Clouds

We've been back on the ship for a week now and I really felt led to express my thoughts about this week.  Our very first week on the ship in July of 2012 was one of the hardest of our lives.  Adalynn and Cora were not sleeping and so we did not sleep. John's job was overwhelming. We had just moved our family to a ship!!  It was a really rough time for us.  We thought we were moving to the ship to be missionaries and that life would automatically be good and easy and we were SO wrong.  We were trying really hard not to approach this transition with dread.  This morning I read in my devotional about a movie that was being made about WWI and that they had to postpone filming for several days because there weren't any clouds in the sky.  The producer said that the aerial fight scenes wouldn't be the same with a blue sky. They needed clouds to give perspective and make the film better.  The devotion related this to life, that sometimes the clouds are needed to give us perspective.  We had those clouds and I am so thankful to say that this week back has been amazing and we recognize the perspective that those clouds gave us.

We learned a lot in this last year and I think we were able to approach this move back to the ship in a different light.  We didn't have the false idea that life would be perfect but we also didn't come feeling completely pessimistic.  I think we came knowing that life was not always going to be easy but that the Lord has led us here and he will carry us through whatever pitfalls we encounter.  We spoke with a lot of our friends and family about the prayers we needed to make it through this transition.  I am so grateful to say that we have felt God's peace and all those prayers answered so vividly.

I wanted to write this blog because I don't want to miss the opportunity to praise God for the amazing answers to prayer and peace that he has given us in this time.  Last night we all slept through the ENTIRE night!!  Yes, that means that I didn't wake up AT ALL for any of my children.  This is a huge milestone.  Time and time again John and I feel that we have been attacked with lack of sleep. I think it is one way Satan has brought us down as a family.  We knew going into a transition overseas with 3 children that lack of sleep was a very real possibility.  We did have 3 nights in a row of the girls waking up to play in the middle of the night (including Cora singing "If You're Happy and You Know it".... at midnight". Lets just say we did not clap our hands.)  But instead of becoming overwhelmed and down about it all we really took it in stride, blamed jet lag and made it through.  Now after one short week we are all sleeping well-Praise Jesus.

The girls have adjusted so well! They love school on the ship and they love all the constant attention.  When I ask them if they want to eat dinner in our cabin or down in the dining hall they both say they want to eat with "all the people".  The things we thought would be overwhelming and take them time to adjust to have been a breeze.  Once again, answered prayers and the Lord's faithfulness in carrying us through this time.  Jack has assumed his role as the "youngest crew member" very well. He is such a laid back baby and has really not missed a beat with all this transition.   I got to take a walk into town with him on Sunday with our friend Gretchen.  We walked to a little café about a mile or so from the ship.  We got ice cream and Jack was swept away immediately by the ladies running the café.  They carried him around for most of the hour we were there, talking to him and showing him to all their friends.  They then asked if we named him after Jack Bauer.  And that is why I love Africa!

So, thank you for your thoughts and your prayers. Thank you for your continued support.  We look forward to our continued transition back and look forward to learning more about what it means to see the Lord through the clouds of life.  We feel so blessed to be here and to be able to serve in this way with such an amazing group of people standing behind us.  We will do our best to keep you updated and hopefully soon give you a little taste of Congo.  But, for now, join us in praising God for his faithfulness and also enjoying some fun pictures of our first week back!

The girls ready to head to school.  Adalynn goes to the preschool and Cora to the nursery.  Both get to go 3 mornings a week from 9-12. Their classes join each other for snack and recess.

Saying "goodbye" to Jack before leaving for school.

Playing on "deck 8".  This is the top deck of the ship. They have a little jungle gym with a slide and some tricycles to ride around.  Adalynn was so excited that she was big enough now to pull Cora on this tricycle.

Swinging on "deck 7".  This is where they spend most of their time playing outside. It's where the school has recess too.  They love the swings. From here we have a view of the dock and the patients waiting to get onto the ship.

A view of the dock from deck 7.  The tents and patient waiting area is behind me the other way.

Dancing in the cabin after I got it finally all cleaned up and all our stuff put away.  It feels good to be back to our small home on the ship.

Saturday morning we took the girls swimming. There is a pool made from an old container on the top deck of the ship.  The girls had a great time!

Jack just sunbathed and slept by the side of the pool.

You can see all  the large ships all around us in the port from the view off the pool deck (and Jack chilling in the foreground).

Another view of the port from the pool deck. That green floor is "deck 8" where the girls were riding the bike.

Jack looking super grown-up!