Our nephew’s daughter, Jaidyn, turned two this past week. We enjoyed getting together with them and celebrating the birthday. Click on the picture of Jaidyn to see more.
Last Day of School
Second grade pirates
Friday was the last day of school. Sary-Jo took a bunch of pictures, but we don’t have parental permission to post good pictures of the kids. However, we’re going to include a group photo of her second-grade pirates and some pictures of friends she works with. Her good friend and prayer partner Holly is moving to Thailand where she will teach next year. Sary-Jo will miss her tremendously.
Lauren’s 9th Grade Dance
Lauren
Our niece, Lauren, had her 9th grade dance Wednesday night. Before the dance, Sary-Jo went over and took some pictures. Lauren looked great and we hear she had a great time. Lauren and Alyssa both received end of the year awards at their schools. We’re very proud of them!! Click the picture to see a slideshow.
Update? There is No Update
Since it’s been two weeks since we told you we’d have a court date “this week” we thought we should provide an update. Unfortunately, there’s been a delay in assigning our court date. We don’t know precisely why (“we’re working with a newer orphanage” is the explanation given) and we don’t know how long to expect the delay to be.
We appreciate those of you who have asked about an update (and, in case you’re concerned, we do NOT mind fielding the questions). We also continue to covet your prayers. We’ve acknowledged from the start that the timing is in God’s hands. Since that’s true, we’re not worried about this but we are excited to get the boys home. And, like most people, we prefer to know how to plan so we would like to know the court date.
That’s all we know for now. When we get our court date, we will:
- Call Sarah, Kyle and Janel
- Post the court date on this website
- Make other family calls
So… check back daily!
Nicole & Christian’s Wedding
On Sunday, June 7, Christian and Nicole exchanged vows in a beautiful outdoor setting. We’ve posted a few pictures. Click on the one shown to see more.
Our Friend David (6/27/53 – 6/3/09)
David Thorpe
Our dear friend and brother in Christ, David Thorpe, went home to the Lord Wednesday morning, only a couple of weeks before his 56th birthday. He died unexpectedly when his heart suddenly failed him and, over the course of several hours, even the paddles didn’t help.
David was in our home group that meets regularly for fellowship and prayer and we worked together supporting the marriage ministry both in marriage classes and as marriage mentors. Though we had only known David (and Madaline) for a few years, it seems like much longer. We have discussed this phenomenon with them in the past – how we all feel like we’ve been friends for decades rather than just a few years. I suspect many people feel that way about them because they are so genuine. We know very few people without pretenses – those people are a joy to get to know and they challenge us to be bold in our walk. David was not a complicated man. He had a heart that reflected God’s character. He loved Jesus. His humility, sincere love and selfless service to others were inspiring. David loved his beloved wife Madaline and precious adult daughters Noelle and Courtney. He adored his three grandchildren and had an especially sweet relationship with Jonathan because he lived nearby. We loved David’s laughter and kind spirit. He will be deeply missed.
David and Madaline had an amazing testimony. During their 35 year marriage they encountered an unbelievable number of very painful trials, yet their faith in a sovereign God and their obedience was their focus – a compelling example and inspiration to others. Despite much opposition, David did not hold a grudge against anyone. He merely wished that others would know he held no animosity or ill-will toward them. He wanted them to know the truth, but recognized that they were not likely to ever do so.
Life is precious. No matter how long we live, compared to eternity, it is short. We rejoice in the knowledge that David not only believed in the one true God of the Bible, but he walked the talk. His life was an example to many. Because he placed his trust in Christ, he truly is in a “better” place. Those of us that choose God’s way will also share in the joy of being in the presence of God – rather than separated from Him – forever.
Our hearts are heavy today because we have parted company with a very dear one, but we praise God for His provision and that David accepted God’s gift of eternal life and lived with that blessed assurance. It is our heartfelt prayer that you too realize your need for God and choose life today! Tomorrow may be too late.
Court Date – Coming Soon!
We were notified this morning (Monday, June 1) that we will learn our court date this week!!! Our file has been opened in the Ethiopian courts and they are scheduling it even now. Praise God and please continue to pray that He will work out the details. With all the variables (Randy’s job, Sary-Jo’s school schedule, final training, school for the boys, Sarah’s and Janel’s schedule, and more), we are so grateful that God not only knows what will be best for us, but He is also in control!
Of course, we’d prefer an early court date. So if that is not what He has in store for us, please pray that we will recognize His hand and be grateful in all circumstances. But we are anxious!!! We want to bring our boys home ASAP.
