Now off to Illinois....

So, we've had 2.5 weeks with my family in the fabulous and pristine state of Wisconsin.  I can't articulate well enough how much I have loved my mornings sitting on the back deck (humidity and all!) drinking my cup of coffee.  I'm surrounded by God's creation... the birds chirping wildly about me.  It's so relaxing and contemplative and such a change from city life. We enjoyed days of fishing on the Mississippi River, going to the infamous Noah's Ark in Wisconsin Dells (largest waterpark in US for those non-midwesterners reading this!), stopping by the "Field of Dreams" filmed location on our way back from visiting friends in Iowa, pool time in the city pool (it's so crazy hot here right now!), and then just the good ol' local stops and eateries with my family.  Ahhh,, yes,  I've had some good quiet times reflecting, resting and just, well... resting.  It's been good. Coming home to my roots refuels my soul!

So, now we are off to Illinois to spend a couple of weeks with Josh's family and the pace is much faster as we dart about from place to place and we have crazy fun with my nephews and Josh's aunts, uncles, cousins and all!!   I'm thankful that we have this extended amount of time each summer to be with our families in the midwest... most people do not have this luxury.  So, off I go now to make my last cup of coffee in WI... until sometime next summer when we return from Poland!

Last boat ride for the year on the Mississippi...

Josh and the girls in the "Field of Dreams" cornfield... amazing how easy you can "appear"!

The girls and I at Pikes Peak- a most breathtaking view of the Mississippi River with the Wisconsin bluffs behind us and my hometown, Prairie du Chien.  We went with my Grandfather and his wife to an ecumenical worship service on Sunday morning... it was so beautiful!

Countdown!

Ok, I haven't quite gotten the exact "count" of how many days until we depart... but we are well on our way!  The checklist is getting smaller by the day and excitement continues to build!  Good news is that we have secured a furnished apartment in Tomaszow!  It is in the same building as good friends of ours... near the school!  It will be available in September, which is perfect timing!  In the meantime, we will be living at the camp as we will be arriving during summer camps and well, basically, all proEm staff lives there!!

This will have to be a short post, but we are getting closer and closer to our monthly financial goal!  What a journey it has been!  Sending a prayer up to all of you who are receiving these updates (the posts plus pictures will be more frequent when we're there... because seriously, who wants to hear that 7 out of our 8 bags are packed?!!)... thank you for your continued prayers and joining us in this journey!

Slow and Steady Wins the Race....

I think the tortoise and hare story has been one I've been drawn to the most these past few months... along with key Scripture verses that God has drawn me towards while teaching me the "art" of developing patience.  I can truly, truly say that I think I've come to a place where I have embraced what God's been wanting to teach me through the process.  Granted, we are not yet quite there at where we need to be for our monthly commitments, but as I said... I feel I have embraced the fact that I have to remain patient in waiting on HIS TIMING.  He will make all things come together for HIS purpose.

Speaking of "coming together for His purpose"...we have secured a renter to cover our entire mortgage... and we are in such "awe" of how God made it all work out!  We are completely at ease and at peace and know our place will be in superb hands! It's God's house anyways, so we always knew all would work out.  It's just really cool to be on this side of things now- meeting the individual who we had been praying for and always knew God had planned all along anyways!

So- I feel like there's light at the end of this tunnel.  We only have a few short weeks to finish our packing and having the house all in order as we will be back in the Midwest in June.  The girls finish school next week! Unreal!  There's a sense of excitement building....

Thank you all for walking this journey with us!

on and on...

I've added some more email subscriptions to the blog.... so I extend our sincere... "welcome" and thanks for partnering with us in Poland (even though we're not quite there yet!!).  We just purchased our tickets and are set to leave on July 27th!

