Monday, December 29, 2008
Merry Christmas from the Larsons (a little late!)
Edit to Add: You will want to turn off the music at the bottom of the page.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas in Reverse? (well, the pictures are anyway!)
Shalom liked her new Baby from Great-Grama T!
The girls with their new Babies from Great-Grama T.
Our "low-budget" Christmas tree.
Shalom and Ruth helped decorate the "tree."
Grandma Larson got us some plastic stick-on decorations, which included a fully decorated tree. The girls and their Papa thought it could do with more decorations, so they added some "snow" to the tree.We had a very nice day together. We all woke up about 7:30 (um...Ruth considers that sleeping in!), and then got dressed. While breakfast was baking (an egg bake. It had shredded cheese on the bottom, eggs in the middle, and more cheese on top. Bake it for 30 minutes at 350, and there is breakfast. Yes, it really is that simple!), we read the story of Jesus' birth. After breakfast, we read about his death and resurrection. In our family, the important part for us is what Jesus did for us in his entire life...not just the birth.
After reading about Jesus, we "put up and decorated" our Christmas tree. Then the girls opened their gifts from Great-Grama Taylor. They each got a baby doll (I am noticing a theme here!!!). As soon as Shalom got the wrapping off of her gift, she said in a high pitch voice "BEBE!!!" I think she liked it...she carried it around til naptime, and then slept with it!
By the way (on a non-christmasy note), Shalom is learning new words by the hour it seems. We JUST (as in while I was trying to type this out) went through a book on shapes, she said in rectangle!!! Yep...this is considered bragging, although I didn't do anything but tell her what the shape was!
After reading about Jesus, we "put up and decorated" our Christmas tree. Then the girls opened their gifts from Great-Grama Taylor. They each got a baby doll (I am noticing a theme here!!!). As soon as Shalom got the wrapping off of her gift, she said in a high pitch voice "BEBE!!!" I think she liked it...she carried it around til naptime, and then slept with it!
By the way (on a non-christmasy note), Shalom is learning new words by the hour it seems. We JUST (as in while I was trying to type this out) went through a book on shapes, she said in rectangle!!! Yep...this is considered bragging, although I didn't do anything but tell her what the shape was!
Monday, December 22, 2008
A Visit with a Friend + Family pics
First family photo in several months...my girls are SO BIG!!!
For the Grandparents - by the way, this is Shalom's "cheese face"...she just started it in the last month or so.
In case you thought I was was exaggerating...
I thought I would give you a close-up of my Beauties!
A family pic with Debi in it. Debi and I realized we have known each other for many many moons...YEAR in fact - seven of them. We were roommates in Bible School for a year, and then she showed up at Friend Ships...and helped set me and Josh up together! We have been thru a whole lot together - laughter, tears, frustrations and joys.I love Debi Stout! (Josh does too, I don't know why he is so serious in the pic!)
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Merry Christmas from the Larson Family
December, ‘08
Hello All!
Merry Christmas from the Larsons!
I have had a desire to write this newsletter for quite some time now. I was hoping to print out something with pictures and fancy trim, but finances have not been available for that.
I don’t normally speak of our finances to anyone. It is something Rebekah and I try not to speak of, because we do not wish to make anyone feel pressured to support us…or to give because they feel sorry for us.
But…well, I have been a missionary for over five (5) years now. And there are times when I feel so…???…so grateful to God… There are times when it seems like God wants to make sure we know that He is in control and that we are right where He wants us. These last few months have been one of those times.
May I share with you a little of these last few months, so that we can reaffirm to you that our Lord is still on the throne and He still takes care of His children?
Finances have been low for quite some time now, and we have cut our spending as low as possible. So low, in fact, that we have not bought meat for…Boy, quite some time. We didn’t share this with anyone though.
It wasn’t even a month after we used up the last of our meat from the fridge that I came across a large amount of canned tuna that had been discarded, I said, “Thank you, God.” and took it home. About a month or two ago, a friend knocked on our door with a bag full of ground pork, sausages and bacon. Thanks, God. Shortly after that, another friend stopped us alongside the road and gave us a bunch of bread. Thanks, God. And again, someone else gave us a bag of hamburger, bacon and sausages. And recently we were given quite a bit of turkey. Wow, God. Wow…thanks! So as of right now, there is more variety and quantity of meats in out freezer than I have ever had before!
As I sit here trying to compose this letter, I feel blown away by God’s love for me and the family He has given me.
I could go on and on and tell you about so many ways my Lord provides for us, the Larson family - but there just isn’t enough paper…or printer ink for that!
I think the less a person has or possesses, the more grateful he is for the plenty God does give him. At least that is how it is with me anyway. God is good.
I hope this has encouraged you to keeps on doing what God has for you to do. He does provide for His work to be accomplished. Amen?!!??!
