An Afternoon at NASA

Monday we took the kids to NASA's Johnson's Space Center in Houston. Even though they don't have a lot of background in science or aeronautics they had fun. We got to explore what the inside of a space shuttle looks like, including how the astronauts sleep, shower, and eat while they are in space. I tried to explain to the kids how astronauts eat freeze dried food, but they didn't really understand. I ended up buying them freeze dried ice cream. They liked it, but didn't believe that it was ice cream. It didn't look like ice cream or really taste like ice cream, so how could it be ice cream? Explaining the lack of gravity in space also proved to be a challenge and some of the kids were a little freaked out by the realistic looking people that were somersaulting around inside the space shuttle. One of the highlights was experiencing what it would feel like when a shuttle takes off, complete with smoke pouring into the room. I think 3 kids jumped into my arms! As a teacher, the whole afternoon was fascinating to me. I enjoyed learning about the history of NASA and space travel and their plans for the future. I even got to stand inches away from the actual command module from Apollo 17 that went to the moon! So cool!

We wrapped up 3 months of Texas travels today and headed to Louisiana. It's wierd to not be in Texas anymore and see the flag everywhere :) I am looking forward to visiting many new states though in the coming months. Soon after crossing the border we stopped at a rest area by a lake. I was a little disturbed that one of the first things I saw in Louisiana was a "no swimming" sign with an alligator on it! Welcome to Louisiana...yikes!

Small, Unforgettable Moments

This morning I poked my head into the bedroom to find Nelson, Jackson, and Geofrey silently laying in bed reading their Bibles...When I asked if they had read the whole Bible yet this morning they just smiled and said, no..but a lot of chapters. They shared with my what chapters they had been reading in Genesis, Matthew, and Revelation. When I asked Jackson if he understood everything he read he said, "no, but I keep reading the other words around it and then I figure it out!" We prayed together to start our day and I went back to my room smiling and quite humbled. I rolled out of bed this morning and hopped in the shower, but my little boys woke up early and spent time in God's word. Wow. In the midst of my exhaustion this morning was a good reminder to me that it's more important than ever to be immersing myself in God's powerful and active word. Even though the tiredness never seems to really go away and life can be an emotional rollercoaster, I find joy in the little moments with the kids and it keeps me going :). Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I can't do it without you...

An Enjoyable Night of Reflection

Tonight I enjoyed a night out with friends Loren and Chris (who I went to Moody with), here in Houston. I realize what a parent I have become when I say goodbye to my kids and give them all kinds of instructions about how to behave. A night out without the kids is a very rare and wonderful treat for me right now. As I stood in a room full of 300 single people at Second Baptist Church, I could hardly remember the last time I was in a room full of people around my age. To be perfectly honest, I don't miss it. I'd almost rather be around kids and poeple who are in different stages of life. Joining in corporate worship was wonderful and refreshing this evening, but as I was sitting there it gave me an opportunity to sit back and think about what I've been doing and what I've learned in these last few months. After basically living in "church" I've discovered a lot that I haven't actually thought about. I prefer small churches to big ones (though I think there is a place for big churches). I don't feel comfortable in fancy, entertainment oriented churches. I can't stand the segregation and stereotyping that goes on at churches. The expectations at church and church politics drive me crazy. I love serving God in ministry full time, but I don't think I could work full time at a church. I am extremely passionate about reaching the kids and youth and young adults of today, and showing them that the world is a whole lot bigger than they think and it's time to take the head out of the sand and be discontent with mediocrity. So there ya go....thanks for reading the thoughts that are rolling around in my head tonight :). It's been an enjoyable day off..I actually wore a sundress and sat in a rocking chair on the porch most of the day! Tomorrow, it's back to work.

On The Front Lines

Ephesians 6:10-18:

"10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. "

Satan could care less about those Christians who are not living for Christ...it is those who are a threat to him that he worries about. This brings some comfort to me that we are about the Lord's work and we are threatening Satan. He hates what we are doing. I know there is a spiritual battle taking place all around me each day...Satan's demons and God's angels are locked in combat. I'm glad to know that God has already won the ultimate victory and he is our commander and king. Right now I am more keenly aware of that spiritual battle that rages around me. Satan is attacking our team and the spiritual warfare is evident to us all. He would like nothing better than to rip us apart, defeat us, and send us home with our tails between our legs. But we are not about to let that happen. This morning we spent a great deal of time in prayer and in the scriptures together. I am encouraged. Please join with me in prayer for this battle we are in. Pray that God would sustain us, unite us, and not allow us to become discouraged or defeated. I desperately seek your support in this way right now and appreciate your prayers. Let us not forget our place as soldiers in this world....we are fighting the good fight on the front lines with Christ as our commander and chief.

