They are coming!

Only 48 hours or so until Grandma and Grandpa Farrow arrive!!!! Yay!!!

I am so excited to see my mother-in-law and father-in-law! I have been telling Noah about it for weeks and I'm so excited for family to arrive! It is especially wonderful that Noah will have grandparents around for the week. One of the hardest, if not the hardest, part about being away is not having family near, especially when there are grandparents to your baby involved in the picture =(

I'm sooooooo grateful that the Lord allowed a trip for the in-laws! It was wonderful news when we realized we weren't going to make it back to Manitoba for Christmas and they announced they would come for a visit in just a few weeks! I'm so grateful!

I feel like a kid counting down the days until Christmas =) Come on down, mom and dad Farrow!

Real Marriage DVD-Based Study by Mark and Grace Driscoll

Over the past year, Shane and I have been slowing working through the Real Marriage DVD series as date nights at home! We've enjoyed going through this series on our own, even though it is meant for a group and I think it would be fun to go through with a group of married couples!

Real Marriage is both a book and a DVD series tackling issues in marriage and is summed up well in the title "Real Marriage; The Truth about Sex, Friendship and Life Together". The DVD package includes 11 weeks of DVD lessons, a participant guide and a leader manual. Though I was reviewing the DVD package, I also read through the book Real Marriage, since my husband ordered it for his blogger review! It was actually really nice to go through the book and the DVD series at the same time! I found the book expounded a little more than the DVD lessons, though the DVDs were more interactive and allowed us to work through the content together as a couple.

I enjoyed this series and found it a great springboard for discussion on many different topics within my own marriage. I would recommend it to other couples and definitely suggest being a part of a group of friends who would go through it if the opportunity arises. Mark and Grace tackle some very honest and sometimes uncomfortable topics that are necessary to discuss and be honest about if you want an intimate, deep relationship with your spouse. One thing I also liked was that the series is formatted so that someone who is single could do it to and even participate in the activities and homework. There is a section for singles each week.

If you are looking for other resources for group settings or within your own marriage, another DVD series we highly recommend is the Love and Respect series by Emerson Eggerichs!

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Noah Update!

I realize it's been a while since I've given you an update on my Noah =) So, here's the latest!

He is adorable. I am so in love =)

He is 13 months now and SO MUCH FUN! He talks a whole lot (in his own language), is incredibly smart and super, duper persistent. He moves all the time and I'm asking the Lord how to show me how to teach him to sit since he's always wanting to move, move, move. He runs laps around our little apartment all day long so we venture out into the halls and common areas a few times a day to socialize and burn off some of that energy. He plays hard and loves to climb. He is an explorer and discoverer, especially loving to open cupboards and venture into offices and open doors on the base. He loves the prayer room and runs between beating the drum, strumming the guitar and pounding on the piano =) He will go to just about anyone but he has been really preferring mommy lately.

He's started scrunching his nose and doing a lot of laughing and fake chuckling. He's loves to eat and hums the whole meal through if he likes what he's eating. If he doesn't like it, he makes very unhappy noises the whole time =(

He's the funnest partner grocery shopping and can make the crankiest looking people smile. He's super observant and does a ton of people watching, catching the eye of those who aren't paying attention and then flashing them an award-winning smile =) He really draws people.

He is now sleeping through the night...PRAISE THE LORD! He has been doing some intense teething the last little while, though no new teeth since October. He even bit me again today =(

He has started interacting more with other kids and seems to enjoy it. I'm excited to see these skills grow as he plays with more kids here at the base, on play dates and at Sunday School.

I love that kid! He is just sooooo delightful!

(I still haven't erased pictures so I can post more but I plan to soon!!! Bear with me! I know blogs with pictures are so much more enjoyable to read! And now that I've told you how cute Noah is...you are probably dying to see a recent picture =) )

A New Year Brings New Students...

Happy New Year! I love a new year! I'm looking forward to all the awesome things God has in store for 2013!

The base is buzzing this first week of January! A week ago, our students from the September DTS set out for their outreach to India and the Philippines. 4 days later, a whole new group of students has arrived! The January quarter is a Justice and Compassion focused Intimacy to Impact DTS and it's going to be a good school! They have 21 students from 5 nations and though we aren't directly involved with the school, I look forward to getting to know the students around base and welcoming them to our YWAM family here in KC! We know one of the students from Winnipeg and it's always awesome to have more Canadians around!

