Our New Place!

Our Apartment is located in Sudoeste.  Here is a Google Maps link.  Point A is our Apartment (SQSW 101) and Point B is the School ("Via W Cinco").  I don't know about you, but I LOVE to play with Google Maps... so I thought it might be interesting to you! :)  You can even get "STREET VIEW" :)

You can see that HUGE Green area between the Apartment and the School... that's Parque da Cidade: City Park.  We LOVE it there!  This is where Chris trained for his full marathon when we were here last.  The whole city goes out there on Saturday morning and excercises.  Roller blading, bicycles, beach volleyball, soccer, running, walking... you name it!  And they also do this really cool combination of Beach volleyball and soccer - it's volleyball with only their FEET!!!  

You can also see Lake Paranoa.  It is a man-made lake to help with the dry air during dry season.  Its not Lake Ouachita or Lake DeGray, but its nice!  
Also notice how "Planned" the city is!  Everything fits into perfect little Quadras. Brasilia was built from NOTHING back in the 60's.  It is a "planned" city in the shape of an airplane - which when you live here... TOTALLY messes with my N,S,E,W brain!! All the major streets CURVE!  But... the city out grew the plan... so the outer areas aren't the same.  

Anyway...  thought you might find this interesting!  :)


View My Saved Places in a larger map

WE ARRIVED!!! (a week ago... :)

We made it!!

It was a long journey, and a long week… but the Lord is Faithful!

Suitcases finally all packed!!

#LoveDelta

Our flight to Atlanta was tough… Sarah-Bethany just could not get comfortable.  We felt so badly for all those sitting around us, but we really couldn't do anything about it.  We had a delay on taking off and a delay once we landed while waiting for the gate.  It was TOUGH!  We had 30 minutes to get from Terminal A in Atlanta, onto the subway, and down to Terminal E!  Praise the Lord we know the Atlanta airport so very well!  We made it just in time to board.

I’ll have to admit… once we got on our airplane in Atlanta… REALITY SET IN!  Big Time!  My eyes popped open and my jaw dropped to the floor….. “Baaaaaaaaaabbbbyy…  We’re going to BRAZIL!!!!”  That moment didn't really clear for about an hour!!  I just kept looking at my babies and looking at Chris and saying… “AND we’re taking THREE Children!!!” 

Not really sure why it hit me so hard…  I guess in all the planning and “Do-ing” it hadn't really hit me that THIS IS FOR REAL!!

I sent out an All-Points-Bulletin to some Awesome Prayer Warriors saying “PLEASE pray for Sarah-Bethany to SLEEP on this plane!”  AND… Sleep she did!  Praise the Lord!  She slept a little restlessly, but SLEEP SHE DID the WHOLE Way!  Oh… and can I just give a Shout Out to Delta Airlines for their FREE Economy Comfort upgrade!  That 4 inches is MIGHTY HUGE with a baby on your lap and a 6ft 3 husband!! 

We made it to Brasilia early in the morning.  It was So Sweet to get off that plane!  The boys did AMAZING!!  Handled everything like PROFESSIONALS!!  Chris MASTERFULLY piled up ALL 10 suitcases, plus 4 OVERsized carry-ons onto 3 little carts for Custom’s Inspection.  Caleb and Negash each had one, and Chris had the BIGGEST one.  Sarah-Bethany CHARMED our way AROUND the Custom’s Official… One quick look at her, and he just let us move on! :)

Jeff and Paulo were at the airport in the Kombi (Big VW Bus) to load up!  Thankfully we *KNOW* they had seen WAY more luggage than our 450 pounds!  And away we went to our NEW Apartment!! 

Saying Goodbyes...

It's always hard to say Goodbye... but this is really more like "See ya in June" for us! :)  Which makes it easier!  But still very necessary to see as many people as we can fit into our schedule before we go.  Here's some pics from our Goodbye's and Other FUN activities in April/May!

Chris and the guys!  He is really missing these guys!!!  

The wedding of the decade!!  Ashley and Eric!

at the wedding

With Joe and Susan

With our Fellowship Family

Greg leading prayer over our kids and the Kennedy kids who are all leaving.  We LOVE Fellowship Downtown!!

Amy and Dale and the kids all came up to see us!

Awesome Kids - Lifelong Friends!!

MIMI!  - LOVE HER!!!!!

