Summer Update

It’s been too long since I wrote. I’m going to back track to May.

My brother, Dean, flew to Nairobi the end of May to help me finish packing and give me the moral support I needed to persevere with Chloe’s paperwork. Chloe’s visa was granted and we flew from Kenya to Michigan the beginning of June. The kids and I are staying with my parents in Holland MI for the summer.

My parents and sisters made sure my kids are having a great summer. The kids haven’t quite worn out the grass driving circles around the house in go-carts. They are busy camping, swimming, fishing, and relaxing. Since my family took over child care, I’ve been free to house hunt.

I am buying a ranch house a block from the kids school in Zeeland MI. After Ryan died, I received Life Insurance money and the kids receive Social Security Survivor Benefits each month. I used the life insurance as my down payment and the survivor benefits will cover my monthly house payment. The house is a good investment for our future and it’s a buyer’s market. We plan to live in it for a year while we are in the states. When we return to Kenya, I want to make my house available for other missionaries to stay in.

I want to share this with you, to explain that I am keeping my AIM monthly salary for our living expenses separate from my investments into our new home (life insurance and SS). We still need our supporters prayers and gifts.

Having our own home is bitter sweet. It is a sweet, extravagant blessing to have our own home in the states. My folks and my sisters all live about 10 minutes away. The kids can walk to school every day. And I have guest space for my in-laws to stay with us when they visit. But it’s bitter to be moving into a home with no memories of Ryan walking around barefoot. I miss him moving all these heavy boxes for me. And I deeply miss bickering and bantering with him when we get in each other’s way as we unpack and decide where everything should go. He was the best at relieving the stress in my life and making me laugh.

We will be moving in August 1 (the day of the accident and Frank’s death). Ryan’s parents are driving from NC to help us move. They will be with us for Caleb’s birthday and the first anniversary of Ryan’s death on August 7.

Caleb and Levi start school on August 31. They’ve been tutored over the summer at the school. Unexpectedly taking the fall semester off from school last year was best for us, but the boys are still catching up. Seth and Chloe start young 5’s and preschool September 13. Seth is ready but Chloe has separation anxiety to deal with. All the kids are attending Zeeland Christian School only a block away from our house.

I’ve had lots of doctors appointments over the summer. My Grave’s Disease (hyperthyroidism) is being well managed with medication. I am scheduled to have my pesky gall bladder removed on August 10. I have other diagnosis that I’ve decided not to share. So physically, I just don’t feel good. But I am taking care of myself. The kids are doing great, all had physicals and are growing like crazy.

Spiritually, we are attending a church that is good for us. We sit with my sister and the kids can go to children’s church. I found a ladies Bible Study to join in the fall.

Emotionally, we are all tired. And it shows. All the transitions of moving from Kenya to my folks house to our own house went well. But the kids have meltdowns etc. Moving into our own home and starting a new school will give us the routine that we need. And some rest, I hope.

Financially, we continue to need monthly support through AIM. We will be in the states for 12 months as our planned Home Assignment (furlough). In October I will be available to travel and talk about where God is taking us next. And sharing our need to raise additional support.

God is meeting our needs each day. I look ahead and wonder how I will ever get through it. But we do, day by day.