All Roads Lead to ROME!

Okay, my week got super crazy and I haven't had any time to sit and blog again! Sorry about that! Let's see, I think I left off  in Morocco. On Sunday, July 18th we found ourselves back in an airport headed to Rome. We arrived in the evening and then had to take a taxi to our hotel (which was outside of Rome). We were staying in Rome for a conference called Transform 2010. It took maybe a little less then an hour to get to the city of Pomezia. We ate dinner in the hotel  and then pretty much went to bed! Monday, we didn't have to be checked into the conference until later in the evening... so we had our one and only day off to explore Rome! We met with some other friends that were also at the conference and set out to find the bus stop. After asking lots of people, and backtracking a bit we found the bus stop and waited... when the bus finally did get there, the driver told us that he would charge us 7 euros for one way, but if we went into the store they would only charge us 2 euros. Being on a tight budget we decided to go for the cheaper fare. So, we all managed to get round trip bus tickets and then waited again for the next bus! The bus ride took us to the underground, and that took us into Rome! My first European underground experience! Yeah! 

When we got into Rome, we all decided we were pretty hungry. What do you eat for your first meal in Rome? Pizza of course! I think I had the best pizza of the whole trip here! Very yummy! The other really cool think about Rome (and most of Italy it would seem) is there are really cool drinking water fountains everywhere! They are just running all the time, and they have the best tasting ice cold water coming out of it! It was so nice not to have to buy water all the time! Plus it was over 100 degrees outside and not much shade! So, we were always looking for those fountains! 

After we ate lunch, we started walking toward Trevi Fountain. I have seen pictures of this before, but was so shocked at how big it was! REALLY big! So, after walking around and looking at that for a bit, we decided to move on. I can't even tell you all the buildings we saw, because I don't know what they were. It was really cool to be in a city where just about everything was older then the country we live in! We kept walking, and saw ruins of ancient Rome (which the boys enjoyed trying to imagine what it would have been like to live there!) and then we walked more... and then came to the Coliseum! I have always wanted to see the Coliseum! We didn't actually go inside and tour it (that darn budget again!), but it was fun to walk around and look at it! I heard that really only like 2 Christians actually died there, that there is another coliseum where they killed the Christians... don't know if that is true or not. After we saw this we were SUPER hot and sweaty and decided to start making our way back to the hotel. I know, we didn't see the Vatican, or St. Peters, or the Spanish Steps or tons of other stuff... but I am okay with that. I am happy I got to walk around a bit and did enjoy what I did see! Maybe someday I will go back and explore the rest of it, preferably not in the middle of summer when it is soooo hot and crowded! Here are some pics!

Ellan and Joanne

on the underground

first Italian pizza

getting a cold drink!

Jon

Trevi Fountain (a very small part of it!)

cool little car!

our family in front of ancient ruins

Roman Coliseum

original cobblestone street

Open the gates!

July 14, 2010 found us in an airport on our way to the Southern tip of Spain... a city called Algecerias. We were going to be there for 2 days and then take a ferry to the northern tip of Morocco, a city called Tangier. Why do you ask? Well, let me tell you! The company we work for was doing a summer campaign in the Mediterranean region this summer... I will write more on that maybe tomorrow night! Our family decided at the end of last year that this was something that God was calling us to be a part of. We were with a group of people, some from here in the states and others from Europe, along with a few workers from Spain and Morocco to seek God and really spend time in prayer for all that would be happening in the Med this summer. So, why Spain and Morocco you might be wondering? If you look on a map you will see that there is a channel of water that runs between the 2 countries that leads into the Mediterranean Sea (The Straits of Gibraltar). We wanted to spend time in both of these countries to pray and ask God to "Open the gates" of the Mediterranean for all the work that will be going on there! It was a great few days of prayer and worship!  We also spent time praying for each country that borders the sea. Psalms 24 was the bible passage that kept running through my head during the few days...

 The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,
   the world and those who dwell therein,
²for he has founded it upon  the seas
   and established it upon the rivers.

 ^{3 )} Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
   And who shall stand in his holy place?
⁴He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
   who does not lift up his soul to what is false
   and does not swear deceitfully.
⁵He will receive blessing from the LORD
   and righteousness from  the God of his salvation.
⁶Such is the generation of those who seek him,
   who  seek the face of the God of Jacob.  

