Steve and Jenny Valentine

“We’re going on a bear hunt.  We’re going to catch a big one. What a beautiful day. We’re not scared!”   As Isaac and I sat on the couch together chanting these words from one of his favorite books, I was struck with a great truth that was found in this classic children’s story. As the story goes the family encounters obstacle after obstacle on their bear hunting journey. Each time they come to a new obstacle they chant: “we can’t go over it. We can’t go under it. We’ve got to go through it!”   As we read these words together Isaac likes to scream the last line and point forward with his hand as though he were the captain of a ship. Every time he does I pray that God will make this the disposition of his heart. As we journey in this life of faith that he would with bold confidence set his face toward the trials ahead and be willing to go through them. That as he grows as a man that he would lead his future family in this way, trusting that as...

Who ever said “stop and take time to smell the roses” has never been shoved in a minivan with almost all their belongings, 3 small children and told to drive over 1,500 miles through 16 different states in an effort to raise financial support for the ministry you feel called to do. Who even cares about stinkin “roses” when you have 400 miles left in your drive but cannot manage to be on the road for more than 30 minutes before someone has to use the bathroom yet again? This has been my heart condition of late. A heart that is more concerned with arriving at our final destination than the journey we are on. But what if the saying was “ stop and take time to become more like Jesus ” or even “ stop and take time to deeply treasure Jesu s”. Oh how this changes the long days in the car on this sanctification journey called a family road trip. Lord forgive me when I have been more concerned with “getting there” then who we are when we arrive. -Steve More  about our move to...

Where is my house? Where is my room? Why are we visiting so many people? What do you think it's like in Florida without us? I miss my friends. These are just a few of the questions and comments we have heard from the littlest Valentines this week. It seems that for some reason, this week they have become so much more aware of the many changes that have been taking place in our lives. All of the above questions and comments, make me tear up and force me to press into the One who can help guide me in beginning to answer them. We knew beginning this journey would not be "easy" and most definitely would not be "normal" (whatever normal is!). We knew that being a Missionary Kid (MK) would involve much transition and change. What I did not expect, was just how much my own heart would ache to have to not only walk through my own emotions in all this but to help my children navigate their emotions in this as well. This is hard. But we consider it a much greate...

We are on the road traveling. We signed paperwork yesterday to sell our home. Today, after Karis got out of school and Steve off work, we left Orlando and began what we plan to be a two month long trip.  The purpose of this trip: meet with potential financial and prayer partners that will enable us to serve as missionaries in Poland and visit with family and friends all along the way.  As Steve drops down hours (and pay) at work, we have a goal to reach 50 percent of our monthly financial budget by the end of October.  We hope to be departing to Poland in July of 2015.  Day one: we arrived at our first place of rest (Pensacola, FL) in just under 9 hours...pretty good with three littles to tend to along the way. Overall, it was a good travel day, despite three major rain storms! We thank the Lord for safe travels and for many who are praying for our family during this trip. Now...to get two of the sleeping children into the hotel for a good nights rest...

This was a video put together by our church, Celebration Community Church, and that was shown last week in the service. We are thankful for a sending church that is so supportive as we continue on the journey to Poland.  Check out this video... https://vimeo.com/105152986   For more, check it out here: http://www.convergeworldwide.org/give/188087 

FOUR MONTHS: Not a fan of tummy time Finding her voice and enjoys hearing herself make noises Responds to her name Smiles and coos when you say "I love you" Beginning to grab at toys STATS: 11 lbs 7.5 oz (for the win of littlest baby at 4 months that we've had!) 23.75 inches long I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking :) I came home from being out and she had been giving daddy fits, finally falling asleep on him. Cutest thing ever! still wanted to be swaddled, but began getting out of the swaddle. We were able to have her not swaddled at bedtime during month four. And when she gets enough rest, yes she does wake up like this! first father's day with Olivia in the bunch and all smiles! she could sit like this if we propped her against the arm of the couch and apparently happy about it! sitting with assistance enjoying the play yard and hitting the toys The day she turned four months old... ...

I have had the thought, "this {raising support} would be easier if we didn't have three small littles underfoot"...but then I hear Karis from the other room singing, " Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, oh for grace to trust Him more ".  What a great reminder, yes 'tis so Sweet to trust in Jesus! Her sweet little voice just singing away, all Glory to God, and my heart once again is reminded to be thankful. To trust Jesus in this entire process of raising support. To lean on the only One who is capable to sustain us, provide for us and give us the grace to {continue} to trust Him more. If I didn't have Karis, Isaac and Olivia around, I might possibly miss out on some pretty good lessons the Lord is teaching me. We read them devotional stories from a great children's book, Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing and just recently I read them the story about the mustard seed (as mentioned in the Bible in Luke 17). The words in the devotional pierced my heart.....