Monday, November 1, 2010

The madness continues

We've now been gone from Montana for 5 weeks. Our stay here in Birmingham has been the longest that we've stayed in the same place during this trip. We've been here for 2 weeks straight now. To sum it up, I would say that this trip has been busy, crazy, exhausting, amazing, tiring, frustrating, encouraging and refreshing. funny how one trip can incorporate so many feelings. We've met with churches, small groups, youth groups, and individuals, sharing with them our vision and what God has called us to do working with young people.
It's been really good for David and I to have to explain to people what we do. we've had to step back and look at the past 2 years and see what God has done. It's been so encouraging to meet with people who know us and really support us in our ministry.
It's always bitter sweet for me to come "home". I used to call Birmingham home, but when we went to church last week someone welcomed me and asked if I was visiting for the first time. It took me by surprise since for so many years we were so involved. It struck me that maybe it wasn't home anymore. And yet me heart is still with the people who are there. To be with old friends, the kind that even though you haven't seen them in over a year, it's like you just pick up right where you left off. It's just beautiful. And yet when i'm away from Montana I just miss it. I miss the people, the joy that just abounds there.
We have had great times with friends and family and it will be very very hard to say goodbye in a week. But we are also ready to be back. Of course there are 3000 miles to be traveled in order to get back. So the packing must begin again, trying to figure out how in the world to fit all the "treats" that the grandparents have lavished on our children in our already over packed van. This week will probably be our busiest yet. we have dinners and meetings every night, and almost every day too. We did have a great time on Halloween with the family and a block party.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Our trip south

We left Montana and headed east to Yellowstone for a few days of family fun camping. Then we headed down to CO to spend some time with great friends then it was a long 19 hour drive from CO to KY. The kids were amazing and we made it. From KY we headed to AL and had some car trouble. We were able to get a rental to drive to FL to see my family for the weekend. here's some pictures of our trip so far.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

A busy summer ahead

We've had a very busy few weeks, and it's just getting busier. We had the opportunity last thursday night to go to the graduation for the SBS students. (School of Biblical Studies). It was so encouraging to be there and watch 42 students, mostly in their early 20's who have spent the last 9 months diligently studying the Bible. They've read the entire Bible 5 times, and learned the Inductive way of studying the entire Bible. I was blown away sitting there seeing the passion that these young people have for the Word of God and I just felt overwhelmed with thankfulness that we get to be a part of it. These young people have learned the scripture in a way that will forever change them and they are changing the world. It's just so exciting to me.
We have sadly had to say goodbye to several dear friends this week who have left staff here. It's definitely the hardest part of being here, making friends, watching these young men and women grow up and then saying goodbye. But with that, is the excitement of new students and new staff. This weekend was the start to the summer programs. Summer of Dance, Summer of Music and sumer of Sports are under way. They will be here for 4 weeks and then go on outreach to Tawian for 3 weeks. We also have a DTS equip going on. Where DTS (discipleship training school) leaders from all over the world come here and get trained on how to deal with the students that come to their schools.
Our summer is packed full of exciting things. Here's what we have coming up. Please pray for the workers and families that will be coming throughout the summer to bless our ministry. They give their vacation to come and make our "base" a better facility.
Also, David has been asked to go for a week trip with the Summer Outdoor Adventure Program, to teach fly fishing and talk on servant leadership.
Here's a look at what our summer's going to look like:
July 4th-10th - VWAP (Vacation with a purpose) team from Washington is here
July 12-17th - David teaching the Outdoor Adventure program
July 18th - David's in a wedding in Idaho
July 19-23 - VWAP - Youth group from Florida is coming to work for the week
July 26th-Aug 4th- Mary's parents come for a visit
Aug. 2nd-6 - Another VWAP team
Aug-16-21- work team from Wash.
Aug. 23-27 - University of Nations is having the North Am. leadership conference here at YWAM Montana.

whew, that looks like alot once it's all down. we'll keep you posted and please be praying for students and work teams that come. For safety as they are working, and that they would be blessed as they invest into the ministry that goes on here in Montana.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

the Stalcup's come to visit

What an awesome ending to the school year. Barrett and Luke have finished 3rd and 1st grade and graduations are taking place this week on the base for School of Biblical Studies, Foundations of Community Development, School of Audio Engineering and School of Dance. We've also said goodbye to another Discipleship Training School that has left for outreach to Tailand and Maylasia.
But with saying so many goodbyes came some incredible joy. Some of our best friends, Parke, Jeff and their boys: Noah, David, Josh, Jacob and Seth traveled 2 1/2 days on the train to come for a visit. It's so sweet to have such dear friends here. And to watch 9 boys play and have fun together without arguing or fighting, well it's just amazing. We spent yesterday at Glacier which was a blast.
Here are a few pictures from the past week with the Stalcup's

