Trusting

As most of you probably know by now, we made the final decision last week to return back to the U.S. this summer instead of staying in Spain for a third year. The seeming bottom line is that we just did not have the financial support to stay another year. I say "seeming," because although that is the circumstance that propelled us to make the move, the true bottom line is that we and many of you had been praying that God would make it clear to us what we should do and it was pretty clear once we started really looking at our options. The Lord is leading us home. That is the true bottom line.

We are sad to leave here. I keep thinking back to the weeks and months in 2008 before we left to come here, how 2 years seemed like such a long time to leave everyone and everything. And yet, now on the other side of those 2 years, I cannot believe how fast it has gone by. My kids were 2 and 4 and now they are 4 and 6. It really seems like just yesterday.

We have loved our work here. It has not always been an easy job or an easy life, as anyone who has moved their family overseas can attest, but the Lord continues to amaze me with the blessings I could never have expected or imagined. He has stripped and refined all of us and has proven time and time again that He can be trusted. I really have nothing to fear.

We are returning home with no job, no house, no idea really what the next year(s) will look like for us, but I know it will all work out. Because He can be trusted.

A Mighty Fortress

This is a castle we went to a couple Saturdays ago. It is about an hour from our house. While living in Spain, we have been privileged to see a number of castles, cathedrals and very very old buildings, some of which date back to the time of Christ. This particular castle was built in the 1500s and is still very much intact. We did not go inside this one, but walked around the outside and let the kids explore the towers and lookouts.

Over the last few weeks we have been teaching Rachel and Mathis the words to the hymn A Mighty Fortress is our God. A few nights ago Rachel came into our room after bedtime and said that she was afraid. I went to comfort her and we talked for a while about the castle we had visited and the meaning of the word "fortress." It was so great to be able to share the experience of a real castle used to protect and defend the king and his soldiers. We reviewed the words to the hymn and I reminded her that we have a wall of protection around us that we can't see, but that is certainly there and assured her that the enemy cannot penetrate it.

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

One more of the many blessings I never expected but am so thankful for.

Spirit Week / Track and Field Day

Last week was Spirit Week at ECA. Each day the students dressed up in a different theme. (click on the pictures to enlarge)For “Movie Day” the First Grade class dressed as 101 Dalmatians. Aren’t they cute?

Thursday was “Nerd Day.” Above is Miss Applegarth and Rachel dressed as nerds.

Then Friday was the all-school track and field day at a local sports complex.

Rachel doing the standing long jump.

Ready to run the 50 meter.

Jump rope endurance.

Rachel won 3rd in the Jump Rope endurance.

And the First grade class with their ribbons.