The Real Night Before Christmas

Hello All and Merry Christmas!
It is a white (less than 1", but white) Christmas here!  What a wonderful day!  God is good and today is a great day that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We went to the Christmas service at church last night and they played a video called "The Real Night Before Christmas."  The poem in it was outstanding.  You can read it below.  I don't know the author to give him credit, but here is a link to the video itself.  

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock,

The tricky clock tick tocking

Each painfully long minute unlocking

The tumbly, jumbly "can't close your eyes" feeling

What will it be! When will it be!

Oh, the anticipation, the watching the wishing and waiting

To let the wiggles and giggles and Goosebumps go

To find, to see, to finally know

"What will it be?"

"When will it be?"

Oh, the expectation the "what if"s?" the "oh mys!" fairly shaking

Longing for this night's joy all year, that moment of hope so very near

Oh, what would they, could they imagine a gift so great a gift that compelled the whole world to wait!

When a heavenly father gave all mankind his son, the one, - love defined

The magic of Christmas is more brilliant you see than a bag or a box tucked under a tree

The true love of Christmas really began when Holy God became Holy Man.

Love the message of this poem as it says it all.  Have a great Christmas!

In His Hands,

Jullie T

Our little gathering

Trevor with his antique hat!

Doodles doesn't mind being in the middle of things!

Many things to be Thankful for

Hello All,
We have had a great week and have had reasons to be thankful.  Jim is home for 5 nights!  He feels like he is actually getting a break.  We had 27 plates set for Thanksgiving dinner and all traveled here and back safely (with only one adventure on a 2 track road that wasn't even on the map)!  It was good to cook a large turkey (23 lbs) and not have to think about how it was going to fit into the oven. 

We have had snow on the ground for about 90% of this month.  I think we are in for a hard winter, but we are slowly getting prepared.  I say slowly because it has been hard getting the kids to understand that when it is 17 F outside, you must wear hats and coats!  They will go out with only a sweatshirt and complain that they are cold!  I have no sympathy at that point (and do not give up my hat and coat).

We are so thankful for the beauty around us and the provisions from God.  It is almost too easy living here (I shouldn't say that too loud).  The biggest trial I think so far is when the water trough for the horses froze over.  But, I even had a water heater buried in the barn.  So, I stuck that in there and within a day, the ice was gone.

We are thankful that Trevor is home for the break.  He had this whole week off and it is great to see him.  It is even better to see how excited he is (if you know Trevor, this is not jumping up and down excited, but brings a grin to his face) about his major which is Computer Networking and Systems Administration.  He says that school is so far not a big challenge, but we are hoping that next term will bring at least a little stress (what is your first year at school without stress)?  He heads back tomorrow for 3 more weeks.  The temperatures and the snow fall up there are extreme even now.  He says that when Lake Superior freezes over the snow should just about stop, but the temperatures will plummet.  I am sending him with a hat and scarf!

We have a new pastor at our church and are very thankful for that.  It was a 2 year process to find the right person and family, but they are here now.  He was talking last week about the great commission to love one another.  We are told to love our neighbors as ourselves, but this is sometimes not easy.  And, who are our neighbors?  I know here in Michigan, many people think of their neighbors as the people they can see here (on their street, in their communities).  When I read the book The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, I realized that our neighbors are not just the ones around us but around the world.  If a child or baby that was sick or hungry was put on your doorstep, would you feed her and take her to the doctor?  Of course you would.  There are so many people around the world that live from day to day not knowing if they will have something to eat or drink or a decent place to sleep.  But, how do we love them?  It is not an easy question.  We are not all called to go.  Praying for them is one thing.  Getting to know organizations like Bethany Kids or World Orphans or Oasis for Orphans or Care of Creation is another way.  Once you get to know what they do and why, you can be better able to contribute.  And this is not all about money.  They all need people to spread the word and just be involved with them.  Having support here in the states is really a blessing to all of them.  But, it takes some effort to be involved with someone who is literally a world away.  We here tend to take the easy path and just not look.  That way, we can claim ignorance is bliss (which it is many times - especially when there is some kind of bug in something you just ate)!  But, it is not what God called us to do.  Sometimes life here is just too easy.  Maybe we need to do more of the hard things and challenge ourselves to reach out and get involved with something that may not be the easy path!

I finished all of the upstairs with painting and baseboard trim this past week and got our bathroom done.  I am getting pretty good at coping joints!  I will be on to the rooms downstairs this week that have white trim.  The real challenge will come when I have to do the wood trim (oak or ?) and stain it.  Right now with the white, I am able to use caulk and spackle (spackle is my new best friend)!  But, when I do the living room, the trim will be stained wood and that will bring the real challenge.  Hopefully before I get there, I will get really good at coping joints!

