Speaking Lyd-ish

Our little girl is getting quite verbal. I understand just about everything she says, but of course I spend all day with her. So for those of you wanting to communicate with Lydia, here's a quick dictionary of words that may not sound so clear.

"plsss": please
"na naa": thank you (you can tell by the intonation...really)
"nappp": i'm sleepy
"tup"/"dinp": cup/drink
"munlk": milk
"DeeDeed": David (Uncle or two-year-old friend)
"sarah...meow": i miss Aunt Sarah, and her cats
"Halle...ZZZack": hey mom, let's go see the Carden family
"nanma": Grandma (Brian's mom)
"nammy": Nana (Mandy's mom)
"poop": well, that's pretty clear
"Daddy...See?": is Daddy around? I'd like to see him.
"Helro": phone
"apple": any fruit
"up": pick me up OR put me down
"zoom": car
"talk": chalk
"tolor?": Can I please color with my crayons?
"Dod": God (as in "Lydia, who made you?" "Dod.")

New words coming every day. Love it!

Update from South Asia

Here we are in South Asia. After all the talk, preparation and packing...we are here. It is a real place! There is so much to describe: auto-rickshaws, motorcycles, cows and buses fill the streets (and the city with noise); poverty and trash crowd around us with the contrast of tropical flowers, colorful fruit and bright clothing; Hindu temples litter the landscape and the smell of incense permeates the air.

We have had a busy schedule of teaching and learning. Brian has taught several times. Here is he is preaching at a local church (He didn't know he was to preach until we arrived Sunday morning!). Later in the week he preached at a presbytery meeting with local pastors and theological education students. Mandy got to hang out with the wives (see picture below). They painted her hand with henna (a temporary tatoo in a sense) and put jasmine flowers in her hair. Later the women walked to the market, the local park with the kids, and made chai.

We miss our sweet Lydia, but we know this vision trip is being used by our LORD for His glory now and for what He has in the future for us.

Prayer Guide For Our Trip

13 Days of Prayer for the Stocks!

Wednesday, May 11 – travel: safety, logistics, rest, no lost luggage.

Thursday, May 12 – recovery from jet lag: so they can hit the ground running with energy and alertness to really take it all in.

Friday, May 13 – team: they’re meeting up with the current MTW team (3 families will be there to receive them). Pray that they would be an encouragement to them and for unity.

Saturday, May 14 – shopping and paint-ball: Mandy will be shopping for a Sari and exploring the market with South Asian women and American gals from the team. This can be a very bonding experience...pray for it to be joyful and Jesus-exalting. Brian will be painting with the guys and no, he doesn't paintball. Pray for accuracy and swiftness of feet.

Sunday, May 15 – worship: that Brian and Mandy would really be able to worship Jesus in this new context!

Monday, May 16 – Lydia: she will be having fun with her grandparents. Pray for her to adjust well, sleep and eat well and keep learning how to walk! Mostly, pray that Brian and Mandy would not be distraught without her.

Tuesday, May 17 – ministry: there will be many opportunities throughout the week to minister in different contexts. Pray for boldness to proclaim the gospel and open hearts, and also for Brian and Mandy’s hearts to love the people.

Wednesday, May 18 – food and water: South Asian food is very different and harsh on the tummy at times. The water is also not safe to drink. Pray for protection from all kinds of sicknesses that could make these days not so fun.

Thursday, May 19 – language: The Stocks don't speak native tongue, but most "natives" will speak English or they will have a translator. Yet, thick accents can be difficult to understand. Pray this is not an obstacle to truly connecting with the people of South Asia.

Friday, May 20 – culture: that they will have eyes to see the culture for what it is (good and bad), and that God would give discernment for them to determine whether or not we could flourish in this culture or not.

Saturday, May 21 – calling: this is their last full day here. Pray they would have a firm grasp before they depart as to whether God is calling them to South Asia long-term.

Sunday, May 22 – church: Brian will be preaching on Sunday. Mandy will also be leading a women's devotion. Pray for the congregation to be encouraged by Brian's sermon and the Stocks’ presence there.

Monday, May 23 - communication: pray for grace, that they would be able to clearly articulate what God has done in those 12 days and how He is impacting their hearts for South Asia. Also, pray they get home safely for lots of Lydia-hugs!

Pure Cuteness!

It is hard not to post these kinds of picture when we get them! Thanks Christina for the snapshot!

