Emotions

The emotions that I'm going through lately are Insane! With trying to pack our house and get ready for Indo (even though we don't leave till July) and Arizona. I want to just cry. Such an overwhelming feeling. How do people do this? I is SO hard. I don't even think the hardest part is "getting stuff done." It's that fact that we are leaving people we love and have great friendships with. I'm really going to miss everybody. I'm going to miss hearing my heart language and know what people are saying when I'm out in public, I'm gonna miss being in my comfort zone. I know God is streching me. But nobody ever said it would be easy. So today, I cry, I keep packing, I cry somemore and work through it all. The best part about this day! I get to go take my kids are Arika's last day of school picnic. I think I need the time with them.
Sorry If I've totally bored you, or it just sounds like I'm so down lately. Just sharing what's on my heart. So thanks for listening.

Tough...

So many times growing up I moved and I hated it, but yet now as I look back on all the moves, it's made me who I am. It was tough, And at the age of 26, it's still tough.
Now as a mom, I think it's tougher to make my kids move. This is the second move that my daughter really knows what is going on, and this time...we are or have gotten rid of a ton and I mean a ton of stuff. It's really hard to see her so upset over stuff. We are trying to take along the things that make it home, but have such limited space.
We've had a moving sale the last three days. We have the cutest little princess bike with training wheels, that we bought for her when she was two. She LOVES to ride her bike, She is just starting to get the hang of how to slow down and use her breaks.
Today, I watched my 4 year old have a very grown up moment when we sold her bicycle. She didn't even cry. (she misses it and is sad, but is okay with it, "cause we can get another one in Indonesia.) But I did. Even as I write this I have tears in my eyes. Watching something my kid loves so much walk away.
I know this decision to go to Indonesia is what God has for us without a doubt. But watching how it effects my kids is hard. I think one of my biggest things is not wanting my kid to hate me or God because of us selling a lot of our stuff and moving to Indonesia. I pray that God will give me the wisdom on how to be a loving mother during this time, and to be able to explain in a simple way why it is so important for us to go!
We've been asked why we are getting rid of so much stuff? Why don't you just store it? Well, one is limited storage space, and two, most of it deteriorates over time. Thirdly, I can't take it to heaven with me! I'd rather sell my stuff here, go to Indonesia, and have more brothers and sisters in Christ in eternity worship God around HIS throne. I do this for God's glory not mine.
Is it tough, YES! But I wouldn't have it any other way.....

A glimpse!

So the craziness has begun! We've applied for our Visa's!  In just over two weeks. We leave for our trip to Arizona! We are just starting to pack! Starting to wonder if it's possible to fit everything in? Packing, purging our junk, yard sale, Arika's end of preschool homework, etc. But then I remind myself. I'm not the first missionary to do this! I'm just totally crazy to do it again (meaning packing up my house and packing for a long trip! It's not all going to the same place!) My mind is going faster than I can keep up. So many things to do and get! Just a few items going through my mind to get, sunscreen, sinus meds, clothes for me and Jim, shoes, etc.  Plus tons of people to try and contact to catch up with while in Arizona. 

Just trying to give you a small glimpse of what's going on! So hopefully this all makes since!

Not sure when I'll get back to write. So first I have to share with you a quick story. This last weekend we made a quick trip to Canada to see some friends we were in the training with. Our friend took all three kids for a walk, Arika (4), Lincoln(17 mon), and their son (18 mon).  They were walking by the pond on campus and they were only gone for about 5 minutes when they come back with Lincoln soaking wet! Yup, he feel right in! It was to comical! I threw him in a tub of warm water! He wasn't up set or anything. I think more just stunned! Hahahaha! Oh the memories! Thanks Claussen!

Till next time!

Around, Around and Around

The last couple of weeks have felt totally crazy. Between packing up my parents and moving all their stuff to a storage unit in 2 1/2 days, Arika's birthday, Easter, and trying to get ready for Indonesia. I feel like a hamster on a wheel. I finish my day and I feel like I've gotten NOTHING done. Is that possible? My mind goes in all different directions, (course that's normal for me, huh?)
As I sit here writing this, I have 3 loads of laundry that need to be folded, about 3 more that need to be washed and folded, The bathrooms are screaming to be cleaned, (I keep trying to block them out.) I have a card table full of pictures and tub more full to go through. (to organize) Those are just the ones that need to be done now. How is there possibly enough time in my day?
Am I the only one out there that feels like this? I know I should just one thing at a time, and not get overwhelmed, but, I'm getting really frustrated!! I wrote this partly to let you know why you haven't heard the rest of the bear story, and because I need encouragement, But yet as I sit here thinking about it. I've been relying on myself, not God to give me strength. Philippians 4 :13 I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me. I am nothing without Him.

