There's something about shoes...

We just returned from a wonderful weekend worshiping with our dear friends of the Olivet United Methodist Church. Matt has been going to this retreat for four years now and this was the first time I was able to go with him. We had a great time. We dropped the kiddos off at my parent's house and had a nice weekend - just us - together. Once we returned home, the kids did not want to leave grandma's house...go figure.

Well...about the picture...Abby loves going to the YWAM base. She has about 20 older "brothers" and "sisters" to spoil her. Each person does their own special "thing" with her. So...if there is anything that Abby wants, she knows exactly the right person to go to to get it. If she wants her nails done, she knows who will do it for her. If she wants gum, she knows who has the gum. It is the same with shoes. Abby LOVES wearing "big girl" shoes. AND now... she pretty much has countless "big girl" shoes to choose from. Doesn't she look all grown-up?

What a week!

We have been so busy trying to settle in to our new life. Some days are better than others. We are still trying to work out a good schedule for our family. Abby is still trying to decide if she really wants to go to school. David is walking (and falling) everywhere! He is so proud of himself. I have to say that our first week of school has made us pretty tired, but we are being challenged and drawing closer to Jesus everyday. Personally, I have been learning a great deal about Relationships, Sin, Forgiveness, and Encouragement. Also...we just celebrated Abby's 4th birthday. She was sooooo cute. We decorated the YWAM base dining area with pink balloons, streamers, and everything princess. Once I get the pictures downloaded, I will post some. Well, that's it for now. We love you all.

Also...YAY! We just got our internet today. Be looking for more posts now that we are "hooked-up"

Just a note

Hey, Everyone! We are in PA now, and we are starting our YWAM school tomorrow. We are very excited to see what the Lord is going to do through this experience. A BIG thanks goes out to all those in Wilmore who came to help us move...we did it in 2 hours...amazing. You will all be missed so badly. As far as moving in, we had a group of YWAMers join us to unpack, and now we are still in the process of trying to make this new house a "home". Last night Matt was in the bathroom and he had a visit from a little, gray, four footed creature (welcome to Western PA)...yes a mouse. I have not had to deal with mice being in my house for 8 years now! I am just glad it was Matt and not me :)

We are in the process of getting internet and better phone service at our new house, so for now, blogging will be very limited until it is set up.

Many "1st's"

Dear Friends,
We are in the midsts of some very busy and crazy times as a family, and it is only by the grace of God that we seem to be doing fine (most of the time). Sometimes I just wish the whole world would stop just so I can get caught up on everything that is going on. I am so sorry for not blogging as much, I will try to do better. This seems to be the season of many "1st's". For instance, just this past week David got his 1st haircut. He looks soooo grown up. Then, just last night, while we were visiting with the Harper's, he stood up and started walking without any help. Of course...we did not have our camera. Once I get it recorder, I will post it for all to see.

As far as other "firsts"... this is the 1st time we are trying to move with children. This is the first, and hopefully last, time that Sarah chose the place for the family to live without Matt even seeing a picture of our new place.

YES...we have found a place to live! We are so thankful and we want to thank everyone that helped us. We are packing the loading truck this Saturday, driving to PA on Sunday, and unpacking on Monday. If you are in Wilmore on Saturday and would like to help...come on over. If you are in Pennsylvania on Monday...we need ya! We love you all so much.

When you're driving yourself in circles

Lately I feel like our lives have been pretty much like this video. We get so excited about something, but when we try doing it on our own or without any help we just find ourselves driving around in circles. I love this, because Abby was trying to drive her first bumper car but kept going in circles. All of us just kept yelling out at her to stop turning the wheel or we just laughed. How many times do we do that in our walk with other people. We just yell at them from a distance or laugh/talk among ourselves about what they are doing. The redeeming part of this video is when Matt actually moved close to Abby to explain to her how she can stop "driving around in circles". When Abby listened she stopped going around in circles and got to enjoy her ride. This video is symbolic to me because that is what Jesus does for us. He sees us driving in circles and comes down close to us to show us how we can "enjoy the ride". We just have to listen to Him.

Trip to see Joe and Jean

I am just full of joy right now because we have just got back from a trip to Tennessee to see our very best friends, Jean and Joe. We had such a wonderful time. We got to introduce them to David and Abby got to know them better. When we left yesterday, I asked Abby what she liked most about Joe and Jean and she said, "I liked it when they sang to me."

