Like Father Like Sons

 

 

 

 

As they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and for Jack and Owen that is so true. Daddy is very comfortable in an apron in the kitchen,especially if it has to do with making Italian Food and Coffee. Jack and Owen are learning from the best. Yes, Jack has his very own coffee pot. You pump the water from the reservoire by pushing a botton quickly and voilah! Coffee or well, water that you pretend is coffee!!!

I love my Auntie Christine!!!

 

Jack is a sucker for anyone who will play with him and Auntie Christine has got to have the award for the best play date friend!! We love our visits with J & C and are so thankful they are close by!

the life of a 2 1/2 year old

 

Peace in my heart

Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement the past few months.  Life has been interesting, difficult, encouraging, busy, unexpected and yet God remains true and faithful and my comfort and strength.  It’s been a long time in coming for me to be able to face tough situations and still be able to say that!!! 

 

My Dad’s passing, although a shock at the moment I found out has been a blessing too. He is whole again for the first time in soooo long and we are all thankful that God spared him from further suffering and frustration and took him home to Himself. He gave him a new body and mind and he is now complete in God’s presence.  I couldn’t ask for more.  I am so thankful that I was able to be home just 2 weeks before he went HOME and was able to tell him I loved him, he felt the baby kicking and I was able to just be there with mom with so many decisions to make. It’s amazing to me how looking back I can see that God knew all along that Dad wouldn’t be with us long.  What was frustrating then (not being able to figure out the best placement for Dad after leaving the hospital) proved to not be an issue as God knew exactly what Home Dad would be going to and it wasn’t any that we looked at. It was an eternal home, far better than any nursing home or care facility in this world.  Mom even had the instinct to make all the necessary ‘funeral’ arrangements before she left for California the week before Dad died.  She didn’t do it because she thought he would be dying soon, she just felt like she needed to do it then to be prepared for whatever might come.  This was so God, because Dad passed away while she was gone to Cali and when she returned, all the details were done.  No stress, just the time to process what had happened. That’s Grace!

 

God again provided amazingly for us, my immediate family, to all go home together.  The flights were great, the boys traveled well and we had a good week together with my extended family.  Dad’s service was perfect and I think it truly honored God and was a celebration of my Dad’s life rather than mourning his death. 

 

We have felt so much encouragement from friends and family and have truly seen the Body of Christ function as God intended!  His grace in our lives is so evident and I can say He has been my rock and I’ve leaned hard on Him.  Something else hit me a while back.  If God hadn’t allowed all of the circumstances of our lives in the past few years, including the incredibly hard ones like leaving Papua, leaving Indonesia, sick kids, my journey to relearn what Faith is, etc. we would have likely been out of the country when Dad passed away and I would have melted down and certainly not been able to face it all.  I would have crumbled.  BUT, in His grace, He brought us through some amazingly difficult things all preparing us so that we could trust Him during this time.  He allowed us to be home now and not have to face this from a far-away place.  I am just amazed at HIM and His grace to me. 

 

Sooo, Thank you!  Thank you for feeling this with us, for praying us through the past few years, months and days.

 

We are home now and just had a great time with Joel’s family for Thanksgiving and an early Christmas together. My mom will be here in just a few weeks for Christmas and then not too long after that, Kate will make her arrival.  I have given up on a quiet life of “normal” and resolved that God just doesn’t have that in His plans for us.  I’ll take this life though and all that comes with it as I know He is molding us into His image with every circumstance that comes our way!

 

Tough News (Updated)

Hello Everyone,

We just got word last night from Bethany’s mom (Lynn Stroud) that her dad (Steve Stroud) passed away that evening at, we think, appx 8ish central time (Thursday). We’re not exactly sure yet what happened, but at some point this evening when a nurse checked on him (he was still at the hospital waiting to be discharged), he was unconscious and unresponsive. They tried resuscitation for over 20 minutes but to no avail.

At this point, our plan is to fly, as a family, down to Springfield MO (by way of Branson) and we’ll be in Springfield till next Friday. As of today, Steve’s memorial service is planned for Thursday evening at 7pm at High Street Baptist Church (900 N. Eastgate Rd, Springfield). We would love to see anyone who can make it to that. We then plan to return to MI next Friday, the 20th.

Please be praying for us as family. The Lord has enabled us to make quick plans and cover the obligations that we have here in Michigan and we’re trusting Him to provide the resources needed for this unexpected trip that’s following so closely to the last trip that Bethany made two weeks ago.

Even with this being as tough as it is and will be, we’re joyfully aware that he is whole in body, mind and spirit with his Creator! That is so infinitely better than his existence here. God’s physical presence is Steve’s reality as I write this!

We’ll communicate more as we know.

