The Kiddos

Hey! Thanks for checking in with us again! Hope your New Year is off to a good start! Thank you for your continued prayers for our family. I thought today would be a good opportunity to update you on the kiddos!

Isaac is doing very well! He's adjusting nicely! Most nights he sleeps well. He hates tummy time, but really enjoys playing with everyone in the family. He's growing up really quickly and really seems to enjoy laughing. He cries a fair amount too, but we try to enjoy the laughter! Here a some ways you can pray for Isaac:

1. Pray that he continues to be healthy.
2. Pray that he might sleep at regular times (for Jodi's sake).

Matthew is a hot mess! He is absolutely hilarious. He has such a funny sense of humor. He asks us about 3000 questions a day. He loves to play "With my little eyes, I spy..." He's also apparently quite strong willed because he seems to listen like a rock. He believes bedtime is straight from the Devil and is praying for the curse to be broken so he can stay up all night long. He also must believe his bed comes from the same source as he has aimed to distance himself from it considerably. Here are some ways to pray for Matthew:

1. Pray that he would continue to exude joy to others around him.
2. Pray that God would use his laughter to connect with other people!
3. Pray that he would desire to try to obey his parents (This might be a prayer for us more than for him!)

Will was very excited to meet Batman!

Will is learning so much right now! He's growing by leaps and bounds. Jodi has been working with him and he seems to be soaking up most of what he's learning. He's learned some letters (W,I,L,A, B, C and D) and he's enjoyed all the activity that has gone with that. Both he and Matthew are going to a Music and Me class at the Library. Will is doing well. He says he's scared of the dark, but he's hanging in there. While he never used to like to be read to, most days he asks for many books to be read to him. Here are some ways you can pray for Will:

1. Pray that he would continue to enjoy learning.
2. Pray that he would continue to hear and understand the gospel as we teach him the Bible.
3. Pray that God would help Will (and Matthew) make friends at the Music and Me class, that Jodi and I might get opportunities to build relationships with some other parents.

Ellie is a beautiful girl! I love her to the moon and back. Some days seem to be going really well for her! One day this week she told me ate lunch with 2 other girls. She says school is going OK. Her behavior at home seems to have taken an absolute nose-dive right off a cliff. She and I are having a difficult time communicating with one another about her behavior. I can't really think of a time where I've seen her struggle like this. We've asked for a meeting with her teacher, so we can get her take on things as well. 

1. Pray that she would seek Jesus in her struggle. I've shared the gospel with her many times.
2. Pray that God would help her make some friends. 
3. Pray that she would be open to her parents helping her in this season.
4. Pray that God would help her know that he hasn't abandoned or forgotten about her.

Had a pretty day, so we enjoyed the park!

Finally, Jodi and I have a favor to ask! If you've read this long, then you likely care for our kids. Would consider writing them letters? I think getting letters encouraging them and letting them know they are loved would make them feel special. They don't need gifts or anything, just a reminder from folks, whether in Tennessee or here in Pennsylvania/Maryland with us now, that they're loved and people around them are praying for them. If you would like to do that and need our address, feel free to message Jodi or me and we'll get it to you.

Thanks again for sharing this journey with us! 

Billy and Jodi

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from the Levengood's! We trust that God has been gracious toward you and your family. Thanks for taking time to check in on us. We've had a really cool couple of weeks since I last posted. We had some neat conversations in town and we got to see two really cool families.
One of the things we're doing as we get settled in is trying to visit some local things as we get to know the area. What better way to visit local places than to go with people you really enjoy hanging out with! Just after Christmas we got to visit Herr's Snack Factory. We took the tour with our friends, the Hummel's, who were in the area visiting family! We had a ton of fun and really enjoyed getting to try potato chips hot off the the line where they were being made. They were a-maz-ing! It may have ruined potato chip eating for us. We're not sure if they could ever be any better than that!
Last Wednesday my sister Stephanie and her family drove up for a visit. They managed to keep it a secret from me. I sniffed out enough to know that something was going on, but I couldn't figure it out. Ellie knew the secret, but she wouldn't give it up either. It was very refreshing to see their faces when they pulled in. We really enjoyed getting to spend time with them and hang out with their kids. One of the things we did while they were here was a trip to the Amish Farmer's Market. We ate lunch and found some tasty treats to have. Next time we go, I'm going to get a milkshake and a pretzel. They looked amazing!
We continue to pray that God would open doors and help us meet people. While we were at the Farmer's Market, during a rather chaotic moment right after our kids had spilled their second drink on the floor and we were looking for even more napkins, one of the guys who was sitting around us said something to me, which led to us having a 15 minute long conversation. He's a Christian and coaches in a local high school. We were able to exchange numbers and plan to connect again soon!
As for how you can pray for us, here you go:

1. Pray that God would help us meet people.
2. Pray that God would give us favor among people in town, that we might be able to build trust quickly among people.
3. Pray that we would clearly be able to see needs that exist in Oxford, so we might find avenues to serve.
4. Pray for Jodi as she balances all she has going on with the kiddos.

Thanks again for all you do to pray and encourage us! We're grateful for your prayers, support and encouragement! Words cannot express our gratitude to be sharing this journey with you!