Pictures from Lamay

We were in the Scared Valley, surrounded by beautiful mountains like this one!. Yes, these animals are going in this house. We saw several scenes like this, where a herd of animals were either going in, or coming out of some one's house. Incredible!! Typical woman carrying a bundle/baby on her back. Team members walking in front.

A Loss for Words

The past few days have been an emotional roller coaster for me and my family. In the middle of the frantic last minute details of packing for an overseas trip, we had a family emergency develop.

A dear close friend of our had a few moments of weakness that snowballed into out of control indulgence. It came out of left field and it rocked our world. I have never experienced anything like it.

I can't even begin to describe the agony my heart felt as I cried out to Jesus on behalf of our friend. Even now, the thought, rips my heart apart and brings tears.

BUT there is a "bright side". Any situation that allows you to see God's provision (again) is good. Through connections Kent has here in Waco, he was able to fly directly to Lubbock to be there and encourage our friend. Finding the connection was a miracle in and of it's self, but it gets better.

God provided the $ to cover the cost of the fuel (Jet fuel is expensive!). A Friend here in Waco, saw the need for Kent to be there, and he was willing to cover the cost!

Before Kent even left things were already looking better for our friend. Praise the Lord!! He heard the cries of my heart and so many others (Many who don't even know our friend).

Plus, I was able to use this experience to teach my children how to "stand in the gap". We talked about how sometimes people need our help connecting to Jesus!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for filling our lives with awesome friends who are willing to stand in the gap and agree with you for the well being of people they don't even know!! Friends who are willing to go with you into battle! I am so blessed to be where you have put me.

Funny Words...

Well I have to share a funny "quote" if you will, from some of the girls.

The other day Mekala was looking at the rocking chair that her Gram gave her on her first birthday, and she told Sarah, "When I'm a grandma, I want my grand kids to call me Grandma Sue." I had a Grandmother Sue (My Grandmother's mother) so this peaked my interest.

"Why do you want to be called Grandma Sue?" I asked. Answer:

"Because that is what it says here on the bottom of my chair." and she pointed to some words.

It read : "Gram sure does love you" Apparently in her brain she read Gram sure as Grandma Sue.

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We stopped in to see Kent the other day, who is painting a house for our "lawnmowers" (land lords), when Sarah asked when the armadillos were going to move in. In West Texas that is pronounced: arm-uh-dill-a.

I was thoroughly confused, so I asked her to repeat the question. Again she asked when the armadillos were going to move in.

Kent was quicker that I was at the moment and began to explain that the "Maderas" (ma-deer-as) weren't going to move in, that they were just going to rent it.

I guess the dill-a and deer-a had her a bit confused.

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Emma is only just learning how to communicate verbally, but some of her more recognizable phrases are:

Come - which is always followed by a pull on your arm or a pat on her leg (yes like you call a dog)

BeepBeep - which could be easily translated into ExcuseMe. (Say excuse me fast and you'll see what I mean.)

and Poo Poo - which needs no translation, only action, cause usually by that point she has helped get the diaper changing process started by taking it off and putting it in the trash. (And yes that means that she is running around with a dirty hiney!!)

Lord, help me to always remember the cute little things my kids say! They grow so fast, I want to remember them as long as I can.

Hawaii

My Sweet mother-in-law is always sending me and my family things. Holidays just aren't right with out receiving a box in the mail from Gram. She recently sent the girls dresses from her trip to Hawaii. I took pictures of them so she could see them and I thought I would share them with you.

I like the picture of Emma, cause you can see her little "curl" coming in, in the back.

Lord thank you for my mother-in-love. She is such a blessing! She keeps my children clothed, our pantry full and our cabinets stuffed full of goodies. Bless her and Pop. Please give back to them what they have given and more!! Continue to use them to further the kingdom through their finances and all their relationships. Bless them for the time they pour into so many lives!!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!

YEA, Tomorrow is my birthday, and you know what, I am OK if no one knows and if nothing is done!! I couldn't have honestly said that in years past, or last year even!

God has recently healed my heart!

Used to I would get sooooo upset if my husband didn't do something, anything for my birthday. Every year we would have to have these long conversations after my birthday (usually several days after, because I wasn't very good about communicating my feelings, and was a "stuffer"). I would tell him how I didn't care if all he got me was a stick of gum, so long a I knew that he stopped and thought about me long enough to pick up the gum and buy it.