Joel for the Us

Cards can be sent to:
Lynn Stroud
1100 W. Lynn St.
Springfield, MO. 56802


Joel and Bethany Potter
Missionaries with New Tribes Mission
Serving at New Tribes Bible Institute, Jackson MI
517-795-9053
joel-bethany_potter@ntm.org

Tough News

We just got word late last night from Bethany’s mom that her dad passed away that evening at, we think, appx 8ish central time (Thursday). We’re not exactly sure yet what happened, but at some point this evening when a nurse checked on him (he was still at the hospital waiting to be discharged), he was unconscious and unresponsive. They tried resuscitation for over 20 minutes but to no avail.

We’re not sure what happens next, but I know it will involve us all getting down to Springfield at some point in the next few days. We so need your prayers in this time.

Even with this being as tough as it is and will be, we’re joyful knowing that he is whole in body, mind and spirit with his Creator! That is so infinitely better than his existence here.

We’ll communicate more as we know.

Joel for the Us

Another Prayer Request from Potters

I know you all have many of your own situations that you are praying about and that you have been praying for me and my family but I would like to ask once again that you pray for us. 

 

Last night my dad was admitted to the hospital again (a different hospital this time). He had a fall yesterday at his regular care facility and they took him to the ER to check him out from that and in the process, discovered he has pneumonia, so they admitted him.  The last hospital he was at (right before my trip home) didn’t bother to check with his PCP to find out his story and just looked at his age (65) and his med list and decided he was overmedicated. They proceeded to take him off his major medications without consulting us or anyone. 

 

My heart is very heavy this morning as I am concerned that this hospital may do the same thing.  My mom flew to California a few days ago for a previously scheduled trip so she is not there to communicate with the hospital in person. My brother is there and has done what he can and I am trying to communicate with the social worker at the hospital from here in Michigan, hoping she can relate the needed information to the doctor treating Dad. 

 

Please pray:

o   That the doctor there will be wise and sensitive to Dad’s various needs

o   For my brother as this is hard for him too

o   That Mom won’t worry but will enjoy her visit in California

o   That I will completely trust our Big God and not fret that I’m not there to help control the situation

o   For peace for my Dad. He is a believer and we are resting in the truth that the Holy Spirit still indwells him and can work a miracle in his mind and heart to bring him peace through all this.

 

Thank you for your constant encouragement and prayers through all of this.  It is so encouraging to know there are so many people praying for all of us right now.

 

Bethany for the Strouds and Potters

 

Prayer Support Needed!

Teammates!

Most of you know that Bethany and Owen will be flying (thanks to God’s overly-abounding provision) down to MO this week to spend some time with her parents. We’re leaving for the airport this afternoon at 3. Over the weekend, we realized that Jack was again sick with what seemed like asthma conditions. He’s using an inhaler which is working great, but he just this morning had some other ‘bug’ symptoms. His health over the past few weeks has weighed heavy on us. This very afternoon, we received word that Bethany’s dad (in a brand new care facility, dealing with Dementia like symptoms) was admitted to the ER with some breathing trouble.

You can easily imagine the weight we’re feeling right now. Would you be lifting us up before the Father the next couple of days? We need that support and encouragement to look to Him in all of this. The prospect of what Bethany will be dealing with along with the stress of me possibly nursing a sick little boy by myself is not pleasant, yet we’re resting in the fact that God sees us in all of this and He loves us! If He would we’re asking Him to stabilize our family’s health this week.

Thanks everyone!

Joel, Beth(kate)any, jack & owen

The Need has Been Met!

Good Morning!

Bethany and I wanted to express how grateful we are for how you as a part of our team have rallied around us when we communicated about the need for Bethany to travel to Missouri. We can excitedly tell you that God has over-abundantly provided for this trip and along the way, amazed us with how people have responded. This need has been met and we want to Thank you for praying with us about this!

We still covet your prayers for the travelling that will take place next Tuesday through Saturday for Bethany and Owen. Bethany is 26 weeks pregnant and Owen is 2 and half, so those ‘numbers’ can sometimes make travel a bit uncomfortable, but we’re praying for a smooth journey from here to there as well as a meaningful time for Bethany to visit her dad (whose symptoms continue to worsen), talk face to face with the Dr’s involved to try and get a grasp on what they’re suggesting, as well as to see some of the new facilities they may be transferring her dad to. And along the way, we know it’ll be a big encouragement to her Mom, who mostly bears the weight of this situation. Would you also be praying for good health amongst our family these next two weeks!

Your prayers and support are God-ordained!

