The unending Visa process...

Two weeks... that's all we have to finish packing up the rest of our lives. :) The past several days have been a flurry of filling out paperwork for our Visas. It's crazy all that has to be done. If I could give you the list, it would make you tired just listening to it! The crazy thing is that we have lived in several states in the past 5 years, so we have to get paperwork from each state... a criminal check, for example... and then send that to the Secretary of state in each state to verify that the notary from each state is valid. Could it be more confusing?!? :) It's taking so much longer than we could have imagined!

We also needed to get a letter certifying that none of us have infections diseases or any drug addictions, and that has been quite a hassle. Our dr. in CA wouldn't fill it out for us, b/c he says we need to establish with a new dr. here. So, I was stressing over how we were going to get that done... it takes a long time to get an appointment for a well-visit and it's expensive for SIX people! But, the Lord made a way and has provided a dr. who knows us well who will write the letter for all of us. I was so thankful for that burden being lifted!

Now, we have to send all of our birth certificates out to the secretary of state to EACH state where we were born (NY, NC, and CA) to validate that each is a valid certificate. So, as you are reading all these crazy details, will you pray that all this paper work goes very quickly? I'm not sure how long it's going to take at each state's secretary of state's office. My guess is it could take weeks.... which we really don't have! Please pray for miraculous timing in getting all the paperwork returned quickly.

I wish we had known earlier what we would need to do, b/c once we get all these papers filled out and appropriately authorized, we ALL have to drive up to the consulate in D.C. and hand in our applications in person. Once they are handed in, it takes 14 weeks to get our visas. We barely have the 14 weeks right now, and we still are waiting to get the documents back! I know God has His perfect timing, and we trust Him in that. If you would please pray for everything to go quickly and smoothly, and that we don't miss anything as we are filling everything out!

God really has been so gracious in all things. The appointment service in Jacksonville was moving beyond words. We loved being reunited with our friends, and we are looking forward to the 8 weeks we will all have together at FPO (Field Personnel Training) before we head in different directions all over the world. We know that we are not the only ones going through this craziness!! :) For some reason, that's comforting. :) I'm not the only one losing my mind... :)

Well, sorry nothing profound in this entry, but I wanted to update you on what's going on in lives at this point. We have had internet only sporadically throughout the last month or so, so I've not been able to update much. I do have more to write about, and will hopefully have time tomorrow!! Thank you for all of you who are keeping up with us and praying for us. We so need those prayers. Please also pray for peace and wisdom for us. I find myself getting so anxious about all that needs to be done in the next two weeks. I know it will all get done, and I know the Lord is in control! Thank you all for praying!

Who am I, O Sovereign Lord?

It seems as though we have been anticipating this day for a very long time! We are here! We are being appointed as IMB missionaries this week in Jacksonville, FL! A 10 year dream, finally fulfilled. :) (Actually, for Wes it's probably been longer, but for us as a couple, 10 is accurate!)

At this moment, I am sitting in a beautiful hotel room, on a borrowed computer, my heart filled to overflowing. I think I'm scared, thrilled, and hopeful all at the same time. There is so much to be done, but we serve the most amazing God who is SOVEREIGN over everything. My life is upside-down, and I haven't had my own "home" in 5 months now, but God is my rock and my fortress. He has called our family to great things, and He will be faithful to prepare and strengthen us for all that is ahead. The task seems overwhelming, but we serve a big God!! Wes always loves a "God-sized task!" :)

We arrived in FL a the beginning of September and we have spent a week with Wes's family. It has been wonderful and refreshing... and Carolina is in LOVE with their dogs! She screeches and her body actually shakes with excitement when she sees one of them. :) We have enjoyed lots of Legos, ice-cream, and card games that last until midnight! :) It's been lots of fun.

