Sigh!  It has been way too long since I updated, but what can I say?  So much has happened the last while that I hardly know where to start.  The biggest thing that happened for us is that we are buying a house and moving to Danville.  It has been a journey of miracles, tests, and God's faithfulness.  We are still facing some challenges in it all.  James was thinking aloud the other day and wondered if it doesn't have something to do with the fact that the enemy is perhaps trying to discourage us (and may I add that God is testing us through it).  We sense God's call for us to move there.  We don't know what He has in store, but right now we know that this is the next step for us. 

It has been overwhelming how our family and church family have been helping and caring for us.  We feel so incredibly blessed and loved.  It has only been because of what others are doing that we are able to move today.  My mother-in-law, Esther and sister-in-law, Annette  have packed so much of my stuff I am sure they never want to see my stuff again.  Thanks Mom and Annette for all the hours you have helped me and baby sat for Elliot.  And then all the ladies from church who took time to come and clean my dirty house.  Your help and time was so much appreciated.  And then there are the ones who made food for me/us.  Thanks to the youth and all the men who came and worked at the house.  What can I say but thanks and "Thank you Abba for such incredible, caring friends."  And most of all thanks to John and Rachal for allowing us to buy the house they were hoping to get. 

Here are a few pics.  The house has been empty for almost a year, according to my neighbor lady.  It needs a lot of TLC outside and I think it will be fun to clean it up and get it nice.  I'll spare you any pictures of inside because bare rooms aren't that cool to look at. 

One evening I came home from another late evening of working at the house.  As it happened James spent the night there that particular evening because of needing to be there again early the next morning.  I put Elliot to bed and as I walked out into the living room what did I see but a suspicious brown object on the wall above the fireplace.  Yes, you guessed it!  It was a BAT.  I was so grossed out and afraid I would frighten it and it would start flying around in the house.  I called James to see what to do and his advice was to get a broom and kill it.  Well, for one both of my brooms happened to be at our Danville house and second I knew I would be totally freaked out trying to kill it.  I carefully checked both bedrooms and the bathroom for more bats and firmly closed the doors and Elliot and I slept peacefully.  (If it would have been day I think I would have asked my neigbor to come and kill it.)  The next morning I called Alvin, my father-in-law, to please come and get the bat out my house.  Thankfully, it hadn't moved all night that I could see.  I don't know which is worse bats, snakes, or mice.  Not one of them is anything I ever want to see in my house-EVER!  No, I most definately did not get a picture of it.  I stayed as far away from it as I could. 

And then dear little Elliot had the unfortunate experience of breaking his arm.  He fell down one or two steps at our Danville house and landed on his arm/wrist.  That was exactly a week ago.  Three more weeks to go on the cast!  Thankfully he wasn't hurt in any other way.  Depending how he would have fallen he could have also severly bumped his head.  I sure wish that somehow I could have taken the pain for Elliot, but he was very brave and seems to have adjusted to his cast quite well.  Since the first few days he hasn't had to take pain medication.  Here are a few pics!

And then just a few miscellanous shots from things that have happened.  We visited my brothers Phil and Vince (and Lydia and Logan) at SMBI one weekend.  We had a great time.  Logan is telling Aunt Sherilyn hi!  At least that's what I like to think. 

And a few of Elliot for good measure! 

And one night my 86 year old Grandma and and Aunt Syl and Uncle Mose stopped in for the night.  We had a great time.  I treasure having my grandma visit us at her age.

And now I'm off to a day of moving! 

It's been awhile since I posted.  There are days when I have so many thoughts whirling around in my head and I want to sit down and record a few things, but...where does the time go? 

Anyway, I sure have been enjoying this Christmas season.  It's been more relaxed than last year.  I owe that to my dear husband who tells me I don't have to do everything or "bite off" more than I can handle.  One evening we were having our pastors and their wives over for a Romanian meal and I had been hoping to get my Christmas decorations up before that happened.  Well, James came home from work early that day and blessed me with not only babysitting while I did last minute prep, but also put up Christmas decorations while he was at it.  Amazing!  I was so blessed by his caring and thoughtfulness.  He knew it was something that was important to me, but had given up getting it done for the moment. 

I still marvel at how he was able to baby sit Elliot and do the decorating at the same time.  I am almost 100% certain that if I would have tried that Elliot would have had other thoughts about it (and they wouldn't have been happy ones!).  I think dads have a special ability with kids when it comes to behaviour and obedience issues that moms seem to not have. 

James and I have been singing with the Minerva Community Choir directed by Franklin Miller.  We have enjoyed ourselves-singing and getting to know the other members of the choir.  I didn't know very many of the other members when we started.  Our weekly practices started the end of October.  The last two weeks we've been giving programs.  Altogether we have 6 programs.  Our last two programs are this Sunday afternoon and evening.  One in Akron at the Romanian Baptist Church and the other at Harville Conservative Church.  It will be sad to have it end.  No, I will not miss driving to practice (1 hour and 10 minutes one way), but I will miss the interaction with people, the new friends I have made, and SINGING. 

Next week we are going to Arkanasas to be with Carlin (my brother) and Hadassa and Kenton for Christmas.  Vince (my other married brother from PA) and Lydia and Logan are coming out here to travel with us to AR.  I can't wait!  I love time with family and because most of my family lives rather far away, I don't get to spend a whole lot of time with them.  I'm so grateful for my two brothers who live here in the US.  Even though we don't live in the same community we can at least get together sometimes.  And not to be with any of my family on such a special holiday would be really hard.  "Thank You God for the blessing of family."

All of you have a great holiday season!  The older I get the more I realize that Jesus is EVERYTHING!

Sherilyn

  Here are two pictures of when my Bible study group (Transplants) got together the beginning of December and made Christmas wreaths.  I love you ladies.  I look forward to every time we get together.

Sorry this pic isn't too good.  James and I celebrated our second anniversary this month.  I love you Honey!

 My busy little boy who gets into everthing.  I love him dearly!  "Thank you God for a wonderful husband and a dear little son."