Fear Conquered

About a week and a half ago, we had the honor of having Bishop Hannington from Uganda visit us. We are involved in his ministry and he was Stateside for a conference. He will be partnering with me as I develop and publish my curriculum for teaching stewardship to children. Anyways, Bishop does not know how to swim (pretty usual in Africa since there aren't many safe areas for recreational swimming). We conviced him to go on the boat with us, and we even got him to go tubing! He had me take lots of pictures so he could prove to his wife he was in the water. He said she would never believe him. Talk about conquering fear!!!

I'm Going!!!!

It's finally happenning. It seems surreal. Something I've been wanting to do since 2001 is finally going to be a reality!

What is that you ask?

I get to fly half way around the world to visit Dhaka, Bangladesh. What's there? Only about 400 children. Only about 400 orphans or abandoned children. Only 400 pairs of big brown eyes to see. Only about 400 cutie pies to hug. I'm going to the H.E.L.P Bangladesh Samaratain Children's Home. Back when I first started to date Paul, his family had recently started to get involved with a man named David Halder who was starting to build a Christian Children's Home in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It had started out with 20 street kids or orphans in his own home, and has now grown to about 400 kids. In the middle of this Muslim city where the call to prayer sounds multiple times a day live 400 kids who are being fed and nurtured spiritually, emotionally, and physically with Christ-centered principles. Most children leave with an education, a future, and most importantly a relationship with Jesus Christ. My husband got to go visit this home back in 2001, and I've been itching to go ever since. First it was college that was inhibiting a trip. You can really only travel between Sept. and April, because Late April-Early September is monsoon season. Then, we were planning to go the fall/spring after we were married in 2005, but I became pregnant with Izzy and we decided it was not wise to travel while pregnant. Then, Izzy tied me down for about 12-15 months. But, she is now weaned....I'm not pregnant.....my schedule is free....and so I'm going!!!!

I am so pumped. I'm going to be traveling with my husband which is icing on the cake and with his parents. We are going to witness a marriage ceremony for two young adults who grew up in the children's home. I am going to meet our sponsored kids Robin and Monie!!!! I cry each time I think about meeting Robin- he is such a handsome little boy and growing so tall! I get teary thinking about holding our little girl Monie- she is the littlest girl there. She just had to have her head shaved for lice- poor thing. She is so tiny- she'll be my Izzy fix. We'll get to bless these children with lots of love and attention. I'll be able to help the teachers with some of their lesson plans. I'm going to teach the kids some songs and help them practice their English! Whohooo!!!

Then, to top it off, we're going to detour through China on our way home. No, I don't get to visit the site of the 2008 Olympics (which would be awesome!). No, we're headed to Kunming, China where Steve and Chris Weber minister through Bless China. They have long been family friends and we've supported them for a few years. (come to find out recently that our church supports them as well!).

Tickets have yet to be purchased, but tentative dates are mid to late November departure and being gone about 10 days. I'm so excited for this opportunity!!!!!!!

What a week

What a crazy week and a half it has been. Last Saturday, the 17th, my Uncle Steve went home to be with his new found Lord and Savior. It was somewhat unexpected to come so soon. He had finished the last radiation on the 15th, then that night suddenly stopped talking and eating. Friday afternoon he went home from the hospital and by 6:30 the next morning he was gone. It was a shock to us all, as we thought the treatments would be giving him more time. Then came the visitation on Monday the 19th and the funeral on the 20th (our anniversary). The funeral, visitation, and burial went great. My dad did the service and clearly gave the salvation message to the room full of unsaved family and tons of kids from the local high school. My mom gave a family memories eulogy and held it together nicely. Steve was more like a father figure to her, moving in when her father left the family, buying her first car and walking her down the aisle. My dad had planned on attending the pastor's conference at Moody Bible Insititute that week, he was able to work it out anyways despite missing the first day and a half. So, I took my mom and sister home from the funeral and stayed with them for a few days up in Pentwater so my mom wouldn't be alone

Izzy and I had a great time up north. We went to Sara's soccer game, shopped, kept mom company, and relaxed. I actually got to read for fun for the first time in a long time! Friday afternoon I left my parent's house and went to Paul's family's cottage which is only about 15 minutes from Pentwater on Silver Lake. I was there with his parents and his oldest sister's family. Then, he and his younger sister came on Sunday. It was soooo good to see him after being apart for nearly a week. We had a great time at the cottage. Sunday was Dad Spica's birthday- we celebrated with a great cookout and a trip to Craig's Cruisers. The boys went on the slick track and it was so fun to watch. I even got in on the go cart action.

