First Day of School

Sweet Ellie had to have her picture taken even though it is not her first day of school!

Beautiful Kayla. Sorry for the frazzled look (Daddy took this picture ;0)

Handsome Braeden (again a little frazzled ;0)

So we started school today at the Owens house. Kayla started fourth grade and Braeden the first grade. The kids did well their first day. We are still getting used to the new program and some adjustments will have to be made but for the most part the day went well.

The kids have recently expressed to us that they desire to go to public school while we are home in America and attend Estonian school upon our return back here next year. Justin and I want to do what is best for our kids spiritually, mentally and physically. We decided to pray and look into the options and see where God leads us. We immediately heard back from the school district in America and they were very excited to welcome our children and have assured us that it will not be too late in the year for them to adjust. They even thanked us for serving God as missionaries. I have to admit I was a little surprised by the schools response. So it looks as though the kids for sure will be attending school in America. The school here also contacted and set up an appointment for us here quickly. The appointment is tomorrow and we will be discussing with them a plan for how to get the kids ready to transition into Estonian schools next year. This is a big step because they do not know much of the language. Braeden will be seven which is the age when they start first grade here which is their first class in real school. Kayla will need more transition time though. Please pray for this meeting and that God continues to lead us to what His will is for our children

I have to admit I was not all for this in the beginning. I feel as though part of my job is being taken away. I do not know if I am ready for my kids to leave yet. I cried a little and prayed and God really spoke to my heart letting me know He would guide me to do what is best for my kids and He would care for them no matter what. I know this will be a great opportunity for the kids to grow and learn with their peers. They never have really showed any interest in attending school so we never really checked into it before. Now they see their friends here starting school and they have adjusted enough to living here that they are ready to go as well. I will follow God's will for my kids and continue to seek Him daily to assure we are going in the right direction.

I promised I would never talk about potty training on my blog but all I will say is that in potty world things are going well for little Ellie. We are almost there!! She is growing so much and enjoys dancing and singing. She even knows the words to some of the Christian songs we play in the car and sings them. So cute!! She eats oatmeal for breakfast every morning and I usually feed it to her but a few weeks ago she told me "I do it Mommy", so I let her. She has been feeding herself since then!! It is bittersweet at times to see your little one growing up. I am very grateful for the wonderful, healthy, beautiful, sweet, and caring children God has given me.

Well I am sure most of you know but I finished my school. So know I am C.Owens RN, BSN!!! :0) Justin still has about six weeks until he graduates with his Masters of Divinity. We also have about six weeks until we are home!! I am getting things cleaned out and ready to pack soon.

Justin has one more time to preach at the International Church before we leave in October. He is still working with one man in discipleship training each week as well. Thank you for your prayers and support. We will be home for furlough from October 14, 2011-July 16, 2012. If you are a pastor and would like us to come to your church please email Justin at his email address on the BMA website. We love and miss you all!!

Is it Fall already?

Waiting for the Knight parade to start!

Dress up!!

Sisters playing!

Pretty girls!

Well we had a short Summer here in Estonia. Since August had arrived the weather has been more Fall like. We have had spouts of rain and cooler temperatures. Today we had a beautiful day and took advantage of it and went to the park and walked around and lets the kids play. We came home tired and satisfied with our time together.

I decided to do some late Spring cleaning and get the kids' rooms cleaned up. Also I have been cleaning out my closet as nothing I have fits except a few things I caught on sale or the few items my Mom gave me for my birthday. I guess it is a good problem to have considering all of my clothes are too big for me but I do get tired of looking like I am wearing a sack instead of a shirt! Ha! I can't wait to get home to do some shopping.

I start my last two weeks of school this week!! All of my major work is done except my final in Economics. Ugh!! That class is tough!! Hopefully I can make it out of it with an A. We will see. I have enjoyed going back to school mainly the nursing classes because it makes me feel like a part of the nursing world again. I love nursing so much and miss it a lot. Hopefully God will show me how to use my nursing skills on the mission field as well. That has got to be the number two adjustment that I am still working on, being content as a stay at home mom.

When I first quit my job for us to become missionaries I thought, this will be great! I will get to focus on my family and kids, not have to worry about shifting back and forth between night shift and home time. Then after being a stay at home mom I began to feel lost. I craved the adult interaction and the feeling of happiness and gratification I received from working. I worked in the happiest place in the hospital, helping moms and babies transition into their new lives. Oh how I loved my job!! I had to really pray to God to show me how to be a good mom and enjoy being at home. Then there is also the aspect of homeschooling. Which I can tell you did not come natural to me. Through much prayer and guidance we have made it two years of homeschooling. Though I am by far not the best teacher in the world, I have to say I am enjoying watching and helping my children learn. We have our rough times but the good really outweighs the bad. God has shown me over these past four years that He will guide me, give me what I need to succeed, and love me unconditionally when I fail. I now can say I am content and really blessed to be able to stay at home with my wonderful family. Especially while they are so little and growing. Though at times I still long to be a nurse, I LOVE being a stay at home mom!!

