Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas dear family and friends!

For those of you who have followed our blog this year, you are already aware of the many challenges we faced in 2007. (For those who are new to our blog .... and have some extra time on your hands .... feel free to catch up). Instead of recapping the challenges we'd love to share with you the many blessings we've recieved this year!

Family...

We've been blessed to live near Laila's family and Jon's sister and brother- in- law. It's been a blessing to spend more time with our growing families.

Our daughters have brought us great joy this year as well. Elizabeth started first grade at Fairview South school in Skokie. We live in the most diverse city per capita in the world (we're told) with over 93 languages represented. We love it! Elizabeth's school is no exception. She has caught up quickly after a year of transition and is doing very well in reading and writing. She especially enjoys art.

Emma is almost five. She misses Elizabeth during the day, but enjoys her own preschool two days a week. She has grown up so much this year, it's hard to believe she'll be in school next year as well. She can often be found making things with little bits of paper and markers and taping them to the walls above our beds.

Evangeline is two and half and keeps us laughing constantly. She is definitely our comedian and makes sure she doesn't miss out on anything. She wants to do whatever the big girls are doing, but will occaisionally be found playing with babies or her kitchen. She loves to sing and has many of her own versions of familiar songs. One of her favorites this season has been her own combination of Jingle Bells and Jesus Loves Me.

Jon and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary this December. All though this was easily our most challenging year, it was also one of the best for sure. We enjoyed a week long retreat this fall on a beautiful lake setting in Wisconsin. It was a much needed break and time to re-focus. We're thankful that God brought us closer to one another and to Him this year.

Church ...

In September, Jon completed his first year as Associate Pastor at Evanston Bible Fellowship. He faced plenty of challenges his first year including moving our congregation to a new location, the Century Theaters in downtown Evanston. Favorite parts of his job include equipping and and enabling the staff in the work of ministry and helping his four interns grow as ministers of the Gospel and as followers of Christ.

Laila's primary ministry has been at home with the girls. In addition, she enjoys mentoring some younger women in our church and also had the opportunity to lead one of our women's bible studies this fall. She has been blessed by new friends who have been loving and supportive during this transition.

We love our church family and are blessed to be able to serve in this way. We know without a shadow of doubt that this is where the Lord would have us at this point in our journey with Him.

Friends ...

We were blessed to have many visitors this year ... friends from our California and Minnesota days. We're also thankful for the many new friends we have made here and the tangible ways they have shown love and encouragement to us this year.

Faith...

If you have had the chance to read through our blog this year, two themes become clear. First, we are desperate and bankrupt apart from our Lord. Second, He remains constant in His faithfulness and goodness. His plans for us are always good, no matter the circumstances we may face. He is always working for our good and His glory.

This Christmas season, in the midst of all the trappings and busyness in our lives, may we pause to revel in His faithful goodness. Because, truth be told, we could never fully experience either apart from the Incarnation. Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's faithfulness and goodness. They intersect in the person and purpose of our Lord. With this truth ringing clear this season, we pray that all of our lives would please and praise Him.

Love,
Jon, Laila, Elizabeth, Emma and Evangeline Bechtle

Our new contact info:
4931 Estes Ave
Skokie, IL 60077
(h) 847-673-3199
Jon cell 847-913-6159
Laila cell 847-913-6049

Christmas Card Rejects

So that you can appreciate the efforts put forth to take our Christmas picture this year, we thought we'd share with you the pictures that didn't make it onto the card ... Needless to say, it's nearly impossible to have a 7 year old, 4 year old and 2 year old all looking at the camera, smiling nicely, all at the same time ... Enjoy!

Fall Photo Review

first day of school

Elizabeth and Emma were in a wedding (Katie Severson) in October.

Emma, our doctor and Evangeline, our ladybug, on Halloween

and Elizabeth our cowgirl

Spaghetti!

enough said ....

How tall is 37?

Emma and I were having a conversation this afternoon which consisted of several questions on her part that really make me laugh..... I thought I'd pass them along?

She knows Daddy is 37, so she wanted to know "How tall is 37?" which was followed up with "When will daddy go bald?" and "how old will you be when I'm 100?" and "how tall is that?"

It's been a blessing to enjoy some of these special conversations with the girls at the end of a stressful 12 months .... Jon and I were just reflecting on the fact that we are beginning to feel a sense of "recovering " from this past year, which is a blessing for sure!

Recovering

Jon and I are both recovering from our accident. He had 4 stitches which have been removed, to reveal a nice scar under his eye. His knee seems to be improving and will hopefully continue in that direction. My leg swelling has gone down significantly, leaving a slight lump on my shin. Officially diagnosed as some type of hematoma (subperiosteal maybe?) which means it will take a while for the blood to be re-absorbed and the swelling to go down completely. It is much less painful and only hurts now when going up and down stairs, or when Evangeline runs into it (which is quite often).

We've been so blessed by our family and our church family who have done many home chores and brought many meals for us..... thank you so very much. And those who are far, thank you for your prayers, phone calls and emails....

Laila, for the Bechtles

In need of your prayers

Greetings friends and family,
I apologize for once again being the bearer of bad news......

