August Passing...

Some people have suggested to us that we stay more current on the updates about our family.  We did switch to a blog for just that reason.  So, as per requests, we will be posting way more often just to share with you what is going on with us. 

So, last weekend was the long trek to what we know as 'the old house' in Umpire, Arkansas for our family reunion that happens every year on the first Sunday in August.  Eight or so hours for us, to a house that is over a century old, to see family we haven't seen in at least a year, but for us it had been three years, since we hadn't been to the family reunion since we moved to Panama.  Ella, our Panamanian, had never been to the house where her namesake great-grandmother, Clarice, was born.  It was good to see family and for our children to be able to experience the tradition of something that I (Alisha) grew up with every year of my life.  Reconnecting with grandparents, cousins, and family during our time here in the states has been a blessing for our children.  The kids are enjoying special time with grandparents, and daddy and mommy are enjoying a break every now and again.

We even had tie-dye cake!

We came home from Arkansas on Lily's birthday, and then we had her 10th birthday party that Friday night.  She wanted a hippie sleep-over party.  Six girls: tie-dying, chocolate eating, screaming, giggling, movie-watching, hair do-ing, stay up late kind of fun, fun, fun.

The girls in their tie-dye shirts.

Simon and daughter Naomi on Skype

We were able to talk with Simon and Sarai Morrow via Skype the other night.  It is always such an encouragement to be able to talk, pray and connect with them on a regular basis!  They are excited about our coming trip to Ireland in November. They told us that the group of believers there in Ballina is already praying for us and for our visit; that was so very humbling to hear.  It was good to hear about what is happening in Ballina. Please read more about what God is doing on their blog.  http://themorrowsinireland.blogspot.com/2011/07/were-here.html

On the home-front here at Youth-Reach, we are wrapping up the summer and gearing up for the fall. Four days a week, Phillip is in the classroom teaching the Youth-Reach residents, while Alisha continues her exhaustive research to find the most suitable curriculum to support our homeschooling efforts.

Just when we think we might be dragging our feet in providing the best educational experience for our children, we are blown away by what they are actually experiencing. A few days ago, Noah enlightened us on his new favorite color, chartreuse. Uh, I think I had that on a burger once...

Lily is creating something everyday, today it was a fishing pole from an old shovel handle. She's also reading nearly four books at the same time. Tonight, I found her reading by the light of a glow-bracelet, so I offered her a flashlight instead. Why not, it's a book and not a video game.

Ella is counting nearly to fifteen. Her vocabulary exceeds well over 200 words, but is sorely trumped by her all-time favorite, "NO!"

Ezra is proving himself to be a forerunner to the Strong-Man competition. He pulls himself up on his feet and then smiles to the world with a "yeah, look at me!" After he realizes he can't sit down, his smile turns into a worrisome frown.

All-in-all we continue to confidently do the only thing we know how to do: Take it a day at a time, and, keep moving forward.

Thank you for checking in on us and reading this blog.  Thank you for your prayers for our family.

Ireland in our Sights!

It looks like we are going to Ireland!  We found tickets that were really reasonable and have reserved them for November 14 with the return to Houston on Thanksgiving Day.  Thank you so much for those that have begun to give toward our mission scouting trip to Ballina, County Mayo, in the West of Ireland.

We are so very excited and feel honored to have the opportunity to go and investigate the possibilities of what God may have in store for us.  Phillip and I are praying that God will show us definitively during our time there, if this is where He is directing our next steps.

God is revealing to us, more and more, the importance of community.  He has placed us, we believe, purposefully, in a working community here at Youth-Reach Houston in order to teach us how to live with the vulnerability of living with other people very close.

Please pray that God will guide us as we take these steps to seek God's plan for our family.  If when we return from our scouting trip to Ballina God has revealed to us that this is where we should follow him next, we will most likely not leave for Ireland for at least another year.  We will need to pray, to build prayer and financial support, and also to seek council as to the steps to make such a move.

Also, many have asked about Phillip's university courses.  The courses he is taking this semester are all completely online, and he will be able to do work anywhere there is an internet connection.  Praise God for internet!  In regards to any questions, if you have a question for us, you can email us, obviously, or at the bottom of this blog is a section for questions and answers.  You can enter the question in that section, and we can answer there where everyone else can see the conversation as well.