First Day of School

Monday was our first day back in the schoolroom for the 14th time. It does feel a little empty now with one desk missing. We are left with just a 6th and 11th grader, but we bought a few new boxes of crayons anyway. The first day of school just wouldn't be the same without new boxes of perfectly sharpened crayons--age and grade have nothing to do with it.

Tiffani is very responsible, getting up on her own every morning for work. I wonder if she misses
A Beka at all...hmmm...just a little?? Naw.

What a wonderfully fun-filled summer we had this year. We traveled to Pensacola, FL; Pismo Beach and Santa Barbara, CA; Indianapolis, IN; St. Louis, MO; Austin, TX; Miami, and Key West, FL; and last but not least, Nassau and Coco Cay, Bahamas. We were sad for the summer to end, but are up for the challenge of a new school year.

I have many new and exciting doors open to me this fall as an interpreter, and I anticipate improving my skill enough to be able to test again for a higher certification within a year.

Sunday's Tow Truck

Pow! "What was that?" Craig said. "I guess there was something in the road that I didn't see."

This Sunday was a typical preaching out weekend for us. We were only 1 hour away in Lewisville with Pastor and Sister Sales. Generally, by the time the last Amen is said on a Sunday night, I am ready to head for my bed. Yesterday was no exception, and as is normally the case, I was the 'mean ol mom' that said "no" to going out to eat with the pastor after church.

We had only been on the road for 5 minutes when we heard the loud "Pow!" We continued to exit the highway in search of a Taco Bell drive thru (they were 'starving to death' you know.) As we came off the exit ramp, the car began acting really strangely. The lightbulb came on in Craig's head and he said, "Oh, I know what it is, we blew a tire!" We pulled into the first parking lot we could find, got out, and sure enough, there it was--flat as a pancake!

Not to worry, though, we had a spare tire in the trunk and two strong, capable men to change it. (The directions folded up in the case of the jack didn't hurt anything either.) We girls just stood back and watched the men do their manly work. It all would have worked out great...if the spare had air in it. Ahm...

Not to worry, though, we have kept up our roadside assistance insurance since our trailer traveling days, and now we were going to get a return on that investment. (There went my goal of being in my own bed by 10:15.) Craig made the phone call, and then came back and told us that it could take up to 45 minutes for the tow truck to arrive. I took the pins out of my hair, shed my shoes, and curled up for a nap. I was jarred awake by the door slamming, and the bright emergency lights of the tow truck. We all got out of the car, and I plopped down on the sidewalk in my Sunday Best as we all watched the 20 minute drama of hoisting my dream car onto the bed of the tow truck. Craig's plan was to go to a nearby gas station and fill the tire with air, and then be on our way home. This was not to be. Apparently, one must fill the tire with air BEFORE putting it on the car.

NOW WHAT TO DO??? All 6 of us piled into the cab of the tow truck and bounced 50 minutes home. (Sorry Craig about your legs.)

Summer 2009

It has been a wild and crazy summer. I have been so busy, I have not been able to blog, but here is a brief recap:

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Gunbarrel City

We preached in Gunbarrel City this past weekend. Only in Texas...

California

Okay, so when I got back from Austin, I immediately took my 2 final exams, passed with 2 A's, and then began packing 5 suitcases for California. We spent 12 days in the Pismo Beach area. We did a prophecy conference and visited with Craig's family. It was on this trip that we got to meet our new niece/cousin. Craig helped to officiate Savannah's dedication.





Before I left for Austin, I pleated a bishop for my new niece, Savannah, and worked on it until the moment the plane touched down. (I had to work on the bonnet after we arrived.) Here she is wearing the finished product.




We spent some quality family time at an apple orchard. The Gala apples were the best!



Grammy was determined to have a bonfire on the beach at night. It would have been chilly, but the fire kept us warm. I know the kids will never forget it.





Here we are doing what we really enjoy.

I'm Back

It has been a while, but let me do a little recap here:

The first week of August, Amanda, Tennie and I went to the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin for a Communications Skills Workshop. It was at the end of that grueling week that we all took the BEI Certification test. They have told us it could be up to 3 months before we get the results in the mail. If we get an envelope with a thick card in it, we have passed. If there is no card, only a letter, don't bother opening it. Here we are in our room:



We had a great week of immersion and came back home completely worn out. I think I learned more about interpreting in these 4 days than I have in the past 4 months!

Anamosa, Iowa

Amanda and I had an amazing trip to Iowa for the annual UPC Deaf Conference. It was a week of fun and learning that we will never forget!

Tonya, my long-time friend and maid of honor drove over with her husband to see us Sunday night at my parent's church. I was so honored.











My dad lent us his convertible for the week, and this added a very fun aspect to our trip. We drove with the top down almost exclusively, and we have burned foreheads to prove it!