I would spend hours mulling over what to get him or how to bless him, or I would think about what he might enjoy..... when it was his birthday, in desperate hopes that he would "return the favor". Then I realized that he just DIDN'T work that way. I was to the point that I was going to throw myself a 30th birthday party, because I didn't think he would think about it and I wanted to celebrate the big 3-0! (He did actually throw me a surprise party with the help of several of my sweet friends) Year after year I would go through the came cycle of emotions: Plan his birthday, wait in anticipation for mine, get dissapointed by the outcome. But this year will be different.

I had an opportunity a month or so ago to address some of the feelings that I felt every birthday (and Christmas, mothers day.....) I began to realize that the root of my disappointment was that I would feel like I was worth more effort than was given. ( I hope this all makes sense) It came out in every day things too. For example, if I ask Kent to make some copies, sometimes it is days before it gets done, if it get done at all. So I begin to ask the question "Am I not worth the time it would take you to make the copies?" (or to plan a party?, or shop for a gift?) I felt like I was not worth the effort. And that resulted in feeling unloved. I had lived with this feeling since childhood, not just since I got married.

Please, don't get me wrong, my point here in not to "bash" my honey, by no means, it is to glorify God, by testifying to his goodness and faithfulness.

But God spoke to me and healed my heart and told me very simply, yet plainly, that:

"I am worth it!"

I know that love isn't found in the actions of others, unless it is Jesus. and HIS action of dying on the cross, to cover MY sins so that I could be with Him in heaven, SCREAMS love!

Thank you Lord for the revelation of my worth in you! It has changed my life! May all those who read this know how much you love them. That they are worth it too. Heal the hurt places in their hearts like you healed mine! May they come to know you in a deeper, more intimate way. WE LOVE YOU JESUS!

Fireflies

I didn't see my first firefly or lightning bug until I was an adult. They just don't live in west Texas. I remember the first night I saw swarms of them around a relatives house in Oklahoma. I was fascinated!! When we moved to Waco last summer I was tickled to discover that fireflies live here in Waco. We had a few fun evenings chasing them with our good friends here. (Our friends are firefly EXPERTS! They can catch tons of them.)




Tonight we has our first official Forester Family Firefly Fiasco. I had been seeing them around town, but I had not seen them in our own yard yet. As soon as I saw them tonight (while taking out some trash) I ran through the house getting every one to put on their shoes and socks! We frantically put on bug spray, and then went racing outside, jar in hand.



Emma was immediately frightened, so I ended up having to carry her around. Sarah didn't completely follow instructions, so she had flip-flops and was afraid of hurting her feet & of getting poison oak. Hannah got itchy, right after I put bug spray on her, and Mekala thought she was being attacked by the world's largest mosquito.



Needless to say, it was a very short and unsuccessful outing. However I had a grand time watching their little hineys mysteriously light up, the bugs, not my childrens. It is so enchanting! I hope that next time we can head out earlier so we have more time (and light), and then maybe we will actually be able to catch one and put it in our jar.

Lord, thank you for such a wonderfully, creative, design in the firefly! The world is full of unique creatures, all placed their for your glory and our enjoyment. thank you for enchanted memories that are made watching your creation! You are a AWESOME God!! Thank you

the Count Down

Well, we have started drama practice, have gotten several packing lists and restrictions, we have started purchasing a few things....... it's getting closer to "go" time!

We leave June the 14th (we have baggage weigh-in on our 10th anniversary) and we won't return until June 28th. Pleases be praying for us! This is the prayer card that we will be sending out. We would love as many saints praying, as we can get. Ooooh Oooooh, you could leave a prayer comment. That would be cool!!!!

Lord I ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to fill each team member. That we all would be used in mighty ways to share the gospel and bring GLORY to your name! May we speak with boldness and gentleness all at the same time. USE US LORD!!

Big Girl Emma

I 'm not sure if I am talented enough to do justice to this morning's events, but I'm going to try!

