Departure Day

This was a sad day for us. Today Hank and Michelle left on a jet plane to go home to Korea. We will miss them. They became very special to us during the 8 months they were here. After they left, Hannah kept repeating, "Bye Bye, Whooosh! As she did this, she made a motion like an airplane taking off. She seemed to understand at least the part about Hank and Michelle riding in an airplane.
There was yet another departure today. My older brother Donny was deployed to Iraq today. Imagine serving in the military starting at age 17, and when you are 49 being called to a hostile environment in the middle east. I salute the men and women who get in harm's way to defend and protect our liberty here and around the world. Having spent a little time in uniform myself, I got a tiny taste of what our servicemen do. It's quite a sacrifice! Our prayers are with Donny as he strives to make this world a better, safer place. And I want him to know how deeply grateful I am for all he and the others are doing.

A Retreat at the Farm

Thanks to Cindy and Richard, we were able to spend some quality time relaxing and enjoying nature at their farm for a few days.

This is Poco the horse. She and the donkey, Bo come to the porch at mealtimes looking for a handout.
A man named Don came and trimmed Poco's hooves. It has to be done every 6 weeks or else they will split.


Then Don was kind enough to let the kids ride Poco as he guided her a little bit.

Even Hannah got a chance to sit atop Poco.
We enjoyed boating in the spring fed creek that fills the lake with water. We had a car battery and a small trolling motor.
With a single charge of the battery, the boat could make a couple of trips the length of the lake...all the way to the dam and back twice.
The strangest thing happened. A small dog came swimming up to the boat while we were in the middle of the lake. He seemed tired and ready to get out of the water, so we took him in and gave him a ride to one of the docks we saw.
On Richard and Cindy's property, there is a pond that is filled with fish.
A prior owner worked at the bus manufacturing company not far away. That's why they have a bus body for a shed.
Hank and Michelle enjoyed target practice with the BB gun.
They even tried their skill at shooting minnows. Hank persisted until he hit one.


Suzie loved going on boat rides with us.
The bridge and the land across the bridge are part of their property.

The newly expanded dining room and the kitchen and den in the background.
Early morning feeding Poco and Bo baby carrots.
Hannah playing at the water's edge.
Baby S. relaxed well, too.
Hank and Michelle helped clean up after Duk-Sun made us a terrific supper.
Sunrise on the lake. Isn't it beautiful!

Class Photos

Michelle & Hannah Reading Together

Hannah loves books and reading, and Michelle inspires her as you can see.

Snow in Doraville!

The funny thing is that the snow came and later during the night it turned to sleet and then to rain. It's a good thing we got out and enjoyed it while it lasted.

Michelle's Friend Visits

Michelle's classmate, Park and her little sister Phoebe came to visit today. They had a good time playing and Duk-Sun taught them how to make clothes and things out of origami.

Michelle's classmate, Park and her little sister Phoebe came to visit today. They had a good time playing and making an origami store.

Climbing Stone Mountain

We were blessed with good weather for climbing Stone Mountain. The amazing thing is that Hannah (who just turned 2) insisted on climbing the thing herself. She needed help coming down but on the way up I barely helped her at all. Duk-Sun had no trouble carrying Baby S up there with her baby blanket. It is from Korean and it has straps so you can tie the baby to your back. Hank and Michelle enjoyed the climb and didn't complain. They said they are used to climbing mountains because they do it a lot with their father.

Hank Accepts Christ!

Hank made a courageous decision today to give his life to Jesus. Of all the decisions in life, this is the most important decision a person can make. We are proud of him.

Hank is an amazing young man. Often when a boy is considered a good person by all those around him, he can be a little slow to realize that he is a sinner in need of a Savior like everyone else. Not so with Hank. He is a very good student who gets along with his peers, and he's an obedient son. He honors his parents and gets along with his siblings. He helps around the house without complaining. He has made great grades and I have never once had to make him do his homework. He is a self-starter, and usually doesn't leave things half-done. I've had many students under my supervision and he comes to me for help only when he can't do it himself and is truly lost. Teachers love students like Hank!

Thanks to his parents, whom I have never met but respect a great deal, Hank understands things a lot of adults struggle with, like sowing and reaping, reward and punishment, and sacrifice for a higher cause. Hank is generous to a fault. When he came here, his life goal was to travel around the world helping poor people. How is it, that a person like that is humble enough to accept the news that he's a sinner condemned to hell without any hope in the world? How could he see his need for God? Why is it that he didn't just say like so many people that he didn't feel he needed Jesus to get to heaven because he was a good person the way he was.
I think the answer is simple. I think God gave him a humble, soft heart that is hungry for the truth.

Since he came here, Hank heard all about God being the Creator and sustainer of the universe. He learned that God knew from the beginning that man would go his own way, turn from Him and reject Him and His commands. He learned that Jesus was there with God during creation, and that God planned to send Jesus to die in the place of sinners from the beginning. He read about how God was a holy and perfect judge, and he had to punish evil in order to be a good judge and to be true to His nature, so because of that, the soul who sins is the soul who dies. God is also truth. He cannot lie, because to do so would be against His nature. So as the Bible says, all sinners will be punished with eternal separation from God in a lake of fire. But thanks be to God that He is also a loving Father, who cares enough to do the ultimate to bring about reconciliation. He sent his own Son, who lived a life and died a death no one would want to endure, and all the while this Son Jesus, never sinned even once. That's why He was the perfect sacrifice--able to die in the place of all sinners. Since He was obedient even unto death, God raised Him after 3 days and gave Him power and glory in heaven. Hank learned that all who believe, repent and choose to live their lives for Jesus, would get the free gift of salvation. In other words, he would have his sins forgiven, past, present and future and be adopted into the family of God. And death would no longer be a fearsome thing, because after death Christians will experience a resurrection when Christ returns to take us to heaven.

After church each Sunday, Hank can give an excellent summary of the lesson and the sermon.
Pastor Lee Smith and Pastor Chris Jordan have been great influences on him. He also sees the Bible taught and practiced at his school, Intown Community School. Teachers like Elizabeth Stewart have been instrumental in bringing him to Christ as well. But ultimately it has been the Holy Spirit using God's Word in Hank's willing heart. Duk-Sun and I are grateful to God for allowing us to witness His truth and love make another person receptive to Him. Please congratulate Hank and encourage him for his faith.

Thank you!

Michelle and Hannah Share a Room

Hannah always wanted to sleep in the bunk bed it seems. And she loves Michelle better than ice cream, I think. Since Laura isn't living with us anymore, Michelle wanted to move upstairs with Hannah. They are so good for each other! Michelle reads stories to Hannah and sings to her and sleeps in her bed when she's scared to sleep alone. Who could ask for a better sister? Oh, and Michelle wanted her mother to see the cardboard elephant she made at school, so she's holding it. Michelle is also a great help with the baby. She loves to hold her and she sometimes feeds her too.

At Michelle's friend Ella's Party

Michelle was invited to Ella's birthday party. They decorated cookies and made ornaments and had lots of fun. Even Hannah was allowed to tag along. Here are some highlights.

School Portraits

A Great Performance

Hank and Michelle participated in a Christmas Concert / Play at ICS Tuesday night. They memorized their songs and lines well. It was a delight to see them tell the story of Christmas so well.



An interesting version of "Jesus Loves Me"