A few of us went to visit the state park, and took some pictures on the bridge. Some of the brave girls explored the ice cave. We had a beautiful afternoon getting to know each other better. The best part?? Amanda and I were the only hearing people in the whole group!



Here is a picture of all the Texas registrants. Bro. Wesley Swanson, the Texas Deaf Director,(standing above me) was the special speaker Thursday night.




As always, the Deaf Choir was the highlight of the week. About 60 Deaf people comprised the choir this year. The anointing that fell on them while they were ministering was overwhelming.

Sis. Libby is one of my all time favorite people. I hope one day I can be like her. An added bonus that I was not expecting was to see my very first ASL teacher/mentor, Esther Henry. It was so cool for me to introduce her to my present teacher/mentor, Amanda.



What I was not expecting was when on Wednesday night, one of the leaders turned to me at the altar service and asked me to relieve the current interpreter. I was wearing a black suit, and apparently, that is all the qualification I needed. With Esther pushing me on one side, and Amanda pulling me on the other side, I walked as in a daze up to the platform and did my best. I had Amanda feeding me signs from the floor, and Esther taking video. You can't imagine the intimidation of being a beginning student, signing in a room full of about 100 skilled interpreters!



This must be the most beautiful working prison I have ever seen, right in the middle of downtown Anamosa. We opted out of the tour.



These are our new friends, Melody and sweet Luke, the pastor's daughter and grandson. Doug and Melody opened their home to us, and their hospitality made us feel at ease. I thank God for allowing us this opportunity. The church services were poignant, the fellowship was sweet, and the presenters were knowledgeable. So many more things happened that I won't detail here. Suffice it to say that it was certainly a rich experience.

TSID 2008

Well, the TEP is behind me. I just got the email that says I passed. Thank you to all who prayed for me. That is one test down, now one to go. I am scheduled to take the performance test in Austin on Friday, August 8. I'm sure I will be calling on all to fast and pray for me. :)

We had a wonderful girls trip to the annual Texas interpreter's conference. Stephanie drove us to Houston, and feeling like royalty, we stayed at the Hyatt Hotel for 5 days.





Our group of 4 interpreters was not totally complete until Heather joined our group. She is so very witty--never a dull moment with her around! Here we are dining at Benihana's


All weekend people were asking if these two were sisers.







The grand finale?? Todai's of course. Can you believe we 'camped' 4 1/2 hours in this restaurant? What a deep Bible study we had!

Alaska

Our 3 children have been with their Nana and Papa in St. Louis for the past 2 weeks while Craig and I were in Alaska. We had 2 prophecy conferences but managed to squeeze in a little R&R as well. It was a fabulous trip filled with the wonderous beauties of God's creation.

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Home Missions

This weekend our family headed 3 hours south to Temple, Texas (just south of Waco) to minister in two home missions churches. It was a very humbling experience. I was once again reminded of who the real heroes are among us.


Saturday night and Sunday afternoon we were at Abundant Life Church with Bro. & Sis. Carter. They started this church just 3 years ago, and already have a building and about 20 people.

Sunday morning we drove north about 20 minutes to be with Bro. & Sis. Wolfe. Because of sickness in their church, there were only 8 people besides our family. After church the Wolfe's invited us to their mobile home for dinner before driving south again to the Carter's church.

I was so thankful to have our kids with us. Saturday night Bethani boldly stood and testified (something you don't hear of much anymore--especially in a large church setting.) Tiffani and Jeremi joined me and we sang a trio. (We teased Jeremi that this was his debut). My kids so generously 'shared' their 'sick germs' (as one of them used to call it when they were little) and after the first night, I was unable to sing at all. Tiffani stepped up to the plate and sang while I played on Sunday. Both churches were without music, and we did our best to help with the worship services. It was such good experience for my kids. Jeremi even got to play the drums! Craig delivered his heart to the people, and built their faith. They said that we encouraged them, but the truth of the matter is, we were the benefactors. We left humbled and inspired.

Both of these couples have young children, and are working secular jobs and working in their communities in order to cultivate the church God has called them to plant. They are spending the prime years of their lives sacrificing to build the Kingdom of God. Wow! These are the unsung heroes and my hat is off to them.

By the end of Sunday afternoon's service, we realized that, if we would hurry, we might be able to make it for the last part of our home church service in Dallas. The message last night was powerful and called each one of us to do trust God and step out in bold acts of sacrifice. I do believe God is trying to speak to me.

Oklahoma

Last Saturday Craig and I took the two youngest 'fruit' to Oklahoma City. (Tiffani had a solo in the adult choir and wanted to stay here with Jason and Amanda) We went to minister to a couple of dear friends, Bro. and Sis. Kevin and Desise Borders. For the past 9 years, they have been growing a solid UPC church in Norman. Here is a picture of Denise and her daughter in love, Amanda.


