Re-Entry

Wow! Has it really almost been a week since we got back from Mexico? This week has simply flown by. Of course I returned to a PILE of work thanks to it being the middle of tax season so there's been no shortage of things to do. Thankfully, Darren kept the house under control so I didn't have to come home to that mess. Heck, he even did all of my and Jarrod's dirty laundry within the first couple of days after we got home. I think he was trying to show me how much he appreciated me. LOL!

Mexico was great! Amy, Linda and I had a blast. I haven't laughed that hard or that much in a long time (probably since last year's trip to Mexico with Kim and Sarah). Our kitchen ran like a well-oiled machine. Gordon Ramsey would have been proud! One of the ladies in the village (who spoke no English) came and showed us how to make homemade flour tortillas one day. We had so much fun learning and trying to make them. We all shared coffee together and even the language barrier couldn't stop us from learning about one another. It was such an uplifting experience.

In the area where we were working there are very few white faces. For the most part, the Mexican people we came into contact with were friendly and grateful for our help. There were some who looked at us as if we were oddities (or Llamas as Amy so aptly put it) and that is a really weird feeling. It's very strange to catch people peeking over store shelves at you as if you have three heads and horns. Now I know how animals in the zoo must feel.

Jarrod had a great experience right up to the last day. He accidently left his backpack lying in a chair outside one of our motel rooms on Friday night and of course someone picked it up. It had his ipod and the gift he had bought for Hannah in it. He was so upset. I'm not sure if he was upset about losing it or upset because he was afraid Darren was going to kill him for losing a $300 ipod (and his Bible Bowl text). There was even talk among the group on the way home of taking up a love offering to help pay for his funeral. I'm happy to report that, even though Darren did his fair share of yelling, ranting and raving, Jarrod is alive and well (and saving up to buy himself a new ipod).

I've been experiencing PMS (post-mission syndrome, as Amy calls it) this week. I've missed being with Amy and Linda and the rest of the group every day. We had so much fun. Also, part of our schedule every day in Mexico were times set aside for morning devotion, personal devotion, and daily Bible study. I really miss all those things. I'm not very good at making myself set aside time for these things on my own. I really have to work at it because of all the distractions in my life. I'm really missing the super closeness I felt to God last week and I'm trying hard to figure out how to work these things into my daily schedule. Also, it's kind of depressing knowing that the thing we worked so hard for and looked forward to for so long is over. I don't mean to whine. I just needed to express my feelings.

Thanks to all of you who prayed for us while we were gone. I wish that everyone could go work on the mission field. It is such an uplifting experience and you get so much more from it than you could ever give. If you get the opportunity to go on a mission trip, either out of the country or right here in the USA, you should definitely make the effort to make it happen. I promise you'll be glad you did!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

God is soooo good! I am totally excited as I type this. As of yesterday our mission trip is 100% funded. I'm ashamed to say that I doubted we could pull it off this year. $9350.00 is a LOT of money to raise. Oh, "me" of little faith. God showed me in a big way yesterday what He could do if I would just get out of the way and let go and let God.

We started out the day a little over $900 short. Julia and Sylvia were kind enough to help us put together a soup and sandwich lunch after church yesterday which raised $156. I was prepared to go to the mission team last night and tell them that we were going to have to come up with the rest ourselves, but before I could event get copies made of the financial report we were $190.62 OVER! The money just rolled in. Wow! God is AWESOME!

Thank you to everyone who has supported us financially and prayerfully. Please continue to pray for our trip!

Eggs In My Belly

Poor little Noah has been struck with eczema. It seems every winter that he has a little bout of of it. Last year there was a small patch at the corner of his mouth. The year before it was a little patch on one leg. This year it covers most of his stomach. He started complaining that his stomach was hurting last week and when I looked at it I told Darren that I though it was eczema. Then Sunday evening I asked Christy to look at it and see if she thought it was eczema and she confirmed my diagnosis. When we got home later Noah came to me and said, "Mommy, I got eggs in my belly and we need to get 'em out." I just looked at him for a minute and then it hit me....eggs in my belly....eczema.....and I couldn't help but laugh. I guess we'll be making a trip to the doctor next week since he screams bloody murder everytime I touch it or put moisturizer on it. Poor guy.

One Month & Counting

One month from today Jarrod and I, and 9 others from New Life, will be on our way to Monclova, Mexico with Faith and Works. I'm excited about getting to take Jarrod this year. I think it will be a really good experience for him and help him to realize just how blessed he really is.

