The end of our stay in Virginia...

So, we are ending our time in Virginia today. Tonight is our last night and we are crazily busy packing up from our stay in Lynchburg. We feel so blessed to have been able to come and visit people and spend this extended time in Virginia with family and friends. We have had great times connecting with people about our ministry and we continue to pray that the Lord leads faithful supporters to us. Brian and I have both reflected that had we not gone into this career path, we would not have had the opportunity to come for so long. We feel like this is an added blessing we didn't quite expect.

We are leaving tomorrow for Maryland for only one night before we are off to Vancouver, British Columbia to visit my brother for the upcoming week. My family is trying to get together more than just at Christmas 2 other times per year so we are all descending upon him in Canada!! What out! It is going to get crazy. We are spending 2 nights on the mainland in the city with my bro and then 3 nights on Vancouver Island in the city of Sooke. It should be spectacular! We will be back to Maryland on August 1st and then will be there for the next month. Whew....

So Liam has had such fun and good days recently. Everyone comments that he is such a good baby, which I do agree with! He just has a hard time a night. However, the past several nights he has gone down to sleep at night awake and has obviously become more content and familiar with his crib here in Virginia. This is so hard for me, because tomorrow he will start the many nights in unfamiliar places. Please PRAY for him during the transitions to Maryland, Canada and back. I really desire to give him things that are steady and secure, which babies need and do well with, but right now I need to trust that God will sustain all 3 of us during the difficult transitions. I really appreciate all of you who are praying.

We will try and post again in Vancouver, but only if there is time.

updates!

Asleep with Rene

reading with Grandpa

He loves taking baths! We don't always use the tub still, but he enjoys just reclining and babbling during bathtime. It usually puts him in a good mood.

He loves standing up on the couch and looking out into the lake and banging on the window. What a cutie!




We made a trip to Blacksburg and Virginia Tech where Brian went to school. This is from the memorial for the shootings that happened last year.

getting ready for a paddle boat ride at my Dad's house. This life jacket suit was a bit big and he hated being in it. but he sure does look kind of funny!

Flowers, flowers and more flowers in the yard!

Swinging with Grandpa
Brian working on fishing

Well, we've been busy!!

It has been really good meeting with so many people in Virginia and for me to be able to reconnect with people that I have grown up knowing in my church! What a blessing. The change in routine and place has been a big adjustment for Liam, but overall, he is such a good baby! He had his first experience with mosquito bites, and he had quite a few of them on his legs. I think he was really bothered for a couple of days, but now is much better. Brian and I have had many wakeful nights with him over the past several weeks, but we are used to it and trying to keep a good perspective. God is really sustaining us on little sleep, and He is providing chances to rest. Today is another day of rest for us, at least we don't have any appointments. We have lots of other miscellaneous things to take care of for work, but will probably be in most of the day. At my dad's house we can fish, take the paddle boat out and relax on the swing. We haven't had much time to enjoy those things since the 4th of July, but we will try to today.

So, fundraising is going pretty well and we feel encouraged at people's responses and excitement for us and our work in Los Angeles. We are challenged daily to rely on God to meet these needs and we have seen Him work in many ways already. Monday night we had an info session at my church and I felt completely blessed by the friends that came out to learn about what we are doing. please pray for us and rest as well as the vision and boldness to continue on in our efforts here in Lynchburg, VA.

We will be traveling next Friday to D.C. to take an early flight out on Saturday to go to Vancouver, Canada to visit my brother. The whole family is going there to visit him, so it will be another cross country trip, this time by plane. The changes for Liam has for me, proven to be the biggest challenge of this trip. He is up quite a bit during the night, and then not having a routine during the day is hard somewhat, and naps are often cut short. We have begun trying to stay in at least for his morning nap, so that he has that consistency and has nothing scheduled before 1pm.

So, I wanted to share lots of new pictures! Hope everyone, friends in Los Angeles and friends on the east coast are doing well! Thanks for stopping by.

Brian, Sara and Liam

We Made It!

Day 1 - Los Angeles to Flagstaff, Arizona

Our traveling set up! If Liam was asleep, Brian and I would be in the front. If awake, he definitely needed someone to look at and not just the back of the seat.

At our very first stop in California on our way out.

Day 2: Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, and on to New Mexico

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Day 3- New Mexico to Oklahoma

The view of the lake from Brian's grandparent's house! Spectacular!

Eating at the Cracker Barrell - Brian was so excited to get some country fried steak! He had his fill and that was the only time we stopped for a real dinner.

Days 4,5,6- Visiting in Mountain Home, Arkansas

Liam with Aunt Cindy! We were so excited and happy to visit with her and catch up a bit!

With Great Grandpa Homan!

And with Great Grandma Homan! It was such a blessing to be able to stop and visit for awhile there and have a chance to spend good time and conversation with Brian's grandparents. It was a wonderful time.

Day 7 - Arkansas to Lynchburg, Virginia!

In Knoxville, Tennessee for Brian to show me around

Wow...we are in Virginia. We arrived at 0300 a.m. on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning!). We decided to push on through from our stay in Arkansas with Brian's grandparents all of the way to Lynchburg, Virginia. It was a little over 800 miles, and took us 17 hours to do. And let me tell you, Liam is the star traveler! The whole week he did so well when we traveled in the car - of course he got fussy, but overall, he sure does enjoy his carseat! However, he has had a hard time adjusting at night to new places. I am very glad to be in one spot for the next 3 weeks in Virginia.

We didn't leave Los Angeles until 10am, a few hours after our original goal time for leaving. But leaving for 2 1/2 months is no easy task! We didn't mind the late start and we really approached the whole trip with an easy going attitude.

Day 1 - We arrived in Flagstaff, AZ at around 6:30. We found a hotel, and then went to the little downtown area and grabbed some local pizza.

Day 2 - We drove up to the Grand Canyon and did some sight seeing and then headed out past Flagstaff and stopped at the Petrified National Forest and Painted Desert. We had a goal of getting to Albuquerque, NM to stay with some friends, but we quickly saw that would be difficult to make. So, we enjoyed the national parks, and enjoyed the chance to take it easy. We did make it to Gallup, NM.

Day3 - Pure driving. We drove through NM, the pan handle of Texas, and into Oklahoma and stayed in Elk City.

Days 4,5,6 - Elk City, Oklahoma to Mountain Home, Arkansas to visit Brian's grandparents and introduce them to their first great grandchild! We stayed there 3 nights and a full 2 days. It was a blessing to spend time with them and relax in a beautiful part of the country.

Day 7 - Arkansas to Lynchburg, VA! We stopped in Knoxville, TN to see where Brian used to live while he worked with the Navigators at the University of Tennessee. It was really fun to experience that with him!

So, it has been really busy since we got here with the 4th of July and all. We have been enjoying seeing family and friends and are getting a full schedule as we begin our fundraising efforts here in Virginia. We are feeling so blessed, challenged, and supported here. It is not always easy, but I know that God is growing us and our faith.

We miss our home in Los Angeles, but also enjoy very much being in the city where I grew up and being able to see aunts and uncles and grandparents multiple times. My family is very important to me and I am enjoying this extended visit a bit. We have taken some trips out in the paddle boat on the lake and Brian has enjoyed some swimming. It is a great place to stay. And is a great chance to focus on the Lord.

Well, enjoy the pictures!