ESFJ

For all of my work friends, I am sure that you will get a kick out of knowing that I was required to finally take the Myers-Briggs personality test. I have been doing everything in my power not to take it for the past five years. The idea of a test being able to tell me who I am drove me crazy. Not to mention I don't test well which added a whole other level to my desire to avoid being "profiled." Some of you might wonder what the big deal is...but you see in our organization EVERYONE asks everyone else what their "letters" are. I hated it. "Don't ask me my letters, get to know me and find out for yourself." That was my internal scream every time someone asked. My regional director laughed at me when I told him why I didn't want to take it. He said he knew exactly what my letters were just because I said that! Maddening!

Okay so this is a very long intro to simply tell you that I took the test; found out that I am an esfj (extrovert, sensing, feeling, judging) and actually liked the whole process. It was even more fun that Bryan and I were in the session with the psychologist together and were able to compare notes. WE ARE COMPLETELY OPPOSITE! Well all except the Judging which means we both like to be organized, scheduled, and predictable...that is probably what saves our marriage! :) It was fun to have the counselor tell us how to better utilize our personalities to serve one another better and tips on how our personalities will affect us living overseas. like - because my personality type is known as a "people gatherer" I will do better at learning Chinese in a group setting and practicing with my neighbors. Makes total sense. Bryan on the other hand a total introvert (yes, he really is an introvert) will do better with a one on one tutor. The counselor also gave us a few marriage tips, but maybe we will keep those confidential! :)

Anyway we are having fun in Madison. And all you IV folk can be smug about the fact that yes, you were right. I am glad that I took the stupid test.

Tammy

The countdown

A week from Wed. we are going to load our whole lives up into a truck and move it to a storage barn. It is a bit surreal to know that it is just over a week away. If you would please lift up our family in the next several days. It is emotional to say the least. The days are filled with good-byes, giving away belongs, and desperately trying to find closure. We are trying to be healthy in crying our tears as well as looking forward with anticipation. In some moments we experience the full range of all those emotions.

For example this weekend we visited Croswell. It was fun to share with my home ch where we are going and what we will be doing. The excitement builds as we share the Father's vision with others. It was great to reconnect with so many childhood friends and know that they are supportive of our family. The next day we worked on getting the storage barn ready for our stuff, which was on the other end of the emotions.

We are doing stuff to help with all the emotions. Mom took the kids to "build a bear" where they each picked a stuffed animal to make. They stuffed it with lots of hugs and kisses from Nana so when they need one in China they just need to give their new bears a hug. I was amazed how Ruthie latched on to the bear and told Nana that would help her when she is lonely.

Here is a photo of the two newest members of the family...super dog and pink bear bear! (yes, pink bear bear is wearing a bright purple tutu. Nana let her pick exactly what she wanted as you can tell!)

tammy

It's not about us

We were blessed by a couple from ch--ch who asked to take us out to eat. We enjoyed steak and sweet potatoes without any expectation of was to come. Half way through the meal they slid a check our way. "We pr@yed about the amount and feel like this is what He would have us give." I was struck by the tears in the eyes of the husband. There was such great joy in their giving...a deep sense of calling and purpose.

We opened the check and basically came unglued. $3000.00. The exact amount we had been asking the Father for. The exact amount that we needed before we could purchase plane tickets and set a departure date. Just to add a bit more to the miracle...the check was postdated two weeks earlier. HE had laid the amount on their hearts even before they knew the amount needed. Amazing.

I sometimes struggle with fund raising. At one time it made me feel like I was always living life with my hand out. The Father challenged my thinking about a year ago. The work in China is His, not ours. If I don't share with others how they can be a part of that work I am selfishly holding back what could be a huge blessing in their lives. This couple was a perfect example of that. They were blessed to know that He had spoken so clearly to them and that they were able to be a part of what He is doing. The work in China is just as much theirs as it is ours. It takes a team and we appreciate everyone who gives, pr@ys and serves on that team with us.

Soooo....PG! We are on our way. Plane tickets will be purchased next week.

by Tammy

more about packing

I (Tammy) haven't wanted to post in the last couple of days, because to be honest all I can think about is packing. And a daily post about the progress (or lack there of) that I am making in my packing strategy just doesn't seem very interesting...even to me and I am living it!

We are making a bit of progress, but it just doesn't look like it. I keep telling myself that it always looks messier before it gets packed. Right?!

