and Dad giving us Mom's new diagnosis of Lung Cancer in October.  We called them on Thanksgiving and let them know that we had decided to come home at Christmas FOR GOOD, not just a Visit.  She was so happy and relieved to hear that we were coming home.  Even though I've working as an Oncology Nurse since 2001... it's still different when it's your Mama!  It was a hard role to play: daughter and nurse.  

Thanksgiving 2010 - Mom was starting to have a lot of pain so she just laid on the couch while we busied about making dinner and all.  She would hurt so badly if she moved at all.  At the same time... we were anxiously awaiting any news to hear when we would travel for Negash... knowing what was soon ahead for Mom.  It was definitely began my season of "Great Contrasts."  I prayed to the Lord as these two massive events were set for a collision course... I prayed "Lord, YOU are going to have to work this out... I can NOT chose between my son and my mother... so I am going to have to STOP worrying... and let you BE GOD!!  I release this!!"  ...and He SOOOO took care of it...  We traveled to Ethiopia for our court trip (1st of 2 trips) on the second week of February, returned and I was home for 1 1/2 weeks before I needed to be with Mom.  She was ushered into Glory on February 26th.  Then we were called to return to Ethiopia to bring Negash home on March 10th.  **That was DIVINE INTERVENTION... only the LORD could have navigated that!  It still makes me sad that Negash has never met her...  she would have loved his hard-working spirit and DRIVE to learn!  ...and now Sarah-Bethany... oh how she would have LOVED to have another girl around...   *deep sigh*

Thanksgiving 2011 - We got to spend Thanksgiving with Dad and introducing Negash to even more US holidays!  So fun!  Everything was still so new for him... and so funny to see how he puts things together!  He and Caleb had fun playing with Brooklyn, Trevor, and Ryan!  Dad was so glad to have all of us there!  We couldn't wait to spend our first Christmas with Negash!  ...AND... we had just found out 3 weeks prior that we were PREGNANT!  What in the WORLD?!?!?  That was INDEED a COMPLETE SURPRISE and a Gift of Heaven!  *Check back to posts from November 2011 to see the Excitement/Fear/ELATION/Nervousness and all that was happening around that time!

Through all... The Lord has been so faithful to us... so Amazing and so True to His promises!  Our last 3 years has not been all happy and joyful... there has been many things our family has had to work through... but we stand humbly before the throne and know that Jesus has been KING OVER ALL!!

**We NEVER would have expected the Lord to call us back to Brazil right now!!  ...but then... He has surprised us at many turns and corners and we now live with the Expectation that He will Surprise us again!!  ...and again...  So we now prepare to go... carrying with us the precious memories of the past Thanksgiving and Christmas times we have been blessed to have Stateside!   ...and looking forward to ALL HE will do in the next few years!

OFF WE GO....

Well... Here we go again!!

The Lord has called us back to Brasilia, Brazil!!  We served there with the Network of International Christian Schools (www.nics.org) for 3 years from 2007-2010.  We are very excited about what the Lord is doing and what He has promised to CONTINUE to do!!  He is working in our hearts now about different areas of ministry and different ways to further HIS KINGDOM!  

Our School, Brasilia International School ministers to kids from ALL OVER THE WORLD!!  Right now, we have an enrollment of 100 kids from 23 different countries!!  How amazing is that?!?!  Just as we saw before when we were there... it was more like the Mission Field came to US!!  To be able to love on kiddos from all over the world, who may VERY WELL one day become the Political Leaders of their countries!!  Talk about an "Investment in the Future of the WORLD!"  That's what we love about the NICS Mission, and about what we experienced as we were there before!

The Preparations....  We now OFFICIALLY have our house on the Market... which... for me... is the hardest part!  We really love our house!!  It's so "US!"  We've worked hard in the yard to get it the way we like it, full of color!!  But.... alas... we know it's just part of the process....

Next we will have a MASSIVE Yard Sale to get rid of the "cluttery" stuff... then a MASSIVE Email send out for the big stuff - furniture, beds, lawn mower...etc.