Here are a few more pictures.  Have a great week and think about who is your neighbor!

Timothy and Tiger (Tiger seems not very interested in lov'in)!

Jim makes a pretty good turkey!

In His Hands,
Jullie T

PS - I also heard a bird here last week while I was running in the early morning - am very thankful for that!

On Change

Hello All,
Well, it has happened!  The ground was completely white here yesterday for a few hours.  I just see that as the beginning of a long winter!  This morning, it was 24 F (-4 C)!  That makes for a cold morning run.

Just a few weeks ago, the trees were brilliant colors and now they are all bare.  It got me to thinking about the cycle of our lives and how we are constantly changing (whether by choice or not).  God has made us to be in different seasons just like he causes the trees to be spectacular for just a few short weeks.  We are creatures of habit and we like our little routines.  But, we also are made to adapt.  We cycle through periods of our lives sometimes not even recognizing the changes. But sometimes, they are like a horn in your face!  There is a road that I drive down to take Timothy to school that has a beautiful view.  There are tress that are in-bedded in very tall pine trees so that now, since their leaves are gone, you can't even see them.  But just a few weeks ago, they were amazing!

I was here just yesterday and now you don't even notice these little trees.  The cycle of change is constant for Jim and I, and I am grateful for that.  

Jim's job is going well.  He was home the past 2 week ends and this week end he is away.  They are moving out an old MRI unit (like 20 tons!) in order to redesign the space for the new unit.  They have to get it out of a 3rd story window!  And, when it comes to new concrete, they will load it in the same window and wheel barrow it across to where it needs to go (just like in Kijabe)!   I think it is keeping him entertained.

The Kids and I are doing well.  School is back to a routine (at least until it changes on Monday).  Timothy's schedule is being flopped because of a change in the local school.  We have to adapt again!  

Got an exceptional visit from some exceptional people this week:  Mark and Carolyn Kinzer!  They were visiting with their girls at Calvin when they were able to come up for the night.  Had a wonderful time making (and eating) pasta and enjoying great coffee with these two.  Will pray for you guys as you continue your furlow (especially at an All Blacks game)!

Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks.  Hope you enjoy and also keep praying for the Ebola crisis in western Africa.  Those people really need prayers and so many other things.  If you want to read a great article about it from some doctors in the know, go to the Myres blog to their Oct 17, 2014 post:   http://paradoxuganda.blogspot.com/

A beautiful sunrise

Timothy eating NOT yellow snow

one last little yellow holdout!

In His Hands,
Jullie T

Using us to be Salt and Light

Hello All,
Michigan this time of year is really amazing.  The colors of the trees are really breathtaking!  Timothy just doesn't understand that sometimes I just gasp when I come around a corner and see something amazing in the red, orange, yellow and purple colors that abound in the trees.  I just think he is too young to appreciate it.  It is starting to get much colder for my morning runs though - 31 F (0 C) this morning!  I will have to find something besides a T-shirt and sweatshirt to wear!  Here are some beautiful pictures of the local area:

Sallie and I have been having a great time with Hank, her horse.  He is such a good boy and puts up with us.  We road him down the road yesterday for the first time and he did great.  She really wants to learn to ride so that she can "run through the field!"  I remember the first time cantering on a beach out in Washington.  It is quite an experience and I sure hope we can get her to that point someday.  Here is a picture of her and Hank:

Jim started his new job this week so he is currently down in Indiana.  He received an apple I phone, a Surface Pro Laptop and a car (to use for the week end) yesterday!  He is studying it all and the plans for the project this week end in a hotel room.  He sounds like he is having fun with it all.  He will be home in another week and we will get to hear all the details.

Just before he left (the day before), we finished the railing on the deck stairs and yesterday the inspector came and blessed it off (not sure that he gave it a real blessing though).  It was very nice to have it all done before he left.  One project of 213 done!

 Last week at church, we talked (again) about using our faith to accomplish God's work here.  He wants to use us where we are to be the Salt and the Light of the world  Mathew 5:13 - 14 says, "You are the salt of the earth.......You are the light of the world.  A city on the hill cannot be hidden."  This is telling us to show God's love to everyone we come across so that they can praise Him (vs 16).  We talked about being proactive also.  Searching for ways in the communities we are in, to be the salt and the light.  I think I am ready to start being proactive again.  Someone at small group put it this way, "When you move, does the community around you notice that you are gone?  Does it leave a hole in the place that you were?"  Jim and I have moved a lot!  I hate leaving that hole, but it helps to put things in perspective that you know you did something to help in the place you were in.  Can't wait to see how God will be using us here!