⁷ Lift up your heads, O gates!   And be lifted up, O ancient doors,

   that the King of glory may come in.

⁸Who is this King of glory?

   The LORD, strong and mighty,

   the LORD, mighty in battle!

⁹Lift up your heads, O gates!

   And lift them up, O ancient doors,

   that the King of glory may come in.

¹⁰Who is this King of glory?

  The LORD of hosts,

   he is the King of glory!

We didn't do any sight seeing really in either country... but both countries reminded me a bit of parts of Turkey that I had been in.  The ferry ride was amazing... it is only like 9 miles wide at its narrowest point. So, you are going down and you have Europe on one side of you and Africa on the other!  When we got to Tangier we then took a bus into the port town and then had to take taxis to where we were staying. The taxi drivers would only take 3 people at a time. So, we all had to split up. I think traffic laws are merely a suggestion... it was crazy!  I knew everyone on our team by this point, but had a bit of a panic attack when I put Devon in a taxi with 2 other people (neither one being Jon or I!), I turned to Jon and said, "don't tell my mom what I just did!" (I guess she knows now!) Ty also got into a taxi with 2 other people and then Jon and I with one other person got the last one. I was relieved when we made it to our destination and both boys were standing there alive and well! Thank you God! They thought it was fun to drive up the narrow streets full of people... I did not! July 18th found us again at another airport headed to Rome, Italy... come back tomorrow and hear about that! Here are some of my favorite pics from our first few days!

Devon brought Wallace with us

                           
   

flying about the clouds!

 playing at the airport in Spain while waiting for another team member to arrive on a different plane!

our first meal in Spain was actually a Moroccan dish called Tajine... so good!

we were reunited with Fanta Lemon... yummm!

                                           

on the ferry, that is Africa in the background!

                                             

Come Save

Here is my new favorite song... hope you enjoy it as well. Below I am posting a few comments from her about what inspired the song.     LOVE IT!!!!!!

 

 

Summer Fun

 

It was HOT today... We did end up spending part of the day up in Atlanta at the High Museum checking out the classic car exhibit. So we managed to stay out of the heat... but this evening the boys were still hot. So, what do you do with 2 bored, hot, restless boys?  Yep, tell them to go outside and turn on the sprinkler!

The next few pictures are of the boys using the slip n slide. They are dark... it is my first attempt at using the manual focus on my camera... and I still can't quite figure all of it out. But, I guess the best way to do that is play around with it!

Just so you know, I suffered for my art here... I got a ton of mosquito bites while taking these pictures!  Devon came in the house when they were all done, and said,"Wow, today turned out really well!" Funny how a few hours of fun and laughter with your brother can make you forget the whole day you just spent arguing with him! Now they are happily getting ready for bed and sleeping in the same room together (they do each have their own room), thanks God for brothers who really do love each other!

My husband is a rock star...

"The place where God calls you is where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." Friederich Buechner

Here is Jon's latest video! (thanks riotshark.com) I really love how it turned out. If you like the video, please repost it! If you like the song and want to hear more go to BugNogMusic.com and buy an album! The quote above is one that we came across on our way into full time missions and I was just reminded of it again the other day. I think it is so true! God places certain passions and desires in us that we can be using to further His Kingdom. We just need to ask how we can be using these gifts for Him! I know this is not always easy... trust me, it was not easy to leave a steady job, house and family in California and move 3000 miles away, but God has shown us so many things along this journey! I am still amazed that Jon is able to take his passion, his love for writing and playing music and make a full time job out of it, AND use it for Kingdom purposes. Wow... thanks God! For me personally... I am still trying to figure out what I am supposed to be doing. I love working with kids, and I do help out in church. I love to dance, and I am now on the path to bettering my skills. I never would have thought at 37 years old that I would start ballet lessons! But, God has used it, used it to touch others, and used it to teach me things. He is cool like that... :)  Are you using your passions to further God's Kingdom?  Just something I have been thinking about for myself, so I thought I would throw that challenge out there for you as well!