Unfortunately, Thursday night on our way to Elizabeth and Emma's Vacation Bible School program (only 3 minutes from our house) we were in a significant car accident. Someone turned left right into us while we were driving through a green lit intersection. Our van is totalled, Jon and I are recovering from minor leg and face (for Jon ) injuries. Thankfully the girls are completely fine. What is perhaps most challenging is the emotional trauma of enduring another accident after just recovering from the one I was involved in in April. In our entire lives, neither Jon or I have ever been involved in auto accidents of any kind, so it's been amazing to go through two in such a short time.

We are so thankful that we are all ok. Please pray that the insurance process and replacement of our van would go smoothly and not cause too much additional emotional or financial stress ontop of what has already been a challenging season for us.

We are so thankful for our families and our church family who have offered so much support, physically and emotionally, thank you!

4th of July and Birthday Celebrations

Here are some photos from Elizabeth's 7th Birthday celebration and the 4th of July.

This was a special birthday for Elizabeth, she got to make a trip to the American Girl Store downtown Chicago and pick out her first American Girl. She chose Nikki, the 2007 Girl of the Year......

We had lunch at a crazy Chicago Landmark called Ed Debevics, a 50's style diner, where the servers are rude and (sometimes) funny, .... the girls loved it!

On the 4th of July, we attended the 4th of July parade in our new town, Skokie, IL. A Picnic with friends and fireworks over Lake Michigan rounded out the great celebration!

Our New Address

Our New Address

The Bechtles
4931 W Estes
Skokie, IL 60077
847-673-3199

New Address

Some have asked for our new address ....

4931 W Estes Ave
Skokie, IL 60077

We will have a new phone and will post that along with some updated photos later this week.

God is Good!

This past Sunday, our house sold after it was on the market for almost a year. We continue to trust in God's sovereign goodness while being grateful for your faithful prayers. We ask that you continue to pray that the Lord will lead us quickly to our new house.

Grateful and Excited!

The Bechtles

Fun Pictures

The following is a showcase of the lovely Bechtle ladies (from one proud Pop!)

Let the loveliness begin!

Sisters in the sun

The Emmanator

Evangeline in a quiet (meaning rare) moment

Pretty in Pink

Thank You

We wanted to thank those who have been praying for us, especially this past Friday.
We were truly ministered to by each of you..... those physically with us and the many messages we received via email and phone.

Our house did not sell this weekend, but a new peace has entered our home. Anxiety has been diminished and we are mindful of God's continued grace and goodness in our lives. Thank you for allowing His grace and goodness to shine through you.

We will be able to remain in our current housing until June 1st, for which we are grateful.

Your prayers are such a blessing and encouragement to us, thanks for your continued
intercession on our behalf.

A Request for Prayer

Dear Family and Friends,

As many of you know, our home in Minnesota has been on the market since last July. Jon started his new job here in Evanston on September 1st and our home has yet to sell. Throughout the last eight months, we have never doubted God’s leading us to serve at Evanston Bible Fellowship and relocate to the Chicago area. However, our housing situation continues to be a growing challenge in our lives. After lowering the price of our home many times and offering a variety of incentives, we have yet to receive an offer. While we continue to trust in God’s sovereign goodness, we are in a dangerous place of growing more tired spiritually, emotionally, and physically by the day. Many of you have offered to help us and have helped us in a variety of ways, for which we are very grateful. Still, we continue to believe that the most important thing we can ask for is your prayers. Desiring to earnestly and intentionally seek God on this matter, we will be setting aside this coming Friday, April 27th as a time to fast and pray regarding our housing situation. We ask that you would join us as you feel led.

Some specific ways you can pray for us are as follows:
1. the sale of our home
2. wisdom for us as we have many decisions and choices to make regarding this matter: we want to be good stewards of the investment of our home, we want to sell it for a fair price, we want to trust God’s timing, we want to make wise choices for where to live in the mean-time.
3. for our family during this continued time of transition.
4. that the Lord will lead us to the right home in the right place.
5. that God will be glorified in our actions and attitudes regardless of our current circumstances.

Regarding Friday, we would invite those of you in the Chicago area to join us in praying together at our home in Evanston from 7 pm to 10 pm. We are currently living at 2316 Brown, Evanston on the second floor of a two-flat. Feel free to come and go as your schedule allows.

Please feel free to pass this along to others who would be willing to pray with us. Thank you all for your love and support.

Still trusting in His sovereign goodness,

Jon & Laila

A brief update

Sorry we haven't kept up with our blog..... we have limited email and internet access these days.
We remain in Evanston, renting a 3 bedroom apartment that is acutally the second floor of a large home on the NW side of Evanston, a beautiful area.
Jon and I will travel to MN briefly on the 11th , returning on the 13th to pick up some of our things..... spring clothes, etc.
Our home in MN has seen many showings, but no offers as of yet. Please continue to pray for a quick sale this spring so we can move officially to Evanston and begin to settle in more permanently.
Hopefully we'll have some good news to share soon,
Laila, for the Bechtles