I simply cannot believe that my baby is now two years old! It just boggles my mind to think that in two years, he has gone from being a tiny, helpless mewling little creature to a walking, talking, exploring, learning, loving little person. Amazing!
We had a nice family dinner at home tonight. I made Japanese curry (one of Alex' favorite suppers) and a fruit salad. Danny and Katie joined us later for the singing, candle-blowing, and cupcakes. It was very low-key -- we didn't even have any presents for him to open! Not to worry, though, his actual birthday party is next week and he'll have some presents then. He's only two; he'll never know the difference, right?
Happy 2nd Birthday, Alex! We are so very proud of you!
My apologies to those family members who tried to call us today. We were not intentionally ignoring you!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Who's Two? Alex, That's Who!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Annual Family Newsletter
I've been experimenting with Googlepages and have figured out how to upload our family newsletter to the blog. This is really great, because I decided this morning after checking on what it would cost to actually have this newsletter printed at Kinko's, that it was beyond what we could afford this year. So I will be taking the content and reformatting it into a basic, no frills letter and then ordering prints online of the photo on page 1. For those who care to see what it would have looked like, had money not been an issue, you can click the link below.
You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view the file. You can download it for free here.
http://rustyandlaura.googlepages.com/Xmas2007.pdf
You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view the file. You can download it for free here.
http://rustyandlaura.googlepages.com/Xmas2007.pdf
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
The Quest
What to say about Quest? It was... emotionally exhausting... intensive... draining. It was, in the words of Danny Reese, "a 2-day cross examination of every aspect of your life." Each couple and single on the team was interviewed in a round-robin style by 2 people from MRN as well as four experienced missionary couples. Over the course of 2 days, we sat through ten 1-hour interviews (no wonder we were tired)! We reviewed some of the assessments we had taken in the weeks before. We answered questions related to our physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, financial, and marital health, our ministry experience, our response to stress and trials, our theology of missions, and a variety of other topics. I talked until my mouth was dry and my throat was hoarse!
In addition, we (meaning the Angola Team) prepared lunches and dinners for the entire group (shout-out to Teague for coordinating this), and had a group project to complete by the end of the second day. Each couple and single also had to prepare a 20-minute self-introduction (Rusty and I did a Power Point of pictures to tell our story) and a 20-minute devotional.
Although we were tired at the end of the 2 days, I have to say that it was a good and helpful experience for us as individuals and couples, and for our team. During our "exit interviews," each couple/single was given a list of strengths as well as growth areas and recommendations. They had some really wonderful and encouraging things to say about Rusty and me that just brought tears to my eyes! Then, we met all together and they gave us a list of team recommendations.
We look forward to continuing our relationship with MRN in the coming months and working through the team formation and preparation process with them. For right now, however, our thoughts are focused mostly on the upcoming survey trip to Angola this summer. I am really starting to worry about how we will raise the necessary funds in the next few months as well as the more practical aspects of traveling in Africa with a 2-year old. Please pray that God will calm my anxious heart!
And while I am asking for prayers, please also lift up our trip to Texas this weekend. We will be traveling to Denton, TX to meet with a church that is interested in our plans for Angola and possibly supporting us. This will be our first presentation to and interview with a missions committee, so we are understandably a bit nervous. We are thankful that teammates Danny and Nathan will be accompanying us to help with the presentation and to lend their emotional support.
Group photo from our Quest weekend below:
In addition, we (meaning the Angola Team) prepared lunches and dinners for the entire group (shout-out to Teague for coordinating this), and had a group project to complete by the end of the second day. Each couple and single also had to prepare a 20-minute self-introduction (Rusty and I did a Power Point of pictures to tell our story) and a 20-minute devotional.
Although we were tired at the end of the 2 days, I have to say that it was a good and helpful experience for us as individuals and couples, and for our team. During our "exit interviews," each couple/single was given a list of strengths as well as growth areas and recommendations. They had some really wonderful and encouraging things to say about Rusty and me that just brought tears to my eyes! Then, we met all together and they gave us a list of team recommendations.
We look forward to continuing our relationship with MRN in the coming months and working through the team formation and preparation process with them. For right now, however, our thoughts are focused mostly on the upcoming survey trip to Angola this summer. I am really starting to worry about how we will raise the necessary funds in the next few months as well as the more practical aspects of traveling in Africa with a 2-year old. Please pray that God will calm my anxious heart!
And while I am asking for prayers, please also lift up our trip to Texas this weekend. We will be traveling to Denton, TX to meet with a church that is interested in our plans for Angola and possibly supporting us. This will be our first presentation to and interview with a missions committee, so we are understandably a bit nervous. We are thankful that teammates Danny and Nathan will be accompanying us to help with the presentation and to lend their emotional support.
Group photo from our Quest weekend below:
Back row from left: Greg Brooks, Henry Huffard, Robert Meyer, Rusty Campbell, Danny Reese, Evertt Huffard, Paul Schwartz
Middle row, from left: Dottie Schulz, Jane Huffard, Roger Pritchett, Nathan Holland, Ileene Huffard, Mary Lane Schwartz
Front row, from left: Laura Campbell, Karen Pritchett, Katie Reese (and baby!), Teague Meyer, Jordan Yarborough
Not pictured: Alex Campbell
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Auntie Again!
I have a new neice! Yesterday, February 4th, Jana Faith Marcum was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia. To see pictures of this new little bundle of joy, head on over to my dad's blog. I'm sure that Josh and Julie will post pictures of their own within a few days as well.
I am so looking forward to this summer when the Marcums will be back on furlough, and I will be meeting two of my neices for the very first time!
Congratulations, Josh, Julie, Michaela, Eliana, and Jana Faith!
I am so looking forward to this summer when the Marcums will be back on furlough, and I will be meeting two of my neices for the very first time!
Congratulations, Josh, Julie, Michaela, Eliana, and Jana Faith!
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