Sappy, Happy Birthday Post to an Incredible Son

Every year, I know I say the same thing...but where have the years gone?  I am so emotional lately, starting to think about just having one more year before Josh goes to college.  I know he is excited about that next step in his life.  Like getting a job, getting a car, and all the fun that goes with college.

So, seventeen years ago, in Youngstown, Ohio, I was 22 years old and five days overdue...and oh so ready to meet my little baby.  We did not know that we were having a boy until the day I went into labor, which was actually March 27.  You see the day that I finally went into labor had been like the longest day of my life!  I remember we went to the midwife because I was overdue and they wanted to check the baby.  They did a sonogram and when they did, we found out it was a boy.  Lee cried.  Then it was a mad rush to go home and wash some little boy clothes a friend had given me.  Everything else we had was neutral.  I remember that I walked three miles that day with my friends, something I did about three times a week back then...before kids...when I lived somewhere cooler:)  Also that night, we had a pretty intense church meeting...that went on and on.  I was having contractions about every thirty minutes, but I had been having Braxton Hicks for weeks...so wasn't sure if it was really labor.

That night, when I finally was going to go to sleep, around midnight, I lay down in the bed and my water broke immediately.  Lee and I were both exhausted.  It was midnight after an extremely long day.  My contractions sped up, adrenaline kicked in, and then we were off to the hospital.  Had I known then how long I would have been there, I would have stayed home a little longer:)  Josh was not born until 1:30 the next afternoon, by c-section.  I will spare you the rest of the details.

Josh, I remember the first time I saw your huge brown eyes.  I was already in love with you, but seeing you, all I could do was cry.  You are my firstborn.  I remember going for long walks in the woods and begging God to give me a baby.  And you were that baby.

Josh, you have brought so much joy into Dad's and my life.  We have been proud every minute of your life.  I love that both of our girls have a big brother.  You tease and harrass them, but when it comes down to it, I know you would protect them at any cost.  The other night when you had to watch Erika...I could tell she had so much fun with you.  I know God has taught you so many lifelong lessons having two sisters.   You will make some girl a wonderful husband because of it:)

Today, you will go and get your permit to drive.  You have had to wait a year longer than your friends in the states.  I know you will be a safe driver...but of course, its the other drivers I will worry about.  But I realize I have to let you grow up, take those next steps.

Josh, you are my adventurous one.  The one who climbed before you walked.  I remember when you were three and you leaped up to grab the  net of stuffed animals over your bed...and it broke with you on it.  Now, your adventures include jumping 40 feet into the Blue Hole.  Thankfully, God has protected  you.  And you take calculated risks...which makes me more peaceful.  You have Daddy's craziness mixed with my sense:)

And you are my crazy, silly one.  I love that this moment was caught on camera.  You are protective with who gets to see this side of you.  Tori gets so mad because you always make me laugh and get out of trouble...  You always make me laugh and Erika wants to be just like you.  She even says, "Am I as funny as Josh?"  What a joy for her to look up to you for your funniness!

Josh, so proud of the standards you have set for yourself.  You have an amazing ability to manage money even though you don't even have a job.  You are so great at figuring things out, whether it comes to school or technology.

I am so proud to call you my son and pray that your birthday is nice and relaxing and we are doing our best to get you some of your favorite things to eat.  After all, seventeen year old boys like FOOD and Minecraft...not necessarily in that order.

HAPPY SEVENTEENTH BIRTHDAY!!!!

"F" stands for Fellowship as Family

Saturday and Sunday were just AWFUL as far as weather goes, but today, the Lord gave us a break and it only got to about 87.  No rain, but perfect in that my laundry was dry and folded by noon, but I didn't melt as I took it off the line:)

But what I really want to share about is what I feel in my heart this weekend over into today.

