Here For A Year

Just a little update for anyone who still cares!! YES! We have been here for a year now, and we are still in love with Florida. We still believe that God has brought us back here and that He still has a purpose for us here. God gives us confirmation of this on almost a daily basis. Plus I just trust in His promises!! No matter how long it takes to get something going!! Sure we haven't been perfect since we have been here, we have made our fare share of blunders and giving into the temptation of depression, discouragement, feeling hopeless, self doubt, I really could go on and on. But, when it all comes down to it we realize that yes our faith is built on The Rock so why be tempted to step onto the shifting sand. BAD IDEA!! Please, please please pray for us, we COVET your prayers and we truly believe in the power that can happen through prayer!! Even if you just have time for 1 min. for us...its needed!!
So lets see what has happened since last time I wrote... Kids are still doin' awesome as always. Jesh is in middle school now, Obi is in 3rd and Mila is in 1ST. I HATE homework, already, with a passion,they are fine with it. Its just that it takes away from our family time, its every night and Emiliah has the most. Jesh is starting Soccer finally... his love!! Obi got a keyboard for his BDay so he is on his way for Carnage Hall. He is already talking about putting a 'worship group' together and the 'family group' and learning some Christmas songs so he can record it. He is so cute about it. Start with the scales Obi!!And his favorite classes in school... music and art. And we desperately need to get Mila into dance or some type of performance something... as she floats and dances everywhere (no, I really mean it-EVERYWHERE!!) and everything is a song (in the grocery store she is singing to the milk about the yogurt) and she sings LOUD and clear and believe or not she doesn't sound too bad. I will record it one of these days and share it with you!! There spiritual growth has been amazing. This past 5 months Ben does devotion with us every night and the kids have been soaking it up like a sponge. The question and comment time is so much fun. Just when I think they probably didn't get much from that passage we just read, Emiliah breaks out with a whole discussion on there is no way we could exist without God and we would be pretty evil without God.
The Lord has blessed us with some wonderful families around us that need prayer also... my boss and his wife have three beautiful little boys. There last one will be 1yr old at the end of this month. Since birth he has been striving to live. From not breathing, not being able to eat, failure to thrive, not developing properly, to seizures, diminishing eyesight, and a lot more medical scary things that I don't even understand. After lots and lots of test they still really don't know they just know that it is either an extremely rare desease or a whole new one. And everything is always uncertain for them.They just recently went to Atlanta for some very specific tests with the best of the best. They are now waiting to hear. The little guys name is Eli.
Also, a new friend of mine 'lost' her 2 1/2yr old, Lillian, to lukemia on August 12th. In March her little girl broke her arm in 2 spots (they didn't really know how she broke it), it didn't seem like a big deal but she continued to act very sick and tired all the time. She kept taking her daughter in , but it didn't seem like much to the doctors. Then a doctor that works with cancer patients 'happens' to be the next doctor and he saw something not right about her. Her white blood cells were in the single digits and they found out she had lukemia (probably why her arm was broken so easily). She started her treatment and she had to learn how to walk all over again and she seemed to be reacting well to her aggressive treatment. Everything seemed very positive by the end of July, but she was very fragile and vulnerable to anything. They were in and out of the hospital so much that they really didn't worry too much when she was in the hospital again. But, she seemed very sick this time. She was hungry but couldn't eat. Tired but couldn't sleep.And she really really wanted to just get up and play, but she couldn't. This families faith is amazing, they truly know and believe that she is in Jesus arms. But, they still need prayer... Autumn and Jim and they have a 1st grade boy named James.
Also, I just recently met a lady that is dealing with an auto-immune desease that has been causing depression and anxiety and messing with her thyroid. She feels hopeless and like she must be going crazy or something. She is 50 and has never dealt with these things before.Today, she broke down in tears.
Just recently, Ben started a bible study on Sunday nights. He is going through Galatians. We are going to walk around and pass out flyers. Obi has already asked his teacher if he can pass out flyers in his class. Please pray for all the things that go along with this.
I've got to stop, I have been typing too long and need to tend to my family... oh yeah we just moved 2409 Lake Debra Dr #1113 Orlando Fl 32835. We miss everyone sooooo much And I go through my home-sick moods. We would love to hear from anyone of you, call or write!!! love you all, Tiffany and family.

