No Lub is not an abbreviation for the Hub city, it is Snuggle Bug's way to say love.
Most mommies have to start the "I love you" banter. You, know... you pick them up, give your little someone a big hug, whisper "I love you" and hope that you can catch the last few snippets of their response before they leap from you arms and rush back to what ever they were doing.
NOT so with Snuggle Bug. She initiates saying "I lub you" more than I remember the other girls doing. When I pick her up (at her request) she throws her arms around my neck and says, "I lub you mommy." If that doesn't melt your heart, I don't know what will!!
The down side to this cute lovableness, is when she is in trouble.....
Last night, on our way home from Petersburg, Kent had baned all talking in the car. This is something that he does often when it is past the girls normal bedtime. Somehow the silence calms their excitement, and sometimes (depending on the length of the drive) it puts them to sleep.
This was not the case on the way home last night......
I am sitting and enjoying a bottle of water (and the silence) when all of a sudden there is a sharp whistle from the back seat. Thinking it was an accident, I continue to enjoy my bottle of water. Again, another sharp whistle from the back seat. So I turn to silence the noise maker.
As soon as I turn around, Snuggle Bug very quickly informs me that she is thirsty. I cracked up! This may be one of those "you had to be there" stories, but even now it makes me laugh.
Knowing that she was baned from talking, and yet knowing that she HAD to have some of my water, she made the only other sound she could. A whistle!
Whistling is a talent that most 3 yr olds, that I know at least, can't do. AND one that she worked VERY hard at until she had mastered it. (and we were all super glad when she did, cause before she could whistle she would run around shreeching at the top of her lungs thinking she was whistling, yes we were extremely glad when she made the switch!)
There was nothing else I could do, except laugh and pass my water bottle back. Kent didn't think it was as funny, something about obedience....... you can see now how it is hard when Snuggle Bug is in trouble!!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
PTL Story #1
OK I want to be faithful to share all the cool things that happens as we continue on this journey.
One of the biggest praises that we have so far is that our airfare will be significantly cheaper than we thought!!!! We were budgeting around $12,000 to get us all to Uganda. Yes, $12,000. You would be surprised at what it costs to fly a family of six half way around the world. HOWEVER, in talking with our travel agent, who has helped us purchase our tickets the last few times we have visited, she heard that we were MOVING there and WHY we were moving there, and she connected us to an agent that specializes in missionary airfare. (i think that could qualify as a run-on sentence)
Our new estimated budget for airfare is closer to $4500. Yes I said $4,500...... total! Plus we get and extra bag for each person as well. So we can take 18 bags instead of just 12. Only, I don't think that we have enough stuff to fit in to 18 suitcases.
So yea GOD!!!! He is not only increasing what has been given, but he is decreasing what is needed as well!! Continue LORD!!
One of the biggest praises that we have so far is that our airfare will be significantly cheaper than we thought!!!! We were budgeting around $12,000 to get us all to Uganda. Yes, $12,000. You would be surprised at what it costs to fly a family of six half way around the world. HOWEVER, in talking with our travel agent, who has helped us purchase our tickets the last few times we have visited, she heard that we were MOVING there and WHY we were moving there, and she connected us to an agent that specializes in missionary airfare. (i think that could qualify as a run-on sentence)
Our new estimated budget for airfare is closer to $4500. Yes I said $4,500...... total! Plus we get and extra bag for each person as well. So we can take 18 bags instead of just 12. Only, I don't think that we have enough stuff to fit in to 18 suitcases.
So yea GOD!!!! He is not only increasing what has been given, but he is decreasing what is needed as well!! Continue LORD!!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
ONE TIME SUPPORT-o-METER
So to help keep every one up on the progress of our one time needs I put up my brother put this cool thermometer on our blog! (Thanks Dave!!) Our one time expenses are what we need before we can actually leave for UGANDA!
