The Rowdy Ramirez's

Day 14

2011-07-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

I can't believe we are this far behind....I took notes each day, but didn't have time to sit down and write out our blogs completely and it seems I have so much to say...so...here is Day 14:

The hotel breakfast was AMAZING.....and of course, the boys barely ate. Why do I feel like I have to make up for the areas they are lacking in?!?!? I swear I have gained 50 lbs on this trip all because of their leftovers! We headed to Apostles Church in NY. JR Vassar is the pastor there and he was once a pastor at Lakepointe. If you know anything about the subway, you know they shut down certain trains for maintenance and also, not all trains run the same on the weekends. The original instructions I looked up on the web DID NOT APPLY today so here I was trying to wing it. I told the boys we were attempting to go to church and if it were God's will, we would make it before it was over. Stop reading here and decide whether or not you think we made it to the service. Now, if you think we made it, do you think we heard the service?

Well, if you said we made it on time, you are right! We were actually 10 minutes early! God allowed us to meet people, talk to the Vassar family, and grab coffee! The service spoke DIRECTLY to us. The boys and I have been trying to make this our own little "mission trip". Yes, it's been a vacation, but we want God to be glorified in everything we do. Sometimes, NY can distract you from your primary purpose in life. There are so many "things" we begin to desire, the boys saw how easy it was to forget about our "little goals" we set as a family. The sermon was about missioning in every are of our life! Wow! We couldn't believe we were given that reminder and encouraged to continue on! The people sitting behind us were from Carrolton, The greeter was from Allen, and we felt right at home listening to JR preach. This was just the refresher we needed to get through the rest of our week!

We headed to see Chinatown. We were a little overwhelmed by this so we didn't stay long. We headed to eat at the Soup Man's restaurant before the Broadway show Spiderman. Dayne fell in love with shrimp gumbo soup and asked if I could drive him home through Louisiana to have some more!

Now I have heard mixed reviews about the show Spiderman, but I am here to report WE LOVED IT! It was amazing. If you are looking for a lyrical, melodic, extremely intense show, this may not be for you. If you are looking for fun, exciting, adventurous, and "comic like" stage scenes, you will love it. The actors were talented and you could tell they enjoyed what they were doing!

Dayne wanted to get his birthday present so he headed back to the Disney Store to build Mater the Greater. I got it all on video, but then, my phone died before it was exported so we were pretty disappointed. They actually introduce you to the the store along with the vehicle you created. You get your own garage and key. It's just like Build a Bear only BETTER!!!!

We headed back to get the car and say our goodbyes to Bridget, Manny, and Jack. We didn't leave until 8ish so we just got on the road and made it a few hours to a hotel in NJ. I guess I was whooped! Much love to NYC, Bridget and family, and to God!

Blessed and highly favored.......

....late, but here's Day 13 :)

2011-07-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

This was our day to run wild in the city on our own. Our tour guide taught us well so we ventured out alone to ride the subway and see the sites on our list! We headed to Liberty Island. Lots of history here....since 9/11, we have airport security just to get on the ferry. What I scheduled for a short "run over here to see this" turned into an entire afternoon and lunch on the Island! We enjoyed every minute of it though. Of course, every experience we shared became memories that will last a lifetime! We had a man in front of us that needed a little extra security check. He had some liquid in a bottle they were concerned about. I am 99.9% he told them it was used to make meth. He told them more than once and I really think he thought he was going to be arrested, but they let him go through. They did not take the liquid from him either. Hmmm. Is all the security really necessary when they take your word for it that it's not an explosive liquid, just chemicals for meth? Bless his heart. He was just being honest. So, he made the prayer list immediately.

We rode to the Island and Cole chose the seats in front of the fire hose. Coincidence? I think not. There was some concern about an explosion. JK! We did joke about having to be the fireman and saving the day if necessary. It was amazing to ride up to the Statue and ponder on the thought of the immigrants that came to America settling here with hopes for a brighter future. I teared up thinking about how grateful they must have felt. I don't know if my gratitude compares, but just sharing this with my boys overwhelms my spirit. We spent the afternoon walking around the Island and headed back to the city after we ate.

We took a cab to the hotel because we just had to experience driving in this city. Our taxi driver gave me his cell in case we needed him again and we had a great time talking to him! He has been here from Pakistan for 20 years and has started drinking and smoking again because NY is too stressful. The way we got around in that car was stressful enough for me to rethink sobriety. he was next on the prayer list!

Our hotel was amazing and we had a perfect view of the empire state building! We just dropped our heavy backpack off and headed to the city to see more sites. We went to see Madison Square Garden because Dayne and Cole watched the Justin Beiber movie the night before and wanted to see what all of the hype was about...we ended up going into Borders to shop for Dayne's summer book he has to read. We ended up meeting two guys that loved comics and skateboarding. We talked about Carnage and his origin and bought Dayne a book. We stopped and grabbed dinner before heading to see the Empire State Building. We enjoyed the Skyride and then enjoyed the observation deck. I started tearing up in the ride and Cole looked over at me and said, "are you crying"? I was like, no, no.....something's in my eye! But really I was again overwhelmed with gratitude to the God that loves us so much He gives us the desires of our hearts. I really wanted to see the lights in NYC. I know this sounds silly, but without doing anything else, I just wanted to stand in the middle of Times Square at night and see the lights surrounding me! The reality that I would actually see them from the top of the ESB WITH DAYNE AND COLE was sinking in. Every part of this vacation has been a dream come true. EVERY PART. I just kept wondering if we would really get to do the next thing on the list!

One more prayer request....the sales people for the Skyride were also Comic fans (Cole carried his spidey action figures everywhere) and so we ended up giving them tracts.

We finished off the night in Times Square at the M&M's Store, eating Hershey candy, and closed it down by watching the end of SNL at the hotel. Thank God it wasn't wildly inappropriate! For some reason, watching it in NY feels completely different knowing it's happening LIVE right down the street!

Great day for the blessed and highly favored family! Pray for Sophia!

Pics from the Trip....

2011-07-24T22:09:00.000-07:00

Road Trip Day 12

2011-07-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

Day 12:

Cole wanted to get up to go to the Today Show to see the free live concert at Rockefeller Center. Cee Lo Green was the performer today and Cole loved The Voice. I woke up at 5:30, started waking him at 6, then 6:30, then 7 was his last call. He changed his mind since he was so tired! We slept in for a little while longer then headed into the city.

Wow! A day of shopping basically! Toys R Us, Element, Billabong, and FAO SWartz! The Apple store is remodeling so we didn't feel like it was the most appealing place to go to! We rode the Ferris Wheel at Toys R Us and had lunch at TGI FRidays. We went tosome souvenier places and walked to Central Park. The honking, pedestrians, crosswalks, sad people, diverse culture, and pure chaos is so much to absorb here. It is truly an experience. To think the original immigrants that settled in NY would build this is bewildering.

