How do I???

Some of you have asked how you can leave a comment on our blog. I had the settings wrong, so all you have to do now is click on "comment" at the end of each entry and it should take you to a place to leave a comment. We would love to hear from you all.

SUBCOMMITTEE - PTL

We received a phone call from our IMB consultant this morning at 10am and the trustees have approved us for appointment in September. I was so nervous and thought we would have to wait all morning, but it is now done. We are praising God for his faithfulness. Thank you for all of you who have prayed with us and for us. Continue to pray for the sell of our house and that we can get the rest of our medical clearance. Andy's is done, but we are waiting on a reply and I have to have my cholesterol rechecked next week.

The Lake Gang

We have had such a wonderful weekend. Friday morning we were able to visit Union University (our alma mater). Much of the campus was damaged by a tornado in April and we had not been since. The old dorms had to be completely leveled and the new dorms are almost ready. Amazing! They should be ready for the fall semester. Friday afternoon we were able to visit Andy's grandmother, who is in a rehab facility in Milan, TN. She was doing so well and we had a very nice visit. Please continue to pray for her as she heals and tries to return home. Friday night we went to KY Lake in Paris, Tn and met up with some very special long-time friends. We had a great day on the lake Saturday as we felloshiped and played. To the Ridgeways, Pruetts & McFarlands - WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!! We had a blast. To the Madisons - Jimmy and Gloria we love you. Thank you will never be enough, but thank you for sharing your home. We will be forever grateful for the memories that we created this weekend. Finally this morning we went to church at FBC Paris and saw so many people who have loved and encouraged us thorough the years. It was so good to see you all. You have been such a big part of our lives and a part of us will always be with you. Please pray for us this week as we are in revival at Andy's dad's church. Also please pray for us in the morning. This is the day that all our paperwork goes before a subcommittee of IMB trustees for a vote and nomination for appointment. We should know something by early afternoon and we will update as soon as we have any information.

The Lake Gang

We've had such a wonderful weekend. We spent Friday morning visiting Union University in Jackson, TN (our alma mater). They had a devastating tornado in April and we had not seen the damage. It was amazing to see the new dorms. The old ones had to be completely leveled and the new ones will be ready for the start of the fall semester. Friday afternoon we were able to spend with Andy's grandmother, who is in a rehab hospital in Milan, TN. She looked so good and we had a great visit. Please continue to remember her as she heals and prepares to return home. Friday night we joined some very special long-time friends at KY Lake in Paris, TN. We had a wonderful day on the lake Saturday as we played and fellowshiped for what may be the last time for a while. To the Ridgeways, Pruetts and McFarland's - WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!! Thank you for a fabulous weekend! To the Madsions - Jimmy and Gigi, we love you and thank you for sharing your home. We will be forever grateful for the memories we made this weekend. We were also able to attend FBC Paris this morning and see so many people who have loved us and encouraged us through the years. We love you all!! Please pray for us this week as we are in revival at Andy's dad's church. Also please pray for us tomorrow morning. This is when all of our paperwork is presented to a subcommittee of IMB trustees for a vote and nomination for appointment. We will update as soon as we hear how it goes tomorrow.

Update

Just wanted to give you an update on our progress. We are still praying for our house. We had an open house Sunday and we will see if anything develops. This week Andy has a consultation on Wednesday with an oral surgeon to see if his wisdom teeth need to come out before we go. Then we head for West TN on Thursday where we will make the rounds with Andy's grandmother and our friends in Paris. We will end up back with Andy's parents and family. Andy will lead music in revival for his dad and his Uncle Guy is preaching. It should be a good time of fellowship.

Family Time

Michelle's parents have been visiting for a few days (to pick up furntiure) so we took them to one of our favorite picnic spots in the Smokey Mountians. We had a nice picnic and then the boys played on the rocks and in the river. I think they had a good time, but wow was the water cold. We've loved living so close to the mountains and visit every time we get a chance. We hope to get a few more trips in before we leave.

The Eyes Have It

We are trying to get all of our medical items taken care of before we leave, so yesterday we all went to the eye doctor. Ethan was fine and he has decide the eye doctor is his favorite doctor because they didn't poke him or stick him. My prescription had not changed, but he said "multi focal" lenses were in the near future for Andy and I. That's just a new fancy word for bifocals and it still doesn't sound anybetter. I was hoping to hold off until at least 40! Micah was excited that he gets glasses. He won't have to wear then all the time right now, just when he is in the back of the classroom. They dilated our eyes and gave us plastic sunglasses. The boys thought they were hilarious, so I snapped a picture of Micah in his.

