Happy 18th Birthday, Timothy!

Eighteen years ago today, Timothy was born.

And I became a mommy.

And Daniel became a daddy.

And our parents became grandparents.

And our 15 siblings became aunts and uncles.

That was one special day!

 Those years have flown by so fast!

Timothy, who gave you permission to grow up?

 I miss you so much, but am so very proud of the man you have become and will continue to become.

I'm so thankful for the Lord's grace.  We went into parenting thinking we knew so much yet we knew so very little.  The Lord has taught us so much.  And I know now how much I need Him!

But when I look at you, through all those years, God's grace was at work.

You are so loved!  And I can't wait to see what plans the Lord has for you.

 Not only have you been an amazing son, you have filled the role of brother to 11 so well that we still feel a bit lost without you here.

All those times you comforted a crying sister, played with your brothers, sat down to teach Eliseo to read, carried a sleeping younger one to bed, helped tie a shoe, shared your bed, your clothes, yourself...

You are much more than a brother.  You are a  best friend.

 I can't wait to hear you and Elijah play guitar and sing together again.

 You two have kept your dad and I laughing for years! 

 You are a friend to everyone.  Want everyone to be happy.

Outgoing and soooo handsome like your dad.

 Seek the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Love Him above all.

Obey His Word.

 We pray for you every day.

 Happy 18th birthday, Timothy!

So good

The Lord is so faithful....

 Every Single Day I see His goodness...

 And I am so thankful.

One comes home and one leaves home

Thank you for praying for Daniel.  He's home now and doing well.  The doctor called it an acute pancreatic attack with no known cause.  All Daniel knows is that it felt awful, and he hopes it doesn't happen again.  So thankful that he is feeling better,  and thank you again so much for praying.

Friday, we dropped Timothy off at West Coast Baptist College.  That was NOT easy!  Elijah and Samuel went with us.  Samuel thought the 3 hour orientation that we sat through was "college".   After getting Timothy all settled in his dorm, we walked together to the car.  I told Samuel to say good-bye to brother.  He looked at me and said, "I thought college was done?"    When I told him Timothy had a lot more college to do and when he suddenly realized that Timothy was not getting back into the car with us, he said, "We aren't going to have 12 children anymore?  Only 11?"    As I looked at 5 year old Samuel, a flood of memories washed over me.  Wasn't it just yesterday that I started Timothy in Kindergarten?  Did I just take him to the park, push him on the swings, watch him bat a ball to his brother, and help him match his clothes...wait...maybe I still do the last one. :)     So proud, so excited, and soooo missing him!   Thankfully he's only a phone call/email away and most importantly, always in the loving care of our Lord!

Lancaster, CA is hot, dry, windy, flat desert.  Just like Baja Sur....we felt right at home.  This coming week, Timothy will register for his classes and begin looking for a job.  We continue to pray for the Lord to protect, guide, and provide for Timothy's every need.   

It's strange how there are still 13 people in this house, yet it feels sort of empty today.  Our table is a little less squished.  Somehow I managed to dish up 14 plates for lunch today.  I promised I counted 13.  At least I thought I did.  This will take some getting use to.  I'm looking forward to Christmas this year more than ever.  

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."  III John 4

Please pray for Daniel....he's in the hospital

I know it has been awhile :)  Most days I get a comment or email letting me know we are being prayed for and thought of and missed.  And I am so grateful for those prayers and the care of so many.

We are all doing well...well, except for Daniel who's in the hospital right now.  He's been out of town working and got a severe case of pancreatitis.  Thankfully, he's working with his brother in law and he got him to the ER early Tuesday morning.  They thought at first he was having a heart attack, but later determined it was abdominal and the tests pointed to his pancreas.  He's stable, but in a lot of pain, and on a complete fast in order to let his pancreas heal.  He's about 3 1/2 hours from us.  I just want to be with him, and am hoping to get down there by this evening.  Please pray.

  Timothy and Elijah graduated this year, and last week a dear friend of mine, who is also an amazing photographer, got together with us for a photo shoot.  We hadn't had a family picture taken in 3 years, so this was so special.  She took individuals of the children, shots of the brothers, the sisters, Daniel and I, and several of Timothy and Elijah for their Senior pictures.  Sweet pictures, fun pictures, and everything in between.  I think we were out there for about 3 hours.  I can't wait to get our disc and will be sure to share some with you all when I get them.
 
Timothy is heading to Bible college this week.  If Daniel's still in the hospital, I'll be driving him there myself.  I'm so very proud, excited, sad, and missing him all at once.

We started our new school year last week, but are taking a break this week with Daniel's situation and getting Timothy ready to go.  We'll start back up, Lord willing, after Labor Day and am excited about another year to learn and grow together.

The path has been long and hard, but there are so many beautiful sights along the way.  We appreciate your prayers so much.  God is so very faithful and so good!

I said I would share my story

But sometimes the pages of the story are hard to read and the ending unknown.   I know who the Author is.   And I'm trusting and resting on him. When the days are weary and the long nights dreary I know my Savior cares.   Looking forward to the day I can a story that brings glory to God.   He is so faithful and so good.
Please continue pray for us.

Home

All settled in our little mountain home.   The Lord's provision has been a sweet reminder of his great love.  

Traveling north

 An afternoon at the park while Daniel and the older boys go to the DMV.   Guess which group got sun burnt?   When you need to register a foreign car,  bring your  vehicle import papers,  fill out the proper form and wear sun screen :-)
About 14 hours more till we reach our new home.  Please keep praying for safety as we  travel. 
Thank you so much for all your prayers.

Even when it is soooo hard

When you just don't want to let go....

 Your very dearest friends....

 And neighbors....

 Who you love so very much....

 As close as a sister could be...

 And the tears won't stop falling...

Not knowing if you will ever see their faces again...

 I thank the Lord for 10 precious years...

 For the friendships that will last for eternity....

 Hearts forever knit together....

 Knowing you will forever be prayed for and loved...

 By the ones who you will always love and pray for...

Best friends....

 New sisters in Christ....

 For all eternity...

 Good-byes are soooo very hard....

But by God's amazing grace, they are only temporary.

 Sweet last trip to our store...

 To buy a couple treats for the road...

 One last walk together home...

Feet covered in that dirt we miss soooooooooooooo much....

God bless you, Baja California Sur.

We miss you so much.

A huge piece of our heart stays with you.

Philippians 1:3-11 

¹ Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

² Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

⁴ Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

⁵ For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

⁷ Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

⁸ For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

¹⁰ That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

¹¹ Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Please continue to pray for our family.  

For safety as we travel the rest of the way back home the next couple days.

For the Lord's provision.  Than Daniel can find a job soon.

For healing for our marriage.

For the children as they transition to a new culture as they miss their Mexico so much.

Praising the Lord we found a home to rent.

God is so faithful and so very good!