As we were walking to Central Park today, Dayne and Cole referenced TV show after TV Show. I got so irritated that the boys can't talk about anything but TV!!! Even the stuff we have seen like Rockefeller Center has to have a movie reference! "Hey Mom, was this the place in Home Alone"? "That's like the part in Meet Dave where Eddie Murphy...." LOL! So I griped at them in my most mom tone and said they needed to stop watching so much TV! Then I made a resolve that when we get home...yada yada yada. You know the drill. All of the sudden, these thoughtcome rushing in...the entire time I have been here, I have thought of things like Laverne and Shirley (when I see an apartment underground), sung the Green Acres theme song in my head, texted the picture of the bull of Wall Street to Frank because it was in the movie, The Other Guys and the boys wanted him to see it.....all of these things I had thought and done were directly from TV and movies. I'm humbled. As a matter of fact, I remembered telling them about this day care that was in the movie The Pursuit of Happiness. Even though I wasn't sure it was the on, I said it was just because it looked just like it! Wow. Like I said. Humbled.

We are staying with Jack tonight while Bridget and Manny have a night out on the town! We have had a great time watching Justin Beiber movie here at the house. We've planned a big day for tomorrow so we better get some sleep!

PRAISE: Sophia just had the ventilator removed and cried for the first time in 5 days! PRAISE OUR GOD!!!! HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE!!!

Blessed and Highly Favored......

The Rowdy Ones

Road Trip Day 11

2011-07-21T18:19:00.000-07:00

Chicken literally falls from the sky in New York!

Okay, so only if you are sitting on a park bench under a tree where a bird drops the chicken from it's mouth down in front of you!
cole thought the sky was falling...LOL

We woke up with an excited energy to get the day started. Bridget and Jack packed up all of the fun baby stuff to cart around the city and we headed to see the Statue of Liberty. We took the Staten Island Ferry and got a great view of the city, the statue, and other islands. The massive ferry provided a great relaxing time to be grateful to God for allowing us to spend time with dear friends and reflect on the blessings we are experiencing. Well, we did all that after we realized we weren't on a ferry that actually took us to the Statue of Liberty. Oops! LOL! We put it down on the agenda to do Saturday! Still a great time and experience to learn more about the city!

Lunchtime provided us with some delicious hot dogs and churros. Oh and chicken from the kind birds in the trees up above! We got to experience the tourists, locals yelling, and people napping randomly. We headed to ground zero which is really now a construction site for the new WTC. They have the first 104 floors completed and it seems to be a massive undertaking. Everyone remembers where they were that day so it seems strange to tell Cole about it. He wasn't born yet, but it is still so real to me. It's a sad thought and questions still linger in my mind about it, but God is always the answer I find. We headed to see the Brooklyn Bridge, but didn't quite make it all the way there. NYC is the most distracting place! Time can go by so quickly when you want to stop and examine everything. Jack had made it all day and it was time to come home to some NY pizza and relaxing time!

Manny (Bridget's husband) skateboards so he took the boys to a new park behind their house. It is a quick walk to the local park and they met a lady doing a documentary. She asked them to come and skate tomorrow so she could get some video. This made their night! They had a blast! Dayne says it was the best part of his day!

Continue to pray for Sophia...report is good and she is making progress. Also, pray for our nation as a people of God. Another prayer request we received today is for Jeanette's dad who is in the hospital. Feel free to comment for your prayer requests as I have really been talking to God ALOT lately!!!!

Day 10 Continued....

2011-07-21T04:57:00.000-07:00

Awwww, after a good night's sleep I have forgotten everything I wanted to say about yesterday. As you can tell, the boys have not been as into doing their own blogs as I thought they would. They are basically sitting with me recounting the day and struggle with remembering the events by themselves! Boys? Let me know your thoughts on that one!

Anyway, we got up yesterday to leave. We were all packed and ready to load the car. Our estimated time to hit the road was 8 and we nailed it! That includes a sappy goodbye where I felt my heart being ripped out of my chest yet again! Much like Port Clinton goodbye, I just wish we could see our loved ones more often.

The boys and I headed to the partner church in Stoughton, MA to do some service work. Our intent in Boston was to come alongside the youth team that would be here missioning in Boston and serve with them. The timing was off a bit. They were here last week and we were on our own. I told them we would be glad to help in any way possible and I offered to pass out Sunday invites, clean the church, or whatever they needed! It just so happened the lady that was coming to clean Wednesday would b unable to make it and they really needed it done! So, we were BLESSED to do it. When I had told the boys earlier in the week, honestly Dayne was not excited AT ALL. As a matter of fact, it caused some serious strife! I am extremely excited to report that he sincerely apologized after we left from cleaning and he apologized for the very thing he did-he had a bad attitude. It was simple and minor....actually even expected! I am just amazed at his maturity sometime! Thank you God for my blessing!

After a nice lunch, we headed to NY. We quickly drove through Rhode Island. I think it was about a blink and then we hit Connecticut. The city just overwhelms me really. It just seems like a different typ of city than I am used to I guess, because I really don't think of myself as the suburbian type. Guess I am. As we drove up on co-op City, I just can't believe the mass amounts of people they fit into such small areas in the Northeast. My brain keeps going back to all of the needs of God's people and ho we are all the same underneath it all....

Trusty Tom Tom (called Susan) took us straight to Bridget's very nice apartment in Astoria where we had a delicious dinner, special time with Jack and Manny, and a great late night having girl talk! I love friends.....God has blessed me wtih many and everyone who knows me knows I am not always the best friend. Thank you all for your grace over the years. I have spent a lot of time reflecting over the last 24 hours about my life and all of the memories, good and bad. God has brought me through it all.

This morning I am burdened again by Sophia, but I want to continue to pray for the others listed before. Adding to the list?!?!? Grace Church in Boston. They are an amazing people with an amazing mission and they have large obstacles to overcome there. 99% of the people in their town don't know Christ. Pray for a movement of God. I want to see the number cut in half. That could be the movement of our nation.

As we pass through these old towns with historical monuments everywhere, it reminds me about what our country was built upon...In God We Trust. Our founding fathers built this country on Religious Freedom. Our society has taken that word Freedom to a level we never expected-having rights that ACTUALLY BIND US! There is no freedom without Christ. That is the freedom I choose to believe we started out with and I pray each one of us know that freedom in our hearts today!

God bless you and yours!

Blessed and highly favored....

Road Trip Day 10

2011-07-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

Day 10:

I want to post pictures so bad, but we just haven't had time to down load them yet! I have so much to post about today, but it's already midnight and I just wanted everyone to know....we made it to NEW YORK CITY!!!! Woo hoo! I will tell you all about it as soon as we can, but just know we had a great drive here and were BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED!

Continue to pray for Sophia! She was stable last report :)

To Be Continued......

Road Trip Day 9

2011-07-19T20:32:00.001-07:00

Day 9:

Moving right along to the Atlantic Ocean!!! We visited a nice beach here in Massachusetts where we could see the bottom of the ocean and discover sea life in the tide pools! We climbed rocks and saved crabs that were dying on land by throwing them out one at a time into the ocean! It didn't even occur to me until just now that I have seen one of those email forwards about a little boy saving the starfish one at a time. I will post it at the bottom of today's reading for you! I feel like this is a message straight from God to the boys and I!!! I can't wait to read it to them tomorrow!

