Update in Numbers (#12)

0-The number of farms we have lived on in our life…until now. An extremely generous family who owns a farm is allowing us to live in a home right on their farm this summer while we are back on our hometown for a couple months. If you know me well, you know I’m not much of a “farm girl” (but who are we kidding? I’m not much of a “jungle girl” either…and that’s where we are planning to spend the next two or three decades of our life…ha!), but we are absolutely loving the farm life!! It has been perfect for us.

1- The number of extremely content, smiley, relaxed, laid-back, sweet five-month-olds we have in our home. August is growing up so fast, and his personality is showing more and more… and man, he is one sweet little guy.

2- The number of births I have be privileged to attend in my lifetime (besides Abel’s…that one is a given). Three and a half years ago, I got to be present during Ivy’s birth, and just a couple weeks ago, I got to attend the birth of our friends Stephen and Rachel’s sweet baby Sullivan! It was such a privilege (and so fun) to take pictures for her!

3-The number of kids I have in the two/three year-olds' Toddler Time at the library this summer. :) Last summer, only Ivy was at the right age to be in it, but it’s so fun that I now have three two and three year-olds this summer. I just love how close in age they are.

4-The number of our kids who are absolutely fascinated with the goats on “our” farm. (August loves them too...he's just not in the picture because I was holding him.) :) We take multiple trips out to the barn every day to visit them!

5- The age Abel has been telling everybody he just turned on his birthday. I'm very glad he's only two...I'm not ready for five years old yet!

6- The number of years we have owned this home (where we thought we would live for the rest of our lives...until the whole tribal missions thing came up...)—which we are hopefully finally going to sell this summer. Know anyone looking for a nice four-bedroom home in the country?? Point them to us! :)

7-The number of adult Sunday School classes we are speaking in at our home church this summer. We are starting “partnership development” this summer—building a team of supporters who want to partner with us in our ministry in an unreached tribe overseas. We are so excited for the opportunity to share about tribal missions with so many people this summer! 

8- The number of months of classes we will have left at the Missionary Training Center when we return there in August. From August through December, we will be taking the last semester of the “regular” missionary classes, and then in January through May, Aaron (and possibly I) will be taking an extra semester for Linguistics training. And then a year from now…we will be totally done with the training. Our tentative leave date for Papua New Guinea is January of 2016.

9- The number of weeks until Aaron and I get to go away on a little two-night getaway. And believe me…I am counting down the days!! I love being a mom, but boy do I sometimes miss the carefree days when it was just me and Aaron. To say I'm excited is an understatement.

10-The number of kids we had here at our farmhouse one day last week. The kids had fun together, but probably not as much fun as their moms had catching up with each other! We have been having lots of playdates like this the past couple of weeks since we moved home for the summer. I am soaking it up. It’s been wonderful.

...and we just got the Internet installed here at our farmhouse, so hopefully you will be hearing more from me in the coming days and weeks. :)