We will be starting our new home school year on September 5. We are using a new program and hoping that it will be a good mix for the kids.

Justin taught 34 kids how to share their faith at the camp in Kuressaare this past month. That makes over 100 people that Justin has taught how to share their faith this year here in Estonia. we continue to help with the International Church here until October as well.

I have decided to add an element of surprise about my weight loss. I am not going to post about my weight until we arrive home. That way all of our family can see me first hand to see my weight loss and then I will post about it. Everyone likes surprises right? ;0) Do not worry, I still continue to watch what I eat and work out. Promise!

We will be coming to America from October 14-July 16, 2012 for furlough. We have visits through March of 2012 right now. If you are a pastor of a church and would like us to come to your church email Justin estoniamissions@yahoo.com.

We love and miss all of you!! Thank you for your prayers and support!!

Summer Time!!

Gifts!! Braedens 6th birthday party.

More gifts!!

Lining up to play pin the bat on Batman

Braeden's cake

Well I guess it has been a little while since I have been on here. Time went by too fast these past weeks!! In June we had two birthdays. I turned 30 (it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be ;0) Braeden turned six at the end of June as well. We had a small party for him at our house where some of our friends came with their kids to celebrate Braeden with us. They had a lot of fun. We are truly blessed. I cannot believe our little boy is six now!! He has grown so much over these past few years and he has such a warm loving heart.

We finished up the kids school so Kayla finished third grade and Braeden finished kindergarten. We are trying to decide if we should change programs next year because the one we used last year was hard to tell if they really comprehended everything or not. It was a literature based program that did not have any tests except in math. Prior to this program we used a totally workbook based program and it was a little dull so that's why we switched to this one. Please pray we can find the right program for our kids so that they can learn well and be happy.

I started my last two classes this week!! Eight weeks until I graduate!! I cannot believe I am almost done but I am ready to be done at the same time. Justin will still have until mid October before he is done but will get his first Masters degree at the end of this session. He is continuing on for his Masters of Divinity. I am very proud of all of the hard work he has put in.

Next week we will be traveling to one of the islands here in Estonia for Justin to teach evangelism training to a youth camp they are holding there. We try to emphasize the need for friendship evangelism here in which believers are encouraged to reach out through their network of friends and family to share their faith. Please pray for the camp and that God's will will be done with the training and hearts would be changed here. Justin still continues to meet in discipleship training sessions with other believers here as well.

For the next few months we are also helping some friends of ours with their church while they are in the states. Justin preached there this past Sunday and will continue to do so every first Sunday through the time we leave for the states ourselves in October.

Three more months till we are home for furlough!! Can you tell I am excited ;0) We are still working on our schedule. We have appointments till March so far. We will be home October 14, 2011-July 16, 2012. We will be taking appointments from November, 2011-June, 2012. If you would like us to come to your church please email Justin at estoniamissions@yahoo.com

I have lost five more pounds since the last time I reported in. I have to say though that some of that could have been from me being sick so it may come back. As of right now I am at 162 pounds. I am within 13 pounds of my goal weight!!! I recently bought a new bathing suit and even though I am not smoking in it ;0) I do like how the new me looks better than the old me!! Justin is also within about 10 pounds of his goal weight as well. He looks great too!!

Thank you for all of your prayers and support. We love and miss each of you!! If you have the time write a little note. We would love to hear from you!!

Grace

Playing outside at Kids club

Playing a game at kids club

Waiting for a turn

Kayla and Braeden

another half way photo (the last I promise ;0)

The pants I wore a year ago

Miss Ellie

The straw whistle Braeden made with me in school

Well we are all moved now! We received the keys to our new place to live on May 2 and we were moved in completely by the 7th of May! God was very gracious to us during this move. He really provided for us in every way including people to help us move the big items on the last day. It really was in our best interest to move because shortly after we moved we found out that the house we were living in did in fact sell. So we would have had to move anyways.

We are very grateful that God provided us this new home to live in. The new house is perfect for our family. Also the neighbors right next to us have a little girl about Kayla's age and a son around Ellie's age that the kids have already befriended. That made me so happy to see God already provide a friend for Kayla and Braeden. They had friends in the other neighborhood we lived in so this was a prayer of mine for our new home too.

God has been showing me how even though we may go through times that may be unsettling that He will always show me grace through these times as well. We serve an awesome God that loves us that much! I am just in awe of how much I really do not deserve but God gives freely anyways!

I hope that each of you had a wonderful Mother's day. My family was very nice to me and spoiled me all day!! We were very tired after moving all week but Justin still got up and made me breakfast. The kids drew pictures of me and made me pots to go in the kitchen. We did these as our crafts at kid's club the day before. We went to the Mother's Day service at the Hope church here that evening and it was wonderful to see all of the kids present their mothers with gifts they had made and show their love. That night we went out to dinner as well!! Really I am not deserving of so much love but I truly was spoiled!!! I would have been happy just hugging and loving on my family all day. I am really blessed to have them in my life!