Joel

An Urgent Prayer Need

Good Morning,

In the past few years Bethany and I have communicated about the condition of her dad’s heath. He’s struggled with dementia and Alzheimer’s like symptoms and has been living in a nursing home environment since December of 2006. During the last two months in particular, his struggle with this has greatly increased and his symptoms have been increased and more severe, so that during the last 2 weeks, he’s needed to be temporarily moved to a facility better equipped to deal with his condition as well as to be able to significantly adjust his current medications. In the mean time, as his current diagnosis has been evaluated and then re-evaluated and new diagnosis’ have been suggested, running from something called ‘Pick’s Disease’ to Alzheimer’s with Schizophrenia. This is all resulting in Dad’s current nursing home communicating that they’re not setup to handle and care for a patient with Dad’s symptoms and he’ll need to be moved, which will be a big task.

Bethany, especially seeing this happen so quickly is sensing a personal need to go down and spend some time with her mom and dad. Not because she expects to be any big help, but for her own personal well-being, she needs to see her dad and be able to also see her mom and at the least, be able to see some of the potential places that her dad may be moved too. The emotional weight of this situation on her, being as removed from the situation is much heavier than we anticipated it would be.

The challenge we face is that with Bethany’s progressing pregnancy, if she didn’t go down in the next two weeks or so and due to other non-movable plans, she wouldn’t be able to get down and see her Dad until late February of 2010 at the earliest. As we’ve prayed and sought the Lord’s guidance in this, we sense that this would be a good thing.

Another challenge we face is the cost of a ‘semi-last minute’ flight to Springfield, MO for her and Owen (Jack would stay here with me, and I would continue to minister here at New Tribes). Because of the instability in our financial support we haven’t been able to save for these kinds of travel expenses. Bethany is pricing tickets for a departure next week and we don’t yet have a final cost, but we anticipate it to be around $600-800 for the two of them. We have the ability to comfortably use some savings for roughly $300 of this, but not the entire amount.

We covet your support in this issue that we face; for confirmation of this being a wise course of action to pursue and if so, for the provision for this trip. Would you take this need before the Lord for us? Thank you for faithfully standing with us in this journey of partnering with our God!

Joel

October Update

Today I began to get Kate’s room ready for her arrival.
Up till now, it has served other purposes: storage, my craft room and most recently, Jack’s nap room. It is once again empty and will soon be painted! I took down one of two shelves today and will move it to another wall but before it’s put back up, I’ll take the other one down and paint the walls a nice tan color (the same shade as our downstairs area). Then we are going to paint a big diamond pattern in alternating pink and green at eye level around the room and make it to look like an argyle pattern with dark brown stitching. It will be simple, yet very feminine!
I can’t move the crib in till after Thanksgiving because I’m pretty sure Steve, Bekah’s fiancé, won’t fit in the crib when he comes for Thanksgiving J.
Kate’s afghan is coming along nicely (about ¾ done) and Mom and I talked last night about the quilt she’ll be making for her. Our guest room closet is quickly filling up with girlie looking things and I am realizing that they’ll be put to use sooner than I can imagine. This pregnancy is flying by with only 18 weeks to go. I have been contemplating asking the doctor if we can possibly induce a bit earlier than my due date so that she can be born before school starts up again next semester. It would sure make life easier if Joel isn’t back and in the full swing of things at work and could stay home a few days. This will be the first time we’ve had a baby born when he isn’t home with me and that my mom won’t be around to help me transition into things again. I’ve been learning lots about depending on God alone so I suppose that time will be a great opportunity to learn first-hand that lesson.
Thanks for being excited with us!

We Love Our Boys and their adopted sister...

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Just wanted to add a picture that we took the other day, just for fun! Owen likes to show his muscles and so we all decided to do it together. What a silly family!

Owie

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No Words Can Describe...

Hey everyone! Most of you already know but for some, we want to announce – we are having a girl!!! I wanted to send out Kate Lael’s first photo The picture is a side shot of her (head left – profile, left hand up at her forehead – as if she’s exhausted J, feet up pushing on my belly! And yes I was feeling it as I saw her doing it!)

We are over the moon about this. I am getting the box of girl clothes out next and am excited to get shopping!!!

Love to you all!

Bethany

It's a girl!!!

A visit from the Nephew and Noni

This post should have happened a month or more ago, but i'm getting caught up today. Mom and my brother's boys came for a week and we loved having them here! We can't wait for next summer!

I think this should be a family tradition for the Potter family anytime we are in New Jersey.

Steve and Bekah, thanks for a great dinner out!

A great Italian Man and a great Italian dinner!

A Day for Two in New York City

While we were in New Jersey visiting Bekah and Steve, Joel and I were able to take a day alone and go to New York City. I must say I was overwhelmed by the enourmity of the city and all there is to see but it was fun to do it once! Thanks to Bekah and Steve for making it happen for us!

Papa, the guys and toys!

