Top 9 for '09

Here's a list of favorite things for 2009:

1. Living by radical faith

2. Tucker...POTTY TRAINED!

3. Watching Mission Gunter thrive

4. Mom getting married

5. My niece's arrival on Christmas Day

6. Chris Tomlin concert with Savannah

7. Strengthened marriage

8. New Church

9. Faithful friends...old and new.

What were a few of your favorite things in 2009? We spend so much time on New Years Eve trying to put the past behind us. Is there anything good that you would like to remember?

Summer 09

Make a Smilebox photobook

How to Catch a Skunk

HOW TO CATCH A SKUNK

First: Find someone who owns a trap...or perhaps you have one in your garage. Set the trap in the area where you have seen the skunk. Use tuna fish or bread for the bait. We used bread.

We set the trap at around 9:30pm last night. Here's what we found at 7am today:

Find someone who is willing to dress up in a tarp. Evidently the key to this process is not allowing the skunk to see you. Mr. Ray Calhoun was willing to be the skunkman and risk his life for us....what a hero.

Another key ingredient is for the tarp person to be very slow in sneaking up on the skunk. They don't like abrupt motions.

After you get close enough to drop the tarp over the crate, tuck the tarp around the trap like a present so that the skunk cannot see out. Beware: The skunk is not happy at this point.

Convince a couple of unsuspecting guys to help load the critter into a truck, then wave goodbye to the skunk....You're skunkman will take care of the rest. Don't ask questions.

And that's how you catch a skunk.

Save Us From the Skunk, Lord!

Last night after a scrumptuous home cooked meal with some friends (at their home), our family pulled back into our gated communinity (AKA the church lot which happens to have a fence around it). When we drove up, much to our dismay, we saw a certain black and white creature trying to get through the chainlink fence right by the RV we are living in. Geez Louise!!!

As we sat there in the car we struggled with the solution.

1. Get out and walk carefully to the door of the RV and pray the skunk didn't spray us

2. Wait and see where the skunk ends up going once he's inside the fenced area

3. Call someone who has a gun (sorry animal rights activists) knowing that if we shot the skunk he would spray as a defense mechanism

4. Go to the store an stock up on Tomato Juice to bathe in.

Well because we live in Texas and anytime a gun can be involved in hunting-like circumstances you take advantage of the opportunity- We called our friend Jeremy...and within minutes he and oldest son appeared with not one...but two guns.

Thing is, during the time between the phone call and their arrival, the skunk got through the fence and headed towards the RV. That was the last we saw of him. They searched under the RV, under the church buses, vans, on the soccer field....to no avail. Stinkin' Skunk.

All the while, the hunt is going on. Savannah is just about to have a panic attack in the car. She is worried about dad getting sprayed by the skunk. She decided that we needed to have prayer so I said yes....here's how it went...I kid you not.

Lord, please be with my daddy while he is out there looking for that skunk. Please don't let him get sprayed because the stores are closing and we won't be able to get any tomato juice for him to take a bath in. Please don't let the skunk spray us or our RV. AMEN.

I was laughing so hard! ...and a little thankful that she calmed her anxiety with prayer.

So, the skunk got away....the guys were disappointed that the use of guns was unnecessary. Maybe next time!

For more skunk stories with my family read The Skunk Always Wins

Focus

Ever had blurred vision? It happened to me the other day....no not literally, but figuratively for sure. On Monday we planned to go to Gunter to begin packing the house up. We've been delaying this purposefully with hopes that it would show better decorated and in turn sell quicker...but much to our disappointment this hasn't happened! So, I headed to Gunter about 15 minutes ahead of Bruce who was in the church van hauling a trailer (He was bringing friend/missionary with him to get them a few extra things we had at the house for their stay in a rental for the next year). I got to Gunter. The yard looked spectacular (thanks to our yardman and friend, LD, who has been keeping things in tip top shape while we've relocate). When I entered the house I went straight to the thermostat ...because this is TEXAS and you have to have airconditioning!!!! There I noticed our normal digital touchpad completely blank. Nothing showing. Clear. What had happened? After a run out to the unit outside where I noticed pieces of charred wood lying around, I deducted that it must have been struck by lightning. I called Bruce and he called the repairman.

