Thursday, March 26, 2009

Spring Break.......not really!

It looks like it has been a week since I have posted anything on here.  So, I wanted to take a minute and fill you in on what we are doing this week.  I know most kids are on spring break this week, but ours are not.  Now, before you think that's mean, they are taking their spring break next month.  We will be heading to Florida at the end of April for some services.  Oh, and we have an appointment with Walt, Disney that is.  The only one in our family that has been to Florida is Shannon.  So, the rest of us are very excited about going.  And, the kids were fine about not taking their spring break this week.  It's kinda funny though because when people see them in "town" , they always ask them if they are on spring break.  And the kids always say "no".  You should see their face.  Ok enough about that, lets move on.

What are we doing this week?
1.  School
2.  Dr. appointments
3.  Church service in De Queen
4.  A little shopping in Little Rock (the kids have no clothes to wear)
5.  Shannon is heading to the mens retreat in Hot Springs
6.  Weekend services

Our week is pretty busy.  Actually it's like that all the time.  I just wanted to let you know what we were up to this week.  Please pray for our services this weekend and that the support will continue to come in.  Thanks!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Newsletter


Fishing

I cant believe that my kids are so "country".  They love living on a farm and stay outside all the time they can.  Saturday they  decided they were going fishing, so Shannon went to the feed store to buy them some bait, but it was closed.  Then they decided they  would go "find" them some bait.  All they found was a cricket and a worm.  Needless to say, they didn't fish long.  But, guess what? They are going again today.  Ethan is not into fishing as much as Megan.  I think I have a tomboy on my hands, huh?  Which isn't a bad thing, of course.  During the fishing trip, Shannon and Ethan had a deep conversation.  It went a little something like this: Ethan said, "Dad this is boring".   Shannon said,"Your just not that into fishing, huh?" and Ethan said,"no, not really".  Shannon said, "What are you into?"  Ethan says, "I guess church, that's where I spend most of my time".  I think that is so funny because Ethan is so right.

                                               


Friday, March 13, 2009

Forgotten Pics

I was going through my pictures today and forgot to post some pics from the sectional tour.  So here they are.  Hope you enjoy and I hope you all have a blessed weekend. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                Has anyone ever been here?             

Ethan being a great greeter

Shannon, Megan and Mike James.  He is headed to the Netherlands.

Megan handing out packets

This is what I get when I say "let me take your picture".  Oh well, he's still cute!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Showers of Blessings

Where to begin.....I have so many things on my mind.  Let me start with this, through all this traveling we have stayed at so many motels.  And, I have never blogged about any because I didn't want people to know where we were at.  I didn't want to hurt any ones feelings.  But, in many small towns there is only one motel.  Yes, you heard me, one!  You know the one that has been there for years and years.  Kinda like some of the ones in Branson.  I said all that to say this, at this one particular place, again not telling where or when, it was nasty to say the least. You know one of those rooms when you walk in and it just smells?  Yes, one of those.  I get up to take a shower the next morning and there is so much mold on the shower head that the water doesn't even come out good.  Gross, I know.  But, I survived. (Please see picture below) I loved hearing the kids reactions when they went to get in the shower, it was something like this, OOOOHHHH!  When Megan gets out of the shower she says,"Mom I have took a bath in a creek before and slept in the middle of nowhere in a hammock.  What's a little mold?"  How great is that?  I'm grossing out and Megan is thinking what's the big deal.  That's when I knew the camp Mukapa trip really taught them something.  (Mukapa was the name of the camp that they went to in Springfield last summer)  I think they are going to be great MK's, I mean they already are!

Ok, on to something else.  We had a very long day today.  We are currently in North Little Rock in a motel.  We have to be in Beebe at 9 in the morning.  The kids were so excited because there is an indoor pool.  Their main goal tonight was to get here before it closed.  And, we did.  They got to swim about an hour.  We were in a little church just right outside of Sheridan tonight.  And, I saw something that I believe I have never seen before.  And, of my goodness it just blessed my socks off.  There was this 82 year old lady who pushed her walker all the way up front, had to be helped on the platform, and then sang two songs.  No, not one but two.  And, you could tell that she couldn't catch her breath very well, but she sang with all her heart.    I was just sitting there in amazement.  All I kept thinking was 82 years old and she is still using her talent that the Lord gave her.  When she sang you could tell it was from her heart and she meant every word of it.  I wanted so bad to get up and take a picture, but I didnt want to embarrass her. (now I regret it) You know what she told us after service, "I will never forget ya'll".  What?  Never forget us?  We will never forget her.  I just hope when I am her age that I will still be using the talent that God has given me.  We had some really great services today and are so thankful for God's many blessings.  We are looking forward to the rest of the week. Please keep us in your prayers as we will be traveling a lot this week.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
Here is Shannon setting poolside, with his laptop.

Ethan - so proud that he got to go swimming!

Megan too!  And, no I didn't make them do this.

Ethan was so proud of himself for winning this ball.  See all the fun that you can have at a wal-mart?  

Here is the shower head that I was talking about.  

Friday, March 6, 2009

It's a great day to fly a kite

What a beautiful last couple of days, windy but beautiful.  While we were on tour Bro. Commer gave the kids some kites.  So, yesterday the kids flew their kites.  Megan was so excited because this was her first time to fly a kite.  Had I realized that?  NO!  All you moms out there: if your kids have never flown a kite, this would be a great time to do so.  Happy kite flying!   (Oh and not to mention, it's cheap entertainment.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     


Meg flying her kite

E flying his kite

RANDOM:  Here is a picture of Joe and Shannon.  One of our tour days in Fayetteville at Panera


Thursday, March 5, 2009

2000 miles later!

We are finally home!  We actually got home late Tuesday night, I had so much to do yesterday and didn't have time to blog.  Between dentist appointments, laundry, and school I had no time. Oh and not to mention our monthly IR report that is due at the beginning of each month.  Yes, we drove 2000 miles  in 8 days, and we didn't even go to the beach.  I always kid Shannon,  if we are going to drive that much, I want to go to the beach.  (it never happens)  Our support is going up and we give God all the glory!  This tour has helped us out a lot.  Not only in our cash budget, but in our monthly support as well.  PTL!  We will be leaving out again on Saturday for our services on Sunday and then meet back up with the tour on Monday morning.  We will do 4 more services and then we will be finished.  The kids don't want it to end, they are liking it so much.  They have done very well with all the traveling, and they have even done school work.  Please remember us in your prayers as we hit the road again.