Why Papua New Guiena?

We feel very strongly that God has called us to use the skills he has given us to support His Work. We just received confirmation that we need to be in PNG by August 14th to begin our orientation course. It is exciting to finally have dates and things planned out. We'll also be visiting Churches, Family and Friends during May and June in Montana and July and August in Colorado. I am so excited to be able to spend time with everyone before we leave once again.

Here is a short video that shows you just why we are moving to Papua New Guinea this coming August. This video does a much better job than I could on why we choose to move our family half way around the world.

First Visit to Santa

Yesterday we took the kids to Bass Pro Shop where they both saw Santa Claus for the first time. They loved it. All day today Susannah was asking for more Santa.

A day at the Magic Kingdom

While in Orlando for meetings the last week of October we had the opportunity to spend a day at the Magic Kingdom. We were there from the park opening to the final firework show. We caught both parades and rode on so many rides, some like Peter Pan and the Buzz Lightyear ride 4 times. Isaiah was big enough to go on everything except Space Mountain and loved every roller coaster. Susannah had a blast seeing all the characters, especially the Princesses. She even got to star in the Monster, Inc. Laugh Factory show as Boo. Isaiah stayed awake until after 10pm, finally falling asleep while we waited for the Monorail ride back to our car, which also happened to be the longest wait of the day.


Isaiah went crazy over seeing Buzz, his current favorite movie character. Though he surprised us and was too scared to say hi to Peter Pan and a few other characters.


Susannah was beside herself in Minnie Mouse's house. I love her smile; it didn't leave he face all day!


Another beautiful picture. She was just taken with being able to visit with the Princesses; Cinderella, Belle, and Sleeping Beauty. The Princesses do an incredible job with the kids. Sleeping Beauty sat and talked with Susannah for quite a while and Susannah was so talkative with her. It made this mommy's heart smile to see my little girl to take such pleasure in a simple conversation.


My favorite picture of Isaiah for the day.


What is Disney without a family picture with Mickey and Minnie. Right after the camera clicked Susannah leaned over and planted a huge kiss on Mickey's cheek.

We all had such an amazing day and it won't be forgotten anytime soon.

Rain puddles

We had some big thunderstorms come through here tonight and Pete was a wonderful husband and took the kids outside to play after the rain stopped so I could get dishes done. I've been so sick this past weekend that nothing has gotten done since Thursday. So the kids had a blast playing in the puddles and came back in head to toe muddy.

So when you ask Susannah to smile you get this:


So to be able to see her bright blue eyes we say open your mouth and we get this:


If only the would look at the camera.


This is one of my new favorite pictures of Isaiah.

First 4th of July for the Kids

A collection of Pictures from the 4th of July. A small town parade and an evening of fireworks, the kids loved it all.

Look at our Christmas present!

We have a very exciting Christmas present coming to our family this December. Take a look at this.






We are looking forward to this new little one joining our family. My due date is Dec 27th. Isaiah was 3 days early and Susannah was 3 weeks early so we'll see what this little one brings us.

On another note we have turn in our Wycliffe application packets yesterday. We now will have a couple of interviews, evaluations of our technical skills and Bible knowledge, and we begin to talk about where we will be going overseas. It is an exciting time. Please continue to pray as we go through the Wycliffe process and await the arrival of Schug baby number 3.

Just so Susie isn't forgotten

This super heroine is here to save the day.


This is a smile that melts your heart.

Afternoon Helicopter Ride

This afternoon Peter and Isaiah had the opportunity for a quick ride in a helicopter. One of the perks of work at JAARS. For those who don't know what JAARS is, here is a quick summary. It stands for Jungle Aviation and Radio Services, today try provide realible support services to christian workers around the world. This is the company we are currently working on joining, and are praying to go back overseas with.

So here are a few pictures of Isaiah on the helicopter and the JAARS facilities.











This last one is of our apartment. We are in the middle building check out the great playground right outside and the lake across the street. We love living here right now but are still excited about the chance to go back overseas.

Winter fun and busy travels

Okay so it's been a little while since I've written anything, well maybe a few months. We moved out of our yellow house in Charlotte mid February and traveled through all the cold snowy states for the next 6 weeks. We saw friends and family in Wisconsin, Montana, Colorado and Missouri. It was a wonderful trip and so encouraging to spend extended time with good friends.

