Walking on the Faith Bridge, Swinging in a Hammock, and a visit to the Hospital

On our way to Spanish Lookout yesterday, we stopped by YWAM to see the new Faith Bridge that a missions team just built...no chicken wire on the sides to keep small people in...so Erika and I just stayed in the car.  Faith Bridge is probably about 50 feet above the water...and you definitely have to have lots of faith to walk across it...

Yesterday on our field trip, we bought a hammock and swing, so Lee and Josh put those things up.  Yep, that is Lee way up in a Custard Apple tree.  Anything for his Erika.

Erika is so happy on her new swing...

Tori relaxing in the hammock...isn't she a beautiful girl?



Erika looks like a Belizean girl.  Everyone loves her wherever we go.  Who wouldn't?  Her mouth is blue from  her popsicle...



Today's field trip:  Vivian is preparing to go to college in the US.  One of the things she needs is a TB test.  We took her to the clinic I went to and they were unable to do it:(  So, the only place they said would do it is the Hospital.  So this is where we headed.

We were not able to get the test today.  We will have to go back next week...

yep, this is it...where we entered

outside the registration office...where is Vivan?

out in the entrance

On another note, today Tori was the daring one and rode with me to the bakery.  Yes, I drove.  Are you not so proud of me?  I must say that Belmopan is small, but there is a lot of traffic...people traffic.  People everywhere, on bikes, walking, and some in cars...  I decided it is time for me to start driving.  The other problem is I honestly do not know my way around yet.  But I am being more conscience now when Lee drives.  So at least I can drive around town.  It is time to sign Tori up for piano lessons and both girls, dance classes.  In order for that to happen, I need to start driving.  So Lee does not have to be our taxi driver...although, he is a great Belizean driver.

And I have decided to make pizza once a week...I have got the sauce down, the pita bread crust...and we love the taste of America...and it is cheaper to make at home...it used to be the cheap meal to eat out in America.  Not so here.

One thing we are doing this week is making each person have a day they are Special.  It has been so fun.  We try to bless that person all day long, and then speak kind and loving words over them at prayer time in the evening and each person prays over the Special person for that day.  It is a simple way to remember and have to focus on the positive things of each family member.  I love how, even Winnie being new to the family, already knows everyone so well.  And who doesn't want to be the special one for a day?

Today was different

Today I woke up, went to market, went to the visa renewal place, did laundry, all the normal things...

some different things:  we saw a gas tank (like the gas you put into your house...we have to have the tanks filled up every so often) FALL OFF A TRUCK...we were like, that could have exploded!!!  but it didn't and he stopped, picked it up, and threw it in the cab...you know, the guy from the gas company...no biggie...

then winnie wanted to go to a friends house to jog (even though it is a million degrees outside), and she is planning to spend the night there Friday...so we wanted to meet the family...well, the thing is, this family lives in the US Embassy compound of houses...so, they asked for ID, which I did not have, but Lee did, and the mom had called ahead.  They had to inspect our car, put a mirror under our car, and search our engine...then, we were allowed in.  It was like crossing the border.  But they were very nice.  It was like driving into a luxury resort in Florida...absolutely beautiful.  I would love to show pictures, but am quite sure that would be forbidden.  They were at the pool...which my kids and I drooled over, as we have sweated all day long today.  We met her friends mom, and then got back in our fancy car (LOL) and headed out...driving around the road of very beautiful, very american, very air conditioned homes...I asked Lee if he was feeling a calling to work for the embassy...but he said he liked his boss he already has (Jesus) and living amoung the Belizeans...I do too:)

then we headed home to a beautiful tree in our front yard being eaten alive by these ants...they literally break the leaves into a million pieces and carry it down...lee poisoned with three different types of poison and yet, they still worked, a trail, destroying the most beautiful shade tree over my front patio...i do not like it!!!  but just now, he tied the tree with duct tape, and Lee said they would not cross it...well, you bring a boy from Tx, he is gonna fix it all with duct tape...yeah.

