Off on an Adventure!

Moving.  A scary, exciting, thrilling, hectic, fun, nerve-racking time for all involved.  I have never really had to move, to uproot from a place I love.  (Ok, well I was born outside of Seattle, WA and when I was about one and half, moved about an hour North to a beautiful little Island and wonderful community.)   I’ve grown up here on beautiful Camano Island and had the chance to learned about life here.  Along the way, met some amazing people that helped shape my life; who mentored me, encouraged me and supported me.  I’ve been taught by some pretty amazing teachers over the past twelve years of homeschooling, but nothing could have prepared for me what was to come.

We all knew that the Lord was about to uproot our family- He had already show many of us, we were just waiting for a destination and timing.    When Kansas City became a possibility, I was overjoyed!  I have many good friends and close family that I wanted to be with.  There was the possibility of dance, work and school.  I was beyond excited! (so were the people I loved, who live there).  


The whole, “We’re moving to Kansas City” thing began mid-April and was pretty much finalized by the beginning of May.  (I think the Lord likes to put us on a fast track when He has something in store for our family!)  Then at the beginning of May, over about a two week period of time, the Lord did a 180 with us, changing our course from East to West.  Ya, I know- I’m about as far ‘West’ as we can go.. well that is if you stay on the ‘Mainland’.  The Lord, through an amazing series of events, begin to call our family towards Kona, Hawaii, to work with Youth with a Mission (YWAM- http://uofnkona.org/)


(Ok, I know what you're thinking- “Who wouldn’t want to live in Hawaii, be a beach bum, eat tropical fruit all day and surf?”)  Well, as excited as I was, I was also sad.  I had so much I was looking forward to in Kansas City!  Now, I’m headed to a place, where I know no one and really don’t have a ‘place’- I like knowing what I’m going into.  And one thing about Hawaii is I have NO idea what I’m going to do or what I’ve gotten myself into :)  No, I will not be a beach bum, but I do hope to learn how to surf!

So... On July 12th, our family will be leaving Washington for a little (2ish years) while.  (Oh.. did I mention that we kinda have a ‘large’ family, there are only 11 of us) So that is no small task in itself.  You try moving a whole softball team :)  Our house currently reminds me of a maze, each day there is some new piece of furniture (or pile of boxes) stacked in random (well, at this point, anywhere you can find a free space) areas of our house.  Now that we have a departure date (which is... wait, let me calculate the exact.. oh never mind... less then 3 weeks away) we actually have to accomplish some of the many goals on our ‘To-Do list’ (which as you might have guessed, grows by the uh, hour) but we have (and will continue) to accomplish much!  

Please keep my family in your prayers!  

• Almost everyone is excited, but some are having a harder time with leaving the farm (and their beloved animals)
• That the Family would stay joyful over the remaining few days here (we want good last memories of our home!)
• Peace and unity (we can get so much more done when everyone is working together!)
• That we would find the right renters for our house
• Some of the final details would fall into place
• That we would continue to rely and trust God to provide our needs.
• That we would grow closer as a family while in Hawaii.
• Good weather these last few weeks (garage sale this weekend!)
• Restful sleep for everyone.
• An easy transitions for everyone

As much as I will miss everyone I count as friends and the things I love to do (like dance!) dearly, I know that God is 110% in this all, so that makes it exciting!! We are off on another adventure!


OK, I think that’s enough for now :)  I should probably sign off (before I fall asleep!) and I noticed that I used a lot of (parentheses) in this post... sorry :)

Well, until next time, Aloha! (Aloha means both “hello” and “goodbye” in case you were wondering :)

Training Update: March 2-5

Hey All-

The past week has been a whirlwind, with the death of a dear friend, it has been a rough week... We had a memorial service on Saturday, on Sunday it was hard being at church, where she was so involved.... Doing better now :)

As for training, I've been walking everyday.  In the past few days, I've done over 25 miles, mostly alone (with my faithful dog :) and a few with Jamie, Mom, Dad or a sibling :)

We are only a few days away from the Back to Life Walk!  I leave in 10 days to fly to beautiful, sunny Texas! (I'm excited to see sun!)