Now I know you are probably thinking...blurred vision???...what are you talking about??? But in those moments as I waited for Bruce to get to the house, I found myself blurried by circumstances. This is what the enemy threw at me:

1. You are living in an RV


2. Your RV was struck by lightning


3. Your home isn't selling...and in fact it's costing you $$$ to fix the airconditioner


4. You're gaining weight (I know...odd...but he low balled me and threw that in there too!)


5. You're not ready to start school yet


6. You're kids are being affected by this life-transition

...and the list went on.


See what I mean? For a few moments I sat there in my comfy recliner and let my vision get blurred by my very temporary circumstances. What. In. The. World?

And almost as quickly, I heard God whisper in my ear one word: TEMPORAL. It cleared my vision almost instantly. I got my head screwed on straight and began thinking of all the eternal things HE is doing in my life:

1. Teaching me and my family to walk by faith


2. Allowing us to develop the bus outreach program at the church (a program really close to my heart!)


3. Seeing my children so excited about memorizing God's Word in AWANA


4. New eternal relationships being formed within our class at church


5. Ladies Bible Study


6. The opportunity to have talked with someone about turning their life over to the Lord.


7. His amazing provisions for us during this time

...and more.

Oh how quickly the devil can get in and throw sand in our eyes. I don't know about you but I want clear 20/20 vision when walking in this world. I don't want to be blindsighted by the traps, snares, broken airconditioners or lightning attracting RV's. I want to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.

God help me stay focused on the one who sees, knows and is in control of it all!

Pizza and Pampers

The past two days Bruce, the kids and I made a fast track to west Texas, to the humble town of Snyder. We went for a fellowship meeting for the Texas BBF. It was a really quick trip and a little exhausting, but fun to do something spur of the moment...(cause we don't already live a life of adventure LOL).

Monday night after the service we met up with a college friend and headed to eat. We ended up at my favorite place in the whole world- Pizza Hut (OK so maybe I haven't really traveled the world too much to see what I am missing...but I do like me some pan crust Pizza Hut). So we sat, ate and fellowshiped. At the end of the meal we boxed our food up and headed to the car.

(WARNING- story ending here for anyone who cannot handle bodily function conversation)

On the way to the car Tucker informed me that he had pooped in his pants. Darn it! I thought we had the potty training mastered!!! So, unequipped, we headed to the only store in town open and bought some wipes and diapers...(Tuck had had diarrhea during the day so I was worried we might be dealing with a bigger problem).

So we entered the lobby of our hotel and stopped by the desk to see if the kids and I could get a late check-out. There was another pastor in front of us (I recognized him from the meeting earlier). He was asking about air freshener (I might should have asked about that in re: diarrhea). He turned to us and I guess in effort to make small talk said "Is that delivery for me?" motioning to the bag from the grocery store that Bruce held in his hands. He then glanced at me (I was holding the box of leftover pizza with drinks balanced on top) and said..."are you sure that bag isn't for me?" By this time I realized he was thinking that there was something to go with the pizza in the bag that Bruce held. But the thought of a 60 year old pastor asking if the delivery of diapers and wipes was for him, almost had me in an uncontrollable fit of giggles. He wouldn't stop...and even as he was walking away he was asking my kids "Are you sure that bag isn't for me?"

This story is pretty funny to me. But the more I got to think about the more I thought about how this is the way a lot of Christians live. They have the salvation (the pizza) to live a life for Christ. But what they have in their bag (life) doesn't really match what they have been given. We wallow around in disappointments, heartache, anger, unrest, when in reality, we've been given joy, peace, love and a host of other perfect gifts from above. Rather than it being comical as in our interaction with that pastor and the diapers, it is just sad. Sad that people who know Jesus in their heart, don't act like they know Him.

I am reminded that pizza and pampers don't mix.

Househunting

So our little RV excursion is coming to a close. It's been over a month now and we've crunched the numbers and are going to plunge into the world of mortgage and rent juggling. I know you'll miss the occasional RV humor we have all come to love, but alas, it's time to move on to bigger and better things.

First let me let you in on a little secret. We have looked at over 20 rentals. Not joking. I am amazed at what some landlords will charge for a cat urinated, carpet stained, mildew growing house. One house we went into smelled weird. I couldn't quite figure out what it was until I realized that the landlord had scented candles burning in every room....what do you think he was trying to cover up?

