Big News!

For those who have known us for any length of time, you know that cross-cultural ministry has been on our hearts for years. Tyler and I both graduated from The Master's College in 2005 with Bible majors. Tyler has an emphasis in Missions and Bible exposition and I have an emphasis in Biblical Counseling When we got married and moved to Alaska we wanted to spend some time getting involved in our church and learning to be married but still wanted to pursue the calling we felt to full time ministry in some way. There were times when we wondered if we would ever find a ministry to which we felt called, but through the last five years, God has molded our lives and our skills to fit us into His program in a way that is more exciting and fulfilling than we had ever dreamed.

The big news is that the Lord has called our family into full time service with Trans World Radio (TWR). After much prayer by Tyler, myself and our church body, we have decided to use our talents with which the Lord has blessed us in order to help expand the reach of the Gospel. We have been appointed to join TWR where Tyler will fill the role of Global Video Coordinator to assist in establishing ways to use videos to reach other cultures for Christ.

TWR broadcasts the Gospel and biblical training materials into areas of the world that are inaccessible to missionaries or where the church is underground and Christians are persecuted. Whether you’re in Iran, North Korea or Sudan, if you have a radio, you can hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Each day thousands of letters pour into TWR’s offices testifying of lives being changed by hearing and believing in the hope of Christ offered over the airwaves. Currently, TWR’s broadcasts are available to over 5 billion people on earth!

Although radio is still far from reaching its potential, a new technology is reshaping how we communicate: the Internet. Now, instead of radio broadcasts, digital media in all forms can be transmitted throughout the world in seconds. A plane load of books can be given to a Chinese pastor on a USB “thumb drive”. Videos can show you Scripture as it’s being read for those who live in oral cultures without the ability to read or write. With the Internet, no matter where you live on earth, you can receive biblical training in your own language.

Right now, the Internet is expanding through developed nations faster than anyone imagined, and it's not through computers - it's through the mobile phone! Currently over 77% of the world has a cell phone subscription, and Internet access is moving towards mobile phones on a daily basis. Already, digital media is able to reach the eyes and ears of the lost in places where missionary's simply can't get to yet.

With so many possibilities to connect with people seeking truth, it is an exciting time to be in missions! As the Global Video Coordinator, it will be Tyler's responsibility to oversee all aspects of the video ministry; and to help lay down a road map to figure out how video can effectively be used to expand Christ’s kingdom.

TWR wants us to live near the ministry headquarters in North Carolina in order to efficiently coordinate with all regions around the world from the central hub. Although not technically overseas moving to the South from Alaska is going to be a cross-cultural experience in and of itself. We hope to be in Cary, North Carolina (near Raleigh) sometime in the next year to begin our new life as global missionaries for TWR.

We hope to be able to partner with many of you, friends and family, in this ministry and will have more information and details for you soon. If you want to find out more about TWR please visit there website here. Also we will be creating a ministry website soon, which I will post a link to once it is up and running. This website will have information such as our testimonies, our journey with TWR so far, the video ministry vision and ways that you can join with us through support and prayer.

We are excited about where the Lord is leading our family and how God will use us in the advancement of His Kingdom. We appreciate all your prayers and support as we move forward with were the Lord has called us to serve.

Learning something new

So it is spring break for schools up here in AK but not in this house. Neal keeps learning new things every day. Here are a few of the things he has been learning lately...

1) How to keep his milk cup with him at all time


2) How to eat with a spoon/fork


3) How to play basketball


4) How to eat his snack from a bowl without dumping it out


5) How to drink from a straw


And look who has finally taken a little interest in walking. He's still not too interested in trying on his own but he will get there eventually.

A Bit of Everyday Life

Things have been nice and routine around here lately. I have managed to spend more time around the house which is nice and I think Neal really likes to be able to just hangout at home, barefoot and jacket free, and play with his toys.

It's funny how often I notice new habits or unique things that Neal does. I wonder sometimes how many habits and things he does from watching me and Tyler. I think that having kids is going to show me a lot about myself, both good and bad. One thing that Neal loves to do is bush his teeth (especially if he sees me brushing my teeth). That's right, we practice good dental hygiene in this house.


The other day while Neal was taking his tubby I noticed that every time he picked up his toy turtle he would put it's head in his mouth and continue to play while "eating" the turtle. As bath time continued I noticed that he did the same thing with each of his three toy turtles. Not sure when he decided he only liked to "eat" the turtles but it was funny to watch him play with all his toys and only put the turtles in his mouth.




I love how Neal is always making me smile and laugh with all the funny little things he does. I am really looking forward to spring and summer when we can get back outside. There is a whole lot of new adventures waiting for Neal once all this snow melts.


I think I have said this before but what a joy and blessing it has been to be able to stay at home with Neal. Tyler has worked so hard to provide for our family so that I can be home during the day. I have learned a lot about myself, sacrifice, time management and God this year as I have learned to be a mom. I think Neal is going to teach me more about myself and challenge me to change some of my thinking without even knowing it. Who knew a one year old could teach me so much.

