Kids Minister in Big Church

Our theme at camp? "Learn by Doing". We talked about the only way we would learn to hear God better is to practice doing it - over and over. How do you learn to feel more comfortable praying for people - by doing it over and over. So, we did a lot of it at camp.

Then the following Sunday, our campers had the opportunity to pray over the adults in "Big Church" during the ministry time. Yes, they were VERY nervous....but God was so faithful. Those kids just started praying for the adults and you could just watch God pump them "fuller and fuller" with confidence! I am so very proud of them! We're already hearing stories of how God answered their prayers.

I am so thankful to have a pastor who sees the importance of allowing kids to minister. Our kids are begging to do it again we're planning to make it happen.

Kids' Camp

Every year, the 3rd - 6th graders head to Riverbend Retreat Center for camp. This year, it was August 13 -15 and I think it was the hottest camp I have ever been to! With temperatures running over 100 degrees every day, it was a challenge to keep everyone hydrated and lathered in sunscreen. But, despite that, we had a wonderful time! I love camp...love being with the kids..it's just such a special time. Thought I would share some pics.

She's just so dang cute!

So, the other day, Wes and I had the whole family at the house for lunch. Yep, it was kinda a zoo with Dad, Brendon, Austin, Shawna, Ashlynn, and their two ADORABLE little foster boys -lots of noise and so much fun! Just trying to get everyone situated at the table can be a real challenge with 3 little ones 3 years old or younger.

We had just settled at the table to eat when Ashlynn proudly announced that Granddaddy and Juju lived too far away from her and needed to find a new house. She and her mama and daddy were going to find us a new house much closer. (We have been looking to build or buy a home closer to her, but Ashlynn had not been aware of the process until one day they were driving around in a neighborhood looking at houses for us.)

Ashlynn is fine with us moving, BUT she made it quite clear that when I do move I need to take "my toys" and "my pool" (it's a little one for her to play in) when I move. Hope she allows me to bring more of my stuff besides my toys and pool, or I'm gonna have a really empty place to live.

I love that little girl! She just makes me smile!

A-tation Bible School

Last week, we had Vacation Bible School at church - or as Ashlynn likes to call it "A-tation Bible School." This is one of the most labor intensive things that I do as a children's pastor....but to see our kids smiling, laughing, singing, and worshipping, makes all the hours worth while.

Our volunteers were wonderful! The teachers did a fabulous job sharing with the kids. Our guides were awesome and of course, the galley crew - the best snacks ever! Monica and I couldn't do it without all of them! They are the BEST!

Just wanted to share some pictures of our fun week!

Happy Birthday, Brendon!

Today is Brendon's 29th birthday! 29! Oh my! It seems like only a few days ago I was holding him in my arms in complete awe of the most handsome little baby boy. It was love at first sight and honestly, everytime I see him, I still smile. He's my first born....the first of two very precious gifts from God.

I love the way God made Brendon. He makes me laugh, amazes me at his tender heart, and astounds me with his brilliant mind. How he can cypher a computer is so beyond me and yet he does it so easily! He amazes me at how patient he can be when teaching his mama about the computer or her new cell phone. I love to watch him play his guitar when on the praise team....watching him worship brings me to tears. Yeah, he's just an amazing dude.

So, happy birthday, Brendon. Our family would be incomplete without you. I want you to know that I love you and am so thankful to be called your mom. Son, you have made your mom and dad so very proud.

A wise son brings joy to his father.......Proverbs 10:1

A God Story

Wes and I had the opportunity to get away for a few days last week. We had planned on going to Mexico and spend some time at the beach. So, after work on Monday, Wes picked me up and we headed to the airport. As we were checking in, the agent told us that the ramp (or basically the whole airport) had been shut down due to lightning. We had noticed that a storm was coming in and sure enough, it collided over the airport. After 15 minutes, the agent announced that our flight to Mexico had been cancelled as our plane had been diverted to some other location. She asked all the passengers to please come up to the counter and she would book everyone on tomorrow's flight. Since we were flying non-rev, we knew there would be no empty seat for us, so we decided that Mexico was out.

What was kind of interesting was that neither one of us got upset or even disturbed by the whole process. We both really felt that if God had to send a storm to shut down the entire DFW airport so we couldn't get to Mexico, that we didn't want to go....it was quite obvious He didn't want us there.

So, we came home and started a new game plan. First, we asked God to show us where He wanted us to go. After some planning and searching, we decided on San Antonio and Fredericksburg. Our trip to Mexico became a road trip to South Texas.

I love San Antonio as I grew up there and we had two tours there while we were in the Air Force. Brendon was also born in SA, so we have many, many great memories of that city. We got up the next morning and headed out on our adventure. Enjoyed our trip on Hwy 281 - ate at the Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls - which by the way, has the best pie anywhere! Then pulled in to San Antonio in the early afternoon. That evening was filled with eating at the Alamo Cafe (MOST AWESOME MEXICAN FOOD!) and shopping at one of my old stomping grounds - North Star Mall.

The next morning, we drove around checking out all our "old" houses, sending pictures to the boys and reminiscing with them over the phones. We had lunch and then headed to the movies. About half way through the movie, I got deathly sick.....I mean sick. Shivers, shaking, so cold I thought I was going to freeze to death and finally I looked at Wes and told him I had to leave. After leaving my lunch at a trash can by the Seven-11, we went back to the hotel. I was so weak, I couldn't hardly stand up to walk. I can't tell you how thankful I was to get into bed.

That night we discussed whether we should head home instead of going to Fredericksburg. We decided we would see how I felt in the morning and would decide from there. I woke up feeling much better, but still very weak. We decided to head to Fredericksburg. I am so glad we did. If we hadn't gone, we would have missed the miracle.

We headed to a cabin in Fredericksburg that we had rented in July of 2009. Wes reminded me that it was at the place where I had lost my favorite necklace. I had totally forgotten about this. I loved that necklace.....Wes had given it to me for Christmas and it was just special to me. It had been misplaced at this cabin....we had searched and searched that cabin, my car, my luggage, everywhere and couldn't find it. We'd let the owners know and told them to please call us if they found it. We never heard anything....I figured it was gone. It was just a earthly possession, but still it couldn't be replaced.

As soon as we got in the cabin, Wes sat down and called the lady who cleans the cabins. Her told her the story, said he knew it was a long shot, but did she happen to find the necklace. These are her words, "Sir, this is your lucky day. I have your necklace." Are you kidding me? After a year....she had my necklace? She told us that she always goes through the bags of her vacuum cleaner because she finds all kinds of jewelry and things that people had left behind. Usually, the booking firm would call her and tell her someone left this behind - did you find it? She had kept my necklace for 1 year waiting for someone to call and claim it! The next day, my necklace was back around my neck.

I can't tell you how much I felt the Lord's love during all of this. He was willing to show me how much He loves me by sending a storm to keep us from Mexico, urging us on to Fredericksburg even though I wasn't feeling great, just to give me a necklace that He knew was important to me. It's not worth a lot monetarily speaking.....but it is priceless. Because now when I look at it I not only see Wes' love for me, but my Father's love. Yep, that's priceless.

I love God's surprises. They are the best!

Our little princess had her dance recital last Sunday. She performed in "The Dancing Bunny". Of course, with 10 little "bunnies" on the stage, it was quite cute! Ashlynn knew her part and danced her little heart out.

As far as we were concerned, she was the cutest and the best bunny ever!

I think a star is born!