Christmases A Plenty

As is typical in my family, we had many different Christmas get-togethers over the Holidays. Several at home, with the Davis clan and a couple different ones with the Elwell/Harrison/Davis clan as well. Games. Stockings. The usual presents. Food. Fun. Fellowship. And a few surprises. However, there are so many pictures, that to go through them to pick just a couple favorites when I've already got several more on the Internet? Don't see why. So, follow this link and view them all!

Oh, and I went down to Lancaster area of PA to surprise my family on my Mom's side as well! I love hanging out and playing games with my cousins and sisters soooo much! Who can beat a good game of Settlers? Or Sequence? Or my personal favorite: DUTCH BLITZ! Anyway, same link for those pictures, so enjoy!

Guest...Family

This week has been rather busy for Fred & Debby. Besides Sunday, they only had Monday and originally hoped to have today in town. Monday Deb, her mom, Rosalee & I went to see Julie & Julia. It wasn't as good as I thought it'd be -- it was slow, not bad, just long -- but Debby loved it; guess it helps if you used to watch Julia Child on TV doing her cooking show, because part of the reason Deb loved it so much was how well Meryl Streep portrayed Julia. Then Tuesday morning Fred, Deb, & Weesy left to head to NYC; they didn't hurry but took a hotel room half-way there and then went to the airport about 7pm yesterday. Originally they hoped to drive straight back last night, but I guess it just turned out to be too long of day and they took another hotel room half-way back. Sometime this afternoon -- like in the next hour -- they should be pulling into the driveway.

Then tomorrow they start it all over again, but this time heading out our friend's the Ingole's in Ohio. There they will stay the night and help take people to the Pittsburg airport where Marie-Louise and several friends/family of the Ingole's are leaving for another two-week missions trip to Honduras -- it'll be the first one Weesy go on without her family, so she's excited about that! Then Fred & Deb will come back home and we'll start the next week all together.

So, that may not be very exciting news -- we always seem to have a busy life -- but it isn't for their schedule I initially wished to share. It's for whom they are picking up and whom I'm excited to meet in about an hour! Yes, I'm sure at least some of y'all heard about us trying to help a girl from Africa -- the child of an African couple Fred & Debby call friends and have connections with while in Africa -- come as a student here. Well the US embassy finally OKd her, she got her visa, and is now on her way to Olean with Fred, Deb, & Weesy. She'll live with us and go to school with Weesy at the small local Christian school. Dorcas is her name. She speaks almost no English but is familiar with French -- thankfully Fred, Deb, & Weesy know a good deal of French, I'm gonna be the one who has a hard time communicating with her! She's tall, broad shoulder -- or so I've heard -- built like my friend Emily.

Anyway, I'm just looking forward to meeting her in the next hour! A little nervous, maybe even anxious about how this is all going to work out in the next couple years, but still excited! I'll try and let y'all know how it goes...meanwhile if you find any clothing, especially winter things, in about a size 1x, size 16 pants, or a shoe size 11, and you feel led to give it away/pass it along, feel free to send them this way!

Busy fun...

"When it rains, it pours." I've never understood why it always seems to do that in life. One thing will decide to be on a particular Saturday and suddenly three other things decide it would be a great day for that too. What's more, y'all have had several weekends or days or space of time before that in which ya were practically board from having nothing to do (or at least nothing unusual to do). Then FINALLY something comes up and ya get excited, and suddenly...Oi!

Well, Michelle is here for a couple days, which I've been looking forward to for a very long time (ever since she hinted at the possibility several months ago). Then a couple days ago we find out Grandma & Grandpa have decided to come as well, for the week. Everyone arrives the same day (today) within a couple hours apart! What's more, Deb & Fred had been gone for the weekend visiting a church in OH; they just got in late last night & pretty much went to bed shortly after arriving...

