Simple things to enjoy!

Date with Dada!

Seeing the Airshow for the first time

going to my first ever women's retreat!

sliding down a cotton hill because that is how we sled with no snow here in southern Cali...

Date with Dada

field trip with class to the pumpkin patch!

Simple normalish everyday life here in this land we call home. Well- yesterday Analise asked me how many more day until we fly home! Ok so not home for her yet. We are not counting the days yet, but we are thinking about that we leave again.

here is the update that I sent out for this month.... Thanks for reading and praying and loving us! the Stauffy family!

Hello sweet friends and family-

A vivid memory that I have from my time in Africa... one day, I met a woman that had 3 children and was living in a room that was as small as my bathroom (made out of mud). I was shocked and really was wondering - how could she believe in this God - when she had so little. Through an interpreter I asked in some form this question - is it hard to trust in God, when you have just this... But her response shocked me. I have thought about it often. She said God is all she has and then she asked me in return- What about you? When you have everything and you still trust in God. Is that hard?

Such a notion to think that I have everything! I want to choose to trust in God for my everyday life. Well- many days I don't feel like I have everything and many days I don't choose to trust Him. Many days I am not thankful in the ways I should be. Many days I am focused of my wants, my selfish desires, and my need for more shoes and maybe a new shirt! So today- I am reminded that I am to be thankful for all that I have. I don't live in room that it is as small as my bathroom. Today - I have been given the gift of life and enjoy it throughly! Today I can be thankful that I have an Amazing God that I can find my source of strength to live and give!

Today I am thankful all that God has provided for our family.

As we go into this wonderful month of November- Things to be thankful-

• We are blessed with so many wonderful friends and family!
• We have been blessed by many of you supporting us as we are here in San Diego and gear up to go to Africa in this coming July!
• We have been blessed to live in our house during this time.
• We have been able to connect and share our lives with so many.
• We have healthy and really been able to have some down time.
• We have every need met and we really are not in want. ( it is a matter of perspective that I have to keep)
• We are alive and able to enjoy our days- thoroughly!

Thanks for loving and being apart of our journey! Love- Amy Louise for the Stauffacher family

quietly living in the routine...

Is that an expression? Well- that is what we are doing - routine! I have dreamt of routine for along time and this month it came. Quiet normal routine. Breakfast, School, Lunch, Homework, Dinner and then Bed. Simple! This week- Every night we had someone over for dinner or lunch- it is still is full of people but routineish! I love it- But this week I started thinking as I was standing in the wal-mart line... 8 months until we leave back to Africa. I better buy that extra chap stick while I am thinking about it. Crazy thought I know. I will remember later. Then again I might not, might as well get it while the thought in my brain is still active. Time is Flying for me. Really it's almost November, then it Christmas and then it's January and its starting to be only 6 months and the time flies. Ok I know that I might be extreme, But it flies by! I can't believe it's already the weekend. Wasn't it just Monday? So as I subconsciously countdown, thank you for loving us and praying for us. I haven't post as much as I wanted to lately- I find that it all seems so normal to share. But I will do more normalish things soon.

Lots of love from the normalish routineish family here in San Diego!

P.S. those cute girls above are dressed up in their Harvest Party wear and that pumpkin is Bob's carving project. He is excited.

Moments

That is what is going on here. Living in the moments. Whether it is with people or ourselves we are just having moments.

These last few months have been moments of -

• New school for the girls
• New friends for all of us
• Processing the pace of the land that we call our "home cuture"
• Noticing that we drive alot in our cars
• Seeing that we have to be intentional to meet with people, they don't just show up at your door
• Explaining sports, bathrooms, why grocery stores have so much food and where it all goes if someone doesn't buy it
• realizing that there is really a gift of dishwashers
• reconnecting with friends
• loving the smell and sound of the ocean
• watching the girls process life in every angle - the simple and complex
• seeing God provide in all that we need through friends and family supporting us
• realizing how much we love Africa in light of America
• realizing how much we love America in the light of Africa
• Loving the mexican food available, target and dr pepper ( i know i say this often but it is true!)
• Loving living in our dream house
• loving meeting old friends and meeting new friends
• Watching the girls settle into routine and thrive
• watching Bob teach the girls baseball - it is very cute!

Living in the simple moments! Love them!

Lots of love- Amy Louise

Here is my last email update for those who didn't get that....

As we are settling into routine here in good old America, I am finding that life is full of choices. I already knew this but when we have not been exposed to so many choices for a long period of time it really impacts you. In Africa- when I wanted to get yogurt, there was only 2 brands and many times there was none. Yes- NONE! Strangely :) - I found myself a little bit crabby about that. But as I go to the grocery store here- I am quickly overwhelmed by choices I have of just the one brand that 27 different types. Thanks yoplait! Not to mention that there are 15 more brands to choose from. Strange to go from one or none to so many. Simple analogy but that is life. Choices- What we invest our time in, who we spend our time with, how we give out, and all that is in between that (ie food, clothes, the daily stuff of life). Daily we have to choose if we are living for ourselves or are we living for Christ. We are constantly choosing. When you living in this land of plenty you realize how big and many your choices are and really how they can impact you life even if they seem small. It is the daily choices that really is what God is interested in. We think that only the big choices matter but the little ones matter also. The little choices of our lives are what impacts the bigger picture of our lives.

This picture captures just the choices of cheese! In Africa I think I three choices of cheese.... Really!

We have a full month this October- So please pray as we are making right choices -

Bob- He will be helping out with the High School Group at our church, be hosting a small group, and as he is painting

Amy- I have about 4 different types of sharing times this month, Please pray as I share that it would be not me but Christ radiating through. I am just a broken person who needs to choose Jesus everyday.

Nya and Analise- That they would continue to do well in school and as they both are wishing they were home in Africa that they would continue to choose to enjoy their time here in America.

We would love to connect with many of you. As the holidays are fast approaching, please if you are interested in coming over for dinner we would love to have you. Please email me and we will schedule a date. We are also going to have an open house early November to connect with more of you. Thank you for loving and financially supporting us as we here in America making choices.