4 Years

July 3, 2013. Exactly 4 years since we stepped foot in our country. It's hard to believe it's been 4 years. SO much has changed - yet so much is the same.

Same: We have a 5(+) month old. Different: This time it's Will and he's already the size of a 1 year old! Last time it was Lucy bug.
Same: We're parenting and still figuring things out! Different: Now with 2 kiddos! Crazy blessed!
Same: It's HOT. Different: Maybe we're a little more used to it and we can handle it a bit better? Maybe...
Same: This is a stressful place. Everyday things are stressful, especially for me, in this very male-driven society. Different: Hopefully we handle this stress better. I still struggle with TMJ, a completely stress-induced condition in my jaw/ears, but I do know how to manage it now.
Same: Arabic is hard. Different: Now we can speak it! :) YAY!
Same: Swahili is everywhere! Met some friends who estimated that 1 of every 3 households have a Swahili background (!!!) Different: Yes, we learned Swahili when we lived in TZ, but now that we've spent 2 years on Arabic, that Swahili part is much harder to access. We definitely see some Swahili language studying in our future!

It's hard to look back on the last 4 years of our lives without seeing the huge milestones: Arabic language school, Will, time in the US, vacations to Tanzania, Turkey, Bahrain, & Jordan, celebrating 10 years of marriage to my precious hubby, so many wonderful new friends - local, international, and American, lots of babies, a new team...

In 100% honesty, which is what you usually get from me :), in reflection, most everything revolves around Arabic and our time in language school. It was the hardest 2 years of our lives. And for my relaxed Brad to say that, you know it must be true! But now, on the other side, I know that it was exactly what God intended for us. I cannot tell you the doors that have been FLUNG open to us because we can speak Arabic with the locals. Their eyes just light up when they hear us speaking, not only Arabic, but their local dialect of Arabic! And then if we can manage to get out some Swahili, we've scored high! And I can't mention language school without mentioning some of our best friends - Mr. & Mrs. G. Wow. We couldn't have made it through without them right there alongside of us, laughing, crying, celebrating and complaining all together. Love you, B! And our extended family, Mr & Mrs McQ and their precious kiddos, Lucy's BFFs, and Mr & Mrs O, and their kiddos, one of whom I got to see before anyone else besides his daddy! Wow. Life mates. Friends. Family!

The lessons I've learned in these past 4 years have shaped me and molded me and drawn me closer to Christ. One of the most significant ones being when I studied Kelly Minter's No Other Gods Bible Study (that Mrs. G gave me!). When God revealed to me that I was holding onto "being pregnant" as an idol it was a huge shock to my system! And only when he revealed it was I able to let go and focus my heart back on him. And of course, as you all know, in His perfect and impeccable timing, he brought us Will! Another significant one was when I studied Nehemiah, again using Kelly Minter's Bible study. Focusing on prayer and it's vital role in our lives. Prayer is the work of the church!

I can still see many of the hard things. But things that are really great and worth it in the long run are usually things that are hard. I know that in time this will fade and I'll be left with mostly sweet memories of kiddos and friends and speaking Arabic... I've cried a lot. A LOT. But I've grown and I wouldn't trade any of it for the world! With each day, I'm being refined and just getting closer and closer to the pure Gold that I'll be when I meet our Maker.

So, I'm rambling now...

Thank you, Jesus, for where we are now, for the things you've taught us and for the things you've brought us through to get us to this point. Thank you for my precious family, for how you've grown us - literally - and for how you've directed us. Thank you for our extended family - blood relations and our "transplant" family here in our country. Each person plays such a significant role in our lives and you use everyone for your glory. Praise be to you, Jesus Christ! Thank you.

4 years down....