It seems that the snow followed us from North Carolina all the way to Colorado. The pictures below are from 4 states over 6 weeks. The kids loved it, but do you know how hard it is to find snow gear in the South! Susannah could walk with outfit on but could not get up once she fell down, we had many good laughs over this.






This is a picture of Susannah and Emily together with my long time high school friends Linda. The girls are only weeks apart and had fun playing together.

I have more posts coming now that we are settled into a new apartment in North Carolina. So I'll talk to you all more again soon;)

Reflecting

“Lord I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give up myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou Wilt. Send me where Thy Wilt. Work out Thy whole will in my life, AT ANY COST, now and forever.” Elizabeth Stamm (Martyred with her husband in China)

I found this quote while I was surfing today and it hit me that how often do I actually live out this prayer. And am I really brave enough to pray this prayer for my life each and every day. It is so easy to get use to all the niceties we have here in the US; food choices, Target's, health care and on and on. Some days all I want is a house with a grassy yard, a steady job for Pete and a knowing that here is where we'll be for the next 20 plus years. But then I stop to think is that what God really wants from me. The answer is still no and as much as I don't like it some days, the majority of the days it excites me. To live a life wholly sold out to God's will and His plan is what my heart desires more than anything.

I've been reflecting as God has brought more changes into our lives and we're unsure of what the next chapter holds for our family. The first steps have been made clear yet once again He has brought us to a place where we only know the plan for the next two months. After that God knows but we first have to be faithful with the steps He has given us for now. He is in total control and all my trust in His good plan for our lives. Don't get me wrong I still struggle with the why's of the whole situation and asking "again?" but deep down I always come back to God and the peace of resting in His will. We can never go wrong if we are there.

Hopefully in the next month I'll be able to share more of what our next steps are and where we are going to be. I'll be excited to learn right along with you;) This is one of those times where all I can do is sit back and laugh at how God works. We asked for very clear guidance about our current situation and He gave it, just in no way how we wanted. But in the end I think it will be ten times more than we could have imagined or planned on our own. How awesome of a God do we serve!

Christmas in Florida

Merry Christmas and all of God's blessings on you and yours this year!


This year we had the privilege of going to Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Most of you don't know but I was born and lived in Fort Lauderdale until I was 9. This was the first time I had been back since then. My mom got us two condos so we had some of our own space while my parents and sisters had their own room. We were very thankful for this arrangement. The best part is the kiddie pool and giant hot tub just a short walk away. My kids and the parents sent just about every waking hour in there. I love being able to swim outside in December.

We went on a airboat ride in the Everglades and saw alligators and iguanas. The kids loved it, Susannah went crazy when the boat went fast. It was pretty cool how the boats turned as full speed.

Afterward Isaiah had the chance to hold a 4 year old alligator. Not to be outdone Susannah had to get in on the action and pet the gator.



For two nights we also had dinner with old family friends. These we're the kids I grew up with. Grant and Eric are 1 and 3 years younger than me but we did everything together when I lived down there. Their Dad pulled out family videos of the 3 of us. We had some good laughs. These guys are now well over a foot taller than me and life has taken us down different paths. But it was so great to see their family. Eric also took us on a boat ride through the intercoastal water ways and we saw some incredible boats.

And of course we had Christmas. Both kids really got into opening presents and where so excited about new toys. Isaiah had one moment where he opened a Super Why cape and wand set and announced he was done with presents. It was great. For about 20 minutes he ran around dressed up as Super Why and refused any more presents but eventually he decided that more presents were okay. It was darling.


I found this one on my camera and it made me laugh.

...so here is what has ben happening since then.

We are well into December now. Thanksgiving vacation with Peter's family was busy. We flew into Denver, rented a car, picked up family on the way to Montana. It was about 19 hours of traveling. Thank God for DVD players! The kids did great and since most of the driving was at night they slept. The only highlight of the trip came in the middle of Wyoming. I had just taken over driving, drove less than 2 blocks to get on the interstate and pulled over on the on ramp to adjust the seat again. All of the sudden I see cop lights pull up behind me. Now the only thing I can think of is that they're checking to make sure nothing is wrong. Haha, not in Wyoming. The cop says he caught me going 11 mph over the speed limit, this in the 2 blocks it took me to get onto the interstate. Apparently the speed limit was 20 mph; which was posted on either end of the construction but since I drove only in the middle on it I never saw. Forget trying to explain anything I was handed a speed ticket for $124. Thank you Wyoming!

