The Good Times Continue to Roll

Things have finally settled down to a dull roar after all the Christmas excitement.  The day after Christmas, julie went home and Mom came.  That evening, Jon came over and we all had a lovely evening at Olive Garden.  Afterwards, we sat around and reminisced about the kids growing up.  They have some hilarious memories, some of which I hadn't even heard.  Hannah told about Scott yelling "hannah belle" into the receiver when anyone called for her, even if she was right there, then, about 5 minutes into the conversation, he'd say " well, I have to go, and he'd stayed on the line the whole time!  The kids all talked about flashlight hide and seek, how Scott would have the best hiding places for the kids, like behind the ceral boxes in the kitchen cupboard or behind the books on the shelves.  They talked about his crazy prayers ("bow your ungrateful little heads" or "HELP US").  We finished the evening off with a loud game of cards called golf.

Friday we all hung out and that evening played some cards with Mom.  She absolutely refused to hear some of the rules then went on to do well. Go figure.  

Saturday morning Hannah and Scott went with me to take Mom home then go to Olathe to see Dad.  We ate in the Aberdeen did in groom then played a couple of games of pool.  It was a lot of driving but fun.  

Saturday night two of Joel's friends came over and we ordered pizza and wings and watched k state basketball then te ksu bowl game.  It was also quite fun.

We have eaten and laughed and gone to the gym and ate some more and played many games.  I am enjoying this immensely. 

Christmas Eve

Had such a wonderful Christmas Eve!  Slept in late and hung out with the family all day, watched episodes of Parks and Rec while poor Scotty attempted to melt the gutters so the icicles would quit melting into the new room.

Late afternoon we played a couple rounds of dominion then took a family photo then Scott left to go get. Julie in Topeka.

Then the kids and I piled up in David's car after pushing it out of the snow and we met Julie and Scott at the church for Christmas Eve service!  I kept tearing up, it was so amazing to have them all there.  It was the best gift of all.  Joel even out his arm around me part way through the service.  I have great kids!

After church, we ate yummy potato soup and bread then played a couple rounds of a super fun game. It's a cross between pictionary and the telephone game.  Jeff and Alexis joined us and brought cousin Belle.  We played another couple rounds then played another game Alexis brought that was super fun.  

All my friends on Facebook were posting verses and touching wishes and I was posting these pics:). I love my family!

Homestead News

They are here!

We are enjoying our time with the kids and the snow doesn't hold us back at all!  It snowed 8.5 inches Saturday night and then another inch or so this morning.  Saturday night Joel decided he needed to go to his friends as the snow fell, so we rode along to take him there.  The rav4 goes great in snow in four wheel drive!  We ended up helping a few people who were stuck in the snow.  Well, Scott helped them and Hannah and I sat in the car.  We even went to look at the pretty lighted tree by the new hotels.

Last night, Stacy came over, then Andy, and we sat around and watched football and Stacy and I put together a puzzle.  There is never a dull moment with Hannah home!

Today we took Joel to the mall and bought him some clothes then Hannah and Scott and I went to e gym.

When we got home, Leah and David were here!  We had dinner and later we are going to the movie!  

It's been good to sit down to eat our meals and just to hang out!  Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!

They Made It!

What a fiasco getting the kids home!  Weather and delays and people spending the night in airports.... But they made it safely and it all worked out perfectly! Scott do the picking up instead of me which turned out to be a blessing.  

 I got a tremendous amount of work done yesterday at work which makes me feel more settled and ready to enjoy this break and time with the family.  My focus this year is not to stress out at all about Christmas.  I usually stress out about gifts, cleaning, plans, decorating...all the details.  So far I haven't at all!  I made a bunch of scarves for all the women in my life (sorry if that spoils the surprise for those of you who haven't gotten them yet) and ordered some other small things, some of which haven't even come in yet!  I haven't done any shopping for he kids!  I haven't cleaned a whole lot and don't really know for sure when we will see some of the family! 

 I enjoyed the week at work, handed out the scarves without wrapping them and the girls seemed to really like them!  Elfie went around to various desks and offices which added to the festivity.

I enjoyed the lake Christmas last weekend immensely!  Love spending time with Season, and it was so awesome to see Shari.  Had fun with Aaron, good conversation with Ian, to see everyone, and to get an update on Morgan so we can pray for her.  And the girls loved the scarves!

And Hannah and Joel are home!  They were here when I zipped home from work.  I didn't do the ugly cry when I saw them!  Hannah and I took a nap and Joel went to see friends briefly so I went to the gym and then we all went to Chipotle!  It seems weird without Leah but she'll join us on Monday!  

We are waiting to check the weather to see if we can go to the Smith Christmas today!  

Cambodia Update

I am already so excited!  Things are slowly coming together.  Ken Black has been so amazing to help us with our trip.  There are so many little details to work out.  Even though I've done this before, it's reassuring to have someone with Ken's wisdom and experience helping us!

Details:  Not sure if you are interested in this but:  my passport is renewed and in my hand.  Deb has ordered her first passport and it should be in very soon!  Ken has ordered our tickets.  Deb and I have secured international health insurance.  I think she's started her shot sequences.  I have most of mine, just need to get a typhoid shot.  We have chosen our lodging, which is a really nice place near Angela and the cafe so we can bless the staff by having them over to eat and to lounge by the pool.  We have begun preparing our testimonies to give the girls and have started thinking of other ways we can bless the staff there.  