Sarah-Bethany and I will miss our Wednesdays with TiTi Wanda!!

The boys with Aiden at Chuck E. Cheese!  Gonna miss our outings with Julie and Aiden, too!

Learning to Skateboard at the Shafer's!

With our Fellowship Memphis Downtown friends!

Brooklyn (boys' cousin from St. Louis) got to learn to Skate too!

Negash's favorite part was the Trampoline!

One last visit with Dr. Tsiu before we go!

All of this AND...  Bowling with Ashley and Eric, Lunch with the entire Fryar family & Birthday party for little Parker and William, Dinner with Trevor, Coffee with Laura, Soccer every Saturday, Dinner with my West Clinic Girls, Going Away parties at school for the boys, Dinner with Laura and Parker, A Jewelry Party, and a final GNO @ Newks with my Adoption Group!

Shhhooooooooo....  We're tired!  All of that, plus at least 5 other things I'm forgetting!!

We had an incredible last 6 weeks!  Thank you to ALL of you who loved on us and helped us!!  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!

*See you in JUNE!*

VISA'S HAVE ARRIVED - And other Praises!!

Praise Report:


- The VISA'S Arrived!!  On Friday!  Just like last time... just in the NICK of time! :)

-The boys had a great day at school! Their teachers really helped the class process all of it! They came home happy and excited!  I love that their sweet classmates were so precious to them.  I really love that my babies have left sweet little footprints on others' lives! 

-We have gotten a lot of packing and sorting done!!  We are DRIVEN to NOT wait until Monday night at 3am to finish! :)  The HUGEST Blessing OF ALL in this is that we do NOT have to move out of this apartment right now... that was the big stress last time!

- House Update:  We have taken the house off the market to sell and listed it with Crye-Leike's Rental Management Company.  We are hoping to gain a bit more equity before needing to sell again... or just moving back in when we get back... whenever that is!!! :)  *Of Note... My sweet Aunt and Uncle were career missionaries to Taiwan for 40 years, and rented their house the entire time! :)  ...no... we are likely not talking about 40 years in Brazil... but... NEVER PUT THE LORD IN A BOX!! ;)

Now... back to packing before Chris has my head on a platter! 

Good Night! Love you all!!   

Visa, Visa... Wherefore art thou, Visa??

Where, Oh, Where are you tonight?
Why have you left us here all alone?
We searched the Site over to find you, VISA...
You better come back or Pbbbbbbbbbt.... We'll be Mad!

-----------------------------------------------

A Poem to the Brazilian Consulate in Atlanta:
Oh Dear Sweet Consulate stamper,
We don't want to be a day damper,
But please see about our papers
Or you may give us the vapors!

We miss our little Passport books,
Never mind how the picture looks.
If you would just perform your task,
And make that Stamp to Brazil at last.

We'd be so happy and may even hollar,
After all, we sent you many a Dollar!
So Please Consulate stamper, oh my
Please send our papers so we can FLY! 

E-Newsletters!!

Hey Friends!!  If you haven't signed up for our E-Newsletters...  You really need to!! :)

CLICK HERE 

or

http://eepurl.com/xBmID

Many Thanks!  You guys are the Best!  ...and we mean it!

Potholes on the Road to Brasilia!

Pothole encountered... No Detour necessary!

Well....  (I'm finding that I have to use that intro often lately...)  The contract with our house fell through.  Not because of OUR buyers, but our buyers' buyer.  We've had to make the decision to place our house back on the market due to several factors...  But... we have not given up nor are we dismayed because we *know* that our Sovereign Lord has NOT stepped off His Throne nor fallen asleep! :)  We rest in knowing something EVEN GREATER is in store!

So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Our plan at this point is to try to sell the house or perhaps rent it if we need to.  Our real estate agent, Rita, is an AMAZING woman of great faith and great patience!  She is a precious friend and we *know* she will do everything in her power to move this house... yet we (and she) also know WHO is Really holding the "Sold" Sign!

...AND SO WE PRESS ON...

Actually... as many of you will recall... we left for Brazil in 2007 without our house sold!  The deal fell through 3 weeks before we left... Hummmmm.... I'm seeing some parallels here!

WE ARE BOOKED to fly out on May 7th!!  Our passports are in Atlanta for our Visa's to be placed inside!  We are very excited to be counting down the days now!

