12.31.2008

Happy New Year!!!


Our final word for 2008...of course, I want to leave you, my few faithful readers with great inspiration, wisdom and encouragement that would eloquantly summarize 2008 and give you confidence and joy as you embark on 2009, but my mind is empty...completely and utterly empty! Sooo, I leave you with a word from our precious Heavenly Father...who always has something to say..."Oh what a wonderful God we have! How great are His riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and his methods! For who can know what the Lord is thinking?...For everything comes from Him; everything exsists by His power and is intended for His glory. To Him be the glory evermore. Amen." Romans 11:33-36

We love you and wish you Christ's richest blessings this year and always!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The Last Lunch





We have had a blast in Clovis...literally doing nothing!!! I slept, ate, napped and repeated the process about a million times!!! Thanks Granny and Grampy for a fabulous Christmas and a great week!!! We love you and miss you already!!!

12.30.2008

The Scotts...


One of my favorite Clovis traditions is visiting with the Scotts. We have camped out, hung out and now have even eaten out...the Scotts and Leals is a perfect combo...throw in a trip to Burger King so the kids can run wild, while we continue our fellowship makes for a perfect evening!!! We love you guys!!!

12.28.2008

Fun With Christin


We just returned from an all you could eat fest at the Landry's. I am still recovering from my protein induced coma!!! The kids had a blast hanging out with Christin and we enjoyed a great time of relaxation and fellowship! Thanks guys for a great time!!!

12.26.2008

After Christmas Fun...

Favorite Christmas Memories

My favorite Sullivan family Christmas memories.

Favorite Christmas Memories

My favorite Christmas memories with the Phillips clan.

12.25.2008

The Progression of Christmas

Anxiously Waiting...The Calm Before the Storm!

Sorting...Gid reading the tags and passing out the presents was a special highlight for mommy!

Giving and Receiving

The Fun Begins

Evaluating the Loot

The Aftermath...Only A Huge Mess Remains

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!

Christmas Day


Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

For a closer look at our Christmas Day memories, check-out our on-line photo album.

12.24.2008

Christmas Greetings...

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!
I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!
Luke 2:30-32


This year can be best summarized with one word…CHANGE! Most of you have been well informed on this year’s changes, but as a Christmas tradition, we must document it! We have changed continents, zip codes, employment, and schools. Despite all these big changes, WE have changed most of all. We have grown in our relationship with God, in our relationship with one another and as a family.

On April 3rd, we did not know, when we turned off the lights and locked the doors to our home in Yaroslavl, Russia, that it would be our last time. Our plans were to return to Russia in July, with plunder from the States. We did not know we would not be returning. We did not say good-byes to our dear friends, team mates or neighbors; we did not take one last look around the city that had become so familiar and that we had come to call home; we did not pack as if we would not be returning…we simply did not know.

This summer, between visiting family, traveling and speaking engagements, we learned that Gideon has some learning disabilities. In September, after extensive evaluations, we discovered that the delays were significant and it was required that we not return to Russia. The next day, we enrolled Gideon in public school in the States.

Even though this came as a complete surprise, the details quickly fell into place. We are currently living in a Mission Home provided by Village Baptist Church in Oklahoma City and Gideon is in Kindergarten at Ridgeview Elementary School. We have taken a Leave of Absence from the International Mission Board and are still seeking the Lord’s will regarding employment and ministry in the states. Through it all, God has been completely faithful and we are enjoying the incredible journey!

We have realized that God’s agenda and our agenda are not always the same. Although this has been one of the most difficult times of our lives, we trust that God’s plan is perfect! Please pray that we would have wisdom and discernment to obey God wherever He leads.

Since September, we have been seeking God for wisdom and direction…to show us what He wants us to do. The answer consistently has been WAIT. We feel like we have a few puzzle pieces to our future, but are trying to figure out how they go together. Please pray the Lord would give us wisdom and direction us as we continue to seek the His will regarding our future.

Pray that Gideon and ME continue to love and excel in school, relationships and in their knowledge of the Lord. Pray that they would become who God wants them to be. Pray that we would be full of joy and peace as we wait upon the Lord.

We love and appreciate you!
Keith, Kristie, Gideon and Mary Elizabeth Sullivan

“But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings like eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Christmas Eve

This was the first Christmas in years we have all been together...and a treasured memory for years!!!

Gid and ME with their cousin, Parks

Grandpa and Gid

The Phillips Gang

My darling niece, Kandise

My sister, Leslyn

The whole gang!

12.23.2008

Christmas Past: 2007


Dinner With the Hayes


Tonight, we had dinner with our adopted family, the Hayes. Rachel has been ME's teacher at Mother's Day Out and a dear friend to our family and her dad, Ron, is our Sunday School teacher. It was so fun to be in their home, meet Rachel's siblings, have a fabulous dinner and sweet fellowship...not to mention getting to play the Wii!!!

The kids made Christmas cookies...ME marked hers with her finger print!

Thanks guys for a wonderful night!!! We love you!!!

Christmas Vacation

Our home has been over taken by munchkins in need of school, structure and wisdom!!! Their mission for the next two weeks: Drive their parents crazy and leave a mess where ever they go!!!


Mission already accomplished...is it to early to send them back to school...possibly one of the reform nature!!!

12.22.2008

Christmas Past: 2006


A Much Needed Reminder...

This paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13 by Sharon Jaynes was a much needed reminder for me, especially during the holiday business...

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family - I’m just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family - I’m just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family - It profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way.
Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

Reunion...


Our friends, the Monters, wanted to introduce us to their friends, the Smiths, missionaries to Spain. We did not know that we have known the Smiths since Seminary days and even worked together, while we lived in Fort Worth! It was great to get reacquainted after almost 10 years!!!

It took our kids all of 30 seconds to become great friends!!! Thanks guys for a incredible evening!!!

12.21.2008

Christmas Past: 2005


A Columbian Christmas Celebration!


Our sweet friends, Angie and Rodregio, invited us to a traditional Columbian Christmas celebration. We had a blast listening to the Christmas story, singing carrols and eating lots of trying lots of traditional Columbian dishes! We are so thankful for such fun friends to share Christmas with.

12.20.2008

Christmas Past: 2004

Go Green Waves!!!



Today was the second game for the Green Waves. Between time outs to tie shoes, wipe noses and break-up a few dog piles, the kids seemed to be more alert...or at least knew which goal to run to!!! The Buckeyes, our weekly opponents, were much better competition this week, but the Green Waves still were victorious...not that anyone was keeping score!!!

Liberty is a Buckeye, but also one of our dearest friends!!!