For those not totally familiar with the process… after we pass court (which should not be a problem, but one never knows), our agency will make an appointment for us with the US embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We will travel there for the embassy appointment and come home with the boys. Then we can post some pictures of our complete family!
Ethiopia Night at Bonney Lake Community Church
May 31 was the “First Annual Ethiopia Night” at Bonney Lake Community Church and we were invited to attend. The pastor, Jeff Butler, had traveled to Et
hiopia with the team from Adoption Ministry (our agency). The purpose of the evening was to share what God is doing through the ministry and to encourage support through travel, giving, adoption and/or prayer. We were totally blessed by our time there and moved to tears more than once.
At one point, Pastor Jeff shared about seeing the orphanage director (Tezera) praising God because she was learning that two orphan boys were receiving a new family. He showed a picture of Tezera that was taken at that moment. The picture and his description of it were very moving and, to top it off, he was describing the moment that Tezera and our boys were learning that they’re going to be part of our family. It was pointless to try to maintain composure.
Trip to California – Memorial Day Weekend 2009
With Ryan's family at the Berkeley Rose Garden
Ryan graduated from the University of California at Berkeley on Saturday with a degree in Industrial Engineering. On Friday Ryan got very encouraging news on the job front and should hear soon whether or not he has landed a position in software technical support. We flew down Saturday morning and finally had a chance to meet some of the people that have been very important in Janel’s life the last few years.
We stayed with Janel’s host family, John and Kay, who were extremely gracious. Their home is beautiful and they seem to enjoy taking care of people. We had a delightful time getting to know them and we enjoyed playing games and talking late into the night. We can see why Janel says they’re very much like us (and we take that as a compliment).
We had a very enjoyable time with Ryan’s parents, Paul and Kathy, and with his sister Leslea and her husband Nick. We all have quite a bit in common and we certainly feel like we’ve known them a lot longer than two days.
After church (Janel played drums with the worship band), we spent all of Sunday with Ryan’s family, eating, shopping, exploring the Berkeley Rose Garden, and visiting – all in all, a very enjoyable day. Nick and Randy were continually getting game updates as Randy’s Mariners eventually prevailed over Nick’s Giants! Janel was working so we stopped in her shop along the way. That evening, Kay prepared a great meal for us and we continued to get to know each other.
On Monday, Janel and Ryan treated us to a Giants’ game. The weather was great and so was the game. AT&T Park overlooks the bay and is beautiful. And the timing of the game was great as we went straight to the airport to catch our flight home after the last out.
And the best part, of course, was seeing Janelly again!!! Thanks, Janel, for making it a very special weekend. We love you.
Click on the picture to see many more.
Food for My Soul (by Sary-Jo)
For many years now I have had a desire to study the Bible – not just at church or at Sunday school, or with our small group – but for myself, decisively, daily, completely. I had actually begun such a study when the girls were young, but dropped out when I went back to work. My lame excuse was that we were too busy and it was hard to find the time. I shudder when I think about it now! No time for God’s Word?! As the girls were finishing up high school and heading off to college, I planned to begin again, and this time finish, what had been put on the back burner for so many years. I was largely inspired by my daughter, Janel, who from the time she was very young, read her Bible daily. Her depth of knowledge, understanding, and application always amazed me and left me feeling a bit ill equipped to be the spiritual mentor I should have been.
This week I completed a seven year study through Bible Study Fellowship. BSF is a comprehensive inter-denominational Bible study program that uses a four-fold approach: daily questions and personal Bible study, discussion groups, challenging lectures, and study notes. The studies included John, the history of Israel and the Minor Prophets, the Acts of the Apostles, Genesis, Romans, Matthew, and the life of Moses. Without a doubt, this has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding journeys I have ever embarked upon. Praise God for helping me persevere and for growing me in the areas of humility, obedience, and trust.
The study solidified my core beliefs in a reasonable faith and deepened my understanding of God’s character and my purpose. Spending time in God’s word has been food for my soul. I don’t know everything or claim to have all the answers. I am in process and looking expectantly to the future nuggets that I will discover and apply to my life as I continue to spend time reading, studying, praying.
So what are your priorities? Where are you looking for truth? When are you looking? Are you making God and the Bible fit your ideas, or are you allowing God to mold your heart to be aligned with His? Your choices have eternal consequences. I encourage you to dive into God’s Word, examine the evidence, believe the truth, and be transformed! There is a BSF class near you!