So, just as we thought there was no rental out there for us and that we would be filling multiple blog postings with hilarity from the RV, we got 2 calls from our special real estate agent friend. He had heard about 2 rentals. So we went and looked. They are both great. Now we have to decide. It would have been so much easier if one was horrible and the other was super, but no, now we have to make a real grown up decision. I hate this part.

I'll keep you posted on which one we choose...should be tonight!

The Garden at Jojo's House

My mom has an eye for gardening and thumbs to match! She has worked hard (along with my brother) to create a sweet, relaxing oasis in her yard. It's breathtakingly beautiful this time of year. Enjoy these pics of her flowers and vegetable gardens.

Wildlife Safari...and I am not talking about my family!

4 Wheelin', Friends and Family

The kids had the opportunity to do a little 4 wheelin' with a friend of the family while we were in GA. They had a blast. Tucker said he crashed into some trees while he was making a new road. That pretty much sums it up for him. If you are a child safety advocate...I apologize for the lack of helmets.

Living It Up- RV Style

My family is in the midst of a move. Our problem isn’t unique. Our previous home hasn’t sold and we aren’t in the position to purchase another home until that happens. Meanwhile God has provided us a wonderful RV for our family to live in during the waiting game.

Going from a modest middle class home to an RV has been easier than I ever imagined. Albeit small, the home comes equipped with all our necessities. Air conditioning, hot water, refrigerator and other kitchen appliances and even two televisions! Wow…home sweet RV home. We’ve moved a week’s worth of clothing in and our toiletries and a few toys for the kids and we are set to make it for a while.

With all the modern conveniences we thought we had it made. I made advance preparations with groceries and toilet paper. We even waited one day before we moved in with the kids. Last Saturday night was our first night to spend the night. The kids were excited. We took our first showers, ironed clothes for the next day and took care of bedtime routines. Everyone was snuggled in bed.

We all fell asleep, slumbering like babies….until 2am when out of nowhere the loudest train ever made barreled through the city train tracks - located right behind the property where we are staying. As you can imagine we were immediately awakened and nearly horrified. None of us had given a thought to the train. We hadn’t prepared ourselves for the enormous noise and whistling.

The next night we were all more prepared. We talked about the train with the kids. We reminded them it would be loud and we assured them that nothing would happen to them. That night when the train came through, I was the only one who awakened.

Isn’t that just like trusting children? Children who trust their parents, who believe they will be taken care of. Shouldn’t that be just how we are with our Heavenly Father? Shouldn’t we trust his guidance? Shouldn’t we know that He will take care of us? No amount of noise, hardship, disease, pain, divorce or finances can keep us from His care. Thankfully we can sleep easy when we trust in Him.

Dessert You Can Make in an RV

Eclair Cake

Prep Time: 25 Minutes Ready In: 4 Hours 25 Minutes
Servings: 14

"This is a very quick and simple no bake dessert cake. It uses graham crackers and a pudding mixture. It tastes just like an eclair, but there is enough for a crowd!! It is a great recipe for children who are learning to cook, there is no baking involved or any power kitchen tools. Just a bowl and a spoon!"

Ingredients:
2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla
pudding mix
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped
topping, thawed
3 cups milk 1 (16 ounce) package graham cracker
squares
1 (16 ounce) package prepared chocolate
frosting

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, thoroughly blend the pudding mix, whipped topping, and milk.
2. Arrange a single layer of graham cracker squares in the bottom of a 13x9 inch baking pan. Evenly spread half of the pudding mixture over the crackers. Top with another layer of crackers and the remaining pudding mixture. Top with a final layer of graham crackers.
3. Spread the frosting over the whole cake up to the edges of the pan. Cover, and chill at least 4 hours before serving.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2009 Allrecipes.com Printed from Allrecipes.com 7/28/2009

Thankful Thursday

Head on over to Truth 4 the Journey to read more Thankful Thursday posts or leave a comment here to tell something you are thankful for!

This week I am thankful for:

1. I am thankful for our new church family at CBC. They have been such a blessing to us.

2. The hotel we are staying in has more than met our needs...and who could ask for more than housekeeping done by someone other than me!!!

3. For the strong heatbeat and good report of my little neice or nephew. Brother and wife find out in just 4 weeks the sex of the baby. Life is precious.

4. For new friends for my children.

5. For an all-knowing God, who in His wisdom knows exactly what we need.

Happy Thankful Thursday to you....what are you thankful for?

