Getting going!

  So here we are with the Kids firmly started in school… Gabriele in 8^th grade (In a year she will be going to the same high school where Stephanie and I met), and Ethan in 4^th grade!  Man, they are growing up fast!  Both kids seem to be doing great and adjusting well to the new schools and making friends. Since it is new, both kids have had to learn that the new school district is a lot harder… and that expectations are SOOO much higher, even in P.E.  They have to work a lot harder this year. I think they are up to it!!

  So as we sit in the beginning stages of missions work, we can see how God works in our hearts to grow us and mature us… as we are not nearly where He needs us to be.  We are willing to follow and go where He calls us!!  Patience and perseverance are the words of the month for me!! God has been so awesome to allow our family to get much needed dental work done!! Yeah God, for providing the money and allowing me to heal from some very extensive work (7 teeth extracted, lots of cavities fixed and a bridge and an implant to come!). Plus the Samurai is still not running, but God is showing me that it is just a truck and a tool, and that He provided us with a second great running car.  He is walking us through so much, and then showing us how He is providing through it all.  So we are blessed, and then blessed again!!

  As for Stephanie and I we celebrated our 14^th wedding anniversary!! Still can’t believe God has given us that many years…  Plus we like to think of ourselves as the statistic busters as we were so young when we married!! (super hero music in the back round)  And I was recently told we no longer count as newly-weds… I think that is flat wrong!! We can be newly-weds as long as we want!  So to celebrate we are waiting for a break in our schedule to go on a night on then town. To include sushi, garden walks (photography fun for Stephanie) and a search for awesome neon signs (more photography fun for Stephanie).  I’m so looking forward to just spending a night with my best friend and favorite artist. We should all find an artist to support!

 ‘ Till the next update.

 

  So here we are in sunny Florida... in the city of Orlando.  We will be here for two weeks for training. I wanted to see if the kids were aware of what was going on... and true to form, they knew exactly what they were/are in for! Got to love the two of them. Enjoy the short interview.

By Request!

  Because so many asked me in the last week how they can follow our families adventures... we made a blog. We as a family will post to this blog to keep anyone who is interested in how we are, where we are in the process of becoming missionaries, and whats going on in our lives. I just want to say thank you in advance to anyone who is interested in our lives enough to read this.

So where are we in the process?  Well, we are 2 weeks away from going to Equip... That's missionary boot camp. Just kidding, it is where we will learn about Wycliffe, missionary life, how to answer questions about what we are doing (well explain it in less than the 20 minutes it takes me currently) and Partnership Development. I am taking an advance on my vacation time in order to do this, so, if we are called to quit my job before the end of the year, I will have to pay back the money. But, we are not scared of that. We have seen God provide in ways that are far more amazing than that!
 
  We are also hoping this to be interactive. We would love to hear what God is doing in your lives too!

In His Grip,
-James