Blessings!

I know everyone is so busy right now. I know that because I am as well. All you teachers are getting jumpstarted again, and that is hard after your relaxing summers. I'm so glad you got to have time together and with your families this summer. But the new year is here and I pray a peaceful, productive, postitive and phenomenal year! (wouldn't pastor be proud) And for the rest of us teachers of life, the very same. For wherever we are, be it school, church, work or home, with friends, family, or co-workers, we are always teaching. Be a Doer of the Word! I speak blessings on each of you, and may those blessing extend beyond and through you! I love you all! And I miss you that are far from me!

Oh, and I promise vacation pictures are coming!

Fresh New Entry

I know this is a long time coming, but here it is. Thanks friends!

I got a Kirlands' gift card from some friends for my birthday. I had a couple of rewards cards as well. Of course I added some to it, but I got this new look for my entry hall and I just love it. I love kirklands! Do you like it?

Be Still, My Soul

Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul, thy best, the heavenly Friend
Thro' thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul, thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake,
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul, the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fears are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul, when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Loving From the Oven

Nothing says loving like hot bread from the oven!

Fresh out of the oven with butter & jam or sliced thick and toasted with butter and jam, any way you eat it it's heaven...

Thanks bacamama!

Random Thoughts

Driving home tonight by myself, my mind was pondering...

Remembering when I use to dream of what my children would be like when they grew up and that their future spouses were out there somewhere, and I would wonder what they would be like. And then the thought just hit me...

Now I know.

And my life is so sweet.

Plugged In and Ready to Blog!

"Plug it in, mame, that's all you have to do."

Amazing what those internet repair men can do!

While I Was Away...

*316 emails in 16 days.
*Not nearly as much blogging missed as I anticipated.
*A good 4 hours of checking both.
*My long lost for a year glasses were found by super efficient Ashley! (in the recliner back?)
*Alot of cleaning by super efficient Ashley!
*A ton of mail at home and at work. Maybe 2 tons!
*Internet & phone service at my house has been down the entire time.
*Alot of rain.
*Alot of laundry to do.
*Alot of pounds gained.
*Alot of sweet times with my honey while away!
*We're down to a month before retreat time!
*Some time with family...precious time.
*I miss my ellie and sarah.
*My boys went back.
*My daughter is gone...

I'M BACCCKKK!

Hello everybody! We are finally home! It was so good to sleep in my bed last night! Woke up still exhausted though.

What a whirlwind of a trip. And the emotions! WOW! We have been from our highest to our lowest.

David's brother's funeral was Monday. It was such a moving service. He was a retired captain with the OFD, so about half of one side was filled with fireman in their dress blues. Along with the Fireman Honor Guard. It was quite a moving sight. David spoke briefly at the funeral of his memories of wayne and what he mean't to him as well as the rest of the family. He broke down, just a little. The cemetery was a new cemetery on the complete opposite side of the city and a firetruck led the procession. At every major intersection through town sat a firetruck and it's crew standing beside it. Quite cool. The Honor Guard did the flag, windpipes, taps, and ringing of the bell (a bell rings 3 times signifing his last run.) That one really got me. It was just a beautiful ceremony and we thank the Odessa Fire Dept for honoring David's brother so well. David visited with fireman he had not seen in a long time. That was nice.

Thank you to all of you as well that have sent condolences through cards, calls, and flowers. some of you even drove the distance and attended the funeral. It really mean't alot! Thanks!

I love you all and next blog will be upbeat and hopefully...pictures!

Bad News

I know I said I wouldn't be posting until Friday or Saturday but things have changed rapidly.

We flew out of Chicago to St Louis this morning, spent some time at the Arch Memorial then rented a car and drove to Herrin about 2 hours away to surprise David's sister, Vickie. She was very, very surprised and after the happy excited tears were just about over, seriously within probably 10 miniutes, her phone rang. It was David's neice calling from Odessa and she had just found David & Vickie's brother, Wayne, in his chair not breathing. The ambulance was still there at the time and within a few hours the funeral home & coronor had arrived. Apparently he just went to sleep. Wayne was 53. This is a very sad time. Please pray for the family. We may try to catch an earlier flight tomorrow instead of Friday morning and go straight to Odessa. Looks like we will miss Sunday again. I know you'll understand. Please be there for us and help Lennon out!

I know God's hand was in this leg of the trip. We just decided at the last of our trip planning to make this jump over to St Louis for the purpose of coming and seeing Vickie. This is very hard on her and I know it was a great comfort to have her baby brother here with her when they got the news.

Wayne has 3 daughters and I think 6 grandkids.

We miss you already and we love you Wayne...

Surprise!

Oh, I almost forgot! Last night when I finished blogging and went upstairs David had a surprise waiting on me! New wedding rings!!!! They are BEAUTIFUL! I will be posting a picture asap! I felt really bad though cause we have been talking about doing this and I had bought him a ring and went to have it sized and it was unsizable due to the way it was made so I had to take it back. I shopped in Indy and found one, or two, or three. I just couldn't make up my mind. For one I didn't know exactly what he wanted. A new wedding band or a right had ring. He will be getting a class ring when he finishes his masters, so I just decided maybe I should wait and ask and let him pick one out. I was so disappointed I didn't have one for him. So we'll be shopping soon for his! Can't wait for ya'll to see it! I love it, although I did go to put my rings on this morning and reached for my old ones...
they looked so lonely laying there alone...forgotten...put away to pasture after 30 years...

Oh well, I'll just have to have another ring made for my right hand out of the diamonds!

I'm just so stinkin sentimental!

p.s. I love you baby!

Tired Old People!

Whew, my doggies are screaming! We just got back from the Cubs game. We rode the metra over from the Chicago Firehouse Restaurant. The restaurant was wonderful, epensive but very good. That was right after we walked our tushies off at the Field Museum and Aquarium. We looked over at the Planeterium and couldn't bring ourselves to take the walk! We'll regret it later. The aquarium was great! I somehow got lost from David in the museum in the Ancient Americas Exhibit. It was stinkin HUGE! and it circled around in a maze fashion. I started to go back and find him but was scared I would never find my way out so I just kept moving. He thought the same so kept moving as well. I got out and found a bench and stayed put until he found me about 5 minutes later! Man! Glad that's over!

Wrigley Field was great and PACKED! We left a little early to beat the crowd to the train. It was sooo hot in there! But we had our hotdog at Wrigley Field, even though we had just stuffed our face not 2 hours earlier. David says that's just what you do?! Okay.

Our taxi will be here to pick us up at 7:10 in the morning. We're flying over to St. Louis to do some sight-seeing and then driving down to see David's sister Vickie. Then flying back to San Antonio Friday. So this we'll be my last post until I get home.

Thanks for sharing my vacation with me! It has gone by way to fast. I'm not ready to leave!!!

Thanks!

Thanks everybody for all the anniversary wishes! We had a great time today. Have only been back a few minutes and what did we do...I rushed up to our room to get our laptops while David got us a diet coke. I met him in a little nook of the lobby where the free internet is and logged right on to check my blogs.

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous! I don't mean to make ya'll jealous and all, but it was 74 here today and out on the water I needed a sweater! Out on the water means we went on a 1 1/2 hour cruise on a big sail boat, The Windy. One of those with 6 sails. It was so cool and on the way back the sun was setting on the skyline of Chicago! It was breathtaking! We took a big tour today and ended it at the Navy Pier. Ate dinner at Bubba Gump's. Great shrimp! Tomorrow we are going to start early and hit The Field Museum along with The Science Museum, Planeterium, and The Shedd Aquarium. I'm really excited about these! We are going to try to have an early dinner at a cool restaurant I found between here and Wrigley Field called The Chicago Firehouse (or something like that) it's in an old Chicago Firehouse! Thought David would love it. Then it's on to Wrigley Field and the Cubs vs the Reds! It will be another full but extremely fun day!

I have so many pictures already. Hopefully I will get ya'll a slide show soon!

Until another adventure...

Happy 30th Anniversary Sweetheart!

30 years ago tonight at 8:00 I married the love of my life! I knew it the first time I seen him with that blonde hair blowing in the breeze as he was crossing the street in front of Odessa High School the first day of school my sophomore year. I knew he would be the one I married a few months after that. It would be Spring before we finally became a couple and after that it was pretty much history.

Three precious children, a daughter by marriage and a son by marriage, and a beautiful granddaughter later we are still going and growing and I wouldn't change the last 30 years for anything in this world.

We have been blessed with something not many get to have and I want you to know that I love you from the depths of my soul. You are my soul mate!

I look forward to the next 30 years together making moments!

I love you sweetie-pie! Now let's go see Chicago!

Fun in Chicago!

We have been going like crazy after arriving in Chicago! We arrived last night and found our room okay, a little small with a queen bed, which David doesn't fit well on at all, but quaint and kinda antique feeling. We are staying at the Milennium Knickerbocker Hotel. Ain't that something, bring SA with us! We were exhausted but went out and walked up and down "Michigan Ave", stopped at The Cheesecake factory and shared a burger and cheesecake, roamed the streets and went down to the Nave Pier and watched the fireworkds then made our way to the greatest little park right around the corner from our hotel, ya know one of those "necking parks" Ha! We took pics of other couples for them!

