Provisions

Sometimes I forget there are folks who check our little blog regularly. . . thanks for continuing to check back.  Now that life has settled down a little (after only five months of intense stress and chaos!), I do hope to begin posting regularly again.

I feel like I am finally coming out of a long, dark cave.  The past five months have been filled with so many things that absolutely drain Cody and I.  There's barely been a minute to breathe.  But I think that season might finally be coming to an end.  Our things arrived safely from Italy a couple of weeks ago--boxes have been unpacked, pictures have been hung and our apartment is beginning to feel like home.  It feels really, really good.

Cody has been in his new role now for a month, and he is so energized!  For the first time in a really long time, he feels like his experience and his strengths are coming together in his role.  Specifically, he is working with staff who have been serving overseas for awhile and are in danger of having to leave the field because of financial crisis.  Not only is he able to offer practical input, he is able to offer encouragement and counsel in helping them to remain where God has called them.  We were so grieved to be leaving Italy, yet God has allowed us to transition to a role where our impact on the gospel going into the world has been greatly multiplied.  We are so excited about that!

A definite highlight of the past month has been watching Gavin play soccer again.  Cody and I have been amazed at how much he has improved.  He is not one to put a lot more effort into things than absolutely needed, but he has worked hard to hone the skills they are learning at practice.  It's been so much fun to watch him play and experience the fruit of his hard work.

And in other news, in two weeks we will be welcoming our first family pet!  In the spring I mentioned how much the kids have been wanting a dog (for years actually).  We finally felt like the time was right, and we think the Lord has led us to a great breeder and a precious little puppy.  Maximus Braveheart Phipps.  These are some pictures from the day we picked him out.

The whole family has been busy preparing for his arrival.  I can't wait to post some more pictures soon!

Thank you so much for your faithfulness to our family and for keeping us in your prayers during this time.  I hope to update our prayer request page tomorrow.