Day Two Mexico Mission Trip

Our Team
Our Family

Nick finishing the roof at the end of the second day

The precious little children................

This trip has been quite a whirl wind. At the end of day two, we already have the roof on the house. We have a great team. Everyone is working well together. The family has not been around much. There are seven people that we are building for. Grandma, her son, daughter, son-in law, and the three precious children pictured above.

So far this trip has played out as a very sad story regarding the family. The mother is a drug adict and I guess she stays up all night and sleeps all day. When we got there today the three children had been sleeping outside in the cold and their parents were no where to be found. Eventually they showed up and proceeded to sleep the day away and the children were left to fend for themselves. The grandmother was away, busy cooking for lunch for the hundred or so volunteers of Strategic Alliance that were working in the area. Her son is the only on in the group that works, so we have not seen him at all.

My heart goes out to the Grandmother. She must be so frustrated at the situation that her daughter is in. I do not know where she gets her drug money, however there was a strange man laying with her this afternoon. We really don't know what to think, but are afraid that she will soon sell all that we are about to give the family to support her habit. She will not let the children go to Dr. Peggy's clinic and overall just unfriendly and neglectful of all her responsibilities.

The whole situation just breaks my heart. I have been praying without ceasing to keep myself from smaking the mother upside the head and smuggling the kids back to the states where they will have a chance.

Please pray with me for this horrible situation, that the Lord will turn this disaster into a victory in His name.....

Mexico Mission Trip

This is a picture of the family that we will be building a home for this weekend in Reynosa, Mexico. I just got the picture this morning and it looks like they are quite due for a new dwelling. As I look at this family, my heart breaks for them and for me also. I sit here and look around my house and am critical of all the little imperfections and things that I would like to change and they have nothing. Is that pathetic or what? I need a reality check in a big way! I hope that the Lord can use this trip to transform me into the selfless servant that He has created me to be. I also pray that we can really make a difference in the lives of this precious family and anyone else that we are able to connect with while we are there. Show them the measureless love of Christ. Please pray for our mission as we go December 26th-31st.

Just a Reminder

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed,disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares .
Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress aresavoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity.
Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, showpatience, empathy and love. Working for God on earth doesn't pay much......but His retirement plan is out of this world.

Ski Pics

It was 15 degrees below zero this morning. Here are a few pics from our trip so far.....

Family Ski Trip

We are all in Winter Park for a family ski trip. The weather is perfect for that, 5 degrees and it has been snowing ever since we got here. They are expecting 18 inches by 6 p.m. this evening. Steve and I have been chillin' getting acclimated to the altitude. The boys have been on the slopes non-stop. We are so blessed to have friends to hook us up like this. I will keep anyone interested updated with some pics tomorrow.....

Oh, Christmas Tree!

I am setting

up my Christmas

Tree today. For those of

you that know me, I am sure that you

think I am crazy at this point We are only

home for about 10 days this month, so I have

been going back and forth with myself and others

about whether I would put a tree up at all. It has

been torture. All but one of my friends have encouraged

me to put one up. One even went as far as saying, if I didn't they

would. What significance does the Christmas tree have anyway?

Shouldn't

Christmas

be about

Christ?

Help me

out here.....

My Thanksgiving Cruise

I just got back from a cruise to Belize and Mexico. We were blessed to be able to spend Thanksgiving in the middle of the Carribean Sea with our family. Steve, myself, Zac, Nick, Steve's mom and 92 year old grandpa all went. The ship was the Independence of the Seas, which is the newest and largest ship in the world. It was fabulous. Here is a video of my pictures from the trip......

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=78a221d39609584401c8e1&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Back in the U.S.A.

I just got back from a cruise with my beloved. The trip was fabulous. We went to 6 different ports in the carribean and Central America. As I reflect back on the trip, I am reminded of a quote that I recently heard.....
"It is not the number of breathes in your life that matter, it is the number of moments that take your breath away!"

Cruzin'

Pack
Second Guess
Rush
Planes
Trains
Automobiles
Cold
Econo Lodge
Trains
Walk
Automobiles
Check-In Lines
Cruise Ship
Starved
Stuffed
Rain
16 ft. Seas
Seasick
Starved
Stuffed
Pilates
Starved
Stuffed
Scorched!!!

