25 Years

It was like a holiday in our house. Whenever the 19th of July dawned upon the Turnbull house you could always count on a delicious breakfast being on the table. Cards would be shared. And, my, along with my two sisters, personal favourite – the video.

I couldn't wait for July 19th because that meant digging the video out from the cabinet and sitting around ooing and awwing as it played. Damarise, Sarah, and I would comment on the dresses, laugh at the goofy glasses "from the old days", and dance as 'Canon in D' was played by violinists.

The video was Mom and Dad's wedding day. And the 19th of July celebrates their wedding anniversary.

As the years went by, I realized that this special day had a lot more significance than getting to watch one of my favourite movies. It was a day to signify and celebrate another year of my parents' marriage and to thank God for all that He had done in the past years of their marriage.

Today they celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. The wedding video is buried in a box somewhere in Missouri, but this day is special even without the video. 25 years of marriage!

Today I'm thanking God for my parents' marriage. Their marriage has been such a wonderful example to me and my siblings of what a godly marriage should be. I remember when I was young watching my parents have "couch time". After dinner Dad and Mom would just sit on the couch and talk about their days with each other. It was nothing grand and spectacular, but it was wonderful to see how much my parents loved to spend time with each other and listen to each other.

I remember one anniversary when Dad called all of us into the living room. We sat down on our wicker furniture all gathered around Dad. I was sitting on a chair with my white Fisher-Price tape recorder on my lap and stared at Dad wondering what he was going to do. He pulled out his guitar and started to sing a song to Mom. I remember looking between Mom and Dad and seeing such love between them. It was one of the coolest things, and I remember telling Damarise afterwards that when I got married I wanted my marriage to resemble Mom and Dad's.

As the years have gone on I've gotten to see lots of those little moments. Like Dad and Mom packing up all of us up from our home in Arkansas and moving out to our little travel trailer. I had no clue what we were doing except that Dad and Mom trusted God and that this is what He wanted us to do. They both made the whole adventure fun and always included us in on what direction God was leading us.

I remember them both learning a language together. I still remember coming out into the living room in Mozambique one night and seeing them sharing earphones, the hand-cranked radio nestled between them, both of them trying to pick up some Portuguese words that they recognized. Every so often they would look at each other and smile. It was great to see the little ways in which they constantly encouraged one another to keep learning Portuguese.

And so, on this day I thank God. I thank God for the wonderful parents He has blessed me with and for the awesome example they have shown me of what a Christ centered marriage should be. I'm thankful for the love and care they show to one another. I'm thankful that together they have followed God with all their hearts. I'm thankful that they pray together. I'm thankful for the way they make anything fun, even long road trips. I'm thankful for the hospitality they show to strangers. I'm thankful for the way they welcome in my friends. I'm thankful for the way God has blessed their marriage.

So, Mom and Dad, Happy 25th Anniversary. I pray that God blesses you with 25+ more years!

Four Years.

October 4th, 2006. My family and I headed to yet another airport, boarded another plane (just like we'd done several times before), put our baggage overhead, and settled down into "airplane-comfy" seats. But this flight wouldn't be like any of the other flights before. Yes, most flights are generally the same, but this one was different. It wasn't so much the flight itself, but what the flight meant–where it was taking us. This flight was flying us into a country we'd never been to, and a country that was to be our home for the next three years.

Talk about a flight full of mixed feelings. Joy to be flying, nervousness about what Mozambique would be like, excitement about the next journey in our lives, and lots of praying about what was to come. And even though the mixed feelings and thoughts were still flying about in our minds, the plane soon hit the runway and came to a halt. We stood up, stretched, grabbed our overhead luggage, and stepped through the door of the plane.

We were there. We were in Nampula, Mozambique. It was crazy to think that then and it's still crazy to think about now. I remember laying in bed that night talking with Damarise and all we were saying to each other was, "Can you believe it?! We are here! We are in Africa! We are in Mozambique! We are living here for the next THREE years!"

October 4th, 2006 was the day that marked the start of an amazing three years. So much happened in Mozambique that it's crazy to think about. I'm so thankful that God called our family over to Mozambique. I'm thankful that we did get to live there for three years. And I'm thankful for all God did in and through us in Mozambique. I would never trade those three years.

Thank you God that four years ago today You brought my family and me to Mozambique, Africa!

One year ago today...

Exactly one year ago today we said goodbye to Africa. We packed up our 7 totes, 7 duffle bags, 7 backpacks, and 7 roll-ons and headed to the airport. We said our goodbyes to friends in South Africa, then waited for our flight. Boarding time came, we loaded all our stuff on the plane and then took off. That was it. Goodbye Africa... at least for now :) ... So much has happened since then. We're now back in the habit of having A/C, consistent electricity and water, English speakers surrounding us, and grocery stores that don't run out of baking soda :) But, even though these things are nice, there are many things that I miss about Africa, like the friends, the fruit, the non-rushed lifestyle, and even as weird as this may sound, the sporadic electricity and water :) Lord willing, one day I'll get to go back and visit Africa... one of my many homes :)

A Memorable Day.

January 18th. It's just a date that sounds like any other date to most people. A normal number on a calendar. A normal day like any other midJanuary day. Yet to me this date is a date that reminds me of God's great love, mercy and grace.