WE'RE STILL ALIVE

Yes, yes I haven't been very good about updating. We have been busy and tired... busy woking...and playing! I don't have much new to say, this is going to be short and sweet. The kids are doing awesome... grading period was last week and all the kids had straight A's. They get free McDonalds happy meals every report card that has A's. And Obi has now stepped above grade level on his math. Emiliah is reading pretty fluently, 100% on spelling (words like 'orange', 'first', 'purple'),and counting by 2's,5's,10's to 100 is easy stuff!By the way... she's just in kindergarten (I cant believe how much they have them doing at this age). Just recently I tried to get Jesh into a program for middle school for accelerated kids to keep him on the right track (and its a smaller,safer environment). His teacher had told me about it and recommended Jesh would fit perfectly there. The school was already at its max, so Jesh went on a waiting list...bummer. So I am praying about homeschooling him again, middle school is an especially hard age at public schools. But that would mean Ben and I would have to work opposite schedules and then do I homeschool all three? So its in the prayer workshop!! We recently have gotten reaquainted with families that we used to goto church with and with some that we almost started a fellowship with and with some that we mentored their kids. We just wanted to see them again and love on them again. It was a great feeling,after a long time without, to be around other christians. To have conversations that on both sides was centered around Christ.To hear and SEE praise reports and then to even pray together. I don't know if any of you have ever done that... gone without fellowship for a long period of time... but I can't explain the feeling! And then it was funny, everyone had this different idea of why God had brought us back. One family thinks Ben is going to be the assistant pastor of their newly started church, another family thinks we are going to be the youth pastors for their budding church that already has a group of teens and another thinks we should take over a church that is suffering. And being here for 8 months and not doing anything yet, my heart goes "Yeah, yeah, yeah which one are we going to get involved with. Finally!" as these people that I love are saying these things that they 'know is God'. But, then again, theres no peace in my heart and so far I've only heard people say it not yet God and then as Ben and I later had a chance to talk about it, he didn't have any peace (matter of fact, easy 'no' for him)so there is no confirmation. And so, we are still in 'the waiting room'. And I am reminded of a passage in the Bible...in IKings 13 where a man of God has been given a command from the Lord to head somewhere(Orlando) but to not return to a certain place to eat and drink(old fellowship). A prophet comes to him (another man of God) and tells him its okay, God has told him its okay to stop and eat and take part of there. So the man of God ends up going against God's commandments that were spoken to him and listens to 'man'- a man of God,yes,but still a man. People may even have good intentions and there hearts may be good,but we must always make sure it really is from God.
Anyways, here are some recent picture albums to take a look at

Naughty Day 2

'Pouty' Day 1

Little Updates

I hope everyone had an awesome Turkey Day. It was pretty special for us. We started new traditions while incorporated old ones... even down to the food. And even though it was just us, we still dressed nicely and made a huge beautiful meal. It was fun! We watched Christmas movies and played lots and lots of games. There was one thing though that makes the holidays very ODD... we had our air conditioner on!! Yes, it has been absolutely beautifull lately and warm. But as I was saying... we have the old traditions and the NEW!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Lots of you have been asking how the kids are doing, if they are adapting well...new school, new home, etc....
Emiliah has just learned how to read (she's in kindergarten) and she received an award for her grades and attitude in school.
Obi (for those who know what we have been through with his reading hurdles- he's in 2nd)has scored srtaight A's and on top of that he is at a 3rd grade reading level!! YES!!And he received an award for an art project (out of the whole school!WOW!)
And then Jesh got straight A's, a few different awards, about 5 gift certificates and he received the highest award that is given in elementary school and is a big deal in Florida.WOW!! I am so proud of each of them (wish I could say they get that from me... but you all know me too well).The kids are adapting just fine.

I almost forgot... Obi has become a young jedi.
He got to fight Darth and defeated him. He has always done well as a young padawon, but now he is a true Jedi!! He has earned his name... 'Obi Wan'

Some of My Photo Albums

I've been needing to get these pictures up to share with you all. These were taken in August. For Obi's birthday, he really wanted to goto the go-karts. He is always so easy to please.With his 8th birthday I was thinking about his life. Does anyone remember the trouble we had with him as a toddler? We used to call him "Jeckle and Hyde". I remember many,many days of crying. Days of tackling him down wrapping my legs and arms around him as he would flip out, scream and cry, hit, and kick. And many days of him going from being so loving and lots of hugs to the next minute being so hateful and even looking at us with hateful eyes. At times I had talked to his doctor thinking there must be something else going on. His doctor even did a head scan because of how extreme things were. I prayed so much for him. I would kneel down beside him as he slept and pray for him a many nights. I wasn't sure if I was gonna make it, if Ben was gonna make it.I tried so many discipline ideas. Then, (I remember this so clear) the week of his 5th birthday it was like an amazing change. The Lord had answered my prayer, a miraculous change. The sweet, loving, joyful side of Obi had won over. And as the years have gone by he grows in that direction. He has this huge heart...HUGE heart for everyone, but especially his family. He is always wanting to do for others before himself. And this amazing, uncompromising discernment for what is right and just. And the things he finds funny just makes you laugh along with him. And this year his mind just amazes us. We went to Disney and instead of being enamored by the show or ride his mind goes straight to figuring out how it all works... and not the typical child figuring out, but getting technical and in detail with Ben and I looking at eachother while shaking our heads in amazement. And then on top of it all, he is the kid that is easy-going, easy to please, and has this "everythings okay" attitude. I am so proud of my Obi and I thank Jesus everyday for allowing me to be his mommy... I am honored!!