God has continued to come through with finances, I have been able to pay for my ground fees ($1500) and my airfare down to TX and someone has offered to buying my airfare back from TX this week!  I have a few miscellaneous items I need to buy still... God is so faithful in providing my needs!

(reposting from www.Bound4Life.com)

Washington State Moves Closer to Forced Abortion Coverage

By Susan Michelle • February 29, 2012 04:12 PM

On Monday the National Abortion Federation praised a lack of choice. It tweeted this:

AWESOME! #Wash. could be first to #require #abortion coverage http://bit.ly/wGms4U #prochoice #trustwomen #fem2 #reprorights

You read that right—requiring abortion coverage is “awesome” even though it displays no choice.

The story the tweet references is found here. It says in part:

At a time when many states are making it harder for women to get abortions, Washington state appears headed in the opposite direction.

Fifteen states have passed laws restricting insurers from covering abortions and 12 others are considering similar measures. By contrast, a bill that has passed Washington's House and is working its way through the Senate would make the state the first to require all health insurance plans under its jurisdiction - except those claiming a conscience-based exemption - to include abortion coverage.

The measure, HB 2330, would do so by requiring insurers who cover maternity care, which Washington insurers are mandated to provide, to also pay for abortions. New York is the only other state considering similar rules, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks women's health-related legislation.

The NAF is proving what we’ve known for a long time: the only choice they care about is their own. The very idea that they would rejoice that pro-lifers’ choices would be disregarded, that our medical coverage would require abortions, and that this should be celebratory instead of disgraceful is a disgrace in itself which proves the perverted nature of the industry that calls itself a proponent of choice.  Local residents aren’t rejoicing either. Few ask what the pro-lifers think in such legislation.

Our local chapter leader Michelle Butler, notes that Washington is often known of as one of the least religious states in the nation and says:

More than ever we need Gideon's army to rise up during this crisis. We are at a crossroads and I believe Heaven is asking, where are my people, where are those who will stand in the gap?  I am petitioning Washington residents to fast and pray regarding this issue. As the battle for the unborn continues to rage you can be assured that there is a remnant of people fighting for justice for the unborn. We will not rest until the womb is once again the safest place for a baby.

A local pro-lifer adds:

I think it is reprehensible that the people in my state who are forced to pay for insurance through their jobs, will in effect be paying for someone to murder children through abortion, and there will be nothing to do about it should this law pass. Furthermore I find it appalling that so many thousands of people called and emailed Governor Gregoire ‘s  office that the phone lines were jammed for days asking her and her assistants to PLEASE not sign the bill. It did not make one bit of difference to them what we all thought, or wanted. Apparently we have no say in how anything gets done in our own state. -Cheryl Rector

Even pro-choice people should, if they are true to the value of choice, be alarmed by this legislation. This isn’t about choice in the slightest; it's about forced abortion coverage. It’s bad enough our nation is currently trying to force abortive birth control, so much so that states are filing lawsuits against the nation. In the middle of this mess, the state of Washington turns around and decided that wasn’t enough and it must force abortion coverage on everyone? The escapists comment is “don’t use it if you don’t need it,” but that’s not good enough.

Let me make this clear: I will not be the person who stands before Jesus one day and says “well, I know I ended up paying for 4.3 abortions, but the government made me.”

Please use this link to take you directly to a web page from the governor’s office and tell her that pro-choice means everyone has a choice.  Here’s more contact information from Bound4LIFE Spokane.

Tell your state legislators to oppose HB 2330 which will allow abortion coverage. Go to http://www.leg.wa.gov/pages/home.aspx or call 800-562-6000 and let your voice be heard for the unborn.

Choice for one must mean choice for all. Even if you’re pro-choice, this may be a right you value next when you let government usurp the will of the people in this manner. Please contact the Washington state governor and legislature and remind them that residents have the constitutional right to not pay for someone else's abortion.

To learn more about Bound4Life visit their website