Memories

Today has been another day of cleaning out. I have gone through all our pictures and weeded out and reorganized (in hopes of scrapbooking when we get to Portugal). It has been fun to look through all the memories from our life before kids and with kids. I am trying to make memory books for each of the boys before we go, so I was pulling out all the pictures of them with their friends. My how they have all changed in such a few short years. I also realized how faithful God has been through it all. When I look at the faces of all the people who have been so instrumental in our lives and who we are today as individuals and as a family, I know we are blessed. We have left little parts of heart with each person, but have gained so much in return. Thank you all for your love and support throughout our lives.

God is still in control.

"Unbelief looks at God through the circumstances, but faith puts God between itself and its circumstances, and looks at them through Him." - from Streams in the Desert

This quote was in our devotion today as it talked about Elijah and the brook. As he waited and the brook dried up, Elijah could have decided to make a plan of his own, ask God to bless it and move ahead. However, even in the midst of dire circumstances, Elijah waited on the Lord for direction. This thought has been so timely for our family today.

The contract on our house fell through today due to some issues with the buyers. It was so disheartening after the elation of thinking we had it sold. However, we immediately sought God and He brought us back to the passage in 1 Kings about Elijah. We know that God is in control, even in the down times. He knows what is best and we have to wait and trust Him. Psalms 27:13-14 says "I am still confident in this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." We know that God's goodness will shine through if we wait on Him. Please pray that our hearts will not be discouraged as we wait for His direction in His time.

Blessings - Andy & Michelle

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!

PRAISE THE LORD!!! We have accepted the offer on our house. The couple who made the offer has already sold their house, so if everything goes as expected, we will close the first week of August. Selling a home is always stressful, but as we looked back today, we know we are blessed. Our house has been on the market less than 60 days and we have already sold it. Our bank and our agent both said that doesn't happen in the market right now. It is just added confirmation from God that He is in control and that we are doing His will. Pray now that we can finish going through everything, get items to family members that are housing some things, and get moved into our church's "little house". Please also pray for Micah and Ethan. We have talked alot about moving, but now it is actually here and they will have many emotions I am sure. We just want to be sensitive to their emotions and concerns.

Portrait of Porto, Portugal

Many of you have been asking about Portugal and where we are moving. Porto is a city of 1 million + and the people are very loyal. As you can see, Portugal is a very old country with many beautiful buildings. However the people are very set in their Roman Catholic traditions. Even if they do not practice their religion, they uphold their traditions. We pray that as we build relationships that the doors will open for us to share the Gospel of Christ and active relationship with Him. Please enjoy the pictures. (Yes, there is a McDonald's!)

PRAY PRAY PRAY

We have received an offer on our house today. It is less than our asking price, but still a good offer. We have until 5:00p.m. tomorrow to make a decision. Please pray that we will have discernment in our decision. We feel good about the offer, but want it to be with God's direction. The neat thing is that the offer has come from a retired pastor that it moving to town. Please be in prayer with us this evening that we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt what the Lord's will is.

Medical Updates

Andy and I finally heard back from our medical reviews. Though nothing major is wrong, we both have things to check on. Andy's iron level was a little low, so he has to see our doctor, take an iron supplement, and have his blood work redone. I on the other hand have a slightly elevated cholesterol level and I have to get that down and have blood work redone as well. Right now it is the time frame that we prayer for. Our name can still be submitted before the IMB trustees subcommittee at the end of the month, but we can not be officially appointed unless all is cleared up by the 1st of August (6weeks before appointment in GA). Pray that we can get all of this done in a timely manner and without complications.

Back Home

We made it back home today. It was bittersweet because this is our last trip with the youth choir. It was a great week. Our camp pastor was so insipring this week. He shared from Psalms all week and really concentrated on worship and our commitment to God. On the last night he talked about how worship is not an emotional response. It comes first from obedience. We should come prepared to interact with God. If we leave unchanged, then we have wasted God's time. Just going through the motions doesn't get it. I pray that I can come prepared to meet God as I worship corporately and in my quiet time.

Hello from Sunny Orlando

We have made it to Orlando with our youth choir. Our arrival was followed by a monster of a storm and they are calling for rain everyday. Sure wish we could take some home. Toady we had opportunity to hand out flyers for a the VBS of a new church plant. We prayed over the families as we left flyers. It was hot, but I thinik it is good for the students have these experiences outside of their box.