Mission....Accomplished

Today was the last day of the Mission Gunter's weekly Wednesday morning SAM (Summer Arts and More) Club. The children ended this six week program with ballroom dancing lessons. I am sure that some of the boys wished they had slept in...but for the most part the kiddos participated well...and even had a little fun. They learned rumba and swing moves.

It was a bitter-sweet day for me. I watched as these kids danced and goofed off and was reminded that today was our last day...mine in particular. This was my last official day with The Mission Gunter (I'll still be gardening...don't worry!) (http://missiongunterblog.blogspot.com or www.missiongunter.com) and as I was walking through the Mission Hall at the old school it hit me....yes, the water works began! Poor Keelie had to be the witness as the emotional goodbye filled my eyes.

After looking back through old email and just remembering how God has done such an amazing thing in Gunter has made me so thankful to just be a part of it all. When Keelie and I first started talking about starting The Mission 2 years ago, I doubt either of us knew how quickly so many God-size goals would be accomplished.

To date God has allowed us to:

coordinate food drives, distribute food to numerous families, open a clothes closet, begin monthly community meals for free, operate SAM Club for 2 summers, Mission Minds Tutoring program for the middle school, Mission Field Community Garden, Health Fair for 2 winters, sponsor numerous back packs for kids going back to school and more.

Please don't think I am tooting our own horn. I listed all that because somewhere down the road, there will be a day when I need to remember how God worked in my life in a giant way. This is my rememberance. My Ebenezer Rock. I Samuel 7:12 says Samuel took a single rock and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it "Ebenezer" (Rock of Help), saying, "This marks the place where God helped us."
We all need a place where we can come back and remember. This list reminds me of how God:

uses any one who is willing,
provides financially,
is interested in people,
honors obedience,
sees beyond our weakness,
provides wisdom,
loves surprises,
and more and more and more.

It's been my privilege to work with the amazing people affiliated with the Mission. They are moms, dads, students, teachers, housewives, business owners, wealthy, middle class, poor, educated and uneducated...all loving God enough to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their own town. I've been blessed.

I'm so happy to know that God has given Keelie and the Mission Board of Directors the vision to minister to the people of Gunter. It's not surprising that God has worked out all the details. I look forward with anticipation to hear the great things that will be happening!

Now on to the next chapter of my life....I am equally as excited to be available for whatever God has planned! Stay tuned!

New Names and Faces

The enormous task of learning new names is upon me! Yesterday as I sat in my new Sunday School class, I realized that just in that class alone was the representation of 14-15 families...which meant anywhere from 60-100 people (thanks to all the children everyone has been blessed with). So, here I sit, with the church photo directory in hand, trying to get faces and names and kids put together. It's gonna take a while. I am pretty sure it's also going to take calling someone the wrong name! Oh well...there are worse things!

I'm just so incredibly thankful that no matter where I roam, my heavenly Father, knows my name. With all the coming and going my family is doing back and forth to Sulphur Springs, I can barely keep up....but He is touchably near and doesn't forget that I need Him. He calls me by name...after all, all good fathers know the names of their children. He is enormously interested in my thoughts, cares, concerns and actions. He wants me. My name is important to Him.

Thank you Lord for your nearness, for YOUR name that we can call on anytime.

Take it to the Lord in Prayer

Every couple of days since our house has been on the market, I deep clean...dust, clean mirrors, sweep, vacuum, mop, pick up, throw away, you get the idea. I even have the kids in the habit or helping me...those Clorox wipes are awesome to give to kids to wipe things down.

With Tucker and Bruce already in Sulphur Springs for the week, Savannah and I set out on our cleaning expedition on Tuesday morning. As I was cleaning, I just kept thinking how I wished someone would at least come and see the house. It's been 3 weeks since the last showing. Anyway, I guess the Holy Spirit finally got through my thick skull and I realized....I need to pray about this. So, I called Savannah in and said, "Let's pray that someone wants to come look at our house while we are in Sulphur Springs this week". She agreed and asked if she could be the one to pray. So she prayed a prayer that included these details:

1. Please help someone drive by our house really slow.
2. Please help them pick up a flyer about our house.
3. Please help them like our house.

Can I tell you that not 10 minutes later someone in an SUV slowly pulled up to our house, turned around and came back and got a flyer. And guess who got to see it all....that's right...Savannah saw the power of prayer in action!

