Just A Sneak Peek...

We were able to pull off a surprise of a lifetime on Friday, Dec. 19th.

After months of planning, many prayers, and a couple plane rides we made it home for the holidays. Thank you Daddy!!! 

I promise we will post a video (and the full story) of everyones reactions...but just one word can sum it up, PRICELESS!

Just had to steal this off my sis's blog....

Christmas at the Taj

We had an awesome opportunity to hang out with some great people from Texas this month. It was so refreshing to hear some southern accents. (In fact, when we went to pick them up from the airport they immediately pointed out my southern accent. Guess I've still got it after 8 months of being gone!)

One of the days we with the team was spent at the Taj Mahal.  It was actually our first time to visit the Taj, believe it or not. We knew we'd be traveling to see it sometime with family or friends that come to visit, so we were were just waiting... and waiting for good weather. And we had great weather. We really had fun taking pictures and being tourists for the day. This one will just have to be our Christmas Card picture this year!

What a mess!

The doorbell rang....guess what that means??!!! a package. (hopefully, not the little boy who picks up our trash everyday, and asks for money every day)
It must be the holiday season because we were greeted with 3 packages from our postman. As he was pulling them from his sack, Joe and I began to notice the rope holding two boxes together, and a dark something all over them.
We were super excited because two of them had been stuck in Indonesia for a month. Who knows why they were hanging out there for so long....
We hurried to clean the coffee table off and get the packages where we could open them. After locating the knife, Joe started to open the first package. It was the most damaged from the outside. As Joe was opening the box he said "I think BBQ sauce busted in this box."
I said,"BBQ sauce? I don't think we asked for that....hum?!"
We quickly discovered that the stick mess was leaking out onto our coffee table. We kept going... "What is that?"
We discovered pretty quickly that a jar of molasses had shattered, covering the entire contents of that box and half of the next box... It was quite the mess. But I'm super excited to announce that we saved everything. Including the photos and fall leaves that were sent!

So, no gingerbread cookies this year. I'll just get creative and use my gingerbread cookie cutter with something else this year.

Thank you so much for remembering us during this holiday season. Thanks to your overwhelming love and generosity we have personalized stockings, starbucks coffee, and yummy treats this Christmas!
Merry Christmas

BGCH

"Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children." Mark 10:14

Daily we are overwhelmed with the amount of children who come up to our rickshaw begging for food and money. We are always torn with how to love these children during our two seconds at the stop light. We ask them their name and try to to carry on a small conversation, but we can't love them like we want to love them. We want to put them in the rickshaw with us, take them home, bathe them, feed them, and share our lives with them. We have to claim that our God knows them each by name and will provide for them.

"Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans..." Ps. 10:17-18

Last month, we had the opportunity to see the love of the Father pouring down on the lives of 200+ children at the BGCH. Our hearts were bubbling with love and joy during our time at the home. It was an experience that we will never forget!

We were greeted with flowers, smiling faces, giggles, and singing voices. They had prepared a welcoming ceremony for us filled with dancing and singing. It was beautiful.

Then we were able to go and see where the children sleep. Each child was lined up outside the door waiting for us to come and shake their hand individually. They were so excited to practice their English. "Good Morning, Auntie" "Hello Auntie" "How are you?"...

We were even able to go and visit a short time with the widows who live on campus. These ladies were glowing with excitement to see new faces. We were told that many of these ladies actually help the children with laundry and other difficult chores.

"Father to the fatherless, defender of the widows- this is God, whose dwelling is holy." Ps. 68:5

Every evening before dinner the children have a devotion time. I was able to share with the children a story from God's word. They listened so attentively, and really enjoyed getting to act it out. (A little secret about me is I never really enjoy the idea of getting up in front of a big group and sharing... Thankfully the Father can still use me even when I feel inadequate.)

I really enjoyed getting to spend time with the girls. They were very interested in who we were, where we were from, and if we knew all the hollywood celebrities. They were so cute. They even tried to teach me some of their language, which is super close to hindi so that helped.

Next time we visit I am going to make sure and bring my scissors. Not that the children had bad haircuts. In fact, they all looked really nice. The older girls just loved the thought of me cutting their hair. They were begging for haircuts... so I promised next time I would make sure and come prepared. (I love that the Father is using my talents to open up doors with new friends)

Even though our time at the BGCH was short, we left part of our hearts there with those sweet children.

Please join us in praying for these children: that they would learn the love of the Father, and that they would grow into the future leaders of this Nation (guiding this Nation to truth!)

Pray also for the pastors and leaders of the home. Pray for our friend as she pours her life daily into these children.

Check out the website to learn more about the home and opportunities to help: www.bgchm.org

Boys and Girls Christian Home

www.bgchm.org

Christmas Time is Here!

(My new Christmas ornament from the VanHorn's! I love it)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... at the Futterer's house!