Three years ago today, me and my four siblings were sitting around a table with the Woodrow's five kids. It was a hot Mozambican afternoon and we were, for the most part, done with school for the day. We were all at the Woodrow's house because Mom and Dad had gone to Lolo land to visit some coworkers. Which brings me back to where we were, sitting around a table writing out our "Woodbull Document". A document that "officially" declared we were family. We all wanted to become siblings so why not adopt each other? And in the process of adoption we all needed to have the same last name. Woodbull! :) It was a spur of the moment idea, and maybe it seemed short lived at the time, but we ran with it :) That day 3 years ago God blessed me SO abundantly! He gave me 5 new siblings to add to my already amazing 4 siblings, giving me a total of 9 wonderfully great siblings! Who knew that that one day would spark a wonderful family relationship between all of us. In the past three years we have grown as friends, siblings and brothers and sisters in Christ. It has most definitely been some of the greatest three years of my life! I am SO thankful for each and everyone of them. Words just can't describe how much they all mean to me! I love them so much!

The Woodbull Document.

January 18th. We became Woodbulls on January 18th, 2007. 2008 we celebrated one year together. January 18th, 2009, we planned to celebrate our 2nd year as family, but God had other plans. January 18th, 2009 was going to be another day that would spark a huge reminder in my mind of what a great, loving, powerful and merciful God we serve.

January 18th, 2009. Ian had malaria. And what we thought would be the normal malaria case turned out to be more than any of us could have ever dreamed of. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I went to bed January 17th a little bummed that Ian was still sick so we couldn't have a party in celebration of our 2nd year Woodbull anniversary. When I woke up the next morning I read a message on Damarise's phone from Sarah Beth saying that she would be praying for Ian as he was in the clinic. The clinic?! My mind whirred. Why would Ian be in the clinic?! We never ever went to the Dr.'s unless something major was wrong. And much to my dismay, something major was wrong. Ian was out of it all day. We (us kids) went down to visit Ian twice during the day. Both times was heart wrenching. All we could hear was Ian moaning. As the day turned to night, Ian's life began to turn to death. There were times when we didn't think he was going to make it. I don't think in all my life I have ever cried as much as I did on that Sunday last year. A Sunday that was supposed to be full of joy and merriment turned into one of the scariest days of my life. We four kids stayed up at our house crying and praying. Around 8pm the Woodrow four came over to comfort us. They, along with some other friends, wept, prayed and encouraged us all night long. When morning dawned Ian was evacuated down to South Africa.

I'm sure you all know the rest of the story. We went through a little less than a week without any signs that Ian would live. And if he did live, he would most assuredly have sever brain damage. Yet God in all of His infinite grace woke Ian from the coma, and not only that, He healed him completely! Ian didn't even have signs of brain damage. He was the same little brother that I had known before! Only God could have done something SO wonderful, powerful and awesome!

And that, that is why January 18th is such a memorable day full of God's love! It's a day that I got 5 new siblings and a day that Ian's miracle began. And the only way I can adequately say what January 18th means to me is to say, "To God belongs all praise, thanks and glory for all He has done in my life!"

(if you don't know the rest of Ian's story click here.)

Happy 23rd Anniversary!

Today marks Mom and Dad's 23rd Anniversary! Wow! :D Happy happy Anniversary!

I am SO thankful to God for the wonderful parents He has blessed me with!

They gave up everything they had, a job, a home, etc. to follow the Lord with all their hearts, souls, and minds. And I am so thankful for that.

They are funny and have a great sense of humor that I love!

:)

I'm thankful for their enthusiasm in everything they do. Wether it be homeschooling us kids, training us, learning a new language, sharing the gospel.... or just a road trip :)

I'm thankful for their sense of adventure :) Some of the best *or worst* memories I have have been from something adventurous :)

I'm thankful that they love and appreciate eachother.

I love how they follow God's calling every step of the way.

And I'm SO very thankful for everything they have done for me. Thank you Mom and Dad for being a wonderful example to me of following God no matter what the cost. Thank you for teaching me God's truth and living it out for me to see. Thank you for homeschooling me and for raising me up to be who I am now. :) Thank you for everything you guys do! You guys are the best parents ever! There is NO doubt about that!

I love you both very much! Happy 23rd Anniversary!

Trip out West: Lake Tahoe (Random Moments)

Here are some photos of random moments during our stay in Lake Tahoe.

Sarah doing a puzzle.

The work place :) Uncle Skip and Aunt Janiece working on work. And Dad working on a speech he's giving in a few days.

Grandma was always working on a crossword puzzle and she usually had someone around her trying to help her figure stuff out. ( Google was really helpful ;) )

We played Apples to Apples with Grandma :)

Uncle Moe and his mom cooked most of the meals for us. Yum! :)

Almost everyone watching America's Funniest Home Videos.

We celebrated Aunt Sandra and Uncle Moe's 25th Anniversary while everyone was there. (It was a surprise celebration)

Cutting the cake.

Uncle Skip and Aunt Janiece.

Eating the cake. Yum!

Everyone was telling old stories. :)

Damarise and I made a movie for Aunt Sandra's and Uncle Moe's anniversary (Thanks to help from Aunt Janiece and Julia for title and songs!)

Awwww :D Happy 25th Anniversary!

Happy 22nd Anniversary!!!

Today is Dad and Mom's 22nd anniversary! How cool is that?! :) I am soo overly blessed to have them as my parents! They are loving, kind, caring, hospitable and godly! And definitely people I admire and look up to! :D Thank you Dad and Mom for everything you have done!!! I love you both very very much! Have a great day celebrating twenty two years of marriage!