30 Years!!!

Today, August 13th, was 30 YEARS for these two.

Woohoo!!

Last night we went out to dinner and they shared stories of their wedding day with us.
Who knew by thirty years they'd have
4 daughters
3 son-in-laws
and 3 1/2 grandbabies!?!

I am so thankful for parents who are STILL married. I am so thankful that our kids will have generations of examples of healthy marriages!
You've given us a RICH heritage!

We receive the blessing of your commitment to your covenant before the Lord!!
We cherish your faithfulness!

We love you Mom & Dad!!
We hope that in 27 1/2 years we're still enjoying each other like you are!

P.s. Happy Birthday Jenny Isaminger!! I love you and you are sweet treasure to me!! I wish I could have been with you to celebrate your wonderful day!

Lessons on being a Good Friend

(my girlfriends)

Um.
I once was a REALLY great friend.
I made my friends feel special and made sure that they NEVER doubted how much I adored them.
Why don't I still do that?
Read here for a lesson on being a good friend. (ha!)

I love my friends.
This Love
...takes risks.
...pursues.
...wets it's pants.
...puts itself out on the line.
...listens when it wants to give advice.
...forgives.
...waits.
...keeps on forgiving.

...laughs.(my sisters)

.
..sits in the driveway and cries.
...tells you when you have a boogie or a pantyline.
...talks on the phone for hours.
...blesses just because.
...blesses beyond offense.
...doesn't just listen, but hears.
...keeps no record of wrong.
...laughs until it tinkles a little.
...throws a party.
...drives to College Station, Louisiana, Houston, San Antonio.

...flies to Orlando, Montana and Kentucky (Some day soon Jo and Bethan!)(my Bethan...

This was the cutest picture I had.
Too bad I'm 7 1/2 month prego in it!! Bethan, we need more pictures together!!!)

...admits its faults.
...calls just to tell a funny story.
...falls apart and relies on others to help her pick up the pieces.

This love enjoys.
I enjoy you girls.
I love you.

Just thought I'd leave you with this one. I never thought I'd post a picture of my booty on my blog. Now, you tell me, who's who???

The famous Ach-girls

Amy, Kaye, Mary, and Me.
Four Sisters.
These are the famous Ach-GIRLS.
(My maiden name is Achgill hence the title "Ach-girls")

And we're about to spend FIVE days together!!
We're just gonna have a blast! I can't wait!

Vernon & Julie- aka Dad & Mom; Pops & Grammie
Amy
Matt & Mary & Chloe
Scott & Kaye & Grace & Baby "Question Mark"
Jon & Sally & Jude

9 adults, 3 babies.
All in ONE house.
Scary?
Yes.
Incredibly, Hilariously Fun?
Absolutely!

We're never silly.

Amazingly Amy is the only one not making a silly face in this photo
...cause it's usually the opposite!!

More updates to come!
We'll take lots of pictures so you can be in on the fun too...

Our Lil' Mogli-- 11 Month Update

Jude is growing so fast! We are quickly approaching 11 months!

Our Sleepy Head
Jude is the cutest when he wakes up!
He's always got a big smile for us.

Mr. Musical
Jude will entertain himself with ANYTHING musical
and loves to try to sing along!
Recently we visited the Brooklyn Tabernacle. The AMAZING choir began singing an anthem and Jude stood in my lap and lifted BOTH HANDS to the sky!! He's already praisin'! And when the music got really loud he covered his ears and turned to look at us! I almost whipped out my camera right there in church! It's so hard to believe; I wish I had a video of it! Thankfully there were MANY witnesses. Those church ladies (who were lifting their hands too) just LOVED it!
This boy is bright! It's amazing to watch him develop!

Here's a fun video. If he's awake, he never stops moving! If you listen carefully, you can hear him imitate a little song I sing to him. And toward the end he flashes me a melt-your-heart smile!