When I arrived at Emma's classroom this morning after church, she had just gotten her diaper changed. She apparently had kept the workers busy that morning, because she had used all the diapers that I had sent in her diaper bag and was now using diapers out of the Church's stash. Now when it comes to diapers I am a die hard Luvs fan, I think I used Luvs for 3 if not all four of my children, so of course Luvs are all Emma has ever known. Well, apparently the church doesn't buy Luvs, so when the worker ran out of Emma's diapers and had to put on the church's diapers she started having a problem.

Now I have changed many a diaper that wasn't dirtied by one of my children, and in doing so I have had moments where I have had to put a "spare" diaper on a child. The two responses that I usually get are indifference, or frustration. They either don't care what they are wearing, or they are so picky about it that they get upset at having to wear something different. This was not the case with Emma.

Emma's reaction to the strange diaper was one of excitement, so much so that the worker couldn't put the diaper on her, 'cause she kept trying to sit up and look at her new diaper. The worker finally had to give her an extra one to hold so that she could finish putting the diaper on.
As soon as they were done, Emma, immediately started trying to lift up her dress and see how it looked!

She was still trying to check it out when I arrived to get her. Even as the teacher was passing her over the door, she was trying to get her dress up high enough so that I could see her new diaper.
I set her down in the hall, and as I am getting the story from the teacher, she is showing Sarah and trying to get another glimpse herself. Now Emma's dress was long and there was a lot of fabric to get out of the way before the new diaper could be adequately seen, but she was determined to show it off!

Then something clicked. She must have thought that if she got a new diaper, then Sarah must have gotten one too. So grabbed Sarah's dress and lifted it up to see what Sarah was wearing. It was too funny!! I was already laughing at the story the teacher was telling me, and then to see her assault Sarah was hilarious.

Later after she woke up from her nap, she once again examined her new diaper and then proceeded to reexamine Sarah and check out Mekala's wares as well. The saddest part was when, once again she had to be changed and it was back to plain 'ol luvs again.

I now have hope that we we start potty training, the "big girl panties" tactic, might actually work with her. With the others the thought of wearing "big girl panties" did not motivate them very well. Maybe Emma will be different.

Lord, my baby's growing up! (They all are) Help me always be aware of their new needs, and their new "phases" I don't want to miss anything. Help me to train them well now so that their "later" years will be enjoyed by all (including themselves.

Sisters

While growing up the one thing that I always wished I had was a sister!

Now my house is full of them! I have been praying that they would be close and would develop bonds that would last a life time. That they would want to confide in each other and share secrets with each other. And I think I am finally beginning to see the their relationship deepen.

There have been several mornings that I have seen them laying in bed together talking and giggling. Sometimes it in Hannah climbing in bed with Melaka, other days it is Mekala climbing in bed with Hannah. I just LOVE that they do that!

Tonight Mekala really impressed me..... She and Emma had been playing out in the sand and when they came in she took and put Emma in the bath AND washed her, WITH OUT being asked! WOW!! And then later when it was her turn, she didn't fuss or throw a fit when Emma was back in the bathroom wanting to play some more. She is starting to grow up and mature.

Lord, thank you for establishing good relationships between my girls! I am truly blessed to have children that enjoy each other's company. Please continue to strengthen their friendships! And continue to teach and shape Mekala into the woman that you have called her to be!

The New Face

For most of their lives, my girls have known their Daddy with a soft, fuzzy goatee, or a beard. He keeps it that way for me. He is MUCH more kissable with facial hair than without. When he is without facial hair, it only takes a day before it feels like I am kissing sandpaper. But every once in a while he looses a wild hair and shaves it all off. Last Sunday morning was one of those "whiles" . Before the girls were awake, Kent "bared it all" for his triathlon. He woke me up with a big fuzz-less kiss! I decided to keep quiet about dad's big change.



Oh, if I had only been thinking about it when we showed up at the race to cheer him on, I would have gotten some too funny pictures of the girls!!


Picture, if you will, strange faces and a mass of people, most of whom are wearing black wet suits, and all of whom have on swim caps. Then from out of the crowd a man approaches, familiar, yet strange. Then that man leans down and tries to kiss you, there in public, and you don't even know him. I'm sure that you, like my girls would immediately pull away out of shock and fear. Especially if the face that was coming toward you looked like this:


It was funny to watch them slowly realize that the strange man was actually their Daddy.



But I must take a moment and brag on my MAN. (or as my friend would say my TRI-MAN).



