He is risen!!!

Still sweethearts after almost 23 years of marriage!

Our six blessings ALL together on Resurrection Day

What a wonderful day we have had as a family celebrating the truth of His resurrection! I rejoiced as I sang with the congreagation, "Oh, praise the One Who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!"

I wonder...do YOU know Him??? I challenge you to watch a video of Dr. S.M. Lockeridge's famous message titled "That's My King!" Look for the 6min. 30 sec. version on youtube. He IS Who He says He is and He desires to live in relationship with you...to know and to be known intimately.

This week, we are going to be working on sorting through the rubble of the old house for anything that might be salvageable. I still hold out hope that we may find the "fireproof" box.

Matthew 28:6 "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

We serve the RISEN Savior!!!

By His grace,

Chris

Coming and Going

Faith and I with sweet Michelle Duggar at the homeschool convention 2 weeks ago.

Nathan demonstrating that he can easily hold his older sister.

Sarah after she looked in the garage to see her birthday present...a car! (Daddy got a new to him used car and Sarah got Daddy's old car.)

Sarah and her birthday table first thing in the morning on her birthday.

Psalm 121:8 says "The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Isn't that such comforting reassurance, dear ones???

We have surely been coming and going. This past weekend included 2 round trips to Cedarville so that we could have our beloved Sarah home for her 20th birthday. What a wonderful time of celebration we had together as a family. :-)

Today, we were able to get a few more things moved over from the white rental house AND I got my garden planted...just 8 raised beds. Two are for flowers only and six are vegetables:kohlrabi, beets, zucchini, acorn squash, watermelon, cucumbers, peas, beefsteak tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, wax beans, green beans, carrots, 2 kinds of radishes, eggplant, turnips, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lima beans and green peppers. We'll see what comes up. I just get such a blessing out of growing things!!!

Later this week, the excavators should be starting their work at the site of the old house. They literally have to take it down to the bare earth. Not even the foundation can be saved.

We were finally cleared to start going through the rubble late last week, Some of the most exciting finds thus far were a few pieces of china that used to belong to my granny. They are intact, but definitely reflect that they have been through a fire.

I'll leave you all with a few happy pictures of our birthday girl. :-) OK...you got to start with them because I don't know how to put them where I want them in the post. :-(

By His grace,

Chris

We're Still Here...But We've Been Busy

Dear beloved readers, I beg your forgiveness for my lack of postings! Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate these unfamiliar waters that we now find ourselves in. To quickly bring you up to speed on the status of rebuilding: Because the investigation into the fire continues, we are not allowed to disturb the site. Thus, our dear builder is on hold. At this point, we are considering moving the site of the new house 50 feet forward so that the builder can get started on the new house even while the investigation continues at the old site. Meanwhile, we are now staying at the bigger missionary house. What a blessing to be able to spread out in a 5BR, 2.5 BA house again!!! We are still bringing things over from next door, but hope to have that process completed by the end of the week. Last week, we had the privilege and opportunity to speak at a local church on the topic of orphan care/foster care and adoption from a Christian perspective. What a blessed time we had with a body of believers that truly gets it!!! Here is the message that Jesus gave us to share that morning. May it be a blessing to you! "THE MINISTRY OF CHRISTIAN FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION: PARENTING KIDS FROM HARD PLACES" Ten Lessons Learned by the Arni Family 1) THE CHRISTIAN'S INVOLVEMENT IN ORPHAN CARE IS NOT OPTIONAL. James 1:27 says, " Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." EVERYONE can be involved in some way. 2) PARENTING KIDS FROM HARD PLACES IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME AS PARENTING CHILDREN BORN TO YOU. You will need to be willing to expand your knowledge base and add to your skill set. II Peter 1:5 - 9 "For this reason, make every effort to add to you faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 3) PRAYER IS ESSENTIAL. James 5:16b, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Phil. 4:6 & 7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." 4) A GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM WILL ENABLE YOU TO PERSEVERE IN THE TOUGH TIMES. Gal. 6:2, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Let people help you; don't rob them of the opportunity to come alongside and serve. 5) LEARN ALL YOU CAN ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Eph. 6 :12 6) REDEMPTION IS COSTLY, HARD WORK. I Cor. 6:19b & 20a, "...You are not your own; you were bought at a price..." That great price meant the Cross for Jesus. As we daily lay down our lives for these little ones, there is a cost involved. 7) DO NOT TAKE ACTING OUT BEHAVIOR PERSONALLY. You just happen to be the nearest target. :-) James 1:19b, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,..." Listen for the message coming from the child's hurting heart. 8) YOU WILL BE THIS CHILD'S STRONGEST ADVOCATE. Matt. 7:7 & 8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease (and the services)! 9) THIS CHILD OR CHILDREN, FIRST AND FOREMOST, BELONGS TO JESUS. We must always remember that He loves them so much more than we ever could and that He has a perfect plan even when we don't understand. "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a furture." Jeremiah 29:11 10) JESUS IS IN THE BUSINESS OF RESTORATION AND ALLOWS US TO PARTICIPATE WITH HIM. "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me; because the Lord has annointed me to to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." CONCLUSION: Did you know when you entered into this sacred ministry of foster care and adoption that you would become these things through Him???? Listen to this list again... 1) Good News preacher 2) binder up of the brokenhearted 3) freedom proclaimer to those imprisoned and in darkness 4) proclaimer of the Lord's favor 5) proclaimer of God's vengeance 6) comforter of those in mourning 7) provider for the grieving 8) bestower of crowns of beauty for ashes 9) bestowers of gladness for mourning 10) bestowers of garments of praise for a spirit of despair What is the result of participating with Jesus in the lives of hurting children in this way??? "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." We challenge you to join Him where He is already working...get involved in some way in this wonderful work of foster care, adoption and orphan care!!! By His grace, Chris

