And... we're back, to blogging that is. Since so much time has lapsed since I last wrote in our blog, here's a quick overview of our last few months.
In December we finished classes at the HEART Institute in Lake Wales, Florida. The semester was an amazing experience and we were so blessed by our church families who provided scholarships for us. The ending of the semester (as with all upper education courses) was intense. Seth and I were busily trying to finish up semester projects, prepare for finals, and invest time in those around us. Seth's semester project was that of creating a mime that we could possibly use one day serving overseas. It was a blessing to watch him be able to use and develop some of his natural drama and leader abilities. The mime was amazing and clearly inspired by the Lord. His holy presence was thick in room as the mime was performed.
My semester project consisted of creating a teaching unit on prenatal education to be used with women living in the third world. I learned so much through this project, including some pretty scary statistics. Did you know that in Africa 1 in 22 women die in childbirth or from childbirth-related causes? In the US only about 1 in 2,600 women die from childbirth or associated causes! It's so sad. But I was able to learn so much. I think the biggest challenge for me was to create a curriculum that could be easily understood by women who have had little or no formal education. Here in the US, if someone is pregnant, most women will gladly read whole books even about pregnancy. In many places in the world, women simply are not afforded this option.
Ok, sorry got off track.
After our time at HEART Seth and I flew to Madison, Wisconsin for a little family vacation fun with the Clarksons. It special to have the whole family together. I think spending the past year overseas has taught us a new appreciation and love for our family(ies). We got to see Sarah (Seth's younger sister) for the first time since returning from Korea! The Wollersheim Winery wasn't too far from where we stayed so we tromped off and enjoyed a wine tour and wine tasting. I love wine. Truly, I do. Few things can do my heart better than to sip a glass of wine with loved ones, eat a little cheese and watch the world around you. Wisconsin is beautiful at this time of year (as long as you like snow that is); the snowy slopes beckoned and we answered the call with a ski strapped to each foot. It was a good time and I didn't even fall, but then again I wasn't that adventurous either. We also took in a fantastic dinner theater and enjoyed the tasty cuisine.
Christmas was spent with my side of the family. I reflected on our Christmas last year (in Korea) and remembered how we were challenged to love and appreciate His abundant love in our lives apart from our families. In the frenzy of the gift opening on Christmas morning, I spend just a few seconds taking it all in. Again, family is such a huge blessing. I'm humbled by the blessing that I have in them. We got lots of wonderful gifts and the night before enjoyed a great Christmas Eve sermon by one of my favorite preachers, Poppers.
In January we moved to Williams, Iowa, to help provide in-home care to my dear Grammie. I'll write more on that some other time.
Right now (February 3rd-February 16th) we're in Arizona, doing a two week training Please be praying for our time here that we would be open to God's call upon our lives. We feel so blessed to be here and to have the opportunity to be here.
Ok, I'm tired. I'm going to sleep. Love you.