summer

Lots of lovely family have been checking in about summer, and short answer : it is as you'd expect.

Our busy speaking schedule that was to kick off in Pennsylvania the first week of June and go until the last week of July with many churches, friends, and a wedding in between, has slowly been cancelled and rescheduled one by one.

While originally we planned to head North to travel around and see family and friends even in ALL speaking venues did cancel...we're pretty sure that traveling around, staying with new people every other night, and visiting hundreds of people across America is not prudent right now.

(personal note: not being able to see my sister or our nieces is killing me. After everything dear Mayah has been through, it's starting to feel like we are NEVER going to be able to see them again shy of putting their family in a fiberglass box :(

SO, unless you are our beautiful NorthRidge, Sabetha, Kansas family on the July 4th weekend (the only place NOT yet forced to cancel!) or perhaps our Eaton Rapids, Michigan, Camp Meeting family (not yet determined)...we are working with churches and friends and family for a fall "tour" instead.

Meanwhile, our Haiti family is holding firm but cases are suddenly multiplying drastically, daily. The president and prime minister are extending shut-downs for another 2 months...just an incredibly challenging, incredibly challenging time. Keep praying for Emmaus, keep praying for Haiti, down in the valley alongside...

Every Monday we talk to Gertha and Leme and Gues and Jodenel and anyone else who is together at our home, and hearing their voices is so sweet.  I am thankful. Thankful He is there, with them.

Thursday and Friday we're going to talk about some beautiful things we're seeing and experiencing, despite, despite... so start your lists for me.


Several mama's have been asking me what we're reading...If that's you, here's this week!
     
     -Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - Mildred D. Taylor (this is up for Sofie's fourth grade year, but what an important, dignified book, straight out of Mississippi, for ALL of our children)

     -The Terrible Two, Mac Barnett - This is our fun book of the week...it is hilarious, tons of pictures, all three girls are on the edges of their seats and rolling with laughter and asking to read more

     -All of a Kind Family, Sydney Taylor - Sofie's reading this one to us, perfect for girl families,  ages 8-12

     -Letters to Mrs. Roosevelt, Coco de Young - a great book working through the Great Depression through the story of a tween girl

     -Dinner Table Devotions, Nancy Guthrie (our breakfast devotional this year)

     -The Value of Determination, the Story of Helen Keller (our breakfast "ValueTales series") this year

     -Discipleship in the Home, Matt Friedeman (our catechism devotional this year)