Wow! It's been awhile! Well, not much new on our end-which is kind of nice :) Jake is working for Aagard, traveling about 50% of the time and home the rest. Our bus project is coming along and we took it camping for a night for Alyssa's b-day. It was a lot of fun, and we LOVE it. Jake is doing a spectacular job...not that we expected anything else :) Our church youth group got together and helped sand it for painting-big blessing!!
Alyssa and Bekkah finally completed the 2009-2010 school year!!! They worked hard and we are done!! Gracie and I are still working, but she passed a 1st grade assessment very well and is really picking up reading and math. She's awesome :) Alyssa is enrolled in Discovery Middle School and the rest are enrolled in Garfield Elementary. We cannot believe all four girls will be in school!!!!! And Alyssa will be in junior high!! Where does the time go?!?!? Funny (or not so much?) God story. When we had planned to go to Rockford for school...we knew the girls would have to go to school since I could not attend school and homeschool at the same time. I was really wrestling with Alyssa attending 7th grade in a public school. We prayed and I had this feeling I'd have to let her go, but Rockford Elementary looked pretty cool. Alyssa, again experienced God speaking to her and came to us. She told us that she felt God wanted her to go to school to be a testimony and a light. THEN...God turned things upside down and informed us we were staying here this year. So I began to assume we were to homeschool. Alyssa really did not want to attend Discovery and I have been dead against it since...forever. Then we realized that when God spoke to us, He did not give us the name of the school...just that she should attend public school. Ugh. Jake felt we needed to strongly consider public school for all of them and that I needed to just have some time with me and God and refreshment before we move on to the next leg of this journey. How could THAT be God?? Shouldn't every God ordained decision involve trial, hardship, and sacrifice? Lol. I am learning the character of God more and more. He works in a variety of ways. He is our CREATOR...He is CREATIVE. And oh how in love with Him I am!!!
We are still praying for a home to house-sit in the Alexandria area. We REALLY want to be in town so that I can be more heavily involved in music ministry and so we all can be more involved in the community this next school year. Please pray for us! That is probably are biggest prayer request right now.
This next season is a time of keeping our eyes and ears open to God and what He has in store for us. I (Rachael), am looking forward to doing an at home piano course, taking guitar lessons, getting involved with music ministries and women. God recently used a worship conference to completely set me free and I want to get involved with loving on people every chance I get. I have started teaching my girls some on worship and the original hebrew words for praise. It has been so great. God is opening my eyes about how to teach them to put on the mind of Christ and how to use what they love for ministry. Example: Bekkah loves to draw. She now started a folder titled "ministry" for her drawings. She is going to keep her eyes open and pray about who to bless with a picture. I love this!!! Anyway, I could write a book on what I am learning and this blog is not just about me!!! Lol.
Jake is busy keeping his eyes open for ministry opportunities while he travels. He loves the mindset that God is developing in him. This whole God thing is about relationship with Him and with others-is it not?!?! We are so excited for what God has in store and are looking for every opportunity to love people here in the meantime.
That is our update for now! I am working on Jake to write a bit himself :) He is crazy busy though with work and the bus project and this is the way I can come alongside of him. So for now, you all will have to put up with my detailed rambling :) Jake IS going to take over the picture aspect of this site. He is gifted in that and as you can tell from the lack of updated pics...I am not-lol.
God bless you all!! We would LOVE to hear from you and what God is doing in YOUR lives!!!! We are all on a journey of faith and we love to hear of how God is working!!
Love,