Kent swam some distance (I'm not sure on the exact number, but I will guarantee that it was more than I would or could EVER swim).



When he got done with the .32 mile swim (or whatever), he dried off, hopped on to his bike and rode for 17 miles (again, more than I could do)





Then after that he had to run for 6 miles before he could cross the finish line. (do I even need to say it...).


He didn't do as well as he had hoped, he had a few technical difficulties on the ride, but all in all he felt good about it.



But as awesome as that feat is, completing the race is not why I have to brag on my TRI-MAN. First, on his way out for the run, he stopped and kissed not one, but two of his daughters! I didn't see anyone else do that.



Second, he had the chance to finish sooner, but when he caught up to his friend and training buddy, instead of passing and running to finish the race, he slowed down to his friends pace so that they could finish together.

And if that didn't win him the friend of the year award this will......

He went back out on the track, to look for one of his best friends and re-ran the last part of the race so that he could finish the race with his friend.

WHAT A MAN!!!

Lord, thank you for my MAN. May he always be "different", may he continue to love others the way you have called him too. Thank you that he is such a wonderful DADDY!! We are so blessed to have him as our leader. Give him wisdom as he guides us from one day to the next. Bless Him Jesus!!

Long day

Well yesterday was just one of those days. You know the ones I'm talking about. Where everything seems to take longer than you think it will. I wouldn't necessarily say that it was a bad day... just a long one.

I wanted to be at the Church early so I could help prepare for Sunday morning.
While I was there I had to stop and go meet with the P&W pastor across the street.
Rush back, finish the preparations for Sunday and then it was off to Wal-mart. (one stop shopping)

(This is where is starts getting hairy)

I needed to get the oil changed before we left town.
SO I get in line and wait. Trying to be a kind, nice person I didn't keep track of how long it took for them to get to me. After all the "check-in" procedures were taken care of (at 4:15), I asked how long they were running that day. Answer: 45min. Not bad. (should be done by 5:00)
So the girls and I go in and browse, get some water, browse some more and 45min later go to check out the car. Not done.
So we wait. (and wait and and wait and wait, you get the idea. Now add four hungry children.) Please keep in mind that it is Thursday night and Kent and I have class. To be on time we need to leave the house by 5:45pm. When my car is finally done I get home at 5:50. I still need to "freshen up" and get dinner started.

The mixed blessing in all this is that Kent is also running late. He was mowing a yard. I get home, give the babysitter (who had been waiting for 20min) a run down on how to cook dinner, rush back out the door to go pick up Kent. He finishes his job running, jumps in the car and we rush back home so he can clean up before class.

We arrive to class 50min late!! We have a wonderful teaching over the Epistles and then I get ready to leave. When I look around, Kent is gone and I find him in a meeting with our school "boss." Finally 45min after we should have left I call to tell the babysitter that we are fine, and that we will be home soon. At 11:15pm we finally arrive home, exhausted and late (once again).

Fortunately we have the BEST babysitter EVER!! (four actually) and she was so understanding!

I guess we all need days like that to check and see how much progress we are making in our walk with Jesus!

Thank you Lord for tests and trials. Thank you for using them to refine us and make us more like you. Teach me how to accept them joyfully, so that you will be glorified. You are worthy to be praised! And worthy of any trial I may face!

The Challenge

I didn' t post yesterday. So I thought I would do two today. I have really started to enjoy blogging. I have challenged myself to write everyday. That can some times be hard for me, I'm not a gifted writer, but doing it makes me a better writer and a deeper thinker. (Well, sometimes, making butter isn't that thought provoking).

Here in the HOT (Heart of Texas for you non-locals) we have had lots of rain. Coming from an area where rain is a precious thing, it has been quite enjoyable. Except when it interrupts my sleep. It takes me a long while to get to sleep, so when I do, I like to stay asleep. (That is also another reason why I blog, it gives me something to do while I wait to get sleepy.)

Last night I experienced one of the noisiest storms EVER. It sounded like the lighting was striking right outside my bedroom window! There were several times I was startled awake by an enormous crashing sound! Over all it was another reminder of God's power, and awesomeness. (Is awesomeness even a word?)

Thank you Lord that we can still see your strength and power in the world today. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever! Thank you for being consistent.