We had a great time in the white sand, but the water was freezing! We were definitely not in the Gulf of Mexico anymore! We got home this afternoon and had our first real Boston driving experience. We showered and headed to the skate park where we got lost, were cut off multiple times, and never felt like we had a road large enough for all of the lanes they try to fit in it! I guess it's because this town is so old, the horses used to fit just fine between the buildings! We finally made it to the skate park where I was a bit shy about talking to the strangers. The skate parks we have been to haven't really felt very "open" for random conversations about God. This was no different so I just prayed while we were there and Dayne, Cole, and I had our own little ministry time together. It seems we are all getting a little tired and cranky with one another so we just talked it out and re-upped on our Lord list. We got real grateful again and made some heart changes. The rest of the night we spent some final time with this PRECIOUS family God allowed us to stay with....we ate dinner out at Doyle's (a pretty famous place here in Boston). It was no Cheers, but they have filmed movies there so it has something special. It was delicious and the family time was good.

We took a walk out by the pond that is across the street from Abra's house and the boys played in the "sugar bowl". It is a HUGE valley they use for sledding in the winter that was nicknamed sugar bowl since it fills up with snow! They ran down the hills and played while we hunted for bats. We found a few flying overhead and then came home to pack. We head to New York tomorrow and have a great rest of the week to look forward to. I have to say that I received so many blessings in Boston. Thank you so much to Abra, Daniel, and Simi for making our trip incredible.

Enjoy this story below and PLEASE pray for Sophia! She is in need of our prayers to get through this critical time as well as receiving COMPLETE HEALING!!!!

Blessed and highly favored!!!!

The Starfish Story
by Loren Eiseley

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a little boy, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The little boy was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?" The little boy paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean." "I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man. To this, the little boy replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die." Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

Discouraged he began to walk away. Suddenly the little boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "I made a difference for that one." The man looked at the little boy inquisitively and thought about what he had said and had done. Inspired, he joined the little boy in throwing the starfish back into the ocean.

Moral to the story: No, YOU can't save the world but you can make a difference. And That's reason enough for me.

Road Trip Day 8

2011-07-18T17:29:00.000-07:00

Day 8....Woke up early to hit the city of Boston. We headed to the Museum of Science to discover new things about this life! I know you might be thinking, "wait, they could do that anywhere"....Yes, we could, but could we do it for free? Ha! We had great free passes compliments of Abra Lou!

This museum was amazing! The most incredible thing I learned is about Nanotechnology! Google that! It is amazing what science can do. We headed over to the North end of Boston-the Italian neighborhood. We had incredible pizza, met a real live Italian mafia guy "Vinny Gold", had italian lattes, and I would bet a dollar that this one lady was having coffee talk in her Italian Pastry shop! Loved it!

We headed over to Paul Revere's house to see the oldest home still standing in Boston and we also saw the cobblestone roads where the great Boston Molasses Disaster took place. The aesthetically pleasing Rose Kennedy Greenway captured our attention, but not as much as the drunk we met who tried to sell us the most beautiful floral arrangement he had just picked from this city park specifically to buy Vodka and a beer. He only wanted three dollars and i admit, it was tempting. Unfortunately, I didn't have any cash on me so I couldn't support his habit. However, I did take the time to lend him my ear and listened to his story. I shared my sobriety of 14 years with him but he said he is not an alcoholic and he only drinks for fun. He actually seemed like he was having fun. He was very different from your typical homeless crazy guy. His name is Wayne, and he needs prayer and a spleen. Heading home, the kids stopped in the water park by the house and soaked their clothes (not Dayne, of course).

What a great day we had! Tonight has been a much needed time of relaxing with the kiddos....

We have a serious prayer requests and PLEASE PASS THIS ON FOR PRAYER: Pray for my friend's baby-Sophia. She is in the hospital and needs pray for a possible leukeimia diagnosis. God is big and we want to see him heal! Praise God for the VICTORY!!!

Blessed and Highly favored!

The Rowdy Ones!

Pictures

2011-07-17T18:31:00.000-07:00

Road Trip Day 6-7

2011-07-17T17:25:00.000-07:00

Two more days to write about of fun and excitement!

Day 6:
I didn't get much sleep so I needed to spend a lot of time in prayer on the way to Niagara Falls! I was so excited to take the boys because we didn't actually plan this part of the trip until we were in Port Clinton! We were overwhelmed with excitement. The Falls blew us away. I had no idea this would be on our way. It just never occurred to me so I think having no expectations caused it to become the height of the day! We calculated the time it would take to see if we would be able to go see my dad's grave and guess what? We did! We drove to Glens Falls, planted a nice little mum, cleaned out some of the weeds, and drove on into Boston. The funniest part of the grave site visit.....Cole farted standing on the grave. I know, I know. This seems disrespectful right? But if you knew my dad, you are also seeing the same smirk on his face that I was! Ha!!! It was PRICELESS!

We finally made it to Boston around 8:30. We stayed up till 12 talking and catching up! We enjoyed some hilarious youtube videos together and learned that Dayne learned a lot about our judicial system from none other than ERNEST P. WORL in Ernest Goes to Jail. No need for mom to explain. We proceeded to get the best night's sleep!

A couple of key points....God Gave me a few scriptures today:

Proverbs 1:8 and Psalms 18:1-2

Day 7:
Church day! Well, we didn't actually go today because we weren't sure of which church to attend! We finally figured out which one Lakepointe has partnered with and we just didn't have enough time to drive over and attend the service. Even though I was sad about it, I e-mailed them to see if we will be able to assist them this week while our student ministry team is here. We will keep you posted!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, well, the city of Boston, we went to the Freedom Trail, had pizza at Boston Common Park (which is the first public park in America, est. 1634), Cole laid down in Frog Pond fully clothed, Dayne was almost seriously run over by the trolley tour, and the Duck tour tried to attack Cole. As we are being mindful of doing Random Acts of Kindness, we checked on a possible dead situation. however, he was not dead. Yeah. We would have gladly called Mr. Peppermint for a rescue if needed. It was not necessary thankfully.

We enjoyed Starbucks at the giant steaming tea kettle and watched a few street performers. Cole joined in the show as the one white guy who survived the leap of death. Videos to follow!

Road Trip Days 4 and 5

2011-07-17T16:39:00.000-07:00

Been too busy for the Blogger, but can't wait to update everyone!!!

Day 4: The most exciting part of the morning was waking up to the waffle maker in the hotel! Cole went to sleep the night before saying he couldn't wait to get up just to make his waffle. Dayne got an extra special treat-they had BLUEBERRY waffle batter too! So both boys got up early, at breakfast, and helped load the car so they could go right back to sleep! We had a long driving day ahead of us so I enjoyed my quiet time while they slept and we stopped to use the Wi-Fi at Mc D's to find a skatepark we could stop at for our break in the afternoon...we found a great park in Greenfield, IN. We loved the little town! The park had some teenagers there so I said hi. I offered them some cold sodas and I think it officially scared them off. So, I'm not cool and we get the hint. Anyway, it was a great break and a really beautiful park.