Darren is staying home to babysit Jacob and Noah this year. I think the girls at church have started a pool and are taking bets on how long it will take for him to call in the assistance of one of the grandmothers. I don't know about calling in assistance but I'm betting that come 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning when he's trying to get the two of them ready for church that he'll be wishing he was the one on his way to Mexico!

Please be in prayer for our trip. We still have some money to raise and lots of preparations to make. Mexico here we come!

Getting Back to Normal

Well, today should be the start of the return to normalcy around here. The kids are back to school after an extended Christmas break and their normal after-school activities resume; I'm back to my four day work week and Noah is back to his normal routine at the babysitter's. It will be nice to have only the regular things to deal with for a while.

I've heard a lot of parents express how ready they were for their kids to return to school. I can't say the same. I was working so I didn't have to listen to all the fussing and arguing and I kept them busy doing laundry and cleaning house so that was good. It's nice coming home to a relatively clean (or at least tidy) house with no piles of laundry to face every evening. I'm hoping I can keep all of my little helpers on track.

Of course, tax season is getting ready to start and we're getting closer to our departure date for our mission trip to Mexico so things won't get too boring or mundane. There's always plenty to do even when things are "normal."

Reflections of Christmas

Well, Christmas is finally over. As I sit and reflect upon the past week I find myself experiencing mixed emotions. A part of me (a very large part, I might add) is relieved that it is finished and the pace of my life should start to even out a little. This Christmas season was the most hectic I can ever remember. We have been at a full run since before Thanksgiving. So, I will certainly not be sad to finally get to slow down and relax a little.

Another part of me is sad because my kids will never be this age again. By next year there may be one less believer in our house. Of course, that's not what Christmas is all about and the true meaning of the season is certainly stressed in our home, but all the same it saddens me that I may not see the joy and magic reflected in the eyes of another of my babies next year. Jacob is on the bubble and I feel sure that by next year his wide-eyed acceptance will have disappeared and with it will go some of the fun of Christmas morning. Of course, there's still Noah and hopefully, if the others don't spoil it for him, we still have several more years of Christmas excitement with him. He was absolutely precious this year. Everything about the season excited him...from dressing as a shepherd at the Nativity, to Santa, to the lights, to the Christmas specials on TV. We watched them all....Rudolph, "Crosty" the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Shrek the Halls and his favorite, "Snoopy" Christmas. He was especially excited on Christmas morning to find that Santa had eaten all the cookies and that the reindeer had gobbled down the "magic" reindeer food he and I scattered on the yard late Christmas Eve. He even got tears in his eyes and the little quivering chin when he opened the gift that he had most asked for, a "Nack" (Mack off the movie Cars). So sweet.

As I grow older I find myself cherishing these small moments more and more. Things I never took the time to notice before suddenly seem very important, especially as I realize that their childhoods are passing literally before my eyes and these days can never be recaptured.

I hope everyone had a joyous Christmas and enjoyed time spent with friends and loved ones. I apologize for not getting any Christmas cards or emails out. I just simply didn't have the time or energy this year. But know that just because you didn't get a card doesn't mean I wasn't thinking of you all because I certainly was. We are so blessed with a such a wonderful group of family and friends.

From our house to yours.....May you each have a wonderful, blessed New Year!

I'm dreaming of a wet Christmas??

What is up with this weather? Has the old addage changed to "December showers bring January flowers" or what? Our yard is literally a swamp. And it looks as though there's more of the way for this weekend. Frankly, I would rather have the snow!

We have lots of festivities planned this weekend. We're kicking off tonight with a Silent Auction at the Simons Middle School cafeteria to raise money for our Mexico mission trip. We have lots of cool items for bid so be sure to come check it out. Then tomorrow morning it's off to Morehead for a Bible Bowl bake sale at Wal-Mart. And boy it sounds like the weather is just going to be nasty! But we're not finished yet. Our Live Nativity is tomorrow night and Sunday night from 6:00-9:00 p.m. We're also having soup and sandwiches in the fellowship hall and our Christmas skit, "One True Gift" will go on in the auditorium with showtimes at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30. We've worked really hard getting ready so I hope the weather doesn't spoil it. Please say a little prayer!

Hopefully after this weekend things will calm down and I'll have time to breathe and enjoy Christmas a little. We've been at a dead run since before Thanksgiving and it's beginning to wear on me. After all, I'm not a young woman anymore. With everything going on I just haven't been able to get in the Christmas spirit. I did get my tree up but I didn't decorate one thing outside or anywhere else in the house. I haven't even got the stockings hung yet! And let's not even talk about the shopping. I have no idea when I'll get that finished. I'm beginning to undertand how old Ebenezer Scrooge felt!