Homecoming

So Friday night was the second football night game under the lights! Such a fun atmosphere and such a community event. There were so many people there of all ages. We held a contest for our Middle Schoolers if they found me (Becke) they would get points for their small group that they are apart of. The winning small group will be announced October 27th at our event " The Redneck Roundup"

Below are some photos of the game!
Also the group photo is our small group that we love, and love doing life with. Such deeply grounded believers who are passionate about living for the Lord. AMAZING!

 Sam and I

 Christine and I

 

During the National Anthem

 

A group candid of our small group

I found it so interesting seeing all the students we had when they were in Middle School who now are juniors and seniors. Wow, we have been here long, and its awesome to be the people who have been here so long. Although so many people move around us, its nice to be the people who are stationary and a constant. We are loving our friends here that we get along so well with. We love doing life with them! I think some of the best conversations I have had have been with them. They are super supportive of us as we adopt, and have opened their hearts and want to do everything they can to support us in the transition. Even if that means a 2 am phone call.  We have so much in common, and much the same heart in bringing the Lord to those that are lost. We are blessed!

Apple Pie Bars

So we have friends over Saturday night and I tried out a new recipe. Below are the prep photos.

Crust made and baked first

Oats, butter, flour, nutmeg 

 

Pan 1 of apples

Pan 2 

 

Topping covering the apple topping. 3 layers basically.

 A piece cut out, and ready for a willing mouth.

 Finished product

Basically the bottom layer is a shortbread crust, middle is cooked apples, the top is a oatmeal butter crust. There were many many raving reviews. The only thing I would do different is putting it in a bigger pan, so the bars are thinner.  After the photos is the link from the recipe.

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/apple-pie-bars

new coffee bag kitchen valence.

Many of you asked what I was doing in the Kitchen these past few weeks. I got a few coffee bean burlap bags and for the kitchen valence, I cut open the bag and then attached the bag on a rope to the wall. I then had brown ribbon I used to keep it nice and tight with a polished look. Super simple and easy.

 We collect starbucks city mugs, and this is a sample of how we have hung them in our house. Super simple. Get a long piece of wood 1/4 inch from your local Home depot, and then drill holes where you will put large screws threw them.  Attach the board to the wall, and hang your mugs.  We stained the wood to match the decor in our house. Hope this is helpful!

Life settling in.

We are settling back in to a routine. Life has changed a bit, and it much calmer which is a welcome relief. Please pray for our middle school youth group. It decreased in size over the summer, and we are in a rebuilding phase. Please help us as we bathe it in prayer for growth.
 We are picked up right where we left off with the adoption. The link below will have our latest update!

Thanks for joining us in the fight.
http://danandbecke.blogspot.de

Adoption Blog!

http://haasadoption.blogspot.de/2012/09/a-video-into-first-trip-to-russia-from.html

We made it!

We made it!
After a long journey we made it back home. Below are some photos of our time in CA.
I am excited about being back except the jet lag thing is kicking my butt. But, God is good and tonight I am feeling much much better.
    I am excited about my new role here in Wiesbaden. As many of you know we are adopting, and that means I will be at home more with the child. So with that I am stepping back from lots of things in ministry while I get the home ready.  So, with that I will be still volunteering with the Junior high youth group, and doing a girls study but will be taking a step back from high school youth group.
One reason is I don't want to have to leave the group in the middle of the year, and thought it better to do it at the beginning. I will still be meeting with a few students that I mentor, and will have a mentor myself.  I am excited about this, but a little nervous as well. A new role, is a new season which means a new learning curve! (ODE to JOY! - that is for my mom in CA)
Below are a few photos from our time in CA!

 

Our friends who we love SO SO SO much! 

Romero's in Manifee! (so glad to see them)

This was a replica of the first photo Dan and I took in Japan.

Uncle Danno and Jacob

Vincent came to one of our supporting churches to speak on the life of a military student.

Candice and I jumping on the beach in Santa Barbara, CA

Christian, Dan and I in Huntington Beach, CA

Family day at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA

Broken children, grown up pain

As I reflect on the journey we began in Colorado, (well the continued journey God is taking and growing us) I am reminded of how words and actions of others when children are children, have a big impact on who they become. God is in charge of all, and redeems the years the locusts ate, and that gives tremendous hope and courage to face the hurts and wounded words.

As a child, I was and still am super tender hearted. That is not a bad thing, but it is bad when others want to verbally abuse you. Throughout my life, I have been put down, slammed down, abused, mistreated, overlooked, and taken advantage of. There has been much shame and lies that I have believed for a long time. When we take the step of faith and are courageous and trust God for who HE is, there is tremendous healing that takes place. I think so often we live in pain that is comfortable. I did for a long time. I lived in pain cause I knew the pain, and knew how to get by with it. But the amazing thing is when we take steps for healing although its unfamiliar most of the time its better than we expected. The lie that is often believed is that God will abandon us, and bad things will happen, mostly rejection. But, if we lived with rejection our whole life, our filters in our brain perceive everything thru the lens of rejection. The lies are: of course they won't like me, of course they are going to leave me, of course I am unlovable. What A CROCK OF WHOOIE!

For a long time I have been loved by a husband who wants me to know, I am not the lies I believe.  Rather a wonderfully created masterpiece who feels as if I have been dropped, scarred, repainted and tattered.  Yet thru those layers I can see God removing them carefully.  Though I wish God would do as Aslan did to Edmund with a swipe of his paw and remove the 'dragon scales' and restore the ME HE knows is in there.

Can't wait to see what God is going to do.