Please be praying with us while we wait for God to open the storehouse! Keep checking back to read some of the cool testimonies that I know we will have to share as the progress continues!
People have asked for the address so here it is:
If you want to help..... Mail a check to:
Please be praying with us while we wait for God to open the storehouse! Keep checking back to read some of the cool testimonies that I know we will have to share as the progress continues!
People have asked for the address so here it is:
If you want to help..... Mail a check to:
AMI
505 N. 20th st.
Waco, TX 76706
Just add a note with our names, but don't put our names on the check.
THE Pumpkin Pictures!!
Here are the much anticipated pumpkin pictures!! ENJOY! They will probably be the last you will see of my girls for a while!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Embarrassed
I am really embarrassed!
I worked really hard on our latest news letter... picked out the perfect pictures, adjusted them to just the right size, sent the test letter, didn't check it, proceeded to send out 159 letters only to discover that the pictures were HORRIBLY WARPED in the sending process.
I'm not sure how it all works, but somehow our beautiful family picture taken in the Sunflower field was streched WAY to thin. So here for you viewing pleasure is the picture in it's correct form:
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Randomness.
We are on the tail end of a whirl-wind traveling extravaganza! We have been in Lubbock, Waco, Gulf Shores - AL, Canun - Mexico, back to Lubbock were we currently are residing. On Sunday, however, we will return to the big city of Waco, for a few weeks of R&R or at least less traveling!
Once I get the back to Waco and have access to my memory card reader, I will post pictures of all our adventures! My most recent and exciting photo session was of the girls in the pumpkin patch. It was a bitter sweet moment for me. Hubby and I sold pumpkins for NINE years. I have more pictures of my kids in orange than any thing else. So after not selling pumpkins for the past two years, I was really excited to add to my photo collection. I was especially excited about snapping a few pics of Snuggle Bug, since she was only two months old the last time we had the chance to capture pumpkin memories. That was the sweet part.
The bitter part .... well it was a harsh reminder that we are about to embark on an adventure that will keep us away from friends, loved ones and all things as we know it for at least three years. Don't get me wrong I am ready, and excited to experience all that God has for us in Uganda. but there is always that tiny part of you that knows you are going to miss home.
All this traveling and moving around, as hard as it has been, has been beneficial in some ways.
1. We have gotten rid of TONS of stuff!
2. It has increased my desire to settle down, even if it is in Africa.
3. It has helped decrease my attachment to friends, and increase my attachment to Jesus!
Matthew 10:36-38 (New International Version)
37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Once I get the back to Waco and have access to my memory card reader, I will post pictures of all our adventures! My most recent and exciting photo session was of the girls in the pumpkin patch. It was a bitter sweet moment for me. Hubby and I sold pumpkins for NINE years. I have more pictures of my kids in orange than any thing else. So after not selling pumpkins for the past two years, I was really excited to add to my photo collection. I was especially excited about snapping a few pics of Snuggle Bug, since she was only two months old the last time we had the chance to capture pumpkin memories. That was the sweet part.
The bitter part .... well it was a harsh reminder that we are about to embark on an adventure that will keep us away from friends, loved ones and all things as we know it for at least three years. Don't get me wrong I am ready, and excited to experience all that God has for us in Uganda. but there is always that tiny part of you that knows you are going to miss home.
All this traveling and moving around, as hard as it has been, has been beneficial in some ways.
1. We have gotten rid of TONS of stuff!
2. It has increased my desire to settle down, even if it is in Africa.
3. It has helped decrease my attachment to friends, and increase my attachment to Jesus!
Matthew 10:36-38 (New International Version)
37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
S's Birthday
Yes.... I am behind, but better late than never, right?? H & S's b-days are two days apart. That usually means lots of parting in the Forester house!! Curly Sue's birthday is first. She lost her first tooth on her 5th birthday! I don't know if you can see it.... but she already had her new tooth coming in behind her baby one, so we were all eager to get the baby out of the way.
