The craft we made a kids club
Ellie and Daddy at the Zoo
Kayla and Braeden
Ellie
All three of my beautiful gifts from God!
I chose to name this post by asking if you are a spectacle because this is something I have been having a hard time with here lately. I guess it is the number one thing that is the hardest thing for me to adjust to living in another country. My family is not normal here. We really are like exhibits in the zoo or something EVERYWHERE we go. At first I began to think, well it would be so different if we were in America. We could go out and speak English and no one would look at us funny. We could let our kids be kids without getting strange looks from others. But would it really be that different. Then I realized that no matter where we were we would never be normal because we have been forever changed by the love of Jesus Christ and there is a reason we are different. So does this mean that my frustration with being an exhibit all of the time just goes away with this thinking, no. But I am trying to look at it from the perspective that I want to stand out in this world but I want to stand out by letting God's love and hope show through my daily actions to let others be drawn to Him. I know I am not the only one that struggles with how others view them. Such as when we tell our kids no and maybe they decide to throw a fit. We do not give in but some view this as something bad. To me this is a form of love. Kids need discipline and need to know that their parents have authority over them and will help them make good decisions. How else are they supposed to grow and understand that God has authority over them and will guide them.
Now I must be honest this disciplining of our kids and trying to be a role model is a hard thing for me. I have been tested many times recently because Elaina is in the fit throwing stage now and I can tell you I fail almost every time. I react because I let my temper get in the way as well as my feeling that everyone is watching and ridiculing me, because of course the fits are always in public! I have been trying my hardest to not react in anger but to just simply tell her that fits are not tolerated and I will be glad to listen to her is she tells me what she needs or wants but I will not listen to the fit. I am trying very hard not to be the screaming mom that I sadly have been in the past. That is sadly how I deal with things when they get out of hand. I tend to raise my voice. I have been working hard to break that habit and take a step back when I feel the impulse to yell coming on. I used to get down on myself because of this but then I realized no-one is perfect. Each of us have some area of our personalities or traits that we would change if we could. This is one for me that I am working on and I felt the need to share with you so that you could see that I am real. I am just being honest and real. So the whole point of sharing this was to bring up the question again. Are you a spectacle? If you are, are you a spectacle for good reasons or bad ones. I hope that I am a spectacle for the good things in my life most importantly the love and hope I have through Jesus. That is my desire!!
Spring arrived here in Tallinn and we have been enjoying it. We have visited the zoo a few times. Elaina has taken off and just wants to run and explore the world. She loved the zoo both times we went. She is a really sweet spirit and even with her tantrums she is just adorable. Braeden is still the budding artist. We literally cannot keep paper in the house because he loves to draw so much. He wants to keep every drawing too. Kayla is such a wonderful big sister. She loves her brother and sister and helps me with them. She is going to be a great mom.
We found out a few weeks ago that we will be moving. God provided a wonderful place for us just a few miles up the road from where we are now. It is like the best of both worlds. It is not a house but not an apartment either. It is a duplex like building with a storage room and small fenced in yard. The kids can still ride their bikes and everything like now too!! We are so thankful. We will begin to move next week sometime. Please pray for the adjustment to the new place particularly Kayla's adjustment. She has friends here in the neighborhood. She at first was reluctant to move but since seeing the new place she has began to like the idea more. My heart breaks to think that maybe moving so much will effect her. But I know as long as we stay strong together as a family and continue to follow God's will for our life then He will take care of us.
I was hoping to be at the half way point of my weight loss by now but I am not. I have lost 27 pounds in 16 weeks though so I am very proud of that. Ever since I hit the 20 pound mark the weight was slow to come off. I have changed things up a bit and lost 2lbs again this week. So we will see. I will get Justin to take a picture of me when I get to my half way point of 28 pounds. Just one more pound away!! I will continue to press on towards my goal of 56 pounds. As we are packing it amazes me to see how little of my clothes actually fit anymore. They are all too big. I can't wait to get home in October and go shopping!!! The best part of the weight loss is how great I feel. I can actually go jogging while the kids ride their bikes and not be exhausted after five minutes!!! I love being healthier and I hope I never go back!!
The kids club has been growing. One week there were 20 kids there!! I ran out of craft supplies there were so many kids. For Easter we made butterflies that said "Jeesus Elab" or "Jesus lives". They learned about the story of Easter and Christ's Resurrection. It is such a joy to see the kids and be a part of their lives. Pray that God will continue to send more kids to learn and grow with Christ!
Thank you for your prayers and support. We will be home for furlough from October 14 2011- July 16, 2012. If you are interested in us coming to your church and sharing God's work here in Estonia please contact Justin @
estoniamissions@yahoo.comWe love and miss you all!! I pray you have a very blessed Easter as we celebrate the gift given to us through Jesus!
This is a video of Happy birthday Daddy!!
