We're packing...

Hey guys, we are heading to Iceland (probably on February 6th). We have not been granted a long term visa yet, but have permission to come on our passports in the intervening time. We are grateful to God for His providence in our lives that has led us to this point and trust in his provision for his future work. We have a lot to do between now and next Friday and would appreciate your continued prayers.
Many of you have prayed faithfully for us during this long process and we give thanks for your partnership and friendship. Now we ask that you would join with us in giving thanks to God, "who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." May it be that God would grant that many would find this fragrance to be the aroma of life to life.

Request

I want to ask you to set aside some time to pray for our visa situation today. Most importantly pray for a positive decision on our visa appeal and that we will hear of a decision in the next few days. If you can, gather some other believers or your family together to pray for this request.

The Ville

Every Thursday, if we have not heard from immigration yet, we plan out our next week. Last Thursday Colby decided to take another J-term/intensive class at Southern Seminary. He's now decided to work towards a Masters of Divinity through Southern which is mainly an online degree with some on campus requirements.

This weekend we were able to visit the Speed Art Museum for their Family Fun Day exhibits and I had a blast reliving my middle-school art class days. On Sunday we were invited to a new church to share about Iceland. This is the 5th different church in a row that we have gone to. After the service, Haley's Sunday School teacher came up to me to ask who we were and to get our story straight. Apparently this is the conversation she had with Haley during church:

"Hi, honey....where are you from?"
"Well.....I came from Tennessee."
"Tennesee, oh okay. Well, do you live in Kentucky now?"
"Ummm...yes, I live in the Kentucky house."
"Oh....Do your parents own the Kentucky house?"
{distressed face} "No..."
"So, you are just visiting the Kentucky house?"
{Napoleon-Dynamite-sigh-of- frustration} "I don't know...I'm going to Pennsylvania."
"Maybe I should just talk to your mommy."

We have reconnected with old Liberty friends that are here at the Seminary and also saw Kent and Sherri Patterson last night. Our house is less than a mile from Church Hill Downs (Home of the Kentucky Derby) and the University of Louisville. Being here this past week I have learned that Louisville is pronounced neither LOUIS-ville (like it is written), nor LOUIE-ville (like one would suspect), but rather LOO-A-VULL.

Next stop....

...Louisville, Kentucky.

Colby, the overachiever that he is, applied for a Greek exegesis class during the J-term. So, we packed our bags in Nashville, and drove 2 1/2 hours northeast to our next adventure. We are so thankful for the hospitality of Beechmont Baptist Church letting us stay in their missionary house on such short notice (we called on Friday, and got in on Saturday!) For the first time since July, it is just the four of us in one house. I can't believe it's been that long....

Our new house is amazing. Four levels (including a basement), three bedrooms, a fireplace (my dream), and a piano. There is no internet at the house, and it has been a nice break to be unplugged. Today I played the piano for awhile and realized how long it had been since I had done that. This morning I unpacked my suitcase for the first time since October. Who knows where we will be next week, but for the time-being we are enjoying seeing new things here in Louisville. There are Kentucky Derby pictures plastered everywhere and everywhere we go, Haley makes a scene: "Mom...LOOK!! It's SPIRIT.....OH, MOM, LOOK....Black Beauty!"

Nashville or bust...

... I am so blessed to have such great friends!

DSF! DSF! DSF!

Some people deserve a nickname and a triple cheer., especially those who fall into the category of  "Renaissance Man". He is a remodeler of homes, a tech-whiz, theologian, youth ministry leader, father of four extremely generous children, fine husband, humble deacon, and gift-giver extraordanaire. A few years ago he gave me my first coffee roaster for Christmas, and this year... the gift of reading fine books via the Amazon wish list. I wonder do ya know him? DSF! DSF!

On the road again...

December 31st-drove through a snow storm to CT to see my grandparents again.

January 1st-drove from CT to PA.

January 2nd-drove from PA to Nashville, TN where we are staying for the week with my best friend Melissa.

After being in the car for 21 hours the last three days, Haley Jane asked today, "Are we still in America?"

Happy New Year!

Frog Pond-Boston Commons

Here's a tip:  If you want to take a four-year-old and a two-year-old ice-skating at the same time, you really need four adults to assist with the process...if you don't want to break your back, that is.

Marlborough, Connecticut

We have not been able to go sledding the past two years.  Last year there was no snow, and the year before that there was plenty of snow, but no sled (we were in Iceland).  Last week we made up for it in CT at my grandparent's house.