I just want to post that I have been extremely humbled by God's personal love for my family through many of you... right when I need some "assurance" from Him- He's there using you.  I wasn't able to make it through Sunday's church service without the flowing of tears for many reasons, either.  One being that I just learned that good friends of ours were going to partner with us financially and they were going to start much earlier than we had asked in our letter.  This was incredibly touching to me because of just the tough year we've had with our vehicles and extra expenses and to have that extra support those few months early will help absorb some of our upfront costs (like the girls' passports--- that we have to renew because they expire next year and international insurance).  I was so touched and humbled with God's generosity for us personally.

Secondly, because I witnessed our church declare its intent to move forward with an amazing opportunity to reach more people in our community. We have been hearing about this and working up to this moment where the rubber meets the road, you know what I mean?  And to witness dozens upon dozens of people, and of all ages, walk up front to drop their pledge cards for the campaign was just so (again) humbling to be witness of and to be a part of.  I pray "big" for "others" and our church, but find myself, if I'm honest, resorting to a "but who am I to think God would do that for me" mentality. I've just been more aware that it's not the "getting" the provision met, but the awareness of WHO HE IS.  

Yes, I am saddened to be stepping away from being a part of our local church's work here for the next year and not "seeing" His handiwork, but I also know that what God is calling us to is just as important. I have no idea what He's been orchestrating behind the scenes, but I'm catching some glimpses that it's pretty awesome and I can't help but feel that somehow the work in Poland and here will be connected in a way I would've never imagined.  It's just... well, just so humbling to know God personally, to be loved by Him personally, and to see and feel His lovingkindness through His people.  What more can I say?!

So- in a nutshell, that's why I couldn't make it through church service without shedding "some" tears.

Gone Public!

Got the "official" letter from my school district accepting my leave of absence.  It was as official as you can get prior to the letter, without it being "official" if you know what I mean...but now it can become "public" knowledge in terms of my being able to share it with my staff at school, etc.  Been getting many encouraging words and I started to share it with some of my classes.  With the position I have at my school, I often have students every year for their middle school years... so we become like a family.  A few of my 6th graders had a tough time, but I think it made them feel a little bit better that I'll be back for their 8th grade year.  I had to do a better job (visual pictures and using a calendar) to explain to one new student who is new to the language... I have no one to translate for her as she speaks Arabic!  I think her tears were from the heaviness she is going through right now and thought I was leaving soon and not coming back.  She calmed down when I went a different way about trying to explain it to her.  :)  If you wouldn't mind praying for whomever will be subbing for me for the year, I'd appreciate it... it's a tough position to take on and I pray the person I'm hoping can fill in for me will get the position.

Well- that's the "latest" and looking forward to a quiet Friday evening!

Test Run?!!!

This is my attempt at a "test run" for those emails I've entered in to be "followers" of our blog.  So.... here it goes!!!

Some passing thoughts....

I knew the next few months would be incredible. Incredibly trying while I "wait"on His provisions and pieces of the puzzle that must be placed only in His time. And incredibly awesome and humbling to be deemed chosen for this task! For those who know me well, patience is something I continually have to develop. In fact, if I'm honest with myself, I try NOT to pray for it as I know I'll then have to be placed in a situation that I'll actually have to "develop" the patience. Not sure if that's the best thing to admit, but I do know that through various life experiences in "waiting on Him" I've definitely come along way. This whole entire process and journey is developing it, so I'm thinking I don't have to ask for more... if you get what I mean. :)

We have been cleaning the house and going through things to determine if it'll be "worthy" of making it to a suitcase. We are not planning on shipping anything and I'm fairly confidant we'll be able to bring all we need in suitcases. I may be completely oblivious at this stage in the game, but it's at least "freeing" for now! We are still looking for renters as our first prospects fell through. We've had inquiries, but we've had to turn down some due to pets. Pets just won't work, unfortunately, so I continue to "wait" on Him providing just the right people!

So thankful for those who have already expressed their intent to partner with us and I've been so humbled by His goodness. I love the picture of a woven tapestry... that's our lives, don't you think? I love how He continually weaves His purposes for our lives together just at the right times of our lives... and it's all so that He can be glorified. I love that.

I will close with a heart full of appreciation... may this day find you filled with the same.