Well it's been a week since Joey, my husband, has been back from the Philippines.  And I think I can say... things are back to normal.  It took a few days for Joey's sleep schedule to get back on the USA track and it took me a few days to get used to sleeping beside a snorer again!  Heehee.  We all missed him, although we had great friends and family take very good care of us while he was away.  Joey said the best things about his trip were being around other godly men for ten days straight, with no distractions (that's including me!) and also being in a foreign country ministering to strangers- yet they weren't strangers- they were brothers and sisters in Christ. He thought it to be so amazing that although they had never met, cultural barriers, and didn't have much in common- Jesus was the One thing that connected them together as if they were close family.  Isn't it amazing how the family of God works?  Last night we had youth group at our church that Joey leads and I help out with- it runs at the same time as a couple other ministries at church, so when we go, we see our church family.  I always leave the church anticipating the next time I get to see them.  Jesus unites His children together with His love and grace.  It's amazing.  
Anyway, after Joey shares with our church family this Sunday at church I will post some pictures from his trip! Stay tuned!

~Leanne~

"Two more sleeps until Papa goes on an airplane," is what I told my two year-old son Oskar this morning.  Two more sleeps.  Sigh.  You know, Joey and I have never been apart for as long as ten days, nor have we been as far apart as the Philippines and the USA?  Last night as we were getting ready for bed, I felt my heart sink and a light stream of tears flowed down my cheek.  It's bittersweet really.  On one hand I am so excited for Joey to go serve in another country- teaching others about Jesus, equipping the lay pastors to better teach their congregations, seeing the Philippines, spending time with three godly men who he can gain wisdom from...  Yet there is also this earthly fear in me; the what-if-something-happens fear.  What if he contracts a fatal disease while he's gone, what if there's an accident... what if the kids and I get into a car crash and die- who's he to come home to?  It's hard not to have some negative thoughts, I am human.  Last night after the wetness of my cheeks disappeared, Joey held my hands and said, "What if.  What if something did happen.  God is in control, and He is good."  He's right. God is in control, and no matter what happens, God is still good.  I'm sure it's a lot easier to say on this side of a tragedy, but the truth doesn't change either way.  The fear I have is not from God, it's from my flesh.  God wants me to trust Him {Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding... Proverbs 3:5}, God wants me not to worry {Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow... Matthew 6:34}, and God wants me to pray instead {Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God... Philippians 4:6}.  So while Joey is away, I will pray, I will trust and I will surrender my thoughts of worry to my Father in heaven who is in complete control.  

Please pray for us:  both for Joey while he is away and for me and the kids while he is gone.  

~Leanne~