So, comically I said, maybe we need to ask God to send someone to the inside of the house. And guess what...within 12 hours we had a house showing!!! I know some people wouldn't think twice about all this, but God is most assuredly keeping me encouraged by these messages of answered prayer. Too often I just hope and wish and don't take the time to really pray specifically about things. Well....duh! I need to be wopped upside the head next time I do that. It's obvious God cares about these details in my life.

So, I am motivated to take things to the Lord in prayer in a big time way. I am thrilled that Savannah, at her age, got to see how quick and specifically God can answer prayer.

Now....I am off to pray about someone actually buying the house!!!

Thankful Thursday

Click over to Truth for the Journey to grab your truth 4 the journey button and participate!

1. I am thankful for a wonderful July 4th with friends.

2. I am thankful for our new church family.

3. I am thankful for the hotel we are able to stay in until our home sells or we find something affordable to rent.

4. I am thankful for the house showing we had yesterday.

5. I am thankful that God very visually answered a prayer request of my 6 year old daughter. It was awesome to see it happen and then to hear her thank Him for it!

Happy TT to you....leave a comment and give God the praise for the blessings in you life today.

Man In the Mirror

With the recent death of Michael Jackson there has been a resurgence of his music on the radio, downloaded on iTunes and yes, even playing on MTV. It’s been total MJ madness!
In my lifetime, I can’t remember such media frenzy taking over the world ever.

Although I was never a fan of Michael Jackson, I do not deny the impact he had on pop culture. His music, his reputation (whatever you may think), his dancing, his plastic surgery, his children and the speculation about his life and death have made him the most talk about, downloaded and texted subject in modern history.

The scrutiny surrounding his life has only brought more awe to Jackson. His famous song, Man in the Mirror, reminds me of a completely difference gaze into a mirror. God’s word says “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." The mirror God’s word talks about is one that doesn’t look back at mankind, but looks forward to eternity. It looks deeply into the soul of a man for the important things- faith, hope and love. It doesn’t really matter what Michael Jackson or anyone else sees when we look at the man/woman in the mirror, it matters only that the reflection produces faith, hope and love. God’s gaze at us will produce an eternal destination. It only matters what He sees.

Today, as the world memorializes Michael Jackson, may Christians remember the most important reflection that they see isn’t a deceased individual with paparazzi paranoia, it’s the reflection of Jesus Christ shining through those who believe on Him.

Day One

Today is the first day of the rest of your life... oh, wait...somebody else said that a long time ago.....Let's start over. Today was the first day of Bruce's new job. There, that's better. He and Tucker left last night for Sulphur Springs. They had suitcases packed and teddy bear in hand (Tucker....not Bruce!)....though after he endures a couple of days parenting Tucker alone, he might wish he had a teddy bear! They headed to our home away from home hotel and Savannah and I will join them Wednesday afternoon after we finish up Savannah's summer activities here in Gunter.

The report is in and Bruce had a great first day. His new computer arrived just in time and I think he visited Mitchell this afternoon to get all the software installed. He has gone MAC so...he's got some learnin' to do.

Tucker stayed with Jo and Poppy during the day...and from what I hear visited the post office, library, walmart and the park. No doubt he will keep things hopping around there.

Savannah and I made a trip to town to pick up a few things and grabbed some lunch at her favorite place...Panda Express. We scooted home and while I was working this afternoon she found it completely interesting to count the dry rice in one of our clear canisters....hmmm....not sure what is up with that.

So we are settled in for the night and Savannah has decided we are going to start a PPV movie...Paul Blart..Mall Cop. I hear it is hysterical.

Day one...over and out!

The Theology of Cookbooks

One of my favorite things to do when I have a leisure day is to browse through old cookbooks. I mentioned this in my porch post below and my thoughtful friend Scarlet handed me a stack of old cookbooks to look through while we waited for our dinner to cook on July 4th. This cookbook in particular caught my attention. It was Scarlet's mother-in-law's and happened to be chalked full of yummy vintage recipes.

Notice: using this cookbook will make your life better and richer. Their words, not mine.

Have you taken the Meal Planner's Creed? Raise your potholdered hand and repeat after me.

This scares me a little.....I hope my family's security rest in something other than my cooking!

We got a good chuckle about some of these and other things we found in the cookbooks, but their point was expressed many times over and over in the book: Meal planning, eating together and overall family health...whether physical, spiritual or emotional can be nurtured around the dinner table.

Good point.