Anyway, suffice it to say I think we've finally got the house in a rather good shape, all things considered; and now we're kicking our heels up -- for at least a few minutes -- catching up and hanging out...we'll see what comes after that!

May your day be blessed as well; if not in the blessed company of friends and family, then in the simple solitude of more God-time!
<>< HJ

Marie-Louise...craziness of youth

Marie-Louise put on her bathrobe, saying how warm it was. When the time came for our usual Wednesday-night Prayer Meeting at the church, she said she wanted to go in her bathrobe. Deb told her it would look goofy and we were certain when the time came, she would be too embarrassed and take it off before entering the church. So we let her travel in it.

She, of course, insisted she wasn't embarrassed and would wear it just fine! So we decided to put her to the test; so how hard it would be for her to appear in it.

First we tried McDonald's--Debby said she wanted a carbonated beverage (soda, or Pop, or whatever y'all call it). She insisted she would run in and meet us at the other side, but when we started to pull by drive-through (we were certain we would be waiting forever for her to actually do it & we were already cutting it close to get to church on time) she didn't jump out. Didn't even budge...We picked on her for it, of course, and she finally insisted she could do it. Then Debby pulled into one of her favorite gas station companies. M-L looked nervous and said "what are we doing here?"

Debby smiled and responded, "Your going in to get me something!"

Of course, Debby had her carbonated drink, so what else could it be? As it turned out, after Debby parked, she pulled out a dollars worth of change and told M-L to go in and get her something she would like for a dollar. By then we had egged M-L on enough, she didn't take long before budging this time and darted in.
While she was in, we pulled out of our parking spot and went to the other side of the lot. Just to scare her a bit. Then we honked when she came out and looked worried. She hadn't wasted any time in finding Debby a candy bar!

Marie-Louise told us in the van that she would have to put this "bright idea" in a book called "Not the Brightest Ideas Marie-Louise Ever Had!" As you can guess, her stubborn ways not only creates a lot of humor for us all, but it is also occurs often enough she probably could write a short book!

If any of you know Marie-Louise (or any other thirteen-year-old like her), you know the humor in the story. If you don't, it probably sounds like a plain story...we thought it was so funny, that I gave my friends, who know M-L, a play-by-play txt of the whole thing...It is also good to note that shortly after arriving at church, M-L took her robe off (she insisted she was hot). She did not put it back on till we were leaving, as it was her "coat" for the night!

Today: Honduras and Angelina

I have set this post to automatically appear as I am sitting in the Pittsburgh Airport waiting to take off for Honduras! FINALLY! But while you all are thinking about me and holding me up in prayer for the next two weeks, I hope you'll also remember a very special person today as well...

TODAY, at about 5pm, my cousin Angelina will be marrying a wonderful guy named Josh. And boy, am I excited for them! It will take place back at home in Olean as I arrive in Honduras. I am terribly sad I won't be there (originally we were going to fly out the day AFTER, not OF, the wedding) but I want to give her and Josh a wonderful SHOUT OUT!

Angie & Josh:
Congrats you two! May this day be wonderful; as family and friends gather from all over, may you know you are truly loved and blessed. And may all your days ahead as one be truly God-filled and God-sent! May what occurs today in celebration be but a small representation of how much better it will get with each new day to come! God bless you both, and my prayers are with you as you fly to Hawaii tomorrow as well!

Time Flies...

Oi! It's been a while since I posted anything and a lot, and I mean a LOT, has happened!

MAY 13-14:
There was a leadership conference going on back in Lima at EBI for a few days, and my Uncle Fred wanted to go up and meet with a few people he knew would be there around then. And I had been trying to figure out how and when I could get back up there to see my sister Becky before she left and moved to the YWAM base in Idaho. So together, Fred and I went to Lima Tuesday and Wednesday. Fred stayed with my dad an hung out with whoever it was he went to meet with--something about video bible school's making, etc--and I stayed with my Mom and both sisters.

