Christmas in Quincy

I pray your Christmas has been as fabulous as ours! We have had a wonderful time with friends and family. Fun in the snow, great food, games, and of course Christmas presents! With mom's side of the family we each bought a game and did a gift exchange and then spent all afternoon playing everyone's games! It was so much fun! Our family loves games so much and this was really a great time! Gideon and Mia loved opening gifts, as any 3 and 5 yr olds will! This was Mia's Barbie Christmas... she got 5 barbies, some princesses, some regular barbies. Gideon got a sword, a light saber, and a dart gun. He's had tons of fun with uncle Rusty with those. Our family as a whole got a Wii and have had lots of fun creating our Miis and playing together. We'll have to definitely set time limits on that one! :) The kids would play constantly if we let them! We've had so much fun already and we are looking forward to seeing our friends, the Wysockis, for New Years! It's going to be fabulous to spend time together! :) God bless your New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving Y'All!

This Thanksgiving, I am so thankful for our family and friends who have been supporting us this past year. Whether with care packages, money, or prayers, they are all wonderful blessings to us!

Things have been going great! The kids are growing up fast but having so much fun. We've been going to the Magic House a lot.

We have been travelling some, we went to Rockford to see our friends' new baby. She was gorgeous! We also got to spend time with our Small Group friends. It was a great, but short, visit.

For Thanksgiving, we are heading to Uncle Stanton and Aunt Nora Ann's. We're really looking forward to our time there on the farm. I'm sure the kids will have a wonderful time. I baked 5 dozen rolls and 2 pies for the get together.

Greyson starts the Winter quarter next Monday. Only 2 quarters left! We had our primary interview with the vicarage placement director. We are both looking forward to the process and moving on to the next chapter in our ministry life! :)

Anyway, that's all for now! God's blessings on your Thanksgiving!

~Mendy

It's been a long time...

Hey all! Well, I'm sorry I haven't updated in awhile. Things have been crazy, but good!

Let's see... our summer ended with a vacation to Rockford and Cincinnatti. It was really fun. We saw lots of friends, some museums, baseball game, and more. Greyson preached at Mt. Olive, and did an incredible job! He has truly found his calling.

We had birthday parties... it's hard to believe that Gideon is 5, Mia is 3 and Nathanael is 1!!!! Time sure flies when you're having fun!

Gideon started preschool at Mt. Calvary in Brentwood. He is loving it! He loves his teacher and the friends at school. He goes 3 days a week in the afternoon. The hardest part about him going to school is that Mia wants to go too.... her time will come!

I have started attending MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) and they havea program for the kids, not unlike Sunday School, and Mia thinks that is her school. So, when people ask Gideon about school, she pipes in... "I go to MOPS!" It's quite exciting for her.

Nathanael started walking rightat 13 months, then we all were sick, he had a fever for 4 days, and so he gave up walking. After he felt better he started crawling everywhere. We decided to help him along. He loves grapes, so we would hold grapes and he would have to walk to get them... he remembered how to walk in no time and now he is almost exclusively walking.

Classes are going well for Greyson. It's going to be a tough year class wise. But, he has always been good at academics, so I'm sure he'll pull through just fine. This quarter he is taking Passion Narratives, Homeletics II (preaching), Pastor as Counselor, & Systematics. We're getting into a routine finally that really allows him time to study.

Let's see... my nephew Jaxon was born September 5. He will be baptized this weekend! WOOHOO! He's adorable. The kids are so excited to have a cousin!

We're taking Mia to the ENT Dr. tomorrow to talk about tubes... she's had 7 ear infections in 12 months. and we're getting to the bad time of year for her... so we'll see what they say.

We just found out that Gideon is not getting any better in regards to his milk allergy, the egg allergy is very low, but he's also allergic to dust mites, mold, grass, and so on. I am slowly learning to be a better housekeeper, dusting twice a week instead of once every 6 months or so... the only thing is is that both he and Greyson need to be out of the house when I dust because it stirs up enough to bother their allergies/asthma.

Anyway, we're getting it all under control.

This past weekend was the Seminary Women's retreat, it was a great time with a great speaker on Women's leadership. I was on the planning committee and it turned out really well. we had 42 women come. I hope we're close enough that I can attend next year!

I guess that's all for now. I'll find time to post some pictures soon! :)

God's blessings! ~Mendy

Summer already???

