Autumn in America & Micah's Wedding

 I LOVE autumn.  While I do not miss snow or winter, I do miss the glorious autumn season.  I praise God every time I see these colorful trees!  It has been a picture for me of my spiritual life--and the life of others.  Change happens one leaf at a time.  Slowly and surely the whole tree turns into another color (and other trees change at a different rate).  So in my spiritual walk.  Soon the Lord's transformation in me will be a glorious testimony to our Creator, and at the same time others will change at a different rate and give a different color.  All to the glory of God!

 I got to be in Omaha for my 33rd birthday!  (you can see my Mom's brilliant idea of having 3 + 3 candles).  What a special treat!

 I love my sisters!!!  How sweet to be with Erin, Ali, and Sarah for the wedding weekend!

 Micah, what can I say!  I LOVE YOU BROTHER!!  This pic is just moments before the wedding began.  I praise God for doing this work in your life.

 Walking down the aisle!  I love the perfect blue skies and my Dad's smile =)

 I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Micah Bruce!  You may kiss the bride!

 The Ghormley clan!  What a special gathering!

You can see an album of 66 wedding pictures on my Facebook.  Friend me if you haven't already:  Jessica Nell Becker.

 4 boys in a bath!  We are having fun staying with our life-long friends in Zionsville, IN!

 Luke took his first steps (finally!) yesterday!  Yay!

My life-long friend, Trisha, and I are enjoying time in person together--precious!  How fun between us we have 5 boys!  Active times--get these guys moving!

You may wonder where Nate has been in all these pictures!  Well, he's been doing so many things!  What a man!  Visiting schools, making connections with people, speaking at church, watching the boys so I could go to the wedding.  We have't had as much time together that I would like in these last few weeks, but I am hoping we can make it through this home-stretch and find ourselves back home in the Philippines in two weeks!  Pray for us please, thanks!!

The Highway to Hibernation

It's been a while since I have blogged, written or taken pictures.  The travel and not having my own home really hit me when I landed in Indy from my trip in Canada/Montana.  The Lord used this time to really teach me a lot about my weaknesses and my need to rely totally on Him.  He has been renewing me and filling me with His Spirit, praise Him!

As I sat in the Chicago Midway airport on my way to my brother's wedding, I realized how easy it was to fly all by myself!  Then I started thinking about how many airports and cities I have been in.  For fun, just if you are curious, I wrote this out from memory.

(number)=how many of us were traveling together
A= stands for airport
B=a main base (more than 4 weeks)
C=if we went by car
V=if we also visited specifically

Summary:  24 states, plus DC, and 4 Canadian provinces: CA, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV + DC
PQ (Quebec), ON, AB, SK

A, B Davao, Ph (5)
A Manila, Ph (5)
A Xiamen, CH (5)
A Guanzchou, CH (5)
A, V Los Angeles, CA (5)
A Dallas, TX (5)
A, B Omaha, NE (5)
C Lincoln, NE (5, 1)
C Grand Island, NE (5)
AX3 Atlanta, GA (5)
A, V Orlando, FL (5)
CLICK TO SEE MORE

Travels: Montana, Briercrest, Alberta

 Life as nomads has gone better than I had imagined, though of course it has its challenges!  We're praising God for giving us quite good health, strength and provisions along the way.  It does get wearing of course, so if you see lots of cool pictures just remember these are "Highlights" and not the full picture of our lives!  Thanks for your prayers as we have been on the road!

 After Nate and I flew in with the boys to Indianapolis (where we will soon be basing), Luke and I flew to Montana!  Nate took the 2 boys to Michigan and Chicago, but with only one camera between us you will not get to see their adventures.  What a vast place!!!  I love it!

My dear friend, Laura, and I got to have time in person together!  Also her family graciously loaned me a car, a crib and a car seat.  Without them this trip wouldn't have been possible!

 Luke also looks cute in the wheat fields (newly harvested).  Such a peaceful land with nothing to hinder an open view.

 One of the precious things I got to do was spend time with my dear friend and mentor from college days, Beckie.   She and her small group of ladies had adopted one of our Filipina sisters back in 2008, when we did the "adopt-a-sister" project.  They helped Ruen build a house, a kitchen, and get new teeth over a period of 4 years.

It was so special for me to meet the Canadian sisters in Beckie's group, but also to give them a surprise Skype introduction to Ruen herself!!

CLICK TO SEE PICTURE OF RUEN ON SKYPE, PICS of BRIERCREST and ALBERTA

Malachi's 3rd Birthday--Niagara Falls

 Malachi is 3 years old!  What a precious boy!  I love you, Malachi Tyndale!

 After staying with other people for most of the months of June, July and August, we were thankful to have 2 nights just the Beckers 5!  What a gift!  Thank you,  Lord!  Your creation is breathtaking!  Nate and I were here 4 years ago on our 3rd wedding anniversary.  We had baby Elijah with us.  Now in the same place we have 3 boys!

 The place is for tourists, but I have noticed how many things in the world are clamoring for my attention.  You have to get through the gauntlet of greed to finally reach the glory of God's creation at the falls!  Lord, please don't let my heart get drawn to the world, but keep my eyes on Jesus!

 4 years ago in this same place....a special place with my special man!

 Oh, another special little man, Malachi!  Happy birthday son!  Mama loves you!

