Ryan + Amanda + Sophia + Samuel = Bush
We made the trek down to Crossett, AR the day after Christmas. That’s where all of Ginger’s family lives.
Royce holding Samuel, the youngest of his great grand children.
Emily is Sophia’s favorite cousin. Why? Because they both love horses! Duh! They are definitely bff cousins.
One of the neatest things about Royce and Sue’s home is all the family photos.
Abuela & Shmuel.
Lamar, AR
Remember the New Year’s Resolutions I made way back when? “Participate in Significant Celebration” was one of them. Over the past year I’ve put some energy and creativity into rethinking significant dates (Christmas and Easter, for example). Amidst that rethinking we initiated last year what I hope will be a lifelong family tradition, the Thanksgiving Tree.
It’s amazing what happens when we make an abstract idea tangible. The Thanksgiving Tree is our reminder to be grateful. Every time we think of something for which we are thankful, we write it down and hang it on the tree. It’s filling up fast!
Once Thanksgiving Day arrives, we’ll take all the cards down and read them. You can read the ones from last year here.
David Cole helping us find a good tree. We decided against the Banana tree. Mainly because they attract monkeys.
What translation of the Bible do you use? Why?
I’m just wondering because I’m sorting through the question myself.
We’re at a unique stage of life and we feel like this is a pretty important question. We would like to decide on a version that we use as a family. Amanda is storying with Sophia starting with Creation (they’re to Noah) and we realize that as we begin to expose Sophia to scripture, it is important to provide some consistency. Also, we feel that it is important to read something she can make sense of and connect with.
So, share your thoughts. I’d love to know what version you use and why you use it.
. . . is to them.
I love my wife and daughter (you too Samuel!) a lot. And, this weekend we got to spend time just hanging out with one another. It was great.
Some of that hang out time took place at Jacksonville’s new water park, Splash Zone. It’s pretty sweet really. The kid area is amazing! But, it was kind of embarrassing when the lifeguard blew her whistle at me for trying to go up the slide.
So far, so good on the new year’s resolutions. I know, I know. I’m only two weeks into the year, but so far I’m feeling pretty good about the way things are going.
I fasted one day this month. I chose the traditional style of going without food. It was good. I mean, it was terrible, but it was good in that I learned some stuff. But, dang!, I got so hungry and irritable. I guess I’m a wuss when it comes to missing a meal.
I’ve been sending out (via the famous index card) sentences from the Bible. Maybe you got one?
Blogging I am. No problems there.
Also, we are working on adding at least one member to the Bush family this year. We’ll keep you updated on that!
Resolutions I need to get to work on: marathon, memorizing colossians, getting to know a family member.
How are yours going?
So what does Christmas at the Promise House look like? Well, right now it looks empty. It’s Christmas Eve and all the girls in our care left early this morning with their families. They aren’t due back until 9pm.
Holidays are tricky around here. Never do we miss those we love more than during the holidays. When you have a houseful of hormonal pregnant teenagers missing their families you’ve got the potential for a Code Red Meltdown.
Despite the dangers, we will celebrate Christmas tomorrow. The key: Activity. We will keep them busy. A big breakfast, followed by present opening, followed by playing with presents, followed by lunch, followed by a movie, followed by Christmas light watching . . . you get the picture.
Speaking of Christmas lights . . . there’s this guy in North Little Rock . . . well, I’ll just put up another post.
I think that I have officially overcome my Christmas cynicism. Christmas just didn’t have any meaning for me. I mean, yeah, it’s Jesus’ birthday (actually, it’s not really), but the whole deal to me felt messed up. And, truthfully, it is. But, it doesn’t have to be for me and my family. I’m still not buying into the super-sized hype (and I hope I never do), but I do believe this time of year is an important season of refocus and refreshment.
Anyway, I started looking for a tangible way to get at the heart of what Christmas is all about. That’s when I discovered the tradition of the Advent Calendar. The whole idea behind advent is anticipation. Anticipation for the coming of the Messiah (as opposed to the coming of the Wii). And why was/is the Messiah anticipated? Because he was/is going to bring justice. He was/is going to set things right. He was/is going to wipe away the tears.
