Sweet Selah Faith

Many have asked how did we decide on the name Selah. The word Selah is found in the book of Psalms and Habakkuk in the Bible.  Most scholars understand the word to mean to "pause and reflect,"and/or "praise and lift up." It is also understood to be serve as a pause or break in music. This may have been when the musicians stopped to breathe, sing acapella, stopped to praise God or maybe even took a moment to lift their hands in praise.

Selah's pregnancy created lots of opportunity to pause, reflect, trust and lift our hands in praise to God.  At the beginning of my pregnancy, the doctors told us that maybe she was an ectopic pregnancy and that maybe there was one baby in my uterus and one outside.  I had multiple ultrasounds to solidify that there was in fact one baby and she was in my uterus. As you can imagine, we were so relieved to hear that she was growing healthy and gave us an opportunity to "praise and lift up" worship to God.

Of course then there was the whole medical evacuation where I was told I had placenta previa. It is still a mystery as to what happened. Did God miraculously heal me? Was I misdiagnosed? Yet again, another opportunity to "pause and reflect" on God's goodness and sovereignty, and praise Him for bringing us all to the States for the rest of my prenatal care and delivery.

When we found out we were expecting sweet Selah, Bjorn and I both excited and nervous. We were thrilled to think that God would entrust us with this precious gift, but also honestly nervous with having faced so many previous health challenges in our family.  We were both encouraged when her pregnancy made us stop to "pause and reflect" on all that God had done and accomplished in our family.  We were encouraged to think about how He alone has sustained us through many trials. Since coming to the mission field and becoming parents, we have quite a pile of Ebenezer stones, where we are reminded of how God has helped us and proved Himself faithful and worthy of our trust.  We know that being a follower of Jesus does not excuse us from pain, disappointment, sickness, or trials...BUT, we can be confident that we WILL NOT have to face the struggles alone.

So...we can be confident that as we trek this new path of being parents to sweet Selah, God will walk with us and when the hard times come...which we know they will...we can trust Him and rest in His sovereignty.

Becoming a parent has increased our "Faith" as we continue to walk with Him and trust him for our future.  We have witnessed many miracles in the lives of our children that have increased our faith.

Thank you Heavenly Father for blessing us with our sweet Selah Faith.  May she grow up to know you and put her trust in you. As she grows, may she hunger to know your Word and learn to rest in your great love and grace.

And that my friends, is the story behind how we picked our baby girls name, Selah Faith...

Wrapping up the School Year

Family Field Day is always a big day for our ICSB families. Here are a few pictures from the event.

Bjorn considers it a real honor to lead the sports program at ICSB.  Every year he is amazed at how God uses sports ministry to build relationships with students, and the opportunity that it brings to build relationships with these young men and speak truth into their lives. Here is a snapshot from the end of school year sport awards night.

Here are a few snapshots from The Moody Church Basketball camp that took place just a couple of weeks ago. With Trisha and the kids in the states, it allowed Bjorn to host the team of men to stay in our home in Hungary.The mornings started off with a high school camp from 9-12am.  Middle school camp ran from 1-4pm.  Elementary camp ran from 4:30-6pm. Lastly, there was a High School Advanced camp some evenings from 7-8:30pm.

Our family lately...

 Lianna all ready for spirit day the week of the ICSB basketball tourney

                                   Our little Bulldogs. :-)

 On our walk home from picking up Alyssa...Josiah says, "Mommy, take our picture."

 Alyssa's drawing hanging at school.  Got to love those Hungarian flags! :)

 A church from Alabama came for a short term missions project. They ended up doing a couple day preschool for our staffs' kiddos. Alyssa and Josiah LOVED it! 

 Sisters walking in the park

 Our sport court at school got a new net

 Saturday morning painting extravaganza

 To celebrate the 1848 Hungarian Revolution, Alyssa came home with a Hungarian ribbon sewn onto her shirt!! Too funny!

 More fun at the park!

Josiah has many food allergies, but Nutella is not one of them. That makes his mouth happy!

Videos from the Alyssa's Hungarian School Festival

The Moody Church Vision Trip

 Coach Nick led the team with the basketball camp

 It was so fun to have Kristen here as part of the team. I really enjoyed getting to catch up with her.  One day she even came over and helped vacuum at my house?!!? :D

 Dave was also a great addition to the team.  Dave even fixed our grill...or should I say taught us how to use it. ;)

 On Saturday after basketball camp, the team came to our house for dinner. Mr. Steve, made a delicious meal for all of us that we greatly enjoyed. It was fun to get to hang out with him for the day shopping and preparing the big meal.  The young man sitting next to Bjorn came to know Christ as result of The Moody Church sending teams to Poland. He came with his wife and daughter. It was a real delight to get to meet them. They made the trip all the way from Poland to be with Steve, and we all were blessed by their company and new friendship.

 There was time for a friendly game of tether ball after the prayer walk at ICSB.

 The 'Silver Fox' in action playing tether ball.

Meeting with the Elders from Danube International Church

 The Covenant class blessed us with a new ping pong table to have "friendly" matches with students when they come over. Thank you Covenant Class! They blew us out of the water with all their gifts and generousity!! THANK YOU!!! Here are a few of the guys putting the table together.

 While some were outside putting the table together, the rest were napping in the living room exhausted from the weeks activities.

 Meeting with some of the ICSB Board members.

 Checking out the ICSB soccer team and nearby facility.

 Josiah "fixing" the kitchen with his new tool belt.

 Lianna and Alyssa enjoying wearing their new Frozen princess dresses while watching the movie.

See you at the Pole at ICSB

Enjoying Mr. Steve's lovely feast for the team at our home

Alyssa and Josiah enjoying their new little friend from Poland.

Thank you Jesus for blessing us and encouraging us by using our Moody Church Family here in Hungary. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Some Summer Fun

Shopping at Target

Playing with Cousins

Going to Jake Mullet's wedding

Watching fireworks on the 4th of July

Playing with a new toy from Uncle Tino and Aunt Jenny

Visiting Grandpa Olsen at Olsen Brother's Mayflower

Going to the Arlington Heights 4th of July Parade

Seeing friends from Moody Church in North Carolina

Road trips

Lianna's first day of school

A little of this and a little of that...

 Hosting a brunch over winter break with some previous beloved ICSB students

     

 Benji also came to visit us and share a meal and afternoon with us. He also graduated from ICSB and is still living in Hungary and works for his family business. Our kids loved getting to play with him outside.

 Please pray with us to identify all of Josiah's severe food allergies.

This little one loves to play doctor. With so many emergency calls this past winter, when the doorbell would ring the kids would yell, "the doctor is here." ; /