We wanted to make sure we had some time with Wes's family before we headed out for "appointment week," but our time went so fast! We kissed our babies goodbye on Friday and headed out for the 1/2 hour drive to Jacksonville. It was a little hard for me to leave the kids this time, and I think (besides the fact that Weston was clinging to Wes' neck, crying and asking him not to go...) it's harder b/c we are all in transition and just a little "off" in life. Everything is up in the air, and everything keeps changing. So, I think we all had a bit harder time this time (so pray for us all right now, if you think about it. :) )

We made it to Jacksonville with only a few wrong turns :), and checked into the hotel early enough to give us some time to settle in and get up-packed. It was nice and relaxing, and over the next several hours, our friends arrived. Around 6pm, we all walked down-town to a Steak and Seafood restaurant... I don't think we left until after 11pm. It was so amazing to be reconnected with these friends. We laughed together and cried together that night. One would tell a story, and another would say, "Oh, I'm so glad I'm not the only one going through that!" It was just refreshing.

We are going through all our classes and info meetings during these next couple days. We have all been assigned "host churches" in the area, so tomorrow, we get to go to a local church! The amazing thing is, Wes's parent's church is our "host church"! We are so thrilled to be able to partner with them, and thankful for their sweet support... AND we get to see our children tomorrow!!!!!! :) (I am missing my sweet Carolina's wet kisses. :) )

Well, I must return this computer (thanks, Kathryn!), but I wanted to just quickly share the verse that has been running through my head today: "Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family that You have brought us this far?" II Sam. 8:17. I am truly in awe that God could use ME to accomplish anything for Him. I feel so inadequate... but, HE is the one who has brought us "THIS FAR." I continue to trust Him!

Below are some pictures of our family and friends from appointment week.

Nathan's adventures in Raleigh

Probably one of the reasons we felt like we ran around all week in Raleigh was because we scheduled lots and lots of Dr. appointments for Nathan while we were there. We've just never had medical as good as when we were in Raleigh, so we made some follow-up appointments for Nathan.

We got to see Jen Mock at "Abilitations" on Raven Ridge. She was Nathan's first pediatric physical therapist... the BEST out there, in our opinion! :)... and she has become part of our family. We all just love her, and appreciate the love and advice she's given our family over the years ... even when we moved away and were no longer 'patients.' :) We just love her! Nathan had FOUR appointments with her during our stay there; we wanted to get in as much therapy time with her as we could! :) Nathan was also casted for new AFO's... new braces for his legs, since he as almost out-grown the ones he has. Jen also put together some exercises/stretches for me to do with Nathan, so that we can keep up his therapy while we are in transition. Thanks, Jen, for all you do!

Nathan also saw Dr. Jefferey Board, the pediatric ophthalmologist who did Nathan's original surgery on his eyes. (Nathan's eyes were crossed, and the surgery corrected that.) His eyes are beginning to cross again... not all the time, but every once in a while, one eye will stray. Since we were SO happy with Dr. Board's expertise, we made an appointment with him to check Nathan again. It turns out, Nathan needs glasses.

Now, Nathan is one of the most amazing children you'll meet. He has Cerebral Palsy, and the Lord seems to have blessed him with the perfect blend of his personality. He is so laid back and loving... yet, strong willed and determined all at the same time. I just love my sweet boy. Most people who meet Nathan are amazed at his speech. He is extremely articulate, and can carry on an adult conversation ... at the age of 5. :) He is incredibly witty, and there's no doubt he would make you laugh if you were to talk with him.

As amazing as Nathan is, as a mom, my heart just aches for him. I know the Lord will use him to do incredible things for His kingdom. That's been our prayer every day of his life, and I already see God molding him and preparing him for that. I don't doubt that he will grow up to be a dynamic, Godly man... but I do ache for the boy that has to go through extra trails to get to that point. :) So, on this particular day... when the Dr. Board told me Nathan needed glasses... I about cried. Yes, silly me. Glasses are not terrible- I wear them! But, all I could think was that it was just one more thing for my sweet Nathan to have to deal with. He also will need to patch his left eye everyday, and that didn't help my aching heart. :)



Dr. Board says that every child is near sighted to an extent, until their eyes grow and change. But b/c Nathan is having to focus to compensate for the nearsightedness, and also to try to keep his eyes straight... he can't do both. Our hope is that if we take away one of the problems, he'll be able to take care of the other one. One eye definitely sees better than the other, so we also have to patch to make sure he doesn't loose the sight he does have. Dr. Board says Nathan's glasses will most likely be long-term (as well as the patching...), but that there is a chance Nathan could grow out of it. Please pray he does grow out of them!!!!

