What is Love?

I am just wrapping up 2014 while wrapping up an in-depth Bible study about 1 Corinthians 13 - the chapter about love. I highly recommend this Bible study guide from the series Bible Studies for Busy Mamas called Thirty Days in 1 Corinthians 13 that walks you through the chapter in 5-15 minutes a day, uncovering gems and digging deeper than I ever had before. Still, in thirty days, I feel I have barely scratched the surface of the depth of this chapter, and in understanding real love.

Recap of 2014 Newsletter

 

Dear Loved Ones,

Well, we missed the boat for a Christmas newsletter this year, so we are making it a New Year's newsletter! Such is life these days. ;-)

We have had a very fruitful year, and we come to its close with thankful hearts. Thankful especially for Jesus Christ and His life and His love which He has given us in abundance.

It has been a year of growth in many ways! Each of our children has grown, and our family has grown by one member. The reach of our ministry has grown as well, and we are thankful for each opportunity the Lord has given us, each door opened and each family reached with the powerful truths of His Word. And yet our greatest desire is to grow in truly knowing Christ... this is life!

My Trim Healthy Pregnancy

Welcome Annaliese Victoria!

Well, it finally happened! We welcomed our sixth child into our family!

Making Room for One More - Part 3 (Making a Co-sleeper)

I like to keep my babies close to me at night while they are little. To serve this purpose, I have always used a pack-n-play with the bassinet attachment next to my bed. However, when we returned to Brazil two years ago, Olivia was already five months old, and we were short on space, so we brought the pack-n-play, while leaving behind the bassinet attachment. 

Making Room for One More - Part 2

Part One is Here.
So once I got my stuff out of the "Storage Room", I was just dying to tackle an enormous project: refinishing the cabinet! We bought this cabinet at a used furniture store four years ago because it was sturdy and functional and what we could afford, but I always thought it was as ugly as sin. Just never seemed like a good time to do anything about it, though....  Until now!

Making Room for One More- PART ONE

There's always room for one more! We are just in the process of trying to discover where it is at! Hehe. We live in a wonderful home, but it is not large by American standards, for eight people, at about 900 square feet. But with a little creativity, we can make it work very well.

Starting a New School Year!!!

Well, we are just finishing up our fifth week of our new school year, and so far, so good!
To tell the truth, I was *totally* overwhelmed about just thinking of getting started. I felt so disorganized, we had been traveling so much, and I felt "low" on curriculum. Two years ago, we returned to Brazil planning to be here for a two year term, so I planned out two years of curriculum for that time and brought it with me.  Now here we are two years later, and we are not going to be returning to the States to restock, so I had to rethink everything.

Me Time?? How much am I willing to give?

But Jesus answered them, saying, “.... Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.  Father, glorify Your name.”  John 12:24-28

LImitations on Video Games and Healthy Alternatives

Video Games... TV..... Movies..... Ipad..... Electronic forms of entertainment *abound* in our world these days. How are parents to manage all of these potentially helpful and potentially harmful "tools" for their children? We have tried a lot of different things at different times, and will probably continue to make adjustments as we go along, but I will share some of the ways we have managed this area as of late: 

Celebrating Vovô's 74th Birthday!

 It was a blessing that our seminar and ministry schedule took us to São Paulo the week of my father-in-law's 74th birthday so that we were able to take him out to celebrate!

An Afternooon of Fishing

A couple of weekends ago, we traveled to São Paulo to do a seminar at a church there on a Friday and a Saturday. The pastor then asked if we would consider staying longer so Fabio could preach at his church on Sunday, and we accepted. 

Afternoon Outside with the Littles

These pics were from about a month or so ago. Fabio was painting the ceiling in our living room/kitchen and also employing the help of the three olders to get it done faster. The problem was the two littles.... there was no good place for them to hang out, so I took them outside. I have to admit that I just don't get outside as much as I wish I did. It seems like there is always SO much I have to get done *inside*, that it is hard for me to just SIT and watch them play

Number SIX Coming Our Way!

Well, this sort of feels like old news since we put it on facebook a few months ago, but in an effort to keep a family record on this blog, I thought I would post this official "announcement" picture, and a few more to accompany it... even some NEW news!! 

And then..... there was Olivia!

I have waited until now to write this post, even though it has been in my mind for many months, because I was still processing the situation... And I still am, but I am ready to share.  I also wanted to write it down before I forget how things happened!

Ever since her unusual entry into the world, Olivia has been just a little bit different from our other children. Just when you think you have a little bit of experience in bringing up little ones, God sends a curve ball. Haha.

Happy 2014!

Dear friends and family,

Warmest Greetings from Brazil! We would like to begin this new year with a BIG THANK YOU, and a short recap of last year.

First a brief update about the family: