What a difference a year makes

I just realized when I signed into blogger that I started this blog a year ago. Hard to believe it's been that long. Wow, what a difference a year can make. So many changes - so many challenges - so many miracles. When I think in terms of a year - it's a little over whelming. One year ago Scott took that incredible leap of faith and left his 25 year career in engineering. One year ago we would look at each other say, "Only God knows how this is going to happen, but we are trusting Him with all of it." One year ago my kids began to anticipate and count down their "lasts". Last high school football games, last Christmas in this house, last "Big Weekend". One year ago I began to dream of what life would be like in Botswana and wondered many times how it would all work out. To think that all of these things have come to pass and we have actually celebrated our First Christmas in Botswana blows my mind.

Since I am reflecting on this past year I have decided to reflect month to month.

Jan 2010 - Ringing in the New Year with my family at Garden City. Cherishing the times we would have together knowing that the end was in sight. Scott and I celebrating 20 years of marriage and being in awe of what God had done in our lives and what He had in store for us this year. Scott leaving his job - and this being the most difficult thing he had ever faced. I remember his internal struggle and how I prayed for him because I could see from the outside the fierce spiritual battle going on.

Feb 2010 - Scott joining the staff at Alice Drive Baptist Church. We had to learn to share an office, a desk and a computer...an interesting adjustment to say the least. We learned very quickly how our strengths and weaknesses worked together. Scott and I attended the Close Connections Board meeting in Atlanta GA where we were prayed over and commissioned by that group. Scott was Ordained on February 14th at Alice Drive Baptist Church. The service was one of the most memorable of my life. We were blessed to have so many of our friends in the ministry to take part in the service and we were blessed again to be prayed over, showered with love and supported by so many friends and family. It was a night I will never forget.

March 2010 - We were part of our first ever missions conference as missionaries...overwhelming and amazing thanks to Millbrook Baptist and the Stan Harmon Sunday School Class. It was such a blessing to be prayed over and by friends and family. I remember through tears or joy and love my Daddy blessing us and releasing us to God's care. I was so grateful to have the love, prayers, physical and spiritual blessings that weekend held. The kids enjoyed being a part of "Big Weekend" and came off of that weekend begging to be able to come back to Sumter next year for it. Matt Papa led worship at Big Weekend - I remember standing in the Worship Center, tears flowing, with our hands lifted high as he sang "Free at last I surrender all that I am with open hands" - incredible God moment. March also allowed me to travel to Winston-Salem to be with my sister Lea on the 2nd anniversary of sweet baby Wills death. I cherished our time together over dinner and we did some 40th Birthday shopping for her too.

April 2010 - I think this month could have been described as "cramming it in". Celebrating my 44th Birthday with my closest friends, my mom and dad's surprise visit and red velvet cake, a beautiful bracelet from my man! We crammed in several conferences to try to take in as much training as possible. We went to the Board Meeting of "Churches Together" and were prayed over and blessed by them. We spent several days at the Orange Conference and learned more than we could possibly remember about Children's Ministry. We had a great visit with our friends the Keeltys and were reminded by God that He was making this move happen by working in the hearts of His people. Chandler turned 14 and we were reminded while processing God's Call to Botswana, of how God had used Chandler's healing as part of His redemption story in mine and Scott's life.

May 2010 - Makenzie finished her first year of college and came home to spend the summer with us. The boys finished up their school years and said their goodbyes to lots of friends. Parker turned 11 and accepted the reality of going to middle school in a foreign country. I am still grateful for the way our boys took the move. All of them were always in agreement with us and never argued or begged not to follow us. None of them questioned God or His call on our lives.

June 2010 - We took our annual trip to Edisto Beach for the "Peals Family Beach Blast". It was bittersweet knowing that our family wouldn't be there next time (at least for a few years anyway). Our house in Sumter had been on the market(an incredibly poor housing market) since September 2009 and we finally got an offer and a sale. It was hard not to fret over selling the house but all I could do was trust. Hunter celebrated his sweet 16 while at Edisto and enjoyed a chartered fishing trip with his Daddy, Papaw, Uncle Mike and brothers Chandler and Parker. Did I mention that Hunter grew probably 6 - 8 inches this year and is a whooping 6ft 4in tall? We shipped our Suburban and some basic household goods to Botswana. Joshua and Joseph turned 5 and Scott celebrated his 48th Birthday.

July 2010 - We sold, gave away, packed up all of our earthy belongings. We said goodbye to the house we had called home for 6 years. We did our last VBS at Alice Drive Baptist Church - we lived in the Church that week...memories we will never forget. Lea and her kids came and camped out with us at ADBC. I wouldn't change that week for anything. Makenzie and Tyler starting talking and hanging out together. We camped in NC for the 4th of July and made some fun memories with Felicia, Lea and families. We joined Mike and Becky Chennault and girls for a long weekend in the Smoky Mountains. What a great time of "family reunion" we had. I feel like God used Mike and Becky in our lives as the ones that went ahead of us. He used them to show me that leaving home (the USA) was possible. We were blessed to have farewell parties in Aiken with wonderful friends - but saying goodbye as usual was the hardest part.

August 2010 - We were commissioned by Alice Drive Baptist Church to be Missionaries to the Children of Botswana. We had to say goodbye to our church family and some very close friends. We moved Makenzie back into her dorm at CSU and spent some precious time with only her and said our goodbyes. We spent time with Scott's family and my family the last week and we packed our suitcases and eventually boarded the plane that brought us to our new home. It was the hardest thing leaving my girl weeping at the gate, but we were very grateful she was in Tyler's capable arms. We were greeted and hosted in Botswana by the Sukups who took excellent care of us for the first 3 weeks here.

September 2010 - We moved into our new home and got settled into school. We went through lots of emotions and adjustments. We hit the ground running, planning, meeting new people, networking and hosting teams.

October 2010 - We continued to adjust to life in a new country. We depended on one another. We were happy to share our home with Matt and Seth from Campus Crusade. Scott and I traveled to Mosojane and left with a promise to return in December. We hosted a "Vision" cast (conference) at our home and learned so much about the difference of our world view versus African world view. Tyler asked Makenzie to Marry him and of course she said YES!! We were and still are thrilled for both of them.

November 2010 - We held our first training of Children's leaders at Naledi Baptist Fellowship. We celebrated our first Thanksgiving in Botswana - different, but special in it's own way. The boys finished up their first term of school and we anxiously anticipated the arrival of Makenzie to Botswana.

December 2010 - Scott traveled and was guest pastor at a youth conference. The boys and I decorated our Christmas Tree and hung the stockings while it was 100+ degrees in Botswana. We struggled with things not feeling like Christmas. We were overjoyed the day our "sissy" finally arrived in Botswana. We loved every minute of our time with Mak. We held a fabulous week of VBS in Mosojane. We celebrated Christmas "Botswana" Style. (Opened gifts and spent the afternoon in the pool) - Christmas dinner was steak on the grill. We had a Birthday Party for Makenzie and the whole family was there via skype. We were jealous of the family and friends getting snow for Christmas but made the best of it here and worked on our tans.

Jan 2011- we rang in the New Year with Fireworks and Smores in the Bush. We said goodbye to Makenzie as she headed back to Charleston for school. The boys started a new school year. Hard for me to comprehend where the time goes. Josh and Joe started Kindergarten, Parker 6th grade, Chandler 9th grade and Hunter 12th grade. We welcomed Megan and Kaitlin. We have begun our search for a new home to rent. We are preparing for a Children's ministry conference in Zambia, another trip north, 4 teams and 4 KidsCamps this summer, a trip home in April and our Daughter's Wedding in May.

And so life goes!! We thank God for His incredible provision, for the ways He worked to bring us to Botswana. We thank Him for the people in our lives that love, encourage, pray for and support us. We Praise Him for all He is doing in and through us and Give Him all the Glory.

~Tonya