CLICK TO SEE CANDLES, PRESENTS and RAINCOATS

Good-bye to Pennsylvania

 Our time in Pennsylvania has come to a close.  It seems like a REALLY long time ago that we left.  So much has happened since then.  But I had no internet time to blog.  I hope you enjoy just 4 pics of our last days there.

Good-bye Grandma and Grandpa Becker and Grandma Maynard!  We love you and miss you!!!  Thank you for everything, and you know how long that list is!!

Boston, MA & Ottawa, Canada

I got to take a 5 day trip by myself!  It was a lot of driving, but it was definitely worth it for several reasons.  One blessing was that just before sunset I reached the Atlantic Ocean!  I could smell it before I even got a glimpse!

It's not enough to see it.  I had to touch my feet in the waves.  I would have loved to walk along the beach at sunset with Nate, but he was holding the fort down with the boys back in PA.

That first night I had the blessing of visiting one of our former students at Gordon College.  Then the next day I found myself in Boston!  I got to hear a long-time friend preach and then at another church I heard another friend leading worship.  I'll let them remain anonymous, but thank you, friends, for the warm welcome!  I praise God for the ministry you have!

I was too tired to drive all the way to Ottawa, so after sleeping in Vermont I woke up at 5 a.m.  I love the "Bonjour!" I got in Quebec!

Friends together again after 4 years and 5 kids.  It was great to see Triscilla's neighborhood playground and to have fun with her 2 precious girls.

CLICK TO SEE MORE PICS OF CANADA!

Family Times: Dates, Biking and Hiking

Nate and I enjoyed a lovely date one evening, just the 2 of us!

 We got tickets to a local music festival, which was excellent!  These musicians pictured are married from Romania.  Mom, I thought you would especially like the passion this guy plays the fiddle with.  Very entertaining!

 This was the best cello quartet I have ever heard.  I was so soothed by the music, it felt almost like I had received a full massage--relaxing!  Perfect ending.

 The boys love to bike, so these are an answer to prayer.  It is funny how the Lord answered our prayers.  The one Elijah is riding here we saw for $5 at a yard sale!  Then we prayed for another one.  We saw a bunch of bikes in someone's back yard, and when we stopped to see the possibilities for borrowing one, it turned out the lady went to our church!  Then we found 2 helmets for sale at the goodwill (E is not shown wearing his!).  Hours of fun.  Thank you, Lord, for answering prayers!

CLICK TO SEE MORE FAM PICS, INCLUDING A HIKE IN THE PA GRAND CANYON

Watkins Glen--Family Day in NY State

 After our road trip East, we had a bonding day at Watkins Glen State Park in New York, just a short drive from our base in Northern PA.  Here are the guys ready for the hike!

 Here's the fam, Nate's parents, and the Beckers 5 (so make that Beckers 7!).  It was a perfect day with great weather, strong bodies to hike and wonderful memories.

 I reached down to grab a walking stick for Malachi, but almost grabbed this instead!  Ah!  A snake eating a frog!  Ewww!  Some of you may wish I hadn't posted that, but for others it will be your favorite picture.  We have to keep the male audience interested you know!

 Here is the beautiful scenery!  Apparently there are 19 waterfalls!

CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS!

Eastern US Road Trip--Nate, Jessica and Luke

 August 13-20 Nate and I left our older 2 boys with Grandma and Grandpa Becker, our longest apart from them as 2 parents.  Luke was a peaceful guy, who wouldn't want to be left behind.  We had our map quest print-outs and had finally coordinated with just about everyone we would visit.

 First stop--New York City!  If you read my previous post, you'll see we are staying in a small town.  Amazing the contrast you can see in one day!

 Taxis and bridges--I was sorry Elijah had to miss this.  He would have loved it!
TO SEE MORE PICTURES, INCLUDING DC AND RICHMOND CLICK:

Smalltown, Pennsylvania

I've almost always lived in cities.  The only exception is when I went to college at Briercrest in Canada (lovely town!).

Now for the month of August, I have been getting to know this small town in Northern Pennsylvania.  It is very cute and classic, almost like a setting for a movie.  The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon is nearby, so the tourists keep the town up-to-speed (with things like wireless internet and MacDonald's).

TO READ MORE, INCLUDING A LIST OF SMALL TOWN EXPERIENCES CLICK:

County Fair in PA--Many Firsts!

 It was our first time to a county fair with the boys!  I have tried many times to explain a "Ferris Wheel" to the boys, but this time they actually got to go on one. 

 Malachi peeks over the bar on the ferris wheel.

 Nate and Luke are buddies in green.  See the lovely view beyond?  PA is such a pretty state.

 These really long, fast slides you ride down on a potato sack.  Malachi looks nervous!  CLICK TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THE FAIR

Family Mems in OH and PA

 Nate's sister, also named Jessica, and I!  She is expecting her 3rd son also!  Fun cousins for our 3 boys!

 Malachi and his 2 little cousins feeding the ducks together.  Buddies!

 Nate pushes E and M through the park.  Such great parks in America!

 Malachi is such a fun boy.

 On the road heading through Pittsburgh, PA.  The boys did better than I thought they would.  Praise God for that!  Keep praying for our travels and visits =)

 At Grandma and Grandpa Becker's house in North-western smalltown, PA.  Fun tractor rides with the grandkids.  CLICK TO SEE MORE PICTURES, INCLUDING SOJO's VISIT!