Happy 9 Years C.C.

CAUTION: this is very sappy!

Nine years ago today I was in Jamacia as a new bride.

I remember the love I had for Chris.....I was truely infatuated. The man could do no wrong. No matter what he said, didn't say, did or didn't do and no matter what anyone said about him, he was mine and I adored him. I was strucken by his smile and would melt when he looked at me. And no matter how many times I heard the same joke, I would laugh, a REAL laugh!

Well, nine years have passed and we have been through a lot of ups and a lot of downs. We have grown closer to each other and most importantly to God. And I can still say that no matter what he says or doesn't say, no matter what he does or doesn't do and no matter what people may say about him...he is MINE, mine forever. I realize that I take for granted his eyes and smile every day, but I hope he knows I would never want to take this journey without him and I still adore him.... Happy Nine years!

We actually got to slip away for dinner at Fulin thanks to Chad Carson! He gave us an awesome gift certificate...thanks Chad!!!! And thanks to our sweet friend the Apples who took our babies for the night so we could actually talk and laugh with each other one on one. It was awesome.

Here we are at Fulin

Funny thing, when I got in the car AFTER dinner I saw this......can we say I was in a hurry!

But the best part of the night was being with Chris with no one else around. Laughing and just enjoying the man I love!

A New Creation

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

I don't think I even need to write a word...the pictures tell the story.

But I do want to say how proud I am of my Chloe Grace for making the biggest decision of her life at age 6!

Some people think 6 is too young to fully understand what it means to choose Christ to reign over your life, but I too accepted Christ as my Savior at 6 and was baptized with my best friend on Easter Sunday. And I know without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ entered my life at that moment. Now, all of the other big decisions of her life will be so much easier...I mean can you imagine deciding what career to have without Christ's guidance? Or who you want to spend the rest of your life with without The Holy Spirit lead? I feel so much peace knowing that she will have His Holy Spirit to guide her and lead her when she has to make a tough decision. And honestly, I am about to cry because my sweet baby girl is all the way in Florida with her grandparents having a fantastic time while I want to kiss her little face off!

Dance Baby Dance!

If you were at the dress rehearsal tonight, then you might have seen my adorable daughter on stage....but if not, here are some highlights from my camera.

Cami thought it was her night too!

She actually started getting upset when we left because, "I didn't get to dance!"
But, she did get to see Chloe do ballet.....

Tap

And Jazz (our favorite)

(But, I must agree with Chloe, I did go too heavy on the eyeliner...she said, "I have evil eyes, Mommy!" But that is what dress rehearsal is for right TD, to get your eyeliner level right!)

Happy Birthday Chloe

As many of you know, we were out of the country for Chloe's 6th birthday, so last Tuesday she had a slumber party! This one was tough because mom said only 4 friends (which turned into 6) due to a limited amount of space and less opportunity for tears. This left out many old and dear friends and Mommy hated the thought of hurting someone's feelings! But, the girls had a great time....being girls

......and Chance.

The Smiths came by the party and poor guy was smothered with girly stuff! I love kindergarteners reading to other kindergarteners.


This makes me want to cry.....these two girls have been friends since

before they were even out of the womb!

Painting Toe nails!!!!



Bella and Cami

And a slumber party isn't a slumber party without a journal!!!

And they actually went to sleep! I left them at 10:30...woke up at 2:00 to Cami crawling in with me...but didn't hear a thing until 7:15!

Just a Tease

As we got to the airport Saturday, May 30 at 4:00 a.m., I got out my camera to take that "here we go" shot and what happens...battery pack dead! So, you know how I can't tell a story without pictures, I asked my sweet, sweet friend Betty to send me some of her 2,000 that she took while we were there. So, thanks to Betty, here is just a "tease" story of our trip. More will come.

Here we are in the plane from Miami to Nicaragua. Notice my nice paleish yellow complextion. I had gotten to sleep at 12:30 a.m. due to redecorating Chloe's room for her birthday, packing up goodie boxes for my two girls in Nicaragua (that I didn't get to see), packing my things and getting things ready for my parents when they came to stay with the girls.

We got there Saturday afternoon and I knew the first couple to do kitchen duty got off the easiest.....so Chris and I jumped in to work with Petrona. She is so wonderful to me about speaking in Spanish. She is so patient with me and we actually commnicate!

One of the best things about a week in Nicaragua is no phone, no computer, no t.v., so when you aren't working with the team you get to have wonderful quiet times surrounded by God's creation.

We went to Paradise (an oximoron) first. We did skits, sang songs and passed out bread and juice. But, then we went hut to hut sharing Jesus. I have been a Christian for 28 years and it took going to Central America to walk into a stranger's home and ask them if they knew Jesus. (I had an interpreter of course). She was a Christian and active in the church, but that day spoke volumes to me. I have always thought I witnessed by my actions and life, but God showed me it is time to step it up in a bigger way. Here I am doing what I love to do most in Nicaragua......

Lovin on babies

and singing

In a village that we called "Marvin" we actually built a church!

Look at my man go!

On the side lines were friends we had made from Paradise. Sonya (next to me) and 9 others walked 30 minutes to come see us!

It is funny who God puts in your path to connect with. This year Sonya and I communicated and had a special friendship. She is 20 and has 12 siblings. She told me that she didn't have a boyfriend but she had God instead. She is my new prayer request. I pray that God lifts her out of the poverty that she and her family is in and takes her where He wants her..... place to shine for Him.

We did so much in the barrios. We gave juice and bread, bought and gave out 14 beds, built a church, lead worship for children, held bible studies for adults, and went out in small groups to share the gospel. We led people to Christ through interpreters in their little cardboard shacks and even in McDonald's. Yes, I said McDonalds. We get to pick one place to eat out and guess where our group took us?

The land of McFlurry's!

Friday, was our day to see the sights. Here we are at the site of a volcano that 600 years took out the city.

And that was all the sites I saw for a while. I got hit with a migraine that took me home and to bed to sleep it off. Sweet Nurse Shirlee came to my aide while my sweetheart was by my side. After a few hours of rest and medication, I was able to shop at the market (I forced myself) then come home and relax.

We decided to have a talent show of skits that night. I hate that I do not have a picture of the girls skit because it was hilarious. That will come later....but, the guys made us laugh with their music videos. They wrote a song for each girl and sung them with motions!What a week. Even though I am still a bit under the weather, I would not have changed a thing. I hope that this will be a good start....more to come later!