In His Hands,
Jullie T

Sallie playing soccer this week

'Doers' need rest too

Hello All,
It has been almost a month since my last post.  I don't feel the erge to write here as I did in Kijabe partly because I feel that we are back into normal life and there is nothing special about that.  I have been thinking about that lately.  It is my pride that gets in the way.  In Kijabe, the need was so great that there was always a way to help/contribute to life around us.  So, as a 'doer,' there was plenty to do and write about.  Here, I feel like we are 'doing' for ourselves more.  And, that makes me feel guilty.  So, do I feel guilty because I am no longer "earning His grace" by the 'doing?"  I know in my head that I can not earn His grace by anything I do.  It is His free gift to me (and you), and I need to rest in that more.  Does He call us to act on our faith?  Yes, of course.  James 2:17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."  But, there is a time for everything and now is our time to rest and renew.  But, as 'doers' Jim and I find rest in getting projects done!  We have put this on the back of the house in the last few weeks:

It feels great to be getting some needed items done around this house, but it is also stifling to be controlled by so much 'stuff' in our lives (stuff that needs attention).  I run every morning before sunrise on the smooth, level, country, dirt roads here (Kijabe Friends - notice the contrast to Kijabe roads?) and just pray that God will show me that day how I can show His love to everyone I meet.  I continue to try and rest in His love, but it is hard for me.  You can pray for us as we continue with "normal" life!

A job has found Jim!  We were not really looking for anything, but this came and we see it as a door opening from the Lord and need to walk through it.  He will be working as a project supervisor for a company that designs and builds facilities for medical equipment (mostly radiological).  Sound familiar?  The jobs will be in Michigan but they will take him away from us during the week as they are in more populated areas.  He is excited to be employed again and doing something that he enjoys (and is good at)!  We will give it a try and see where it leads.  It will be a lot like old Navy life where he is gone for a while and then back home.  The kids don't really remember that life but I do.  He starts in another week, so you can remember us as we begin this next phase of life!

The fall colors here are amazing!  We have not seen fall colors in 4 years and it is sometimes breathtaking.  I love this time of year when the trees are so beautiful and the weather is so nice (mid 40's in the morning and 70's in the afternoon).  The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that it indicates winter is coming!

Stole this image from Jeannie's excellent photography - Thanks Jeannie!

Trevor is doing OK at MTU (I think).  He has complied with the Mom requirement of a text, email or call once a week or I will post baby pictures on FB!  (I only had to do that once so far)!  Sounds like he is busy and taking it all in.  We will be glad to see him in a couple of months at Thanksgiving.  

Sallie has been enjoying her horse Hank (the one laying down here).  He is a sweet guy and is really doing well.  He comes running when she calls him and she is learning to walk with him in the round pen.  We were able to finish getting this pen up this last week too.  It is nice to have the fencing done, but now comes the task of sorting and cleaning all of the tack!

Hope you have a great day.  All we have today is a soccer game for Sallie and making hamburgers for diner (sounds so normal - and it is)!

In His Hands (always),
Jullie T

He will Lead us!

Hello All,
We are back in our home here in Michigan.  It is good to be here, but seems surreal.  It feels at times like we are moving through a picture.  Everyday tasks are being done but with a sense of mechanics.  It has been wonderful to catch up with old friends and get the house ready to live in.  We have moved most of our things from the garage back into the house, but all is far from settled!  It is taking longer it seems to unpack than it took to get boxed up to leave!  That is probably not the case, but it sure feels like it.  The renters that were here did a great job at taking care of the house, but there are just those things that need some TLC.  And, when they occur at all the same time, it is a bit overwhelming.  So, we are taking it one day at a time and it is good.

We traveled home from Arizona and were able to catch up with an old friend of Jim's from high school.  It was fun to see him.  Here is a picture from his front yard:

So great to see these lovely ladies!  Aunt Georgia, Me and Mom

Timothy and Sallie attended summer camp for 6 days and had a blast!  They always have a great time at Springhill camp.

During that time, Trevor and I were able to get a bit more done to get him ready to leave for Houghton.  It was comical shopping at Target for the "stuff" he needed!  These big stores know exactly what is on the packing list that the colleges send out.  They have everything shelved in one large area.  All the other moms and kids were shopping, going up and down the aisles looking for the "stuff."  One mom and her daughter were even having a "discussion" on whether or not she was even going to go to school!  You just had to laugh!
We got the "stuff" that he needed, and dropped him off at Michigan Tech last week end.  They had orientation all this past week and start classes Tues.  He has been changing his schedule a bit and trying to get the books he needs, but I think it is all going well.  I told him that if I didn't hear from him at least once a week with a minimum of 3 sentences that I would post baby pictures of him on Face Book!  Hope he realizes that I am serious!

