Christmas Greetings!

We'll be back in the New Year with more about the amazing journey that God has us on. If you'd like to give a year end gift toward our ministry at Equip just follow this link or the "Donate Now through Network for Good" link on the right hand side of the blog.

Millie at 11 Months

Here is the girlie girl at 11 months. I am not upset that I won't be trying to get this shot of her once a month anymore. She is a wiggle worm on her best day. Sheesh. But she is our wiggle worm and we wouldn't have her any other way.

Her favorite things are dancing, eating, pulling books off of the shelf and trying to walk. She also follows Buddy the Elf's mandate and says "Smiling is her favorite." We're excited to share our first Christmas with her. It's gonna be a hoot- a hoot in which she likes the boxes and wrapping paper WAY more than the actual gifts.

Oh, one quick thing. We're about to send out a new newsletter. If you are wanting one and haven't received anything in the past then we need your email. Send it to us at internationalhoovers(at)gmail(dot)com Much love and Christmas blessings! The Hoovers

She's Walking and We're Walking By Faith

Well, we all knew it would happen someday despite my attempts to knock her feet out from under her. Yes, Miss Millie took her first steps this past week. She is wobbly at best and she still holds tight to her old faithful (and quick) mode of transportation; crawling. However, she is well on her way to joining the ranks of the rest of us two footed folks. I'll update with pictures soon.

In other news we are putting together a new print letter and e-newsletter. Look for that in your mailbox and inbox very soon! We are continuing to walk in faith toward our calling at Equip. We ask that you prayerfully consider walking with us. We hope to be at Equip full time by the end of this coming March. Gulp.

That means some big steps in the near future. A few points of prayer if you don't mind.

• Ministry Partners (both individuals and churches)

• Housing (We need a place to live in...obviously. We also need wisdom to know if we should buy, rent or depend on a temporary place that is low or no cost.)

• Finances (We are depending on God to make our ends meet both now and in the future) 

• Energy (Energy to do all we need to do in the next few month to prepare for the ministry ahead)

 We are praying that this season of Advent is proving to be a time full of expectation and joy over the King who came in swaddling clothes and over the same King who  is coming again. Look for more pictures from all our holiday adventures in the near future!

The Thanksgiving Round-Up

We joined Kyle's family the weekend after Thanksgiving and enjoyed good food and I think it is safe to say that everyone enjoyed watching Millie. The wee one ate her share of the turkey and loved every minute of it! She is so close to walking it is painful! Here are a few pictures from the day as well as a couple of shots from Thanksgiving Day. We went to the playground and shared dinner with friends that evening.

All smiles with Nana (and Uncle Jay lookin' creepy in the background)

Hangin' with Poppi

Clappin' with Mimi

Swingin' with Daddy

Slidin' with Mama

Again, we are thankful for each one of you. Your support makes these holidays that much sweeter. We hope to see you over the next few month or at the beginning of the New Year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Not much going on around the Hoover house. We are in that quiet before the storm that is the holidays! I (Jessica) am readying myself to do a bit of cooking tomorrow. A controversial recipe for dressing, a cranberry apple relish that will knock your socks off and the top secret holiday cookies are on the agenda. We are sticking close to home on Thanksgiving Day because unfortunately Kyle has to work on Friday. We will be heading out for the weekend to see family Friday evening. We've had some very gracious local framily (my spliced word for friends and family...I mean if Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie can do it...) that has invited us to join them for supper. Yes, please!

I am sure we'll take pictures of our little turkey eating turkey...just for all of  you to see! 

We are thankful for much. I hope that all of us practice thanksgiving each day. I love this quote by Ann Voskamp, "In Christ, Thanksgiving is more than a holiday. In Christ, Thanksgiving is all of our days." I hope that is found to be true in all of our lives. We are overwhelmingly grateful for all of you who love our family so well. Blessings on this week of Thanksgiving to you and your's!

Support Raising Update

We sent out our first support letter back in September. In the time since then we've seen a few of you and you are always eager to ask how support raising is coming. When that question is asked of us there is always a pause. We pause not because we aren't making progress, but because we want to make more progress than we have.

First, heaps of thanks to those of you who have already, in faith, decided to partner with us. In the early stages of support raising it cannot be underestimated the help and encouragement that is to us. We also have been contacted by many of you to say that you are going to support us financially. We are holding to those promises and are blessed that you are planning to support the work of the Gospel in our lives and to the ends of the earth.

We are trusting and hoping that we will have the funds we need to be able to be at Equip for the Spring training courses. We have a long way to go in order to see that come to fruition. We believe wholeheartedly that God is calling us to this and we are also trust in His timing. The bottom line is that we have a heart calling and we want to be about that as soon as we are able to. The thing that stands in our way is our finances. We are speaking plainly about this to you because we pray plainly about it to God. We can't be bold in asking our heavenly Father and not be bold in asking our earthly brothers and sisters. It is no secret that our economy is struggling and that many of us are struggling as a result. We don't ask for you to give above your means, but anything you give will be met with joyfully blessed hearts and you can be assured will be used for the sake of the Gospel.