Of course, they were both working like crazy in the cafeteria of the school, but they did have off a couple hours in the middle of the afternoons, so I made it a point to be around then. Sadly, we only got one picture in of us together, and on the last day, but hey, at least we got one, right? We swapped our missions trips scrapbooks, found out awesome stories about each other's new friends (ones not even posted on blogs, so yeah I've got one over on all y'all! Muahahahaha!)

I did have a blast the whole time I was up there. Got to see a few people I hadn't seen in a while on campus, talked about the awesome things God's been doing in and through my friends and I, handed out a couple newsletters, etc. Ended up talking to my old, and close friend Sister Debby Krueger for longer then originally intended, but who ever regrets about talking with her? And it was such an incredible blessing! Isn't she great? And yes, all you former EBI kids, she's is still up there punching away at her computer and praying for all of us (she still has all our pictures on her same old cork-board!).

Tuesday night I went to the Lilac festival with a friend from my old home church, Christine, and we surprised another friend when we met up there--the second friend didn't know I was going to be in the area! Then Wednesday morning, at one of those unholy hours (I'm a night person, can you tell?), I got up and Christine picked me up before picking up another friend to take her to the airport. So I got to surprise to long-time and dear friends that weekend! And I had a blessed time telling them, also, all the cool stuff been going on with me--and making them a wee bit jealous, apparently...I also got to talk with my pastor's wife, the beloved Jeanie, for about half-hour on the phone as she was just getting back from visiting her new grandchild. Sadly, I didn't get to visit with her, but maybe next time I'm up?!

Wednesday evening, then, I went out with Mom and her fiancée Roy Libby to Ruby Tuesdays. That was a little interesting. It wasn't bad being with them, just different--and for me, too soon--having mom with someone else in her life...For all you who are wondering, they are engaged, and the wedding is set for the end of August with only the kids present. Thankfully, I'll be back from Honduras shortly before that! ...Anyway, back to the meal. During and after the meal, I had a good chat with Roy. About what I'm up to, what God's been doing, and about his two children (who are about 7 years younger then mom!). I'll get to meet them the day of the wedding, so we'll see if they are as great as they sound!

Shortly after that, Fred picked me up and we drove back home to Olean. And it was nice to crash for a little while!

MAY 16-17:
Friday, Deb and I cooked up a storm in preparation for Angie's wedding shower the next day. Then in the evening, the church had its usual bi-weekly coffee house, but I didn't go. Instead I stayed at the house and finished up the cool Jello creation Deb and I were working on for Angie's wedding shower the next day, while dancing and watching the Florida Revival live on God.tv. (It was a great service, as always--can't to go myself!)...Anyway, you should see that Jello thing! Not too many people ate it Saturday, but we had a good turn out and a great time! It was themed of a Luau because their honeymoon is planned for Hawaii...Oh, and the Jello was blue Jello in a wide vase-like thing with gummy fish and other sea creatures in it. Then Dad rigged up a paper boat for on top and put it right next to a large fish I had managed to get stuck in there with his nose out of the water! (if I get a chance to download a pic from my phone, and figure out how to format it differently, maybe I'll add it...with a pic from the Lilac Festival, and one of lovely Angie at her shower!)

MAY 18:
And today, at church, was incredible! I felt God so strongly I had a hard time standing straight. At one time I was bent over my guitar and eventually had to put it down and get on my knees for several minutes! Once again, I'm not sure what God did, but I know every time He is stronger in my life, and that I grow less and less--I care less about what people think now!--He does something! I did feel a stronger tingle in my hands and up my arms while kneeling and speaking in tongues; a sense that I am told, and beginning to believe, is what God does when His healing power in strong on my hands...time will tell what He does with that. And what I do with it! For now, I will try and be more in tune to His directions and begin to see things happen!

That's about all for now, but God bless! And I pray I encourage you to step into what God has for you too!

Christ's love to y'all!
<>< Hannah Joy