just found out...

...my (Shannon's) best local friend back in CD believed while she was studying in Thailand. Hallelujah. But in the same email, I found out she has moved across the land and she won't be living in CD. she has a burden for the people that were affected by the earthquake, and wants to be in that area (she actually had a burden for them before she believed and went to that area before the EQ, so it's just all that much better that she's there. But I'm sad to think I won't get to hang out with her anymore. Selfish, I know, but true.

Anyway, we got to go up to Hannibal MO to talk at Hannibal LaGrange college and had such a good time visiting two of John's brothers and their wife and girlfriend! And then we got an extra treat, in that we got to stop by OBU and talk to one of Johnny's professors who may bring a group from OBU to backpack (they actually have a class that's a backpacking class...)! We hope that happens!!!

So we had a great weekend and got to spend some time together as a family, which we haven't been able to do much this semester :).

Signing off...

America!!

We have been in America for 4 months now, and we are loving it!! Our lives pretty much consist of Johnny going to school and Shannon (me) staying at home with the boys. We are starting to get excited about going home, but we're going to enjoy every second of our time here before we go back!! We LOVE playing in the yard in our house here, and we enjoy every minute of the blue skies and sunshine!! What blessings!

We had a couple of visitors last weekend and had such a blast with them that we didn't want the weekend to be over!! John's family drove down from Tulsa and played with us at the park and hung out with us at our house, too. I think they probably each had to look for eggs at least a dozen times. And, of course, the Easter bunny visited as well--leaving tons of gifts and candy in his wake. Luke has officially christened Easter his "favorite," even more than Christmas. Although we feel like he will prefer Christmas in about 2 months...

I have been a bit obsessed with my sewing machine. I started by making a blanket for my brother and sister-in-law's new baby, and then kept going with one for Jace, and then I have been working for months now on Luke's blanket (he requested one since Jace got one). He wanted a dinosaur blanket, and I maybe bit off a bit more than I can chew, but it's been fun! I am getting to the end stages of the blanket and will save the hand sewing for when we get back overseas (sans sewing machine). I already have an idea for another couple of blankets for the children we dream of adopting...

John is working hard, and will have 15 more hours for his masters' degree at the end of the semester. His classes definitely bring up some interesting discussion, even at the dinner table!

Jace is getting more and more personality every day. He is more of a Mama's boy than Jace ever was, but he is so friendly, too!! He blows kisses when I say "bye" and loves to play ball and put little things in boxes (and take them out). He is strong!

I dream of writing a bit of a book for the boys, but I'm not sure when or how that will ever get done. The only time I have to do anything like that is after the boys are in bed, but that only consists of a couple of hours before I have to crash after an exhausting day!

We hope to get to spend time with friends in Tulsa in May, Texas in June and then return to Asia with a business visa. We are hearing all sorts of exciting projects and such happening while we're gone which makes it even more exciting to think about going back. The Father has been so good to us, and we are excited to see what He has next for our family!