(This is the canvas that Bethany helped me paint before coming to South Asia)

 We have really made an effort to have a weekly date night. It might sound a little crazy to prioritize this considering that we are together practically 24/7 with our jobs, but it has been one of the best things for our marriage. We usually spend our date trying out a new place to eat, cocoberry, or a movie. And every date consists of no internet or cell phones...just debriefing the previous week and looking to the future.

(Our Christmas tree this year... thanks to the Pal's)

 This last week our date was spent listening to Christmas music and decorating our house for the Holiday season. It took a total of 45 minutes start to finish. That includes getting the decorations out of the closet and putting up our Thanksgiving decor. Needless to say, it's a big change from our previous years of decorating.

(Our Christmas tree from last year)

 Even though I miss my beautiful tree, all my other decorations, black Friday, and tacky sweater Christmas parties.... I am still enjoying the life of simplicity. I'm enjoying the new traditions we are making together. And enjoying the complete focus on the real meaning of Christmas. Our Savior's birth!

For Such A Time As This...

"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

"During this hard time in my life, I have have been able to make the more difficult choice out of pure blind-eyed, bent-kneed acceptance that it was somehow part of a greater plan. I am beaten by a conviction that throbbs relentlessly against my strong self-centeredness. As much as my flesh wants relief, I know that when all is said and done, I will sit on that side of glory having much rather fulfilled my calling than served myself all the way to meaninglessness. I have to accept that I am not called to an easy life. I am called to a purposeful life." *

Oh, how this descibes my heart. My heart is constantly waging war with the emotions of longing for family, friends, and the comforts of home and finding joy. peace, and rest in knowing that I have been called to the other side of the world! Sometimes the battle of emotions is day to day. Other times, it's minute to minute.
Today, my heart rests in the confidence that God "determines the times set for us and the exact places that we should live." (Acts 17:26)
For such a time as this!

*Esther. Beth Moore Study

Thankful

Ps. 50:14 "Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High"


I been doing the same thing that everyone on the other side of the world has been doing this last week, reflecting on everything that I am thankful for in my life. The list this year for me has expanded from years past. I've never been more thankful for the living word, the ever present help of my Father, and the call that He has placed on my life to make his fame great among this nation! The expanded version also included imported goods, packages, and skype!

Thank you everyone who sent holiday packages to us. We are so appreciative!
We even had a volunteer team carry on a 16 lb. turkey (named Chasity) to complete the holiday dinner. They said they got some pretty funny looks as "she" went through the x-ray machine at the airport.

For our Thanksgiving this year, we traveled up into the mountains to spend it was great friends.

We spent quite a while prepping the meal considering we were using those tiny convection ovens. But we did it! Our menu consisted of : Turkey, ham, fried chicken, casserole city, cranberry sauce, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie. It was super yummy.

At one point during the day I even felt like I was back in the states. We were watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!! (technology is really amazing)

Thanksgiving is never complete without football, so we did what any American would do..we found the only flat ground in the whole city and spent the afternoon playing.

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

happy.3.year.anniversary

November 18, 2009- Our 3 year anniversary
Really wishing that I had my beautiful wedding album to look through today, but I know that it was probably for the best that I left it back in America. I tried to find some wedding/anniversary pictures on our computer and of course I don't have any of us on the actual day. Plus I was given this really neat anniversary book as a wedding present. It's a super cool concept...just wish that I had remembered to take photos from the anniversaries. I found these pictures that were super close to our day each year...

Pre engagement... just had to share it! We just got bored one day and decided to go take some pictures at the park. Look how little we were. I guess that's what you get when you start dating at the age of 15.

Decorating the day before the wedding. Nov 17, 2006

Honeymoon in Mexico.

1 year anniversary. November 2007. (pic from Christmas cards with Kinley Sue)
Our anniversary trip went from talk of a getaway to Chicago to actually going to Hot Springs. I'm very grateful in hindsight. Joe got the flu and stayed in bed the whole time, while I spent my evening on the treadmill in the workout room at the hotel listening to the lady beside me talk about weight watchers. Romantic huh?!

2 year anniversary. November 2008. (pic from sometime that month)
We had just gotten back from our interviews in Virginia. Knowing what was to come we decided to keep it pretty low key. Dinner in Conway...

3 year anniversary. November 12, 2009. (pic from our trip to Mumbai last week)
We celebrated today by eating apple streusel pancakes and shopping for a charcoal grill (the grill was my gift to Joe this year but it should have been a new wedding ring since his is somewhere in the Ganges!) My gift from Joe....magazines to plan and get excited for... drum roll please

4 year anniversary.... November 2010. (pic to come....)
AUSTRALIA!!!

Daily I am reminded of the Father's love for me through my husband. As I continue to fall deeper in love with the Lord, I fall more in love with my man. Get's me super excited for all the things in store for the future!

Ps. 32:8 "The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."

I are so thankful for how the Lord continues to guide us and direct our paths daily...

holiday's.are.here

Where did October go? And it's already time for Thanksgiving? Time is really flying by...
In the past month and a half, I've had the opportunity to travel to 6 different parts of this beautiful country. I  promise a blog will be coming soon with reflections from each.

