Mexico

A few years ago I felt like God was putting a desire in my heart to learn Spanish again. I say again because I took four years of Spanish in high school but could only remember a few words and phrases (that's what I get for "memorizing" things for the test and not to remember). I wasn't sure why I was learning Spanish or what I was going to be using it for in the future, but I started to work on it a little at a time. Gradually I felt like I had the necessary foundation and would be able to communicate on a basic level with people who speak Spanish.

While I have had a heart for working with Hispanic people for a while, as my vocabulary grew, my love for them continued to grow as well. I just didn't know what I was suppose to do or where I was suppose to go. I prayed that God would lead me. My youth pastor from high school (Jon Parr) is a missionary in Mexico now, so I started asking him questions about visiting. He and his family said that they would be willing to let me stay at their house, so I decided to stay with them for two weeks.

During that time I participated in the ministry they are involvedwith and was immersed in Mexican culture. I experienced two bilingual worship services with the main congregation in Cancun. I also joined them at El Milagro (where there was no running water or electricity) as they worshipped God and taught children about the Bible. My favorite part of the trip was helping with the children's program at Rancho Viejo. I got to go along with the Parr's several times as they bought food for the program and then took it home to cook it for the following day. I helped set up tables and helped serve the food to the children. I drew water from the well so we could flush the toilets. I experienced the children learning about God. I connected with children as they played with Legos, put together puzzles, and rode home. I helped clean up so that ministry could continue to happen.

One of the first things that Jon told me was that I would have to be flexible while I was visiting them in Mexico. As expected, plans were altered on more than one occasion. God showed me that His plan and timing are perfect. God comforted me as I missed Tony and the boys. God strengthened me when I was hot and tired. God encouraged me as I talked to people in Spanish. God continues to help me persevere as I learn more Spanish and wait to see when I will use it again.

Parr's home

Their dog liked me

Iglesia Vida de Cancun - Cancun Life Church

Children at El Milagro

Getting water from the well - it was heavy!

Helping make lunch for the kids at Rancho Viejo

Taking the kids their lunch

The younger kids

Playing with Legos

Putting together puzzles

Taking the kids home

Blogger Neglect

I was reading through some blogs today and had a thought..."Oh yeah, I do have a blog of my own that I'm suppose to be updating periodically." Periodically obviously being a loose term since the last time I updated it was last summer. So I'm acknowledging my blogger neglect and will be posting something very soon.

Our magical vacation

My parents surprised us at Easter time by telling us that they would like to take us to Disney World. Disney World! We waited and told the boys the day we were leaving...it was the first time they flew on a plane and the first time they (and Tony) had been to Disney World. It was so much fun to see the excitement on their faces. It was such a blessing to be able to spend this vacation with our family. Since we took almost 1,400 pictures, I just put a couple on here because it takes forever to download them :-)

Honest Scrap

I was just thinking about what I could blog about...since I usually just put up pictures...and I got tagged from Sarah with an "honest scrap" award. Thanks Sarah! It's an honor.

The Rules:

1 - Thank the person who gave it to you.

2 - List 10 honest things about yourself.

3 - Put the Honest Scrap logo on your blog.

4 - Select 7 other bloggers that you think deserve this award.

1. I am the most forgetful person I know.

2. I have this weird quirk about things touching my face, so I have to change my pillow case twice a week.

3. I just looked in the thesaurus to find the word "quirk" because I didn't want to use the word "thing" twice in a sentence.

4. Because of #2, I also have to have 2 different bath towels-one for my face/hair and one for my body.

5. I'm going to ask Tony for help...

6. He said to write, "my husband can't keep his hands off of me." Maybe I should come up with my own answers.

7. I have a hard time balancing "serving" the boys when they ask for something and helping them realize that sometimes they need to do it themselves.

8. Dusting...what's dusting?

9. I'm starting to understand why people like living in small towns.

10. Okay, I did ask Tony for help again...I like watching dance movies like "Save the Last Dance" and "Take the Lead." I also like watching America's Best Dance Crew.

And the award goes to...

1. Jill

2. Sheryl

3. Melissa

4. Kim

5. Emily

6. Jessica

7. Yes, I can read directions, but I only have 6 people to give the award to.

DCB

We went to the Crowder concert a few weeks ago. It was amazing. Some of the songs that he sings are among my favorites. Normally I spend time in the kitchen listening, singing, and dancing to worship songs. I like having my own little space to do that...but it was great to worship with other people too. We also had a chance to go out to Chili's with some of our friends afterwards. It was a very joyful night.

Trip to Minnesota

We had such a fun trip to Minnesota. We took a lot of pictures, so I just chose a couple.

Mall of America-Underwater Adventure

Tony and the boys

Swimming at the hotel

Nickelodeon Universe

Supper with Sondra and Hailee

Happy 11th Anniversary

The March

March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization that is (from their website) dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.  For the past couple of years we have joined our friends, the Tillberg's, in this walk in honor/support of their little boy Emery who was born premature.  While both of our boys were born at full term, there are still so many babies that are born too early. 