Well, it's hard to believe, but Summer is here! Greyson has completed his first year of classes, and the summer term started today. It's hard to believe so much time has passed. This year has flown by. We're now facing our first round of good-byes... as people leave for vicarage or call. Our next door neighbors headed out this morning. We pray God's richest blessings on their ministry!!! But they will be sorely missed.

Over our break we went to Denver again. We had a blast! We went and rode the Georgetown Loop train in the mountains, attended a Rockies game, went to the children's museum, went to a great little place called tiny towne and we were blessed to hear Greyson preach for the very first time! It was pretty cool to sit there and see him up there for the first time. He did so well, and the kids did awesome too!

Our last day in Denver Gideon and I collected some roly-poly bugs and made a home for them in a container provided by Grandma... we left them at the hotel in Kansas and went back for them... little did we know that they would all be dead 2 days later!!! I guess I need to do research on keeping roly polies alive before we attempt the project again! :)

While in Denver we also had the chance to visit with Greyson's aunt Barb. We had a wonderful visit and enjoyed our time with her. One week after we left, Barb died. We're glad that we had that chance to see her and spend time with her and we pray for her husband and sons and the rest of Greyson's family during this hard time.

On our way home from Denver we stopped in Larned, KS where Greyson preached again. We really enjoyed being there as well. At the hotel the night before, Nathanael had a lot of fun with his reflection! Check out this video...

This past Sunday was our church picnic at Chapel of the Cross and dad and I made a pie for the pie contest. It was fun and Our pie tasted fantastic, however we didn't receive any prizes! We still had fun baking and watching the pastors and other judges try it! :)

We're getting into the swing of things for summer and looking forward to lots of fun with friends! Hope you all have a blessed summer!

Life goes on....

These past weeks have been pretty normal witha few exceptions.

We had our first trip to the ER for an injury... Gideon wasn't watching where he was going and walked right off a pair of concrete steps... as Greyson says, he fought the sidewalk and the sidewalk won. Here's a picture of his first shiner...

Greyson is taking homiletics right now and so he's learning how to write and present a sermon. He has been working hard in that class. His other classes are going well too. And he's just thrilled that baseball season has started! Go cubs!

This morning, I was getting ready to take the kids to spanish class (taught by a missionary here on campus) and I told Gideon it was time for spanish... he said, "no mom, it's baseball season!" Greyson had to explain that we can still take spanish lessons during baseball season! The kids really do say the darndest things!

Easter is quickly approaching. Easter is my favorite holiday of the year and I am really looking forward to celebrating this year. I have been in charge of an Easter breakfast for the past 7 years and it was fun, but I'm really looking forward to just being with my family and worshipping at church this Sunday!! We will be celebrating Easter in Quincy this year with easter egg hunts and all!

Another funny story, yesterday it was snowing in the morning when we got up. Gideon opens the door, sees the snow, and says, "Mia!!! look! It's the first snow!" I told him that hopefully it's the last snow! We've just had so much nice weather and been outside all the time and now that it's snowing he thought we had gone full circle!

I've been taking a cooking class on campus with the head chef of the kitchen here. It has been so much fun! Once we have a real kitchen with a little more space, I have some things I want for Christmas! :)

We visited a preschool yesterday that I believe Gideon will be attending in the fall. I think he will have fun and really excel, but we'll see. pray for us as we make this decision!

I can't think of much else new going on. God bless you all!