We would love to have monthly partners, but are more than happy to receive one time donations. If you are moved to give you can donate securely online through the "Network for Good" icon on the right hand side of the page. If you would prefer to give via check you can write a check to Equip International with "Kyle and Jessica Hoover" in the memo line and send it to:

 Equip Inc.
PO Box 1126
Marion, NC 28752-1126 USA

I know this may sound trite, but I want to also ask for prayer partners. If you have never been in full-time ministry you may not know how important it is to have an army of prayer warriors behind you. Let me say from experience that we can't do it without your prayers...moreover, we don't want to do it without your prayers. Leave a comment on this page or via email letting us know that you are committing to pray.  If you have questions or need more information please contact us at internationalhoovers(at)gmail(dot)com.

Thanks again for loving our little family well and for believing in God's plan for our life.

Millie at 10 Months

Millie hit the 10 month mark on the 9th! It really doesn't seem possible, but her mobility, cheesy grin, and clothing size beg to differ. Usually I do a photoshoot each month. I did one this month, but the little monkey was in no mood to stay still. She isn't normally, but somehow in the past I managed to get a couple smiling shots before she grabs the paper and crushes it to smithereens.

Here are a few shots to enjoy!

Mission's Conference, Halloween and Exhaustion

Hi Framily (Friends and Family that is!)

This is a quick update. We are finally in a bit of lull...right before the holidays hit of course! The three previous weeks found us at our first official mission's conference right here in our little burg' of Stanley. Thanks so much First Presbyterian Stanley for loving us well and welcoming us to share our hearts and hopes for ministry! You were a true blessing and we look forward to sharing more with you in the coming years!

Millie and I took to the skies on a grand adventure to Pennsylvania. We were both sick, but we survived thanks to the Lord's grace and Aunt Jenn! Thanks again Jenn! We've recovered almost fully and we've got a bit more energy than we did a few weeks ago. It was rough! We were still sick when we got home so we stuck close to home for Halloween, but Millie was the cutest tutued ladybug around!

Aunt Veronica sent a Halloween goody box with a cute bib and some other goodies. Thanks Aunt Ron!

We look forward to seeing many of you over the holidays. I'm sure I'll have my camera in hand to catch those memorable moments. If you haven't met Millie...well...brace yourself!

Thanks to those of you who have committed to praying for us. We can feel the prayers as we move closer and closer to moving to Marion, NC and joining EQUIP International full time. Please consider supporting us financially if you haven't. We want partners in ministry. We want to be linked arm and arm with all of you in the Gospel. Thanks for the ways you've linked arms with us already!

Love to everyone! 

Millie at 9 months!

9 months today? Say what? It has officially been 9 months since Amelia Grace Hoover made her grand entrance. That means 9 months since her mama has slept 8 consecutive hours. She's not a great sleeper. There just isn't any other explanation.

What kind of things is Millie into these days? Other than the easy answer: EVERYTHING!  She is crawling and cruising. She insists on feeding herself. She never stops moving. NEVER. Not even in her sleep. She has a new pal, Katniss, her lion that Mimi and Poppi got her on her first zoo visit. She cut her first too this past week. She is a fan of swinging and riding on daddy's shoulders. She also sings...video to come.

She is a constant source of joy and entertainment! Happy 9 months Millie Grace!

Punkin' Patch

It's fall, so what else do you do but visit the pumpkin patch?

Here's some pictures to make you swoon.

 

As the weather gets cooler and we break out the sweaters I hope we all take time to slow down and enjoy the sweet things in life. For me that involves a pumpkin spice latte, but different strokes for different folks, right? 

I'll post more pics. later this week after Millie's 9 month photo shoot. Can you believe it? 9 months?!

She Belongs in the Zoo

This week we've...

had snack like a big girl...

visited the zoo...

with Mimi and (not pictured) Poppi...

learned about the physics of a toilet paper roll...

drop kicked a lioness...

and after all that, who wouldn't need a nap?

Millie is nearly 9 months old and her life is quite full for a 8 and 3/4 month old. She really does belong in the zoo...if by zoo you mean an enclosed habitat in which she can't hurt herself or anyone else. She is her mother's daughter and she has the bumps, bruises and brilliant sense of humor to prove it. She wears me out.

We're hoping to share an update with everyone on how we are doing support wise very soon. We're waiting on an update from the lady that handles all of the finances for Equip. Remember if you are wanting to partner with us --------> there is a link to online giving on the right hand side. Thanks to all of you who have spoken with us about the ministry ahead and encouraged us toward the calling God has placed on us. It is a blessing to be journeying with you all.