Obi's Bday

1st Day of Metrowest Elementary

And I just thought this picture was cute. Frankie's not too into the beach.

We Made It...7 Weeks Ago!!

Move Across America

We made it across the US with no problems... actually it was almost boring! The route we decided to take was the safest, most mellow, fastest, BORING way to go. We went through a lot of nothingness. Click on the album and then watch it as a slide show (you'll feel like your along for the ride). If it wasn't for two stops I would've gone bonkers- Shashone Falls in Idaho (Niagra of the west) and then to my biological grandparents farm in Illinois (haven't been there since I was 2).
Its amazing how the Lord does things, even when you don't ask. Ben and I just assumed we would live in either a low income neighborhood or a really old one. We just don't even think about anything upscale. When we got here we looked and looked and looked on the east side of Orlando. There is a good mixture of okay, good and great neighborhoods. We didn't even try to look west. Part of northwest Orlando is called Pine Hills (also called crime hills) and I have bad memories of some men jumping out of their car with what looked like a gun, yelling things at me, and coming up to Jeshuah's side of the vehicle. I took off, up the shoulder of the road, in a ton of traffic, almost caused a huge accident. They chased me for only a couple of blocks and then I wasn't worth it anymore. When I stopped,(in a safer spot) I realized I had never been so terrified in my life and then I lost it. I started shaking so bad I couldn't drive anymore. Then below that is okay area, but below that and it covers all of western Orlando is very, very expensive upscale areas. Some is new some is old but its all very nice. And the schools are great, the parks are nicer, even the grocery stores are nicer. So of course this wasn't one of choices to go look. But we got to an end of where to live. We got a little scared too. We had looked and looked but absolutely nothing for one reason or another. And it was looking hopeless. So one morning we kind of jokingly said, "Lets just go drive around the west side and the Lord will say, 'Here is where you're going to live and its the right price!'". So we drove around looking at absolutely beautiful houses, way way way out of our price range... just for fun! I said, "Hey, theres a street with 'junky' houses on it." They were nice houses just didn't compare to the other streets. So when we turned down it, there was a for rent sign around the corner. It was a 3bdrm house with a fenced yard, tiled flooring, carport and driveway, and a screened-in pool. Ha Ha Ha, lets call to see how much, we were curious. It was at the top of our price range- stretching it but do-able- and they accepted our application no problem. We were asking the Lord, "Are we supposed to be in western Orlando, not eastern. Are you sure Lord?" And then something amazing happened. A plane in the sky spelled out... "Jesus Luvs You. Trust Jesus" with a big smiley face. Amazing in itself, but this is the 2nd time He has done this for us. Last time we moved to Florida and we were looking for a place to live and we were headed to look at a place in Kissimmee (just below Orlando) and the same thing was just ahead of us in the sky.
So the next day we decided to keep looking in western Orlando and get some options. We found a nice apartment, gated and alarm systems on each apartment, and in( I don't know how) our price range in Metrowest( very nice, newer, ritzy neighborhood). We have police that are paid to sit on our street just to be a presence (its a program they just started this year). And the school is the best elementary in the county. And they accepted our application. Oh yeah, there is also a fireplace in each apartment (?). So we even had options. We went from feeling hopeless and scared to having options... nice options.WOW! So of course we took the cheaper and moved into the apartment. We also thought it would be easier to get involved with people in an apartment.
We have had our fair share of trials, but we just keep going- knowing we are where He wants us. The door hasn't opend for us to start anything yet for a fellowship, but it will happen! I keep getting these great ideas (well I think they are great)for our future church family, so I just keep tucking them away until we actually have a church family.
Please, please keep praying for us for whatever the Lord leads you to pray. He is so good to us and we totally do not deserve it. May God reign in my life and yours.