Big Sister lovingly volunteered her many years of tooth pulling experience to help out the tooth situation. However..... even with her patient wrapped in a blanket, her delicate fingers just weren't strong enough to get the job done, so in the end Daddy had to do the "dirty" work.
OK every one can Ooo and Ahh over those gorgeous curls. let me answer a few questions that most of you are probably wanting to ask..... 1. Yes is is natural. 2. We think that Kent's granddad might have had curly hair, only he kept it so short and slick that no one knows for sure just HOW curly it really was. 3. Yes it is very easy to take care of: wet, comb, condition and we are done. 4. You might be able to touch it if you ask nicely AND Curly is in a good mood.
I say all that because I LOVE this picture of her hair, it shows off the curls well, AND those are the answers to the questions I get asked AT LEAST 4-5 times a day. Only, most people don't ask if they can feel her hair, they just do. I digress....... Here Curly is opening up her presents.
Big Sister lovingly volunteered her many years of tooth pulling experience to help out the tooth situation. However..... even with her patient wrapped in a blanket, her delicate fingers just weren't strong enough to get the job done, so in the end Daddy had to do the "dirty" work.
OK every one can Ooo and Ahh over those gorgeous curls. let me answer a few questions that most of you are probably wanting to ask..... 1. Yes is is natural. 2. We think that Kent's granddad might have had curly hair, only he kept it so short and slick that no one knows for sure just HOW curly it really was. 3. Yes it is very easy to take care of: wet, comb, condition and we are done. 4. You might be able to touch it if you ask nicely AND Curly is in a good mood.
I say all that because I LOVE this picture of her hair, it shows off the curls well, AND those are the answers to the questions I get asked AT LEAST 4-5 times a day. Only, most people don't ask if they can feel her hair, they just do. I digress....... Here Curly is opening up her presents.
OK so now for my sob story...... S (or Curly's) big day fell on a Friday this year, that meant that H's (name to soon follow) fell on Sunday. SO we planned a big party for both of them for the Saturday in between, PERFECT, right?
Well it would have been if I hadn't gotten sick. I started feeling puny when I woke up that morning, but knowing that I had two girls eagerly awaiting their cakes, I put my illness aside and started decorating the cakeS. I started shortly after breakfast, and didn't get finished until 3:30. Sadly enough this wasn't because I was creating a birthday masterpiece, if was simply because every thing took SO much effort!
When I was finished I CRASHED, and I never go back up. Here is were I award Kent and his friends the Father of the Year award. You see of the two other families that were coming, one mom had just gotten out of the hospital, and the other mom decided not to come when she heard that I was sick. So Kent, and two daddies had a birthday party with 10 kids + a few other adult friends.
I have never had to miss one of my children's birthday parties before. (I came close when Curly was born, we just postponed the party a few weeks, but I didn't MISS it). It was heart wrenching!! I cried when I heard them start singing "Happy Birthday" to take the cakes out. The girls however were SO sweet and understanding. They are very precious.
Needless to say, I didn't get very many pics of the party, I didn't snap a picture of the cakes, and I never really took any pictures of H opening her presents the next day either. =( So sad!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
TRI-WACO
Kent has become quite the athlete since we have moved to Waco. You may remember my post about Kent's race last year in Lubbock (Lubbock Tri).......... Well he had been at it again. Granted it was back in July, but he did it none the less, and I wanted to share the highlights with you.
So it starts with a .92 mile swim! As the swimmers get started, the water is crazy. I wonder how people don't drown in the first few minuets. I'm not sure which swimmer is Kent.... it was kinda hard to find him from on the bridge.
It took him 41 min to complete the swimming portion of the race. The girls and I were there to cheer him out of the water, but I don't think he heard us. Once he was all the way out, we ran our own little race to see him off on his bike. 
What an Athlete........... the bike portion was 26 miles, normally that would have been a piece of cake, especially considering the fact that he had just ridden 600 miles to FL!! However, after swimming for nearly an hour, he was a little tuckered!
