Holding Hands

Our days here are so fun! We are really loving them. When you have been away from those you love for two years, you treasure the “little” moments as much as the big: picnics out in the yard, playing games, baking together, even cleaning together…it is all so special.

Tomorrow we all leave for my Grandpa’s cabin for a few days. It has been about 9 or 10 years since we have been there so we are really looking forward to it. Nothing like the wilderness and the smell of pine to pull you out of the rush of life and into the wonderment of God’s greatness.

Do you ever think about the connectiveness of time and how cool it is that you are where you are right now with the people that you know? I like to trace things back and see clearly how God’s hand was in each step. What if we never answered the phone that busy morning in April when our friends were calling to see if we would like to move to Indonesia? What if Perry had never approached Garth about working with the Youth? What if I had gone to Judson College like I planned instead of listening to God’s voice in my head to go to New Tribes? That was where I met Garth. And that moment changed everything. God is so cool how He gives us what we need at the moment we need it. God doesn’t shine a floodlight on our future to make sure we know exactly what is coming up. He has one Hand shining a flashlight for our next footstep and the other Hand holding onto ours making sure we don’t stumble.

I also think about all the times I am living in my own “noise” and I miss His voice trying to steer me a different way. Sometimes I am like my four year old son, Cale, in Chicago. I wanted him to keep holding my hand while we were walking the streets because I knew what could happen to him. He was trying to stretch beyond my reach and pull away. He had no idea how fast those cars and buses fly around the corners or how easy it would have been for him to get lost and lose sight of us. He thought he knew what was best for him, but he didn’t. That is way too often the way I am with God.

Yet He lovingly and patiently waits for me to come back, to reach back for that hand. It is always there, it never leaves. Just like I would never have abandoned my son in the middle of Chicago.

Life is so much better when you are walking hand in hand. Not that bad things will never happen, it is just that when they do, you know that you are never alone. Never ever.

Joshua 1:5 says, “Just as I have been with Moses. I will be with you. I will not fail you or forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5 says, “For He Himself has said, I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”

Love,

Rachel

Parties

Oh, so much has been going on here. Lots of parties! From Wyatt’s birthday and Sophie’s birthday and now today a Father’s Day party. How awesome for us to be here so we can celebrate these wonders all together! I already showed you pics of Wyatt’s, so here are Sophie’s. Sophie loves animals so we went to Grand Geneva to see the petting zoo. My Dad works at G Geneva and told us we had to go to the Lodge to see the amazing flowers. After we saw that we went to the playground there as well. If you haven’t visited there lately pretend you are a tourist, and go. It is all terrific!

Here are some pictures:

The kids have been having so much fun here this summer visiting all the parks in our area. We visited one on Friday with hopes to swim in the lake. However, the water temperature was only 72 degrees and it was such a windy day that Emma thought she would blow off the picnic table.

My Dad and Garth had a great Saturday project and that was to build a swing set for our yard. It is so much bigger than I imagined. Now the kids have a park in their own backyard! Thanks Dad!!

I have the remarkable opportunity to have the world’s best Dad. I know you probably think that you know someone else that deserves that title, but I am sad to inform you that you are wrong. That title belongs to my Dad. He has such a servant’s heart, such a unbelievable work ethic, such a heart for God, and his arms are always reaching out to help everyone in need. Dad, thank you for being a extraordinary example to me and my kids. We love you very much!

Love

Rachel

Chicago

Today was such a blast of fun!!!! Garth and I and the kids along with my sister and her little girl went to hang out in Chicago for the day. What a sunny, clear day for our trip up the Hancock. The kids were amazed at how far you could see. We went up to the 95^th floor and had lunch. Cale was making friends with the people at tables around us and telling them all about Indonesia!

After the Hancock we took a bus to Navy Pier where we were able to watch a free pirate show and later a magic show, get ice cream cones, walk on the boardwalk, admire all the cruise ships docked there, & go on the Ferris wheel and swings.

There was sooo much to see and do. The kids loved that the bathrooms were real and not squat pots. And that things were clean. There wasn’t trash all over the ground. And there was “real” food, like McDonald’s. It was fun to see the excitement in their eyes as we explored Chicago.

One thing that we got to do was try out for a commercial for a Chicago based insurance company. In the end they paid us each two dollars! How cool is that!!!! (So you may see us all in the future on one of your Chicago channels).

And then at the end of a long day, we drove off into the sunset.

Rachel

An Empty Bucket

We are having SO much fun here with everyone. You just wouldn’t believe it! The kids are loving all the cereals to choose from, and there is ice cream, and broccoli, and chicken breasts, yogurt and cheese…It is awesome getting to know Annie and to see how the kids interact with their new cousin. Monday Garth and I went out on a date. Our first real date in two years!!!!! That was really special. We went out to eat at Chili’s-Yum! Tuesday was my sister’s birthday so we were all able to celebrate with her. Wednesday we took the kids to Brookfield Square. They couldn’t believe Barnes N Noble. They were in heaven with all those books. Today we took all the kids to a park. Cale thought it was so cool. He didn’t know they made places like that. Tonight we grilled out chicken and had a picnic and the kids had a water fight-Whoo-hoo! What a perfect way to spend the summer.

While we were at the bookstore, I was reading a book that talked about how people walk around each day with an invisible empty bucket. It gets filled each day by those around them. The people we meet will either have their bucket filled with our whining, complaining or our impatience with them or it can be filled up with our joy and acts of kindness. Especially our children. What are we filling their bucket with…It was a good reminder to me to be aware of what I am saying and how I am acting.

Here are some pictures:

Wyatt Day

Today was Wyatt’s birthday!  How fun to be able to spend it with family.  Two things he really wanted to do today was go to an pet store, and go to Dairy Queen.  So we took the kids to PetSmart.  Cale walks in and says “Look Mom, there is a snake in a cage.”  The worker says, “Oh, has he never seen a snake before?”  Cale says, “Not in a cage.”  Which is true.  The snakes we see in Indonesia are usually slithering on the ground, or being held.  Not in a glass cage.  It was cool taking the kids to see the fish aisle.  They were comparing the fish to the ones we see when we go snorkeling.  I am so thankful for the opportunities they have been able to have from living near the ocean and the tropics.  After they started talking to all the workers there, it quickly went from the workers trying to educate the kids on the animals to the kids educating the workers on what they know from living in Indo.  We left with all the workers saying, “Come back and see us again before you leave.”

Wyatt had a great day.  Garth took him to McDonald’s for lunch, we had a barbecue for dinner and chocolate cake with ice cream from Dairy queen, he got a Ripstick, and some clothes, a pocket knife and some soccer stuff.

Here are a few pictures from our day: