LOVE

Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all, matters the most
Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep locked inside

Love is a river that flows through
Love never fails you

Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease at the end of time
and Love will protect
Love always hopes
and Love still believes when you don't

Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you

When my heart won't make a sound
when it can't turn back around
when the sky is falling down
nothing is greater than this
greater than this

Love is right here
Love is alive
Love is the way, the truth, the life
Love is the river that flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
and Love is the place you will fly to
Love never fails you

|brandon heath|

This is the song the struck my heart the morning after we learned our Greenbean is a boy. I can't imagine the fullness of love our Father has for us, but I do know that the love I have for my husband and this baby grows leaps and bounds everyday. What a joy to know His love is far greater!

As I start the third and last trimester of this pregnancy, I can't help but look back on the first two-thirds and sit in awe of the miracle that is 'being pregnant'. I am shocked at how quickly time has passed and how much the Lord has shown Pete and I over the past 7 months.

One thing is for certain - we are blessed! Blessed by a God who is HUGE and yet knows the most intimate details of our lives. Blessed by a Savior who loves beyond barriers. Blessed by a Spirit who leads and guides. Blessed by family and friends who offer support in trying times and rejoice with us in glad times.

I can't wait to bring this baby boy home! (Although, I must admit, I sometimes get nervous when I realize he won't come with an instruction manual...) What a joy it is to pray for him, his life, and the testimony of God's love, grace, mercy, and power that we hope his life will be!

This last trimester will be filled with many joyous occasions - Thanksgiving with great friends, Christmas with family, celebrating the New Year, and it will culminate with our son's birth. The next few months will fly by, so I hope to enjoy every moment and cherish the together time that Pete and I have as a couple before we become parents.

What an awesome journey we are on!

Pictures of our Greenbean

Now that you have seen pictures of my preggo - here are some of the little man who is growing inside:

Greenbean

22 weeks. 22 weeks of belly expansion, nausea pills, contemplating parenthood, and thinking of baby names... 22 weeks of enjoying pregnancy, registering, monthly appointments, and daily reading of how Greenbean is growing and developing.

Today makes 22 weeks of carrying this precious little boy that we will continue to call Greenbean. I could not have imagined my belly this big nor the size of my heart for this little boy whom I don't even know. Over half way to the finish line (or the starting blocks) and I am already in love!

According to my "What To Expect" updates, the Greenbean is the size of a spaghetti squash, weighing in at 1 lb or so and approximately 8in. Within the week, he will have reddish skin due to the blood vessels that are developing under his skin and over the next few weeks he will double in weight - YIKES!

To date, Pete and I have learned several things:
1. Greenbean is a BOY!!!
2. Registering is OVERWHELMING! Thanks to Pete for keeping it a light-hearted learning experience and making it enjoyable.
3. Ansel is excited about having a brother. He pounced on my belly when I told him he would have a baby brother :) I'm sure this is just a small dose of what is to come.
4. I love the feel of his arms and legs kicking at my stomach. It is amazing to feel the new life growing inside me! And yes - Pete has felt Greenbean from outside my belly as well, which makes this even more exciting!
5. Picking out names is impossible - or at least really difficult.

All in all, pregnancy is wonderful and I can't wait to see our son and hold him in my arms!

Blessings Abundant

As you know from Pete's previous post, we had been in preparation for Technical Evaluations with MAF for quite some time (6 years or more for Pete) and were finally on our way... We packed up the dog and took him to a friend's house for his own little vacation and excitedly boarded our flight to Boise, ID.

At some point during our travel day Pete looked over at me and asked, "Do you think we are ready for this?" While I wasn't quite sure that we were ready, I did know that God was leading us at this specific time and we were right where we needed to be. The numerous ways that God provided for us to even make the trip are beyond mere coincidence. Time off for both of us (at the same time!!), financial support from family and friends, preparation time in the hangar at LETU and with Pete's first flight instructor, Gene... truly, the direction God had for us was made clear! After a full day of flying, we found our rental car and began the short drive to Nampa, ID. Our journey was in full swing and we were getting even more excited (and a bit anxious, too).

I won't bore you with all of the details of the trip, but let's just say that TE's are essentially a two week long interview process with meetings, flight evaluations, maintenance evaluations, a psychological appointment, etc. We really grew together on this trip and, more importantly, grew with the Lord - constantly putting our hopes and dreams into His hands and relying on Him for peace and strength. Just as we had begun our two weeks sitting in front of the Candidate Committee, we ended our two weeks in hopeful anticipation of being accepted into Candidacy.

Wouldn't you know it - just as it was His plan to bring us to Idaho for evaluations, it was His plan to allow us to continue the journey as MAF Candidates! Even as I write this, I can barely believe it is real! Needless to say, we sat in that last interview overwhelmed, thrilled, and relieved.

The next day we boarded our flight back home to Texas. In just two short weeks (and many years of preparation and prayer) we were one step closer to the calling God had placed in both of our lives so long ago. I cannot wait to see what He has in store for us and how He continues to guide our path in every aspect of our lives!

We've been home for almost 3 weeks now and we are still amazed at how God has worked and continues to work in our lives for His glory.

Over then next year, we will be paying down the loans that we acquired for Pete's flight training/degree and will welcome our sweet little Greenbean! God has truly blessed us abundantly and we cannot wait to invite our little one into the amazing journey He has us on!


A few prayer requests:
For our Greenbean to continue to grow/develop in the womb.
To enjoy and appreciate where we are now, while still looking forward to our future in missions.
For Pete's flight students as they learn and hear God's call in their lives.

Blessings Abundant,
Ashley

Preparing for Technical Evaluations

To prepare for our two weeks with MAF, Pete went to Georgia and spent 3 days flying with his favorite flight instructor Gene Gawthrop. The video below shows them going into High Valley, a private airport just north of Dahlonega. Pete's dad also rode along one day on a flight into the mountains.

Pete and Gene on the last day of flying

Pete and Dad after returning to WDR from a trip to North Carolina

A New Adventure

Pete and I have had such an amazing few months. In our last post, I shared with y'all the major milestones that we have undergone over the past several months. As I write this note, Pete is in Georgia preparing with his old flight instructor for our MAF Evaluations next week. Yes, you did read that correctly - NEXT WEEK we will be in Nampa, ID for two weeks of MAF flight and maintenance evaluations! I can barely contain myself and have already begun packing/planning.
But our evaluation at MAF is not my main reason for posting today. As many of you may already know, Pete and I have encountered yet another major milestone in our life together - we are expecting! Little baby Greenbean is due in January of 2011 and we could not be more excited for his/her arrival! I have officially begun my second trimester and am looking forward to the day when I can feel the Greenbean moving around (and start to actually show)! I have added some of our first pictures of the Greenbean so you can all see how adorable he/she is already. We'll keep you posted on Greenbean's growth and progress (as well as ours as we prepare for parenthood).
Thanks for your prayers and support!

A Look Back

Throughout our lives, both Pete and I can see how God has guided our steps and provided in many ways. It is always fun for us to take a look back and see the amazing things the Lord has done! As we sit less than one week away from Pete's graduation, I cannot help but take a look back.

Currently Pete is sitting next to me, studying feverishly for his finals. Within the next week he will take three finals, interview for a job at LETU with the Dean for the School of Aeronautical Science, go on a second interview with the VP of Academic Affairs at LETU, and GRADUATE!!! Looking back, it is only the Lord's doing that Pete was able to complete his education at LeTourneau University. When Pete and I got married (after my graduation from UGA, but only 2 years into Pete's time at LETU) we were advised that I should apply for a job at LETU. Not only did the Admissions Counselor job at LETU fit my passion for youth and higher education, but it also offered us the ability for Pete to attend LETU tuition-free after I had been working for a year. For the past two years, we have only had to pay for Pete's books and course/lab fees - PRAISE GOD! This is one of the hugest ways that God has allowed Pete and I to continue on our path to MAF and mission work!

Along with LETU's tuition break, the Lord is providing financially through your support - to date we have received many contributions for paying off Pete's college debt for his flight training (not paid for by tuition benefits). PRAISE GOD for your prayers, support, and love!

Not only has the Lord provided for Pete's education, but He has also helped us in paying off some of that debt that strangely accumulates upon graduation/getting married. Through word-of-mouth referrals to many of our friends in town, we have saved over $2000 in rent. (3 1/2 free months of rent!) Once again - it is amazing to see how God has provided and clearly continues to show His faithfulness as we pursue His call in our lives.

While His financial provision is certainly one great aspect of this look back, I also can't help but remember (as we come up on our 3rd anniversary) how God has grown us together and in Him throughout the last three years. We have grown from two independent and stubborn singles to a couple who takes time to spend with the Lord and with one another daily. We have learned a lot about communication, sacrifice, and grown in our love for one another. I can't imagine how I ever lived without Pete and his amazing friendship and love.

In these three years our family has also added a member - our wonderful little "Anselbear". This adorable cocker spaniel has added fun and excitement to our lives and given us countless hours of entertainment.

Yet another way that the Lord has provided is through the amazing friends we have made. About two years ago, a mission family from MAF came to work at LETU at the same time Pete began part-time flight instructing. Through our friendship and similar passion for flight and reaching unreached people groups, Pete and I have learned a great deal about life overseas as a mission aviation family and enjoy stories from the Ash's time in Indonesia. Again - PRAISE GOD for this amazing relationship and encouragement!