Bon Voyage

Good Morning! Steve and I are leaving for a little R&R. We are going on a two week cruise from New York to South and Central America. We will be back on November 4th. If I get a chance I will send you updates along the way. Love you all and send me e-mails to keep me in touch with reality!!!!!

I Am A Christian

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean living''
I'm whispering 'I was lost, now I'm found and forgiven.'
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

PTL :)

Search and Rescue Drill

I recently became a member of the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation Search and Rescue Team. Last Saturday the MHFPD CERT team put on an area wide SAR Drill at Babler State Park. The drill went off without a hitch due to the meticulous planning and execution of those involved and God provided perfect weather for the event. (BTW, I was not involved in any of that). Everyone that was involved, volunteered there precious time to be there and I cannot tell you how that giving spirit warms my heart.

In our area of the Midwest there are hardly any groups doing wilderness search and rescue. The coordination of skills. knowledge, technologies and manpower to pull off a live search and rescue of a real victim requires massive amounts of training. Our team trains four times a month. I cannot be there all the time, but I have learned so much already. I just love all the team members and all the aspects of search and rescue training are a good fit for me....hiking, outdoors, shopping for equipment, meetings at restaurants... Love it!!!

Here are a few pictures of the SAR drill the other day.....

Scrapbook Weekend

I am back from the lake and back to reality...boo hoo. I did not get a lot accomplished scrapbook wise, but it was great just to get away and relax. Our weekend started like any typical scrapbook weekend, with a trip to the rifle range. We got an opportunity to shoot my new to me AR-15 assault rifle and man, was that fun. After the range we met Janel and Nicole (our partners in crime)at Breadco, had lunch and then headed down to the lake. We took a short trip back into time and stopped in Williamsburg at an old country store. It even had the dog out by the gas pumps. Once down at the lake we immediately started eating and I don't believe we ever stopped until we were back in the car headed home. Saturday morning after a quick shopping trip with the girls, I had a chance to go to Pistols Plus and shoot my new Ruger .380 semi-automatic pistol. Nice! After intense cropping all day long, Janet and I headed for home after dinner. We had a great time and here are some pictures to prove it!

Writer's Block

I haven't posted in a while because I'm having a mental writer's block. So, I'm just going to ramble about my weekend so far and then come Sunday or Monday, I will write a post with pic's about our adventure on Friday morning!!

Right now, my girlfriends and I are at a scrapbooking weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks called "Croppin' at the Lake." It's at an amazing bed and breakfast right on the lake and we are croppin' 'til we be droppin'! :)

This b&b has amazing meals. Tonight (Friday) for dinner we had BBQ pork, potato casserole, amazing salad and corn bread. Then, for dessert, we had a chocolate mouse/heath candy bar concoction that was soooooo rich you could hardly eat it.

Right now we are about to have a midnight snack of fresh baked, hot out of the oven, chocolate chip cookies, not to mention we just had a snack 30 minutes ago and one before dinner, too. I am feeling so pampered!!!

Don't forget to check back in on Monday morning!!

The Love Dare

Today, Steve and I will be starting the "Love Dare". Of course patience and kind words have to be the first day. This is going to be a challenge, I can tell already!

I am just kidding. This book is going to be just what the doctor ordered. I am ready to be so filled with love that it just spills out everytime I am challenged or bumped.

Lord, I pray for your blessings on this challenge that we are undertaking and ask that you help us at every turn and watch our backs along the way.....

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

I have not been blogging because my life has been somewhat overwhelming for the last few weeks. We have been completly rehabbing our rental homes that have become vacant. We have completed two, so only one more to go. I am really excited by the progress we have made. Steve has been working himself ragged. He is a master at everything he does, so he does everything. We are trying to get this house wrapped up by the end of this week and we start the last one next week. Much thanks to all our friends and family that are helping out.
Here are a few pics so you know we have not been playing hooky....

Movin' On

I just got a pile of Tootsie Roll Pops from a great friend. I have decided to give up a longtime false god (again). I hope I am not just trading one addiction for another. We shall see, if my tongue is a different color everytime you see me for the next year, that is what happened. Thanks for the encouragement Janet, I will do my best!

Siesta Fiesta

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JayCee and Hiker Mama at the fabulous Living Proof Live San Antonio, Siesta Fiesta!!
Did anyone see the beautiful rainbow on Saturday morning around 7:15? It was right over the Riverwalk. God sure blessed us in every way this weekend...Yeah God!