His hands

 Life feels like it's moving so fast these days. 

Dear Emma is two weeks old and precious as they come (except from 9 pm-midnight!...those hours she is available.) We all don't know what we ever did without her, or why it was so hard to imagine adding her to our lives. All the sweet little baby things.

We spent the weekend getting our home ready to stage, (and getting Emma to meet her church family!) which was only only made possible by the generous time and sacrifice of our dear friends. They knew exactly what to do, and helped us do it...keeping me from getting carried away by being overwhelmed and emotional, and helping us get extra furniture, clutter, books, etc, out of the house. We could NOT have done it without Steve, Julie and the kids, and I'm so grateful for the way the Lord keeps showing up in hard, overwhelming circumstances to HELP me. One friend took our dirty clothes to wash yesterday (which ended up being a mountain), various friends are still helping with dinners (SUCH a practical, time-giving gift) and another precious friend took the kids to the science museum today so we could host a few house tours without kiddos and so I could get a little rest (I have been sick and struggling to get better with just little pockets of sleep). 

Just like I never dreamed we'd ever be a family of NINE, I also never dreamed we'd be selling this beautiful house we love until the Lord called us to the next state or country.  Goodness, is it a lot of work, and you all know I dig deep roots.  If He didn't keep providing so clearly His hand, I'd be awfully tempted to get freaked out and sink-y over all these waves.

My dad has two radiations left this week and then we are on to the 6-8 weeks of predicted recovery and waiting and seeing and testing where he is at. Thank you for your continued precious prayers for Him.

Please join us in praying...

-that our house becomes for someone the provision that our missionary friend's house is becoming for us, and that it sells rather quickly (having to get it spotless and empty again and again with a new baby and 6 kiddos to evacuate is proving incredibly challenging)

-for Wesley Biblical Seminary and Emmaus University in Haiti, all preparing for new school years and new students, embracing the sacred work of shepherding the men and women God's calling to lay down lives for His upside-down and backward, totally different kingdom...Praise the Lord. 

-for Matt. He has a heavy load at work and a heavy load at home and a lot of people depending on him. Please continue to pray for God's help and grace while Matt works to bring God the burdens and do one task at a time...which additionally includes buying a house/selling a house/and moving stuff, and foster licensure stuff right now.

Thank you dear ones.