While we waited for Daddy to get back, we all went down under the bridge and looked around. I took the opportunity to get in a few cool snapshots in front of the awesome brick wall!
Here he comes!! He was racing his good friend, and his friend had JUST passed him in the transition area when I snapped this picture. He was a good sport about it though.
So it starts with a .92 mile swim! As the swimmers get started, the water is crazy. I wonder how people don't drown in the first few minuets. I'm not sure which swimmer is Kent.... it was kinda hard to find him from on the bridge.
It took him 41 min to complete the swimming portion of the race. The girls and I were there to cheer him out of the water, but I don't think he heard us. Once he was all the way out, we ran our own little race to see him off on his bike. 
What an Athlete........... the bike portion was 26 miles, normally that would have been a piece of cake, especially considering the fact that he had just ridden 600 miles to FL!! However, after swimming for nearly an hour, he was a little tuckered!
While we waited for Daddy to get back, we all went down under the bridge and looked around. I took the opportunity to get in a few cool snapshots in front of the awesome brick wall!
Here he comes!! He was racing his good friend, and his friend had JUST passed him in the transition area when I snapped this picture. He was a good sport about it though.
Almost there........ the finish line was across the bridge. Cool huh?? We sat and waited along time for them to come running up the path by the river. When the girls saw him coming they all jumped up and started running with him!! E and I had to hurry and catch up after snapping a few pictures.
There he is.... after his 6.4 mile run! The accomplished athlete, finishing his first Olympic distance triathlon. It took him 3 hours and 4 min. He missed his goal by 4 min, not BAD.
There he is.... after his 6.4 mile run! The accomplished athlete, finishing his first Olympic distance triathlon. It took him 3 hours and 4 min. He missed his goal by 4 min, not BAD. 
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Back in the swing of things....
Well, We have now officially moved AGAIN!!!
As you know, we moved out of our Duplex on June 1. We were blessed with the opportunity to live in a home for free. (see post) The only "catch" was that we had to keep it show-able, since it was on the market. After sitting empty on the market for 6+ months, it was sold after we had been there for 3 weeks!!! So we moved again!
Our Awesome friends who had the house for sale also have a few apartments as well. so we are now currently living in a 4/4/0 apt in the Baylor area.
We moved out/in on July 31st. It was crazy! While we were moving out, the new family was moving in.
We downsized a lot in this move. The apt was semi furnished, so we were able to give away lost of bed room furniture and dinning room furniture. Each move helps more prepare for the BIG MOVE.
We are looking forward to meeting our new neighbors as they move in and get ready for a new semester.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On another note.... we started school this week. It has gone ok so far. Mon -Wed were fine, to day was our first "sick" day. M has not been feeling well, running fever and yucky tummy. I don't think we have ever really had to have a "sick" day. This is the first, hopefully the last, for a while.
One of the bonuses of having a 4 bed atp:: We have a school room. We are love having a place to put up all our pictures, maps, chart & calendars. I'll post pictures as soon as I get a new card reader.
Down side to living in a 4/4/0 :: NO garage, shed or attic to hold all of those "extra" things like bikes, fishing poles, out of season clothes, tubs and boxes. Currently all those things are scattered around the house. We have Rubbermaid tubs in our extra bath tub, there is a bike in a closet and the "out of season" stuff is shoved in the big girls extra closet.
So no that I have bored you all to death.
BE BLESSED!!!
As you know, we moved out of our Duplex on June 1. We were blessed with the opportunity to live in a home for free. (see post) The only "catch" was that we had to keep it show-able, since it was on the market. After sitting empty on the market for 6+ months, it was sold after we had been there for 3 weeks!!! So we moved again!
Our Awesome friends who had the house for sale also have a few apartments as well. so we are now currently living in a 4/4/0 apt in the Baylor area.