New Life

I'm very proud to say I'm an Aunt AGAIN!! Carter was born yesterday at 12:50pm is 7 pounds 10 oz., and 20-1/2 in. long! He is so cute and very expressive. I'm so glad I could be at the hospital for my sister who I count a best friend. I love you JO! I'm so very proud of you!! You have a beautiful Baby boy!

It was pulled back ready to strike...

I'm really not trying to make you wait. It's been really crazy around here. And for me I really have to be in a writing mood!! So if you haven't checked out the first and second part of my story check them out!


I backed up quickly and she stayed still, while the rest of us went around her. No one got bit. They said that was a rattler too. I thought it was strange cause I didn't remember seeing a rattle or hearing it. Talk about having enough snakes within 3-4 hours! We continued on our hike. We got to stop at a really cool place called the Grato. The water was beautiful. Such a crystal clear blue! But too cold for me to swim! We did have fun climbing on the rocks and got some pretty good pictures. (which I can't find, sorry.) After about an hour at the Grato we headed for our campsite for the night. We had about 2 kilometers left to hike. I barely made it back. (for those of you who don't know, I have lyphodema. It's extra tissue fluid in my feet and legs. They swell up pretty bad in heat and with a lot of walking.) My feet and legs were killing me. But none the less I did make it back! What a sigh of relief!! After a little rest some of the ladies got dinner ready. I couldn't eat. I just started breaking down crying, I had had enough! I headed for the ladies washroom and one of the ladies on staff came and talked to me. She was so sweet. She let me know she believes God has His hand in everything. Including snakes. We may not always understand it. She let me know that we had seen more snakes that day than she had seen on the same hike in the last 6 years!
At that point she asked me to decide if I thought my legs could handle the next day. Which was a 19 km hike with rough terrain. Since my legs were hurting so bad and I was emotionally spent, I told her I didn't think I could. We decided I would do the last 6-7 km and finish the hike. Whew! Was I relieved. I was then able to eat a little. A few of us decided to go wash our hair with my Herbal Essence Shampoo in the lake!! It was "Refreshing" to say the least!! haha! Then we all sat around the campfire, sang songs, and made s'mores. All of us were on a total of 3 campsites. The main site we cooked at was on one side of the road. The other two were on the other side. We slowly all headed for bed. It had been a very long and draining day. My friend Avie and I shared a tent, and Hemp was in the other (right next to us.) Everybody else was across the road. I was so excited that I would get a good full nights sleep without being woken up by Arika. (She had woken up every night in jungle camp, since she always got out from under her covers and would get cold.)
I drifted off into sweet slumber, so welcomed after a long trying day. Only to be woken up by my friend Avie Yelling, "JOY, SOMETHING IS TRYING TO GET IN THE TENT!"

Memories Part II

Okay, so I know some of you are upset with me. Here's another part of the story. If you haven't read the first post check it out! Here's some pics!

The group of ladies for the hike! This was right before we left.

This is at the "Top Noch" restaurant, this is Ruth sitting right beneath the buffalo!

Hearing our last instructions from Shane before we hit the trail!

So we got to the trail and got all geared up. They suggested we only take the necessities. Like water, extra socks, bug spray, etc. So we hit the Bruce Trail. It had some difficult terrain. Rocky, slippery, and a lot of up and downs, not just up, down, but UUUUUUUUUUUUUUP, DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWNS. Like holding on to the trees while you went down so you didn't roll down and die!! I felt like we were RUNNING!! (Remember I'm 5' 2" with very short legs, I was still sporting a good amount of baby weight and very, very out of shape.) I was in the back of the group having a very hard time keeping up. I took a little side trail with one of the ladies to see the bay, and there was a flash of green that slithered across my path! I let out a scream, then realized it was only a garter snake. Whew! We hiked for about an 1 1/2 hours an stopped for a break at a beautiful lookout spot, it was like we were all on a huge rock with cracks in it. Some of the ladies decided to hike down to a cave. I decided to save as much energy as I could! I sat down next to two of our staff members, but careful not to sit over a crack. Unlike one of the staff members. She looks down and says, "oh, hello." and got up. You guessed it! A snake! I was out of there so fast! Then I totally freaked! I started bawling, not just crying but BAWLING! They said it was a Mississauga rattler. It took everything I had to look at the snake. But I wanted to know what they looked like. Everybody was taking pictures, all excited about it. Then they had us stand back so they could make it rattle so everybody would know what they sounded like. They poked it but couldn't get it to rattle. It just slithered off.
So we continued on. I tried to stay closer to the front. They said it was good for the morale. We couldn't keep up with the lead. So I had one of the ladies (Avie) walk in front of me!! No way was I going first! As we were walking along, She just about stepped on a snake!! It was pulled back, ready to strike...