Back in December we took our (semi) secretive trip home to the States.  This was the first time in a year and a half that we had been home…. …and it was amazing!  We got to spend Christmas with family, New Year’s with friends and snow up to our knees throughout most of our trip!

It really was a great trip.  Once “home” in the US we realized just how much we probably needed a break from the daily grind of Thailand.  For the first time in a long time we were actually able to completely relax, let loose and just “be” around family and friends…  And honestly, it’s helped us get a new passion for the work we are doing here in Thailand.

Christmas with Sara's family

My Mom's side of the Family

You can see more photos of our trip home via Sara‘s Facebook album here:  http://www.facebook.com/saraj.sarver#!/album.php?id=153800143&aid=2024629

So, what else is new?  Oh yeah, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!!!

We found out early in December but have waited to tell everyone until just recently.  Since coming back to Thailand we’ve chosen a hospital, met the doctors there and have had one of our first ultrasounds…  To say that we are excited/nervous would be an understatement.  We are completely filled with both of those combating feelings!

So, yeah, that’s what we’ve been up to!  Now that we are back and getting settled in, stick around for many more updates on life, ministry and that little Sarver baby that is soon to come!

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There are a few things lately that really miss from home.  The first two months here have gone by amazingly fast and we are loving most of it.

I took some time to edit a few photos that I had taken back in June when we were in Colorado.  As many of you know, photography is a great stress reliever for me.  Sadly, we were/ are so busy I hadn’t had a chance to even pull the photos off of the camera until now!

I like these images on top of that mountain in Colorado.  I like them because I remember how beautiful it was.  I like them because I remember how stinkin’ cold it was at the very top.  I like them because they remind me of a shared experience I had with my wife (I mean, come on, coming from Indiana Sara and I haven’t spent a whole lot of time on mountain tops!).  I like them because I remember how little I felt standing in those trees as the bold, cold wind surrounded us.

I like these images for many reasons.  I also miss home from time-to-time when I see photos from times past and even those happening now.  I have sisters who are at their Homecoming football games of their Senior year in High School.  I have a brother about to his first child with his new wife who also just bought their first house.  I have a father who has season tickets to Purdue football and faithfully goes and cheers them on despite having now lost 5 games in a row!  (Boiler Up!)

Just as we have a lot going on day in and day out here in Thailand, we miss the things we are missing from home.  I miss that cold breeze form the mountain top…  I miss thinking creatively about our Christmas services at Olive Branch…  I miss Fall with family and friends…  And most days I miss knowing what to expect for that day…

God has done some amazing things in our lives to get us to this point!  I mean, come on, we’re 6,000 miles from home and working on learning a language that doesn’t have a western script alphabet!  That’s crazy!

There are these days though where hot apple cider, casseroles, being chilled to the bone, family, friends, and knowing what to expect for tomorrow sounds like the best vacation in the world!

I guess we really do underestimate what we have until it is gone…

So here we are, out here in Illinois with Sara’s family for her birthday and probably our one, last Hoorah with them before movig to Thailand..

It has been a great time and tonight we went and spent some time with her brother and sister-in-law and their two kids. Pizza, bike riding, Bolt and home movies made up the evening.

Tomorrow the rest of the family shows up for a cookout and we’re praying for good weather. Goodbyes are never easy and tomorrow night will undoubtedly be a tough several goodbyes for us and our family out here…

Oh, and today is Sara‘s birthday… Be sure to send her birthday love… She could use it about now!!!