We moved out/in on July 31st. It was crazy! While we were moving out, the new family was moving in.
We downsized a lot in this move. The apt was semi furnished, so we were able to give away lost of bed room furniture and dinning room furniture. Each move helps more prepare for the BIG MOVE.
We are looking forward to meeting our new neighbors as they move in and get ready for a new semester.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On another note.... we started school this week. It has gone ok so far. Mon -Wed were fine, to day was our first "sick" day. M has not been feeling well, running fever and yucky tummy. I don't think we have ever really had to have a "sick" day. This is the first, hopefully the last, for a while.
One of the bonuses of having a 4 bed atp:: We have a school room. We are love having a place to put up all our pictures, maps, chart & calendars. I'll post pictures as soon as I get a new card reader.
Down side to living in a 4/4/0 :: NO garage, shed or attic to hold all of those "extra" things like bikes, fishing poles, out of season clothes, tubs and boxes. Currently all those things are scattered around the house. We have Rubbermaid tubs in our extra bath tub, there is a bike in a closet and the "out of season" stuff is shoved in the big girls extra closet.
So no that I have bored you all to death.
BE BLESSED!!!
Friday, July 10, 2009
the BIG ride {day?}
Ok I must admit that I am getting a little confused on who is where and what beach and/or bridge came first and when they crossed what and where they stayed each night. So here in no particular order it some random pictures that I snagged off Steve's FB album.
Getting ready to cross a bridge.
Getting ready to cross a bridge.(I don't know why this particular picture is so small)
In the bike shop, getting more tubes. Apparently they have had MULTIPLE flats each!
The first major injury on the trip. And from what I understand he wasn't on the bike when it happened.
Flat #2...... soon followed by flat #3 and #4
Cruzin' in the bike lane.
The Tammany Trail
Park rangers for the Tammany Trail.
Flat #2...... soon followed by flat #3 and #4
Cruzin' in the bike lane.
The Tammany Trail
Park rangers for the Tammany Trail.
Bachi Ball on the BEACH!
Well I don't know what they did yesterday (Thursday) but I know that today was an easy day (only 60+ miles) and tomorrow will be the same. Kent will be home, safe and sound, tomorrow - I mean, EARLY Sunday morning. His plane doesn't even get in until 10:30pm tomorrow. It will be after midnight before we get back to the house!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
the BIG ride {day 3} & {day 4}
Ok I think the guys are getting tired. Cause I haven't recieved any pictures lately, but I thought I would at least give you the low down on their course.
DAY 3
Opelousas > Krotz Springs > N. E. Baton Rouge > Denham Springs > Hammond
DAY total = 106 miles
TRIP total = 277
Day 4
Hammond > Covington > Slidell, LA > Gulf Port, MS > Biloxi, MS
DAY total = 95
TRIP total = 372
On the ride from Covington to Slidell they took the Tammany Trail. An old rail road track had been removed and the path was paved over, it was a nice smooth ride.
Normally they average 15-18 miles per hour, there was one point on their ride that they were riding 20-24 mph with the wind was at their back!
All of my "day" information that comes from the spread sheet that Coach gave me before they left. Some of their exact routes may have changed. I don't get a town by town from Kent, just the final destination each night.
Kent can check the blog comments while out on the road.... so let him hear you cheering!!
He's over half way there!!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
the BIG ride {day 2}
Lake Charles > Jennings > Crowley > Branch > Opelousas
DAY total = 92
TRIP total = 171
Today's trip was fun, but not as scary and eventful as the day before. They were on the bike for 5.5 hours, but the total time it took to get from point A to point B - 8+ hours.
They met a rice farmer (twice) and he showed them his farms. They also met a number of other interesting people. However since Tue ride is longer, I think they are going to try and limit the number and length of visits that Kent, I mean, they have.
I'm sure there are several of you that are wondering what in the world would possess three mature, adult men to try such a crazy stunt....... well I'm not sure, other then the bragging rights to say that they did.