After a night of this rattling noise in the air conditioner that was so annoying it made it's way into my dreams in different forms, like about 5 different dreams it was something in my dream, it was CRAZY!, we moved to a new room. It is bigger, has king bed, and hopefully the ac won't rattle!

This afternoon we went to a broadway show called "The Spelling Bee" at the Drury Theatre, is was really good and we had a blast. I wanted to see "Wicked" so bad, it's a show about "before dorothy" about the good witch and the bad witch. it was sold out and the con. here at the hotel found us 2 tickets...FOR $195 A PIECE! So we opted for another. =( I was so disappointed! Tonight we went to see "The Blue Man Group" at the Briar Street Theater. It was really DIFFERENT but we really liked it.

Tomorrow is a brand new adventure at the Navy Pier...

Check back Monday evening and I'll try to post some pics!

General Council 2nd Installment

I know I didn't post yesterday, but although this is a wonderful hotel, they charge $10 a day to use the internet! That is stinkin ridiculous!! But...I've paid for 3 days so far, so ya gotta know I luv ya!

Last night was a great service. Our Asst Superintendent, Charles Crabtree, spoke on the need for discipleship for our fellowship to continue into the next generation. It was a very moving message. A challenging message. And although, we feel very strongly, always have, about discipleship; that's why we believe in School of Ministry & Life Groups, better buckle up, I'm sure in the next few months we will put in place a very strong appeal for more. We had already been praying about what we need to do. The worship was INCREDIBLE! The technology was out of this world.
I hope some of you found it on the INSP Network and watched.

Tonight was the Missions emphasis, which is my favorite night. The missionaries always march in to their theme song with flags from every country. It is just a spectacular sight. Well, the business session lasted from 9 this morning until almost 6 o'clock and we were late by the time we got over to the Conseco Fieldhouse, so we missed the first part of the service. Can't tell you much about that part, but every missionary was put on the screen and walked to center court where there was a globe on the floor in the middle of a gigantic red cross. They formed a huge circle around it and from where we were sitting in the nose bleed section was an incredible sight. The youth convention was going on simultaneously in the RCA Dome and was at that moment brought up on the screen, it was cool. The 10 thousand+ kids were shouting along with the thousands of adults at the Conseco, as the National Youth Director was saying he was commissioning, he hoped, 500 campus missionaries from this group, as the missionaries were being commissioned. He said 7,000 had stepped forward! Baby, there was some shouting going on! Bro Trask commissioned all of them. Just the coolest thing. Oh, and last night as the service starts at 7, the Youth man had challenged the youth the night before to come at 6:00 to pray for revival...at 5:00 he got a call from security saying there were about 5,000 kids waiting for the doors to open. I don't think the adults would have shown that early or at all...God is doing something in our youth. Praise God!

Speaking of youth, our Fine Arts Human Video Team did awesome! They got a very high score their first round and were called back for round two. They didn't place that time but they were absolutely incredible. I'm not prejudice here, but I'm telling you I watched alot of round 2 and they were the best. Them judges just didn't get it! I was very proud of them and you should be as well. Good job Team Go!

There will be some things tomorrow ending with a combined service with the youth at 3:30. Our plane will head to Chicago at 6:45. So I'll touch in again soon. We have had a wonderful time.

Oh yeah, we have a new General Superintendent Dr. George Woods, a new Asst. Superintendent Alton Garrison, General Secretary John Palmer, plus a whole new crew of Executive Presbyters. Several resolutions dealing with divorce were passed. 31 resolutions in all were voted on. Tired bunch.

I'm posting a few pics of the "Team Go" as they competed in Round 2 and tonight's commissioning service. You can see all the missionaries in the middle and if you look closely you can see the youth on the screen.

Oh, and by the way, NO STARBUCKS OR MUFFIN for the last 2 mornings. I guess it was good while it lasted!

General Council General Sessions Began

This place is buzzing with people! I mean tons of people! I haven't gotten the official count, but an estimated 30,000 people are in attendance. Almost half of those at the Fine Arts Festival in the Convention Center and Youth Convention which is being held in the RCA Dome! We are at the Westin Hotel across the street from the Convention Center. The Convention Center spans about three blocks with the RCA Dome right beside it. Get this, there are skywalks from every major hotel across to the convention center, which also leads you from there to the mall! You never have to go outside! Cool, huh!

The opening session took place tonight in the Conseco Fieldhouse. The worship was incredible, led by Travis Cottrell. The assembly honored our General Superintendent Thomas Trask who is retiring and gave a farewll address. It was quite moving and sad. He has done an incredible job leading our fellowship from 25 million adherants worldwide in 1993 to over 57 million today.