The Boys have very much enjoyed our "transitional" living in our apartment in Seminary housing... Kids Everywhere, wall-to-wall carpet, huge closets that can be quickly turned into a fort and playhouse!  Sarah-Bethany has freedom roam from room to room and pilfer through the boys things (like any good little sister should do!) ;)  It has been a good "next step" for us!

SO WHAT'S NEXT?
So, we head to Brasilia on May 7th to allow Chris to complete re-enrollment, transition the school from a remote process back to an on-site business model, and get ready for the fall. This will also give the boys a GREAT "taste" of Brasilia: the city, the school, the culture.  
And then we are coming BACK!! :)  See... so you don't have time to miss us yet!!
We will be coming BACK on June 18th to be here for PFO with NICS (pre-field orientation - we will be advisers, and the kids will participate in their INCREDIBLE program geared just for them!!).
Chris will also be training the fella coming to take his place in the NICS office. Until the end of July, he will CONTINUE to be responsible for all the finances of 3 of our NICS schools!! (His plate is very full!) *Did I mention he is also continuing his seminary classes too!?!?!  #busyboy

And... we're thankful we can have some Summer Vacation time with our families too!  The boys would be SO Upset to miss "G-Daddy Camp"!  :)

So that's where we are... Pressing On...

Praying the next Update comes from BRASILIA!! :)

Prayer Requests:
The House, Transition to Brazil for all 5 of us, Remaining funds for car purchase ($4500), Committed child care for Sarah-Bethany, Safe Travel, Tying up loose ends here, and Leaving Well!

Easter

We had the most Amazing Easter! 

One of those 'Precious Memories' kind of Easters...

Last week, we planned to have DATE NIGHT - with the Boys... Separately!

We had the boys list some fun activities and we put those on slips of paper and drew them out.  We also drew WHO each boy was going to go with and WHEN they were going to go!  With Sarah-Bethany, it's not always easy to find a babysitter... so we just arranged them on different nights!

So Thursday night was Dad and Negash's Night.  Negash drew Chuck E. Cheese!  Meanwhile, Caleb, Sarah-Bethany and I all stayed home and watched 'Wreck It Ralph'.

 I don't know where in the WORLD it comes from... but Negash is obsessed with RINGS!  So with all the tickets Dad and he won... he wanted Bling Rings!  LOL!  He's such a mess!

Then Friday night was our turn!  Caleb drew Incredible Pizza!  We had a BLAST at Laser Tag and all the other fun games!  Sweet time together!

THEN....  Sunday... RESURRECTION SUNDAY...  Chris got the Awesome and Amazing Priveledge of Baptizing Negash on Easter Sunday!  What a Beautiful Picture of what Jesus died for!

So Thrilled that BOTH my boys now have their names in the Book of Life!  There just isn't any greater feeling for a Mother... but to know her children are Children of the MOST HIGH GOD!  #AmazingGrace

And Sweet "Miss Bet" was SO ADORABLE in her little Easter Dress!  She was so sweet and loving to all that came! She just loved on everyone!!  She is such an Amazing Baby!

Precious Cousins!  These 3 just LOVE to play with each other!  My boys just LIGHT UP when they know Sweet Brooklyn is coming to visit!

My Precious HANDSOME (and Skinny!) Daddy and Ms. Floy came to our Easter Service to celebrate Negash's baptism.  We are so blessed by them both!  My awesome Brother came down from St. Louis (with Brooklyn) too!  My heart was so full!! 

Because He Lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

We sang this song today at Bible study...  as the pianist pounded away at the notes of the intro before we started singing... I smiled... remembering sitting with Momma on the piano bench as she'd play this song.  We'd sing it together... always having to slow down for a second on the difficult chords.  She's a perfectionist... so it had to be right... even if we had to sing the same word a few more times!  I, on the other hand, being NOT THE PERFECTIONIST would have just left that chord out and carried on with the right hand alone! :)  It made me laugh a little as I remembered playing with her and singing... I don't sing well, but Mom didn't care... she didn't sing well... but I didn't care!  We'd just sing awful and play... she'd always accuse me of picking all the songs with 4 flats!!

So... I was smiling...  then as we continued to sing the song... I remembered that we sang this one at her funeral.  little tear.  So I "sat out" a verse... trying to think of the GLORY of knowing her reality, and my future with Jesus. 

Until we got to this verse......