The idea started last summer, after Kent and Coach, seen in these picture wearing the yellow, rode in the "Hotter than Hell" 100 mile race. Coach's wife's family was having their family reunion in Panama City, FL this year, so they decided that it would be fun to RIDE their bikes to FL the week before the reunion. AND so....... the BIG ride was born.
They have mapped and planned and thought through this trip for months. We weren't sure if Kent would be able to go, due to lack of funding.... but GOD who is ever faithful, once again provided for our family enough $ so that he could go.
Oh and BTW - no they are NOT riding back..... Kent flies home on Saturday night!
the BIG ride {day 1}
On Sunday we dropped Kent off in Fannett, TX where he met up with the rest of the crew. Sunday they drove 20 miles (simply because they didn't get started until 2pm) to Port Neches.
Saying farewell.........
THE SHIRT
THE CREW
LOADING UP
from Port Neches > Bridge City > Orange > Sulpher, LA > Lake CharlesTotal 60 on the bike.
Monday, July 6, 2009
4th weekend
June has flown by and I feel like July will be gone before I finish this Post!
We moved in and had a week in the house with the girls, and then they headed off to OK to spend time with Gram. Kent and I spent the week getting ready to start support raising. :)
We went and got the girls after our week of bliss (and theirs too) was over and headed to Lubbock to see family and friends. After staying for over two weeks, and probably over staying our welcome ;P we headed back to Waco, for a whopping 48 hours before we headed to Houston for some more Family time!
While there we were able to go to the Houston Space Center...... I would totally recommend it, just not on a MAJOR holiday weekend and not during the STAR WARS special Jedi Training day!
My AWESOME little Bro. took us to his office building, so we had a bird's eye view of the fireworks display and we had the comfort of AC and cushy office chairs. We had LOADS of fun playing around with glow sticks as well.
Sunday was my Dad's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY! - That morning the girls and I took Kent to the "drop off" point for his BIG 600 mile ride (More on that in the next few posts). That evening for Dad's gift, Mom and Bro took us to the nicest restaurant I have EVER been to, while sister-in-love stayed back with the girls.
We moved in and had a week in the house with the girls, and then they headed off to OK to spend time with Gram. Kent and I spent the week getting ready to start support raising. :)
We went and got the girls after our week of bliss (and theirs too) was over and headed to Lubbock to see family and friends. After staying for over two weeks, and probably over staying our welcome ;P we headed back to Waco, for a whopping 48 hours before we headed to Houston for some more Family time!
While there we were able to go to the Houston Space Center...... I would totally recommend it, just not on a MAJOR holiday weekend and not during the STAR WARS special Jedi Training day!**PAUSE**
Here is were I take a moment to brag on my WONDERFUL sister-in-love. SHE works at NASA in Mission Control on the console for the Space Station. (You know... those cool people that sit behind all those nifty gadgets and say stuff like "space station one, come in space station one..." on the movies, only it is not that cheezy!
YES she is AMAZING!!
**PLAY**
So we also spent time at the pool, cooking and eating AWESOME food. We took family pictures at a cool park on our way to see the fireworks.
My AWESOME little Bro. took us to his office building, so we had a bird's eye view of the fireworks display and we had the comfort of AC and cushy office chairs. We had LOADS of fun playing around with glow sticks as well.
Sunday was my Dad's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY! - That morning the girls and I took Kent to the "drop off" point for his BIG 600 mile ride (More on that in the next few posts). That evening for Dad's gift, Mom and Bro took us to the nicest restaurant I have EVER been to, while sister-in-love stayed back with the girls.
To Finish off the weekend, we stopped at the BLUE BELL factory on the way home, took the tour and sampled the ice cream. (I can't wait to try the new flavor.... Nutty Chocolate YUMMY)
ALL in ALL it was a GREAT weekend!! Next post.... details on the "big ride"
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