Road Trip - We're not in Texas anymore!

I am weird. I will admit to that. I like to travel, and I like to take pictures of everything. And I LOVE to go to places I have never been!! So I was super excited for this road trip with Blu to be able to see Kansas and Missouri!! :)

So these amazing people, the Maydews, help Zambians and non-profits in Zambia by shipping containers to Zambia filled with things! Brian agreed to let us drive a load up to Kansas - mainly school items/curriculum! What an awesome ministry!
Here is the barn in Lebanon, KS that we unloaded into...

Here is the hole we got stuck in for 30 minutes before we could unload anything...

Here is the load we carried from Texas to Kansas!

The view from the barn - Kansas is gorgeous!!

Well who knew that little ole' Lebanon Kansas is also the geographic center of the continental USA!!! I was a little bit excited about this!!! :)

They even had a US Center Chapel where Blu pretended to preach :)

Ah..goodbye Kansas..you were great! (except for that nasty motel in Wichita..but that's another story...)

Christmas Cantata

We got a preview of the Christmas Cantata by my parent's choir at Ocker Church! We will miss it this Sunday but they were amazing!!!

I told Blu when it was over "We should do something like that at New Day!" He said "Uh, yeah...but we'd have to translate it into Tonga..." Oh yeah...

My grandmother Marie is here for 3 weeks from Oregon to see us! We always tease her about her lack of a smile in pictures, but bless her heart, she tries!

There's mom in the choir! She hits all the high notes!

There's dad on the back right! He wins the prize for having the best facial expressions while singing!

Well looky there! It's Ms. Carolyn singing in her last Ocker Christmas cantata for awhile, since she will head with us to New Day in 6 weeks!

Dinner and Eyeballs!

We had a fun dinner party (me & my mom love Christmas entertaining!) with the Brinkley family! John (quite possibly my MOST devoted blog reader over the past 3 years) builds prosthetic eyeballs....HOW COOL IS THAT!! (kinda gross too...but still cool!) Anyway, John & his wife Robin are planning a trip to Zambia possibly in 2013 to build some eyeballs for some young people in the Mapanza area! He also has a friend who does prosthetic legs who would probably come as well! What a neat way to minister to the people of Mapanza! I'm sure John would be revered as a white witch doctor who can make eyes, and it would be an amazing opportunity to share with others about the One who opens the eyes of our hearts to see HIm!

An eyeball discussion....

Taylor & Erin (who will most likely be coming to Zambia as well!)

Great Pics :)

We love Wade, Laura, Brindley (BB), and Joanna (Jo-nee-na-na) Taylor!! Joanna took these pics of our kids! :)

Paybacks...

Blu's time as youth pastor at FBC Alvarado (2005-2009) was eventful... Blu was always talking the youth into doing weird contests that usually ended in someone throwing up....drinking a gallon of milk in one hour....eating habanero peppers...pizza eating contest...eating a stick of butter...

So these youth (who are now college students!) got Blu back this weekend. It all started with a simple comment, "Did you know it is impossible to eat a teaspoon of cinnamon in less than a minute??" Of course, that was all the challenge Blu needed..





I am a witness....it is actually NOT possible to eat a teaspoon of cinnamon in less than one minute. Do NOT try this at home :)

Bowling!

We had a great weekend visiting in Alvarado! We got to attend the college Sunday School class's Christmas party, where we also spoke to them about their mission trip to New Day in December of 2012! It was surreal - watching these youth who were freshmen when we left Alvarado driving to the bowling alley in their own cars!!

Friday Night Lights!!

We love football! Specifically, we love high school football in Texas! Our Alvarado Indians made it all the way to the State Playoffs this year, so we went to their State game on Friday night at Cowboy Stadium!! Alvarado has some amazing Christian coaches, led by Coach Dixon! We did not win the state game.....final score was 20-19!!!!! But we had a blast and are so proud of our Indians!!
Blu & Bro. Wade

Cambree's first taste of cotton candy - she wasn't very impressed!

Me & Laura :)


I love run through signs :)


The jumbo tron! Blu got all of us on it...(if you know blu, this is not shocking at all...)

Warming up!

Family Time!

We had a fun night tonight as my Aunt Ginny (my dad's sister) came over for supper!

Hehehe :)


This Christmas season we are doing "Advent" with my parents. This was something we did as children, where we go through the 4 Sundays before Christmas, reading Scripture, singing carols, placing pieces in the Nativity scene, and lighting candles. It is such a special time!
Cambree placing the second wise man in the nativity scene

Blu leading us (and Cason doing handstands!)

The boys got to blow out candles tonight



If you have young children, I can send you a copy of the Advent program we use (my dad wrote it!) - they would love it and definitely learn the true meaning of Christmas!

FBC Grandview

This past week we spoke in Grandview, Texas. We only knew one person there, but we had a wonderful time and the church was so kind to us!

We then spent the afternoon at "Mrs. Telly's" house, a very good family friend in Alvarado! She spoils our kids :) I love Caedmon's face!



That evening, we went to FBC Alvarado for their missions banquet. We are speaking at their church next Sunday, so we got to just sit, eat, and enjoy the banquet! It was also Debbie's commissioning service, since she will be moving to Zambia with us on January 24th! (Sorry for the terrible picture!)

Casting Crowns Concert!

We have been looking forward to a special date to go and see our favorite Christian band, Casting Crowns!

Blu brought me roses before our date!

Getting ready to leave

Cambree wanted her picture taken with Mama too! :)

It was a good concert! We also enjoyed seeing Lindsay McCaul, The Afters, and Sanctus Real. The tour was called "Come to the Well", and the lead singer talked about how we constantly try to draw from holes in the ground, thinking they are wells. We draw from our own talents, or from the opinions of others, and then want Jesus to sprinkle "Jesus dust" on our plans and make them work. Instead, we should quit drawing from holes in the ground and instead go directly to the source - the Well.

It was a refreshing, encouraging night! We definitely miss American worship when we are in Zambia! :)

Pictures from New Day!

Michelle's Graduation Ceremony!

The second orphan house, which was only a concrete slab when we left in October!

Our precious 8 - how good to see their faces!!! :)