Denise has won the cancer battle, and we are so thrilled about it.

We first met Kevin and Denise back when we were both evangelizing and living in tin cans. (Most people refer to these as RVs.) We evangelized just 9 years, but they stayed on the field 15!! Wow, my hat is off to them.

Our weekend was short, but fun. After we arrived, the temperature dropped, and it started sleeting. How nice it was to wake up in the warm evangelist quarters, hear the sleet pounding on the outside windows, get dressed, and walk downstairs into the sanctuary. I really felt bad for all of those who had to get out in the weather.

After church, however, we did have trouble getting the frozen car door open to drive to the restaurant. The kids had fun rolling down the window and punching the ice out. We all laughed and laughed when Craig would come to an intersection and have to open the door and look out before making a turn. Who would have thought to bring an ice scrater. (We don't get much of this kind of weather anymore now that we are in Texas, and we had fun with it.) Pastor Borders had to cancel church Sunday night because more freezing rain was coming in, and so we took the opportunity to get out while we could. (I did briefly entertain the thought of spending the night hoping to get iced in. The evangelist quarters were so comfortable; not even one window in our room allowing us to sleep until...)

New Jersey

Craig and I spent the weekend in Mantua, New Jersey with Bro. & Sis. D'Amico and Angela. We hit it off immediately. Craig and I were able to rest Saturday morning, and God gave us a great conference Friday & Saturday night and all day Sunday. (By all day, I mean alllllll day with a church service in the middle 1 1/2 hours away in which the 5 of us in the car got to know each other really well.)

It was a great weekend and we can't wait to go again. (Hopefully next time, I won't pass out on the airplane--it wasn't pretty.)

Impromptu Weekend

I'm sure my mom inherited it from my grandparents. I learned it from them. That is, spur-of-the-moment, impromptu, shoot from the hip kinds of trips. You know, the kind where you wake up and decide, "I think I need a little vacation today... where could I drive?" It is actually more fun--it feels like cheating or taking a risk, or something, only it is completely honest.

I remember one day when I woke up and told Craig, "Our 15th wedding anniversary is in 2 days, let's renew our vows with a ceremony." I called my mom, and within 5 hours, she was on an airplane with my wedding dress. (Finding a bakery that could get us a wedding cake in 24 hours was a little tough.)

Just last summer I called my mom and told her I had found a car that I wanted to buy--in Florida--and what would she think about a quick girls' trip? The next day we flew to West Palm Beach, and took 3 days to drive home.

Well, last Friday about 1:35, we had a similar kind of phone call. My mom called and asked if I wanted to go with her to a wedding of a friend of our family. You see, I was in Samantha's mom's wedding, Samantha and her brother, Jimmy, were in my wedding, and it just seemed right that I would now attend her wedding. After we talked about the details, (mainly, I can't afford a trip like this right now since General Conference is next week), (mom's reply, I'll take care of it), (argue back and forth), mom won, and after a scheduled optometrist appointment at 3:00, we were all in the car headed for the airport at 5:00.

I flew to St. Louis, and then together, mom and I drove the 6 hours to Cincinnati for the wedding. It was a beautiful drive, with some of the fall foliage making its apprearance. We drove and talked, and did all things mother/daughter.




This is Samantha and Jimmy in my wedding

This is Samantha and Jimmy now.








Mom and I woke up Sunday morning at 5:30 and drove to Indianapolis for Sunday School. After Bro. Mooney preached morning worship, we headed to the airport just in time to catch the afternoon flight back to Dallas. Craig picked me up and we were all able to make it to our church Sunday night.

It was a wonderful little trip, and I am so glad we got to do it together. I feel so blessed to be a part of a family that values time together. I only hope I can transfer that love for each other, and love of adventure to the next generation.

Virginia Beach

Well, we are back from our weekend trip. Craig and I went to do a prophecy conference in Virginia Beach. (Yeah, I know it's tough, but someone's gotta do it.) We had a great time, and the Lord really moved in the services.

This is a picture of us in the top of the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse. From the top of this old landmark, built in 1791, you can see far and wide. Although it is no longer in use, it stands as the official symbol of the City of Virginia Beach. Another lighthouse was built to take its place, and you can see it in the background. Of course we had to buy a little lighthouse replica for our Christmas tree.

Nana flew in to stay with the kids for the weekend while we were gone, and I am afraid she has spoiled them.

California 2007

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Teen Week

Well, we have just returned from the airport after dropping of Craig and our youngest, Bethani. They are headed for California to spend a week with Grammy and Grandpa. They are quite excited. They have many fun things planned.

So do we.

I have dubbed this week "Teen Week" I am left with our two oldest, and we are going to make the most of it. Already, we have taken on one more teen: Lex. On our way home, we picked him up to have a sleep over with Jeremi.

I will keep you updated as to the happenings around here.