Our trusty criminal investigators at work, collecting specimens of the bugs that are still rampaging our apartment. It got so bad that I flew to Phoenix and Eryn and Kris and all the dogs are staying with friends this week. That danged exterminator better get out here quick.
I spent my Thanksgiving in Reynosa Mexico with friends from church. We spent four days in the colonia building houses, doing VBS and women’s Bible studies, hosting a BBQ, and playing with the kids. It was an amazing trip. I’m still processing through the trip in my head, so as I complete that processing, here is a short top ten from the trip, not in any particular order:
1. Challenging the guys to serenade us girls on the way down (because of course guys and girls were in separate cars, because of course we must be gender segregated), and having that challenge returned with an amazing poem which they recited in sync via a 3way cell phone call. It was perfect.
2. Buying 15 hot chocolates, 2 coffees, and 3 cappuccinos at the local 711 for the guys building the houses and trying to get them down the very rough road to the colonia without spilling them.
3. The FREEZING cold. We froze. But it was fun.
4. My truck – have I mentioned that I love it? It handled the rough and muddy roads perfectly and provided warm transportation for my fellow travelers.
5. The kids. They were amazing. It was fun to be a jungle gym for four days and be the recipient of their bright smiles and hugs. They are proof that you don’t need money to be happy.
6. The new houses. Our team build three houses in four days and it was so cool to watch them go up. I even got to pound a few nails myself, which was surprisingly satisfying. May these new homes be places of refuge and community for their new owners.
7. Jumping on the trampoline for 1.5 hours with Lauren and Jeremy. It was a fabulous way to get warm! Only at the end did we find out that we were jumping illegally, as only one person was allowed on the trampoline at a time. The motto is: act first, ask permission later.
8. The fabulous taco breakfast after the prayer walk on the last morning.
9. The prayer walk. I think we were all a little awkward about it at first, but as we progressed, it was a good way to talk to God about the weekend, what we had experienced, what was on our hearts, and what we were struggling with. We walked around the colonia in small groups and prayed outloud as things came to mind. Prayer is a wonderful thing.
10. The fresh and cool breeze on the way home. We girls enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the way home and decided to open the windows to enjoy it even more. The sunset was accompanied by a big bright moon. It was perfect (this word “perfect” was the theme word for the trip).
And finally, here are my photos from the trip.
we really prayed like this for our friends?
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as the walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1: 9-14
I’m back from my trip to the northeast. This picture was taken on a hike we did on Saturday, up Mount Tom near Woodstock, VT. It was a 4.5 mile hike and absolutely beautiful. I went a little picture happy and came back with 250+ photos.
It was a great trip, not only because of the beautiful scenery I got to capture on camera, but also because it was a reunion with old friends. These friends know me well. It was good to catch up with them and have long talks over Pumpkin Spice coffee with the kids clamoring in the background.
The rest of my trip consisted of:
This was my 7th trip back to VT and NH. I hope it will be the 7th of many more trips to come!
I’m visiting good friends up in NH and VT this week. My time here has consisted of the following:
More adventures to come, I’m sure… will keep you all posted
I had a super weekend camping with friends at Guadalupe State Park.
I started the trip worn out from my week and badly needing a break from my laptop, cell phone, and homework. I ended the trip remembering that God is big – much bigger than anything I’m worried or concerned about.
Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Psalm 148:3-4
For more fun, see our top 10 on Tiff’s blog. I’m eternally grateful for Marianne and Jeremy rescue efforts on my behalf. And I plead the 5th on any incriminations in Tiff’s recount of the weekend.
Today after our girls’ lunch after church, four of us went out to the Tractor Supply store so I could do some necessary shopping for the horse. You all think we went to check out cowboys, but you are wrong.
We had a fun time gabbing on the way out there and all the way back, trying on cowgirl shirts, (I got my horse-shopping fix), gawking at the endless variety of law mowers, noting the smell of sweat feed wafting from the store, and admiring the miniatures of tractors, meercats, foals, and other random objects.
finalite 