 Sunset from the Mackinaw Bridge as Jim and I returned to our house

We sure miss him already, but I know he is glad to be on his own.

Jim and I celebrated our 28th anniversary this past week.  It is amazing to think that 28 years have gone by.  I thought only old people were married that long!  Wait, I guess that makes us ........!

Jim and I on our wedding day

We still are moving in and unpacking things.  I have a very large stack (that is still growing) of stuff for a garage sale.  Not sure when or where that is going to happen but it sure needs to.  It is amazing how we accumulate so much stuff over the years!  As we were pulling boxes of Trevor's things from the attic and he got up to about 20 he was a bit overwhelmed and decided to commit to being a minimalist!  Not sure that will happen as he likes to collect old things - especially books.  But, we are getting through it and will soon be ready to "live" again. 

We acquired another horse this week!  He is very cute and will be a project for Sallie.  He is a nice addition to our little farm!

Hank and Meeko

We were talking with some friends last night about how God leads us to where He needs us.  In our case, we were not exactly sure how we would fit into life in Kijabe where all the missionaries are doctors or educators.  But, He quickly showed us that His plans are wiser than ours!  He didn't need us to make any of His plans come about, but He put us there for a time to grow our faith and trust in Him.

We are so grateful to God for helping us through this transition.  As we continue to settle back into life here, we are waiting to see what He has in store for us.  Not sure what that will look like, but it is comforting to know that He wants the best for us and we just need to follow where He is leading.

In His Hands,
Jullie T

Home again?

Hello All,
We are back stateside!  We had a few adventures and mishaps along the way, but we arrived back safely and with most of our "stuff" intact.  Since we've been home, we have suffered from jet lag, had a family reunion (weekend long), shopped till we replaced some of our clothes that were "holy," flown to Arizona, visited the Grand Canyon and suffered from another bought of jet lag!  Arizona is another 3 hours further than Michigan and, after just 5 days trying to recuperate (up at 3:30 in the morning!), we had to do it again.  We go back to Michigan on Monday so hopefully, going the other way will set us up right for the eastern time zone!  Here are some of the good-byes being said:

Us with the engineering team in Kijabe

 Jim and John and I being honored with a celebration

Timothy saying good-bye to LP

Many of my Kijabe and missionary friends will understand this, but I feel a certain amount of loss and sadness and disappointment when living here.  The loss and sadness come from the separation from friends and our life in Kijabe.  The disappointment comes from looking at life around me and seeing the abundance and the lack of understanding about the abundance.  It is hard to explain.  I constantly see in my mind's eye the people that I know in and around Kijabe that need school fees, shoes, shelter, clean water.  I think about what my Kenyan friends would think about life here if they just saw the roads and the houses as you drive!  And the mountains of stores where you can buy anything at all!  They surely would think that life is golden here, but we know it is not.  There is just as much (and maybe more) darkness, as people are separated from God.  When you are in need, you tend to turn to God for daily help.  When we have so much and don't "need" we think we can do it on our own.  I get stuck in this trap constantly.  It is so great to be able to go to Him with all of our failings!

Rom 5:17
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 

NIV

I was standing at a large grocery store the other day in front of the bananas and a wave of emotion came over me and I started crying.  I realized that these were not Kampala bananas!  I told my sister in law about this "break-down" and she said, "what was wrong with the bananas?"  It was very funny.  I am sure some people at that store thought there was something seriously wrong with the bananas after seeing me stand there crying in front of them!

My mother lives in Arizona and we have flown here on all of those sky miles to visit for a week.  It was such a breeze flying with just one small bag per person and just one flight at only 3 1/2 hours!  It was like getting in a car and ending up at your destination with no hassle!  Here are a few pictures:

 The grand canyon

The grand canyon is an amazing sight!  It surely reminds us of God's power!

We will travel back to Michigan this week and actually drive up to our house.  It will feel surreal I am sure getting settled back in for a time.  If you are close by and would like to help us move some furniture for a few hours, we will be gathering from 1-3ish on the 7th. 

Not sure that this will feel like home as we have moved about 21 times in the past 28 years!  But, as we put it on band tour a year ago - "We are not home yet" and will not be until we meet our Lord.  No matter where we are here on this earth, we are foreigners, living a life for His sake!

Not sure how much more blogging I will do as people don't want to hear about life in a small town in Michigan!  But, I am sure I will write occasionally as I enjoy it.  Sitting down on Saturdays with a cup of chai and writing about our week has been one of the things that has grounded me and kept me thinking. 

Please pray for us as we travel, get settled, get Timothy and Sallie to camp and get Trevor ready for college.

In His Hands,
Jullie T

Woodpecker in Arizona