2 Years Old!

On Sunday (27th), our little Adin turned 2 years old!  What a blessing he is to our family!

Almost a U.S. Citizen!

Yesterday, August 25th, Amrie had her scheduled interview for U.S. Citizenship.  Please understand... this has been a four-year journey - including trips here and there for doctors' appointments, biometrics, previous interviews, lots of $$'s, and hours and hours of work!  Well, her interview went very well, and her application for naturalization was approved.  They even immediately scheduled her for her affirmation ceremony, and it is only two weeks away (September 8th)!  Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude and praise to the Lord!  Thank you to each one of you who prayed!

Amrie's U.S. Citizenship Process

After over 4 years, and a lot of paperwork, quite a bit of expenses, and plenty of waiting, we hope we are nearing the end of the journey for Amrie to become a United States Citizen!  On Friday, August 25th, she is scheduled to appear at the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services in Philadelphia, PA, for an interview.  If all goes well with that, then she will need to soon (hopefully) attend an oath (or affirmation, in her case) ceremony, where she will become an official U.S. Citizen after making a pledge of allegiance to the United States.  She has already received permission to maintain her South African Citizenship, so she will have dual citizenship.  Of course, both of these are earthly citizenships and are under the jurisdiction of her Heavenly Citizenship! -Phil

Family Canoe Trip

In the midst of daily life and preparations to return to South Africa, we took time out to go on our first, family canoe trip.  We covered approximately 10 miles of Penns Creek, which took us about 5 hours.  It was a beautiful day, and we thoroughly enjoyed being in the Lord's beautiful Creation!  We were blessed (3 or 4 times) to see two bald eagles (see picture below).  (Thanks to the Richard Hughe family for loaning us their canoe!  It was a great blessing)

At the helm...

 First Officer & Mariner

It was a beautiful day!

We picked one of the smallest islands in the river, and stopped for lunch.

First Officer & another Mariner

We "chased" them down the river.

Nap time!

Provisional shade for nap time.

Priya trying her hand at paddling.

Antonie made great progress at knowing how to steer the canoe.

Birthday Ladies!

April is a special month with both of the ladies in our household having birthdays!

4 Years Old!

Mommy made me a jumper!

Geise Gazette Spring 2017

Prosperity Gospel... No! Or, maybe... Yes!

I was blessed and challenged by this verse once again, in my quiet time with the Lord this morning!

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (III John 2, NKJV)

I pondered this thought, "If this prayer was answered in my life, and my general well-being was a reflection of my souls condition, would I be poor and sickly or prosperous, healthy, robust?"

The prosperity of our soul is directly related to our moment-by-moment abiding in the LORD. (John 15:5)

I also pondered the LORD's words to the people of Israel:

"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;"

He continues with the recipe for life and true prosperity:

"that you may:

1. love the LORD your God,
2. obey His voice, and
3. cling to Him,

for He is your life and the length of your days..."  (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

I will love your O Lord, obey your voice, and cling to You, for you are my life, my everything!

-Phil