And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.

Ugh... 

bigger tear...  had to sit out this verse completely and the chorus after... thankful we always pray next so I can wipe the corners of my eyes with my shirt...

I have a big problem with the word "AND" in that last phrase of that verse...  Because I know my Momma *KNEW* He lives BEFORE she saw the Lights of Glory.  She didn't need the AND... 

...

Reflecting on this today made me remember that I haven't blogged about this past month...  So... this may be a little long... but hey... you're sort of a captive audience if you're still reading! :D

I always start getting a bit... reflective... right after Valentine's day.  This year was harder.....  My sweet Daddy was scheduled for Prostate Cancer Surgery on February 22nd..........  really, Lord!!  Really??!?!  Why of ALL 365 days in a year must he have to have surgery for CANCER of all things ON THAT DAY??????  

UGH........  A Punch in the Gut

February 22nd is the anniversary of my diagnosis of cancer 14 years ago.....  it has always been a day met with a little sadness and a lot of thankfulness... but it's still a tough day.

NOW DAD...  Not only is he having surgery for CANCER on the same day that I was diagnosed with CANCER but also only 4 days before my Mom died of CANCER!!

I didn't tell Daddy about the significance of that date until AFTER his surgery... but I prayed to the Lord... "PLEASE LORD, NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN TODAY....... PLEASE!!!"

And in TRUE FORM of my Loving Jesus........ nothing bad did happen.  In fact, he breezed through his surgery and recovery in an AMAZING way!  #relief

I am So Thankful for a Lord and Savior who KNOWS MY HEART, CARES for my worries, and HEARS my prayers!  He Lives......

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

Crazy Good!

Shoooo Weee has He been Busy!!  The Lord has knocked our SOCKS off in the last 2 weeks!  FOR REAL!  Let me give you a little time line...

March 7th - Our 16 year anniversary!  Had another house showing. I was a little frustrated that I didn't get the floors as cleaned as I like and I didn't get the dusting done because I ran out of time.  *But* we get a call that night from our real estate agent and the people who had come to visit were asking if we could be moved out by the end of the month!!  That was so great positive news!  We said "SURE....  No problem!!" :)

March 8th - AN OFFER!  A really low offer... but an Offer!

March 9th - At Dad's helping him clean out his house and get ready for a yard sale. Chris did all the back and forth through offers and counter-offers... and WE SOLD OUR HOUSE!!!  The people at the Mexican Restaurant were a bit nervous at our dancing! :)

Yee Haw!! :D  ... and now... lots of work and planning!  Crazy Good! :)

March 12th - VISAs ARE APPROVED!!  That's pretty Amazing!! :D  Now the paperwork goes to Atlanta and they will inform us when we are to mail our passports to insert the papers inside!!  May still take a few weeks to get all that done! 

March 13th - The Big List was emailed out to sell all of our furniture and big items!  Everything sold in 6 hours!!  God is SO Good!

March 16th & 17th - Bye Bye stuff!  Hello Apartment!  The boys were so excited about the new apartment!  Negash did 'Snow Angels' on the carpet saying "I LOVE this kind of floor!" Our house had only hardwoods!  They LOVE all the extra space (with no furniture!)  

March 19th - Happy Birthday to me! :) Sitting in the car at the boys' soccer practice... got a call from a friend in Southaven.  They wanted the Honda and came THAT NIGHT and bought it!  Down to one car...  :)

So... here we are... sleeping on air mattresses, dining on a card table, trying to figure out schedules with one car, cleaning, packing, throwing away, prioritizing, address changing, planning, scheduling...  and KNEELING before an Awesome, Loving Savior who is Living - Willing - and ABLE to accomplish all of this... and SO MUCH MORE!  Thank you Jesus!

Life Abundantly!

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  (NIV)   Other versions have: I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Order.  The more I study the Bible... the more I note how important ORDER is.

I had NEVER seen the progress of Steal and Kill and Destroy up front and in my face until fall of 2007.  We were in Brasilia.  There was a major crisis that happened.  Regardless of the particulars of the crisis...  I had never seen the way Satan can get a very small toe hole in and start eating away like a Rabid Cancer until all was destroyed.  Was I just naive to have never really seen it before... or was it more because I was SO CLOSE to the destruction in a way I had never been before?

