Steve and Jenny Valentine

We are sitting here on the couch, discussing the events of the past 24 hours and finding ourselves grateful and in awe. We do not believe in chance or coincidence, but we believe God's hand was completely in orchestrating all parts of selling our home. TIMELINE of EVENTS: Thursday-sign paperwork to list house. Friday-Realtor listing home. Saturday (late night)-house was officially listed. Tuesday evening-message about showing the house on Wednesday (Found out that they would have shown it Tuesday instead but couldn't get a hold of us, only to find out they were dialing the wrong number!) Wednesday evening-potential buyers view the house. Wednesday later evening-call from our Realtor saying that the family will be sending an offer letter. Thursday (at 6:15am)- open email to find the offer letter. Thursday morning-conversations between Realtor and those making offer to finalize on an acceptable offer.  Thursday afternoon-set closing date for September 3, appraisal ...

During our orientation with Converge Worldwide, we were able to record a short video about our journey to Poland. Check it out  HERE ...enjoy!

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a missions conference at a church in the North East. I was invited to come as a representative of the organization that I work for and to meet with people who were interested in serving cross-culturally. I was excited to attend the event as I find great joy in seeing God raise up his people to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. As I arrived at the church on the first evening of the event I was handed a schedule that highlighted the weekend’s events.  On the docket for the weekend were times of prayer and fellowship, a short film, and guest speakers who would address the topic of sharing your faith in a Middle Eastern context. There was one item in particular that stood out as I combed through the schedule, a time in which the men would visit with a prominent religious leader of from another religious background. I was excited for this opportunity and had no idea what to expect. The following day, when it came time fo...

Olivia turned three months old a couple weeks back. As I sat and nursed her the other night I thought about how she is a quarter of a year old already.  Wow...we have survived a quarter of a year with three kiddos.  OK, it's been a joyful (and hard) three months! For our family, Steve and I have agreed that the transition to three children was a lot more challenging then the transition to two children.  And here is what I would say to anyone reading this who may have not heard me say it already in person...every family's experience IS different!  I had people tell me going to three was easier, but most said it was harder.  However, I chose to believe the few that said it was easier and was quite shocked after Olivia was born and found myself in such a struggle as to figure out how to manage this beautiful (yet full) household of little blessings! Our littlest girly, Via (as Isaac so affectionately calls her!), is learning new things... She sucks fiercely on ...

Steve left for a work trip last week and returned Monday afternoon. This is the first trip he's gone on since Olivia's birth were I've had to manage things here by myself. (His first two post Olivia business trips, I had family in town to help with the kiddos). I was a little hesitant about him leaving, but I knew we would be fine. I'm pretty used to him traveling by this point with his job and although it's never been "easy" it has become "easier" over time. The number one question or statement I hear when Steve travels is, "How do you do it?" Or "I don't know how you do it!" And I get it, I understand why people say this...it seems hard, lonely and frustrating. Yes. Yes. And Yes! But I learned early on in his travels that it doesn't help to focus on the difficulty, to have a negative outlook or bad attitude because it greatly affects how I parent and handle things while he is away.  So I choose to avoid...

What's that smell? Oh yea, it's the spit up on my shirt...the shirt that I was planning on changing but got sidetracked in doing so because my son came running around the corner at lightening speed yelling out "POO AGAIN!" And while standing, cooking dinner tonight, baby asleep on me in the carrier, I begin to wonder what's that awful smell!  Does the meal I'm preparing smell that bad?!  Oh wait, it's my nasty shirt, which is impossible now to change and kinda pointless because my day is closer to the end (meaning bedtime for the kiddos) than it was when said spit up actually occurred. And honestly I can't even remember if I brushed my teeth this morning because every time it crossed my mind, my breath tasted of coffee!  Sooo, did I brush my teeth and drink more coffee or did I forget to brush them and this was my "first cup of coffee" breath smell going on? But my breath smells like coffee, it could be worse right?! ------------------...

As I begin to emerge from the fog that has been our lives over the first month, I can't help but be in a continual state of thankfulness.  Thankful for the gift of life, little Olivia's specifically.  Thankful for the gift of children the Lord has entrusted us with.  Thankful for the MANY people who have served us by bringing meals (literally we only had to cook a couple of times during the first month!). Thankful for my mom who served and cared for us all. Thankful that in the midst of tiredness, we are finding much joy.  Thankful for so many thoughtful gifts given. Thankful for encouraging reminders of God's love and grace toward us. Just THANKFUL! Olivia is the typical newborn. She sleeps, eats, well you know!  She likes to be near mama, doesn't mind the VERY loud sounds her brother and sister create (in fact sleeps right through it amazingly!), beginning to hold her head up and has very strong arms and legs (which makes diaper changes a bit challeng...