Rich in Kindness & Grace

"He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins."  Ephesians 1:7 NLT

Central Valley Fresh Summer Fruit

Happy 6 Months to USA Living to Us!

The above verse was at the bottom of my first journal page today.  It struck me between the eyes, so to speak.  Rich in kindness and grace.  Wow!  That is my God in a nutshell.

I am just completely overwhelmed today by that kindness and grace.

By His grace we finished the school semester well.

Pioneer Days for Chloe at School

Noah learned to ride a bike this Spring and he and his sister race around my parents cul de sac at frightening speeds!

Our darling little pioneer girl!  My mother made this apron for her costume.

Enjoying a year end ice cream in the parking lot of our favorite grocery store!

Noah receiving his award for 100 books read this semester!

Because He is so kind, we have been enjoying all manner of wonderful summer outings.

Untold numbers of hours swimming away these HOT summer afternoons!

BBQ with Brazilian friends in Sacramento in May

Fun times with Restoration Ministries friends

Noah's first taste of Starbucks!

Our newest fruit stand "jewel" of a find

Enjoying Grammie's dance recital

Family Bowling Outing

Daddy and Uncle's favorite part of the day-only a couple hours were happily spent playing various instruments!

Half Moon Bay-June 2019

Summer Kids Bowling Program-two free games per day for each child all.summer.long!  It is a hoot to watch these little people bowl!  The balls are so heavy it is hard for the smallest ones to even hold the thing.

New friends are one of the greatest joys of our new normal.  How richly God has blessed us with new and renewed friendships.  Here Noah is with his new best friend!

Because of His grace, we were able to make it through more goodbyes last week

We sent Tio Binho off last week to return to his world after six months here in California.  He helped us move six months ago and it was just fun to know he was only a couple hours way all this time.  We hope and pray he will be back soon!

We shed a lot of tears.  Noah sobbed, begging to go back to Brazil with Tio.  Chloe and I wept our way through preparing gifts for special ones back home.  Our children are learning very young the pain of goodbyes and "misses."  I hope it is all good preparation for a future only HE can see and will only make them better people.

Oh how we love and miss him!

Last night two of my cousins and their families blessed us with a welcome to the USA party

Thankfully the fun and "specialness" of the evening was not marked by amount of pictures taken as this is my one and only!

  From the USA decorations to the delicious tri-tip meal to the nearly 100 people who came to spend the evening with us and then on top of that blessed us with cash and gift cards to use to furnish our home someday soon...it was amazing.  We were moved to tears and gratitude as husband and I opened the cards late last night.  We prayed for each of you who came and thanked God for you.  May He meet all your needs in Christ Jesus and may you experience the utter "amazingness" of knowing that HE is truly the one who provides...and how often that provision comes from the most unexpected place.  It is humbling.  It is good.  We pray we will be a blessing to this community as you all have been to us.

Thank you for coming.  Thank you for giving-gifts, friendship, love and most importantly standing with us in prayer during this time of transition and waiting for a full time job for husband.

Today we celebrate six months here in California. 

Still no full time job for my husband who just continues to plug away at sending literally hundreds of resumes and applications (he said his excel spreadsheet has hit 400 now), and having untold numbers of interviews.  We trust God is able and will open the right door at the right time.  It is a tough season and yet we know we have so much, much to be grateful for.  Above all, we have salvation and a Hope of eternity with Him.  That truly is all we need.

He is so rich in kindness and grace.

May you experience that in a new way today wherever He has you.

Blessings,

           Jama