Just a Quick Note

We are back from a WONDERFUL vacation . Came home to a VERY HOT home and broken air conditioning unit. Right now things are cool in the house but is temporary until parts can be found. I will be back to blogging as soon as I catch up after vacation. Thanks for checking on us. I promise I will be back with Julian NEWS!

Caught Up!

Good Morning! I caught up with all the wash finally. I got everything unpacked BUT I have started packing again. This Saturday we are going to Topsail Beach for a family vacation. In St John I took so many pictures that we had to load them in Eric's laptop. I am still waiting for them so hopefully I can get started on my slide show after we get back. So keep checking back!!! Something cool happen in my e-mail box. I got a e-mail from one of the ladies I worked with in St John Sister Merle. She is my new friend and we had instant connection. I will tell you more about Merle later. Well I better get to cleaning my house and packing AGAIN! I will post again before I leave for a much needed family vacation.

Back in NC

I am back in NC exhausted physically and emotionally. But I am refreshed with the Lord. I had a life -changing experience this past week. With Allyson's help I will be making a slide-show sometime this week of our journey. I came home to a very clean house thanks to my husband and daughter Caroline but I have at least 20 loads of wash! I also need to catch up with family time. So keep checking back and I promise to get a slide show up as soon as possible. Thanks to those who prayed for us during the trip. We felt the power of prayer. Good Day! PS I heard Good Day a lot on the island ;-)

Happy 4th and leaving on a plane

Happy 4th! We are so blessed to live in a country that stands for freedom. God Bless you USA! My daughter Allyson and I will be leaving in the morning at 5:00 AM for St John's in the Caribbean. The purpose of the trip will be to teach and equip the members of Calvary Baptist so in the future they will be able to run their own VBS. Most importantly the team will share the gospel with the community and win souls for eternity. Our Church mission team could have up to 250 children attending VBS from this tiny island. I am very excited to be with my daughter Allyson and serving God together. What a privilege God has given us both . I will be back in a week with pictures and updates. We will be traveling with 16 fun Southern Baptist. I am sure there will be lots of laughs with the group we are going with. The team is STRONG in their walk so I expect even more bonding through our Christian fellowship. Please pray for safe travels and hearts to be open to the gospel Love in Christ

Taking a break!

I thought I would take a break from cleaning to share our last two days. Yesterday we had the BEST time with our friends. I took the kids over to the 2.00 movie summer movies. We then rushed home grabbed lunch and waited for our friends for a swim day. Lisa, Karen, Kimberly and Kim and 14 kids bewteen us enjoyed playing in the pool. The kids were SO good and played so well together. My kids are VERY SOCIAL and enjoyed the whole event. My Mommy friends that came over is also what I needed. The kids were so good that we were able to enjoy Mommy time. Which means running our mouths ( talking). I was so sad when they all left around 5:00. The YMCA is hosting 4th July events. Tonight we are going with Melissa and Bob and their kids for a picnic and to watch the 4th of July. I am also trying to work out details for some of our other friends from Church to meet also and have a HUGE fellowship time! Well back to work! I got to get the house cleaned so Friday I can start packing for our mission trip. More later on our mission trip God Bless America.

READING!

Caroline scored in the top 97% in the nation on her SAT. Ever since Caroline learned to talk I could tell she was very bright. I think though what has helped her the most she loves to read.Elijah is starting to read also and seems to enjoy it as much as his sissy. I have been trying to be a good Mom and set time each day for the kids to read. Elijah and I have been working on his reading skills for the next school year. I caught my two "readers" in Caroline's bed reading together.

Allyson is coming HOME

Allyson has been in Florida this week serving our Savior through mission work. Her team went into a nursing home and did yard work. They also went in the home and spent the day with the residents. I have talked to Allyson several times this week and every time I talked to her she sounds excited! This morning I viewed a video that Daniel our youth pastor sent out to the parents and friends of these youth. He let us know that our kids are coming home CHANGED. They are on a spiritual fire for Jesus. It has been a long time since he could say this but this has been one of his best trips ever with the youth. Hearts have been changed. I can't wait too hear what happen. I have posted a video from Daniel of one of the "work" days. Allyson is in the video several times. ENJOY and pray for our kids!

MEET SPIDERBOY

I took Elijah to Chick-Filet this week to meet Spiderman and Batman. He insisted dressing in his TOO SMALL costume. He had fun though pretending he was a super hero. When I see how much fun these kids have pretending it makes me what to be a kid again. More than that I dread the day when he thinks it is uncool to dress-up as a super hero. I love Chick-Filet and the activities they do during the week for families. It's been a fun week again for the kids and I. Of course the swimming pool was used almost everyday. Caroline had a friend ( Brandi) over to spend the night . She and Brandi get along so well and did their "tween" stuff together. Yesterday we Elijah and I got our haircut. The girl that cut Elijah's hair went on and on how handsome he was and how she wished she had his hair color. He was really enjoing the attention. She asked him if he knew that he was so cute. He said YES I know it because my mommy tells me that all they time. Caroline had her orthodontics appointment yesterday. The one tooth that they are trying to pull fowarded still has not made it yet. He also told her yesterday that she will probably be ready for braces about 12. So start saving up Daddy! Would you know our air condition is out! It is suppose to be 93 today. So no cooking or cleaning at my house. It is too HOT. We are praying that it is not too major but I have a feeling it is. Later!

CAN!

Borrowed from Daniel When you think you can't you CAN! Get the tissue before you watch this powerful video

A simple act of love

Last Wednesday night I went to youth hang-out time at Church. Before Bible study (Daniel/Youth pastor) came up with some ice breaker games. One of the games you had to pick a partner. I was sitting there wondering if anyone would pick me. I expected the youth to pick up their buddies before me of course. I am not a game person so it was not a big deal if I sat out. I looked up and there comes my daughter Allyson across the room smiling. She picked her MOM. I know as your reading this your thinking how silly for a grown woman to almost cry over her daughter picking her as her partner. BUT I WAS so TOUCHED. She could had picked one her friends you know. This small act of love was actually a HUGE act of love. It shows me and GOD how unselfish she is. Her act of love showed how much she honors God also. There is no greater way to honor God than to honor our parents. It was awesome to spend time that night with Allyson and her friends. I also enjoyed the Bible Study and learned something too about God's word. Parents of youth I challenged you to visit your sons/daughter's youth group. I know as parents of teens we think they would be embarrassed if you walk in their youth group. I promise you they will not be. They really do want us involved in their lives. I do suggest that you warn them though first ;-) Our youth kids need us even more now than ever with the challenges in today's world. Also I let Allyson know how much that simple but HUGE act of love meant tooher Mom I cherish you Allyson Love Mommy.