We finally made it to Port Clinton that evening with the family! Wow! We had the most amazing visit! We had wonderful hosts, fantastic food, and a GREAT LAKE!!! Yep, that's right. The Great Lake Erie! We had a picnic at the Lighthouse with our Bubba Burgers (except for the one that was a special Bubba, but not really a Bubba because it changes everything if you take off the BBQ and replace it with mayo. The kids had a great time running around the park. Dayne skateboarded some more outside the house and the dog was waiting on him at the door! I think the dog fell in love with Dayne!

We really enjoyed our time in Port Clinton and would love to go spend a week with our family next year!!!! We will see where God takes us!

Day 5:

I told Mawmaw she must be heartbroken every time she leaves those kiddos because it was AWFUL to say goodbye to everyone! We loaded up and headed to Cleveland to meet up with Uncle Carl and Rock out at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Now, I guess I didn't think this day through, but it had to be the most uncensored day of the trip. I guess there will always be sex, drugs, and Rock N Roll. It seems we learned about overdoses, saw inappropriate images, and of course saw lots of artifacts in the museum. This became a great time to teach the kids a few things about the world and discuss them in a positive way.

We were heading to eat lunch at a local hot spot and we drove right by a skate board park! After lunch, we headed back over there to let Dayne and Cole skate. After talking to a few locals about the weather, we complimented the skills we saw and headed back to the concert...

The boys asked if they could go backstage and Uncle Carl said YES! Cole was in awe over the stage itself and they even played the drumset that would later be played in the show! They felt like superstars and enjoyed everything about the concert experience. They love being kin to the fancy guy on the stage and knowing the guy next to him! It was incredible to watch Bub perform and see how amazing his stage presents has blossomed! After the show, the boys celebrated by taking a shot! Yep! They took a 5 hour energy shot for the first time. They crashed within 5 minutes of driving down the road to head toward Buffalo.

Guys, we are BLESSED and Highly Favored! God is taking care of us and we thank you for your prayers! We didn't do much ministry today, but sure enjoyed time with family. I felt like we were ministered to today!

Already Behind

2011-07-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

Only on day 5 of the trip and already so far behind! We are safe and elated so check back Sunday evening for the full stories!
Just haven't had time to post since we have spent incredible time with family!

Blessed and highly favored...

Road Trip Day 3

2011-07-13T19:02:00.000-07:00

Wow! It was really our first official day on the road! We started bright and early-up at 6AM and on the road by 6:24! That'll get old real fast!

The boys went right back to sleep and I spent a good hour or more with God. What an awesome time I had with the Lord! Fears have been in the back of my mind about this trip. Carting precious cargo across the country comes with false events appearing real. God diminished these fears replacing them with total trust in His outcome. However, by mid-day, I lost my religion with Cole and disappointed myself in my lack of evangelism!

Our original destination was a skate park in St. Louis. Driving downtown to find it, I suddenly felt like I was heading to Cornerstone to feed the homeless. Immediately I took back the fear (claiming it was wisdom, which I still believe might be true), and we headed to the next touristy option-the Arch in St. Louis! Cole claimed a fear of heights to avoid going to the top, but with little coaxing from Dayne, he chose to go.

On the way out, I told the boys we needed to give out a tract so they watched how I did it and we talked to a family heading into the monument. We gave them instructions on which side to enter, told them we were on a Road Trip, and handed them a tract to evaluate theirs! They were open to receiving the message and I told the boys we were going to start a prayer list for everyone we talked to about Jesus!

We headed over to the hotel to put our stuff away and then ended up at Six Flags. After the rain shut down the rides, we headed to the hotel pool to spend some family time. This is the best part.

Sitting with different families in the hot tub, we met an 11 yr old named Isaac. Yes, it is spelled just like the Bible name! Through conversation, we discovered he doesn't know Jesus. I don't mean that He hasn't accepted Him. I mean LITERALLY that he just found out who Jesus was historically at an art gallery days ago! I took a minute to talk to him about our need for a savior and he was very receptive. His 16 yr old sister said she knows the Lord so I encouraged them to talk more about it.

So, pray for the "family at the Arch" and for our new friend Isaac. We also ask for prayer for Melanie who is going through a divorce and safe traveling for our new friend, the youth pastor from California!

What an adventure this has already been! Blessed and Highly favored......

Dayne's Blog:

Today we didn't get to go to the skate park because it was closed but we got to do the Gateway Arch and Six Flags. Right when we were going to get on the Batman at Six Flages, the park closed down. We got to spend a relaxing evening at the hotel.

Cole's Blog

Mom and Dayne covered it all. The End.

Road Trip Day 2

2011-07-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

Spent the day in Oklahoma with the family. We had some Internet issues so we couldn't post. We will update at the next wi fi hotspot.

So we need to catch up! Cole did a great video blog from yesterday, but we had technical difficulties so maybe we will will figure it out later on that one! As for me, I was able to spend time shopping for our snacks and food we will eat on the trip. The boys and I looked over the tracts we planned to pass out. We began reading the book Heaven is for Real, and we are trying to stay in a place of deep gratitude for God allowing us to take this trip!

Here is Dayne's blog:

Day 2:
We are still at Memaws to leave in the morning and there is a huge thunderstorm. I'm excited for tomorrow so we can go to a new state for me.

Heading to the next post!

Road Trip Day 1

2011-07-11T20:35:00.001-07:00

Today started out with a big "sleep in" time! I couldn't get the boys up to help me get out of the house and I really thought they would be so excited that they wouldn't be able to sleep! This probably won't be the first time I am wrong about something on this trip. I am sure this will be a big time of learning more about each other as we go! Go family time!!!

So I had the boys type up their blog entries on the iPad that our gracious friend Stefani loaned us for the trip! Their entries were short and well, sweet, I guess. Dayne actually created a bunny so here it is:

Daynes blog

I am at my great grandmas so we can drop off the dogs and take a break from driving. I am excited about going to NY
   () ()
   . .
   --
(0) (0)
   ( )
c( )
   (!) (!)
Lol. I made a bunny :)

now, Here is Cole's:

Cole's blog

Took a break.

As you can tell, most of the posts will have to come from me, I guess.

I have one great story to share of the day. We stopped to let the dogs out of the car and take a break. I was wearing my new t-shirt from SOUL church that my buddy bought me yesterday. It says "Jesus Squeezes" on the front. As it sounds, these are Gods' hugs! This precious, sweet woman said she like my shirt so right then and there, I hugged her and showed here a 'Jesus Squeezes'. It was a DIVINE APPOINTMENT! I felt like God was encouraging me in our journey to be bold and tell others about His love!

I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring. Here is a great scripture to ponder on:

Romans 5:18.

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.

It's that simple! This scripture goes great with the message from Pastor Steve at LP yesterday!

Keeping you posted on God's progress....

