RAIN

Well the rain is here....I had no idea even to expect it. I just woke up and it was there. I was told when I woke up that it rained all night and I don't think it has stopped yet. When I left to take Rory to school this morning there was A LOT of water running down the street. And the traffic was bad(of course) andthe kids loved it....I think they like when the water hits the windows on the car...I am still not sure???? But it is still raining. My flower beds and flower pots are all overflowing and making a mess because its making the dirt overflow out too. And I can't let Sally(the dog) out becasue she just wants to try to eat the drops of rain and in the process gets all wet. So even though Southern California needs rain you can see what a problem it makes for me....we are so spoiled by our sunshine! Rainy day schedules do not exist around here....what am I to do? Crafts, TV, dress-up...well I think I will get the kids to help me clean. That sounds good. I can say its cold but cold here is a freezing 59 degrees. But I know I know that is nothing compared to many other parts of the country...but again we are spoiled...because 59 degrees would be considered warm for others right now....

Look who's getting married...

My brother in law, Matt, finally did it! He asked Lindsey, my soon to be sister in law, to marry him. Its About time Matt! We are so excited for them...we were invited to help celebrate the surprise proposal. Matt asked Lindsey the "question" at her work...while she was working. Wow that was gutsy...but it worked. She had no idea it was coming. We all knew and wow was it hard not to slip up and spill the beans on Thanksgiving but we survived...with no glitches! So she said yes and then came the party. Matt invited all their friends and family....it was a diverse crowd but it was fun. And Matt you did good...the ring is so so beautiful..WOW! So now the question is is there a date in mind?

Lindsey on the phone...spreading the news to Joanne & Bruce in Las Vegas....can you see the excitement still showering over her....

A little out of focus but you can still see how nice( & big) this ring is....yay for Lindsey!

Thankfulness!

Happy Thanksgiving! Wow this year has gone by extremley fast and now we are on way right into Christmas...wowsers. So I was thinking of all the things I am thankful for and I know the all the timers are my wondeful husband, children, dog, extended family and of course my most wonderful relationship with the LORD. But I suppose there are always extras too...maybe like

• my washer, I could not live without it.


• vacuums...with all the dog hair life would be too hard and hairy!


• the automatic sliders on my mini-van


• Costco(of course!)


• flannel PJ bottoms...I live in those

So to go back to my earlier post about the Turkey Trot....yay I did it. Who thought that would ever happen...not me! But Jill was the greatest and encouraged me to finish....3.25 miles is along way when you don't run. So thank you Jill...you are great.....! I did run parts of it actually more than I thought I could but there was walking involved. So yay for us! It was fun. Weather wise, it was COLD! I wore gloves but I think I needed a ski mask....it was very chilly. I could not believe the folks that I saw with hardly anything on....yikes they must have felt like they were in the Arctic! Well I am including the photo of my "bib" or the thing that goes on your shirt when you run....so you all know I DID IT!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy the special time with whoever you spend today with....Love you all!

Gobble, Gobble!

I did it....I entered to do the Turkey Trot in Oceanside....Jill and I are gonna try it out. I can not believe it I have never done anything like this before but I am so excited......I will let you know how it goes.

My newest creations

I am on my way to finishing all my Christmas quilts....here are the two I have done so far and then the three runners I should have done before the 8th I hope. But I wanted to share my projects with you. I hope you like them as much as I do.

Yummy Cookies

I made these yummy heart cookies for Rory's Thanksgiving feast for preschool tomorrow. I went thru all 200 cookie cutters I have and not one fall/thanksgiving one, can you believe it? So I decided on hearts because they made me feel "happy". And I think they turned out quite pretty!

My Sister...Britny

Most of you know my sister is a missionary with her husband and three kids in Russia and right now there are new laws that are going to affect them...and with that come many unknowns and many changes so I ask you to pray for them. I am also including her most recent letter to me so you can know all the details. Please keep them in prayer. Thank you.

Hello Family and friends,
We have some interesting news to share with you. Some of you are aware of some new laws that have been put into affect here in Russia, and some are not. So we would like to share the whole picture, at least what we can see, with you. On October 17th the Russian Federation passed a law that affects all foreigners. This law says that a person who holds a one-year multiple entry visa can no longer stay for a whole year. Within a 180 day period they can only be in the Russian Federation for 90 days. Everyones 90 days began on October 17th. There is a second part that also touches us personally. There was a part of the old law, that is still in affect also, that states that every 180 days a foreigner had to leave the country. Well, we were unaware of this law and have never done it! But in speaking with authorities and with the American Embassy in Moscow, we have been told that it would be wise to leave as soon as possible because we (Britny and the kids) have exceeded our 180 days in the country. We will be leaving on a train on Monday the 19th to the Ukraine and return to Russia on Wednesday the 21st, to satisfy this law.
Please pray for this trip because we are in Violation already to the 180 day law and they do not have to let us back into the country at the border if they do not want to. Please pray for this.
The second part is the new law. We have to leave by January 14th and return back to the States. The law says then we will need to stay in America for 90 days if we want to stay on our same visa. However, we are going to attempt to apply for a 90 day visa and return back to Russia in the first week of February. There is a chance that they will not grant us a new visa becuase we have been in violation here, this is our bigest question right now. Then we will pray and seek God where to go from there. Please pray with us.