Frustrated

Okay, this is me getting on my soap box... A few hours ago I saw a 30 second clip from Katy Perry's new music video for "California Gurls". Now, I have loved that song since it came out... really cute, fun summer tune.  We listen to lots of different music at our house, and I personally have had tons of secular songs "speak to me" just as much as Christian songs. When I first saw the video clip, I have to admit I laughed... but I was by myself and my boys were not around. The more I thought about it, the more my stomach starting tying up in knots. My kids have sung this song in the car with me and I am positive the "melt your popsicle" line goes right over their heads (for now). This video will hit MTV tomorrow... and lots of impressionable young boys (and girls for that matter) will watch it over and over... is this really the image of girls I want to put in my boys' heads? NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

I thought about posting the clip here... but can't get myself to do it. I am struggling with how as a Jesus following mother do I protect my boys from this kind of garbage? I know the obvious answer is not to turn music channels on (and we don't usually, unless the boys are in bed or they are watching with us). Ty knows that if he is watching VH1 on Saturday morning for the video countdown and a Lady GaGa song comes on, he is to turn the channel, and he does!  But obviously I can't control what goes on when they are at friends houses. I just pray that Jon and I are teaching them the importance of guarding their eyes from what they look at and guarding their heart and mind when they are not with us.

Now, I realize that some of you reading this might not agree with me, might think I am being over protective or just silly about the whole thing and that is okay with me.  If you struggle with this, let me know... maybe we can bounce ideas off each other. If you think I am crazy, you can let me know that as well... I won't be offended! :)

I will make it!

Jon comes home tomorrow! I am so thrilled! He has been gone for almost 3 weeks, and man am I tired! It is not even that the boys are bad, they really are good boys... it is just HARD work being a single parent! I have a whole new outlook on what other people go through! Once again, God has been good... He has sustained me, given me extra patience, comforted me when I couldn't sleep at night, helped me to be loving to the boys even when I was tired and just wanted time to myself! I know that sounds selfish, and it is... but you know, sometimes I just need to have "me" time! When they go to bed at night, I am too tired to do anything fun. I had really good intentions to work on my scrapbook this month and that hasn't happened at all! Here are some things I did get done... I painted my kitchen island, cleaned out my closet and organized my filing cabinet, and cleaned out my boys rooms, planted flowers, and mowed the lawn! Pretty good! I did want to stain the back deck, but never did get around to that! oh well. Here is one of my new favorite verses. I think it speaks so clearly of what we need to do as mothers. Yes, we are tired, but if we take that new grip and make sure we are gripping God's hand, He will give us what we need, so that we in turn can raise our children to love the Lord as well. No, it is not easy... but so worth it! Thank you God for ALWAYS being what I need, for being the ONLY thing I need!


 Take a new grip with your tired hands, stand firm on your shaky legs and mark out a straight, smooth path for your feet so that those who follow you, though weak and lame, will not fall and hurt themselves, but become strong.
Hebrews 12:12,13 tlb

"Go Away Little Girl" - Tyrone Tempos

Devon had his spring musical tonight with the Tyrone Tempos. He sang a solo! He was soo cute! He said he got the part because he was the only boy who could get through the song without cracking up! Here is the video.  Hope you enjoy my little crooner as much as I do,  I am so proud of him!  I love how he grabs the mic stand at the end!

Confession time

So, here is something that struck me as pretty funny today. Today was bathroom cleaning day (wait, that isn't the funny part), and I walked into our hall bathroom and noticed something on the wall. Then started laughing. I have a white wall bucket that I change the flowers in for the seasons, okay, I know there is nothing strange about that... but it is almost the end of May and this is what my wall bucket looks like...

CHRISTMAS HOLLY! I still haven't taken down my holly! It is 90 degrees outside, but it is still Christmas in my bathroom!  Okay, there is actually more to this story. Later in the day, I went out to the front porch to finish mopping up the pollen that is still covering everything. We NEVER use our front door, even when people come over, they usually come through the garage to the kitchen door... by the way, is that a Southern thing? I still am getting used to it... I have even had people come to my back deck and knock on the back door! Okay, I am getting sidetracked a little. After cleaning the porch, I went to go back in the front door and this is what I noticed...