To top it off about 5 miles down the interstate I was a deer in the middle of the road and slammed on the brakes and pulled off to the side of the road to miss him. Silly deer decided to turn and run into my back tire. There was deer hair there all week to prove he hit me. Luckily no damage to the rental car though. After those 20 minutes the rest of the trip was uneventful.

One of the highlights of the week was Peter's Mom's Graduation(into heaven) Party. It was a wonderful time of sharing memories with friends and fellowshipping and eating. A party Linda would have been proud of. It was an example of how we are citizens in heaven and the party we get once there when you are a believer in Christ. It confused some people why it wasn't a memorial service but a celebration that Linda is now with Jesus, free of pain and cancer. I pray more people will think on life after death this way.

The trip home went smoothly and uneventful. We even got to spend a day with friends in Colorado before flying back to North Carolina. It makes us miss living out there but we still know God has plans for us here, right now. Someday we'll be back.

Otherwise life keeps moving ahead. We're headed to Florida to spend Christmas with my family in less than 2 weeks. I get to take Peter, Isaiah and Susannah on their first sailboat ride. Many don't know but I grew up in Florida spending most of the family free time sailing and cursing in the ocean off Ft. Lauderdale. I get to go back for the first time in 14 years. Wow is seems crazy. But the beach at Christmas time sounds fun and the boat parade of lights and showing a little of where I grew up to Peter. I'm excited!

I started this almost a month ago and forgot to post...

Life just seems to plug along. I always laugh when people ask whats new and I honestly have nothing to say. We just keep doing the same thing day after day and week after week. Sometimes there are hiccups but life just keeps moving forward. Yes we have things happen but they don't seem too important.

If anything causes us worry it's Susannah. At her doctor appointment last week I mentioned some funny things she does after falling and hitting her head and now i have to take her to a pediatric neurologist to make sure she's not having seizures or something wrong after her concussion in August. That's a little bit scary but after learning more about what could be wrong I'm not quite as scared. I've also been ordered to feed her more fatty foods so she can gain weight. To top it off she ran a high fever all weekend after getting her immunizations on Thursday. She better now but sick kids are never fun.

In a week we'll be in Montana for Thanksgiving with Peter's family. It going to be a hard holiday after his mom passed away. There will be a memorial service/ graduation party for her next Tuesday and we'd appreciate your prayers during this time. But boy do we have a trip to get there. We fly into Denver, pick up a rental car, pick up Aunt and uncle and keep driving for 8 more hours. It's going to be a long day. I'm also excited to see friends in Colorado after Thanksgiving.

Other interesting happenings. Isaiah is potty trained. Yeah!! I'm jumping up and down on this one. He still has days where nothing goes right but they are far and few between. Susannah in next. She is ready and after the holidays it's her turn to learn.

Isaiah has also learned how to play computer games by himself. Thank you PBS Kids. He loves Super Why and Curious George. I can get him started and then he takes off. He can maneuver the mouse and choose the game he likes. Win and get it to start again. This gives me a wonderful but of time to focus on Susannah or get dishes done. The only bad thing is he throws a fit when it's time to be done.

His speech therapy is going great and everyday we are able to understand more and more of what he says. This makes life a bit easier. Yet it seems the more he is able to express himself the more he gets frustrated and throws a tantrum when when he can't get his way. As i was telling Peter Isaiah is hitting his terrible two's a little late and Susannah is hitting them early. She throws the worst tantrums. Does any one else have a harder time disciplining a daughter than a son? i think some has to do with her size, she is just so little

Ouch!

I love how kids always find a way to get new bumps and bruises. Susannah fell face first on the floor today. I was getting a sleeping Isaiah out of the car while she was inside. Here is the result.



Poor little girl had blood running down her chin from a cut along her top gum line. It looks even worse tonight. Bright purple and HUGE!

Random Pictures

I finally downloaded all the pictures from my camera and I was surprised to find some really good ones. Enjoy!

You'll see Susannah really excited about carving pumpkins this morning. She loved getting her hands dirty, Isaiah not so much.

The rest are pictures of our camping trip in September.