Tomorrow we  head to Spanish Lookout for an errand...love that the kids are homeschooled.  We will do the schooling in the morning, then enjoy a nice, AIR CONDITIONED ride in the car to the beautiful community.  And of course, we will need to stop by the ice cream place while we are there:)  Tonight, we watched Amish Grace, the story of the shooting at the Amish community a few years ago and it is a beautiful story of Forgiveness.   How appropriate for us to visit the Mennonites tomorrow.  We love the Mennonites....Love seeing them shop with their little babies all dressed up in bonnets...

We look forward to the evenings when the house begins to cool.  Our afternoons are rough and we are sluggish...I must admit.  Even going to get our visa this morning...I was in no hurry to leave...just enjoyed sitting there enjoying the lovely air conditioning.  We have learned ways to keep cooler...in that I took three cold showers today, we bought two huge bags of Ideals, which we can just put in the fridge, or freeze, drinking lots of water, the kids put ice packs on themselves while they work, and just plain sitting in front of a fan.  But things still must get done, and they do.  But I try to do most harder work in the morning, and plan to rest in the afternoons, and it starts to cool around the time I start dinner.   And you wear more tank tops and shorts...you dress like a Belizean:)

Oh, and just for you, Wayne...you should be so proud of me:  this morning, I woke up to make breakfast and lunch for Winnie and saw something out of the shadow of my eye:  a gecko...and not a baby one, crawling along my ceiling...I did not freak out or scream.  I calmly thanked the Lord for all the bugs he was eating for me and asked that he might not fall into the eggs I was cooking!!!

Some people have wondered why we are not running the air conditioners when it is 95-97 degrees in the house...well, one reason:  we have been told that it is very expensive...and we only have them in the bedrooms...and once you turn them on, we would never want to turn them off...electricity is double here.  We have not had an electric bill yet, but our gas for our car is high, our water bill is high, it is high to have cell phones, so we just want to use wisdom...   But we do have air in the bedrooms...  but we also moved to Belize, where we are surrounded with people who do not have air in their bedrooms...or maybe even fans...so we are okay.   We will adjust...and maybe we will run it once in a while once we know how high it is without us using the air...

I have learned a lot about Belize in a very short time...even more than when we came on all those short term trips...really getting an understanding of the culture.  Some of that is just living with a teenage girl and getting to know her friends, their struggles, etc.  Even just being a Belizean myself now...just understanding why people do what they do...i think how much i am adjusted and learning the culture in 2 months, it will be interesting to see where we are in a year.  I remember when we first got here, we missed american food sooo much.  But we had a tv then with commercials advertising all that stuff.  But I think my tastes have changed...changed to what is here...

Here is what we had for dinner:

I cut up fresh carrots (or tori did) and cooked them, and put brown sugar and freshly squeezed oj on them...not everyone like this...but i did

I cooked garlic, gr pepper, and onion in olive oil, then added chicken breasts, browned them for a while, then added a boullon thing they have here to make a gravy...

Mashed potatoes...the red skinned kind...they make the yummiest mashed potatoes.

We had leftover garlic toast...

And a friend made Josh Chocalate Chip cookies and carrot cake for his birthday...

koolaid and sweet tea for drinks...no Dr. Pepper...oh how we miss it...

so we eat good, and probably too much sugar still...usually we have cut up tomatoes and cucumbers...but just not tonight.  or salad.  it is always different.  but we have fresh squeezed oj for the morning...yum.  and dont normally have dessert, but are still enjoying josh's bday...

Josh's Bday

First exhibit we went to was the Boa Constrictor...notice the unlocked cage?  yeah, it scared us a little...we just kept thinking Jurassic Park...and kept Erika close by...

This huge tree was knocked down in the Hurricane, only a category 1???? last fall....





this bird would say HELLO

Love my model for this pic:)



I Love my Husband:)



and now we have four...



Erika LOVED the zoo...so much walking on beautiful trails.  She loves to be outside...she is getting so tall....

Belize Monkey



Erika Monkey

apparently the children just have to go in the bushes...

one gift full of american goodies...and money for a tv for his room...for playstation

yes, that is foot lotion...our feet get dry here...dont laugh...youd want some too:)

Erika got a keychain from the zoo and a letter from Memaw and Papaw in the mail...a good day

Of course, we had lunch at our favorite restaurant by UB.  This is our friend Terrance.  He and his wife own the restaurant and treated Josh to lunch.  We love this precious family.