The kids are trying to pitch in and help. Most of the time Roo helps by taking stuff out of the boxes. But hey, she is trying! Sam went through his closet with me yesterday. He worked hard at trying on clothes and picking which ones to take with us. He then started talking about the games and puzzles on the shelves. Just as if it were natural he told me which ones he wanted to give away and which he would sell and which he wanted to take. After the conversation, I realized it probably is a way bigger deal to me to give away their toys. Then he blew me out of the water.

"mommy, in my trunk I don't think I want to take my toys. I want to leave room for Ruthie's favorite cinderella doll, a pack of daddy's favorite root beer and some of your favorite candy."

I am trying to learn from my generous sweet boy and pack accordingly!

Sale Pending

So....that is our big news. Two weeks after the sign was in the yard we have had an offer that we accepted! The sale is in process pending the house inspection within the next ten days. The realtor sat at our table this morning drinking coffee as we signed a million papers. He said that he couldn't believe that the house sold this quick at such a good price. "you better keep rubbing the rabbit foot or whatever it is you guys do." We laughed knowing that the sale of the house really was due to a higher power, not a rabbit foot! It is such a great confirmation that we are supposed to move to China. Thanks to everyone who lifted up the sale of the house.

So....the next phase has begun. We are now going to be packing the house up and packing up the trunks we are shipping to China. We have orientation the first week of June so our goal is to have everything cleared out of the house then. Can anyone say whirlwind?! It will be crazy, so keep us in your thoughts. Here is the plan...

May - pack, pack, pack
June - orientation (WI), Bethlehem Camp (FL)
July - Florida, Michigan, leave for China the last week.

It will be here before we know it! China here we come!

Heading South

In a few short hours we will be hitting the road and heading south. We are looking forward to visiting several churches who support us, seeing family, and laying on the beach. Oh yes, it will be hard work. Okay, so the beach won't be hard work, but it will all even out I assure you. A 22 hour drive with a very talkative five year old and a semi-potty trained two year old is more work than anyone should endure. We will earn the beach time!

So all that to say we may not be posting as often for the next couple of weeks. I am sure we will come home with many stories to add!

Please lift our family up as we travel, and speak. Thanks.

Pieces falling into place

It continues to amaze us how HE is pulling all of the details together for our big move. Just a few things we are rejoicing over...

There is a couple who has volunteered with internationals in our group this past year. They have felt led to take over the weekly book study. This is HUGE. We really were concerned for the Thursday group. They are dedicated and seeking, so we hated to see the group without leadership.

Another huge piece...we met with a second couple for lunch yesterday who are very interested in volunteering up to 15 hours a week with IV to reach out to internationals. They would be able to continue the conversation partner program and even some of the other key things that have started the past four years. It is great to know that we are leaving things in good hands.

Tomorrow is our first garage sale. It feels great to clean out the basement and garage. It is amazing how much stuff we have accumulated in the past four years.

Good friends of ours and preparing to move to IN at the end of this month. We are sad to see them go, but it really has been a great opportunity to help Sam talk about our move. His buddy Daniel has helped him talk and process which we are extremely grateful for.

A garage sale and moving friends might not seem like they are pieces of the "move" puzzle, but we are realizing that HE is blending many small things in our life to prepare us. He is good.

Keep lifting up the sale of the house. That is the next piece we would love to see fall into place! :)

House update

To be honest there is no update...that is the update. It seems that our personal contacts have come to an end and the single mom was not able to get her financing put together. So we met with our realator today and are officially listing the house by the end of the week. Good news...he is sure that the house will sell. Bad news, he thinks we should put a new roof on it first. We have someone coming to look at the roof tomorrow to tell us how many years it has left in it. If he says it will last five years...we are good to go. If not....well it could be a bit painful.

I have been tempted to stress out about all of this the past couple of days, but all of a sudden I had a realization. This is HIS move. When HE is ready to move us, HE will sell the house. HE knows what we can afford and what our needs are. I don't know why I think I can control the situation better. One day I will learn to trust fully.

