COLORADO!

When Big Maw said she wanted to keep all of her grandkids at the same time for a week this summer, it wasn't hard for the rest of us to figure out that this would be a great time for a sibling vacation! So me and Blu, Cloud and Samantha, and Shade and Caity took a road trip to Breckenridge, Colorado! We laughed so much and all bonded in more ways than we thought possible ;) Here's some pics from our trip...
The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs (my 3rd time to visit this--I refuse to go ever again!! :) No, really it was neat because Shade was in the Air Force so it was cool to see things from his point of view. He was shocked when the recruiter told him that at age 26, he's "too old" to enter the Academy!)

We had a VERY nice meal at the Blue River Bistro

Proof that Blu does know how to do the dishes!! Each couple cooked one night for everyone else! We had homemade pizza, grilled chicken, and green enchiladas!

Those handsome Tidwell boys :)

Our cabin was supernice, except that the hot tub was broken. :( It was at 11,000 feet and we all had trouble breathing after a game of ping pong or walking up the stairs!

Air Force Academy Chapel

Cloud and Sammy at Blue River Bistro

Fishing at the Reservoir - we were skeptical as to whether or not there were really fish in there!

The view from our cabin's balcony

My Blu :)

This hike was completely straight down, and me and Sammy had on flip-flops!

Post-hike..we were laughing so hard!

Cloud and Sammy bought us all massages at this spa in Breckenridge!

Shade and Caity (expecting baby #2!)

A random snowman..

"The Bangs House"

Well, our journey to Zambia is underway, in a sense. We completed our last Sunday as youth pastor at our home church and spent the last week moving and getting our "new" house in order. We are living in an old house in Bangs, Texas built in the 1930s that Blu's dad has been renovating. It is such a cute house with lots of character...I had to share some pics!!
The Gingerbread House

My Coca-Cola Bedroom




Living Room


Apple Kitchen


Cute entryway from living room into dining room

Dining room

Cambree's girly room



Boys' Room


My Texas bathroom



The house also has an upstairs carpeted space with low ceilings and dormer windows--too cute!! God has definitely blessed us by providing us with this neat home to live in while we prepare to head overseas!

Prayer Card Pics by Leighanne!!

Cute Pics I Couldn't Resist!

Summer Fun!

New Haircut!

Shade (Blu's brother) and Caity

Paw and Caedmon in the pool playing "washing machine"

Blu and Cambree hanging out in the pool

The look on Cason's face is hilarious!


Our nephew Brenden (Cloud and Samantha's son)

The kids are finding lots of new "toys" as we pack up the house!

Our niece Andie Lyn (Shade and Caity's daughter)

The kids (not sure why they're naked??) doing pilates with me!

All These Things...

Well, Blu resigned from his job as youth pastor this past Sunday. I guess that it was Step One in our move to Zambia. My stomach was in knots all week long as the day approached. Of course, part of it was the fact that we have been here 3 1/2 years and LOVE our church family and will miss them greatly. This is home to us. But there was something else, and I brought it up to Blu Saturday night as we lay in bed. I said, "There's no turning back after tomorrow...this is it." It hit me that we could talk about moving to Zambia all we want, but the process was going to start the next day, and it felt like there was no turning back. No changing our minds--the uprooting would begin the next day. Blu asked how I was feeling and I told him I was sad. Not for us, but for our kids....what they'll be missing. He assured me as always that our kids will have more opportunities than children that live in America and have a "normal" life. I sighed, thinking that he didn't really get my point, and went to sleep.

The next morning was a normal day of worship. You know how between songs when the music minister starts talking and you sometimes tune out? Well, the man leading music suddenly quoted Matthew 6:33. Since I have been in high school, I have quoted that as my favorite verse. Not sure why, just always one that I have liked. When Jimmy read "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." It's like I heard God say in my heart, "You are seeking my kingdom, and I will add "these things" to your life more than you can ever imagine." Now, I don't know what "these things" are, but I know that they far exceed Little League baseball, dance class, and even time with extended family. Jimmy then sang an old song, "I'd Rather Have Jesus." It was surreal to sit there and hear a scripture I had heard for years and hear a song I knew by heart but to hear them speak to ME about our move. Peace just completely fell onto me at that moment.

Blu then came home and we both shared together how that verse and song spoke to us both. God is so good. Little League baseball? Pshh...I'd rather have Jesus.

From the mouth of babes...

Conversations I've had with my kids the past few days:

Caedmon: I'm gonna marry Brookie!
Cambree: I'm gonna marry Daddy!
Caedmon: You can't marry Daddy, Cambree.
Cambree: Why not?
Caedmon: Because he doesn't have a crown.


(playing with Barbies)
Caedmon: Mama, can you put these clothes and shoes on Ken?
Me: Sure sweetie.
(Mama absentmindedly throws clothes and shoes on Ken and gives back to Caedmon)
(Caedmon sighs with pleasure)
Caedmon: There. Now all he needs is his head.
(Sure enough...I hadn't even noticed but Ken's head is nowhere to be found!)


(after a devotional on Jonathan and David, best friends in the Bible)
Me: Caedmon, do you have a best friend?
Caedmon: Yes, it's Megan. Megan and Tatum and Wyatt.
Me: Cambree, do you have a best friend?
(Cambree throws her arm over Caedmon's neck)
Cambree: My best friend is Taedmon.
Caedmon: Best friends aren't mean to each other. They love each other.
Cambree (in a soft voice, looking adoringly up at her big brother): I love Taedmon always....

Dance Recital!

Yesterday was Cambree's first dance recital! She was pretty precious! The two dances her class did was the hokey pokey, and how much is that doggie in the window. As they danced, I was watching from the wings so I couldn't see Cambree's face, but I noticed that the audience kept laughing. I asked Blu later what they were laughing at and he said that Cambree was making very intense faces as she danced!! :) Enjoy the pics from her big day!

Feed the Forgotten

Too often we hear heartbreaking stories about hungry children in Africa and we do nothing. We feel helpless. . . and so we move on. Not this time. There are people DYING in Uganda right now. There are children whose bellies are hungry and aching. There are mamas who are too weak to stand and babies begging to be held. There are people trapping termites hoping for food and eating dung in helplessness. DO NOT CAVE TO DESPAIR. YOU CAN DO SOMETHING.

For $0.14, you can feed someone a meal of posho and beans. (posho is cornmeal, which is filling and beans are protein). Take that in for a moment. . .

$0.14 a meal

$2.86 for 20 days

$1 per FAMILY

$20 feeds a family for 20 days.

How much was my Chick Fil A yesterday? How much is your Starbucks? The bigger question is how much am I willing to give up SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT EAT?

Remember Jesus story of the Good Samaritan? Remember how his very neighbors walked right by him? They probably looked at him with pity. . .probably thought "oh poor guy, that breaks my heart" but the fact is THEY DID NOTHING.

I am somewhat addicted to ice cream, and last week I had 4 Dairy Queen Blizzards and 2 Wendy's Frosties. (no comments please) The cost of that totals $15. This week, I am sacrificing all of my blizzards and frosties and giving $15 to Feed the Forgotten. I encourage you to sacrifice something this week as well.

The money raised will feed those precious children. There are 3 - 4 villages that are being targeted. These people are literally starving. . Will you help? Even with paypal fees (2-3%) even $1 will feed 6 people! You CAN make a difference.

Join us and Children's HopeChest to FEED THE FORGOTTEN!!!

JUST GO TO WWW.HOPECHEST.ORG AND WRITE "FEED THE FORGOTTEN" IN THE NOTES SECTION!

Thanks and God bless!