I know these pictures don't really go with my thoughts, but I wanted to share them with you. They are from our delightful stay in Corpus Christi, TX last week (We are in Houston now). Praise God for churches on the beach. That's all I have to say!

Cherish Each Moment

I read a verse recently that was a good reminder to me...please allow me to share it with you. It comes from the Message paraphrase of the Bible (I was not a fan of this when it first came out, but have recently found it very refreshing and helpful for understanding God's Word in an applicable way). According to the message, Proverbs 27:23 says, "Know your sheep by name; carefully attend to your flocks; (don't take them for granted; possesions don't last forever, you know.)" This verse struck me and was a good reminder that I cannot take for granted this short time I have with my children. They are my flock that God has put in my charge to love and nurture. Even though I am with them pretty close to 24/7, I must make sure that I am taking advantage of every moment to the fullest. In the blink of an eye I will be sending them back to Africa and they won't be in my posession anymore. These are days to cherish. May this also be a reminder to anybody who happens to be reading this today....please cherish your children...your spouse...your parents...your friends...you never know how long they will be with you or how long God will allow you to be a part of their lives. Take care to use every moment wisely and to live every moment to the fullest. We are a gift from God to each other.

A bump in the road...

It's been quite a week...but I have much to be thankful for. Over the past week or so I have experienced so many people who have shown me what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Though my family is several states away I have realized that the body of Christ is truly my family and what a great family they have been to me. I found out earlier this week that I had a cyst at the base of my spine. It was quite painful for a few days..I could barely sit or lay down or walk. A wonderful doctor at a church in Austin looked at me and was able to get me in to see a surgeon friend of his. It all happened rather fast, but I was able to have a quick surgery on Tuesday to drain the cyst. It's difficult to be sick on the road, but thanks to a wonderful family here in Austin, I was able to stay put and rest for a few days. It's been a good recovery and I am feeling much better physically and mentally. Today I go back for a follow up and hopefully he will send me off with good news. I plan to meet back up with my kids tonight and continue on with this adventure. It's been a challenge but I am so grateful for the people who have taken care of me. I feel so well looked after. Thanks to those of you who were praying for me. I covet your continued prayers for quick recovery and no complications. Our God is good!

Kids just want to have fun

I have noticed something in all my travels...anywhere you go in the world..kids are kids...are kids...are kids. That's all there is to it. underneath the language, the skin color, the hair, the costumes, the manners, all kids are created the same (by our wonderfully creative Creator!). My kids may sing great, have really good manners, and be super cute and talented, but they are still kids. It was great to see this come out yesterday when my host brought out the bouncy houses from the company he owns. The church parking lot turned into a type of carnival and the kids romped around for over an hour. It was fun to watch, though the motherly instinct in me kept worrying that somebody was gonna crack their head or break somebody else! In the end I don't think any kids got hurt....only chaperones (a few bumps and bruises). I tried to go through the obstacle course once and I was so dizzy I thought I would faint. No more bouncy houses for me. I did however, manage to score a four minute Harley ride tonight...even got to wear leather. yep. It's a good day :)

One Amazing Year of CHANGE

This morning as I was running lights for our concert it hit me that a year ago this week was the first time I saw the African Children's Choir in concert for the first time. I can still remember the excitement building within me as I watched the kids and realized that was where I needed to be. As I followed the Holy Spirit's leading, God clearly layed out the steps that led me to where I am. It is truly incredible to think about how much life can change in one year. As I look back over the year I am amazed at all the places I've been and the friends I have made. From Oregon, to Chicago, to Nashville, to Washington D.C , To central Illinois, back to Chicago, to Oregon, to North Carolina, to Vegas, back to North Carolina, to New York, to London, to Uganda, back to Chicago, and then all over Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Massachussets, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and finally Texas. It's been a blessed year full of adventure, faith building, emotional goodbye's, new friendships, and CHANGE. Even though I seem to thrive on change and I love life I was reminded this week how little control I have over what happens in life. Even on the road it's easy to get into a routine and you think you know what's going to happen, but with God things are always changing. He reminded me this week that I can't be too sure of what the future holds. So I continue to take it one day at a time and do what I know He wants me to do.

