just the beginning

This is Elijah's friend, Ezra, and his Mommy! We managed to get in a wonderful but VERY quick visit with these amazing friends of ours. Liz and I knew each other before our boys were born, and she has been a special support to me as a Mom in our similar situations. God has been so good to give us each other!

We have been in Wichita for this week, spending time with friends and churches and saying "thanks" for all that they've done for us! It's been a fun week and we've been so encouraged. It feels like we've been on the go constantly, but Elijah's been a trooper. We take him "home" to our friend's (R. and M.) house for his mid-day nap so he can get through the day.

Our friends have given us the cutest room to stay in on the 3rd floor of their historic home. I love waking up to the sunshine and the birds...it feels so much like spring in Kansas!

Elijah has been having lots of what we think are seizures, so the doctor has ordered another EEG when we get back to Wisconsin. It seems like we often don't get many answers from the tests we've done, so I'm a little reluctant to subject Elijah to another stay in the hospital with wires glued to his head. We would love your prayers for wisdom (for us and for the doctors) to know how to help Elijah.

We have many more miles ahead!

We had a picnic lunch today in the sunshine! Todd rigged up Elijah's kidcart as a swing from a tree branch, and he LOVED it.

maybe i should mention...

I realize that for some who follow our lives only through this blog and don't get our emails, there are some pieces missing from the puzzle!

Someone wrote and asked me (after reading the blog) why we are leaving NTM. So I thought I would write about some of our thoughts and what's taken place over the last few weeks.

To begin with, we went to the Philippines to assist the aviation program. Gradually, it became evident during our time in language study (living in Manila) that it would be impossible for us to move where NTM's aviation bases are located because of the lack of medical care in remote areas.

In October, we made a hasty trip to the USA to get Elijah to his doctors in the States. He had surgery (to place his g-tube), and then we had a three-month waiting period before the next needed surgery could be done.

Before leaving the Philippines, we had investigated some possible ministry options that would allow us to live near Manila. During the three-month period here in the States, we communicated with our contacts in the Philippines about those opportunities. A few weeks ago, they let us know that the positions had been filled. So we took this as a closed door from the Lord at this time to return to the Philippines.

We were also asked to work with NTMA in the USA -- and we would have loved to, but when the opportunity came up for Todd to work as an engineer, it seemed to us like a better fit for our family and for Todd's skills and education.

We're so excited for what the Lord has for us next! Thank you for following us along on these journeys...we can plan our paths, but it is the Lord who ultimately directs our steps.

a new job - and more sleep!

As of yesterday, Todd has been hired as a liaison engineer by an aircraft company in Idaho. We’re so excited, and we praise God for providing this job and for clearly marking out our paths!

Leaving New Tribes Mission wasn’t an easy decision for us. We believe strongly in the work they are doing and the focus they have – bringing the Gospel to isolated people groups who don’t have the chance to hear. However, the company Todd will be working for has the same focus; they are building planes specifically designed for the type of conditions mission aviation presents. Isn’t the Lord good to give Todd this job?

We were in Montana when we received the job offer for Todd. I happened to be sick, so I had several hours to think, pray, and process everything while I rested (I was happy to be sick so I could rest!). Initially, I was sad even to think about the possibility of leaving NTM. Being missionaries has been our heart’s desire both as single individuals and for the past three years as a married couple. We’ve invested years of time in training to go, and then working in Arizona and the Philippines. Two things, however, have given me enormous peace:

1.) I trust my husband to make the final decisions.
2.) I trust God’s plans for my life! They may not look like my plans; in fact, in many ways right now, they don’t look like mine at all. I don’t want to hold onto my life with a tightly-closed fist, grasping for control. I want it to be His.


Help me remember, Lord, that this isn't my life...I've given it to the man who died for me.


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We also have one HUGE praise we want to share with you about little Elijah! He slept nearly through the night last night (seven hours) without waking up!!!!!!!!!!!! Those of you who know our struggles and serious lack of sleep for the past twenty-one months realize this is a very good thing!

He has also reached the point of being able to (usually) cry himself to sleep at night. Now, that might not sound like a big thing. But for parents who have spent hundreds of hours sitting on an exercise ball bouncing a child to sleep who had no neurological ability to calm himself, it is like we were just handed a million bucks on a platter!

snowy days and peaceful hearts

I forgot to mention in my last post that we are now back in Wisconsin - enjoying the snow! We're trying to soak in all the moments with friends and family that we can. Still no word on the job yet -- but we are very restful in our hearts. A good place to be.