Mikkai pays attention to detail and loves to zoom in on things.
Singing "Rock of ages...Jesus is the Rock!" while admiring the beautiful view towards Paul Do Mar.
Mama taking a stroll with Adels
Candid Christmas photos in our family usually turn out better!
Kaija was the "star" of her show...literally. She was the star that guided the Magi to Jesus in the school Christmas play.
Well, this year has been a challenge...We are so thankful for God's refining work in all of us. Each child is growing and learning. And so are we! We are happy to listen to Kaija and Mikkai pray for our food and thank God for friends and family. They always give thanks for different things each night before we go to bed. Kaija loves drawing pictures and giving them as presents. She brings presents to here friends and teacher at school. When Mama takes a nap with Mikkai, she slides drawings with "I love you" notes under the door. Mikkai likes to work on his puzzles and paint. Mikkai is starting to enjoy learning from the Leapfrog vidoes as well. Adelei loves to wake up and play with her brother and sister. She loves to climb stairs and go outside for walks to the school and the garden. Mikkai has enjoyed his big friend Felipe at school, but he is still adjusting to doing real work at school. Kaija has impressed the P.E. teacher with her athletic abilities, and she impresses the regular teacher with her desire to obey and learn. Mikkai is starting to like playing soccer, and he is asking Papa if he can go surfing now.
Mama and Papa had lots to deal with this year. We had a long trip to California (and Mama went to Tennessee with the kids for a few weeks while Papa finished teaching) in the summer. And that was fun to see family and friends. Our builder was suppose to be putting a roof on our house, and then...we found out that he decided to do "lots of other things first". Good intentions but we got into a lot of trouble. We came back to Madeira hoping to move in to our home with a new roof. We also hoped to get a full timetable for teaching English. Neither happened according to "our" plan. At this point we are still praying about our living situation, but, most likely, we are heading back to California some time this year. Faith is tested in times like these, and we know its our time to shine or whine. We still have big decisions to make about our building project, moving, and job choices. We fear that the world is heading in the direction (devastating depression) that Papa believed it would for the past 4 years. What job is most secure in a depression? Where should one live in a depression? What matters most in tough times? We will have to keep reflecting on these things and hopefully we prepare well for tough times ahead. One thing is sure, Jesus is the same and His kingdom is coming according to His prophetic Word.
We have been blessed and depressed this year. Ups and downs, but through it all, our family is closer and more refined. We still see Jesus as the "Light at the end of the tunnel" and the still small voice that comforts us when we can't see the Light. The kids bring childlike joy back into focus/hearts time and time again. And in their faces we see the Lord's goodness and grace. So we praise the Lord for 2008 and look forward to the journey ahead in 2009 wherever He leads us.
1 comment:
Wow Andrea, thats beautiful and brings me to tears, you truly have a gift for writing but beyond that - wow, what you have learned is amazing and how you are handling it too.
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