Change

CHANGE= To transform or convert. To give and take reciprocally; interchange.To transfer from one to another.

Hmmmmmm

Hope for a future

God moves us in ways we sometimes dont expect.We thought we were planted in a garden that we would grow in. We watched our garden get bigger and more beautiful and all of a sudden we were plucked right out of the garden. I wonder if thats how God does it? Does He just look down and say………..hmmm, I think Ill move this over here to this little plot. I think He just might do that. I think that us ,in our humaness has such a limited view, we fail to move forward without some serious urging.Some of us dont take the hint and need to be straight plucked out!

So, here we are Lord. We know what you called us to do. We know you want us in harvest fields getting our hands dirty for you. We’re ready Lord. We are excited about where you are leading us, to serve you unhindered, to walk the path you lit for us, to lead people to see that change begins at the Cross.

He knows the plans He has for us!!

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Haileys Belt test

Hailey did well in her belt test today and earned her orange belt in Kajukenbo. When one of the Black belts came up to us after the sparring competition and said ” if Hailey goes on a date, you got nothing to worry about”……thats just what every daughters father wants to hear.  

priceless moments……or hours

As I was sifting through pictures from the Philippines, I found this one and couldnt stop laughing.I was tickled by this little churches mission, vision, and goal statements. They tell it like it is with exactly what they want, right to the point. We had been there for HOURS and I think it must’ve been 90 degrees and 90 percent humidity.These two poor American guys look like they have had about all they can take.About five minutes after this picture was taken, i think Roy was in the air conditioned car and Larrys was considering un-Christian acts. Someone whispered to me that the normal person can take a service that lasts their age plus two minutes. I know neither one of these guys is 120!

Emily Rose

Emily Rose Kaut….beautiful name for a beautiful girl.

I never had one single labor pain but shes my daughter regardless.Just like the rest of my kids, there have been days that I’ve wanted to spank her and ground her. She married my son in a whirlwind romance that i thought was absolutely crazy. Despite the impulsiveness of their marriage, I have grown to love this girl just like she was my own.She has a priceless smile that Colgate should really invest in if they were smart.The last few months have tested my tolerance and broken my sons heart as she battled her demons.God knows and  I know that she is as sweet as they come and worthy of good things. She loves my little grandson like nobodys business but the demons have come between them too.God knows how much she loves that little boy and how she will invest in his life over the years. My hope for Emily Rose is that she might look in the mirror and see the beautiful girl that we see. That she might realize that she deserves a good life. My son has grown so much in the last year that he has become the man that he needs to be and that she deserves. God is going to bless them for their  commitment to change and I pray that they use their struggle to help  and encourage others.

Beautiful food

hugging strange things

so many things

so many memories so many emotions so many new friendsso many ideas so many dreams so much joy so much sadness so much food so much poverty……….we have so much they have so little and on the other hand  they have so much and we have so little

Bohol

Bohol is home to the Chocolate hills and  the cutest little monkey you ever saw. It had just rained so these little guys were a little wet. they are called Tarsiers and they are a nocturnal monkey!

Prejudice???

Im not quite sure what it is we are experiencing in Japan, but it feels like what I imagine prejudism must feel. In the Philippines, everyone was SO friendly wherever we went.People were warm, gracious and welcoming. Here in Japan, rarely does anyone smile at us, in fact most turn their heads.No one seems to go out of their way to help us at all.Even though we are in an international airport city with many foreigners, its not very welcoming at all.We went in a restaurant for lunch today and we were the only ones there, a very late lunch. They spoke no english but were very nice.We told them they had the best food in Japan and they understood we were happy. they were very nice, bowing over and over to us. The little old lady brought Hailey a gift……….. ” asparagus biscuits”?????