Wild Olive Tees

Wild Olive Tees is an awesome website for women's scripture tee shirts. It is run by three mom's with awesome ideas. They have a heart for God and for sharing his word. These make great gifts!

July 7, 2010

Today is a big day for my little guy. Zach turns 7 today. We had an incredible 4th of July weekend. We went to Six Flags in Agawam Mass on Saturday and then on Sunday, we went to the Basketball Hall of Fame. It was just fantastic all in all. The kids were awesome, the day was great and the family time spent together was priceless. We were so tired on Sunday night that Mike and I decided that we were just going to stay at home and watch the Boston Pops on the TV. It really was fun.....We did miss the fireworks in Nashua but we just couldn't get our butts off of the furniture to go. Time is passing by so quickly and I cherish every minute that I have with my kids. They are so precious to me. I love having them home and watching them grow. Their father is an inspiration to me as to how he has handled this whole job situation. We don't know where we will be in 3 days or even 3 months from now. We are taking each day as it comes and as a gift from God. I am preparing for my return trip to Kenya. The new team is great and we are planning a VBS. It will be different without Mike, but I know that I am doing God's work and that he has something big for our team planned. There will be over 131 kids there this year. That is amazing! It will be wonderful to see what he has done in the year since we have been there. I am so excited to see what HE has done!

June 2010

I was just watching a video that was made from our trip to Africa. So many memories came flooding back. Happy and sad, joyful and anger...just a few of the things that came to me. I am preparing to go again with an incredible group of people. Sadly, Mike isn't going on this trip. I am so sad to not have him with me and I know that it will not be the same, but I take comfort in knowing that he will know exactly what I am feeling and will be able to help me get through the tough times when I return. Life throws curve balls that only God knows where they will land. The hard part is not knowing where they will land. I feel so blessed to have my family and I feel so loved by them. I get so mad at myself for the lack of patience I feel at times and the bickering that the siblings do with each other. It seems so petty to me. I try so hard to get them to remember WHO they represent and that I expect more of them. But then I remember that we all have issues and we all sin and we all aren't perfect. They are great kids and so loving and they love being at home and I absolutely love having them home. I have a few friends who are going through such a hard time. Three of them have cancer. One has a cyst in her brain. One isn't sure what is wrong with her, just something is wrong with her body physically. I look at them and they are such testimonies. Their outlook on life is incredible. If I could have the joy that they have, it would be awesome. I just read a book called, "same kind of different as me." What an inspirational book. I highly recommend it. It has become one of my favorites. Denver is a homeless man who meets Debbie. Debbie is an incredible woman who changes the lives of many people, Denver in particular. If even one of us could have the effect on one person, what change we could all have in the world. I want to do God's will and be the best wife and mom that He would want me to be. Life is short so don't waste it......I don't have a lot to give, but I want to give all that I have.

Update

Seasons have come and gone and time has surely flown since my last trip to Kenya. Busy as ever. The kids are in new seasons of life. Andrew is now almost 13, Alyssa just turned 9 and Zach is almost 7. We are doing great with homeschooling. Andrew is finally really putting a lot of effort into his school. I am trying new things. I just started making bread, so we will see how far that goes. Mike is still out of work and looking real hard. He is running for our town Budget Committee. This is something he has wanted to do for a while now and we found our opening and he decided that it was time. We have the election this Tuesday the 9th. We are so excited! He is running for the 1year term uncontested. But we are so excited just for the experience in itself! The kids are having fun with it.
I am headed to Kenya again in October. I will be helping lead a team of 12 to Nairobi. Unfortunately this year, Mike is not coming. I am very sad about this. I wouldn't want to share this experience with anyone other than my husband. With his job situation, we just don't see it happening, but then again, if God has other plans, he will make it happen!! We had toyed for a while about actually becoming missionaries in Nairobi. That isn't out of the question, but for right now, there are no openings with CMF. I am headed to Indianapolis at the end of March for CHE training. I am going to learn more about this program and then hopefully will become equipped to train others going to Nairobi or other mission trips and then who knows. From there, I may be able to use it in the community! It is exciting. But I am so looking forward to be heading back to Nairobi. We start our team meetings this coming Sunday and I love it!