We have about six more weeks of school left. We had a late start this year so we plan to finish at the end of June. The kids have learned so much this year. Kayla is learning to write papers and continuing to practice cursive writing. Braeden is learning to read small words and practicing his writing as well. Elaina is growing and repeating everything she hears. she likes to sing and can hold a tune pretty well.

I am in two of my final four classes until I graduate. I plan to be done by the end of August. So far I have all A's!! Justin will finish his degree in October before we go home on furlough. He has been working so hard and has done well.

I am officially in the 160's!!! I have lost a total of 32 pounds so far and right now I weigh 167. I need to lose another 18 pounds to be at a healthy weight for my height and build. I would like to weigh 6 pound less than that but we will see. I am listening more to my body when it comes to exercise and what I can do at this point. I was getting exhausted by continuing at the level I was for so long. Now I do what I feel I can and push just a little further. I still workout about 45 minutes per day five times a week though.

Please continue to pray for us as we enter into the Summer time here in Estonia. Pray that hearts will be softened and changed through the many camps and events that will be held this Summer by the churches here. Pray for us to be willing to continue to seek God and His will every day we are here. We love you and miss you all! Thank you for all of your support.

Easter 2011

Me on Easter morning two years ago. Keep in mind Ellie is only two months old here. But I was at my biggest size 18 before getting pregnant with her.

Justin on Easter morning 22 pounds lighter!

The kids

Me on Easter morning 27 pounds and four sizes smaller than two years ago (size 12)!! If I drop one more size I will be the size I was when I got married 10 years ago (size 8/10).

I decided to post some pictures of our family from Easter as well as a video of the kids hunting Easter eggs for our family and friends who do not see us on a regular basis. I hope you enjoyed celebrating the reality that Jesus is alive and remembering why He came into the world to die for our sins!! I also have included before and after photos of me and my journey with weight loss. I still have one pound till my half way point but decided to go ahead and put the pictures on now!! Have a great week!!

Are you a spectacle??

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.com

We 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!!

Spring are you coming????

Ellie after swimming at the Hotel

Giving Daddy Kisses

A beautiful plant Justin gave me for Valentines Day

Ha!! I just had to put that title because would you believe it is still SNOWING here!!! I am so ready for Spring!!! The snow has melted a lot but just as more grass begins to show down the snow comes again :0( On the bright side we have all been well and enjoying our time inside.

The kids are still doing well in school. Kayla and I finished with our radish growing in Science and are soon moving towards growing corn and beans. I do not know how growing corn int he house is going to work but I told Justin maybe we will put some corn stalks on each side of the upstairs bathroom (AKA the warmest room in the house) and the we can have a Hee Haw theme in there!! Ha!! Should be interesting to say the least. Braeden just finished learning about the human body and how everything works. He learned on day about babies and how they grow inside a woman and such. He was fascinated. He kept asking all week, Momma do babies have brains when there growing? Do they hear when they are growing? It is great to see them learning and being excited to learn. Elaina is talking more and more. She tries to keep it a secret that she can talk. I heard her one morning just talking away to Braeden, she did not know Mommy was up listening. Ha!! I told her I knew her secret and she needs to talk to me too!! She just smiled.

We recently went on a trip to one of the islands here in Estonia for Justin to do an evangelism conference there. We had a great time. About 15 people came to the session. We were invited to come back this Summer and help with a camp for youth there where more than 50 youth are expected to be there, to help with evangelism training. Justin was adding up how many he has trained through these session so far and 77 people have been trained in evangelism. This is only possible through the hands of God bringing these Christians to the realization of the need to tell others of their faith. God is working here to reach His people. Justin also had the opportunity to preach at the church we attend here. He preached on the importance of being a multiplying disciple for Christ. He did well. Justin is also continuing to meet with a young man one on one, in which they study God's word and learn about discipleship together. This young man has already started reproducing himself in the lives of two other people. We are still praying for others to be led into our lives to grow and learn about discipleship with.

We recently had to begin to face the reality that we may have to move again. We are not thrilled with this situation but we have decided to leave it to God. We will know soon whether we must move or not and will probably be moving in Summer if we have to. The house we are renting is for sale and if our landlord does not want to continue to rent it then we will have to move. The reason this is difficult is we have already moved three times in the past four years. That is a lot of moving and adjusting and we were worried it is taking a toll on the kids. But after prayer and getting perspective we have decided that as long as we are in God's will, He will take care of us. Life is not easy at times but we are very blessed and what matters is we stick together and stand strong in Christ. So please join us in prayer that the right decision is made about our living place here in Estonia.

I am 12 weeks into my journey of loosing weight and have lost a total of 22 pounds!! Yay!!! Six more pounds to go until my half way point. I have had to buy a new pair of pants because the ones I bought at Christmas were falling off of me! I am glad to see the changes with my body. Justin has lost about 18 pounds.

Thank you for continuing to pray for Estonia and for hearts to be changed here. Thank you for praying for our family. We love and miss everyone. Have a great week!!