Friday was Arrival Day, when the students arrive and those are always exciting day! Noah and I hung out upstairs in the common area for parts of the day to get in on the excitement of new students arriving =) So fun!

Happy New Year!

Snow, birds and the care of the Lord...

I just looked outside our patio door windows after putting Noah down for his morning nap and....it's snowing!!! This is my first time seeing big snowflakes falling to the ground this winter! The one and only other snowfall we had happened overnight. I LOVE to watch falling snowflakes. They are beautiful and the creation of God woos and romances my heart for my Creator. I tend to think that every time it snows, it's just for me =) That the Lord is saying "I love you Kristi" =)

The grass is mostly green here and the little birds have been out and about this morning, flying and congregating all over the backyard. It was more noticeable than usual.

My first thought when I saw all the birds and all the snowflakes was "Poor birds...they didn't know what was coming". Then I was reminded of Matthew 6:26,

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

I assumed that the birds saw the snow and thought "oh my goodness...we're in trouble" and found their hearts starting to get anxious about where they would find a warm, dry place and where they would get their next meal if the ground was covered in snow. Wrong.

Our heavenly Father feeds them. They don't have a worry at all.

And of how much more value am I? I need not worry. Ever. Whether my circumstances make it look like a "should". My heavenly Father watches over me and He knows my needs.

"For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow...." Matthew 6:32-24

So not only can I feel loved by the Lord when I see it snowing, I can also meditate on His care and kindness. He will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19)!

It's beautiful! Time to light a candle, make a cup of tea and have a little quiet time, preparing my heart for the end of one year and the beginning of another for the 30 minutes my little one will rest =) Let it snow!

Christmas in Kansas City...

So, no visas this week. Therefore, no visit to Canada for us for Christmas =( I miss family and it doesn't feel like Christmas this year. I reread my last post and realized that it's been 3 years since Christmas felt "normal". 2010 we were on airplanes between North America and Africa, 2011 we were in new parents brain (though it felt more like Christmas) and 2012 we are in KC. We just came from our YWAM base Christmas dinner. It was good, but it still doesn't feel like Christmas.

That has got me thinking a little. I love the traditions and festivities of the Christmas season. I love the snow, the lights, the Christmas tree, the Christmas carols, the parties, the family, the friends, etc, etc. But, I need to think more about the real meaning of Christmas. On years when the traditions and festivities seem absent, I can take it as a special time to lean into the Lord and get revelation about what we celebrate at this time.

Sometimes it is hard to make the time to sit and ponder the incredible miracle of Jesus coming as a baby. It is special to me that we celebrate Jesus' birth in December because my own son was born in the month that we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Last year, I thought a lot about Mary's perspective, caring for a newborn. This year, I've been talking to Noah about Christmas and telling him that we celebrate both Noah's and Jesus' birthday in the same month and how special that is =)

So, I don't know what future years hold. I don't know if what used to be "normal" will ever be normal again. So, "Christmas" and "home" will be wherever I am. Because where I am, Emmanuel, God with us, is with me. He can turn my odd, unfamiliar Christmases into special times of the heart since what I really need is revelation on my heart of the birth of my Savior.

Merry Christmas from my little family to yours! May the Lord breathe on us with revelation about the birth of Jesus!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas....

The beginnings of the festivities have begun and though it hasn't felt like the Christmas season at all, it's starting to a little.

Last year it didn't feel like Christmas because my brain was in a whole new world of being a new mommy and tending to a newborn. This year, as December rolled around, my thoughts were on my little guy's 1st birthday and the whole visa application process. So, December hasn't "felt" like Christmas for the last two years.

Also, there isn't any snow here and that's weird for the Christmas season! I've been in flip flops almost every day since we arrived in June and still am able to wear them most days. We had our ac on yesterday while cooking our Christmas dinner, celebrating early with my sister since she headed back to Canada for the holidays today. She is the only biological family that we will get to celebrate with at this point. To add to the feelings, we don't have any tree or decorations. We left everything back in Canada thinking we would be back in December originally.