The Swap

I mentioned about a month ago that I signed up to participate in my very first craft swap. I joined a mug rug swap. First I have to say I LOVED doing this swap. You had to make two mug rugs to send to your swap partner and mail them by the middle of February. I really liked going through my large amount of scrap fabrics and creating two very different and unique looking mug rugs. These are the two that I created (my partners last name started with a "W" which is why there is an appliqued "W" on one of the rugs)



I mailed them off the other day along with some Alaskan Tea, hot coco and coffee. I sure hope my partner likes them. Then the other day I received two mug rugs in the mail from the person who had my name. My partner made the perfect ones for me. Here they are:


I really like the fact that they are simple. Brown is one of my favorite colors (if any of you have seen my house you know how brown is a dominate color). I also love the colorful one she made. I especially like how she used the salvage ends of the fabric. It makes it look very fun and modern and what a great way to use every part of the fabric right? My partner also sent me two fat quarters of fabric and some delicious hot chocolate. Anyone want to join me for some hot coco and cookies?


One of my friends warned me that I would get hooked on the craft swapping if I started and I have to say she was right. I am already searching for a new swap to join - maybe I'll try a potholder swap or a pillow swap, there are so many options.

Also just to get all the craft projects posted at one time my friend Brandy and I finished making the book/diaper bag I had talked about. Here is my finished bag:


It is the perfect size to take my bible and notes to Bible Study Fellowship and also the perfect size to carry around the few items that I need for Neal on a daily basis like, sippy cup, diapers, snacks and an extra set of clothes just in case he needs them. It was the first time that either Brandy or myself had made anything like this so were very impressed with how easy it was to put together and are both so happy with our bags.

If you are interested in making a bag like this or similar visit my friends blog at "Clover and Violet" by clicking the link below. She has some great patterns in her shop that you can order.

First Birthday Party

Neal turned one year old yesterday and we had quite a fun little party to celebrate. We hosted the party out at Neal's GiGi and Grandfathers house in Palmer and had lots of family and a few friends join us for the celebration. Neal's Grandma and Papa from Seattle were even up here for the big celebration.



We had a brown and blue baby block themed party and I may have gone a bit overboard with the decorating but I had so much fun putting it all together. We had a birthday banner, blue "blocks" filled with gold fish crackers for party favors, picture blocks showing pictures of Neal over the last year and a birthday shirt and hat for Neal.




Now everyone knows you can't have a birthday party without a cake. This was my first time decorating a birthday cake so I was a little nervous of how it would turn out. I got lots of great tips and advise from friends and family and my mom was up here to help me put it all together. The end result was a complete success. It turned out exactly as planned. We ended up making the bottom of each cake block out of rice crispy treats to help them be a little more stable and it worked out great. The rice crispy part was actually really tasty with the cake and icing. We also made a small "block" cake just for Neal.




As I have mentioned before Neal has never been a picky eater and so no surprise he devoured his birthday dinner (chicken nuggets, peas and carrots). Shortly after dinner we had cake and he showed no hesitation in eating that either. He finished off his cake and then turned to Tyler asking for more.






It was a fun day with lots of family, friends, food and presents.



I can't believe Neal is already a year old. This past year has been fun, at time tiring and challenging and full of new adventures but it has been the best year for us. Neal has brought so much joy and delight to our family and we just love him to pieces.

Neal

Happy First Birthday to our little man. Today you are one year old and I can hardly believe that a year has gone by since the Lord blessed us with you, our bundle of joy. Oh how I love....

Your beautiful dark brown eyes


The way you always laugh and smile when Dad is around and squeal with delight when he comes home from work



I love how you dance to any and all music


How peaceful you look when you sleep - and how good of a sleeper you are :)


How you and Yawkey are "best buddies" - and can play together all day



The way you just quietly take everything in when we go somewhere new - and wave at everyone you meet



I have never seen anyone enjoy eating as much as you do - You can never have enough food and always want to share whatever we are eating/drinking.



You love to read - If it were up to you I know you'd sit on my lap all day and snuggle while we read stories.


You have brought such great joy to your Dad and I and we cannot imagine life without you. What a great blessing the Lord has given us in you. We pray that as you grow up you would seek the Lord, read His word and be a man after God's own heart. We are so lucky to be your parents and so proud to have you as a part of our family. Happy First Birthday!

Common Visitor

We come home one afternoon and had a very large visitor in our front yard. We have moose wondering in our neighborhood quite a lot. You would think they would be hard to miss, being so large, but there have been a few times that Tyler and I have both been startled by one that we didn't notice.



We took Neal just outside the door to see the moose eating the tree and Neal didn't seem very interested or impressed by this large visitor - such an Alaskan baby.