Yep, more holly. I should really be ashamed of myself...  Just so you all know, I did take the holly down and replace it with more suitable geraniums and hydrangea. Now my house is ready for summer! Oh, and one more thing... this was also on my front porch.

Aren't they cute! This is the 3rd year we have had baby birds on the porch, I just love them!

Nothing to report...

I have nothing to say... I had a day full of laundry, grocery shopping, sorting mail , cooking and soccer practice. I am at the end of the day, and I haven't really talked with anyone except my kids...I guess I am kinda lonely which makes me kinda boring too! hmmm... maybe tomorrow will be a better day, one can only hope!

Here is a funny picture I came across today from a few years ago!

Undignified?

 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven ... A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."  Eccl. 3:1,4 


Is dancing undignified? Some people think so, do you? I have always loved to dance. When I was a little girl, I loved to have the full skirts that would fly straight out when I would twirl! Oh how fun that was! As I got older, maybe Jr. High, but definitely into High School I got more into hip hop.  My friends and I would dance for HOURS! It was innocent fun, but I wasn't doing it for Jesus, I was doing it for myself and maybe to have people look at me, but definitely not for Jesus. In the past 5 years I have been able to see dance in a new way. I have been re taught who we should be dancing for and why. The bible says there is a time to dance, so obviously it can be used to worship our Heavenly Father, a way to draw us closer to him when words just aren't enough. It is also away to "clear the birds" as my lovely friend   says. It pushes back darkness, because true worship dance is only from God and for God.  King David dances in 2 Samuel.  It says he was dancing and jumping before the Lord. His wife came out and told him he looked "undignified", do you know what his response was? He said,"I will become even more undignified than this." I am sure David looked silly in his wild dancing, but especially from someone who is just watching and not joining in. He was in full worship to his Lord. I think sometimes we are too safe in our little churches to fully engage in the worship that David was experiencing. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way knocking the church. I absolutely love the church we are involved in... it is just something I have been thinking about lately. The question keeps coming to me "When was the last time you (meaning me) stepped out in courage and did something foolish for God?"   

 See these dance shoes?                                                     
                                                                           They make me ridiculously happy. They are mine! I started taking dance lessons in January. I haven't really danced in 17 years, and never really danced for Jesus. Now I am. I have even danced publicly 2 times now! Trust me... I can only do this because I know who I am dancing for. I am in a class with other women who haven't ever really danced before either. We are learning ballet technique and then worship dance. It is amazing! I can't believe what a stress release it is for me! My friend I mentioned earlier... the one who said dance "clears the birds", she is one of my teachers. She is the leader of an OM Arts International ministry called Dancelink. Look them up. She takes or sends dancers all over the world to do work for the Kingdom. Amazing, amazing ministry, and I am so blessed to be learning from her!  So, I will end this all to say that I want to be like King David and become even more undignified for my Lord! 

Praise His name with DANCING! Psalm 149:3

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is  Mother's Day! Hope you all called your Mom's and let them know how special they are! You don't realize how much work Mothers do, until you become one!  I once heard that “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”  How true is that!  At church today, I also was reminded that God sent HIS OWN SON to die... could I do that as a mother? Of course I am not God (I know you are all thankful for that!), but still... I would gladly die for either one of my boys, but send one of them to die... I don't think so. 


I feel like God has given me these 2 wonderful boys to raise up. I don't care where they end up going to college, or what they do for a living, as long as they are whole heartily seeking after God. If they are doing that, I know they will be fine. I think that is my biggest prayer for them.  Of course I want them to marry Godly woman as well...who will like me!  :) Anyway... I am getting way off course here. What I wanted to tell you about was my day. I actually got a clue last night that the boys were up to something sneaky. When I went to clean up the kitchen before bed I found this note.

 You see, my son Ty is a planner. He likes to be prepared, so he clocked out his morning to make sure I would have breakfast by 7:45 am!  He got up and baked orange rolls and poured my coffee in a cute new coffee cup they got me with Jon's help before he left!  That in itself thrilled me, because I have no idea when this was planned!  

