She's Done!

The big news first:  Claire passed her huge Czech maturita exams today!!! YAY!!!!!!!!

Even though it was a big morning for Claire, we couldn't pass up the "last day of school" photo (you're welcome Uncle Mike!).

It was nice to have Tyler here this morning to get a shot of us with her before she left for the exams. And no, I'm not that short! She's wearing heels! :)

Aside from the nerves of heading into this huge exam, there was also a certain joy and giddiness this morning, knowing that "this is it"!

For me, it was also another moment of realization...she's grown up now, even driving herself to the exams. When did this happen?!

While a part of me misses the sweet little girl she once was, I also love the young woman that she has become.

I felt a total sense of peace as I watched her drive off this morning...not just about the exams she was headed into, but that she's ready for what's ahead in life.

She headed into Frydlant and entered these doors she's been going through for 4 years now, at the school where both Tyler and Caleb graduated from as well. We've had a Patty child entering those doors for 8 straight years!

Today was the last day one of our children would enter as a student.

One of Claire's dear friends, Verča, had her exams this morning as well. Four students were in the morning, four later this afternoon. 

After four hours of exams...it was all over. Claire passed!!!!

Tyler and Lara were at school when she finished and he caught this significant moment as she was officially congratulated by one of her teachers.

I'm so glad Tyler was there to capture this moment with some of her teachers, the government examiner and the principal of her school!

And then...she walked out of the BMA doors one last time, having successfully completed 13 years of Czech school.

WAY TO GO CLAIRE!

What a gift to have Tyler and Lara there to celebrate that significant moment!!

It's hard to comprehend right now, the true significance of this moment.

All three of our kids completed Czech national school. Wow. I'm soaking that in today.

When we sent Tyler to first grade we didn't know if he, or Caleb and Claire, would go all the way through.

Today we celebrate that they did!!!!!!

What a great accomplishment!!!!

We're off to celebrate now!!!!

Arriving at Ostrava-Svinov

I wish I'd kept track of how many times we've been to this train station over the past twenty years!

So many comings and goings here. So many hellos and goodbyes.

Claire had her camera with us today as we stood on the platform, waiting for our latest guests to arrive. It's always a happy day when it's a "hello" kind of day at Ostrava-Svinov!

Kaylee was along for the wait as well.

I tried telling her who was coming, but it didn't seem to translate well into doggy language so she was mostly content just to be in my arms, away from the prying eyes and noses of other dogs on the platform waiting with their people!

As always, the train eventually approached the platform. Who's arriving???

Yep, I'm more than a little excited about who will be getting off that train at Ostrava Svinov!

TYLER and LARA!!!!!!!!!

 Oh what a happy reunion with our oldest son and his precious wife!!

They are here for the summer to lead an intern team and do English camps with Josiah Venture.

But for a few days they're here to just be family!

SO happy to see Tyler, Lara and Claire reunited! It's been a year and a half since Tyler and Lara have been here so we're all happy to get to have this time together.

Tomorrow is a BIG day for Claire...she takes her maturita exams from 8-12 in the morning.

What a good gift from the Lord to have her big brother and sister-in-law here for this huge event in her life!

Caleb and Haley: Engaged!

On Friday night in Chicago, at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool in Lincoln Park, Caleb asked Haley Chase to marry him!!!!

She said YES!!!!

Their love story is such a sweet one!

We've known Haley and her family for over twenty years. But it was five years ago that we visited her family in Colorado and a spark began between Caleb and Haley.

They were long distance Skype friends for four years after that, each beginning to fall in love with the other one during those years as their friendship deepened.

Last May, after Haley's family moved to Slovakia to serve with Josiah Venture, Caleb and Haley began to date. Then they headed to Moody to begin college and, perhaps more importantly, fall in love!

Unbeknownst to Haley (and to most everyone else!), Caleb made a decision last April, before they'd even began to date, to purchase a diamond for her while we were in Israel.

Yes, it was one of those crazy "you just know that you know" moments as he stood with his dad in the showroom of Capice Diamond and Jewelry in Tiberius, Israel, and made the decision to purchase it!

He worked last summer to pay it off, and then worked this year at Moody to save for the setting of that diamond. Isn't it lovely?!!!

Friday, it all paid off as he proposed to his precious and lovely Haley!!

Tyler and Lara, Allyson (Haley's sister) and Shane (Allyson's boyfriend, and Caleb's roommate next year at Moody), and two of his good friends, Chris and CJ from Moody, helped him pull off the ultimate surprise as he led Haley on an adventure through Chicago that led towards a most romantic setting and moment in the garden where he asked her to be his wife.

It was pure joy to gather around the computer just hours later, while it was still the day of their engagement (though was morning for us here in Czech) and hear the details of their beautiful engagement story.

They are planning to be married next summer in Colorado, and then continue their education at Moody.

We are SO delighted by God's answer to our prayers for precious wives for our sons. We praise and bless the Lord for our Lara and now for our Haley, precious women who not only love the Lord, but love our sons!!

Speaking of love...I LOVE this photo! Haley's reaction, the moment she realized what was happening is PRICELESS!!!!

More importantly...she is a priceless gift to Caleb!

Operation Europe

These past few days we've had the joy of hosting two couples who are in the midst of a documentary project across Europe: Operation Europe

Mike and Janna, Emily and Austin, are seeking to capture through film and photos, the state of Christianity in Europe.

After already being in England, France, Switzerland, Netherlands and Germany, we were their sixth country and interview along the way. Take a look at their promo video that explains their heart for this project.




After interviewing Dave and I, we went up to Malenovice to give them a view over our valley, and share our heart and prayer for seeing revival spread to this nation and beyond. 

We pray that their project will be helpful and eye opening in terms of the need to spread the Gospel here in Europe.