Home is where the heart is.

We've all heard the phrase, "Home is where the heart is," but I never thought much about it until God moved me to PA. And I've been reminded of it now that we've moved back to Indiana. My heart is where ever my husband and children are. But pieces of it are also with my extended family here in the midwest and out east. Other pieces are with my wonderful friends in PA. Still more with the amazing church we left behind in Scranton. I have many "homes" and I'm so grateful for that. Soon we will be placing pieces of our hearts in Russia. I think this is the way it's meant to be - to live and to love everwhere and anywhere that God has us. It makes it much harder to leave, but so much more beautiful while we're there... where ever "there" is.

So now we're here in Elkhart, and it's been quite the adventure! And I'm so pleased to admit that it's been a wonderful adventure! There have definitely been the downsides, like moving into a house that wasn't finished being renovated so all four of us were sleeping in one room. And when I had 102 degree fever for 3 days. And when Jack suddenly decided to be colicky after being a perfectly content baby. But, even amidst the down sides, there were so many ups. Like when my sister and mom helped with Marie while I was sick. And when my younger sibs came over to help us unpack and organize. And how I didn't have to cook for the first week because of the wonderful people at First Baptist. And how my littlest brother has a way with a colicky Jack! God never gives us more than we can handle!

We've been VERY busy since moving here, and I kinda like that! We got here just in time for the Elkhart County 4H fair. We went twice and had SO much fun! Marie loved it!

We've also gotten to attend 2 family birthday parties! We always had to miss them in the past. It's so nice to be a part of everything! I still feel like we're just visiting sometimes, though! It's bittersweet. I love that we don't have to leave, but it makes me sad thinking that we're not going back.

We got to check out some houses the other day! I've officially hired my sister-in-law to design for DandLs DangLs! And I've thoroughly enjoyed watching my baby girl interact with her extended family and being daily amazed by how much she's learning and growing!

Also, PRAISE THE LORD, Derek LOVES his job! More on that another time. I've rambled on enough. Time to get the girl down before the boy wakes up... and maybe catch a little nap myself!

Special THANK YOU to all our wonderful Scranton friends for helping us with food and with moving. We love you!

It's All Working Together for GOOD.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Phil. 4:6)

That verse kinda describes the past couple of years of our lives as we've sought God's plan for us. The past couple of years have been racked with anxiety, uncertainty, frustration, and often the lack of thanksgiving and even prayer. And because of that, God has included this verse in His Word to repremand us, teach us, grow us, change us.

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:7)

Peace is the result of leaving it all before the Lord. By the grace of God, we've been able to leave it all before Him and have been blessed with peace concerning this huge coming change in our lives...

Derek was officially offered a job in Elkhart, Indiana. We've decided to accept it. We will be saying goodbye to our first home, the only home we've known since we've been married. Where we've built our little family. We'll be *tearfully* leaving Scranton behind in July.

We'd appreciate all your prayers as we transition. Between now and July 16 we are going on vacation, packing the house, giving birth to our second child, finding a house in Elkhart, and moving 600 miles away. Lots to do!

A New Possibility

We are currently praying about a job opportunity for Derek in Indiana. He would be a tutor to kids who for one reason or another cannot go to a regular school. He is THRILLED about the prospect. For so many reasons it seems to be the absolutely perfect fit.

As I got more and more excited about the idea of the job and the positive report on the phone interview, I braced myself for a possible... no probable... down side. And it came almost like an afterthought. "They only have openings in Kokomo and Fort Wayne." For those who don't know much about the flat state of Indiana, this means that the closest location would be at least an hour and a half from where my family lives. I suddenly forgot all the reasons we want this job and nearly decided this would be a terrible idea.

This move that we are hoping to make is for the purpose of making a home base to come back to on furlough. We would like to own a house and have family close by so when we're home from the mission field, we don't have to live out of suitcases and we won't have to travel to see family. 2 hours is still traveling to me!

But I promised Derek that I would pray with an open heart, just in case God leads us somewhere I'm not thrilled about (or tells us to stay here). And seeing the light in Derek's eyes when he talks about this job... well God is working on me.

So right now I'm praying that God will provide an opening in either Elkhart, Goshen, or South Bend with the expectation that He will, but the realization that He might not.

Please pray with us while we go through this process. We're traveling to Indiana to check out the campus sometime in the next couple weeks. Hopefully we'll have some definite decisions made soon!