Whew! We can hardly believe we have almost been the US for 2 months…some
days it seems a lot longer and other days it feels like just yesterday we
conquered the trans-pacific flight!

We spent the first 7 weeks traveling around the East Coast (and some of
the Midwest) visitng friends, supporters, churches, family and attending our Cadence
Conference in Wisconsin. We were so filled up and excited to see what God
is doing through our friends and through our mission to glorify God in the
nations. As we watched fellow missionaries being honored for their 50 (yes,
FIFTY) years of ministry, everyone cried knowing that this is just a sliver of the
party we will experience in heaven as each of lives out faithfulness in whatever
venue God has called us to. There was not a dry eye in the room as God
gave us a glimpse of what it will be like to hear “Well done, faithful servant!”

As we have settled in Roanoke, we are beginning to feel the extent of the
loss of leaving our dear friends and ministry in Okinawa. Our kids randomly
say, “We miss Okinawa” and our hearts sink as we can completely relate to
them. It has led to many discussions on contentment and God’s plan for lives
and our obedience to it. Buddy is (of course) attacking his multiple ministry
hats with a vengeance, and I am neck-deep in school and keeping the kids from
either killing themselves or other people with “treasures” from Dad’s garage.

We are experiencing the lostness that being in a place where we know few
people and looking to make, find and love the “new normal”. Pray with us to see
God’s purpose through sometimes lonely glasses. Buddy has found an ultimate
Frisbee club and the other night they mentioned to him that he could invite any of
his other friends…little did they know that they were the closest things to friends he had!
It is as if we went from feast to famine, but we are more than sure of God’s
provision and plan for us in these next 6 months.

Thank you so much for all your love, prayers and giving to us…we love you!

Buddy, Jen, Adrianne, Jack and Megan.

I was about to upload a picture of the family on our beach but decided that was too cruel.

I was going to set up Jen’s computer so she could write again…someday when life slowed down a little.

I will make both of those things happen today because life has slowed down…a little. We took a few days of vacation at the military base about 15 minutes from our house and it was really relaxing. Day’s spent at the water slide and pool. Evening’s spent sitting on the beach and watching the sun set.

Every time we get away for a few days I think I need to make that happen more and very often I don’t. I think I figured out that life will never slow down unless I make it slow down a little. Here’s to a little bit slower day!

With Aunt Alice. It was really good to get some time with Aunt Alice at the Hospital. She has been doing well since we returned and actually is at home now. It was neat to see the impact that she was having on other even from her hospital bed and in large part from her bed because of how she was handling everything.

Hanging out with Julie, David and Nathan outside of the Hosptial.

Grandma through a Tea Party for Megan and Adrianne and even bought them new dresses.

We tried to take a family picture yesterday. This was about the best one. We are going to try again today. Just after we looked at the pictures and decided we needed another one the kids decided to help Dad by opening his fedex package with an ink pen. Unfortunately Jen was too busy cleaning up sheets and kids to get a picture of the mess so we will try again soon.