Three missions conventions, three days.

We had a whirlwind of a weekend.  I'm not sure why we keep calling it a weekend because it didn't end until yesterday.  Let's just say that we had a blessed last few days for sure.

Here's a little re-cap of the last few days.

We started off on Saturday night at a missions convention at Ft. Smith.  We had a great time and we had some great food.  I try not to take pictures of Shannon speaking at every service because I think you would get tired of seeing the same picture.  But I did manage to get a picture of our display table.

This was after the service at a Starbucks.  We were getting coffee for the drive to Conway.  Why did I take this picture?  Well, I wanted you to see Shannon's bow tie's for the weekend.  Now you might be asking, why the bow ties?  That's a good question.  He likes them.  I don't.  But, it doesn't matter because if he likes them and isn't afraid to wear them then I respect that.  Shannon and I have an understanding, if it makes him/me happy then we support each other.

The next morning we got up bright and early and headed to Greers Ferry for another missions convention.  We had a great service and loved all the people there.  We are excited about working with them in Ecuador. 

I saw this picture as soon as we walked in the door.  I just liked it.

Bow tie #2.

As soon as church was over at Greers Ferry we left at 12:30 and headed to Dexter Missouri for a third missions convention at Bloomfield First.  We have a little history with Dexter because we used to live there about 17 years ago.  This is where we moved as soon as Shannon graduated from Tech and got his first job at Hudson Foods, now Tyson Foods.  We loved this little town and we have so many friends there that are still special to us.  Shannon was called into the ministry at Dexter First and Megan was dedicated there.  So many special things about Dexter, it will always have a special place in my heart.

This was our house in Dexter.  This was the first house that we bought and our last.  We have so many great memories in this house.  It's looks the same as it did 17 years ago.

Bow tie #3

We left Dexter Monday morning and headed back to Arkansas because we had a missions banquet in Heber Springs on Monday night.  This was the same missions convention that was at Greers Ferry.  It was a closing banquet at a fish house.  

Shannon speaking at Heber Springs.

We really had a great time and we got to see so many old friends.  We feel very blessed to have so many friends that we have meet over the years and still have connections with them.   God is so good!

Weekend Fun

 We had a great weekend.  Megan and I spent most of Saturday "dress shopping" for a winter formal dress.  And the boys went to the Razorback game, in the rain.

While the boys were at the game Meg and I decided to go see if the new Starbucks was open and it was, so we hung out for a little while here.

Sunday Shannon left early and headed to Russelleville for the day and the kids and I went to church at Trinity in Fayetteville.  After church we went to my brother's house in Lamar for our nieces first birthday.  We had a lot of fun and loved getting to spend time with family.  

This is my brother Patrick and our niece Maggie, isn't she a cutie. I guess I better say how good lookin' Patrick is since so many people say we look alike.  :)  I should have taken our picture together so you could see for yourself.  Ok, next time.

Sweet Maggie eating her cake.

We finished the day by going to Dover First with Shannon and then out to eat with his grandparents after the service.  It's always nice to squeeze in family visits during our busy weekends.  We are so enjoying our time in the states.

Family Fun

We were so exhausted from the weekend so we didn't do much on Monday.  Shonda, Shannon's sister, had the day off thanks to Columbus Day so we decided to do a little pumpkin carving and roast hotdogs and s'mores.  We had some well needed family time.  

This is Macen tracing her pattern on her pumpkin, with a little help from Uncle Shannon.

I think she liked this part.

This is when she started cutting on the pumpkin, pretty hard for a seven year old.

This is Ethan's way of getting the "guts" out of the pumpkin.  He doesn't like to get his hands dirty.

Sitting around the fire getting ready to eat.

Megan cutting on her pumpkin and Madison eating a marshmallow.

I must admit that I did this pumpkin for Macen because it was too hard for her.  It's kind of addicting.  

We are enjoying being in the states this Fall.  This is the first time in three years and we are going to take advantage of every minute of it.  I love pumpkin anything right now and can't wait until Thanksgiving and more family time.  I promise you don't know how much you miss it until you don't have it.  Does that make sense?  It just seems like something is missing when you don't get to celebrate Fall and Thanksgiving with family.  So thankful for this time!!!

NWA Spanish Missions Convention

First and foremost, this has nothing to do with the convention, but Friday I started eating anything I wanted.  I would have to say that this is some very good news.  I know most of you probably don't how much food makes me happy but it does!!!  So, I have been eating "real" food for three days now. 

I decided to start off with something "light."  I seriously don't think I have every eaten anything that tasted so good.

The NWA Spanish Missions Convention

First let me give you a little information about the convention.  There are seven churches, including Chi Alpha Fayetteville, involved in this convention.  These churches work all year and raise money for this convention.  They told us several times that this is the highlight of their year.  And let me tell you, they do it right.  It was an amazing experience and we are so thankful that we were able to be part of this convention.  There are no words to describe our thankfulness.  We were able to be in three of these churches and are hoping to visit the other four before we go back to Ecuador.  

We started the Spanish Missions Convention on Friday with a service at the Chi Alpha House in Fayetteville.  

 On Saturday we went to a breakfast at Trinity in Fayetteville and then we spent the afternoon in Springdale in the freezing cold.  But we did enjoy pupusas and tamales and a great service that night.  I didn't get very many pictures from the outside events because it was so windy.

Of course this is our kid's favorite, an awesome gift basket.

The sanctuary was decorated with flags and faces from lots of countries.

This church supports lots of missionaries.

The parade of nations to start off the convention.

Everyone in the parade was dressed like their country and carried the flag that represented their country.

Sunday morning we were in Bentonville.  Shannon preached and then we had a meal after service, yes, more tamales.  Seriously, we love tamales!  Shannon made the comment on the way home that he's never eaten so many tamales and he's never been happier.  It's kind of funny because when we were in Ecuador that is the only thing that he said he missed.  I guess the Lord wanted to bless him with an abundant supply.  

Pastors at Bentonville and their family, they were a lot of fun, such a great family.

After lunch at Bentonville we went to Noel Missouri and enjoyed a service with these wonderful pastors, they are from Guatemala but have lived in the states for over twenty years.  They have two children and grandchildren living in Guatemala.

We had about two hours between our afternoon service and the closing service back in Springdale, so we hung out at a Starbucks.  

Again, you just don't know how much I'm loving enjoying life again and a pumpkin spice latte.

These are all the pastors that were involved in the Convention and they will forever be etched in our memories.  Thank you just doesn't justify it.  Seriously, I could go on and on.....