When things like this come up it so easy to panic or be anxious, but we also know that the Lord is working and allowing all things to work together for good for those who love Him. Please pray for Russia as the doors are slowly beggining to close, that the believers here will rise up and continue to abide in Jesus no matter what the government may do.

Prayer needs:
1.) our re-entry to the country on Wednesday the 21st.
2.) Our 90 day visa back to Russia in February
3.) the ministry in Kolchugino and a man to turn it over to.
4.) wisdom and joy for the journey!!

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:6-7

In Him,
Jason and Britny-- Check out the Havertape family bloghttp://havertapeupdate.blogspot.com/

Thank you to our Military!

Today is Veterans Day and I just had to post a note to say thank you to all those that are serving or that have served in any of our branches of the military. I am so thankful for your service and your passion for our freedom. I appriciate your sacrafices and I am reaching out and giving each one of youa GIANT hug right now. Thank you for everything you do for all of us!

Christmas is on its way....

I am more excited this year than before for Christmas and I am not sure why. But I just can not wait till Thanksgiving because that means I can put up my tree and decor. So I have already begun my holiday season prep and am actually ahead of "schedule". I bought the girls Christmas dresses at Costco the other night before they ran out of the right sizes....because they have to match. ( I am gonna keep matching them until they fight back about it) I ordered my Christmas cards and have them all addressed and ready minus the stamps. I bought a few of the big Santa gifts and have them hidden at other houses. So I feel ahead and not stressed. I think I am trying to be done with the shopping and "stuff" of Christmas before Brian finishes working for the year...so we can enjoy the Holiday Season events together as a family and not worry about having to still get "stuff" done. I just can not wait for the tree, lights, ornaments and house lights and hot chocolate and special time with friends over the holidays. I finally took out my calendar for December and marked in things and was able to pick a date for my Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange and I am looking forward to all the yummy cookies and spending a fun night with all my lady friends. I hope everyone is looking forward to Christmas as much as I am.....

Picture Day!

Rory was so excited for picture day today. Such a girl thing. I mean boys don't look forward to getting all done up and having their hair done and being "pretty". But girls this is what it is all about. Rory wanted bows in her hair and all....that is not normally her. She normally does not want me to touch her hair. So she chose her own outfit last night, I was very impressed.

Setting up Fort!

Well Brian thought it would be a good idea and a fun time to build a "fort" or tent in the kids room one night and let them sleep there...

So they set it all up with sheets, chairs and clothespins to hold the contraption together. And then in the dark with flashlights they read books and talked together. I was the only one not officially invited to participate. This was just a daddy and daughter thing. So I peeked in a few times to snap a few pictures. Brian came down after about an hour. He said the kids wanted to go back in their beds to fall asleep. So the tent came down and the kids fell asleep in their own beds and it started all over again the morning.

Halloween

Rory was so excited when she woke up this morning. She told me it was the festival at school and church and that it was her birthday. I have no idea how she got that idea but I had to tell her no its not your birthday...and she did not understand why anyone would be having a party and dressing up if it was not her birthday...I mean come on! So she played with her school friends and had a party in her class and enjoyed some yummy treats. Then later in the day we preped for the Country Fair at church. They have this carnival type fair every year and its FREE! It is so much better than trick or treating. So Abi and Rory dressed up and we went down to our neighbors house and Jill's kids were ready too so we tried to pose the kids for pics....none of them seemed to thrilled. But after a full evening of Harvest fun the kids were pooped and slept well....enjoy some of the pics below.

Capri and rory dressed up as the same Jessie from Toy Story 2. It really confused Abi she was really thrown off. But they posed for me and let me take this pic of them.

Brian riding the Helicopeter with the girls....Miss Abi as JoJo from JoJo's circus she was so cuteAbi, Rory, Ben and Quinn in their costumes ready to go...

Pumpkin Carving

Brian takes the girls outside every year to carve pumpkins with them. And it ends the same way each year. He is left outside by himself finishing them up all alone. Even Sally was out there to try to help. Abi was totally grossed out with the "guts" of the pumpkin. She would not touch it no matter how much we tried to tell her it was okay. Rory just wanted to suprivise and give tools and instructions....so like her mother.

Brian left outside in the dark still carving.

And the finished product with two proud "helpers".....