So, I built this advent calender (below). Nothing too extravagant. Just cups hanging from a string across our kitchen. Each evening we take down a cup and read the verse that is in it. The verses are centered around God bringing justice, healing the broken, and making things right. We read them with anticipation that he is coming (again) to do all this and also with the attitude that, in the mean time, we are to be laboring along with him to those ends. As the cups become less, our anticipation becomes more. Anticipation for the coming of the righteous one, who will make all things right.
It has almost been a year since I wrote this post (I love that picture of Amanda). We were very excited as we prepared for the next phase of our lives. That was almost a year ago and I would have to confess that the excitement is gone. Like the time I got a gameboy for Christmas. I thought I would be happy for the rest of my life. I thought Tetris would, from then on, be my life. But, the newness wore off, the excitement left, Tetris got boring.
That initial excitement of being at the Promise House is no longer there, but it has been replaced with a deep-connected joy. Not the kind of joy that keeps a goofy grin on our faces 24/7. It’s the kind of joy that gives us the strength to stick it out over the long haul and take part in everything bright and beautiful God is doing.
We know that this is where God wants us right now. That could change, and we’ll follow. But, for now, God wants us laboring for him here. There is peace in knowing that. And it helps us through the times we feel discontent about our current situation.
Most of you won’t have a clue who this is, but we would appreciate your prayers anyway. Nemi is one of Amanda’s cousins. She is currently in UAMS. She is in very critical condition and, frankly, doesn’t seem like she is going to live much longer.
Please ask Jesus to heal her. Also, pray that her family (especially her husband and two teenage daughters) will turn to Jesus in their confusion, anger, and sadness.
Thanks.
One of the girls went into labor this morning!
It looks like I’ll be a grandpa again before the day is over. Jennifer said something like 30 family members have shown up at the hospital!!!
I’ll put some pictures up of little Nadalie as soon as I see her.
Creativity. It’s a good thing. Amanda and I have had to use it to make our current set-up workable for our family. We live in a one bedroom apartment. For a while we had Sophia’s crib in our bedroom. That worked pretty well for a few months. Then, it stopped working. Every time I would turn over Sophia would wake up. When Sophia would snore it would wake Amanda and I up . . etc. etc.
So, we ‘created’ a room for her. My mom came up for a weekend and helped us put it together (she actually did most of the work!) We partitioned a part of our living area off with a half wall and curtains. That way, during the day we could open the curtains and see Sophia playing in her room. At night, we can close the curtains and Sophia can sleep while we still mill around. So far, it has worked like a charm. Here are some visuals:
I’m a dad. My daughter is over a year old now . . . and it still feels weird to think of myself as a dad. But I love being a dad! Seriously, it is absolutely amazing to hold this beautiful little life in my arms. I still can’t believe that Jesus has entrusted her to us. We definitely didn’t deserve it. One of my constant prayers is: “Jesus, THANK YOU for letting me be a dad.”
I used to think that it was impossible to be a dad and still be cool. I’m glad to report that it isn’t. That is to say, I’m a dad and I’m cool. At least, that’s what Sophia says.
I think one of the best things about being a dad is that Sophia is mine, but she’s not. She is my daughter. Legally, no one has more say than her mom and I. Actually, no one really has any say except for her mom and I. But, at the same time she’s not ours. She has been entrusted to us by Jesus. He created her. And he will be the one in the end who will judge her. He is the one who loves her enough to be nailed to a cross. No one loves her more than he does. And he will be the one who will give her true life and satisfaction on this earth. Our job is raise her in a way that helps her to know Jesus intimately.
Going out to eat is a lot more stressful now. That’s mainly because Sophia is not cool with sitting in a high-chair calmly and quietly. It’s just not her style.
Sophia amazes me daily. With her smile, her little steps, her curiosity, her big eyes, by the way she says “baby” to everything.
“Look Sophia, it’s a frog. Can you say ‘frog’?” . . . . . “Baby”
“Sophia, this is a cow. Can you say ‘cow’?” . . . . . “Baby.”