Since that time... I have seen it several more times... in others lives or events and even in my own life.  Thankfully multiple times I have seen the Cancer stopped...  before it took ALL!  And in other times... it wasn't stopped at all...  and for those involved there was full destruction.  And it never starts that way.........  Nothing quite captures this picture for me like the "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns.  It's a slow fade when black and white turns to gray.  People never crumble in a day... 

But back to those words....  Steal and Kill and Destroy.  Why not steal,kill, and destroy??  Why the emphasis on steal AND kill AND destroy?  I don't think this is just a translation thing...  I think the Lord was wanting us to see this as NOT ONLY Sequential... but also INDEPENDENT.   Satan can just jump ahead to DESTROY... but more often, I think... he uses the progression.

Just as my pastor says "Satan works what works!"  The Slow Fade works!

BUT... look after that...  "I have come so that they may have LIFE and have it to the Full (or more Abundantly!)."

Why not...  I have come to return, heal, and restore??    Or closer... Psalm 103 (my favorite) says: v3-5  Forgives, Heals, Redeems, Crowns, and Satisfies.

That's a pretty incredible word list!!!

You know... even those words just don't cut it.......  He came to give us HIMSELF!!!!  Nothing can be better than that!!!!  He is LIFE... He is the ANTI-CANCER!

No Other words could be any sweeter... and no other words could provide that depth of COMFORT!

-------

I just can't leave this post without this:

**DO NOT BELIEVE THE LIE THAT IT CAN'T HAPPEN TO YOU!!  Don't believe that you are immune from destruction... because the one of this world is PLOTTING against you!  And he's crafty.

BUT we know WHO wins!

Block?

Ok, so I have had 4 different posts that I have been so excited about writing...  but they come to me in the car... usually on a Thursday (Mother's Day Out Day) when I 'm actually able to drive around by myself.  BUT... when I finally get a few minutes to write... they are gone..... UGH!  Does this happen to anyone else??  

Would this be called writer's block,  or ADD with memory lapse??  HeeHee!

MIGHTY

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!"  Philippians 4:13.

I grew up knowing this verse, just the same as you did!  I always thought of this as my "Mighty Verse"...  even sometimes picturing Mighty Mouse... Strong and Able!  (cue the trumpet sounds)  I can do ALL things... not just a few things... but ALL things!

When I think of this MIGHTY verse... I think of MIGHTY King David...  and how he did "ALL THINGS" with a slingshot!  And how he forgave Saul repeatedly despite his repeated attacks (I really need to write another blog on what the Lord is showing me about David!)...  You know... MIGHTY STUFF!  The kind of thing you need a MIGHTY prayer like this for!  Forgiveness when 'EVERYONE' would understand if you didn't want to, but knowing what the Lord has Called you to!

Mighty BIG Stuff!

But....  have you ever ACTUALLY read the context?????  I challenge you to pick up your Bible and READ THE CONTEXT!  Read verses 10-12.  The context is regarding CONTENTMENT!  Paul writes: I have learned to be content in any circumstance. I know what it's like to  live with plenty and what it's like to be in need.  No matter the situation, whether well fed or Hungry, whether living in plenty or in want...  I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!

Seriously???  Contentment?!?  Not anything MIGHTY?  Like 'allow me (Paul) to forgive these jailers and torturers who hold me'... Not 'let me be Strong with this Thorn in the flesh.'  Not 'let me use the Power of the Spirit to perform miracles or healing so others will believe?'  Paul writes NOT about a 'Mighty' thing for which he needs strength... but Contentment.

OR.........  Maybe......... The Spirit of Contentment IS a MIGHTY thing!  Have you ever struggled here?  I know I have... ummm...  do... will...  

Do we ever really call upon the Lord to give us a MIGHTY POWER over Contentment??  I don't.  I should.  I better START!  If Paul needed the Power of the Lord to give him contentment... then we should all pray that way too!

You know......  (thinking as I'm typing)....  

Maybe Contentment is the New Testament way to say the Old Testament Promise of BE STILL!   Almost as if Jesus is saying: "BE Content... Stop PUSHING All the time... Let Me do My work... I got this!"  

Does BEING STILL require a "MIGHTY VERSE"?????????  

.......... for me it CERTAINLY does.........

Hope

...waiting... hoping... yearning...