Josh loves their chicken tacos and very large nachos...

We will start meeting here on Sunday

In this beautiful air conditioned room.  We are thankful since it is 97 degrees in our house right now.  We also have a small room for the children across the hall.



So, I have worked on this blog on and off all day... I have had such trouble loading the pics.  I have more good ones, but am just too discouraged to try to work on it anymore...

We have had a great day, just enjoying our famiy, even had a few guests drop by here and there throughout the day.  Busy, but thankful for the people in our lives...

So, at dark, I was  hanging out my third load of wash...may need to use the dryer in a little while, but still have VIRGIN pina coladas to make for my birthday boy, and a little girl who had a wonderful day, into the shower and into bed.

It has been very hot today, but it feels great now...in the 85 area...i would have complained about that in Houston, but here after 97 all day in the house, 85 feels amazing...

I think Josh had a good birthday, and thank you for all of you who helped make it special...I was surprised that he still received some gifts, and more than that just lots of HAPPY BIRTHDAYS on his facebook.

Tomorrow we have another busy day, renewing our visa and back to school.  Today was a great day for us to just enjoy some amazing kids....

Happy Birthday Joshua Aaron

This is the youngest pic I could find of My sweet boy...around 2, an outreach at the church we started in Dallas...always ready to jump with new friends.  Look at that blond hair:)

around 3, visiting church in Abilene where Daddy used to be a children's pastor

around 5, first Fall Festival for church in Katy, with cousin and Best Friend, Tyler, and Victoria is in there too...

Basketball Camp Outreach for Life Church in Katy, around 5 yrs

Josh loves his Red Fanta...some of our first days in Belize

saying goodbye to the girls that you grew up with since Kindergarten...til High School...last Sunday at Life Church

always a clown

look how your little sister adores you

oh dad, you are crazy

Fun at the Space Center on Spring Break



One of your favorite birthdays...uncle scott came and brought his 4 wheeler and we camped with all your friends.  I think you were turning 11.



riding a camel in Israel...Tori held on to you for dear life

See how much you are loved by these sisters

not too big for Daddy to hold!!!

proud big brother of your new sister...

always the joker...

Daddy loves having an excuse to play the games...you know, father son bonding..

Joshua,

You are the child that I prayed for...15 years ago today, my life was filled with great joy, when I looked into your big brown eyes.  Unfortunately all your beautiful baby pictures are safely stored at your grandparents home...  But these will do.  They capture how you tolerate/love your sisters.  Poor boy, you are always outnumbered.  But you and Dad have each other.  You have always been Daddy's favorite guy to play nerf wars with.  I remember how he would enjoy your birthdays as much as you, to play with all your new toys:)

Joshua, you were born into the ministry.  You are a pastor's kid, and you do it well.  We have always been so proud of you.  So proud of how you have just been yourself and not tried to impress anyone, yet you impress all of us how you serve Jesus in a real world.  How you have always stood up for Jesus wherever you are.  How you willingly laid down your life in Katy to come on the mission field.  You were called too...that is how cool God is.

You make me laugh every day...it drives your sister crazy, because I cannot even get onto you...because you are such a joker...just like your dad.  You are like Dad in so many ways.  But you are like me in ways too.

You are an extremely organized young man.  You are bright...school is pretty easy for you, most of the time.  You are energetic, yet, find ways like wheeling around in your office chair all over this tile house...not to use your energy????  You are very inquisitive and like to know how things work, and will figure it out if you don't know how.  You enjoy sharing what you are learning in school...that is when I know you are interested.  You are very tight with money...especially your own.  You like to keep your wardrobe simple...tshirts and basketball shorts.  But you have to look cool all the time.  I was sad the day I could no longer pick out your clothes, but also thankful that you have your own sense of style.  Your hair is now long.  I look back at your pictures, all those years of your little short hair, and how much older you look with your longer hair.

Josh, you are a joy.  You are an awesome, fun big brother, who cares about his sisters, but is cautious to show it in public.  You are a blessing as a son.  You have always been trustworthy and responsible.  We have never worried that you would not be truthful with us and we appreciate that.