“Let’s drink some milk. Can you say ‘milk’?” . . . . . “Baby.”
We had the evening off yesterday, so we hopped in the green machine and went to War Memorial Park. We rolled around in the grass, watched squirrels and chased a cantankerous goose.
We’re halfway through our first 4 day weekend as houseparents at the Promise House. Here’s how it works: You spend 10 days on duty and then 4 days off. We’re on our 4 days.
We’re using the time to visit family and try to get re-focussed. The past couple of weeks were crazy! We learned so much.
We want to go back on duty in a couple of days with a renewed vision and focus. And hopefully with an organized apartment!
For most of our family, they are meeting Sophia for the first time. It’s amazing what a new life does. Sophia is just taking it all in. She’s also getting some pretty cool presents along the way!
Here’s a picture of Sophia and her Great-Grandma and her cousin in Crossett, AR.
Amanda’s brother and sister-in-law are coming to meet Sophia for the first time today here in Cabot.
We got up around 9:00ish this morning. I find myself forgetting that we’re in Peru . . . for a long time . . . and when I remember I get this rush of excitement and fear! Phew!
We met with Wayne & Debbie Brinkley for some orientation this morning. We learned basic stuff like how to check mail, call home, reimbursements, etc. We also talked a lot about language learning. This is our sole responsibility of two months . . . . LEARN SPANISH!
We spent some time today with Brad Johnson, Phil Hays, and Brad Shumaker. These are some guys from Geyer Springs FBC here in Peru getting things ready for the rest of the team from GSFBC that will come in tomorrow.
Brad and Hannah Johnson put together an incredible collection of letters from friends and family, which he gave to us this evening. If you contributed, THANK YOU, it’s awesome!
Thanks Hannah! We love you!
Amanda & Sooie 
Well, first of all I have to give a shout out to my seventh graders: Riley Roberts and Laura Shuler. If some unnamed twins would ever e-mail me, they would get a shout out too!!!
Ryan already talked about our worship service yesterday. We have been divided into small groups for worship. The purpose behind this is to help us get used to worshipping in a smaller setting. Many places we are going won’t have organized churches for us to attend.
Our worship time went really well. I enjoyed it a lot. My favorite part was when the family played the violin for us. The youngest is seven, and she has been playing the violin since she was three and a half. The Dad was a music teacher, and has played and taught the violin for years. This family is going to Brazil, and they seem really neat. They seem like the kind of family I want to have someday–close to Jesus and close to each other.
Last night, as Ryan already mentioned, we had a ceremony with all the families. We all went up to a huge map and put our pictures on the country we are going to. It was so neat. It was my favorite thing we’ve done so far. It was neat to see the families go up there together. I liked seeing the kids excited to place the picture on the map. We all also shared a prayer request when we went up front. There are some heavy burdens and requests people are dealing with. It is pretty amazing to see obedience to Christ in light of what some are dealing with.
I have missed home. Oddly enough, my brother is who I have missed most. (Sorry Mom) He is a great friend and someone I look up to a lot. Even though I miss my family and friends, I am loving being here. God is gracious. He has called us, and he will be faithful to give us the strength to follow Him.
Amanda
I can’t believe it. I’m retired at 24. No job. No money. No rent. No bills. Living with my parents.
My last day at Geyer Springs was this past Sunday. Amanda and I now have about a month and a half to get ready to live in Peru. We will leave for training January 10th in Richmond, VA. We will be there six weeks. We will then come home for a week to get repacked and head to Peru.
Right now we’re taking it easy, I guess. Spending quality time with family and friends.
God has been directing my attention to the idea of ‘mission’ lately. I guess that might be kind of obvious. But, I feel like he is showing me a whole new dimension of what mission really is. I’m reading “Mission Now” and just finished “The Good News About Injustice”. Two books that will literally change your life. Bottom line: We are missionaries. No matter where we are. And, God’s mission for our lives includes: sharing the Good News, rescuing the oppressed, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and helping the poor.
I’m thankful to be a part of it.
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