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Friday, May 21, 2010

The past month





I just can't seem to stay on top of things these days. Life has seemed a little crazy this past month. It started with a bang when David worked so hard to move the laundry out of the tiny-sized kitchen and move it out to the garage. What an amazing feeling to have a pile of laundry stacked up next to where i'm chopping food. Wonderful! Although the day he spent in the attic caused his back to totally spas and he then spent the next 8 days on the floor of the living room, unable to get up. thankfully his back is better now. David also made a trip to Seattle to get building supplies for the base.
It's a bitter sweet feeling on the base this week. Outreach teams have returned and students will be leaving today for home. It's so awesome to hear the stories from their outreaches and to see the changes that have occured over the 2 months since they were here. it's always hard to say bye to the students and yet so exciting that they will be going home and sharing with others what they have learned.
We are on the home stretch for the boys finishing up school. we are all so looking forward to summer. The most exciting thing happening here this summer is that our dear friends John and Sam, along with their 4 girls are moving here! And not only are they moving here, but they're moving into the house next door! God is so good!!! I can hardly wait.
here's a few pictures from the past month

Monday, April 5, 2010

Easter Lenten garden



We made a Lenten garden last week for Easter. I think really it should have been done for all of holy week, but i'm just glad we had by Easter weekend. We went on a little walk and collected moss, rocks, sticks and dirt. the boys enjoyed putting the moss it and Barrett got to nail the nails in the cross that Luke made. Peter and I made the tomb and Flint helped put the rock down. It was really fun to read the Easter story to them as we made the garden. We decided that the playmobil men would make good gaurds for the tomb.
Easter Morning, when the boys had woken up, I had moved the rock from the tomb and filled the tray with flowers. The gaurds had run off the side of the tray. That was part of our little Easter tradition, the making the Lenten garden.

Flint's song

Here's a little clip of Flint singing who know's what.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

I think we missed January

I have no idea how a month can go by so fast. It seems like we were just having Barrett's birthday and now it's almost Valentine's day. Wow that happened fast. Here's a quick update on what's going on here:
- the fall DTS ( Dicipleship Training School) returned from outreaches. There were 85 students and staff who traveled in 4 teams to Egypt, Cambodia-Tailand, Costa Rica, and Cambodia. We were able to spend a night last week at our community meeting hearing about their trips. It's so amazing to see how God is working in these students and through them throughout the world. I love seeing how some of the students have changed after their outreach.
- The winter school is in full swing. There are 25 students in the winter DTS, and 12 in the School of Dance. The SBS (school of Biblical Studies) is going strong in the winter quarter. They've completed the new testament and have now started the Old Testament.
- We are able to have a little taste of home for a few months. One of our dear friend's daughter is here doing a DTS. it's really fun to have her here with us.
- We also had a visit from some other friends from home, John and Samanatha. John is helping with site development on the base, and really help with an overall plan for the base (as far as structures go: classrooms, dorms, houses, etc.). We had such a great time with them. We went skiing for a day for the first time with out kids. it was so much fun. It's just so great to have old friends come and see us. It's always encouraging to be able to share about what we're doing here and have our friends get to see the big picture.
- work has been continuing on "the slab". The building will be used for the facilities shop and auto shop and classrooms. We were talking to one of the staff who grew up here on the base. She was telling us that she remembers when she was about 12 and they spent the day on the base praying over it and asking God what the plan was for it. There was a work day on Saturday and it was great to see people from all departments and schools come out and work together in the snow to get the building done.

Samoa bars



What do you do when you crave a girl scout cookie in Feb?
Make some samoa bars
I made these the other night, and they are amazing!
Here's the recipe:
preheat oven at 350
For cookie crust:
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter- softened
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp. salt
To make the crust: Cream butter and sugar til fluffy. Add egg and vanilla. Mix together. Add flour and salt.
Press into a 9x13 pan
Bake 20 minutes and cool completely

For the topping:
3 cup coconut
12 oz. chewy caramels
1/4 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. milk
10 oz. semi sweet choc. chips

toast coconut under broiler. It took about 7 minutes on low.
Unwrap caramels and melt in microwave. Add the salt and milk before melting them.
Add the coconut to melted caramel.
Spread caramel/coconut over cookie base
Let cool

When it's cool, drizzle with melted chocolate chips. I melted it in microwave, put it in ziploc, cut the tip and drizzled it over bars.

Enjoy!


Saturday, January 9, 2010

Barrett turns 9 !


here are a few more Christmas pictures and Barrett's birthday. We had a lot of fun with a lot of boys. 14 total