Happy Memorial Day

Eric writes:
Take time today to thank the Lord Almighty for our freedom, to ponder the high cost for those freedoms, to be thankful for the ones that paid that cost. Let us honor HIM and them by wisely utilizing the gifts (what we sometimes misconstrue as rights or entitlements) that come with that freedom. God blesses America, so let America bless God!

Another song- can you guess?

Bozje Glas 2
Originally uploaded by Eric and Jill

Here's another song. It is being sung in Macedonian but you should recognize the tune. Leave a comment if you know what it is.

Guess the song!

Bozje Glas
Originally uploaded by Eric and Jill

We miss our church in Macedonia. Here are a couple of video clips I took the last Sunday we were there. Just for fun-- listen to this song and see if you can guess what it is. Put your guess in the comment section. It is one that most of us grew up singing in church.

Best Ever Recipe Collection - a new blog

Just this week I have started a recipe blog. Please visit http://besteverrecipecollection.blogspot.com
New recipes will be added weekly. I'm hoping to add a wide variety of recipes to this blog, including family recipes, recipes from friends, and extremely easy recipes that can be cooked by children (with adult supervision of course). I hope you all will enjoy visiting this new blog as much as I have enjoyed working on it! Have a great weekend!

Meren

Here is “Meren” (form of "Mary"), the beautiful new baby daughter of our friends Severjon and Mamude. They are good friends of ours in Macedonia. I've been praying for Mamude and the baby because there were some health issues.

Meren weighed between 6 ½ - 7 pounds at birth. She has a head full of dark hair. They came home from the hospital today. Praise God for this little baby!

Give it to God & let Him keep it!

One minute I give my worries over to God and then shortly afterwards I catch myself worrying again. I give it over to Him and then I take it back...give it...take it. Do I feel that I need to worry to remind God that I am in need? Worry does not accomplish anything.

I will choose this day to walk with the Lord and not be tempted by the devil's schemes!

In these days I've been worrying about our finances and Satan has been loving every minute of it. As most of you know, Eric is looking for employment. It's times like this that I can start to understand the hardships that the Roma people constantly go through.

1 Peter 5:7-9 (New International Version)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Our small financial suffering is so insignificant compared to others around the world. I have food. I have shelter. I have good health. I am one amazingly blessed woman!

I am choosing to praise God this day and walk with Him with a heart of gratitude. Praise the One who came to die for our sins and give us life eternal!

Where are the Boyds?

We are in Villa Rica, GA! Here is a picture of the missions house. We are staying here until Eric finds a job and we are able to get our own place. We are thoroughly enjoying the house and the big back yard.


We've been enjoying the back porch and grill.


And here's the backyard and the lake.



The church members put lots of goodies in the house for us and the children, like the exersaucer (picture above) and the cars rug (picture below). We are extremely blessed!



Sawyer is our champion Candy Land player!

Depression...What does the Bible say?

Depression...Do only the weak have it?...What causes it?...Did people living back in Bible times experience it?...How can those suffering from depression get better?

I know from personal experience that depression is a horrible thing to experience. Back in 2005, shortly after having our son, I experienced Postpartum Depression. It was suppose to be one of the happiest times of my life, but instead, I was filled with anxiety, sadness, loss of appetite, and insomnia. I felt like I was walking around in a fog. Through medication and Biblical counseling, I was able to regain my sound mind and joy in living.

Eric and I started listening to some of Pastor David Reid's sermons online while we were living in Macedonia. They have always been good teaching. A recent sermon series of Pastor Dave's has been about depression. He says that at least 25% of Americans suffer from depression. Women usually display their depression as sadness, but men usually display their depression as anger. Pastor Dave humbly shared his story of suffering with depression last year. He goes into details about how he struggled. In this series, he went through some Old Testament scripture passages about Elijah and Moses to teach how the Bible approaches depression and the treatment of it. I appreciate so much that Pastor Dave is willing to admit his bout with depression when often people just view the weak as suffering with depression. Pastor Dave is a great example that even the most spiritually mature believers can fall into depression. Practical advice is given in this sermon series that everyone should know! Even if you have never struggled with depression personally, I encourage you to listen and learn so that you can help others.

To listen online, go to http://www.peachtreechurch.com/
Click on "Resources" and then "Listen".
There are 5 sermons in the series and they are entitled:
1. Take Heart
2. Rumination Can Ruin You
3. Depression Diagnosis and Treatment
4. Anatomy of a Death Spiral
5. The Neglected Healing of Counseling

Olivia's Dedication on Mother's Day

Question 3

In my reflection of my time in Macedonia, I've been answering some questions. Here's question #3. To read question 1 & 2, look under my April posts.

What did I discover about the Roma people during my time in Macedonia?

I discovered that the Roma people are very, very resourceful people. Since they live in great poverty, it is in their instinct to be imaginative with how they use scraps that they find. Eric told me that one of his Roma friends used an old x-ray paper to replace the top on a broken drum head. This is only one example of their resourcefulness!

The Roma are good cooks. They make great soups, bean dishes, pita (a special bread pastry), salads, rice dishes, and meats.

Roma people have an amazing sense of hospitality. They will use their last amount of money to serve guests. They are sad if someone only wants to visit for a short time. The longer the visit, the better.

Roma people are actually really clean people. Despite the filth that we all see on the outside of the mahalas, the inside of their homes are spotless! When they clean their homes, they clean everything. They clear the furniture out of a room and clean thoroughly. They will often paint the inside of the home at least once a year. Their homes are very small, so they want them to be well kept and presentable at all times.

I learned that the prejudice against Roma people by local nationals is deep and long-standing. They are often denied jobs because of their ethnicity. Some of them are very hard workers and want to work and provide for their families. Eric hired some Roma to do a painting job, and they did a wonderful job! They worked hard and took pride in the painting job. Other Roma look for ways to provide for their family; by digging through dumpsters and taking plastic and scrap metals to be recycled. I admire these Roma that work hard.

Most of all, I learned that Roma people are mostly like you and me. Our worldviews may differ but we were all made by God for the purpose of glorifying Him. I was honored to learn more about the Roma people and make friendships with them during our time in Macedonia. Eric and I hope to visit Macedonia again one day, and visit with our dear Roma friends there.

Reunited with Family

After two years, we were happily reunited with family!


Cousin Tyler & Olivia


Uncle Robert & Olivia


Aunt Lori & Olivia


Our first nice sit-down restaurant meal back in America...MEXICAN!!!! YUM:)


Cousin Alli & Olivia


Grams & Olivia


Nana Carolyn & Olivia


The four of us with Nana Carolyn


4 Generations


MaMa Thomason & Olivia


Pop & Olivia




Pop & Sawyer on the tractor


Aunt Susan & Olivia at the Ila Restaurant


Uncle Dan & Olivia


Sawyer & Buddy


Papa & Olivia


Nana & Sawyer reading Curious George

only a broken stroller and a ripped shirt

We made it across the "big pond"! Our flights were from Skopje, Macedonia to Vienna, Austria, and then to Washington, D.C., and lastly to Atlanta, Georgia. Everything went very smoothly except a broken stroller and a ripped shirt. Considering the many miles we traveled, we have no complaints! Our first meal in America was at 'Five Guys' in the Dulles Airport in D.C. It was delicious! When we finally arrived in Atlanta we were warmly greeted by Eric's family and some of the members of Peachtree Community Church.

back in America

We are back in America now! We are living temporarily in Villa Rica, Georgia until Eric finds a job. We still have vonage if anyone wants to call us. We've been visiting with family and enjoying being back. I'll post pictures soon. I do intend on keeping the blog...just gotta think of a different title:)