Celebrations...

It's been good timing to be in the states this month. Lots to celebrate.

One of our "other" daughters, better known as Julie's best friend, Rachel, married Chris last Sunday in a beautiful outdoor wedding. Julie was Maid of Honor and shared one of the most meaningful toasts I've ever heard. Dennis and I had the honor of serving communion to the wedding guests during the ceremony.



My parents celebrated 60 years of marriage on June 25. We'll be celebrating next month when Dennis and I can be in PA.

Dennis' Dad celebrated 77 years of life on June 26. Doesn't he look great?

It was so great to have Dennis' brother,
Doug, in from Nebraska as well!

So, in between training weeks we've been hitting the road. One weekend to Wisconsin for the wedding and this past weekend to Michigan for a birthday, with a few stops to see SL/GH friends. It's been a bit crazy, but we're thankful for the time that we've been able to catch time with family and friends.

We're in our last week of training in Indy. Our brains are spilling over with information. We'll need some days to let it all soak in.

Next on the docket? Papa and G'ma time with Miles and Stella!

Waking Up to Starbucks in Budapest!

It happened while I was out of the country. When I first heard the news I was hesitant to believe it. But, yes, indeed, the Starbucks Newsroom proves the news is true! What a nice surprise.

Starbucks opened it's first store in Hungary last week. None other than our beloved city of Budapest. I wonder... did they hear that Gwen Jackson moved to Budapest??

Oh, the Scope of God's Plan!

Dennis and I have been back in the states for a month now. Today we finished our first week of three weeks of training in Indy. Practical and worthwhile seminars have been filling our minds as we learn of the many facets of living cross-culturally - from team dynamics to knowing the process of evacuation from a country if necessary to living incarnationally.

Taking notes, engaging, interacting, getting in the Word, laughing, praying, singing. . . have all been a part of this first week. These verses from Ephesians 3:14-19 especially spoke to me one day. I trust they will be a source of blessing and encouragement to you.

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.