Angela has sent us a list of places we will visit.  We plan to learn a bit about Cambodia and it's history but more importantly, to learn about sex trafficking there and do prayer walks in some of the areas.  We have begun some research into the customs and culture of Cambodia.  

I know a person from Cambodia, our sweet, gentle custodian at work. He is excited for me, and this week, I asked him if he will help me learn a few key phrases in Khmer and he smiled and said yes!  Also when I return, the 7th grade social studies classes are beginning a unit on Southeast Asia and have asked me to share so that will be super fun!  The dates got pushed up so I am taking four days off before Spring  break rather than three days after.  This will put more of a strain on the staff at work.  Eek.  

This morning I sent out a support letter to the TRU Connection group.  I have $650 toward the total $3000 raised and that is exactly where Deb is, also.  I also sent a prayer update to my prayer support team.  I think it's very cool to see who God has led to be on my prayer team.  So awesome to make connections with people and "take them with me" on this trip as I stated in my support letter.  It is a very eclectic group of people whose lives have crossed with mine and now have stepped forward to pray for me in this venture.  

How can you pray?

1.  Pray that the support comes in for both of us and that all the details continue to come together.

2.  Pray that Deb and I begin to get a vision and plan for ways we can bless the staff there.  I am picturing some creative ways to bless them like giving them manicure/pedicures which would include washing their feet as Jesus did.  For some reason, I picture teaching the girls and the staff line dancing such as the electric slide or Macarena.  I have no idea if that is culturally ok but when I picture this, there is a lot of laughing involved!  I know to be flexible as there will be lots of things that God will leave until we are there, moments and divine appointments that just happen.  So exciting!

3.  Pray that Deb and I experience peace as we are both out of our personal comfort zones here.  Deb has never been out of the country except Mexico!  My anxiety comes more thinking about the physical strain of being up for almost two straight nights getting there and keeping myself healthy there.  My international travel has always been to Spanish speaking cultures so this will be very different!

Will keep you posted!  Thanks for following me on this adventure!

It's the thing you do for others that counts

This is a busy weekend.  Most people are pretty busy this time of year.

My weekend started with a nap.  I decided not to stay to volunteer for the afterschool dance as I've been fighting something off and my back hurt.  Then I met my intern and friend, Alexis, at the gym.  We did step and lifted weights then sat in the sauna.  A cool gift to me as I walked into the gym was a massage demo chair just before class!  Felt great!  After class, Alexis and I grabbed some dinner ( my treat as people helped us out a ton when we were starting out), at Chipotle and took it to Jeff and Scott who were playing video games.  We all ate and Alexis and I tried stretching out our sore backs.

Saturday morning started with prayer, as do 99.9 percent of my days, a visit to the Chiropractor (third this week), and the usual trip to the grocery, some cleaning, etc.  I did buy some clinical strength deodorant at the grocery for a girl at school with a BO problem.  Then I spent 2 1/2 hours at k stat checking out a possible kidney infection at the urging of the chiropractor.  I ha d a great visit with my old clinical instructor while in the waiting room!  I found out I have a weird virus that causes a runny nose, sore throat, fatigue, mild gastritis, and a back ache!  Strange.  

Saturday night we had the Eisenhower staff party at Wabash and I had the most delicious burger and fries.  We sat with the 7th grade resource teacher and her husband who go to our church and the new PE teacher and her boyfriend.  Had a fun time.  Then I stayed up and watched Sound of Music with Scott.

The alarm clocks didn't go off his morning so we rushed around to get ready for our TRU training and drove in the snow to get there.  Ate breakfast and drank my coffee there then had to squeeze in my prayer time when I got home.  After church Deb and Ken and I met to firm up some things for the Cambodia trip.  Deb said she's getting excited about the trip!  

Got Adelle and fed her lunch (teaching her to make her own frozen pizza) then dropped her off at special Olympic basketball practice then ran to Walmart to get a few necessary things plus a basketball for a kid at school so he can practice and make the team.  Also got some frames for Adelle to giver Seniorpictures to her family.

Then ran to the library because even when I'm busy, I Have to have something to read!

Still have a pile of things to do, making gifts for Christmas, laundry, call the rents and maybe the kids, cooking dinner, finding Elfie so we can have some fun at work, putting the tree up....  Just taking a short break.

Cambodia 2

Preparations have begun to the trip.  I sent out my support letter by email and Facebook messages asking for prayer and support.  I immediately heard back from a dozen or so people.  So exciting!  

Almost immediately, Loretta sent an email saying she has decided not to go, so it is now just Deb and myself.

We've been emailing with the missionary we are going to go see, Angela.  So many details to work out including shots, tickets, lodging, insurance, support.  The most interesting is that Angela sent some options of places to stay and we narrowed down several near to the ministry center.  So I looked them up and they look amazing!  We are going to book one that will allow us to share the pool with the staff at the center, to minister to them and give them a place to relax and unwind.  

I've also started researching Cambodia, the history, geography, the people, the culture.  We need to become familiar with the customs and mannerisms so we don't offend.  I've never been anywhere but South and Central America when I've traveled so crossing the ocean, the International date line, and to SouthEast Asia is going to be an adventure!  

Can't wait for the next steps!