See... isn't the coffee cup CUTE!!! I love it! And of course he remembered to bring my PEPPERMINT MOCHA creamer! Such a good boy! They also had homemade cards for me, which I love to get! Then we all got ready and went to church. This is the flower I received when I walked into the church building. I love flowers... I grew up in the flower business and used to have flowers in my house all the time. Now, I have trouble spending money on them... but I LOVE them! So, this was a real treat!

After church the boys and I went to Quizno's and then just hung out at home for the rest of the day! It was fun and relaxing... just what Mother's Day should be! Hope you enjoyed yours as well, or helped make someone else's day special!

We all look a little goofy here... but I guess that is reality! 

Camera shy? I don't think so...

I took my camera outside today to capture this picture..



I loved the rainbow in the water and wondered how it would capture in a picture. I love how it turned out! Then I noticed Devon standing to the side, so I took this one...



cute, right? Well, then he noticed I was taking his picture...



And it turned into some crazy pictures... why is it that boys act so strange sometimes? They don't worry about looking cute for the camera, or anything! This happens every time I get my camera out. CRAZY! Anyway, I thought I would share this little piece of my day with you!



"Mom, Mom, take a picture of my ear!" Ummmm... okay...









Gotta love the boy!

December

Wow, I really need to get better at this! December flew by, we left on the 17th and traveled to Portland, Oregon. We got to visit with Jon's sister and her family for a few days before driving south about 5 hours to the seaside town of Bandon (where Jon's parents live). For the next almost 2 weeks we visited with friends, partners and family. It was a really wonderful time to connect with people whom we haven't seen in the last 2 years!
There is a church there that supports us, and we were able to hold a Sunday evening service to share with them what we have been doing the past few years. It was great to be able to let them know about the work they are involved in through us. Also, to share what we are looking into for this next year. We traveled back to Georgia on Jan 3rd. It was a long trip, but good!
Can you believe 2009 is done? I can't. It amazes me how time seems to just fly by. God once again got us through last year, even with the 2 pay cuts we took...He is so good and faithful! I hope everyone who reads this, truly understands that! 2010 is going to be busy as well. We have tons of opportunity for ministry this year. Jon is looking to lead a few tours on his own again, and we are looking into a mission trip this next summer that we can take as a family. I am sure I will write more about that when we get the details nailed down a bit more...I will share this, it will involve 5 countries, and about 4 or 5 weeks (about 7 weeks for Jon!). We are praying about how it will all work out, and haven't even started to figure out the cost yet! But, God has already brought money in to go towards it! Yes, He is good!
I think we will have to start support raising again this year, not fun, but necessary! It is funny that we are starting the year with the most ministry opportunities, and the lowest financial situation we have ever been in! We will definitely need to see God move is some big ways! Well, I feel like I am now rambling. So I will just end with my favorite pictures from Oregon! Enjoy!










Oh how we miss the beautiful Pacific Ocean!

South Africa Report

Four years ago, Jon and I were sitting in church in Georgia; at that time we had only been here for a few months. A woman named Tracie got up and talked about a trip she had just taken to South Africa to teach VBS. The pictures that she was showing and what she was saying really grabbed my heart. I remember turning to Jon and saying, “That's the kind of trip I would like to go on!” Well, it took me three more years to finally go! Tracie had talked to me every year about going, but I always found a reason not to (which even I thought was strange, since I wanted to go so bad). I realized that I had a bit of fear about going that far from home by myself and being away from Ty and Devon for that long.

As you might remember, last summer the four of us lived and worked Turkey for a month, and God dealt with a lot of my fear issues there. I also heard Him tell me that I was to go to South Africa this year. So, when it was time, and the trip was presented to me again, you would have thought I would have jumped on it! But instead I let the fear control me again and I said no. About a month later, the position for a teacher still hadn't been filled, and of course I knew God still wanted me to go. Jon and I talked about it, and Jon really wanted me to go as well! So, basically we made the decision and I booked my tickets that night! There were four of us that went from our church here in Georgia. We traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, and met up with the other twelve teachers. Wow, what an awesome trip! The kids were so amazing! By the end of the week we had over 500 kids attend the camp! Most of the kids were Muslim, and the parents would drop them off for free childcare (I understand we do this as well in America – VBS hopping – but the difference is that I would never drop my kids off at a mosque to have a free morning to myself). Jennie and I co-taught a class of first-grade students (really, we had anywhere from 5-year olds to 9-year olds), and by the end of the week we had 80 students!

