prayer request

Landry is sick, running fever and lethargic. Tomorrow is our big monthly playdate at the zoo. I do not want her to miss. Please pray this passes before the morning~

Romania update

Everyone is asking how things are going in my preparations. So far, so good. Where God gives a vision, he definitely gives the provision. I created a button on the right of my blog to track my fundraising. I am almost half way there, so in the way of funding I still need support. I still receive confirmations from the Lord about this trip, so I know He will provide the finances for it.

Yesterday, was our second team meeting. I got a few more details about the trip, but still have so many questions about what I am doing on this trip.

This weekend, I finished another fabulous book, Safely Home by Randy Alcorn. It is about the persecuted church in China. And, yep you guessed it I want to travel to China. It is unbelievable the persecution that still exists there. But, my focus for the next month is this trip. I am working on my list of things I need prayer for, will post soon.

budding photographers

photo taken by Bella

photo taken by LE

more sprinkler park fun

Since the temps dropped we spent almost as much time on the playscape as we did in the water. LE climbed her first tree and Bella enjoyed the empty playscape.

single babies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKNHmYu0wnE

This is the funniest thing since I saw the girls dancing to this song. I think there must be subliminal messages in this song b/c it captivates the girls too.

geography lessons

This month, we are learning about the United States of America for our geography part of school. We have looked at maps, the globe, learned the pledge of allegiance to the TX and United States flags. We have learned to sing "Y'ou're a Grand Ole Flag" & "Deep in the Heart of Texas" This past week we began making our own maps. Colin and LE had fun making mountains and oceans. Bella liked coloring the stores. She wanted an HEB on her map.

Bye Summer.

I guess this past week was our last trip to the Sprinkler Park. The temperatures have dropped, and they officially close next week. It is now on to the local parks to slide without burning our hinies. We will miss you sprinkler park. Thank you for all of the memories this summer.

elephun

We finally got batteries in the toys LE got for her birthday. This fun game was from her friend Maddy. After several attempts she finally got some butterflies. Bella did not have quit the coordination, she just made her own game and picked them off the floor.

walking by faith

FAITH sees what your physical eyes can never see; FAITH knows what your natural mind can never comprehend;FAITH possesses what your physical arms can never hold

observation

This past week, I have heard some great speakers including Chris Caine from Hillsong and Bob Hoskins from One Hope. Both of them have had my numbers and I think they traveled half-way around the world just to speak to me. Because of these great messages my prayer this week - "Lord, I want to be used by You. No longer my ideas, Lord, but the way you want to use me."

This past week I also joined the prayer team after encouragement from Pastor Mel . First time to be a prayer partner & a mom-friend tells me they feel led to move across country and plant a church. Wow! Talk about commitment for the Lord, what a honor to get partner with her to pray for this. Second lady -"my daughter wants to be free from her drug addiction. Wow again, God.

Yesterday morning, I attended my first Under the Bridge Church on 6th Street. I sat with an immigrant who broke his back when he fell off of his ladder trimming trees. His employer knowing he did not read English had him sign away his rights to his insurance money.

This weekend two other Mommy-friends have called with urgent life/death requests for pregnancies and infants.

My observation is this, if you asked to be used by the Lord you had better be prayed up and ready b/c He will.

Lord, please give me the strength to do Your will. Not my will, but yours. I am humbly honored that you have called me and I say Yes, Lord I am here, use me.

VOTE ---

http://ilovechristiecookies.com/contest/form.asp

Please nominate your favorite charity or MY FAVORITE charity - Children's Cup - Prairieville, LA.

hmmm...

tinkerbell rides again

I did what?!?!?

Today, I began training for a triathalon.

Yes, I hear it in my head as you are saying to yourself- I don't know how to swim and I do not own a bike.

Right now, Laura is teaching us to run - building our leg muscles for endurance running. I am taking a class with Colin's mom, Melanie at the church with a professional athlete (and we are the only 2 brave souls in the class!). I drug my butt out of bed at 7:30, tiptoed through the house to not wake my sleeping family and was the first to arrive. It took the first step to get there and it was one of the best workouts I have had in awhile. Starting in October she is going to teach me how to swim (I can swim to save myself, but not to get somewhere).

So, if I can do it, you can too. What is your next step? What are you putting off till tomorrow that you really want to do today (yesterday)?

tickle monster

"beautiful"

grandparents day

RAIN!

