In Just One Week...

A week from today Dad, Steve, and I will beginning an exciting journey to Lima, Peru to serve on a medical-mission trip with a nearby church team. We continue to eagerly count the days until we travel on this adventure. Tomorrow we have our final team prep meeting before the exciting day of our departure and will spend a good portion of the afternoon packing medications and supplies.

I look forward to the marvelous plan the Lord has for this trip in my life and in the lives of others. Thank you so much for your prayers! Dad, Steve, and I (and the whole team!) are under some pressure as we anticipate the needs of the many hundreds of people we will be ministering to everyday. Steve and I will be plunged head first into Spanish translation-work and hope to build onto the foundation of our high-school Spanish courses. I hope we catch on quickly -- we do not have many translators on our team. Please pray for each of our strength and that the Lord would work through us to touch the hearts of the Peruvian people.

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

~ 1 Peter 4:11

Bustle of the New Year

Happy New Year!

As the past few weeks of the new year have whizzed by, we have already found ourselves busy with odds and ends. We did enjoy a relaxed Christmas/New Year holiday, but of course the time soon came for us to slide back into school once again. In addition, Julia had her pacemaker surgery on the 6th. Although we had our concerns about the actual complexity of her case, she had a successful surgery without any difficulty. What a blessing to see her energized once again with an even renewed amount of energy she has never had before! We are only beginning to get a taste of what she can do at a new heartrate. Our whole family is so thankful for Julia's safe surgery, quick recovery, and the opportunity God has given her to benefit from state-of-the-art medical technology here.

Also, Dad, Steve, and I are getting excited about the medical missions trip to Peru coming up at the end of February. Our anticipation increases as the date quickly approaches. For the last few weeks we have had team meetings in preparation. I have been slotted to help out with translation work, Steve will be working in the pharmacy, and Dad will be serving as a physician. Please keep us in prayer as we prepare ourselves spiritually and physically for the trip. We will need extra grace and strength as we step outside of our comfort zone.

Yesterday we celebrated Steven's birthday with some friends. We spent the afternoon playing an assortment of games -- from Outburst (Bible Edition) to Scattegories -- while snacking on jellybeans and fudge. (So much for those New Year's resolutions, eh?) We also enjoyed hearing stories of distant Romanian lands from a friend who has come home on a mini "furlough" before finishing up her year of service there. At the end of the evening the boys pulled out their guitars and we had a time of sweet worship together.

There is so much to look forward to in 2009! I am excited to see how the Lord will use this year to shape me and my family toward deeper faith in Him.

Winter Fun

What a perfect day for tubing! All of the snow we have gotten this year made tubing conditions absolutely perfect. The runs were pristine!
Julia and I whizzed down the hill at breakneck speed!

We enjoy "together-time"

A Christmas Recital

Kristen and her piano instructor

Music filled the Concert Hall today as several students performed in a Christmas recital. I played Sonata in C-minor Op. 10 No. 1 by L.v. Beethoven, rousing sleepy adults from Saturday afternoon slumber. (If you have heard the piece, you will know what I mean.) How wonderful it was to have my family there to cheer me on!

Kitchen Time!

Grandpa and Grandma are here for the weekend, and what a great time we have had! This afternoon Grandma taught the girls how to make Swedish peppakaker cookies. Delicious aromas of sugar & spice filled the kitchen to greet the boys when they returned from a CAP event. Mmmm . . . nothing like baking with Grandma!

Skating Season Begins!

It's the season we have eagerly anticipated! Tomorrow we will enjoy our first skating party of the year on Langhaven Pond.