We came home Monday morning and it was sooo good to be home! I did 7 loads of laundry (thats a lot for our small family of 3) and grocery shopping yesterday. Paul is a selling agent for a Parade Home- so he has been working everyday until 9pm. It is sad not to see him much- but it has been very productive. He has had nearly 300 people through since Wednesday, and the parade of homes continues through this Saturday- great exposure for the development! Hopefully we'll get at least one sale out of it.

I'm still trying to climb my way out of being away from home for so long. I'm still in somewhat of a grieving stage. It could be a long week- hopefully the weather warms up so Izzy and I can enjoy some outside play time.

On a random note- if you could please be in prayer for my father in law- paul's dad (Fred). Dad S. has parkinson's diesease. He has been diagnosed for about 12 years. He is quite slow at progressing, but has seen considerable change in his speech, sleep, and overall quality of life in the past year or two. He and Mom (Julie) have decided to go ahead with DBS (deep brain stimulation) surgery. It is a two step surgery. The first surgery is Tuesday, June 3rd. It is outpatient and he will be awake. The doctors will be drilling holes in his skull and then stimulating areas of the brain with a probe. Once they find the areas they are looking for they will insert some wires. These wires will then be hooked up to pacemaker type objects in the second surgery on June 13th. These pacemakers will send electrical impusles to the brain. This will hopefully decrease or elimate the symptoms caused by Parkinson's and hopefully eliminate his need for medicines that in their own right have many side effects. While this surgery is not dangerous- it is still brain surgery and has its risks. Dad is ready and excited- while Mom is a little more nervous. We are all hopeful that this will provide dad with a greater quality of life and better relationships with his grandkids. He's hoping it will improve his golf game-haha. We would all covet your prayers.

Well, this post got kind of long and boring- I'll try to add some pictures from the weekend soon.

Busy Weekend

I'm looking forward to a busy weekend!

My sister and her fiance are officially graduating on Sunday (they actually finished in December, but are walking as a formality). So I'm treking down to Mishawaka, Indiana to partake in my own alum's commencement ceremonies: Good ole' Bethel College. I'm hitching a ride with my parents and younger sister, with Izzy in tow. Should be fun. We're meeting Jason's (Andi's fiance) parents tomorrow which is exciting. Then after the caps are thrown Sunday afternoon, we're headed to Schoolcraft, MI to visit my Uncle who has lung cancer, which has now spread to his brain.

All in all, it should be a fun, busy time. Hopefully Izzy will like the pool at the hotel and sleep well there too.

Oh, my friend had a "portrait party" last weekend. She invites a photographer over and schedules 15 minute appointments throughout the day. The photographer doesn't charge any sitting fees and just sets up shop somewhere in the house. You are free to purchase or just look at your child's photos online. So, without any risks involved I decided to have Izzy's picture taken (knowing deep down if I fell in love with a photograph, it would be hard to pass up- but the $17 price tag for a 5x7 would help diminsh that temptation). Anyways, despite her being really really grumpy that morning and not at all interested in having her photo taken, some of them turned out really cute! If you are interested in seeing them go to:

http://www.jesschalla.com/

Click on "clients" once you get to her main page
My password is: spica

She was a great photographer and did an amazing job with all of the kids and would highly recommend her if you are in need of her skills!

Have a great weekend!

Play Dates

May I just get an "Amen" for how wonderful and encouraging a simple play date can be? I love getting out of the house to fellowship with other moms who have either just been through what I've gone through or are in the midst of it themselves.

Izzy and I had the honor of going over to Emily and Cailyn's house this morning. Emily was in my first Women in the Word group (women's bible study at Ada Bible Church). Her daughter Cailyn is 10 days younger than Izzy. The girls "play" well with each other. (By "play" I usually mean stare at each other playing across the room). Izzy has a great time playing with someone else's toys- its all brand new to her!

Meanwhile, Emily and I enjoy wonderful fellowship talking about recipies, husbands, homes, family, and of course our children! She is a wonderful woman of God and I'm so glad we met and are continuing to stay in touch! Now on to the bigger task of getting our husbands to meet and become friends too!! Haha.

I cannot wait for this season of illness to be over so that I can catch up on all of my playdate pals again. It seems as though if it weren't one family or person being sick it would be another. Plus, with my wounded rear end, car rides are near torture for me these days. 10 minutes is about all I can bear! Oh well, this too shall pass.