Summer 2011

2011-07-10T17:40:00.000-07:00

It's already been a crazy year and six months have flown by since our last post. We've gone through winter and spring, losing my job, getting my job back, transitioning into middle school, and promoting to 4th grade! Our blessings are countless, and we are grateful for the air we breathe! We about to embark on a trip many only dream about!

For the next three weeks, we will skate across America. How did this trip come about? Well, I am just positive my friend in New York will want to move back to Texas with her baby very soon. I casually mentioned a desire to visit her while she is still there and two Rowdy boys said I was not allowed to go without them. So, our family decided we needed to go together and since we really couldn't afford to fly and then do much when we got there, it turned into our own little family adventure.

The next three weeks we will be stuffed in the little car for many hours and days at a time. We will be researching the hot spots as we go and stopping at many Skateparks to show off our skills and tell others about Jesus!

Stay tuned for updates as we go along. Also, pray for us as we want to be obedient to what God's got planned!

Wow, It's been a while! Get this.....

2011-01-06T07:55:00.000-08:00

Here is my most recent testimony of God's goodness!

Searching for words to describe the past year, I find myself speechless. For all who know me, you know this is next to impossible! Rarely do I find a moment to just be quiet. It seems these last few weeks, I have done just that. I have wanted to sit and write out a “testimony” for the Lord but I don’t want to bore others, yet, I can’t discount what He has done in my life and I feel responsible to let the world know of His goodness to us all!

On December 4, Shane roped me into volunteering for the Children’s Parade downtown as a clown. The week before, we attended “clown school” at Children’s Medical Center. Walking in the front doors, I instantly felt a since of gratitude and heartache. I saw the beautiful trains and scenery surrounding me and realized how the hospital masks the harsh reality of illness with aesthetically pleasing scenery. I thought of my own children and how blessed I am that they are healthy, happy, and here with me to live freely!

I woke up the morning of the parade to one of the most horrific dreams I have ever had. I felt like the Lord was asking me to be faithful to Him even if He stripped me of everything that mattered to me in this world. I felt He wanted me to see what is important to Him in my every day life. A verse from a song came to my mind over and over: break my heart for what breaks yours. The things in this life do not matter. My dad’s friend wrote a poem for him shortly before he died called, “What have I done with this day of Life”. Each day we wake up is a gift from God and we hear that all the time. I just felt like God wanted me to do something different with “this day of life”.

I was very disturbed by the dream and even cried a few times throughout the day when I thought of the pain it caused my heart. I can’t say I did anything different with that day of life. I really can’t. I talked to a couple of friends about it.

Monday night, we were in stop and go traffic and I ran into a woman. I felt terrible about it as I had just been rear ended in October. I assured her I had insurance and thanked God we were all okay. We exchanged information and drove off. Cars weren’t towed, ambulances were unnecessary, and everyone was safe. Of course, the dream I had was haunting me a tad. I really believed God’s goodness and mercy were following me. I truly believed He had protected us all.

On December 8, when we found out we had been burglarized, we were at piano lessons. My neighbors discovered the gate open and called us. We prayed for the robbers, we thanked God we were all safe, we prayed for our hearts to be healed from any losses, I thought to myself-it’s just stuff.

We walked in to find our house a mess. They took our trash out of the 50 gallon trash can to use the trash can to take all of our valuables and our dogs had made a terrible mess all over the house. I just kept thinking, ‘it’s just stuff’. I told the kids we would get everything back and not to worry. Seeing the broken window made us uncomfortable, but finding a glove in the living room that belonged to the “bad guys” creeped us out! My neighbors helped us throughout the entire ordeal. They stayed with me until the police came. This was very noble since it took the police such a long time!

The next morning, Dayne expressed sadness for the robbers. His heart was just broken for the people who would steal from others. He showed the wisdom of a real man of God . I was so blessed by his attitude. Later that night, he wept on the couch because of his own loss. He cried and said how bored he was because he would normally be playing this game or that game, etc. His 12 year old self was broken hearted, and it broke my heart too. I wanted more than anything to be able to give them back all they had lost. As Dayne put it, they took 3 years of Santa gifts!

The following Sunday night, we came home to find our oldest dog had passed away. I don’t know exactly what happened. It could have been old age, but she wasn’t very sick so I still wonder if she might have eaten something in the trash that she just couldn’t handle. I will never know, but I do know that I had two devastated children on the back porch. I laid my hands on them and just said to myself, “we are all still here”. I just kept thanking God for His provision and protection. We were all safe from harm. I did feel like I was being stripped of quite a bit and the boys were really enduring some hardships. A few days later, Cole gave us some great wisdom from the lord. He shared Romans 8:28. To be honest, I don’t even remember the exact conversation, but he assured us that God would use all this for His good for those who are in Christ Jesus! I agreed and believed it with him!

On Thursday morning, December 16, 2010, Psalm 23:6 was our “scripture of the day”. We read our daily scripture on the way to school everyday and this one we all had to critically evaluate: surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Goodness and lovingkindness? Not from our worldly perspective! This had been far from what we were experiencing! As a parent, I have to decode this scripture for my kids. Sometimes we read things that I just have to say-that doesn’t seem true in our life! BUT….this one made me think. What is HIS goodness? What is HIS lovingkindness? Is it things? Is it life-that we will live forever in this world? Is it “nothing bad will ever happen to you”? No! HIS goodness is His assurance that everything we have in HIM and through HIM is good. He is goodness. HE is lovingkindness. HIS spirit is what we truly desire and need. Wow! What a lesson I needed in life! I was able to see it so clearly this particular morning because I longed to believe His word. I was running out of stuff to hold on to! I have to know that when nothing else is pretty in this world, He is. He is precious to me.

That afternoon, I was asked to come by the office. My co-workers had taken up a collection for the kids and I. That sentence seems so small compared to the amount we received. I was absolutely stunned. Overwhelmed. Struck so emotionally sober. Grateful. Touched. Shy, even! Shy! I picked up the boys from the sitter and I handed Dayne the envelope. I asked him to count it for us so we could all know how much my work collected. I wanted them to see how loved I felt-how blessed and overwhelmed we were! BUT MOSTLY, THAT GOODNESS AND LOVINGKINDNESS SHALL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE! Really! Now THIS is definitely His goodness to us! The amount of employees involved in this collection do not equal the amount given. They numbers don’t match up. There are so few workers for that much money. Thank you God. Thank you God.

The story doesn’t end. We went shopping that night, of course. We replaced the number 1 items the kids wanted back! We made a list of everything they needed to purchase and we set out to have the best shopping spree ever! Over the next few days, we picked up this and we picked up that, and I said, “yes” more times than I will probably say for the rest of my life.

A few days later, I received a call from a friend at work. She had something she needed to bring by. Her daughter’s work at UT Tyler had taken up a collection as well. They brought over the most personalized and precious items for my two boys and even a personal gift for me including giftcards and checks.

I don’t even know where to stop or finish. I just get overwhelmed when I think of these complete strangers that gave to us.