There are 5 more business days for a miracle to happen in the visa process if the Lord is going to make a way for us to make it to Canada for Christmas. I would love to show Noah snow and I would love to celebrate with our family and friends. I especially would love to see Noah reunited with his grandparents!

In the last few days I have been feeling peaceful about having Christmas down here in KC, though it will be different than usual. It will mean celebrating with our YWAM family and our brothers and sisters in Jesus instead of our family back home, which is bittersweet. But, it could be a relaxing time with lots of sweet family time, hanging out with my boys =)

I've been feeling some Christmas-y feelings this weekend, getting some gifts and Christmas pictures together, celebrating with my sister, having a base White Elephant party and a spontaneous ice skating trip this afternoon. This Christmas is going to be different than usual but it's still going to be good =)

An Emotional Week...

It has been an emotional week for my momma heart! And the tears have been flowing at all kinds of moments =)

First, my little baby turned one! He's not so little anymore and I'm loving who he is and seeing more of his personality all the time. I enjoy his presence in my life and company in our home and day-to-day life so much! I especially love taking the little man out to the prayer room or grocery shopping. He is so.much.fun!

I want to post more on his birthday at another time! We had an awesome party and then Tuesday was a special day for us as a little family celebrating our little 1 year old! Unfortunately, I wanted to post with pictures and blogger says I'm at my maximum amount of pictures. So, I'm not sure what I'm going to do about that one....I don't want to pay for more space. But I know that blogs are so much better with pictures!!!

Back to the emotional momma things....(and for the boys that read this, the next paragraph has a reference to breastfeeding).

Secondly, my baby who has refused breastmilk via bottles or sippy cups up until now, took a sippy cup of cow's milk for the first time this week. It is the first feed that he hasn't needed a breastfeed since he was born. Wow. I can't believe it worked out that I was available every 2-4 hours to provide for his needs and preferences for a whole year. I must say, I'm proud of myself! That's a huge accomplishment! We've skipped a breastfeed two days now and that was a little sad (even though it's a good thing) for my momma heart. I don't plan on weaning him yet but I do know it's good and age-appropriate for him to be able to use the sippy cup too =) I'm definitely not ready to wean!

Thirdly, my kiddo went to Sunday School today. At the church we are going to here in KC, they have to be 1 years old and walking. Since Noah is walking all over now and turned 1 this week, he now qualifies! He ran off playing, yelling with delight and having fun when I dropped him off. I asked the workers a ton of questions, kissed him, told him to enjoy learning about Jesus and that I loved him and headed to the service. I bawled, tears streaming down my face, as my momma heart hurt a little that my little baby is growing up so fast! He needed me an hour into it because he was sad when the free playtime ended and the lesson began. I don't think he necessarily needed/wanted me, he just doesn't like when the toys are put away and he doesn't get to do what he wants =) I joined the class for the rest the of the lesson and he did great =) What a monumental experience in my mommy world =)

It's surprising how emotional the milestone can hit you. I think it's partly because there have been a number of big ones in just a few days. My heart is having to practice letting go and I know I should get familiar with it, since it's just the beginning of the rest of my life as a parent =) Whew! This momma love is intense stuff =) I wouldn't trade it for the world!

The Eleventh Hour

Here we are. December 6th and we are still in the USA! So, this is how the story goes...

Lots and lots of emails to and from the lawyer. Many moments when we thought we were done. Then more emails asking for more documents. Another email like this Monday afternoon. Deadline coming. Would have to leave for Canada on Tuesday morning for Noah's sake (to break up the trip over two days). Scary moments. Faith-filled moments. Despite the "oh boy" feeling that came with each new email of more things needed, a level of peace reigned here.

Monday evening. No word yet. Put Noah to bed for the night. Haven't packed a thing. Possibly would need to leave in the morning. Haven't been thinking of that a lot throughout the day. 7pm. We get an email from the lawyer!!! The paperwork was sent by Fed X and our applications have been filed!!! 12 hours before we could have left! Talk about eleventh hour breakthrough!

So, now we wait. It could be 30 days. It could be 5 months. We are praying for 2 weeks so we can make it back to Canada for Christmas, to celebrate Noah's birthday with our families and to deal with the ton of details that we need to figure out if we are staying down here longer.

That's the latest! God is faithful and we continue to trust Him through this crazy journey of faith and adventure!