This birthday is different, like everything else this year.  No big party with all your friends.

But I pray you know today how special you are to our family.  You are our eldest, firstborn.  You turning 15 makes me happy and sad.  It means you are close to graduation, close to being out on your own.  I know I can't keep you young forever.  So I want to just cherish these last few years before you head out to college and the big world.

Love you Josh:)


HAPPY FIFTEENTH BIRTHDAY

Three Posts in One Day

Lots of thoughts today...

I am sitting on my couch in a house that is finally beginning to cool...I think the temperature has dipped down to 82 inside the house from 95 for most of the afternoon...82 feels great... I will wait for it to cool a little more before showering, though...

I am also sitting here in the middle of a nerf war...there are little nerf bullets flying all around me, sometimes hitting me:)  But glad they are having fun.  Glad Winnie is part of the family:)

It was so hot this afternoon...the kids went and rode their bikes to buy us all popsicles...and we enjoyed every drop...thankful for popsicles in Belize...

Tomorrow is Josh's birthday.  We will load up in our too small car and enjoy a day at the zoo.  We are leaving early to try to go before it gets too hot...and then Josh gets to pick where we eat lunch.  We have decided on a van, and now are just waiting for him to get air conditioning installed in it.  We are needing a van, as we already have girls that need to be picked up for church, and our car does not hold our family of 6.  So I am praying we are able to get it soon...

But, my real reason for blogging tonight.

I keep thinking about how my life has changed sooo much in the past year.  A year ago, I was on the brink of so much change, but it had not happened yet.  A year ago, we were about to put our house on the market, never knowing it would sell in 10 days!!!  which began a whirlwind of purging 18 years of stuff, memories, furniture, so much stuff....we were on the verge of about 6 garage sales, moving into an apartment that was half the size of our house, me not working at the church anymore, where I had gone 2-3 days a week for 8 years.  My whole life changed a year ago.  A year ago, I was willing to come to Belize, but so unsure, so afraid of the unknown...there were so many things that I just did not know how things would go...how the details would work out.  I was grieving the life I had to give up, to pursue what God was calling my family to.  A year ago was an extremely emotional time in my life.  I remember last May, sitting in the apt, the kids at school,  just looking around at the boxes, and thinking...what has happened to my life?  My perfect life?  It was a hard time in my life...I will be honest.  I knew we were in God's will, but I was not sure how much I was liking it.  Sometimes it is like that.  Just being honest.  Sometimes you know...like you know...that you are in God's will and doing exactly what He wants for your life.  The signs are all there.  But it is not fun.  There have been some parts of this journey that have not been fun.  There have been some days, that I just wanted my old life back....kind of like the Israelites...always wanting to go back...

BUT, I want to say...that I am HAPPY to be in this place God has our family.  I am so blessed.  I love our home.  I love our life as a family here.  I love that my children are missionaries...  I love that God shows me daily that He has His hand on our lives.  And as I sat and looked around today at our service, I love who God is bringing into this church we are starting.  I love that He picked us, Trusted us, to come and minister here in Belize.  At a time where the Harvest is so ripe.

I don't necessary like the sweating I have done today.

But I like knowing God is using me and my family.

I like, now, and, am thankful for the journey He put me on.  To show me that material things aren't as important as I was making them (even though, I actually considered myself not that materialistic).  I like that He has forced me to grow up a little. I thought I was so grown....He showed me that we never stop growing...or we should never stop.  I like that He broke me out of my comfort zone.  I did NOT like the process of the breaking...it was not fun.  But looking back, I am thankful.  I am thankful that I have learned to enjoy the little things I took for granted before.  I will never be the same.  Being on the mission field changes you.  And it has only been two months.  I like that God is here in Belize, just like He was with me in Katy.  I have so much experience, but love that ministry is fresh and new and alive.  No two situations are the same, because no two people are the same.  No two people react to heartache the same way.

So, it has been a year for me...quite a year.  I feel that very little in my life is the same except my immediate family...  But God has given me the strength to adjust.  He has armed me with tools...  And He has taught me to LEAN into Him even more than ever before.  I have fought many spiritual battles and Know there are many more...  But I am aware...