Moments with Mommy: Walking!

Gardening Girls

Warm weather has officially arrived in Georgia. This means the garden needs to be tilled and the seeds need to be sowed. Who is there for this task? The Stock girls.

Master Gardener of the Stock Household: She is all smiles as spring time is here. Beautiful, I'd say!

Gardener in Training, Lydia. She has lesson one down: Playing in the dirt is fun!

The gardeners are at their work. Tilling dirt and pulling weeds.

Here is some of the finished product... a row full of peas.

An extra picture of the curious Lydia discovering the dirt.

Learning Your Name

Lion-Yo-yo-Duck-Ice cream-Airplane

Strawberry-Train-Octopus-Car-Keys

A Quarter of a Million

On this day in history, my 99 Honda Civic has passed the 250000 miles or (402336 kilometers for our international readers). I have owned the car since 2005. Back then it had roughly 54000 miles. Therefore, I have put 196000 of those 250k on it. This averages out to 39400 miles per year. Truth be told, most of those miles were on the front end of my ownership as I was driving down to see and visit my girlfriend, now wife, Mandy. It was 100 miles round trip from my house to work to Mandy's and then back home. I took that trip at least three times a week. If I remember right, I put upwards to 55k that first year. Now, after two different timing belts, two sets of tires, and a whole lot of times filling up the tank, the Honda is still running good. I want to thank Honda for exhibiting their God-given able to design and make a reliable and fuel-efficient car. I also want to thank the Lord, by his most holy, wise and powerful persevering of this car keeping it running all these years. May it run for another 250k!

(Note: I did not take the picture above, but it is of a 97 Honda Civic.)

Gratitude

By: Mandy

"My tongue has had a razor edge and my eyes have rolled haughty and my neck has been stiff and graceless and I have lived the filth ugly, an idolater, a glutton, and a grace thief who hasn't had time for the thanks."

Many people in "my circles" have read or at least heard of "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. My friend, Erika, is letting me borrow her copy and I have to say (although I'm only through half of it) this book is going to be life-changing. I mean, I hope so. Basically Ann chronicles her ordinary, routine-filled life of laundry, wiping kids' noses, meal prep and clean-up, etc and has that whole "is there something more?" moment. Can it be exciting to be a child of God in "regular life?" Do we have to see 1000 places before we die? Do we have to complete a bucket list? Or can we revel in an extraordinary God in the ordinary? She comes to the conclusion that she lacks gratitude...thankfulness...eucharisteo.

So, what does she do? (And I love this) She makes lists. She starts listing things she is thankful for. An open window in springtime. The leaves swaying in the breeze. A child's laugh. Etc...to a thousand little things the first year! As she does this she realizes her heart is changing, growing more humble, more alert to God orchestrating everything, and more in love with Him.

Now, I'm no Mennonite farmer's wife with six kids (as Ann is) but I do struggle so much with pride, thanklessness, purposeless-going-through-the-day. What if I made lists? I started one today. I do not intend to blog it every week (as some of my friends do); it might just camp in my journal for now. But I do hope the Holy Spirit uses a little list to help me to see gifts all around me...and more importantly, the Giver of Good, Life, Salvation, and Joy Everlasting.

Here are my first 10:
1. Territorial bumblebees in our backyard
2. Lydia's thighs
3. The way my friend Jen laughs at her husband's jokes with love in her eyes
4. Our support goal: exceeded!
5. Tilled soil
6. "May-men!" in church
7. Erika bringing me this book
8. Sarah cooking pancakes on the griddle
9. Chris reading a book to Lydia
10. 3-year-old Halle pulling 3-year-old Ellie in a wagon

Doxology

The melodic line of the doxology within some sweet guitar. On the guitar itself, it is an Olson Guitar, one of the brands which will be in heaven. Enjoy!

Bull Riding

The Stock girls know how to have fun! There is a party all morning and night. Today, the party includes a wild, bucking bronco, mommy, and a nerves of steel bull rider, Lydia. They say that riding is a risky sport and has been called "the most dangerous eight seconds in sports":

The ride begins... Lydia is holding on tight. She wants to make it the full eight second!

The bull is throwing her best stuff at Lydia! She is staying cool!

Hold on! Only a few more seconds!

This is too much fun!

Lydia, world famous bull rider, has done it again! And the prize... a mommy kiss!