My kids and I are still processing the situation. I can tell you that my kid’s final testimonies have been this: God uses all things for our good for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:28. Their stuff is bigger and better than what they had before and they are shouting it from the rooftops! Now, I am not sure how this will all glorify the Lord, but I can tell you I have two very grateful children who are floating on God’s cloud today!

I want to remain a pure and sacrificial spirit for my King and I want to leave you with one last thing. Today’s sermon finalized my completely sold out heart for God. I received another confirmation from God today that He loves me. Our sermon at church talked about how the Holy Spirit will prepare you for upcoming situations and I knew from the first incident after my dream that He had done just that. I knew God had prepared my heart for what was to come. I also know why He did it. He did it because He loves me. You see, I know that He died on a cross 2000 years ago for my sins. I know that He was born of a virgin, lived a blameless life, and was crucified. I know He is historically the only man who has ever come back to life after three days. But for some reason, I admit it. I need more than that. I need a God who loves me so much, that I can see Him still loving me today. In my real life. This is what he has done for me in 2010. He shows me He loves me for me. Just as I am-a sinner, undeserving of all of His goodness, and still in desperate need of a savior every day of my life.

If you are reading this and you want that same God, ask Jesus into your heart right now. I am not even going to make you read special words or repeat anything. If you have been searching, then you already know what to say. Confess your need, welcome Him in, and live the life He has waiting for you.

Thank you to everyone who has blessed my life in so many ways. I confess, this testimony is one that I feel has been preceeded by many others, but God has finally prompted me to write it and share it. I love you and look forward to serving a mighty God that “restores all the locusts have eaten”! Praise Him!!!

In Him,
D

Christmas Season

2009-12-12T06:48:00.000-08:00

We are so ready for the Christmas season...well, haven't shopped, ornaments aren't on the tree, but our spirit men are ready!!! The kids and I cut the tree down last weekend. We got it put up and lights are there, but the rest is unwritten. The tree is not what matters though....we have this season to be filled with God's love, gratitude, and passion for the One who saved us and gave us grace. Lord knows I have needed it this week! It seems every time we think we have something under control, we don't. But He does. Thank you God for your grace, mercy, pardon, and life you gave! We love and honor your birth this holiday season in a special way. We have come to know you in a deeper way this year and I have seen your children grow! Blessings to everyone this holiday season and may CHRIST be in your Christmas...

Testing a video

2009-11-03T09:26:00.000-08:00

Mother May I?

2009-05-11T19:08:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was the holiday where mom gets to manipulate the kids to the nth degree! Yep! "C'mon guys, it's Mother's Day"....."Just let mom nap"...."Pick up your rooms".....all that jazz. Funny story....this year I didn't have to ask or say anything. The kids are old enough now to actually be mindful and DESIRE to do things for me! I woke up sick so we did the best we could to go to church. I couldn't make it all the way through so we came home for a nap. They cleaned the car and were very quiet while I laid in the bed snoozing for 2 1/2 hours! Woot toot!! I woke up feeling ready to eat so as we traveled to our lunch in Forney, the kids talked sweet to me and just made me feel special! They were mindful to get along, love me, and just show me how special I am to them. We are all special to someone, but most of all God. I am so grateful to be a mom. Sometimes I still can't believe God trusted me enough with two! Wow! I know I need Him to help me raise them and I am so glad He does! God Bless!!!

Valentine's Day

2009-02-12T07:05:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching. Once again, I vow to overeat disgusting heart candy. I will not have my annual date with the kids on Saturday because of DI along with the fact that they will be with their dad. So....I will spend the day with a good friend. One I love. Yes, she is a she! Nosie Rosie! As I was sitting here this morning, I was thinking about being a "fool for love". Reflecting on those who have been a fool for love in my life along with times I, myself, have been a "fool for love", I smile. I smile to think of how silly I've been. I smile with desire to be a fool again. I smile to reflect on the true love I've found in God! I smile because LOVE is GOOD! Years ago, I was cynical about this silly holiday and called it simply by it's acronym. Now, however, I see this day as a true extension of every other day of the year. It is truly a day to celebrate everyone you love. With or without romance.

The true reason for this post today-my sons. My heart flutters when I think of the fool's I want them to be ONLY for the woman God created for them. So, I am sending out this special Valentine's prayer for my sons and anyone reading this who has a son....God, I pray that you teach my boys how to love like you. I pray they love their wives as Christ loved the church. I thank you for the tender spirits and gifts they were each given so freely, and I ask that you teach me to guide and direct these gifts to honor and glorify you. I thank you for being the best father they could have, and ask that you teach them to be earthly fathers as they both desire to have children. Grant them wisdom and knowledge that only you can! Bridge the gaps for the mistakes I have already made, and for gaps I may leave in the future. Place a hedge of protection around them to protect them from the fiery darts and attacks from the enemy. Teach them to be warriors against the one true enemy and not one another. Thank you, Jesus, for giving me boys. Thank you for loving us and me enough to grant me this love for my boys. Happy Valentine's Day!

Suckatash!

2009-01-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

What does that mean you wonder? It's been a while. It's just my way of saying it's been quite some time since I've blogged. I talk about blogging. I have numerous places to blog. I encourage others to blog. I just haven't blogged myself! So the first thing I need to say is P.S. I like applesauce. That is Dayne's favorite saying. It's probably from a tv show. Regardless, he wants me to text it to my friends. Every time I am having a conversation via text, he says it over and over repeatedly. I desire to incorporate it into the conversation, but it just never seems to make sense nor does it seem funny to randomly sneak it into the message. So, here is the perfect place to release the urge...P.S.I like applesauce.

Work is good. The kids are great. I really just needed to express my true, innermost feelings.

P.S. I like applesauce.

DeOnna Gloria

has it really been that long???

2008-11-18T12:59:00.001-08:00

We haven't posted anything for quite some time! We have been so busy! My job has consisted of several new computer installs and lots of training and being trained! Have you heard of social bookmarking? Do you want to let other people see your bookmark? Check it out at the delicious.com. You can use this site for sharing your bookmarks. Also, I have been seeing a lot of great videos on the Common Craft Show. There are so many cool things on the web that I would hang out forever on this thing if I didn't have kids! On that note, the kids are doing great! They are starting basketball season and Dayne is trying to get a DI team together. Well, I am, I guess. It is so much work that I just want to get started so I don't back out! We are so excited about this great time of year. We get to be thankful for all of our blessings and really take the time to grow in our hearts and give back to others. We will be getting some great pictures made soon and so I will post some cute pictures soon! Take care everyone!

It's time for the Fall!

2008-09-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

So much has happened since September 7.......we have had lots of family time, soccer, hurricane talk/prayer, and family issues with crazy emotions. I began reading a book I don't want to put down only so I can start it over again. It is called The Shack and everyone in the Christian community is reading it. It has such an elaborate use of imagery, I have to re-read lines to let them soak in and gather the beauty of the words that flow from the page. I want to loan it out, so I haven't been writing in it, but so desperately I long to underline sentence after sentence. One line in particular says "if rainbows talked or flowers growing made a sound, it would be the sound of her laughter". I replaced "her" with my boy's. Now, that is truth! Who doesn't agree that your child's laughter would sound like a rainbow or a flower growing. If you disagree, then Kiss My Grits!