What We're Up To!

I've gotten behind on my blogging!

Then, the other day, I came on here to upload some pictures and it said that I'm maxed on the space I have to upload pics. Weird. I gotta figure that out sometime soon.

So, in the meantime, a quick point form version of what we're up to lately!

- Noah is walking!! That's a new accomplishment and now that he's figured out how (at 11.5 months), he's walking everywhere.

- Noah is growing up! It seems as though I don't have a baby anymore....but more so a toddler. Noah is getting more verbal (including louder and more aggressive), has temper tantrums when we take things away and just plain knows what he wants =)

- I have been busy preparing for Noah's first birthday party tomorrow! My sister is coming over this afternoon and we are going to bake up a storm! 75 cupcakes! So far, there's about 50 people planning on coming to his party tomorrow afternoon. That's just what happens when you live in community! It's hard to limit the people you invite to the party. So, I limited it to people that interact with Noah....and since so many people love him, it was hard to make it small =) It is going to be a safari theme for my little monkey who loves to climb everything =)

- Paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork. We have had a very busy week getting paperwork together for our visa process for the lawyer we are working with. It's had stressful moments since we are close to our deadline of December 5 (when we have to have our application in by at the latest). We hope that we sent the last of the documents yesterday and hope to hear soon that the application has been filed!

- Trusting in the Lord. That is part of this crazy adventure. It takes faith to believe that everything is going to go smoothly when we don't have certainty on what next week looks like or which country we'll be in. In this process the Lord revealed to me that my job is praising Him and thanking Him and He'll take care of the rest. I'm trying to lean into Him in the midst of the uncertainties. Sometimes it's exciting and sometimes it's scary!

That's just a snapshot of some of the latest in our lives! Hopefully we'll have some clarity soon and we hope, hope, hope that the visas will get approved quickly so we can make it back to Canada for the holidays =)

June 2012 I2I DTS Complete!

That's all folks! That's a wrap!

Our students officially graduated on Thursday from their Discipleship Training School of the last 6 months! 12 weeks of lectures and 10 weeks of outreach complete! We cheered for them as they were given their certificates during our Thursday night Community Gathering.

This past week was debrief and most mornings were spent debriefing in the board room with the students and staff. I didn't get to join in on most of it because the room was too small to not be distracting with my busy baby =) This week Noah has started to throw the occasional temper tantrum! He reacts a lot stronger when he doesn't get what he wants =) Shane spoke on Wednesday about forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation. I got to hear the first 30 minutes while Noah was napping and really wanted to hear all of it! Apparently it went really well =)

The stats are in for their time in Brazil! Through the ministry of our team, there were 42 salvations, 35 healings, 100+ commitments to missions, 1 church planted and over 200 people prayed for by our students! Thank you for each of you who were a part of this through prayer or finances! This is part of your inheritance too!

In the afternoons we had prayer room hours and it was so fun to get into the prayer room as a family! Shane normally helps the current DTS with work duty in the afternoons so it's been months since the three of us have been in the prayer room at the same time. This week was super fun as we got to be there together! Noah sure loved pacing with daddy! I hope we can incorporate getting there as a family more regularly! Generally Noah and I go for an hour while Shane is doing work duty from 4-5pm.

Yesterday we said good-bye to one of our students, today another left and tomorrow more leave. It will be interesting to see what happens in their lives in the months and years to come! It's the end of one chapter but just the beginning of another! One special thing is the family that was part of this DTS is coming on as staff in the new year!

So, that a wrap! From staff training in spring, to the beginning of lecture phase in June to debrief and graduation this week, our first round of staffing a DTS is officially over! What an experience!

They're Coming Back!!!

This morning, Team Brazil will be arriving back in Kansas City after 10 weeks in Brazil doing outreach! We are looking forward to their return and a week of debrief with them! We have been preparing for their return this week. Shane has been arranging and cleaning rooms for them to stay in on base and we have a plan for the next week as we support them in processing through the last 10 weeks overseas! It will be fun to catch up!

With great joy, we are pleased to let you know that one of our students is not returning to the US today =) We will miss her presence this week as we debrief but we are so proud of her! Calleen has felt from the Lord that she is to commit a year to stay in Brazil and work at the local YWAM base, be a local contact for other teams that could go there and learn the language. This is why we do what we do...walking along side young people, discipling, sending them to the nations and rejoicing as the Lord moves in big ways, impacting their lives and many others!