We picked out Nathan's frames and he also got to choose two patches with designs on them. We don't have any insurance for glasses, but the Lord provided a good package that we were able to work into our budget. Two days later, we picked up his glasses!! Nathan was too cute. He tried them on, and he simply said, "I look old." We all laughed... and Weston told him he looked "way cool." :) That always helps, coming from an older brother. :)

BoJangles and Chick-Fil-A ... Home :)

So sorry it's been a while since we've been able to update! We've had trouble getting on the internet during our travels along the east coast... but God has been overwhelmingly good to us.



We spent all of last week in Raleigh, NC, which is "home" to Wes and I. We met, married and had all three boys there. So, it was wonderful catching up with old friends and family, and fellowshipping together again! We must've eaten at least 4 times at Chick-Fil-A that week, and Wes also had to make his BoJangles runs. :) It was nice to be "home."



Roxie Cash graciously gave us her ENTIRE home to relax and entertain in... and she went and stayed with one of her children, depending on where she needed to be the next day. It was SO fun to be with the Cash's again... it so felt like home. It was a little different this time, as the boys are all grown up.



Andrew has a home he has been fixing up over the past several year, and we always enjoy seeing what he has done. It looks amazing, and he has such great taste in paint colors and decor! He had us ALL over one night... along with a number of other friends... and he cooked burgers for everyone!! Jeff married Brooke (actually, that was the wedding we came back east for Wes to preform a couple years ago) and they have a beautiful baby boy, Samuel. Brooke and I had fun talking "Baby Wise." :) And, we were so excited... Ben came home from college for a day, so we could hang out with him! We could hardly get enough time with them all, we enjoy them so much. :)



Our first Sunday in Raleigh, we had the opportunity to go to my sister's church in Apex. Trisha brought breakfast for us all that morning (it was amazing!); and the boys got to go to children's church with their cousins, for the first time ever! :)



Wes had connected with Matt Rice, the pastor of The Creek, prior to arriving; and he graciously allowed us to share a little bit about what we'll be doing in Spain. We were so impressed with the love and depth of this brand new "church start." They meet in a local school gym, and they have many young families. Their passion for prayer and heart for missions were evident all the way through the service. Matt taught an excellent message... and I say "taught" b/c that's exactly what he did! It was wonderful to get 45 minutes of in-depth study. We fully enjoyed our time with this church family, and we are so thankful to be able to add them as prayer partners! The Lord has connected us with many amazing people as we have sought people to support us in prayer.



Wes also has family in Raleigh still, so we spend several nights catching up with the Abbott family! Wes's cousins are all grow, too! Sabrina is the oldest cousin; she's married and working in management with Chick-Fil-A. Kimberly got married at the beginning of this year, and she left with her husband this past week, so he could finish up school in Germany! How cool that we will both be in Europe at the same time! :) We didn't get to see Paul (the next in line after Kimberly), since he was away at Liberty University. Steven and Josh have also grown up so much! It is always fun to sit and chat with this amazing family. :)



We felt like we rushed around everywhere all week, trying to fit in as many people as possible, but we still didn't get to see everyone! Our last Sunday in Raleigh, we did get back to Bay Leaf, our church of 9 years. It was so amazing to be back with such familiar and comforting faces. :) Marty Jacumin, now the pastor at Bay Leaf, invited us to come up afterward to greet people. It was wonderful to see everyone again!