Lastly, Pete and I were asked to attend the annual EAA Airshow in Oshkosh, WI. The theme of last year was "Fly 4 Life" and hundreds of missionaries and other humanitarian relief organizations came together to show the world of general aviation how flight makes a significant impact in human life overseas! Being representatives for LETU at the show, we had the opportunity to meet, mingle, and do life with some of the organizations that we were interested in joining. This was a time when the Lord gave us confirmation about our desire to work with MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship). We thoroughly enjoyed all of the people we met, including those who had never even thought of flight being used to reach others for Christ! PRAISE GOD for His confirmation and the opportunities to share His love with others!


There are so many amazing ways that God has provided and encouraged us the last several years and we cannot wait to testify to more of the goodness of our Lord in the years to come! Thank you for being a part of how God continues to bless us and share His plan for our lives.

The Beginning of the End

5 years in East Texas. Let's be honest, this isn't a tropical paradise; it's not a paradise in any way unless you're a pine tree. It is, however, a great place to build relationships with some of the people that we cherish the most. Those people, especially in the last two years, have helped us through tough times financially, been excited about steps we've taken towards the mission field, and have spent so much time encouraging us and praying for us.

In less than 2 months I'll graduate and my collegiate saga will come to an end. Finally! Not that it's been that bad, but it has taken a while. You can't learn to fly airplanes overnight I suppose. Not to mention figure out how to fix them after they break.

On April 21'st I will begin 4 days of testing so I can become a certified Airframe & Powerplant mechanic (A&P). If anything has ever stressed me out, this is it. 4 days of bending sheet metal and safety wiring. 4 days of remembering things that I learned 5 years ago. Everyone keeps telling me "it's not as bad as it seems" but as far as I'm concerned right now, it is. Thankfully I have some good friends who will be taking the same tests so we have spent a lot of time studying together, but still, can you ever really be prepared for something like this? Perhaps it's the overachiever in me that wants to do so well, but it seems like I could spend another 5 years preparing for this.

Here's the exciting part though, once I have my A&P we meet every requirement for MAF! All that's left is to get our debt low enough, pass our technical evaluations, and we're off!. The closer we get, the more excited we get.

Now please, hear me out on this. Airplanes are fun. But our desire to go overseas has nothing to do with airplanes or achievements or obligations. All we desire to do is share the love of Christ that has been shared with us through countless people in our lives. Airplanes are a great way to meet people's needs in a practical way. They can go where you can't go in cars or on boat. They can save people months and years of traveling by foot. But here's the most important thing; they can allow relationships to be built, and through those relationships the love and never-ending pursuit of Christ can be shared with people who God is madly in love with.

Thanks for your continued prayer and support. Our prayer for you is that you will see how God is pursuing you in real and tangible ways every single day.

Go meet someone's needs today.

And so it begins...

While Pete's semester is beginning and the first quizzes and assignments are distributed, I find myself in the midst of preview central. The two largest previews of the year have just concluded and our annual scholarship competition weekend is just around the corner.

January 21-22 brought Engineering and Science students to the LETU campus for a great time of team competition and intensive rotation demonstrations of the many concentrations that LETU has to offer in the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology. STEM (Engineering) Preview is always an exciting event and makes for a great event to start out the Spring semester.

Aviation Preview occurred the weekend after STEM Preview. We had a huge number of future pilots, mechanics, air traffic controlers, etc on campus for Aviation Preview. This year was the first year that we have hosted the main preview events at the new Abbott Aviation Center and it was GREAT! While the weather did not cooperate (we were not able to put all of the previewers in a flight due to the low ceilings) we did have simulator times set up and tours of the new aircraft system labs for the prospective students!

Aviation Preview happens during an amazing week on campus - Missions Emphasis Week. During MEW, LETU hosts missionaries of all kinds onto campus for sessions about the mission work each is committed to. While such organizations as AIM Air, MAF, JAARS, NTM, MMS, etc are on campus LETU students have the chance to learn about the groups and the specific mission/passion of each. It is always a time that Pete and I look forward to - especially this year because we had made so many great friends at Fly 4 Life in Oshkosh. Our aviation previewers also had the chance to mingle with representatives of these organizations while they were on campus. Altogether, this was a preview not to miss!

As I write this, the Admissions Office is gearing up for yet another preview event - Heritage Scholarship Competition. This is an invitation only event for our top-level prospective students and provides them the opportunity to earn one of ten amazing scholarships worth the cost of tuition for the first year (and up to 3 years after)! The next two weeks will be full and tiring, but I know it will all be worth it as I meet more prospective students on campus and help them and their families as they make the college decision.

Pete and I covet your prayers as we tackle this final semester of his schooling and another full semester in the Admissions office.