Madame Blueberry and Online Giving

Well, Millie is on the move and she has the bumps and bruises to prove it. I hold my breath every time she pulls up on something. She is an accident waiting to happen for about 95% of the time she is awake. She got her first official boo-boo this week. It wasn't bad at all, but there were tears and a trace amount of blood.

the aforementioned "boo-boo"

She also decided that blueberries are her new favorite food. This round of blueberries required a bath.

This weekend we're going camping and to the zoo. That should result in some interesting tales and probably a bruise or two more.

Our last post talked about our most recent support letter that went out. We are excited to see how God uses this letter to provide for our needs and the ministry ahead. For those of you who read this blog, but maybe didn't get the letter you can still become financial supporters.

 

Click on this link or visit the same link posted on the right hand side of the blog. The link on the right hand side will be up permanently. Simply fill out the form and in the designation box specify, "Kyle and Jessica Hoover". That's all!

As you can see we've got a lot going on between support raising, normal day to day and chasing little miss around. We covet your prayers and partnership, fo' real.

8 months old! (oh, and you got our letter, right?!)

Hey ya'll

Just wanted you to see the latest milestone for AG (Amelia Grace, that is, or Millie to all her friendlies). She hit 8 months on Sunday! Gulp, that means more movin' and shakin' for her! Ok, more movin' and shakin' for her and her parentals. Ok, more tying everything down and locking everything possible that she could harm herself with. She bumps her head a lot these days, but only cries every 20th time or so...pretty good odds I guess...at least good enough that she keeps trying.

mid-laugh (no teeth yet, as you can see!)

Some of you are curious about the red dot on her head. Don't lie. We know you are. We like to pretend it is God's way of preparing her for life as a missionary in India...ok, well maybe, but it is actually a hemangioma. You can look it up. Chances are it will be gone by the time she is two. Just a little something extra on her beautiful face. Happy 8 months sweet girl!

Our sources tell us that those of you on our mailing list should now have our latest letter in hand. What do you think? We hope that you enjoyed catching up on our latest adventures and seeing our heart for the work that God is placing before us. As our Liberian friend Blama would say, "It is no small thing." We need your prayers and support. We are looking for ministry partners so please consider joining with us in this endeavor.

All right, that is it. Gotta make the most of naptime. Can I get an "amen" from all the mamas out there?

The Support Letter

Well, we've finally done it. After a few months of hemmin' and hawin' we've finally got our newest support letter written. If you've ever had to write one of these letters you know that it can be daunting to try and figure out exactly how to word the dreams in your heart. On top of that you are hoping that these dreams in your heart will touch someone else enough to support those dreams. It is a combo of faith, art and just plain ol' writing.

One of the things that we want to be made clear is that we want partners in ministry. We want to join our lives and ministry together with others who have the same vision and hope for the Gospel. We're hoping that was/is communicated through our latest letter, but we also know that the best way we can communicate our passion is by meeting with you face to face and sharing. We're pretty good writers, if I do say so myself, but we're much better when we can look you in the eye answer all your questions.

Feel free to contact us with your questions (email, or otherwise) and don't be surprised if we contact you really soon. I mean just think, if we come and visit we'll bring this little thing...

It's a win/win I think. 

 

We're Back

I know you've missed us.
Don't lie.

We're back and we have so much to share. I hope that our silence hasn't made you forget us! We hope that you'll join the journey that we are on. So much has happened since we last spoke...

Like this:

Yep, that is nearly 8 months of cuteness right there. She doesn't sleep much, but we like her anyway.

We are eager to share with you what God is doing, but for now feel free to read a bit about it on The Mission page.

We promise to update regularly (at lease 1 x per week) and add lots of super cute pictures of the kid. I mean an annoying amount of cute pictures- because we know that is really why you are visiting the blog.

Really, truly we're glad to be back and to share with you the crazy leaps of faith that God is entrusting us with...Thanks for being interested enough to stick with us. We hope you're blessed.

Woah Baby!

Woah Baby! That is all you can say when you are 4'11, weigh a buck fifteen (pre-pregnancy) and have a 9lb 1oz. baby. Yep, that's right. We welcomed our handful of joy, Amelia "Millie" Grace Hoover, into this world early last Monday morning. She came barreling into the world hand out ahead of her Super Woman style in the wee smalls of the morning. She is the sweetest- and yes, I know I am biased.

Snug as a bug!

Sleeping away!

Kyle anxiously awaiting her arrival!

First family photo!

Car ride home! I am lovin' my car seat!

That concludes our tour of Millie's arrival. Thanks to all of you who have sent facebook, email, text message and phone love our way. We can't wait to introduce you to this doll in person over the next months and years. We feel so blessed to have so many friends willing to invest in us and this new little one. Her Mano (a tribe in Liberia) name was emailed to us from a friend in Liberia just this morning. It is Whylalehseh which means "God is Good"- Isn't that so true?

Much Love to All,
Kyle and Jessica