We do not have a timeline on when we'll go... we would REALLY REALLY Love to have the house sold... but we also know the LORD has ALL of that in HIS Precious Hands!!  He can do ANYTHING!!   We are thinking that it may be April - May or so... but totally leaving it open!  We, of course, have to wait on Visa's too!  Daniel is working through to see what the best option we have for that will be.

HERE IS WHERE YOU COME IN!! :)

Please PRAY!!  Please STORM the HEAVENS for us... for our boys.., for the baby... for our house... FOR OUR KITTY CATS!!!  Please pray for the Lord to show you the best way to  support us!

We *KNOW* the LORD doesn't need Money!  He needs NOTHING from us!!  He can do and can provide ANYTHING and EVERYTHING... but the incredible thing... is that He gives us the PRIVILEGE to use the resources He has given to us to bless others and to steward as He would!  
Would you please consider PARTNERING with us as we go share the Gospel of Jesus with the Nations???  There will be many set-up expenses, travel expenses, and monthly expenses involved with moving to Brazil and getting settled there.  Also, Brasilia is a very expensive city to live in... we know that our regular monthly needs for things like rent and household items will be more than it would be here!  

Here is how... I have a link at the TOP RIGHT of this blog to show you how!!  Here it is again!!!   You can CLICK HERE or go to:  

https://nics.org/Donate-start   Our project number is 001909.  

The address is 3790 Goodman Rd E Southaven, MS 38672.  For Uncle Sam, please make any donations out to NICS, and put our Project number in the memo line.  #001909.

We are humbled!!  Thank you for your partnership!!!!!

Something Bigger than Me

This song is SO powerful!!  It echoes our hearts right now at this season!!

But even more so... It brings to mind our precious friends who are going through something so hard and so painful that I can't imagine bearing their load... But being REASSURED that HE IS UP TO SOMETHING BIG!!  

He has a HUGE Plan for ALL of our lives!!  He is Sovereign!  

He is GOD and He IS IN CONTROL!  

So Thankful for a God who loves me and is willing to put up with me... and even more than that... is willing to SHOW ME more of HIMSELF!  *Amazing Grace!*

Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly) lyrics
Songwriters: Gartley, Dan; Graalman, Mark; Hammitt, Matt; Prevost, Peter; Rohman, Chris;

It's time for healing, time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time to make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
And all I can do is surrender

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
But I'm giving in to something Heavenly

Time for a milestone, time to begin again
Re-evaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow Your will
Or just climbing aimlessly over these hills?
So show me what it is You want from me
I give everything, I surrender
Time to face up, clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I wanted to say for so many years
Time to release all my held back tears

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life, something Heavenly
It's time to face up, clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out

National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month

Last Sunday was "Orphan Sunday."  So I made this banner for my Facebook page.  I originally had "147 Million *MINUS TWO*" written on it... but it just didn't "feel" right...  

Chris came home and saw it and it didn't sit well with him either...  So I started thinking about the Verse I put on it...  ABSOLUTELY!!  We should be "CELEBRATING SONSHIP" during this month and not focusing on what they 'were'!

I very frequently feel an Angry Outburst welling up in regards to the 'popular opinion' on adoption in the world today.  It irritates me SO VERY MUCH when well-meaning people speak about adoption without really understanding it.  ...but alas... I will not VENT OUT right here... not right now...

Our Boys are OUR BOYS!  They have a History that doesn't include us.  They have a story that has Great Pain.  They have learned to Love and Trust beyond what others can comprehend.  We discuss their stories frequently and work together to help them heal.  There is no part that can be simply pushed away for a discussion another day or when they are older.  It is OUR life!

Adoption is NOT EASY...  Adoption is Hard!  There are Multiple Layers of Pain involved with EVERY Adoption, and MOST Importantly: Adoption is NOT ONLY ABOUT YOU!!   

OCTOBER!

October was FULL! 

 ...I think this is getting a little redundant! LOL!

The boys are playing Soccer with the YMCA again this year.  We LOVE this league!  Several of the games have been VERY COLD... and Sarah-Bethany is right there with us... all bundled up and everything!!  She is such a Trooper!  Not sure how she puts up with so much!

AND... we visited 2 different Pumpkin Patches!  We had so much fun!

All Bundled up at the Soccer Game

  

GO GREEN TEAM!

My Handsome Boys!!

The Fryar Five!