Belize Trip

Greyson had the opportunity to go to Belize the end of Feb. "It was an incredible trip and I learned a lot about ministry and missions around the world. I had originally thought it was going to be a regular old mission trip with lots of witnessing and construction work, but I was mistaken. It ended up being a learning trip with us seminarians doing a lot of leg work for the organization that we went down with, CALMS, Central American Lutheran Mission Society under the direction of Pastor Steve Hughey. We spent three days in Belize City partnering with Lords Bank Community Church and their pastors, Jimmi and Sandra Lee Jones. I gave a Sunday School teaching workshop one night and Pastor Dar Karsten presented a evangelism workshop another night. We also met with several other pastors from around Belize City in fact finding meetings looking for other partners and opportunities to work with congregations in Belize City. It was a great time and an eye opening experience it terms of what full time ministry sometimes entails.
Next we headed inland to the Belize-Guatemala border and spent three days in San Ignacio where we did some work at a home for the aged, the Octavia Waight Centre. It was great to be able to serve the elderly living there by sharing devotions and conversation, but also by digging a new septic tank hole, painting part of the facility and covering over a walkway to keep the staff out of the rain going to the laundry facilities (which was the project I was in charge of). It was a lot of hard work but also very rewarding to be there. We were also able to visit a Mayan ruin, Xunantunich, as well. What a magnificent view from atop that man-made mountain that was the citadel there at Xunantunich in the middle a lush valley.
Finally we headed to the southern coast of Belize to a long peninsula called Placencia. It was home to a village called Seine Bight. It was here that we were supposed to do another construction job, the moving of a shelter from one area of the village to another, but village politics ended up nixing that plan. We did teach the upcoming VBS curriculum to the aides that will help this summer and witnessed to at least two hundred kids from the village using an evangelism bracelet Pastor Karsten brought along. It was a surreal experience mostly because Seine Bight is the voodoo capital of Belize. I can’t say that I felt threatened or in danger at all, just a since of despair that hung over the village, in part because of the poverty but also the palpable presence of evil. But the kids were amazing and soaked up everything that we talked about readily. I was also happy to learn that a Christian man and his wife from California had moved into the village and were working with the kids in a youth group ministry. While there we also met a missionary and his family from Guatemala who was living in the village as well. Both seem as if they can be real partners for future work in the village.
I have to take this opportunity to thank my in-laws, for financing a large part of my trip. It was a Christmas gift I will not ever forget. But I also want to thank all of you who are continuing to support my family and I while we are at Seminary. It is an incredible thing to know that so many care about us and want to support us. May God bless you as you continue to be a blessing to us and to others."

Greyson had a great trip! While he was there the kids and I got to spend some wonderful time with our friends in Rockford. It was so great to see everyone! And to meet new babies!!! :)

I won't wait so long between posts next time! :)

Been awhile...

Sorry it's been so long. Life just gets crazy. So, where do we start...

Gideon had his very own Valentine's Day party. He made the invitations, decided who to invite and helped me hang streamers. The kids did relays, made hats, played games, decorated cookies, and learned about the first Valentine's Day and the love of Jesus. It was so much fun!

We have discovered that we love St. Louis weather. We have been able to play outside a lot. it's been very nice!

We did take a whirlwind trip to Colorado. Greyson's grandmother went to be with Jesus. It was a long, quick trip, but we are very glad we went. It was good to see our family and to celebrate Grandma's life, and now her new life with Jesus.

Greyson and I attended the annual winter ball here at the seminary. Gideon and Mia thought I was a princess! It was fun to get dressed up and have a nice dinner and dancing with so many of our new friends here at the seminary.

The day after the ball my brother Chad received a Heartsaver Heros award from the governor of IL, Pat Quinn. It was very cool to meet the man that Chad had saved. He had had a heart attack while driving, his wife crashed the car in order to stop, Chad arrived and hooked up an AED and performed CPR in order to save his life. I'm so proud of Chad!!! We drove to Quincy to be there for it. As you can see the ceremony was in a fire house, which of course, the kids LOVED!

Tomorrow break begins, the kids and I are heading to Rockford for a week. WOOHOO!!! Greyson leaves Saturday for Belize for a mission trip. Please keep him and his team in your prayers! We'll have lots to update when we get home!

A New Year!!!

Happy New Year! It's hard to believe it's 2009. We've been here at the Sem now for 6 months, Greyson and I have been married 8.5 years. It's just crazy how fast time flies! We headed home from Denver on the 27th and drove to Hays, KS, where we stayed the night so that we could attend church in Larned, KS. Grace Lutheran church is a little church that has blessed us so much! We are so thankful for them. From there, we headed to Kansas City to spend some quality time with Dan and Jenn, two of our dearest friends, and Mia's God parents. We had a great time swimming, hanging out, exchanging gifts, and just being together. Gideon was so sad to leave them, he told us he was going to miss them, and he had tears in his eyes. We love them lots!

We arrived back in St. Louis on the 29th, just 2 hours before Chad & Erica and Rusty arrived to spend some time here. Rusty brought his Wii, a favorite of Gideon's! Tuesay was gorgeous outside and we spent a lot of time playing outside. Mom and dad came down that evening when we had Christmas dinner and exchanged gifts. A wonderful time was had by all!

Erica, Chad & Rusty headed back to Quincy while mom and dad stayed to ring in the New Year with us! We played games and enjoyed a little Champagne while waiting for 2009 to arrive.

2008 was a wonderful year filled with lots of change, but overall good change. Nate joined us, we followed God's call to the sem, on a sad note we left friends behind in Rockford, but have kept in touch with them all. We welcome 2009 with open arms anxious to see what God has in store for us this year! :) God bless!