Most of the time we just sat and talked just like we would do in the "old days" during college. Ohhhh...it was so wonderful. The only thing that was missing was Amy and Jon :(

You know there are people in your life that the Lord puts in your path that will always be your "kindred spirit" (excuse me for quoting Anne of Green Gables) no matter how far away you live from each other or how many times you see them they are always so dear to your heart. Jean and Joe are those friends to us. They encourage us, challenge us, laugh with us, and love us.

We love you, Jean and Joe and Thanks for the great visit!!

Sarah is learning to sew

Ok, Everyone
Here it is. I really can not believe it myself! The reason I haven't been blogging so much is because I have been teaching myself a new trade...sewing...Yes...that's right, sewing. I can just hear people in my family laughing right now. Yes I can be domestic (or at least try to be sometimes)


So I tried to make a ballerina outfit for Abby and here are the pictures of the result. I am pretty proud of it myself. Then, since I finished that, I decided to try to make a dress for myself and so I also posted it. ***A little note***I used an old pillow cover for the liner of the dress. I just did not want to go back to Walmart again. Matt said, "you know you're a missionary when your wife begins sewing clothes out of old pillow shams."

Daddy's Little Girl!

I just had to post this picture because I love it so much. It pretty much shows what our life is like here. Abby just adores her Daddy. He just seems to be able to do things for her that I (Sarah) can not do. I love seeing them together - they challenge each other, they make each other laugh, they play crazy games together, AND...they are just too cute!

Our Idlewild Trip

This is our annual family trip to Idlewild Park. If you would like to see bigger pictures, just click on the pictures and it will give you a larger version. We always have such a good time at this amusement park. It really is the greatest place to take your little ones. We hope you enjoy!

The Dancing Princess

One of Abigail's most favorite movies is "Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princess's" I have to say, as a Mom/Girl...I really like it too. It is full of beautiful music, dancing ballerinas, a handsome prince...I mean what little girl wouldn't love it? The story is also about a father who loves his girls very much and they love him, so when he falls sick there is a part where they sing to him to make him feel better. I love that. How many times would Our Heavenly Father just love for us to stop everything to sing and dance for Him...just because He delights in us. This is one of the things I love to see in Abby. She dances and sings without any inhibitions and Matt and I am so delighted in her. What wonderful lessons we can learn from our children.

P.S. I am looking for cute tutu/ballerina dresses like this for Abby. The one she has on belongs to her friend Jesse. The outfits are waaaaaayyy expensive. I am even thinking about sewing one myself and the only thing I've ever sewed was an apron and a pillow in high school home ec class...PLEASE help! If you have any in your attic sitting around or would be willing to make her one :) it would get lots of good use.

Happy Fourth of July!!!

Just a quick note to say, "Happy 4th!" We spent the day celebrating at the Wilmore 4th celebration at the campground, then we came home and Abby and Mommy baked a 4th of July cake. This cake is also a birthday cake for Aunt Cathy...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUNT CATHY...we hope you don't mind, but we are taking your cake to another party to eat it since you are so far away! We love you!

David's 1st Birthday

So......for those of you who missed it, or for those who were there...
Here are some pictures of from David's 1st Birthday and Party. A few notes...We have a family tradition where Matt and Sarah decorate the house with streamers, balloons, gifts, etc... the night before, then we wake the kids up with birthday party music to dance to.

Also...the party was a Sesame street theme. Sarah made a cake with Elmo's face and the kids played games with sesame street themes like "Ernie's Lucky Rubber Ducky"and "Pin the Nose onElmo" - they also painted styrofoam balls to use to for a nose to stick on . Fun was had by all - Even the adults got to help turn the ice cream maker for homemade ice cream.

Just a note...it seems as though I have been posting more stuff of David than Abby - I will post about her tomorrow.

Pulling ourselves up!

Here is the picture of the previous post in LIVE action. ENJOY!

And so it begins...

Hello, Everyone! We have started a blog. I really can not believe it :) We hope you enjoy all the postings and hopefully this will help us keep you up to date on what is going on in the Rapach "roost".


The picture is of little David just beginning to learn to pull himself up to stand. That's how I kind of feel trying to figure out this program. Hopefully David and I will begin "walking" soon.