Family and cake - It doesn't get better than this!

Happy Birthday Uncle Jeff and Ashley!

(Noah, Ashley, Jeff, Cassie , Mary and Vickie)

Aunt Vickie showed Hope the closet full of beautiful clothes that people bought for her and loaned to us to keep her warm. We are used to the tropics..and could not aquire warm clothes and coats in the Philippines for our trip. Thank you all so much! God's blessing multiplies back to you again and again!

Aunt Mary!! Hope missed you so much and was thrilled to see you!!

Seth is Hope's cousin. She thinks he is pretty terrific!

Seth playing G.I. Joe with Hope : )

Aunt Vickie with arms full! Snuggling with Hope and Elsa.

Hope prayed for snow. She said that God sent the snow for her! I am sure He did. She had a blast!

Nate and Hope had lots of fun shoveling the drive way at Vickie and Jeff's house. Nate was used to plowing snow for 20+ years and never having time to play in it until we sold our business. This is the first time in all those years that Nate was able to actually enjoy it. They both enjoyed their day!

Hope with her Grandpa (Kelly's dad) Grandpa is showing her how to

work the flashlight and how to make paper airplanes. We all enjoyed our

visit to Grandpas house!

Hope and her Aunt Mary playing at Grandpa's house.

Hope loves her Aunt Mary!

Hope knows how to get her cousins to play... they all usually end up

on the floor playing with her : )

Nate, Kelly and Hope with Nick and Aubrey (Kelly's nephew and wife)

Vickie, (Kelly's sister) Nick, Aubrey, Hope and Kelly at Vickie's house.

So wonderful to be together!

Hope and her little cousin Elsa playing in the snow in Illinois.

Nate made Hope a snow tunnel - hours of fun!

Hope with 7 other little girls from China. It was a humble time to see them all together..how God brings families together. And these girls together to play for an afternoon. So special!

Hope sharing at Elevate Kid's Church with Pastor Heidi. Hope said she

loves to preach!And when she is a grown up, she wants to be a missionary

to China and tell the people there that God loves them.

So far, Hope shared at 3 kids churches. That is a great start for a 5 year old!

Together with our very dear friends, Sarvar, Bayum and Seyera.

We had missed them very much. We were so blessed to be able to visit

with them and share a meal. We treasure our friendship with this kind family. We pray God will bring us together again soon.

Father, keep them in Your loving, tender care, in Jesus name, Amen.

Our hearts over flow! It is amazing to us to be in the midwest of the United Sates at Christmas time - of all times! To come so far from Asia and to be together with beloved friends truely amazes us at how God works out the details of our lives. Melissa and Sevda - We love you!

Oh, Christy - You are a beautiful friend! We thank God for your friendship and support. We treasured our time with you. The Lord bless you in all things.

Nate and son Tony. So great to be together again!

Nate, son Abe, grandaughter, Jeneyah, Hope and Kelly.

We all had a wonderful visit! Such a blessing to be together again.

Arms full of love!

Nate and daughter Hope and grand daughter Jeneyah!

Hope had a very fun time visiting with her niece, Jeneyah. They were inseperable... like they had not been apart for 15 months.

Good byes.

Sweet Jeneyah, we love you and look forward to holding

you in our arms again..soon we pray..until then, we hold you

in our heart always, babygirl. We love you so much.

God, please keep this one in Your tenderest of care...

Hello Maryland!

The towns in Maryland are filled with history. The narrow

streets are so quaint.We were blessed with this trip to the

East Coast to be with our ministry leader and to rest before

returning to the mission field.

Thank you Amy!

The scene from Michael and Amy's after a light snow fall.

While visiting Michael and Amy in Maryland, we had the honor

of praying with this father and son for physical healing.

They both had back problems and all pain left and

they had more flexibility than before. Thank You Jesus!

Our quick glimpse of the White House - But oh SO inspiring. Thank you

to all the brave men and women who serve and protect our nation.

God bless you and keep you.

This was our greeter at the Museum of Natural History

in Washington D.C.

Kelly and Hope enjoying the exhibits.

Auntie Amy and Hope having a fun time at the museum.

Our time in Washington D.C. was short but we are so thankful for it. We had a great day in our nation's capital. Hope has tucked away some special memories ... we all have.

On the road again back to California for the last leg of our furlough.

God's Love at Christmas and Always..

As I stood looking at this Christmas tree that was part of a yard sale where we were letting go of some of the last things we had stored, I realised that it would be the only tree I would light this year.
I wondered if, when and ...where I would light another.
Christmas of 2006 was this tree's first and last Christmas in our home in Illinois where we were born and raised. Our last Christmas at home as we new it.
As this tree stood lit in a friend's drive way, I thought back over the events that led us here.
In December of 2006 while celebrating Christmas with my side of the family at my mother and step dad's house I had the feeling that it would be the last one of its kind.
How true that was.
The following November we decided to move to California while visiting there and stayed.
My step father died 2 weeks later and my mother died on Christmas day.
I knew the call was going to come telling me that my mom was gone and I wanted to be as close to God as possible when it did. One way I do that is to go to the beach.
God knew and He did someting so special as I sat bundled against the cold, something He knew I would understand. Showing His love for me and mom, as I received that call, the sky lit up brighter than any Christmas tree ever could, brighter than a thousand - He lit the skies over the water with a brilliant bright heavenly silver as far as the eye could see. A silver like nothing I had ever seen before or since.
Mom had always loved Christmas. That day she would celebrate Christmas in Heaven.
Whenever and where ever in this world I light another Christmas tree of our own, in the Philippines where God has called us as missionaries or in some other place, I will think of mom's love and of God's love and the hope that we have in that Love.
Although I know our Christmases will not be the same as they were, I pray that they will always matter. And that the most important thing is that we all one day, together , will celebrate Christmas in heaven.

May God's tender mercies and richest blessings be made known to you and yours this Holy Season.

With Love,
Kelly Troia


Mom quoted this scripture most -
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Letting Go & Moving On Into God's Call

Some of the last items that were left in storage - time to sell them too. Hope's contibution..the last of the baby toys.

How fitting that Nate would put our news letter on the fridge durring the yard sale!

BeRenewed Life Church in Oakley, California

As Hope shared with the kids in childrens' church, we sharing with the congregation what we were doing in the Philippines and why.

Our power point presentation in the back ground - photos of our last 14 months over seas.

We were so encouraged by this warm congregation. It's wonderful to be a part of this churchwhile we are in California. Thank You Pastor Jim & Marcy & ReNewed Life for having us share the awesome testimonies of what God is doing in the Philippines!

Meeting Our Sweet Neice!

On the road again! This time it is a much anticipated visit..we get to meet our little niece for the first time! Little Elsa was adpoted from Russia almost a year ago while we were in the Philippines. Can't wait to hold her!! 5 more hours...

Finally there! Hope hugging her Uncle Greg! She is so happy!!

What a wonderful sight, Laura's baby in her arms. There she is!! Our beautiful Elsa!!

Elsa getting aquainted with her Aunt Kelly and cousin Hope.

The wonder of God's goodness and tender mercies... Two precious girls from different parts of the world brought together as cousins. We love God's family plan!

Kelly holding Hope and Elsa..a long awaited moment!

Thank You Lord for filling our hearts and our arms with these little girls!

Kelly, holding her precious niece, Elsa with her sister Laura and our sweet Hope at Ventura Beach for the sunset.

All bundled up enjoying the beauty of Southern California.

It is so cold but it does not stop the surfers.

Be it in Asia or America, we love the beauty of the beach.

This one is in Venture, California U.S.A.