the journey.

"I know the plans I have for you,"declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

The end of Chapter 1

This week the kids and I went on a trip with Rob's Parents and his sister, Brenda's family. If you didn't catch it, I didn't mention Rob actually being on the trip with us. He was not.
This week marked a chapter of our lives coming to a close. After more than 17 years of doing youth ministry this was Rob's last youth mission trip! I'm sure once it sinks in there might be a few tears. God called Rob to youth ministry when he was in 7th grade, we met for the first time in youth ministry classes in college, Rob proposed to me at Jr. high youth group, we stared out our married life together working at the same church doing youth ministry (I'm still not sure if that was such a good idea:)) So,to say Youth Ministry has been a big part our life, is an understatement!
He will miss the excitement of a student who has excepted Christ for the first time or just learned something new about his maker,the Mud games at Laurelville (or maybe not)and those goofy skits that didn't always make sense- just to name a few memories . But I know he won't miss sleeping on floors in places with no air conditioning. (It is taking him a lot longer to recover these days)
I have been blessed to see God using Rob and growing him into the man He wants him to be. There are no words to describe how humbly honored I am to be a witness to what God has done.
His greatest joys recently have been watching his former students grow into adults. We are so old that some of our first students have children (many children!)and some who are further along in our history are getting engaged and finding jobs. God has blessed us and has allowed us to continue to be part of there lives. So this brings us to the new call that God has given Rob. He is now the Pastor to Families at our church. He is very passionate about this new call. God has been giving him a burden for families and marriages for some time now!
Praise God for His plans for us! What a ride!

We have no news on the adoption. We are waiting. Duni was recently in Ethiopia and we were hoping to hear something,anything, but we have not. We are currently number one for a little girl between the ages of 3-6.
On Tuesday there is a conference call. I'm not sure how much new information we will receive but when information is minimal any at all is very much welcome.

7 MONTHS!

Wow, I can hardly believe it! It has been seven months since we sent our big stack of official papers (our dossier) to Ethiopia. To be honest I never thought I would be posting the big 7 on our blog. At the most 6 but not 7!
But God is doing way more than we had bargained for! As I type Duni is In Ethiopia. She has been working hard on behalf of many families. Weather our situation is in the fore front of her mind I'm not sure. But I have been compelled to pray that God would lead Duni to our little girl while she is in Ethiopia. I have hope that God is moving in that situation. So if you would please join us in that prayer. Thank you, we are so great full for your prayers!


PS. Happy Birthday, Mandi!

Tonight was a fun night! Joel had a baseball game. Baseball games are usually a family event. This year his coach is none other than his Uncle Tom and assisting is Dad (Rob), Aunt Brenda and big cousin, Nicholas. And when you don't think it could get any better Joel's best friend and cousin, Jonathan is on his team! It was really hot tonight so getting ice cream after the game was already on the schedule weather we won or lost. But the team won- I think ice cream tastes better when you win!
But I'll have to admit the real reason you get to see pictures of the night is that I got a new camera today. I'm having a lot of fun trying to figure it out!

Camping!

The Sparr family went camping for the first time ever! I know you are probably getting a good chuckle especially if you know us well. Don't worry we didn't go by ourselves. Four other families from our church that are seasoned campers showed us the ropes! Thanks guys! We played,fished and swam in the river. We ate great food. Joel and Belle had Mountain pies for the first time and keep coming up with new combinations to fill them with. Saturday night it rained! Belle and I were sleeping on one side of our friends camper but Joel and Rob, well they were in a tent. I was worried all night. But the rain (and maybe exhaustion!)put Joel to sleep and there were no leeks in the tent! We had such a great time! We would love to go with our friends again but we aren't quite ready to venture it on our own.

Last week we were able to spend the day at the Zoo with my parents and my sister's two youngest children! We had a blast! Joel was practicing being a big brother to more than one little sister. He was so helpful. He held my niece's hand the whole time. Isabelle named herself "Tour Guide" and made sure we all kept moving.
I think we tired Grandma and Papa out.