The highlight for me was on the very last day: I was walking with one of the little boys from our class, and we were talking about what he enjoyed during the week. He told me that he really enjoyed the Bible stories, and when I asked him why, he said, “Because nobody has ever told me about Jesus before.” Wow! I was thanking God for the privilege it was for me to be there and share about His Son with these precious children! I came home to a family that did wonderful without me, but missed me terribly as well, which is a good thing! I am hoping to go back again next year, but we will see what the year brings for us.

Falling head first into Fall

Well, Fall is in full swing here in Georgia now. The colors have been breathtaking, we have had some chilly days, and a few freezing nights already! The flannel sheets feel really good! I love fall, I love everything about it, but I am never quite ready for summer to end either. I love that fall is the perfect time to start using the crock pot again, and pull out all those yummy recipes that seem to "heavy" for summer cooking (like chicken and dumplings!). I love pulling out the sweaters and boots again, and cuddling up with blankets in the evening by the fireplace with a nice hot cup of tea. The boys are back outside playing as much as possible, because it if finally not too hot! I can tell this week, they are also ready for the much needed week off of school that they are given at Thanksgiving! Just this morning Devon let out a big sigh, when I asked him what was wrong he said, "I just have better things to do then sit in school all day!" I completely understand! I feel that way about work at times... but we have to do what we have to do!

Today is the first sunny day we have had in the last couple days. Tropical Storm Ida came through and dumped about 5 inches of rain on us. The sun feels so good! I unrolled my car windows today and just enjoyed the gift of warmth! Thanks God! 2 days of non stop rain was a bit much for me to take.

I am preparing for our friend Ellyn to get here this weekend. She arrives Sunday night and is only able to stay until Tuesday morning... but I will take what I can get! Then a week later my parents arrive to spend a little over a week with us, and my younger brother David is also flying in to spend Thanksgiving with us! I also have invited 2 other families to join us on Thanksgiving. Cooking for 20 might normally have me a bit worried, but Mom will be here, so I know it will not only be fun to cook together, but pretty stress free as well! I have cooked 2 Thanksgiving meals on my own, so I am really looking forward to cooking with her again! The 2 families I have invited over are also from OM, and they are British. Keeps my stress level down, because they don't have long standing Thanksgiving traditions that I will end up disappointing! Anyway, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays... great food, great friends and family and no presents to buy! We play games like scrabble or sequence after dinner and just hang out and enjoy each other!

2 weeks after Thanksgiving, we are leaving for Oregon. We haven't been there in 2 years, and I am very much looking forward to spending time with Jon's sister and her family again and being with Jon's parents. I know it might seem unusual for someone to be looking forward to spending time with in laws, but I think mine are great. They have really become a second set of parents for me. 2 years is too long to be away from family, but for now this is where God has us. I have realized that God is so, so good for providing people here that also feel like family. Anyway, I will not write too much about Oregon now...maybe it will give me a reason to blog more coming up!

Here is a favorite recipe

Chicken and Dumplings
1 cup Bisquick
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp pepper
Chicken pieces (I usually use legs and thighs)
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups milk
poultry seasoning

Mix bisquick, salt, paprika and a little poultry seasoning in a zip lock bag. Put chicken pieces in a few at a time and shake to coat. In a large skillet brown chicken in oil and melted butter. Remove chicken and pour excess fat from skillet. Stir in soup, and milk; add chicken pieces. Cover; heat until boiling. Cook over low heat about 1 hour or until chicken in tender.

Twenty minutes before chicken is done, prepare dumpling dough (recipe below). Drop dough by spoonful onto hot soup mixture. Cook uncovered over low heat for 10 minutes; cover and cook another 10 minutes. To serve, place dumplings on platter around chicken; pour gravy over top.

I sometimes double the soup and milk to make more gravy (I never said it was a healthy meal!)

Dumplings:
2 1/4 cup Bisquick
2/3 cup milk
sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon of poultry seasoning
sprinkle about 1/2 teaspoon of parsley flakes

Stir together until a soft dough forms.


soooo good!!!!