Time keeps flying by! Christian has already gone and returned from Cape Town again! He received some compensation for leading staff and students on a short term vision trip, and was blessed in every way upon his return to South Africa. The flight hasn't gotten any shorter, but absence has made his heart grow even fonder. Christian was encouraged as he sat with the student men he discipled in Cape Town, and heard they are walking with the Lord and sharing the gospel with others. He was blessed by so many reunions...our church small group, the orphanage, all of our friends, Lily's school friend (Therese), and even random waiters and store clerks that recognized he'd been gone for awhile! The many ways the Lord provided and blessed our year in Cape Town were magnified again, and he said he just kept praising God at every turn. What a gift.
The two weeks that Christian was away felt long, but God sustained us! For spring break the girls and I went to Estes Park with my Mom and younger sister (Jocelyn) for a few nights. It was a special and fun time away with them! And then we went from Estes back to Goodland, Kansas (my hometown) where my older sister (Cortney) and her family joined us for the rest of the week. The girls were so excited to spend time with their cousins! We celebrated my Mom's 65th birthday, and had some March madness of our own, as Goodland got 15 inches of snow the day we were all supposed to leave! It was a beautiful snow, but it messed up our travel plans!:) Christian got in Sunday at 2am, and we made it home Sunday afternoon. It gave him time to sleep anyway.
Another highlight that happened before spring break, was that Lily had her first ever soccer practice. If I would have blogged before she had practice, it would have been a prayer request! I never had the opportunity to play soccer growing up, so I had to ask friends for help on soccer gear. It's quite an investment for a sport that Lily was...let's just say NOT excited to try. She usually gets scared in new situations and worried about trying new things, so we've really been praying about it and encouraging her to try. Skiing was a huge confidence builder in this area, as she wanted to give up after the morning, but ended up enjoying the afternoon and now can't wait to go again! (next year:)). I've been nervous about if she would even participate at all this season of soccer. And here she had her first practice (first step of faith) while Christian was gone! The day of practice I had her try on her shin guards and cleats and we practiced in the back yard. She can really kick! She decided to keep them on until practice. When we pulled up to the park for practice she got scared. I told her all she had to do was kick the ball and say hi when spoken to. She knew how to do those two things. After the parent meeting, they were starting with some ball drills. She wanted to sit out and watch, which was fine. I told her to just engage with the introductions first. So she did! And then she did the next thing. And the next drill. And before I knew it, she had a red jersey on and was scrimmaging! And then she ran to the middle of the pack and kicked the ball!! And after practice she ran to me and jumped in my arms and said "I did it, Mommy! And I like it!!" I swung her around and told her how proud I am of her and what a great job she did. I don't know who was more excited, me or Lily...but it was a huge answer to prayer and relief! She keeps asking when her next practice is and is already wanting to enroll for next year! I've just seen her confidence grow in trying new things over the past month. Skiing, swimming lessons, and soccer. Yesterday she started going to school for the full day instead of half without a freak out moment! And last night she asked if she could try my red onion! It makes my heart so full of joy to see her live more out of freedom and confidence than paralyzed by fear. Praise God!
