Worst Blogger on Earth

I have decided that i am literally the worst blogger that ever lived. My last post was in May...ugh sigh. I could resolve that i should just quick this blogging but i always think someday i will get better at this. Maybe this will be the start of keeping better updates for all of you. So, here i am again, trying and we will just see how long it lasts. :)

So what is the latest news with the Armstrongs? I will just go ahead and update each of us.

Nick: Last month an earthquake shook the island of Sumatra again but further south than Aceh, in and near the city of Padang. Nick went there just 2 or 3 days after the earthquake hit to

access and see what CRWRC could do to help. There is now a team set up there and they are working with a couple of different local organizations to do a disaster response which

involves distributing relief supplies such as rice, blankets, tarps, generators, etc., WASH projects (Water, Sanitation and Health) and the reconstruction of Core Houses. There were areas that were hit by the earthquake but also the earthquake also caused landslides that totally wiped out several villages. One story that Nick told that was impressed upon my heart was the story of a 3 year old girl whose family and her were swept down in the landslide. When she stopped, she dug herself out of the dirt and filth and found herself totally alone at night. She then crawled her way up out of the landslide to a ridge and walked several kilometers, all night long, until someone from another village found her. Her family was lost in the landslide and she is now living with some relatives from another village but it still boggles my mind how this little 3 year old had the guts and will to keep going all night long. Another story Nick told was of a school that had two sessions running...one in the morning and one in the afternoon because there was not enough space for all the students they had to serve. The

earthquake hit in the early evening when the second session was going and one boy was able

to get out of the building, but then remembered his sister was still inside. He ran back in

trying to find her but could not so he ran out just seconds before the whole building collapsed.

Nick met the mother as she was waiting for rescue workers to find the body of her daughter

in the collapsed building. Her story was heart wrenching...thankful to have her son with her

but mourning the death of her daughter. These are just a few of the stories that Nick has shared...i honestly don't know how he is able to go into these situations and listen to heartbreaking story after story. Please continue to pray for the work there: for Marvin and Lorraine who are working as the Relief Managers for CRWRC in Padang for the next month, for the South Sumatran Reformed Church that is working alongside CRWRC-there has been recent resistance by an organization of the majority religion accusing Christians of only wanting to proselytize in these villages, pray for God's peace and wisdom to continue to guide and direct all that CRWRC does in these villages!!

Laura: What's new with me is really that there is nothing all that new and exciting.

I basically have the task of keeping things running at home, serving at the International School and just trying (not always successfully) to make sure we are all keeping up with what is before us. I am in my 13th year of working at Mountainview ICS, my 9th year as principal here. The elementary teaching staff is wonderful and there just seems to be a real calm to how this school year is going. I have much to be thankful for-a great, very sincere staff, wonderful students who are fun to interact with and just many day to day blessings. :) My favorite job, of course, is being mom to Annaliese and Luke. Somedays i definitely realize that being a mother of teenagers is not the easiest thing to do...there are times where i miss the toddler or young elementary ages of getting the crafts out, having friends over or just watching a movie together. Our time as a family is much different now...kids are on the go, have many activities and would really rather just be with their friends than hanging out with their mom and dad. But, i do love the talks we have-both the serious and the absurd, funny ones, and getting to know our kids for the wonderful people they have become. We are truly blessed with two great children. :) Thank you Lord! Here are some pictures from our Book Character Day!

Annaliese: Annaliese is in her Senior Year. She is a beautiful young lady, both inside and

outside. She has kept very busy this Senior

with a full load of classes, along with being Editor of the school paper. She and her class are also busy doing fund raisers for their Senior Trip which will happen in March. She is also applying for University (1 in Oregon, 2 in Washington, 1 in Arizona and Boise State) and just has to finish essays on a couple of her applications. Now we just have to pray through this and trust the Lord with where she ends up. :) Some of her favorite things that she loves to do is take photos, play guitar and watch tv series all in one day.

Lukas: Luke is in his Sophomore year of high school. He spends most of his time playing

sports and hanging out with friends. He does school because he knows he has to but i don't think it is really his favorite thing to do in the world. :) He played Varsity soccer and managed to not dislocate his shoulder until the semi-finals of the end of the season tournament. That was a major bummer especially since he dislocated it just jumping up and cheering for his teammates making a goal!!! Oh well. As many of you remember he had surgery in June for dislocating his wrist as well as breaking it and tearing the ligament. He recovered well from that but we knew we were facing another surgery because of the shoulder dislocations. So that just happened last Monday and so he is now recovering from another surgery. Crazy kid. We hope this is it...but one never knows. He hopes to be able to start playing basketball in January but it will depend on his recovery. The damage in the shoulder was more extensive than what we had realized.

So...now that catches you up on us.