Our New Home

We haven't even left the country yet and we already have pictures of our new home. Of course, it needs some paint and some furniture (which we are ocean freighting this week). But, we are so thrilled to be living close to a huge park and can't wait to get moved in.

I ask you to remember our home during your quiet times. We desire for it to be an inviting, comfortable rememberance of why we serve the people.

This is the outside of the building looking up from the street level. We are on the 5th Floor. (There is an elevator. Whew!)

Here is our luxurious living room complete with a hole in the wall for an a/c unit. We are fortunate to have the same electricity voltage with the same plugs so we can bring cheaper ac units from the states to install when we arrive.

Master bedroom suite.

I know you are jealous of all my countertop space but you will just have to move overseas and get your own two-burner stove without an oven.



I saved the best for last. Spacious, eh?

Home Again, Home Again

Well, we are home again and buried under a mountain of laundry. Last week, Jeff and I were in Jacksonville for a wonderful sending ceremony. This ceremony made us "officially graduated" and ready to return overseas. Jeff's wonderful sister, Tina, watched the girls most of the week and we are soooo thankful.

This weekend we were able to spend it watching the rainfall in Branson, Mo. Jeff's family rented a lake cabin for a fun weekend on the lake and/or Silver Dollar City. We spent most of our time playing cards and watching movies thanks to the downpour the entire day on Saturday. It was great.

This week Jeff and I will be crating our stuff and finishing our visa and working on flight arrangements. Our tentative departure date is October 24 IF we get our visa in time.

And finally, look for an email update in your inbox this week.

Final Ceremony

Jeff and I are in Jacksonville, Florida and the girls are in Owasso with Aunt Tina. Tonight is our official send-off ceremony before going to Taiwan. We just received all of our authenticated paperwork and are now ready to apply for our visa. We're not real sure how it will take but we are hoping to board a plan headed for the other side of the world on October 24.





We have enjoyed our time in the states and reconnecting with family and friends.





You can expect to see changes coming to our blog soon. These changes include "what's the word? Wednesday" (Chinese vocabulary lesson) "Frightful Food Friday" (Chinese food experiences) "Rememberance Sunday" (Pics of places to pray for) and of course an update from us once a week which may include our new daily schedule, happenings in the girls lives, living conditions and pictures of places we have been.





I will also be sending out some email updates and newsletters as soon as we get our official travel date. So be looking for that in your inbox.





To get the new blog format started- let's go back to an oldie but a gooody from Thailand:

Frightful Food Friday

Anyone remember what this was?

Last minute plans

Jeff and I leave first thing tomorrow morning for our appointment ceremony in Jacksonville, Fl. Chloe and Ava are staying with grandma and grandpa this weekend and then Aunt Tina will have a wild time with them next week. It will probably be more crazy for Tina than the girls because when you add our two to their three that make five children. Three of which are under the age of 6. Good luck Aunt Tina.

We are excited to be in the final step of our return overseas. The only thing left is that Taiwan visa but we are close- oh so close.

Our tentative departure date is sometime between Oct. 3 and Oct. 24. (Depending on our visa). Please remember us next week as we meet some of the Board of Trustees from our company and get a ton of last minute information.

Chloe Age 3

The Big 03

Today Chloe turned 3. In anticipation of the big day she just all of sudden started speaking in almost-intelligible full sentences. We had a great birthday party for her last Saturday for all of our family. I made Thai food and it turned out edible. Jeff's dad was little iffy about eating anything other than Meat and Potatoes but he even said "I was surprised, it was real good." Thanks Jack!