I was afraid of so many things about moving to Belize...but God has broken those fears...and taught me a greater level of trust.  And reminded me that He is for me...and showed me in such powerful ways...how much He loves ME.

New Beginnings

This morning, I was moved, as I looked around our very full living room.  We had 4 new people today, but that really filled the place up.  So, we had 17 total:4 children, some teens, the rest adults.

One of the families that has decided to join us have been believers for a long time.  Dale led worship for us and it was such a blessing to have live worship.  Such a difference.  Lee did an amazing job of communicating that we serve an Amazing God.  He just did such a great job...was so real and genuine.  The atmosphere in our living room was so full of the Holy Spirit.  On a side note, I am so proud of Victoria.  She prepared a special lesson and craft last night about Baby Moses and the children all made Moses in a little basket.  Moreso than the craft, she is so committed to these four children...I love her for that.  And that she takes it seriously.  And they all love her.  We ended with cookies and a fellowship time...celebrating joshua's bday.

At the end, I was able to minister to one of the girls.  Here, one thing I have encountered is that alot of people have "prayed the Prayer" but don't really understand.  So I just spent a long time explaining to her.  And that one Sunday is not enough...it is a lifelong thing.  She rededicated her life to Christ.  She is planning to come back and bring her mom.  And I am so thankful.  So thankful for small beginnings.

In every church, I have always been busy with the children, which is an important aspect of the church, but my heart is to minister more to young women now.  And to be a part of the service.  Ministering alongside Lee instead of in the back, somewhere.  God has changed my heart over the past year and given me more confidence that He can use me...more than I have allowed Him in the past.

One year ago, was the hardest Sunday ever for me, to tell Life Church we were leaving...today, looking around the room, I am in love with Belize and its people and these people in my living room were worth coming here for....to show them a REAL Jesus...and that HE is the answer to it all....and I already have that Pastor's wife love for each of them:)

On Being a Pastor's Wife

It was a year ago this Sunday, that we shared with our congregation, that the Lord was moving us to Belize.  It took almost a year for me to be able to release that congregation that we had poured our heart, soul, sweat, tears, etc. into for almost 10 years.  But then I was in this kind of floating place.  I have been a Pastor's wife my whole adult life...so I was a little lost.  Of course, who doesn't enjoy the not-having-resposibility-break?  But when you are called to something and you are on a break, it is weird.  When you have always been faithful to serve (even as a teen), it is hard to be at a different church every week, where you don't know anyone, and have no resonsibilities...

But it has been a good time for me.  A time of really getting to worship and sit at Jesus' feet.  A time to just be a mom and wife and to focus a little more on my own family.  My children are always my priority, but honestly, when you are a pastor's family, your own children sometimes are last on Sundays...  So it has been nice to just be their mom, to focus on my own children.  I feel the Lord has used this time to just remind me of the important things...mainly not getting so busy pouring into others, that I am not spending much needed time with the Lord myself.  Because it is all about Him.

We have some new girls coming this morning.  And I am excited to be able to minister.  But really have a new view on ministry...that I am just the tool, really that is all.  I am nothing.  I just get to help lead them to the Lord...and disciple them, but it is up to them to take it further.  I am not responsible to solve all their problems and convince them that their life will be perfect once they surrender to Jesus.  But just that it will be better...and they will have someone to walk them through things.  We in the church, for too long, have begged people to become Christians so their lives will be perfect.  Our lives as believers are blessed, but we still have problems, and living for Jesus is not always easy.  Obedience is sometimes really, really hard.  But there are blessings there.  And I would not trade my life in Christ...but no longer will I try to convince people how easy their lives will become.  Just that they will now have a peace that passes understanding and a joy unspeakable....

So, now I am a pastor's wife again.  Cleaning my home, preparing to serve this morning.

But remembering to have that time at Jesus' feet and not getting so caught up in all the details...

Have a Great Sunday.

Wildlife

Well, I knew they were here amoung us...but now we have proof...

Mama with her big ole sac of eggs.  I think she is dying, but unfortunately, she is being replaced...I am praying they all fly away just like the end of CHARLOTTE's WEB.

Hope I can sleep tonight:)