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| my heart is full ... |
Yakking - as in chit chat, casual conversation, babble, a form of communication (not as in vomiting!) ... With a purpose - as in deliberately, intentionally, consciously. Yakking with a purpose. As soon as I heard this phrase, I sensed Father's prompting to make my words count, everyday, all day. Can you picture the coy smile gracing His majestic face as He directs these slang words to my spirit? Thanks J, (even though you didn't ruin my makeup), thanks for reminding me of the magnitude to be purposeful as we yak!
We've spent the last 8 weeks having deliberate, casual conversations with the purpose of sharing our testimony of Father's restorative work in our lives over the past 4 years. We marvel at God's grace in the fact that each one of these were life-giving encounters. No matter if we left one coffee shop and drove directly to another one ... each one was life-giving! I mean, shouldn't our encounters always be life-giving when we reflect on His grace to cover trials, restoration and revival? A different church each Sunday, multiple Meet and Greets and many more God ordained opportunities for coffee, comida (food) and casual conversation. Here in PA it was easy to share this testimony, to yak with the purpose of giving glory to God. Returning to CR, the challenge is nestled deep in my spirit ... even in normal life, to be intentional with my words and yak with a purpose. We trust Father's peace to have covered each of these encounters and that you were left with a deeper longing to commune at the table He has prepared for each of us, even in the presence of the enemy and ... the beauty of our overflowing cup.
And now ... it's time to say adios. Goodbye to the cold barren landscape of PA, snuggling under comforters and afghans as the sun slipped below the horizon, the stark contrast of PA sunrises and snow laden fields, fast moving cars on the highway and the need to obey the signs, the lack of rice and beans at every convenience store, and not so convenient stores, conversations in English and heartfelt moments helping someone in Spanish, flushing our toilet paper and the delightful warm water from the faucets, heat in the house, and the simply divine feeling of walking on carpeted floors, the disoriented feeling when it is still dark at 7 a.m. and meetings that start at 7 p.m., living 'just down the road' from many of you and everything being '20 minutes' away, shopping with G'ma and riding mini bike, nighttime conversations with Joseph and hugging him out the door to school, the plethora of cheezits, whoopie pies, sausage and long johns and the lack of fresh pineapple, papaya and mango, connections that make us feel connected and tears of transition that beckon us home ... Suitcases are being packed, last minute lists checked off, and one more bag of thank you coffee awaits its receiver when Buford is returned ... As our hearts turn toward home, and we let the tears of goodbyes fall, there is a beautiful peace knowing He has commissioned us for such a time as this and that Costa Rica is home for now.
As we've communed around many of your tables sharing life, we thank God for the gift of each of you.
We are truly blessed to have you as part of our journey!
Praises
Life giving 8 weeks in PA
Basketball season for Jedi and Adam
Heartfelt connections with "1/2 of Lancaster Co."
Sickness did not hinder our sharing
Life with family and people we have history with
Financial partners
Prayers
Transition back to life in CR ... God's peace to blanket us
Peace for Adam's goodbyes
Jedidiah as he starts home school for 10th and 11th grades
Wisdom for a job for Joseph after graduation
Safety for Micah as he travels around Central America
To take lots of deep breaths, say no to anxious thoughts and walk in God's peace
Finances
We still need approximately $1,500.00 a month for our next term of 2 1/2 years (through August of 2026). We are excited to share that we received word from a few donors who are willing to match all gifts up to $25,000, this means any new donations will be doubled!
Here is our link to give through EMM: EMM Workers, Daryl and Jen Hoover
Life in PA through pictures ...
There was a lot of life lived in these 8 weeks ... Surprisingly, I haven't captured everything 'on film', but this gives you a good idea! Enjoy the walk through our lives. As we fly back to CR after 3 more action packed days, we will hold these moments close to our hearts for a lifetime!
| Dear ones, your cups will always overflow at our table! |
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| Life and laugher with the sisters ... |
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| Sharing laughter and our amazing drawing ability with our previous Attic Dwellers. |
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| Christmas Eve with the Hoovers ... and 4-square with Grandpa! |
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| The 70, Bob (red) and Larry (green) literally brought hours of boy entertainment! |
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| Christmas day at the Dieners |
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| At least we remembered to take a picture! ... How I miss life with 'sisters' in Colorado, CR and PA ... and BB's bargains of course! |
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| UPWARDS Basketball league ... a Godsend for our boys! |
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| Celebrating one of "The Kids" getting married! ... missing Micah. |
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| Always room for Chinese buffet and good friends! Feeling extra thankful for the 'daughter we share.' |
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| This silly crew met in Costa Rica and reunited in Ohio! |
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| Feeling loved and cared for ... words can't express our depth of gratitude! |
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| More love and sweet fellowship with our "kids" from CR ... We almost forgot a picture ... Missing his better half : ) check her out on instagram.com/flora.and.fauna.co/ |
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| Jedidiah on the job site ... he loved making money! Thanks BR for the gift of friendship and job experience! |
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| Last minute cousin connections are the best ... Mexico and CR and PA! |
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| First snow of the season ... no time to be sick! One of them was fevered and had a double ear infection! |
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| Our people who know us and love us anyway! Life is fuller, richer and doubly blessed when shared with this crew! |
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| He talked about it for weeks ... Winter Jam! |
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| Oh the stories we remember ... of course we don't look a day over 21! My soul is healthier having shared life with you sisters! |
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| PA Car Show ... A place for men to be boys and boys to be men! |
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| Dreaming about a CR trip ... and enjoying ice cream of course! |
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| Proud of this one's hard work! And love the fact that we were present with you to take this simple picture.  My heart is refreshed with time spent with these two. |
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| Get out and move ... a beautiful day for bikes on the trail! |
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| The story behind the soft pretzel ... Adam enjoyed alone time with Mom and Dad! |
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| The gift of reconnecting with 'old' friends who share our history ... Thanking God for His faithfulness and the night that time stood still! |
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| The beauty of a PA sunrise ... and the coolest large farm equipment right out our front window! |
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| The amazing 'show' of Snow geese ... Yes, we did get some pictures of them too, but these two were very entertaining. |
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| PA buddies ... Thanks Kai for being such a good PA friend for Adam! You are a gift from God! |
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| Cousins, coffee and connections ... Spending time with these two is so life-giving! |
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| 2nd snowfall of the season ... so beautiful! |
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| In the midst of a busy schedule, this handsome one remembered to celebrate Us! |
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| Thanks Aunt Sharon for giving time to Adam and putting him to work! A 10 year old shopping adventure ... Blessings of Hope! |
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| Adam's request ... an afternoon of bowling and laughter with Aunt Slushie! |
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| Adam's faithful fans ... taking advantage of every moment with these dear ones! |
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| One of these isn't growing quite like the other three! We love you 'sister Hannah' ... life is so full of joy when spent with you! |
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| Pine wood derby ... best in show! Jedidiah was a 'stand in racer' for a little girl who was sick. He had the privilege of racing "Rainbow Dash"! : )  Same eyes, same hair (one of us slightly less grey), same shirt!  These two suggested we visit CR, carried us there the second time, and continue to bless us to go ... even though it means we can't live 'just down the road' ... breathing deep the gift of this friendship! |
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| Thanksgiving day Amish roast in February? ... When you have a turkey in the freezer and family home from Costa Rica, why not! |