Truthfully, I make this blog a sweet, fun page to share with family and friends so you can enjoy our life as much as we do. Our family dynamics have changed so much since my divorce. We don't always enjoy everything. Lives have been broken and our dreams, shattered. Through these dark times, we are holding on to Jesus, crying out to Jesus, and desperately seeking to fill ourselves with unclean filth to cover the abrasive cleaning we know we need. The Shack describes our ways and His ways, and our ways are so far from His ways. I can't even imagine. I really can't. One thought the book discloses is that of the past, present, and future. Yes, we all know we worry about tomorrow and regret, and hang onto the past, but Jesus is the present. He is the here and now God. I want to be the here and now servant. How do I train my kids this way? Help me model this for them. How can I teach what I don't even know? Friends and family, pull together to seek today's gift. I need my kids to do things different and I don't know how to train them. I want to be teachable, pliable, and humble enough to know I need all that God placed around me to take it one day at a time. I told the kids I haven't been on the phone much. The reason isn't because I don't want to be, but because I don't have as many useless words to say right now. I am tired of hearing myself talk about nothing, worry about tomorrow, or dwell on the past.

One last thing. An old friend called to tell me she received Christ recently. Her enthusiasm is very apparent and we instantly retreated to our childhood sister relationship we once had living next door to one another. We talked and shared the excitement God brings, and we both teared up at what her eternal life looks like now. Then, the dreaded subject of my divorce came up. She was confused on how I could be divorced as a Christian. After giving her the long of the short of things, I found my answer. I don't know. I am a sinner and I quit. I couldn't do it anymore and when I face God on the day of judgement, I will know for sure then, what the implications of this death truly were....until then, I ask God for healing and to grow my testimony in Him so that He would be glorified in spite of me. His grace is sufficient for me. His strength is made perfect when I am weak. All that I cling to I lay at His feet. His grace is sufficient for me........

Hard to update, but lots of thoughts floating!!!

2008-09-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

OK....where do we start? Let's go back a week and talk about our labor day fun! Who doesn't love the water? We didn't want the weekend to go by without hitting the lake so we went to the clearance isle at the local Big Lots and bought a 12 ft inflatable boat. I know what you are thinking....wow, they got a boat! Yes we did. No motor, just four sturdy plastic oars that allow us to row till our hearts are content. The kids and I were pumped! We blew up the clearance item (only $7.50) and carried it down to the "beach". As I stood at the water's edge thinking about the safety of my kids around all of the boats, I thought we shouldn't row too far out. When I eventually got myself up in the boat after pulling the kids out into the water, I also dumped in about a gallon of water. We seemed to be okay on the weight limit, but who knew the holiday weekend waves would be such a challenge to row against!!! Needless to say, the harder we worked, the more this seemed less like an enjoyable day at the lake, and more of a blur in the hot sun watching all of the real boats with motors and stuff pass us by....I decided it would be best to allow nature to take us where it led....so we proceeded to allow the waves push us into shore in the opposite direction of our belongings right into a group of drunk Hispanic men past the point of belligerence. The boys didn't even notice and began slinging mud they scooped out of the ground using the old oars as shovels! Cute. Real cute. I begin to whisper softly and row quickly away, away, away, from this unpleasant situation....We managed to escape unharmed, had a good old fashion mud fight, packed up our stuff, and came home. You can't say that we don't go out on the boat!!!

This last week, Mema came to visit. I got in real trouble today at church announcing all my laundry was done and the dinner was cooked every night-they thought I was a bad host. They don't know my Mema. If I had given her nothing to do, she would have been too bored an wanted to go back home. She did some much needed sewing and was a great after school caretaker as I worked 12-hour days!!! Friday nights Toby Keith concert was a blast because I knew I could go straight home and not have to worry about the kids! I really appreciated all of her hard work. Although I thought it was one of the worst weeks for her to visit, it turned out to be one of the best. She was so helpful, it helped her. She needs to be needed just like we all do and she talked the entire time-no one ever asked her to stop! The kids and I are great at tuning things out so we didn't mind a bit. I am privileged and honored that my grandmother who loves the Lord more than anyone I know kept me up telling me the sweetest stories of her walk with God. This week gave me moments in time I will never forget. I love my mema.

Updating the Blog...

2008-08-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

Back to school and going strong...We have hit the new year hard and fast. This week is a whirlwind. Now, I must say I don't have too much to worry about myself being in my new department. I can't believe how much I used to do this first week of school. Don't get me wrong, it is definitely a challenge, but in a completely different way! The boys are at two different schools which makes for interesting mornings and stirs up a little bit of chaos. We are just praying Dayne gets to move with Cole and all will be right with the world! Either way, I know they are both enjoying their year so far. Short story about Cole...after putting him in time out the other day he asked how long will he have to stay there. I asked him how old he was and he said 6. I proceeded to tell him he needed to sit out for 6 minutes so he decided he was only one! Yes, that is how adorable he is which makes it so hard to train him in the way he should go. Proverbs 22:6 hasn't met Cole!

We went to the Apple store for a workshop tonight. The kids learned how to make a truly fun presentation and burned their creation to a CD. I felt like I was forcing them to be in love with the Mac when it first began, but as they went along learning, they naturally fell in love just like they all do! You can't help but love a Mac. I wonder if that's where Mac Daddy came from. Or maybe, that's why they named it Mac. I may never know the answer to this and so many other interesting questions I have! One last thought...
Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind." Basically, it's made up of two separate words, mank and ind. What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
God Bless!!!

Busy New Job, New School Year, New Start

2008-08-15T21:21:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to report I have been back to work for the last week and absolutely love my new position! It is so confusing and I have no idea what they are talking about half the time, but my smile and nodding seems to be working! No, really, this new team I am with is fabulous! They are always reassuring me that they knew nothing when they started either. So, I am learning so much everyday and trying to pin down my new schedule. The kids still have no answer on where they are going to school, but they are accepting that their not knowing is OK! In the midst of all of this, I enjoyed a day off today riding the train. We visited an old soda fountain shop in Irving and went to see the new Star Wars movie. I used some serious coupons and we all had drinks, popcorn, and candy along with tickets to see the movie for $13.00. Sometimes I wonder how I get such great deals and that is when I am reminded-God is my Employer and I work for Him. He has the most benefits and the best salary! I miss my friends from my old school already, but have been asked to help with their technology too so I will get to visit much more than I originally thought! Dayne and Cole haven't expressed sadness about missing their friends but I really believe it will be a good time for change. Now, if anyone can force me to lose 30 lbs, I know I will be complete!!!

This is sort of a random entry, but I haven't been updating like I should. I will try to be more attentive for those nosy rosies out there spying on me!

Last minute summer fun...