Shopped 'Til I Dropped

Well, I've pretty much been shopping for 2 days straight at the Mid-West Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati. What a job to try to think through what we lost and what needs tobe replaced! The hardest thing has been trying to remember all the shelves full of children's books that we had collected over the years...especially the antique ones that my granny used to read to me when I was little. But the Lord has been my constant help and He has so very graciously shown me what a gift He has given us through this opportunity to start all over in building a curriculum from the ground up with the benefit of 20 years of experience behind us PLUS His leading in some new directions. Our curriculum is going to look very different than it has ever looked before with the primary emphasis being on family discipleship. Saw Tim Hawkins in action and laughed 'til I had tears in my eyes. Very, very funny!!! Nathan really picked up on his joke about it not being unusual to see a homeschool mom talking to herself...she's just having a parent/teacher conference. :-) Ended the evening by talking to Michelle and Anna Duggar. Anna is Joshua's (the oldest Duggar son) wife. Both ladies were so very warm and easy to talk to. I'll try to get pictures up the first of the week. My prayer for each of you this evening comes from Colossians 1 verse 9, "We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives...". By His grace, Chris

Guess What????

This is a picture of Claudette who lives in Cazale, Haiti. She is recovering from severe burns suffered as a result of falling into a fire. Rachel drew the picture that Claudette is holding and we scanned and e-mailed it. Amazing the joy that a simple thing like a picture can bring! Please be praying for this precious angel as she still has a LONG way to go in her recovery. One of her big challenges wil be learning to walk again. OK...on to our BIG NEWS of the day...

The blueprints for our new house arrived in the mail today!!!! Woohoo!!!! It is far beyond our wildest dreams and expectations. :-) LOTS more room for hospitality and ministry. Bring it on, Lord...we're preparing the soil for whatever You desire to plant and harvest for the Kingdom through us and this new home.

Was able to get a much needed perm today. My hairdresser is one of the dearest ladies ever...so caring and interested in her client's lives, not just doing their hair. As I put on my coat to walk out the door, she sweetly handed me a gift certificate for the total cost of TWO more perms!

Rachel and Faith got to spend the day being loved on by the Gambills. Nathan had another day of work with Brian. Drew had a date with Emily and Jon had the privilege of hanging out with his mama and Granny all by himself.

Mark received a beautiful little scrapbook filled with Scripture, notes of concern, encouraging words and many thoughtful gift cards from the corporate staff of OPRS. We are so blessed that he has the privilege of working for such a wonderful company. In addition, the staff and residents that he works with at WTC have loved us sacrificially in so many different ways.

"The steps of the godly are ordered by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives."

Psalm 37:23 NLT

Resting in Him knowing that He has all the details under His very capable control,

Chris for all the Crew

What To Say...

"...do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." Matt. 19b & 20 Early this morning, we met with our attorney friend who is lovingly shepherding us through this process of working with insurance. She talked with us for a bit and then led us in prayer before going with us to meet the Cause and Origin Investigator called in by our insurance. He began by introducing himself and then told us that he would be interviewing both me and Mark separately. Mark went first and was questioned for 30 minutes! Then it was my turn. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the investigator was very personable and easy to talk to. He asked LOTS of questions, but also just let me tell the story from my perspective. When he had finished interviewing both of us, he then began examining the site in detail and took LOTS of pictures along the way. He started with the least damaged area of the house...the fireplace and garage...and worked his way to the most damaged area of the house...the center of the basement. After about 3 hours of work, he was able to tell us A)that he had ruled out both me and Mark as suspects, B) the fire had started in the center of the basement in the area of the downstairs stove/furnace which were back to back with each other (only a wall separating them), C) the fireplace and anything in it had absolutely NOTHING to do with the fire and D) he could not rule out a possible electrical or furnace problem as the cause in addition to propane. All in all, the investigator was on site for 5.5 hours today! The next step is that the investigator will be in touch with the adjuster who will then determine, based on the investigator's report, whether there is enough evidence to pursue subrogation against the propane company OR whether the insurance company will just choose to eat the expense of the loss themselves. If the insurance company chooses to pursue subrogation, more intense investigation of the site will be required which could take weeks. If not, we should be free to start searching and clearing the site later this week. Please pray that the insurance company will have wisdom and that Truth will be revealed on all fronts. By His grace, Chris

Such a Fun Day!!!

One of my favorite activities all day long...8:30A to 5:30P...a consignment AUCTION fundraiser for Clearcreek Township Fire Department!!! Oh, how I do love auctions! :-) What a blessing to contribute to one of the fire departments that responded to our fire two weeks ago and gave their all on our behalf!!! Was able to get many, many nice things that we will be able to enjoy both now and in our new home.

Watched a family movie and laughed 'til we nearly had tears running down our face. Laughter is definitely healing. :-) Enjoyed another delicious supper prepared by someone from our church that we are just beginning to know. We are getting VERY spoiled!

Basking in the warmth of His grace,

Chris for all the crew

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11