We were a little excited when it began to rain this weekend. We had plenty of time to get our rain coats and boots on, but could not take the time to get out of our dress up clothes or put on pants. We were very excited about finding a snail moving his "trailer" along with him.

playdate with friends

The girls had a blast playing princesses with one of my oldest (not in age) friends, Miss Natalie and Blythe and Michael. Thank you for having us.

a must read

My friend, Melanie gave me a new book Tuesday. During naptime, I picked it up at 3:30 and began reading until 4:30-time to cook dinner. Picked up again at 7:30 and soaked in tub for about 30 minutes. Put girls down for bed, picked it up again around 8:30 and could not put it down until 2:40 a.m. when I finished it. Make sure you have a fresh box of kleenex.

http://www.samekindofdifferentasme.com/video.aspx

Same Kind of Different as Me by Denver Moore and Ron Hall

It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana... and an East Texas honky-tonk... and, without a doubt, in the heart of God. It unfolds in a Hollywood hacienda... an upscale New York Gallery... a downtown dumpster... a Texas ranch.
Gritty with pain and betrayal and brutality, it also shines with an unexpected, life-changing love.

Ben's graduation

One of Ben's classmates in the front row sent Ben a pic from graduation, I was just having another "Proud Wifey" moment.

Labor Day Fun

YUMMY food, good FRIENDS and tired kiddos, who could ask for more?

Thanks Flowers for a great day!

Romania missions blog

http://servingkids.blogspot.com/

This is the blog of the missionaries that we will be visiting in the mountains on the 2nd part of our trip. OK, I am getting excited.

my birthday

The morning started with cupcakes and balloons from Colin. Then, off to the park for play time and feeding the ducks (leftover hot dog buns from the last b-day). Then, I FINALLY got to celebrate my birthday at Chuck E. Cheese. Yes, I am 35 years old, but I had so much fun. Then, a chocolate cake from Daddy Richards and my favorite flowers, gerber daisies, pink and orange and a new pair of cross trainers for the feet and combat gloves for the aging wrists.

2 Bellas

One of Bella's favorite friends invited us to go swimming. Bella S. told Bella R. "my name is Bella," Bella R. "me too!"

more game fun

LE got several new games, which is great, because she loves to play them. The girls and I had fun playing dominoes while Daddy was animating this week.

bliss

first family game night

Uncle Troy and Lindsay got LE the Very Hungry Caterpillar game for her birthday. We had our first family night complete with popcorn from our new stove top popcorn pan. It is a really cute game, but went a little long for Bella. I think she just hung around for the popcorn. Guess who won, fair and square?!?!?

35 reasons to be thankful for today

1. Jesus is the saviour of my soul.

2. I am married to my best friend.

3. My best friend is a Godly-man.

4. Two beautiful angels call me Mommy.

5. My family is happy.

6. My family is healthy.

7. My parents are still happily married, 36 years and counting.

8. Ben's parents love me and I adore them.

9. Ben's parents and both of my grandparents are still married to each other. How is that for an example?

10. I get to be a stay-at-home Mom.

11. I have amazing girlfriends.

12. I get to travel to Romania in 6 weeks.

13. I fulfilled a dream to travel to Africa last Christmas.

14. My husband supports me to minister around the globe.

15. My husband supports me to fulfill any of my dreams.

16. I was a teacher for 10 years, now I get to teach my own kids.

17. We are down to only 2 debts, a car and a student loan.

18. I get to work-out while my kids get to play with friends.

19. I will celebrate 11 years of marriage this Christmas.

20. 3 of my 4 grandparents are still living and my grandfather was alive well into my 20's.

21. Two of my great-grandmothers were at my wedding.

22. I have been able to reconnect with childhood and high school friends whom I thought I would never see again, thanks to none other than facebook.

23. I am going to be an aunt again 3 times in the next 8 months.

24. Ben is finished with school!!

25. I have two amazing girls who climb in bed with me every morning.

26. I am healthy.

27. I am the most fit I have ever been in my life.

28. My husband and I still date.

29. My husband loves me.

30. I have an amazing support system.

31. I have been interrupted 6 times creating this list b/c I am missed.

32. no, seven.

33. I know where I have been.

34. I do not have to live in fear.

35. I know where I am going.

new blog

What is the world coming to, my mom has joined the blogging world. Kidding, Mom, I was wishing you would do one for a while. It is a support system for friends who are trying to drop those last stubborn pounds. Follow her.

http://sisterhoodofskinnypants.blogspot.com/

cool front

What have you done to celebrate the break in the temperature?