Prince Charming
This kiddo catches the eye of anyone he passes and evokes many winks and smiles.
God answered our prayer! We have prayed since he was in the womb that he would be a blessing to all those who encounter him...especially with how much we travel!

He's not quite walking yet (and for that we are thankful). But everyday he comes closer and closer!
My sister, Kaye, has always called Jude "Mogli" and now he really lives up to the name! Here's a video for you to enjoy!

Love My Mommy!!
This kiddo is going to be hard to wean! Sometimes he just wakes up in the night to cuddle! Many women have urged me to enjoy this while I can because it will soon be over! So while I hate to wake up so many times every night, I am taking advantage of the cuddles while we're traveling. As soon as we get home this kiddo must sleep through the night!

He is talking all the time and now has several words in his vocabulary like...
Mama,
Dada,
Uh-oh (he uses this every chance he gets!),
Na-na (banana),
Ma-eu (milk),
and Wa-er (water)!

He has definitely discovered his voice and LOVES to scream and imitate loud noises--
or imitate any sound really!
He still loves to play chase and now is fascinated with pinching peoples' noses!

These are my cousin Helen's kiddos
(J.D. & Katelyn)
enjoying Baby Jude!
We had a wonderful time with them in Connecticut!

We also got to visit with Chris & Gwen Wren (Bethan's sister) while in NYC. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the fun of having scarily similar husbands who agree about things like
"Why decorate a baby's room when the baby's not even going to know the difference??"
and
"How is it that you can be so close to someone you've only met a few times??"

And can I just say that us crying just gives them both hives??

Thank you all for your prayers as we've traveled! We'll be home in less than 7 hours!!

To Trust Him when the Answer is "No"

.:Dead dog tired:.

We're here in Clifton, NJ at a month-long training program to help equip us for our work overseas. This training consists of classes from 8am-1pm, a study time in the afternoon (with LOTS of homework and about 8 books to read) and outreach at night until around 9:30pm. Just to paint you a picture, we're sleeping on the linoleum floor of a church basement and Jude is sleeping less than 10ft from us. And also 15ft from the other families sleeping in the basement. It's a little like boot camp. Two weeks have passed and we have two more weeks to go!!

We've learned a TON. I felt a little overwhelmed in thinking of ministering to such a difficult people in our special country. I feared what was foreign. But God has really broken down the walls of intimidation for me. God has granted us much grace in our interactions with people here. We've really learned to see them as PEOPLE. Not as "the lost". They each have a story. Their stories are as different as yours and mine and they can't be stereotyped. Jesus loves each of them. I find rest in knowing that He knows their stories and He longs for them to know Him.

We have so much to be thankful for! Jude has been a blessing to those around us! He's such a happy child and his little smile brings so much joy!

Many of you have been praying for us and for that we are so thankful. Our greatest request for prayer during this time has been for Jude's sleep because it has such a great effect on the rest of our family functions. And MANY of you have told us that you're praying. Thank you!!
I wish I could tell you that the answer has been YES.
But it hasn't.
And I'm discouraged.
I'm wrestling now with why God's answer to me has been "No".
This has been the most exhausting two weeks of my life. I have never faced such heavy weariness.
Jude has awoken every hour and half of every night for the past week.
My wonderful husband has done everything he can to try to relieve me.
Yet still I'm tired.
Desperately tired.
I pray for relief. You pray for relief.
I firmly believe that God has the power to control Jude's sleep.
So why is He answering no?

The only rationale I can find comes from Scripture, verse 29 in particular gives me hope for His purposes:

Romans 8:28-29
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

He is making me like Himself. Ease and joy do nothing for my sanctification. Brokenness brings an unrivaled dependence.
My only strength is His Strength.
My only joy is His Joy.
My only rest is His Rest.
And I will cling to this Truth.

When I ask Him why, I must remember that He is out for His glory and my good. And my good means His likeness. I will bless His name. My joy is to His credit despite the pain. He IS good. And I will hold tightly to that Truth.