more...so much more....too much more

 God has been overwhelming Matt and I with opportunities to meet needs of people who really have desperate need.  Not only is He overwhelming us with opportunities, but also with desire to see those need met.  We really can't do it all.  There is so much.  But we can do some and we can ask others to join us in helping.  We have an incredible AWANA commander and family.  They have a heart for outreach and a heart to serve.  Yesterday Matt went to the hotel in the city where we know many homeless families are living and he dropped off AWANA fliers and permission slips.  We knew it was last minute- AWANA was that night, but we did it anyway.  I (along with my favorite librarian :) drove our van, and our commander and Cameron drove the church van.  We were going to only take one van but decided to take two.  It was a good thing we did.  We got there and kids were already in the lobby jumping up and down when they saw the van and waving their permission slips.  We had 6 families represented.  16 kids and 1 mom came with us.  We fed them at the church and then saw those kids have such a fun time!  2 boys put their faith in Christ.  It was incredible.  When we brought them back to the hotel, we found out that one family missed "the bus" as they called it, by 10 minutes and were so disappointed.  We found out that the reason the numbers were so "small" was that because so many of the kids are sick with the flu.  The hotel staff thanked us for making this opportunity available to these kids.  The rules of the hotel are: no playing in the hallway, no playing outside, no going into other rooms besides your own, no loitering in the lobby.  These families are in hard times. The kids are pent up and antsy.  We heard about one situation that I won't even share here, but that had two moms in tears as they shared this major, very negative life changing thing that took place and the severe consequences.  These people need Hope.  They need Jesus.
We are planning on taking more to church on Sunday- started with one family asking to go, now more are asking. The kids will keep going to AWANA- we will just need more vans!

 We are planning our next even which will be a Valentine's Banquet and Club Hope.  A local grocery store donated all the food we need to feed 70+ people a dinner and dessert.  We have volunteers who are willing to go to a training and be a part of teaching the kids, cooking, baking, serving, cleaning, driving....  It is exciting- but did I mention overwhelming??  We are praying for God to equip us with all we need to do what He is asking us to do.  More funding is needed- we need insurance, child protection on each volunteer, gas money, our own support is not fully there, and we have a lead on a possible intern in the summer but need funds for that as well!  God knows all our  needs and He is faithful.  So far we have not had to turn anyone down due to lack of funds.  We just want to do everything with excellence as we strive to make God's name great and known in the city.

When Matt dropped the fliers off at the hotel he found out that two families were sick.  I made a huge pot of chicken soup and was able to bring jars of soup along with rolls to these families.  When we returned their kids from AWANA, they both said that when they ate the soup they started to feel their strength return.  I told Matt- it wasn't just the soup itself.  Someone was serving them.  Someone was loving and caring for them.  Actually, it wasn't me.  It was God loving them through me.  That's what it's all about- being the hands and feet of Jesus.  It wasn't me at all.

                Break my heart for what breaks Yours....

library

I LOVE our small town library!  Some days there are a lot of interruptions at our house- too many for Andrew to deal with while learning at the same time.  On those days I like to take him to the library to get some work done.  Leah usually tags along because she is perfectly content to look at books, do some puzzles they have there, or bring her own thing to quietly play with.  These short times accomplish so much.  Amazing what quiet can do!

grandparents

It was so nice to have my parents over for a visit!  Mom probably didn't get a moment of quiet because she was so busy.  She helped Alissa with her science fair project, Andrew with grammar, Caleb with math, did all kinds of crafts with Leah, and played trucks with Micah.  She is a well loved grandmother!

Dad played cribbage with the boys. All day long!

They both took Alissa out for breakfast to celebrate her birthday.  She loved it!

happy birthday, alissa!

Alissa turned fourteen.  Not too sure how or when she got to be that old- but it happened!  Since her birthday was on CC day, we celebrated the day before.  She started her morning by visiting with a friend at Dunkin' Donuts.

  (Micah and I hung out and spent the whole time looking at an I Spy book)

Matt and I took her out to Olive Garden for lunch.  It was her first time there! She loved it- and we loved that she loved it :)  It was such a fun time celebrating her life.  She is sweet and laughable, sincere, and so compassionate!  We are so blessed to have her as our daughter~

I  made her a gluten free chocolate cake that (if I do say so) was delicious!

Alissa adores Cameron- he is probably her best friend.  They spend most days doing school in the same room- and it is never quiet.  They laugh their days away and that laughter makes me so happy~

Brianna joined us by facetime.  We know she misses these birthday celebrations and was happy to watch Alissa open her gifts and sing Happy Birthday along with us.

Alissa is such a gift to us and we thank God for her!

club hope

After finding out that there are homeless families living at a certain hotel in the city, we were anxious to get a team together to go in and share Jesus with the kids.  Matt was able to easily get permission from the hotel management to have a Club Hope there and was asked to make up invitations so they could pass them out to all the families.   

Brianna spent most of Friday making 96 cupcakes!  We were able to purchase the ingredients as well as some Hoodsie Cups with a gift card a local grocery store gave to Matt when he shared our mission with them.  Bri did a fabulous job!  (every one of the cupcakes were gone by the end of club!)

We got together team of our family plus 3 adults and 4 teenagers. 

We arrived at the hotel in the freezing cold and as we were preparing the room, the fire alarm went off.  We went outside and saw parents coming out of the hotel with children without coats or shoes.  We offered them our van for shelter and many of them took us up on the offer.  We took advantage of the opportunity to remind them of what we were there to do!  After a few minutes we were clear to go back in and resume preparation. 

We were able to reach 30 kids and 11 adults with the Gospel!  One single mom to five kids stuck around for both of the sessions and asked if she could come to church with us.  We plan to pick her up and bring her and her children next week.  Kids wanted to be held and loved on.  They loved singing the songs and learning the Bible verse.

Brianna had them captivated with the Bible lesson.  She did an excellent job weaving the Gospel into the story.

 The kids got all the questions to the review game right and we anxious to find out the final score to see which team won.  It was such a special time!  God keeps breaking my heart more and more for kids like these.

We are looking for a church or group of Believers who will go into this hotel on a regular basis to minster to these families. Maybe even hold a children's church service there?   The hotel staff has asked us to come back weekly!  Since a main goal of our ministry is to cultivate authentic relationships, Matt is going to pray hard and prioritize finding Christ-followers to "do it to the least of these".  

On a final note.....   During the fire alarm, a young woman got into our van to keep her two month old baby out of the cold.  He was crying inconsolably.  After about 5 minutes, I got into the van, sat next to the mother, and took her baby  boy.  I was thankful I could settle him and get him to sleep.  As I looked at him, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for him.  I wondered if he was going to grow up to live in hopelessness or if he would ever know the hope that is Hope.  Jesus.  I prayed for him.  Over and over I prayed as I looked at him, taking in every little feature visible through the hat and the fleece blanket I had swaddled him in.  I prayed that God would make Himself know to baby Jaeden and that He would draw him to Himself, show Him Jesus at an early age, and make him a man of God.  That is why we are trying to reach the kids- so from childhood they can know God, know His love and grace, make decisions that are pleasing to Him and as a result change the course of a new generation.   God can totally do that.

kiddos

I am getting WAY too used to having Brianna home.  Friday is not going to be fun.....

barista bri

Brianna getting the job at Starbucks has been a real treat for me!!  She has been whipping me up lattes, mochas, and brulees!  

  The syrups and sauces?  Oh yes, they are homemade!

Sandwiches?  She can handle that too. She takes an ordinary turkey and cheese and dresses it up in this amazing way!

I think I see a Brianna's Cafe in her future :)