 

My cousin and Easter eggs

My cousin, Kimberly, has a blog which is always whitty and fun to read.  She's a terrific writer and always has new projects that she's working on around the house.  At Easter time, she came over to my parent's house for Easter lunch, then we dyed Easter eggs with the boys.  As we're dying eggs she's complimenting me on how great my eggs look and how creative they are...and I'm thinking, "You, who have redone your whole house and are continually adding creative ideas into your home, think my eggs are creative?"  It was a funny moment that we decided needed to be blogged about.  I guess it's always neat to see how God has given people different giftings and abilities-no matter how big or small.

Kim's are the two plain eggs in the back and the flower next to it.  My sister's eggs are the two on the right front, the red one behind it and the other flower one.  Mine are the rest.

For my sister

Some pictures for my sister...and the few other people who know about this blog.

Caleb's leprechaun trap (made with the help of Grandpa Steve & Grandma Pam)

Caleb & his friend Conner at Sparks-A-Rama (for Awana's)

Kindergarten Space Night

One of the high school teachers has been to NASA's space camp & had some cool pics.

My dad's birthday

My dad turned 54 this year. The boys and I went over to my parent's house for his birthday dinner. (Tony had a basketball game) I'm very blessed to have such a great dad.

My dad and me

Grandpa and the boys

Playing hide-n-seek

How sweet...until

I don't really like to cook, so when I make (or attempt to make) a good supper, I'm proud of myself.  The other night I made cheeseburgers, fried potatoes, corn, and salad.  Caleb was eating the cheeseburger and said, "Mom, this tastes like Burger King."  Wow! I thought.  How sweet...until- "Well, the mustard on the cheeseburger tastes like theirs."   

A few days earlier Caleb was asking how old I was.  I told him that I was 30.  He said, "You don't look very old for 30."   How sweet, I thought, until- "But then you're gonna get old and then you die."  Thanks for the reminder.

Joshua's first lost tooth

And a Happy New Year

Merry Christmas

Holiday traditions

My cousin, Kim, tagged me a few days ago about Christmas traditions.  We have several traditions that we do each year.  We start by decorating the Christmas tree and putting out a few decorations in the house.  We put on Christmas music and I try to get the boys to dance with me.  

We normally go to Tony's step-dad's side of the family the weekend before Christmas (this year it's the weekend after because of Tony's sister's graduation for college).  Christmas eve we go to Tony's aunt's house (his mom's side), and my parents normally join us there.  Christmas morning we have breakfast with Tony's mom's side of the family.  We get together with Tony's dad and step-mom some time on Christmas eve or Christmas (this year bright and early Christmas morning).  Since my sister has been married, we get together with my side of the family the week after Christmas when she's back to visit. Ok, so that might be a little confusing to read through...

One tradition that we started with the boys is to let them open one present from their stocking starting the week before Christmas.  We got a little excited and they've opened a couple from under the tree too.  Sometimes we just can't help ourselves.  Christmas morning we read the Christmas story and then the boys open the rest of their presents.

I think my favorite tradition is making "gingerbread (graham cracker) houses" with the boys.  

The church that we're at now has a Christmas eve service so we'll be doing that this year too.

I think that's about it.  So now I'll tag my sister, Sarah, Kim, and Jessica.  What are your Christmas traditions?

Chili anyone?

I'm not sure if you can read the tag on the ornament, but it says "3rd Place Winner, Bell's Chili Cook-Off 2008."  3rd place!  And no, it wasn't out of 3.  I know there were at least 11 crockpots...my distant cousin (that I see at the grade school I work at) said there were 14.  Anyway, each year my mom's aunt & uncle have a chili cook-off at their house.  Since I don't cook or bake or anything like that, I normally just go and try all the chili that other people make.  After you try all the chili, you vote for which one you like the best.  The first place winner gets their name on a plaque and the honor of wearing the chili pepper apron the next year.  Second and third place get a smaller prize and a chance to try again next year.  I don't know what came over me, but I decided that I would try to make some this year.  Of course I didn't expect to win anything, I just thought it would be fun to join in.  The chili cook-off takes place the same night as the downtown has their Christmas walk.  So Tony and I took the boys and walked with my cousins to see the "Christmas windows."  You would not believe how surprised I was when I got back and my mom said I got 3rd place and handed me the prize.  I ran back to my cousin, Kim , and we jumped up and down.  (If you scroll down a few posts on her blogspot, you can see a picture of me holding my prize box in front of a chili pepper tree.  You can also keep scrolling down because my cousin has some really cute/creative Christmas things up in her house that you should take a look at.)  Although she didn't win, Caleb ate 3 bowls!! of her chili.  My own son did not vote for me, but he went home with a very happy, full belly.  So that was my exciting news from the weekend.  Who knows, maybe I'll even have to try again next year.

What's my excuse...

We've had the internet at our house for a week now and I haven't updated my blog yet.  (Thanks Sarah for reminding me.)  My excuse...time management.  Well, we are still trying to unpack the little things from our move two weeks ago and I started working two more hours each morning at the school, so I'm still trying to figure out a schedule for myself.  Sounds like a good excuse to me. Right?  We did manage to get our Christmas tree up and put out some of our decorations while we were unpacking.  

At first the boys were putting all of the decorations in one place, so Tony reminded them that they could spread them out over the whole tree.

They did a pretty good job.