Sarah Beth in her dorm room.
The three of us at the cafe downstairs in the student center.
John did not want to say goodbye. Not even a little.So with joy--with joy!--you sell it all, you abandon it all. Why? Because you have found something worth losing everything else for. --David Platt, Radical
It would be quite the understatement to say that a lot has changed since the last time I wrote on this blog. Hmmm...we have returned to America, Sarah Beth has gone to college, I have gone back to teaching full-time, the kids are in public school, and Marc is touring the country talking to churches. A little different than it looked a month ago. A month ago, I was sweating through the hottest summer I have ever experienced. Now, I'm wearing a sweater all the time, because I can't get used to the air conditioning. A month ago, it took me an hour to make even the simplest dinner, because everything had to be made from scratch. Now, I'm reveling in the glory that is the American mix. :)
We arrived in the States to find that our church had gone completely overboard preparing a home for us. I'm not kidding--I have yet to do an actual grocery run. I've bought a few things here and there, but mostly, we are still living on food provided by our church. Unbelievable. And from time to time, we are the recipients of drive by giftings, where we arrive home to find something in a bag on the door for us. So sweet. What a pleasure and a joy to be truly loved by a church. A tremendous blessing to us, and a sweet refreshment to our worn-out spirits.
The kids are adjusting. Hannah is doing extremely well, loving school, enjoying friends, inviting everyone she meets to church. John is having a harder time. A new country--one he really doesn't remember much--a big church--different from the 20 Russians we went to church with overseas--and a school where everyone has been together for a long time are making his adjustment a little harder. He'll get there eventually, but it's not an easy time right now. Of course, his sissy leaving and his Daddy being gone haven't made his transition any easier, but such is life.
Marc is doing well, I think, enjoying his time in churches talking about Engage Russia. He misses being overseas, but he's enjoying the time with friends and family here, too. He has lots of interesting opportunities in front of him, and I know he's really excited about what the next year holds and the chance he will have to make connections with churches all over the States. Plus, he's Marc...he's generally a happy sort of fella. God bless him.
As for me...hmmmm...life is weird. It's good. It's positive. But it's super weird. The only thing that isn't weird for me is teaching, which is simply how I engage the world around me. I am really enjoying the time with kids, and I have several situations where I can see God's hand in having me in a particular kid's life for this season. Church is great, though I only know about sixty percent of the people in our church now. I'm singing in the choir, which is fun and wonderful for me. I go to Sunday School, I sing, I go to church, I go to choir practice...I have essentially slipped back into my old life. Super weird.
Because here's the thing...it's my old life, but I'm not my old self. The lens with which I view the world has drastically changed. I have drastically changed in a thousand tangible and intangible ways over the last three years. I cannot--and don't want to--be the person I was before. It's impossible. So I am a new me who looks like the old me living in the old me's life. Like I said, super weird.
So what does that mean? I don't know. Not a clue. Still clearly feel God's call upon my life and the life of my family. Still believe we are destined to be overseas. Still in love with a place that is not my own. Still completely sold on the idea that no matter what we are asked to give up, no matter what we are asked to sacrifice or turn our back on...a life serving Jesus wherever He leads is totally worth it. Crazy? Maybe. But knowing what I know now about truly following Him...I wouldn't choose any other life, no matter how easy that life seems. Not for all the mixes in the world.
Well, time for bed. I am getting up at 4:30 every morning, and it's taking its toll. The good news is that Marc will be home tomorrow, God willing and the creek don't rise. :) I am definitely ready to see my man! Wherever you are in the world, I pray that your life is not super weird, that the God of the universe is in control even if your life is super weird, and that your husband is coming home from Texas tomorrow, too. Blessings to you and yours!
His,
Kellye
It would be quite the understatement to say that a lot has changed since the last time I wrote on this blog. Hmmm...we have returned to America, Sarah Beth has gone to college, I have gone back to teaching full-time, the kids are in public school, and Marc is touring the country talking to churches. A little different than it looked a month ago. A month ago, I was sweating through the hottest summer I have ever experienced. Now, I'm wearing a sweater all the time, because I can't get used to the air conditioning. A month ago, it took me an hour to make even the simplest dinner, because everything had to be made from scratch. Now, I'm reveling in the glory that is the American mix. :)
We arrived in the States to find that our church had gone completely overboard preparing a home for us. I'm not kidding--I have yet to do an actual grocery run. I've bought a few things here and there, but mostly, we are still living on food provided by our church. Unbelievable. And from time to time, we are the recipients of drive by giftings, where we arrive home to find something in a bag on the door for us. So sweet. What a pleasure and a joy to be truly loved by a church. A tremendous blessing to us, and a sweet refreshment to our worn-out spirits.
The kids are adjusting. Hannah is doing extremely well, loving school, enjoying friends, inviting everyone she meets to church. John is having a harder time. A new country--one he really doesn't remember much--a big church--different from the 20 Russians we went to church with overseas--and a school where everyone has been together for a long time are making his adjustment a little harder. He'll get there eventually, but it's not an easy time right now. Of course, his sissy leaving and his Daddy being gone haven't made his transition any easier, but such is life.
Marc is doing well, I think, enjoying his time in churches talking about Engage Russia. He misses being overseas, but he's enjoying the time with friends and family here, too. He has lots of interesting opportunities in front of him, and I know he's really excited about what the next year holds and the chance he will have to make connections with churches all over the States. Plus, he's Marc...he's generally a happy sort of fella. God bless him.
As for me...hmmmm...life is weird. It's good. It's positive. But it's super weird. The only thing that isn't weird for me is teaching, which is simply how I engage the world around me. I am really enjoying the time with kids, and I have several situations where I can see God's hand in having me in a particular kid's life for this season. Church is great, though I only know about sixty percent of the people in our church now. I'm singing in the choir, which is fun and wonderful for me. I go to Sunday School, I sing, I go to church, I go to choir practice...I have essentially slipped back into my old life. Super weird.
Because here's the thing...it's my old life, but I'm not my old self. The lens with which I view the world has drastically changed. I have drastically changed in a thousand tangible and intangible ways over the last three years. I cannot--and don't want to--be the person I was before. It's impossible. So I am a new me who looks like the old me living in the old me's life. Like I said, super weird.
So what does that mean? I don't know. Not a clue. Still clearly feel God's call upon my life and the life of my family. Still believe we are destined to be overseas. Still in love with a place that is not my own. Still completely sold on the idea that no matter what we are asked to give up, no matter what we are asked to sacrifice or turn our back on...a life serving Jesus wherever He leads is totally worth it. Crazy? Maybe. But knowing what I know now about truly following Him...I wouldn't choose any other life, no matter how easy that life seems. Not for all the mixes in the world.
Well, time for bed. I am getting up at 4:30 every morning, and it's taking its toll. The good news is that Marc will be home tomorrow, God willing and the creek don't rise. :) I am definitely ready to see my man! Wherever you are in the world, I pray that your life is not super weird, that the God of the universe is in control even if your life is super weird, and that your husband is coming home from Texas tomorrow, too. Blessings to you and yours!
His,
Kellye