I'd like to share a story with you that happened this morning...I think it will make you smile. A wonderful couple from the church we are at in Waxahachie, TX owns a limo company (I think we are riding in a hummer limo tonight!)....so the pastor was driving Nelson, Geofrey, Gilbert, and Uncle Frank in a stretch white limo to church this morning. On the way, Uncle Frank mentioned that even though we have been in Texas for a while now he still has not seen a real cowboy. Well......at that moment they happened to be passing a cowboy church (they have become pretty popular around the States). So, the pastor looked over and happened to see 6 cowboys.....on their horses...sitting in front of the church. He pulled that limo right up to the cowboys, stepped out and explained that he had three African Children in his limo who had never seen a cowboy. Those boys tumbled out of the limo and in the blink of an eye they were sittin on those horses next to some real Texas cowboys. When they arrived at church, I got to hear all about how they had gone horseback riding on the way to church. Wow! These children really do get to experience it all. :)

School Happens Everywhere on the Road

We may only have 6-10 hours of school in the "classroom" each week, but I must say that school happens all the time and I'm quite enjoying the impromptu lessons I get to give each day. Last night I stayed on a cotton farm in Wellington, Texas....perfect! This morning I took the girls out into the field and showed them how cotton grows. We took some to the church and I showed the kids how the clothes that they wear are made out of the very kind of cotton I was holding between my fingers. They were baffled and asked lots of questions (then we pretended the bowls of cotton were ice cream cones!). I love it! During our adventures I have learned so much about life and people. Everyone has something to teach me-I am convinced...from the race car driver, to the pastor, to the cotton farmer, to the foster parents. Each person has a unique story. God bless them.

Welcome 2009

Welcome 2009! We welcomed in the New Year with a bang tonight-that is the bang of bowling balls hitting the wood floor. I'm not that great at bowling, but it was a blast to introduce the kids to this beloved game, complete with disco lights and pizza. They loved it. The holidays brought about many great memories for me with my kids I have grown to love so deeply. So many people asked me if it was hard for me to be away from my family at Christmas, but honestly I couldn't imagine wanting to be anywhere but Laguna Park, TX with my kiddos and my ACC family. God handpicked our team and has brought unity and joy to us, especially these past few weeks as we have lived together day after day and enjoyed the holidays together. Instead of writing anything new..I'd like to share a bit from my journal entry on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Christmas Eve: I can't imagine a better Christmas Eve...wake up late, sit next to the Christmas tree and drink chai, go for a walk in the country, pick up a Christmas package at the post office, shower, eat lunch, bake sugar cookies with the kids, play outside (in 70 degree weather), make mom's favorite meatballs for dinner, dress up the kids in brand new party clothes/dresses, go to a small family-style Christmas Eve service with Uncle Brother Doug, take lots of pictures, have a Christmas dance party, eat almond roca and little smokies, read the christmas story, put the kids to bed, wrap presents while rocking to Christmas music, watch the movie White Christmas with friends...I couldn't ask for more.
Christmas day was the best I think since my grandmother passed away 9 years ago. Being with the kids enabled me to see Christmas through the eyes of a child again. Everybody came out in their pajamas to open stockings and the kids were over the moon excited to get shiny headbands, pictures of their families, hot wheels cars, and candy canes. I spent the morning in front of the stove cooking crepes for everyone. They came out so good. Mom would be so proud!It actually brought me joy to have children under my feet playing with cars, while I was cooking. The sounds of their voices and smiles on their faces all day were priceless and etched in my memory forever. We all pitched in to make Christmas dinner and it turned out terrific! I even cooked up some cactus (courtesy of Uncle Brother Doug), to make out Texas Christmas complete.

Our first concert after Christmas (the 27th), my friend Mark and his mom came to visit all the way from Canada. It was a great Christmas present for me and so special to be able to see them interacting with my kids. I love to share them with the people that I love.

I realize this post is getting long, so I will just say one more thing. As I was pondering what New Years Resolutions to make this year I decided I only have one. I recently picked up the book Practicing the Presence of God and through reading it have been challenged to live every moment in surrender to God and in accordance with His will. It sounds impossible...but it's my goal to strive for this year (and every year thereafter). Everything else stems from that. I pray this year for you may be full of new challenges, new growth, and blessings from the Lord of all creation.

I have only put up a few pictures here, but if you would like to see more you can check out my facebook album at

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2024003&l=a4868&id=163801551