Our girls are growing and learning very quickly. Boy, they’re cute! Rebekah tries to keep our blog updated, so that you, our friends and family, can see what we are up to if you wish.
Rebekah is pregnant and due around the middle of June. Boy, Ruth - our first - is such a joy and pleasure, then Shalom came and doubled that! It is hard to imagine having three little buddies and helpers! God is SO good.
Work is busy as always. The office says this is our slow season?!?!? I’m not sure why they say that. The shop still has a nice long list of cars to work on. Maybe it is wishful thinking on their part?!!? In the last six months we have packed two containers for Ghana, one for Liberia, one for Honduras, and Haiti. We have also sent off two or three school buses (each) packed full of stuff for Haiti and Belize. Our loaner cars have been coming and going so much I can’t keep track of them. Fortunately, it is not my job or I would be even balder than I already am. The cars we purchase and repair for people in ministry - if I were to guess how many we work on in the shop, I would say it was 2 - 5 a month. Then there are always landscaping projects going on. And the 10 - day Mexico trips over Thanksgiving and Easter. As you can see, there is plenty of work to keep a fellow busy!
Thank you for your prayers for us - and your support of us - as we continue to serve our Lord here at CMTS.
Please feel free to keep up with us on our blog or write to us any time you wish.
Love
Joshua, Rebekah, Ruth, Shalom and “Little Tyke”
larsonlog.blogspot.com
Joshs_Rebekah@yahoo.com
The Larson Family
321 Focht Rd.
Bernville, PA 19506
Hello All!
Merry Christmas from the Larsons!
I have had a desire to write this newsletter for quite some time now. I was hoping to print out something with pictures and fancy trim, but finances have not been available for that.
I don’t normally speak of our finances to anyone. It is something Rebekah and I try not to speak of, because we do not wish to make anyone feel pressured to support us…or to give because they feel sorry for us.
But…well, I have been a missionary for over five (5) years now. And there are times when I feel so…???…so grateful to God… There are times when it seems like God wants to make sure we know that He is in control and that we are right where He wants us. These last few months have been one of those times.
May I share with you a little of these last few months, so that we can reaffirm to you that our Lord is still on the throne and He still takes care of His children?
Finances have been low for quite some time now, and we have cut our spending as low as possible. So low, in fact, that we have not bought meat for…Boy, quite some time. We didn’t share this with anyone though.
It wasn’t even a month after we used up the last of our meat from the fridge that I came across a large amount of canned tuna that had been discarded, I said, “Thank you, God.” and took it home. About a month or two ago, a friend knocked on our door with a bag full of ground pork, sausages and bacon. Thanks, God. Shortly after that, another friend stopped us alongside the road and gave us a bunch of bread. Thanks, God. And again, someone else gave us a bag of hamburger, bacon and sausages. And recently we were given quite a bit of turkey. Wow, God. Wow…thanks! So as of right now, there is more variety and quantity of meats in out freezer than I have ever had before!
As I sit here trying to compose this letter, I feel blown away by God’s love for me and the family He has given me.
I could go on and on and tell you about so many ways my Lord provides for us, the Larson family - but there just isn’t enough paper…or printer ink for that!
I think the less a person has or possesses, the more grateful he is for the plenty God does give him. At least that is how it is with me anyway. God is good.
I hope this has encouraged you to keeps on doing what God has for you to do. He does provide for His work to be accomplished. Amen?!!??!
Our girls are growing and learning very quickly. Boy, they’re cute! Rebekah tries to keep our blog updated, so that you, our friends and family, can see what we are up to if you wish.
Rebekah is pregnant and due around the middle of June. Boy, Ruth - our first - is such a joy and pleasure, then Shalom came and doubled that! It is hard to imagine having three little buddies and helpers! God is SO good.
Work is busy as always. The office says this is our slow season?!?!? I’m not sure why they say that. The shop still has a nice long list of cars to work on. Maybe it is wishful thinking on their part?!!? In the last six months we have packed two containers for Ghana, one for Liberia, one for Honduras, and Haiti. We have also sent off two or three school buses (each) packed full of stuff for Haiti and Belize. Our loaner cars have been coming and going so much I can’t keep track of them. Fortunately, it is not my job or I would be even balder than I already am. The cars we purchase and repair for people in ministry - if I were to guess how many we work on in the shop, I would say it was 2 - 5 a month. Then there are always landscaping projects going on. And the 10 - day Mexico trips over Thanksgiving and Easter. As you can see, there is plenty of work to keep a fellow busy!
Thank you for your prayers for us - and your support of us - as we continue to serve our Lord here at CMTS.
Please feel free to keep up with us on our blog or write to us any time you wish.
Love
Joshua, Rebekah, Ruth, Shalom and “Little Tyke”
larsonlog.blogspot.com
Joshs_Rebekah@yahoo.com
The Larson Family
321 Focht Rd.
Bernville, PA 19506
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