The House

Thank you so much for all of you who have been asking HIM to sell our house. We had a family go through it on Saturday and they have verbally told us that they want to buy it. They were not pre-approved for a loan so we asked that they get the financing and then call us with an offer. If you will continue to pr@y - if this is HIS answer that they will get their financing pulled together. We will keep you posted. This really would be a miracle. It seemed like they had already decided they wanted to buy it before they even walked through it. We didn't believe it at first, but then we realized that we should have more faith. It is what we have been asking for!

would you like a bacon candle?

today we were getting our house ready to show. we've been told that little things like the smell of baking cookies can leave people with a good impression of your house. so, tammy and i were batting around ideas for "aromatherapy" for the house. we thought that a candle would be great for this. soon after, tammy and sam went to a nearby store to purchase one - preferably one that smells like cookies. :-)

while at the store, sam came up with the perfect scent for the candle - bacon. he kept trying to persuade tammy that what we needed was a candle that smelled like frying bacon. that would make people like the house. and even more, he told her that people walking down the street would smell the candle and want to come inside to look at the house. he told her that a bacon candle was the sure way to sell our house.

so...would you buy a house that smelled like bacon?

i give my son a 10 for creativity...and a 9.5 for a persuasive argument. BUT tammy bought a candle. she went with a sugar cookie scent.

the bacon candle will have to wait for another day. :-)

The House

All of our spare time has been consumed with getting our house ready to put on the market. It is amazing the things that I can find to paint and clean when I know people will be walking through every corner of my home! I tend to be a bit crazy about keeping a clean house anyway...so this all really is setting me over the edge. Pr@y for Bryan! :)

This week is Sam's spring break so we actually are having the kids take a "vacation" to nana's house so that we can be devoted to finishing up all the little projects that we have been meaning to do around the house. It is a kicker that we are now doing them not for us to enjoy, but for someone else. Totally backwards. It stinks.

With the kids at my parents house for three days we will be uninterrupted so much should get accomplished. We will see if we find other things to keep us busy besides painting! :)

What can't you live without?

We have started to sort our lives into three piles...garage sale, storage, or packing for China. The analytical, indecisive side of my personality is shining bright as I sit in the middle of the three piles. Will I use a pressure cooker in China even though I haven't touched it in three years in Lansing? Amazing how I can be going back and forth between putting a sticker for $7 on something or using precious suitcase space.

All that said...I could use some help. I would love to hear what you couldn't live without. What would you pack? What book is worth the weight? What household item would you go crazy if you didn't have? What toy really is worth taking back to its motherland?

Just wondering.

A friend

Just two weeks ago at a conference I received an amazing confirmation and renewed calling to China. HE spoke to my heart so clearly answering one of my deepest fears about going to China - Will I have a friend there? I know it sounds silly, unspiritual, and selfish, but loneliness scares me. For an extrovert, living in a city where no one will understand me (outside of my spouse) is what nightmares are made from. Deep down I wonder if I will be able to handle it.

I walked into the conference not knowing that the theme was friendship. I must admit I rolled my eyes when I discovered the topic. But, as I sat in the auditorium with 8,000 of my closest girlfriends, HE spoke deep into my soul.

"Tammy, I will be your friend."
"Tammy, sometimes you need to leave things behind and trust ME."
"Tammy, pray and believe big things."

Today as I sat drinking coffee with a dear friend and co-worker sharing what I had learned at the conference - peace and sadness washed over me. Krista was excited and amazed with me over what I had learned. It was such a sweet time of fellowship between two friends. I was sad that moments like those with Krista would be ending in a few months. But she said it for me, "What a great reminder that HE will be your friend in Xining."

It is exactly what I need to hold on to. HE will be my friend. Yes, I will be leaving behind people I love, but I am believing HE is going to do big things in my life because I am willing.

US Travels before China

We are trying to be ready to head to China the end of July (or maybe the beginning of Aug). Of course that time line might vary based on when our house sells, and how our fund development is going. If you would pray for those things, we would appreciate it greatly!

One important thing that we hope to accomplish before July is visiting as many friends and family as possible. So we thought we would post our travel plans. If you would like us to visit you or your church please send us an email.

March 25 - April 8 | Florida/Georgia/Alabama

May 12 - May 19 | Cedar Campus in the UP Michigan

June 6 - June 21 | Madison, Wisconsin (orientation for LINK)

June 24 - June 30 | Bethlehem Family Camp, Florida

July | back in Michigan to complete packing

Some of these dates might vary a bit and we can add in visits so please let us know if we are going to be in your area. Thanks.

As you can see it will be a crazy few months. We appreciate you thinking of the kids and praying for them to handle the travel and change well.

Our new home in China

This week we have been finalizing details surrounding our new home in China. We are very thankful to the American couple who is helping us. They have been students at the university for two years and are returning to the States in July. Perfect timing for us to take over the lease on their apartment that is just on the edge of campus.

Several folks have been asking us about the living conditions where we will be headed. As you can see we will be very comfortable. Here are photos of the living room, and kitchen. I also thought you would enjoy the photo of the small bathroom. There is a second bathroom that has a western toilet. So no worries. If you come to visit you won't have to squat the whole time!