I'm not very good at being patient.... unless the future is guaranteed!  Are you like that??
I can be patient to a point... like waiting for Friday... or waiting for Christmas...  Something that is Guaranteed to happen!  *yes, over-analyzers... I know it's not 'technically' guaranteed!

BUT I don't do so well if there is a "maybe" in there...  

I guess this is why I was SO very encouraged by my study in 2 Thessalonians.  
They were commended by Paul to have GREAT Love and Faith despite very discouraging persecution in his first letter to them.  They were really "doing it" and doing it VERY WELL!  They were hanging in there... they were being patient... KNOWING that Paul had reassured them that Jesus was COMING BACK to get them... and they would have an "end" to this torment!

Well...  they got some bad information... (for me... insert "Doubt" or "Discouraging News")... 
Someone had told them that Jesus had ALREADY come... and so their HOPE in the future was BASHED....  poor souls.....  here they were PATIENTLY ENDURING massive persecution in a time of great turmoil... and someone cut in on them and cut off their GREATEST JOY and HOPE!  It is believed they received a false letter with BAD information and signed by (supposedly) Paul.

I can imagine Paul coming OUT OF HIS SKIN when he heard this... the very group of people that were really ROCKING it for Jesus... just had the LIFE kicked out of them...  I can see him almost SCREAMING "NO!"  I can see him grab up that paper and start writing like crazy... not sleeping... not eating... not even hardly breathing until he could straighten out the mess.  

In Chapter 2 of 2 Thessalonians, Paul writes v2 "don't become easily unsettled or alarmed" by bad news!!  HOLD to the TRUTH that I told you....  and v15 "stand firm and hold to our teachings" and then v16's beautiful benediction "May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His Grace gave us Eternal Encouragement and Good Hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."

BUT... he doesn't end there....  he also says "STAY BUSY!"  Keep on Keeping on!

I think that is when I have the most trouble with waiting... when I'm not busy... 
When I'm busy with paperwork or projects to get ready for something... I'm good!  It's the STILLNESS of waiting that is so hard.  I don't think Paul would put this section in here if they weren't having some of the same problems!  If it wasn't for THEM being idle... but maybe others around them...  You all know what it's like to be working in an office environment with others who AREN'T BUSY ENOUGH...  (I'll just leave that alone...)  

But in my life... be it our adoptions, pregnancy, moving, ministry... etc...  I don't do well when I'm STILL!

SO... for today... to encourage my heart and to renew my HOPE for what has been Promised...  I SHALL PACK... or clean or organize... for 'tomorrow' we are going to BRAZIL!!!!!

December

It's so hard to believe that December is over!!  Seriously... where did it go??? 

Update on Brazil: Well...  We sent off paperwork to be legalized in Atlanta... and they sent it back... We spent another $335 and sent it all off again...  Now we are waiting to see what happens!   We haven't had any real bites on the house...  BUT... I'm not stressing!  We know we should see a pick up in house traffic in January.  And... well... the Visa process is... a process... very similar to the Adoption paperwork process.  It's a lot of hurry up and wait!  Unfortunately, we also know the Brazilian government's way of doing things.  BUT... we also know the ONE who is greater than ALL!  He can orchestrate our Papers to land on the RIGHT person's desk... and for the RIGHT family to show up on our doorstep!  So we wait...  holding tight to the Savior and the One who has promised GOOD in ALL things! 

Update on the Fryar Five:  We've all passed around our share of sicknesses this November and December.  All in All, we have really been very healthy; and for that, we are SO Thankful!!  Chris continues to work very hard with NICS. He is the Remote Business Manager and takes care of the books and business planning for 3 NICS schools, including our school. He also still works in the Finance department for NICS processing support.  I am still enjoying being at home!  I love finding craft projects to do with the boys and trying to teach them anything I can.  I really really love my Monday morning nap with Sarah-Bethany.  It's the only day that we don't have anywhere to go!!  Caleb and Negash are still loving each other one minute and fighting the next... you know... brothers!  It's always comical to see them search for each other and miss each other if they've been apart more than 2 hours!  Sarah-Bethany is now 7 months old! She has 2 sweet bottom teeth, and just said "Dada" yesterday!  She's starting to have some separation anxiety when we aren't here.  I just love our little family of 5!  We had the best Christmas to date!  So much fun as we keep trying to keep the Santa thing going.  Negash also got to play in snow for the first time!  So fun!!  

Here are some pictures!! :)