He challenged us to be "authentic" in our pentecostal and christian heritage. He spoke of a southern baptist who challenged us as the Assemblies of God to be pentecostal because that is who we are, that is our distinctive, what we are known for. I pray we will all be filled and allow the Holy Spirit to overflow from us to lead others to know Him intimately.

A rather sad note: We have to go through Bag Check Security Points and as we enter for the services our mandatory badges with a barcode have to be scanned. This is the world in which we live...

On an upper note: You can watch the 52nd General Council evening assembly on the INSP Network! Check it out. It's broadcast live at 7:00 pm Indianapolis time, and I think it may repeat the following day. If I find out that for sure, I'll let you know.

Miss you all!

2 Down - 9 to Go

Starbucks and a Cranberry Orange Muffin! Ummm...

POST ALERT!

Just got an urgent message from Jo:
---OURKOTZELIFE---BLOG DOWN----
---WILL POST WHEN PROBLEM RESOLVED---

Don't worry, she is going bonkers too!
She misses ya'll!

So Stay Tuned!!

30th High School Reunion

This last weekend we went to Odessa to our 30th High School Class Reunion from Odessa High. We had a wonderful time reacquainting ourselves with old friends. It is really something when you can just pick right back up with some people after 30 years. Incredible. But some of them people looked too old to have graduated with us! ha! Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

This side of Heaven!

Note the fluffy bed and what is on the bed, minus me! Yep, that would be my laptop, open to my blogging addiction, a book, a magazine, and my starbucks!

Now it don't get no better than that...

this side of Heaven...

AWH...

Early to Bed - Early to Rise...

WE FINALLY MADE IT! My alarm clock went off at 4:30 Monday morning so we could catch a ride with Michael to San Antonio. That's where our plane departed...departed, now that's a funny word. It was suppose to "DEPART" at 5:12 pm...it was delayed...then delayed again, then delayed again...we boarded, taxied down the runway...and sat...and waited...finally we took off. We arrived in Chicago to hurry to our connecting flight to Indy (it was miracalously still waiting to take off or we would have missed it) to wait some more. After boarding, we taxied again to wait some more, long enough that they turned off the lights and we all tried to sleep. The plane finally landed in Indy at 1:05 am and we sat some more because there was nobody around, I guess, to bring the exit ramp thingy to the plane. So they finally opened the door and we walked over to it and out to freedom. I do not know how people stand it that have been trapped in their planes on the runway for 8 hours. I would have went MAD! We got a taxi and made it to our hotel, only to find that they did not have us a room! 2:00 am by this time and the man graciously found us a room (which mean't we were in the bed about 3:00 am) and this morning after waking up, get ready, this is cool...to a Starbucks coffee and a blueberry scone in my hand, brought to me by my husband, at almost 10:00 am (do you know how long it has been since I have slept that late and how much longer it has been since I was brought coffee in bed?!) we moved to another room permanently. The bed is fluffy and to die for! Hurray, we are here and after chilling for today, tonight we will have a workshop and then the full days begin.

It will be a fun but full week and after it's over on Saturday we fly back to Chicago for a few days to celebrate our "30th!" Update posts to come!

Ellie's Photo Shoot

For those of you who haven't checked out Sarah's blog to catch a glimpse of my baby grand. You just must! What a beaut! If I had a biscuit I'd just sop her up! She's a cutie in her 2nd photo shoot!

(just say yes to download, it won't hurt!)

STOP YELLING AT ME!

Okay, okay, quit yelling! Are you happy now? I'm posting!

I know it's been awhile. how fussy we can be. In reality it's only been 4 days. And I have been slightly busy ya know with smooching on my baby grand and all.

I had been debating all week whether or not to go to ellie's baptism or not. It was the weekend here that I hated to miss with it being a big Sunday at church and all. With a baby dedication, baptism service, new members being presented, and of course FOOD, it was a big day and alot to miss. That's the stuff I love about church...being there for the important moments in my "family's lives." But when it came down to it, ellie IS the most important member of my family and I felt like I would regret not being there. I had never been to a baby baptism before. Sarah was raised Methodist and her mom still attends the church sarah was raised in with the same pastor. ellie wore the same dress as sarah when she was baptized. she looked so pretty. the service was really good, not what I had expected. It was much the same as our baby dedications. I was impressed. All the family was invited up to the front and asked to lay hands on her while we prayed. the laying on of hands made me feel kinda at home. but I still missed my people. I just knew ya'll were having a great time.

I decided for sure I was going when my alarm went off at 3:30 am Sunday morning. I was up and out of town about 4:03 am. Got to Landon & Sarah's at 8:30. Good time in the morning without traffic. We had a little get together at grammie sue's after church. that was nice too. It was really great having two full days with my kiddos. I really miss them.

But I don't know how many more trips I will make at 4:00 am!