But I had to go ahead and blog my pictures from today.

Today it finally felt like the holidays. We went to a mala at the US Embassy today. I think I might have experienced a little bit of culture shock. Culture shock from the cleanliness, white faces, English spoken, Christmas stockings, BEEF burgers, gingerbread people, and pumpkin pie!

It's beginning to look a lot like the holidays....and our Father is providing a peace that passes all understanding! It's difficult to not be with family during this time celebrating in our traditional ways. But we are counting our blessings for the new opportunities we have been given to share God's love with others during this time. (and the fun day at the mala!)

Chicken Pot Pie

One of my favorite things about using skype is to check in with our two year old nephew, Owen. He is really talking a lot these days. We normally just smile and agree with whatever he says...not knowing half the time what he is talking about. The other day, though, he so clearly was telling us about Rachel Ray. (Apparently he's been watching a little cooking on tv) Joe and I both looked at each other and said, "Did he just say 'Rachel Ray'?"
 Katy then began quizzing our sweet nephew... "Owen, what does Rachel Ray do?"
 Owen says "cook"
 Katy asks, "Owen, who else likes to cook?"
 Owen replys, "Ams" (that's me in case you were confused!)
 Katy asks, "What does Ams like to cook?"
 Owen grins while saying, "cookies!!!!"
*you must check out that boys adorable chef costume for Halloween! (All About Owen)


Auntie Ams was is the kitchen again tonight. Cookies? Nope! Not this time... Tonight's feature was Chicken Pot Pie.

I had a good friend come over and help me cook. I asked her if she was up for an American meal. She's such a trooper! She loved helping me in the kitchen. We even successfully used a pressure cooker for the first time. (I'm definitely going to be using that thing more now that I can cook chicken in 10 minutes instead of 30) 

I was a little worried that she might not think it was spicy enough. So I made sure to put a little pack of Domino's chili flakes at her place setting. 

She loved the prep work/cooking and the food. She didn't even add the chili flakes I provided. 
I call tonight a cooking success!

New Traditions?

 One of the fun things about being in South Asia is getting to experience all the new holidays that we don't celebrate in America, like Diwali. Another is getting to learn to celebrate our traditional American holidays in a whole new way!

 Last night we created a "Fall Friday". I say created because there is still no sign of fall here. Yes, Praise the Lord, our weather is beginning to cool (upper 80's this week), but still no leaves changing or costumes being sold, or fun pack candy being bought. But there is something so fun about getting together with friends and creating the mood of Fall.

Two rickshaw rides and a metro ride later, we made it to our friends house. We decided to go to the Friday night market and gather our supplies. We weren't really sure if we were going to find a pumpkin, but not only did we find a pumpkin we found other unsuspecting veggies to carve. (bonus to living here)

 We made it back to the house to realize that of the three pumpkins we bought only one of them had made it home with us. Oops! No worries, when the boys started retracing their steps they found our little man had them waiting for us asking if we were ready for them yet. Yea for the lost pumpkins being found!

 We had two new friends with us who were carving pumpkins for the first time. We caught ourselves laughing all through the night at their comments. Example: We asked our new friend, "What do you call this? (pointing to the pumpkin) She responded with slowly sounding out "P U M P K I N". really? I feel so much better now that we know that.  hehe.  She also ended up giving all our pumpkins names. My favorite was the one we tried to name "Fraidy Cat", because he looked scared/afraid. All night she referred to him as "Frito". We had to explain to her that a frito is an American corn chip not a pumpkin!

(Left to right: Fraidy Cat/Frito, Jack, Hairy, Mickey Mouse, Julia Roberts, Larry the Cucumber, and Jim Carrey)
 We ended the night with homemade (from a box, thank you Lydia!) candy apples. This was a new experience for us all. We learned a lot to perfect the process for next year.

 That's right.... We had such at our Fall Friday that we have already begun the planning for next year. Our national friends also enjoyed their first experience with Halloween. Her facebook status this morning made me laugh so hard. It reads..."My first Halloween was great, I didn't know that I am such a great killer. Chopping the head of a brinjal is such a pleasure. I know why American's love to carve and chop the vegetables now! It's a serious business! And today we plan to eat the mickey mouse..."

I'm also foreseeing Christmas gingerbread houses!

 Happy Fall! Happy Halloween!

Dazzling Diwali

I had a great opportunity this weekend to go visit a friend in her hometown. We went to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights. It was so much fun to visit another part of this beautiful country. I really had a great time with Sun's family. It felt good to have a mommy hug!

From the roof of Sun's house, you couldn't decide if it was the 4th of July or Christmas! "Crackers" and Christmas lights everywhere...

One of the families traditions for the holiday was to decorate the entrance of the house with rangoli.

We were able to observe as her family conducted a traditional puja.

In traditional attire. (I'm not really sure what the guns were all about, but we ended the night by shooting them from the roof.)

Please lift up this sweet family to our Father. Specifically that, like Sun's decision a couple months back, this family will experience the Light!

"The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:4,5