The boys were able to see Papa while we were out East. This is Joel's mom's dad and he is quite the character. It was a fun little visit and the boys will always remember Papa and his toys!

Mom Potter, we sure wish you could have been there. It was a good day!

Have you met Pete?

We added a new member to our family just a few days before school started here for us. This sweet little guy was found in a park in our city by the brother of some of our friends from church and through a quick chain of events, has now become a member of our family. We named him Pete and he has quickly become a beloved part of our family. He is really patient with the boys and yet loves to play too. He is a big snuggler and thankfully the perfect size for your lap. We love him and are so thankful to have him with us!

A Fun Day with Family in Ann Arbor

Joel and Jon

Jon and Christine

Our favorite Little Middle Eastern Restaurant

A Labor Day BBQ

Sunday was a perfect day to grill out. Joel, the master griller/chef did a great job and dinner was amazing! The boys all enjoyed playing in the yard and Pete had a great time outside too!

Our New Family Picture

Thanks Jon and Christine for taking a great picture for us. We'll call you up in February to update with the newest family member!

On an expedition!

Where does he get it from?

As they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and Owen is living proof of that. They also say, the little boy must grow up, but you can't take the little boy out of the man. I think Joel enjoys the rescue heros as much as the boys do!

Time with Mon Oncle

Jon and Christine are here for the Labor Day weekend and once again we are thrilled to spend time with them. Jack and Owen are soaking up all the attention as you can see here. They are reading Spider Man here with "Mon Oncle" and Jack, in his usual manner, has lots of questions.
I have a whole new appreciation for my teachers growing up who would often write on my report cards, "Bethany is doing well in school but often asks too many questions." Thanks to all those teachers of my past who indulged my curiosity and never squelched it! You are my heros as I raise a little guy just like me!!!

Congratulations Bekah!

We are thrilled to announce the engagement of our sister Rebekah Ruth Potter to Stephen Philip Worth.
Steve proposed to Bekah on Thursday, August 27th while visiting our brother and sister (Jon and Christine) in Winona Lake, IN.
We were able to meet Steve just a few weeks ago while visiting Bekah in New Jersey and loved him right away. He'll make a great addition to our family and we can't wait to celebrate the big day with them next summer!
We love you both!

Potter Baby # 3

For those interested in the progress of this pregnancy, we are now into the 2nd trimester and all is well. My energy level has risen, thankfully and I anticipate that in the next week or so, the other members of my family will get to feel the activities of our newest member! This Wednesday, we'll have the 20 week ultrasound which hopefully will tell us the gender of the baby. I have pink paint on my shopping list in hopes but those hopes aren't super high as I am trying to stay grounded in reality. If you see me this week past Wed. and my feet are floating somewhere off the ground, then you can be assured it's a girl, if I'm happy and a bit shocked, well then the news was a third boy and I'm preparing mentally for being completely outnumbered in our house (a husband, 3 sons, a boy fish and a male dog to boot!). Everyone says if we have three boys, the teenage years will likely be much easier on us. I'm just not sure I'll survive the toddler years! We'll let you all know!

An urgent prayer request from Indonesia

I really try to not pass on forwards, etc, but this prayer request hit so close to home as the situation that this family in Indonesia is experiencing is so similar to our experience in Indonesia with Jack. Would you please mention this request to the Lord?

Joel

Dear Prayer Partners,

I am writing to ask you to please be praying for an 11 year old boy named Joseph, the son of co-workers. For several months now he has been battling some type of illness: bruising, fever, nausea, etc. A couple months ago he saw some Drs in Jakarta but nothing was determined. He and his mother have been back in Jakarta since this past Monday, to see the Drs again. They had hoped to be able to come home by Wednesday. However, I just talked to the mother by phone – they will be in Jakarta indefinitely until they can get some answers.

It has been narrowed down to 2 possibilities, both of which are not good.

One, he could have something from a new type of parasite that is only found in this area of the world. Treatment for this is virtually unknown at this point, since it is such a rare and new thing.

Or, he could have a form of leukemia (I’m sorry I’ve forgotten what she called it). The white blood cells are there in the blood, but they just aren’t doing their job.

Right now they are sending stool samples to the University Hospital in Jakarta. They will need at least 3 days of “negative” stools to determine that it is not the parasite. If it is the parasite, they will need to stay in Jakarta for treatment. However, if it is not the parasite, they will need to return to the States.

Please join with me in intercessory prayer for Joseph and his family (he has 5 siblings). (They are also hurting financially because of all of the medical/travel bills incurred with this.) Pray for wisdom for the Drs as they continue to try to figure this out, and wisdom for Ken and BJ as they make decisions on Joe’s behalf. My prayer is that the Great Physician will reach down and touch Joe’s body, and that His name will be glorified in this situation!

THANK YOU!!

~ Dana

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