Fleming Flamenco

My cousin, Jamie, who is a missionary in Spain sent this to Charis.

(Check out her blog on my blog list)

Charis' Fall Pictures

My little pumpkin - I love being her mommy!

Candy Land Walks

Charis has been introduced to the world of lollipops. It hasn't taken her long to figure out that these wonderful sticky treats can be found at drive thrus at banks and when we visit her Nee Nee at work. There was even some at "Daddy's" work the other day! She calls them "pops" and has learned to make the exaggerated *slurping* sound of licking a lollipop.

Another love that has grown over the past few months is going for walks. Long gone are my sweaty workouts around the neighborhood with her in a stroller. These walks can hardly be considered exercise for me, but I am sure they are great for her. She wants to be out and about. This passion for walking grew beyond control when my family was visiting this summer because there were plenty of hands to hold and coax to go with her on a walk. As we walk she likes to use her words and tell me everything she sees or wants to see.

The other day while we were on one of these walks, she excitedly pointed and tugged hard on my hand. I was confused by what she was saying "pop, pop, pop!!!" What did she mean by "pops"? I tried to keep her walking but she was winning this tug of war. Then I focused in on this "POP". It was a shinny red reflector by a mailbox. To any connoisseur of lollipops, this one must be sampled! I burst into laughter and tried explaining that it wasn't a lollipop, and it wasn't ours (a word she has learned on our walks). She was sure I was wrong on this one, but finally gave into her mothers desire keep walking. This happened several days on our walks. Finally I decided to let her give it a try. *Crunch* I heard the sound of her teeth against the hard plastic. She looked at me in disbelief. *Crunch* Maybe she hadn't bitten hard enough?... Sadly she moved on with her walk...no longer a candy land walk.

Our Son

Smiling at us =)




Joshua's mom said he looks like him

Last Wednesday we found out we are having a boy!!! It is a good thing we wanted to find out because as soon as the ultrasound was on my belly the screen revealed even to an untrained eye that we were having a son. We are excited and can't wait to meet our little boy.

Growing Gratitude

When I first started blogging (although I can be so sporadic that you can hardly call what I do blogging), I wrote about Psalm 113:9. This verse to me is like a sweet and sour dish. I know the sour and almost bitter side of it all too well - "the barren women", but God graciously answered the cry of my heart allowing me to taste the sweet side of this dish - to be a mother AND to also be able to stay at home with Charis. Deep down even while I was pregnant with Charis (which is the Greek word for "grace" - "undeserved mercy") I wondered if I would ever have this undeserved mercy again. Fifteen weeks ago today, I began to suspect it. The next day to Joshua's and my complete joy, we found out we were expecting again. I am almost 20 weeks, and it is hitting me that with the busyness of a toddler and a summer full of family, work and fund raising that it hasn't soaked in that we are going to have another child. Maybe that is why I stare at my ever growing baby bump as if it shouldn't be there. I want to treasure this pregnancy more than I have so far and soak in the little movements in my womb. As I anticipate this new precious face, I realize that God is answering every part of that verse that I prayed: "He settles the barren women in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD." Please join with me and praise the Giver of Life.

19 Weeks

My growing girl

18 Months

Remembering Last Year...

6 Months

Springing to Life...

Here is a copy of our most recent update (just click on it to enlarge).

A prayer from a missionary

Joshua first introduced me to this prayer years ago when he read "How the Irish Saved Civilization". Many know it as Patrick's Breastplate (I especially love the bolded phrase):


I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

Little Valentine

Charis 1st Valentine

She has always been our happy girl

Our Valentine has grown!

First box of chocolates

(Don't worry I didn't let her eat all of them)

Our sweet girl

Full Steam Ahead

I updated our website today and thought that it might be good to share this here too:

As the new year begins, Joshua and I are ever more passionate to get to the mission field. Besides the usual prayer for new financial partners, please pray with us for the following upcoming events that need to take place to make it happen:

• Joshua presenting his ordination paper to our church elders (probably by the end of this month) followed by presenting his paper to an ordination committee.
  
• We are aiming to attend the final training required by TEAM in February.
  
• Wisdom about selling or renting our home and when we should put it on the market.

"In this world you will have trouble..."

This is something I wrote down on the back of a crumpled Starbucks bag as I was overwhelmed with some of the hardships people around me are facing mixed with things God has and is teaching me....

We all have troubles. None of us want them. Most of us don't pick what our encumbrances or struggles will be. Some of us couldn't have imagined what "it" would be - like for me, I never considered one of my afflictions would have been the unquenchable fire of infertility. And yet for some, "it" is their worst nightmares coming true. Since we will have troubles, the question is what I do with them. As exhaustion clouds our vision or bitter numbness begins to settle in at shattered dreams, there is a soft and gentle call "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest...rest for your souls."

Time does not stand still...

Every time I write 2010, I can't believe it! It feels like I have gotten to this place in time too fast. This especially hit me when Joshua and I celebrated our 10th anniversary.

Yet I am excited about what 2010 holds! We hope this is the year we get to Italy. One prayer this year is that the Lord would order my days. While I have so much I need and want to get done daily, ultimately I want my focus to be what He would have it be. I want to walk in His freedom and not in the overwhelming shadow of "to do" lists. I don't want to be consumed by things that are trivial but have an eternal perspective on all aspects of life.

Since 2009 has come to a close, I would remember some of what God did: wonderful care for Charis while I worked full time, a pt time position from home so I can stay home with Charis, special gatherings with family from all sides, new financial partners, celebrating our 10th anniversary, and celebrating Charis 1st Birthday.

With that I will sign off with a couple pictures since I last blogged (I had planned on them being separate entries)...

We got to be all together as Flemings for Thanksgiving.

What a sweet unexpected treasure!

Charis 1st Birthday

Our 10th anniversary - A Special Day

(This was taken when we walked down to the chapel we got married - it was very COLD! )

Christmas Day