2008-07-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

We are trying to cram in the rest of our summer fun before I go back to work. Tuesday was open to close six flags day! Today we hit the wet zone in the small town of Rowlett. Cole couldn't ride any of the slides because he was one inch too short. Needless to say, he was crushed. HOWEVER, it ended up to be such a blessing as we were forced to spend lots of time in the mini-lazy river. Monday was great fun swimming with my friends and their kids. The boys are so much fun! We have to clean the house for my pampered chef party on Saturday. That will be a BLAST!!!

Missing friends and a schedule...

2008-07-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I actually felt like it was time to get back on a schedule. I felt uneasy about what to do next. It seems we still have so much to do, but at the same time, I have never been 100% efficient on time management. We have our annual birthday swim party we are planning along with my pampered chef show. We have summer fun planned this week and next, but work will start early for me this year. The kids are not secure in their new school and we have no sound day care. Maybe I will feel more prepared when we have more concrete plans for our future. I am currently listening to a book on tape called Rosie Dunn. The narrator constantly reads to and from because they are always e-mailing and instant messaging! What a difference from 20 years ago! The literature really has a way of keeping up with the Jones'. Well, I think I am going to stop the audio to watch my Redbox. I have locked myself in my room eating junk food and listening and watching this rented entertainment. Till next time...

New Endeavors...

2008-07-14T22:32:00.000-07:00

New job, new school, new outlook! I am so excited to start my new job as an elementary technology facilitator! I couldn't believe I got the job. It was very sudden and unexpected. I wasn't looking to change and just thought I would apply when I heard about the opening. God knew it was time. The boys will attend school with their cousins and they are thrilled! They are also excited for me as well. I must say I have the sweetest boys! Since our return from the mission field, we have been reminded of all we have seen and continue to pray for the Mexico church, the people we met, and those who gave their lives. We are incredibly grateful for our lives and stand firmly on God's word each moment we are blessed to breathe in America. It is good to be home.

From the Mission Field

2008-07-09T21:50:00.000-07:00

Wow! We made it home today. There is so much to tell, I don't know where to begin. In the beginning...okay okay, a little mission/Godly humor! God moved in so many ways. I had no expectations, just a heart to serve and a desire to model and teach that to my children. I saw two little sacrificial hearts grow this last week in such an amazing way. The church we worked with cooked delicious food daily and we ministered to a neighborhood where they are trying to plant a new church. Each morning we walked el barrio and at night we had a fiesta with crafts for the kids and a movie to tell about Jesus. The local church led the worship (a song or two) and did mimes and skits for entertainment in the native language. We also did construction on the church in the afternoon so our days were filled morning to night and there were few breaks at any point. This made for quite an exhausting trip, but the Lord sustained us constantly and met EVERY NEED. Cold water was provided abundantly along with snacks and much needed prayer time for the group. Our morning devotionals were direct messages sent from God filled with the exact encouragement we needed each day. I know God called us there and I thank Him for sending my family. Our hearts are completely knit with the team and I can't express the relationships that have developed from what Christ brought together in fellowship. To my family-I have the most amazingly loyal brothers! Let's praise God for what He has done in Mexico through these boys! AMEN! I am so grateful for all of my family and friends who supported us through prayer, finances, and encouragement. We love you!

P.S. Schlitterbahn was AWESOME on the way back! We got a group rate and tax exempt prices so we had the BEST time. If you know me at all, you know a good deal makes me happy!

Oklahoma to Mexico

2008-07-02T22:20:00.000-07:00

We drove home today from a relaxing trip to OK to see the family. We were fed fresh vegetables that we picked from the garden (corn, green beans, and fresh berries along with jelly made from the berries). We could also drink the water and eat the ice! I hope we can reverse these skills tomorrow when we hit Mexico. I have spent most of the night washing clothes and re-packing. I also went through and organized all of the crafts we lined up to do with the kids. I honestly have no idea what to expect. I feel like many of the people who have gone before didn't have many questions so I wasn't sure what to ask. I am more of a "wing it" person, but would like a more concrete schedule with specific supplies that need to be brought. I have found this has been my first lesson in trusting God on a mission trip. The kids are so excited-not in a vacation way, but in the true expectation of what we are about to embark upon. They truly seem to realize the things we encounter there will be so different from what they know. I trust God will keep us safe and bring us home. I obviously can't sleep and decided writing to you would be a way to take everything out of my head so I could rest medicine! Thank you God for taking control of our lives and allowing us to be a part of your team!

Camp

2008-06-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

Off to camp for the weekend! The boys are experiencing worship, bible study, the lake with the "blob", and swimming with their friends and cousins! This week I wondered if it would be too much with all we have going this week, but for me it is a perfect opportunity to get ready for our trips and spend some time with Cole at night while Dayne is away. It is always nice to bond with them one at a time! We will post pictures of camp if we get some good ones. They each took a disposable camera so we will see if they are better than last year's photos!

Family Time

2008-06-25T17:12:00.000-07:00

Although we are preparing for the trip and have lots to think about, we manage to play alot! The girls have been over so much lately and I love getting to do girly things! We've made jewlery, painted crafts, and made pom pom characters. Family is so nice to have around!

Final Meeting before departure

2008-06-23T00:39:00.001-07:00

We had our final meeting today for our mission trip. WOW! Excitement, nerves, and planning kept my mind spinning. The boys were so attentive and willing to help out with any of the plans that needed to be made. We tried to get Cole to be the Van Captain, but he didn't think he was up for the job quite yet. Dayne is on the VBS/crafts team and is so excited to get all of the materials together. We are just waiting to see what we can get donated to take with us. Apparently, we will be walking the neighborhoods, doing crafts, and having fun festivities at night showing the Jesus video. We have so much to do before we leave-including church camp! I am so glad I am not a volunteer for the weekend! More later...

2008-06-14T13:36:00.000-07:00

We are headed to Mexico in a few short weeks. Yesterday we reviewed what it means to be on God's team. The kids really have a good understanding of what to say when you evangelize. They are amazingly pure, you know. It blows me away to watch their little hearts be filled with God's love so strongly at such young ages. It makes me sad to think of all of the hurt and pain of our own sin they will experience down the road. I pray that through their walk and knowledge of Christ, they will have a stronger tower to lean on than I did. I pray rebelliousness does not rule their hearts as they grow into the teenage years. Most of all I pray to be a godly mom the depend on in times of crisis that can pray through the storms of life with them. I want to be their earthly strong tower. And a skinny one at that!!! So, with that being said, I am eating a lot less this summer in hopes of catching the skinny train back to school. I have overwhelmed myself with the pounds and MUST stop the madness. Three days of starving and I do feel skinnier, but it will take a lot more. I owe my co-worker credit for motivation. She looked so good when school got out and I know she is doing even better since we have been home. She has so much self control. I don't even know what that is sometimes! Well, I will close for now. My bed has it's usual stack of clean items on it that need to find a home. I am about to free cycle my whole house! Love, hope, and healing!!!

2008-05-18T17:58:00.000-07:00

Here is our first entry! Life is crazy and we are so busy with the end of school and getting ready for our Mexico mission trip. There are so many days we don't make it home till 9PM! Summer will be here before we know it! We will try to keep our blog updated with cute stories and fun information!!! Thanks for reading our blog.