I was wondering what happened to Jack & Judy's website until a note popped up on Facebook about a change with a link to this video.
It's long, but Judy did a great job on it! It's fun for us to see how our and your "stuff" is still being used in ministry (Brian really misses that truck!). I had some great plans I'm sure about what I was going to write, but that was almost a week ago, and it still hasn't happened :) So here it is anyway!
I don't know if I should even try to explain. Stuff is just stuff, I know. But there was something that Brian said as we watched. He said, "Seeing all that stuff, and it still being used, it helps it feel a little more like our time there wasn't a waste."
Sometimes we think of all the work, time, and money (and pain) that it took to get to Zambia, to be there, to leave and there is still pain and sorrow. But it wasn't all in vain-for us or for you. Your gifts are still be used to minister to people in Zambia, just in a new place and in new ways. Thanks again for your prayers, love, gifts, time. Even when we don't see or know what it is, God has a bigger plan!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Well, it’s been awhile since posting! Some days (most!) I just don’t feel I have anything to say and less time to say it. Other times I have too much to say. After writing and processing it, there’s a peace and it’s best to leave it there.
We’ve been doing the daily grind as usual with school and housework. Everyone is growing and just living life I guess (how original, eh?). The last few weeks since Christmas have been emotionally/mentally/spiritually exhausting so the body is feeling it too.
Many of you will remember that we took J down for some visits and testing at the U of Minnesota Intl Adoption Clinic. We got the preliminary results in a visit a couple weeks ago and are now waiting for the full report to read through and digest. He’s still doing speech therapy, occupational therapy and his play therapy with mom. We have made HUGE progress with him, and I have as well. I was seeing a counselor at the same time to continue to process all that was going on. If love is patient, love is kind, self-controlled, gentle and so on…then I definitely love him way more than I did before. I guess I have finally felt I’ve been forgiven for numerous things in the past related to him, and I am choosing to continue to believe even when I feel attacked-a voice says that forgiveness/forgiving myself is too easy. Sometimes it seems that I let this or that go too “easy.” I can step back and say if that was easy, I never want to see hard! It has been a tough process for me and him too I know.
Lately we’ve been dealing with A LOT of behavior issues as he progresses through his stuff too. Many, many times in the last two weeks he has regressed to a 3 year old behaviorally and mentally. When his anger flares it is even younger, sometimes around one. There were a few scary times too, but they SEEM to be behind us (praying!). It is draining to deal with these tantrums as they take a lot of my time, and they feel like we are letting him “get away” with things that were never problems before. It’s hard to keep perspective of a 3 year old in an 8 year old body. Of course the other kids all need me as well and they are missing the attention so they act out as well, especially the boys. I lose my patience with them easier as I am maybe just trying to push through dealing with J so that we get to the next step in his healing. In the last two or three days I’ve seen marked improvement from 5 days ago. The thought is that he will continue to come back around closer to his physical age as the relationship continues to get better. I know he’s gotta test it out to be sure the changes are gonna “stick”, but some days are really wowzer!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! to all those who have been praying for us! It is God that is keeping us a float through your prayers! We so appreciate it and ask that you continue to make mention of us to our YAHWEH ROPHE-the LORD WHO HEALS.
We’ve been doing the daily grind as usual with school and housework. Everyone is growing and just living life I guess (how original, eh?). The last few weeks since Christmas have been emotionally/mentally/spiritually exhausting so the body is feeling it too.
Many of you will remember that we took J down for some visits and testing at the U of Minnesota Intl Adoption Clinic. We got the preliminary results in a visit a couple weeks ago and are now waiting for the full report to read through and digest. He’s still doing speech therapy, occupational therapy and his play therapy with mom. We have made HUGE progress with him, and I have as well. I was seeing a counselor at the same time to continue to process all that was going on. If love is patient, love is kind, self-controlled, gentle and so on…then I definitely love him way more than I did before. I guess I have finally felt I’ve been forgiven for numerous things in the past related to him, and I am choosing to continue to believe even when I feel attacked-a voice says that forgiveness/forgiving myself is too easy. Sometimes it seems that I let this or that go too “easy.” I can step back and say if that was easy, I never want to see hard! It has been a tough process for me and him too I know.
Lately we’ve been dealing with A LOT of behavior issues as he progresses through his stuff too. Many, many times in the last two weeks he has regressed to a 3 year old behaviorally and mentally. When his anger flares it is even younger, sometimes around one. There were a few scary times too, but they SEEM to be behind us (praying!). It is draining to deal with these tantrums as they take a lot of my time, and they feel like we are letting him “get away” with things that were never problems before. It’s hard to keep perspective of a 3 year old in an 8 year old body. Of course the other kids all need me as well and they are missing the attention so they act out as well, especially the boys. I lose my patience with them easier as I am maybe just trying to push through dealing with J so that we get to the next step in his healing. In the last two or three days I’ve seen marked improvement from 5 days ago. The thought is that he will continue to come back around closer to his physical age as the relationship continues to get better. I know he’s gotta test it out to be sure the changes are gonna “stick”, but some days are really wowzer!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! to all those who have been praying for us! It is God that is keeping us a float through your prayers! We so appreciate it and ask that you continue to make mention of us to our YAHWEH ROPHE-the LORD WHO HEALS.
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