The News

Jillian's started to say "da da da" sounds!!! I think her language is always going to be a little "slow" because she's doing double time language processing! I'm so proud of her though... she's doing great!

She has an awesome pincer grasp too! She's really good with her hands!

Still no teeth... but I've heard THEM say... that it's better...??? Maybe? Who knows!

We're doing great! We finally found a house! The Lord has taken us on a what has seemed to be a long journey to actually find this house. Last night I was listening to The Village Church's Pastor, Matt Chandler, and his weekly updates on his radiation therapy. I realized that my anxiety and unbelieve has been pretty petty in this house hunt. It's just a house, and I've been freaking out and really probably nagging a lot on Claudio. I was really rebuked by how such a little thing has taken me away. Does He not cloth the birds of the air and the flower of the fields? Why wouldn't He provide a house for us and why couldn't I just trust the Lord and His timing?? I need so much more faith. I'm way too self-sufficient. What a shame on me!!
Well... despite all my floundering, the Lord has led us to a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, livingroom, diningroom, kitchen, patio, and large balcony duplex. The owners are these really sweet older people.... and I think the God is going to really bless our years there! That's what we're praying!
I'll update with pictures later!!!

KISSES,
AMY

Pictures from this week!

Well, we didn't make it to the zoo. We decided with all the busy activities of the week and really cold weather we could put that off until next week. So, there are no zoo pictures.... YET. However, we had a SUPER pleasant surprise for Clau's birthday... SNOW! It's snowed! So I'm told that when Claudio was born it was a very cooooold rainy day, and almost every birthday of his it's super cold and rainy. Well, this year, God surprised us all with SNOW! It was really icing on the top for Clau.
Anyways... here are some pictures... I hope you enjoy!

much love,
amy

update

First of all..... HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!!!!!!!! to all..... and

secondly... check out www.ikcomics.com this is the company that Claudio is working with.... the web page is still in the works...but soon it will all be up!

have a great holiday!

jobs, wedding, 12 year old girls, and snow

okay...so it's time for something new on my blog. Sorry you've been stuck with the lingering news on Clau's job. Things are still going along with the comic company. We're still panning out some final details, but hopefully in 2-3 weeks everything will be firm. They've had some artistic exchanges of Clau's art and comic scripts.... Claudio is really excited about one specific project that Lawrence White (the writer) has sent him. So things are going well... just pray for continued wisdom in how to handle buisness matters, through long distance. Thank you!

Wedding... well Looks like we have a date!!!!! WAHOOOOOO!

OCTOBER 4TH!

(it's a thursday) It will be a beautiful spring day... we've found our reception/ceremony site, Motonautico it's a boating club house/large room... and we're working on all the other details!

This past friday we had a "girls night" with five 12 year old girls, some that attend church, some that have attended in the past but no longer do. It was girly and giggily, what else?! But it was a sweet relationship building time. I asked Kristen to share her testimony, which was a wonderful and clear explination that ONLY CHRIST can SATISFY. We've decided to keep up these Friday Fun Girl Nights, and this Friday we're going to have a girls beauty parlor.... again, WAY girly and giggily... but fun. We're also planning on a little 15 minute preface to the night on what is true beauty.... inner beauty.... seeking after the Father's heavenly smile and not man's. But yet...all the while, it's good and right to put effort in the outer, but ultimately we need a inner makeover.

Please pray for those oppertunities. Consistancy in attending something like this usually doesn't depend on "because they didn't or did like it", or because they are really interested in spiritual things.... most often it's because Parents plan over, or minimize the importance of the gatherings. SO pray that the Lord would bless those nights, and those evangelistic oppertunities. ( you can check out pictures from this past friday night at www.kristenhatfield.blogspot.com )

This morning and all the way until now, it has been snowing! well... they are more like flurry ice sleet/snow. It's COLD! But it's wonderful! I'm loving it! Maybe I'll get some pictures from today's scences.

well... there is an update for you all. I'd love to hear from you some time!

highlights

Here are a few news highlights:

- Dad is in the US.... 2 weeks left to go. He's in Arkansas right now visiting family.... But boy do we miss him here! He is irreplaceable! BUT I am so thankful that the Lord has provided for each of us this year to be able to visit the States. Dad has been able to go for these 3 weeks now. Mom and Ian will make the journey in July when little Phoebe comes. And I will be able to go in August for Christina and Ryan soon to be Szrama's wedding. I'm so thankful that the Lord has graciously provided those times. It really is amazing.

- Dad got a new digital camera... so I'll be able to send pictures and picture journal a little more on my blog! WOO HOO! Our other digital camera has been out for a LONG time and my other Canon uses film, which recently I've just been developing my pictures onto CD, which works, but costs more and takes more time.

- Clau and I decided to wait until October to get married so that Rachel, Aaron, Caleb, and Phoebe could all be there. We're still looking at dates, but hopefully it will be sometime at the beginning of October. We'll see, and I'll let y'all know. Please pray for us in that area, for a job, for patience, and understanding of the many different opinions that each person has and for the Lord to make things as plain to us as He did the choosing of eachother.

- English classes have been going well. I've added 3 new students this month for individual classes, which has been a blessing for me.

- The Sunday School teaching of the adolecent kids has been going well. I've had some great oppertunities to lay out the Gospel and its beautiful and scandelous story. I feel like the kids walk away each time with a new piece to the puzzle, but they are still trying to fit it all together. Please pray for the illuminating light of the Spirit to give them understanding and faith.

- Clau has begun going to a new art class on Monday nights. He's hoping to refine a few of his skills. On the first day of classes everyone pulled out some of their work and Clau looked around and thought... maybe this isn't the class for me. (he was a much farther advanced student) The Teacher looked at his work and said, "wow, you're good. Have you ever shown any of your work to anybody?" ha ha ha, we said... OF COURSE!

Clau has a meeting with a well known artist friend, Oscar Chichoni ( for some of you i know that name means nothing, but as reference for the kind of artist he is: he was asked to work on the Lord of the Rings movie, and is working some with Disney right now http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Chichoni), this week. He is an Argentine that is living in London, England right now and every time he comes "home" he meets with Clau and a few other guys to "talk art" together. Please pray for that oppertunity. Chichoni has been working with these guys, giving them instructive criticism for a while and I think is willing to recommend them as soon as he thinks they are ready. I think his aim is to develope them to that end.... and besides that... they just enjoy eachother's friendship together. ANYWAYS.... pray about that this week.

Clau and I have often thought, it is the Lord's providence that allows Claudio to know someone with such connections in the art world.... not everyone has those kinds of oppertunities. Only God could orechestrate such providences.

fotos provided by flickr.com and wikipedia.com