Welcome back Team Brazil!!! Can't wait to hear about outreach!

Team Brazil (and a local in the right corner that I don't know)

30th Birthday Celebrations Part 2 - The Actual Day!

Happy Birthday to me! October 12, 2012 was a special day in our house! My 30th birthday!!!

There were many special parts to my birthday!

1. Hanging out with my boys!

2. The day started with a surprise date at 9am....on face time....arranged by my husband....with my dear friend Bonnie!

3. Time by myself in the prayer room to spend with Jesus to start the year off right!

4. Opening a card from Noah and Shane!

5. Picking up lunch from the Sonic drive through so we could get Noah for his afternoon nap!

The blue tongue after my Sonic drink =)

6. Quality time with my wonderful husband while my little guy napped =) He had a beautiful card for me and a very touching list of 31 things he loves about me. We connected, talked, he prayed for me, we slow danced in the living room and then we raced on the play station =)

7. My surprise party! Shane told me we were dropping Noah off at Steph's so we could head out for a date and Shaun and Laurissa would watch him....and I believed him. When I walked in, they started singing Happy Birthday! It was extra special that the party was on my actual birthday! Shane and Steph did a great job planning and supr

Yummy food and lots of candy!

My beautiful gift with a lovely surprise inside!

So happy Shaun and Laurissa could be there!

My boy and I =)

Beautiful decorations all the way from Canada!

My blue tongue and the air head candy matched Shane's nice shirt =)

My wonderful husband!

Mastering the sippy cup with water!

Enjoying pumpkin cheesecake!

Opening cards!

Noah loves to look outside and watch =)

My wonderful present of kind words from friends and family!

Noah and his friend, Shiloh!

Serena and Christina!

Noah and Kristi

Our wonderful host and my beautiful, precious sister!

Some of the ladies!

Some of the peeps...Noah is hiding behind Laurissa's head =)

Noah made the shot =)

Noah diving into the candy basket

 

 

 

8. Quality time with my sister! Steph doesn't have Friday evenings off with her school schedule but she did on my birthday! Yay! So, we got Starbuck's drinks and went for a drive in the most beautiful neighborhood! And, without planning to, we found one of my birthday wishes! I wanted a waterfall....and we found a beautiful fountain! So we danced in the light rain and seized the moment =)

 What a lovely birthday!

30th Birthday Celebrations Part 1 - The Day Before!

This month I turned 30!!! I am excited about entering a new decade and all that God has in store for me!

The morning before my birthday, I said to Shane "It just doesn't feel like my birthday this year". Same thing happened last year. My brain was so focused on a baby coming in a few weeks and finishing work that I didn't have the focus on my birthday last year. This year, I was enjoying family time with my bro and sister-in-law and enjoyed Thanksgiving in a special way earlier in the week. But, by the afternoon, I was in the mood =)

My wonderful moms group/ladies Bible study really blessed me and kicked off my birthday celebrations! They had a cake, another dessert and prayed over me, affirming and blessing me! I haven't cried through the song "Happy Birthday" before but they got me this time =)

Chocolate and pumpkin!

My beautiful friend, Meredith, who leads our group

Later that day, my lovely friend Christina took me out to celebrate! She took me for a relaxing pedicure and I left with more relaxed muscles from the awesome chair I sat in and beautiful french manicured toes! Then we went to a Chinese restaurant called Blue Koi for supper! It was really yummy! We had a good time together and I got a sweet gift of a card and an awesome pumpkin candle which I've really been enjoying at home! We had a great waitress who even brought us a free dessert for my birthday! So special!

 

The day before my birthday was super special and suddenly it felt like it was birthday time! Yay!

The Sibs Visit!

What an awesome week with my siblings! My brother and his wife came out to surprise me for my 30th birthday and it was sooooo sweet to have them out for over a week! So lovely for the quality time lover in me =)

We enjoyed many suppers together, many conversations, many play times with Noah, many back rubs and many car races on the PS3 =)

I love my sibs more than words can tell! I'm sure going to miss Shaun and Laurissa =(