Thanksgiving week + end

Happy belated Thanksgiving!

We spent the holiday in Jerome with my family and then headed back home on Saturday.  On the way we stopped in American Falls to see the Schutte's while they were visiting Jon's parents.  Also, that got us home in time to go to church again.  We would like to create as much continuity in our lives as possible so the kids feel like this is 'home'.  Whatever that is.  It was really strange to drive east instead of west to go home, but it was a lot shorter drive!
And as an aside, Jordyn doesn't like to travel.  As soon as we got home she passed out and took a 3-hr nap then slept pretty well through the night.

Church: Sunday #4
We have decided that CCC (that's what I'll call it here) is our home for now.  We really like the pastor and his messages.  He is very 'real' and very ADD.  I like it.  They had a combined service instead of two morning services and it was jam packed.  This church is ready to grow and they need to start making some serious changes to make it happen.  They are too big to have one service without adding accommodations in other rooms or doing something different.  However, we got a good glimpse into why some changes might not have been happening as quickly as needed.  They had a short business meeting after the service and we stayed to see what was happening.  Apparently the pastor's wife had been in rehab for several months and just returned home.  And, the worship pastor had run off with his partner just a few months ago.  So, they are dealing with some serious peripheral issues.

I told Trent afterwards that you can tell the Spirit is using that pastor because he is under serious attack from Satan.  This guy is clearly spreading the message of Christ and is suffering the consequences from the world.  So, we will make a more pointed effort to be in prayer for him and his family and this church.

More Mormon news
We continue to make interesting discoveries about our Mormon neighbors (nearly everyone here).  Needing suggestions in these areas: 1) what book could we give them in return upon receiving a Book of Mormon from them?  2) questions to see if they are seeking to bring up in casual conversation (Krista H. is the master of this; and of course, Dave D)

Foster Care
We are seeking to get our foster care license here.  I have no idea what this will look like--the age or when we will begin.  However, the process is much easier than what I had anticipated.  There is no limit on how long you have to live here to get your license.  In Washington state you have to live there a year before you can apply to be a foster family.  Then, their training program is the same as Washington's so we have already completed it.  Today while cleaning out the office space I found our completion certificate for Pride Pre-Service.  Gulp.  This is happening too quickly . . . . I don't know if the Lord is opening doors quickly for us or we are being tested to see how much wisdom we have.  I'm sure it will take a while to get through the home study, etc so we'll see.

What prompted this was I was on the website where they have WA, ID, OR's waiting children--kids who are able to be adopted immediately.  I clicked on the kid who was the oldest (thinking, this one will time out first so they need a home first!) and read his profile.  Usually they are very clear on the child's needs but this kid seemed like he didn't have huge issues but had been in foster care for a few years.  Then at the bottom it said they would prefer a home in Idaho Falls because this child's grandma lives in IF and he would like to have contact with her.  Another Gulp.  It cut through my heart and I didn't think it was a coincidence.  Whether or not we are to adopt this very child, I don't know but it hit me that we were to do something about kids like this.  It's not glamorous or easy but we have to at least try . . . . .

Enough from the Iona home front.