Happy Christmas

So apparently I haven't put anything up in a few days...

I attribute this to:
One crazy Youth Event that took about 150 hours of planning/prep between me and Janelle.
One great Open House/Christmas Party two weeks later.
General laziness on my part.

Sorry for those of you that depend on the blogosphere for regular updates.

Life is good in Southern Arizona. Kids have two weeks off. We're spending Christmas here, just the six of us. We're headed to California for a multi-purpose trip the week after Christmas.

Also, a huge praise! We have been given a car!
-Only two "hitches"... 1)It's in CA (hence the "multi-purpose trip) 2)It needs a new motor. I've got lots of help to change it out, just need the cash for a rebuilt.
God provides for us every day!

Love to you all!
Jon for the McIvers

These are my people...

I've found where I belong.

I've had the privilege of spending the week with guys (and gals) who do what I do. They understand the struggles, challenges, and joys of ministering to military teens. They also understand what it means to be called.

It has been a blessing and an honor to get to know these guys. I've seen their names on email lists and maps, and heard stories about their ministries. Now I know them, and look forward to seeing them again next year.

Now I'm ready to be home!

On the road again....

I will have to respectfully disagree with Willie Nelson... I totally CAN wait to get on the road again.

It really feels like the minute we get settled into a routine, life gets crazy again.

Here I sit in Denver International Airport on a two-hour layover... on my way to Colorado Springs.

I didn't want to leave this morning. I already miss my wife and the kiddos.

All that said, I'm excited. I finally get to meet some of my fellow Community Directors for MCYM. I will get to spend time with Rog, Stan, Rob, Bill... my peeps.

Editorial note- Janelle and I are both doing a project with our students called "The H2O Project" We are drinking nothing but water or the next two weeks, and donating what we would have spent on beverages to Blood:Water Mission.
What does that mean? No coffee (aka lifeblood) or soda for the next two weeks. I'm sure it's all in my mind, but I've got a headache and I'm jonesin' for a cup o Joe!

Indiana Jon

No, not the fourth movie in the series... Janelle and I are actually in Indiana. We are here for Youth For Christ's Summer Institute. We're excited to be here- it is the longest stretch that we have been away from the kids together. We are also looking forward to Janelle's introduction to the people I've been talking about for the past four months.

We have email/internet, and cell phone reception is decent so feel free to stay in touch! Text messages may help keep us awake in class. ;)

On the Road

I know my posting has been woefully inadequate (read: nonexistent) in the past few weeks.  I apologize sincerely to the dozen of you that faithfully check in on us.

Here's a summarized update of what's been going on:

-I spent a week in Colorado Springs getting some great training from MCYM

-We took a trip north to see friends/family/supporter

-It looks like we are heading to Ft. Huachuca, AZ

-The above move will only happen if we get our fundraising finished quickly

Through it all, God continues to show Himself faithful.  More to follow soon.  (I promise)

Jon for All

This too Shall Pass...

Post from my favorite guest blogger follows:

My Husband is Leaving Me.
Abandonment Issues.
I Will Survive.

All are alternative titles that I tried out for this post. After I decided to stop throwing crazy amounts of guilt at my husband I came up with the current title. This too shall pass.

Sometimes that is the hardest concept to own. The idea that - yeah this isn't going to be fun, but it will be okay and in the end we will be together again. That might sound melodramatic from a woman who's husband has deployed twice to Iraq and has dealt with the raising of 3 and 4 kids all by her lonesome. I'm living with 3 other adults for pity sake! I know I am so blessed and I know it will be alright.

I just like my husband. I like to be with him. I'm pretty sure he likes to be with me. The kids seem to like him too. Who knew?

He is also leaving for a good reason. He is heading back to Tennessee to help his Dad and Mom out (hi guys!). Jon's parents are working on the Clarksville house, getting it up to snuff to put on the market. Kind of cool that Jon's summer of construction work is going to be of use (again!). We are glad to share him but we will miss him and are in no way jealous. Really.

So for those of you in Tennessee and Kentucky:

Jon will be flying in this Wednesday and returning to us on Monday. If you want to get together with him leave a comment, send him an email or give him a call on his cell.

2+4+1=one crazy trip!

Two reasonably intelligent, sometimes mature adults.
Four exuberant, excited, always curious kids.
One old dog.

Add this all together in a 1998 GMC Suburban for a 2000 mile road trip, and what do you get?

-28 hours straight from Clarksville to Albuquerque
-Three trips to the pool
-A drive through Petrified National Forest and the Painted Desert
-A trip to The Grand Canyon (it's not just a hole in the ground)
-Lots of chewies and beef jerky
-397 stops because Liam had to "go badly"

And most importantly:
-ONE SAFE TRIP TO CALIFORNIA!

We are here, life is good. Clarksville Cell numbers still work.
Jon 931-542-8358