God has given us a very special family here in Belize.  As my heart is torn not being able to be with our family in Texas as they celebrated Grandmother's life today, it was as if the Lord was reminding me that we have two families.  One physical and one spiritual.  And that time with each is not only important, but so special.  In six weeks, we will  have time with our physical family, but this weekend, we really enjoyed our family here in Belize.  (Also, Grandmother LOVED missions.  She was so proud for her grandson to be serving as a missionary...)

Saturday, I enjoyed the tea party and enjoyed getting to just fellowship and visit with one of our ladies from church.  So often, life is busy and those times have to be captured and enjoyed as they come.

Then Sunday, I truly felt it again.  I held a baby of a missionary couple that is moving tomorrow and she fell asleep in my arms.  I enjoyed every second of her sweetness, knowing it would be the last time I would get that special moment with her.  Then, just as our crew set up before church, as we worshipped together, then fellowshipped afterward, I continued just feeling a joy and peace with those that the Lord has placed in my life and heart here.

For lunch, we went to a restaurant we haven't gone in a while.  Several of the guys joined us.  It was fun, laughing together, watching my children interact with these guys who love Jesus and serve Him, and who are also so much fun to hang out with.  After lunch, one of the guys said, it would be awesome to have a Pina Colada (virgin, of course).  I knew I had everything except one ingredient at the house...so said if he would get the missing ingredient, I would make them for everyone.  We ended up having everyone there all afternoon.  It was SOOOO miserably HOT at our house...97 degrees inside!!!  Even with fans, we didn't move.  Just drank our drinks and watched a movie and talked.  But, again, I thought...I love our family.  I love how one of the guys was teaching Erika Kriol...and it was so fun.

Today, I was dreading another killer heat day...but God was so merciful and it never got over 87 degrees.  I woke up early because I had not done much the previous two days so was determined to get a head start.  It was good because I ended up being busy all day long.  But it was just such a more pleasant day.  The night before we had decided to go to the Blue Hole after the kids finished school...and suggested they each invite a friend or two.  We ended up having a van full...seriously...12 in all (including us).  But it was SO fun.  Tori told me several times how much she enjoyed today.  God is good and when we suffer through the heat, He redeems it by showing us the family He has given to us here.  The family that He is doing so much in.

Tonight, Tori and I went to the Women's NetGroup because of it being Sara's last night.  And once again, the message of family was strong.  And seeing God raising up leaders...the leader in particular tonight is one that we have seen give her life to the Lord about a year ago...and God has done so much in her.  She wept as she ministered because of her sensitivity to what God is doing.  The NetGroup was chaotic with lots of women and lots of children (it is about to multiply into two groups).  But still, there was such kindredship amoung the women and I have seen personally so many of them grow in the Lord.

Anyways, tonight I go to bed with my heart full.  Our purpose is clear.  God is using our little ole family to change people's relationship with God in such big ways.  One of which is giving them a "family" to belong to, to grow with, to get closer to Jesus with.

Really Cool Day.

Grandmother Hencke, we will miss you dearly...

"Received word that at 3:30, my grandmother passed away. It is typical at moments like these to say RIP. But how far from my desires for her. I desire for my grandmother to enjoy eternity, run up the mountains. Give granddad the biggest embrace. Catch up with old friends and her sister. Enjoy the beauty. Soak in the presence and radiance of the only light in Heaven -- God the Father. Grandmother -- Enjoy your first day home.. You made it home. So don't rest ......enjoy...LIVE. Leave the light on for me cause I will see you again..

DL Moody, a famous evangelist of the late 1800s on his death bed said, "One day you will read in the papers that Dwight L Moody is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. For I will be more alive than I have ever been"."

This was Lee's post yesterday morning.  We are heartbroken that we will not get to see or get one more hug from Grandmother when we go to the states in May.  But we rejoice that she is with Jesus and in her reward.  

When I was 11, I moved to Texas, away from all of my extended family.  Including my amazing grandparents.  I had the joy of taking a final trip up to see my Grandmother Blakeley right before we came to Belize.  And I am so thankful for that trip because it was the last time I would get to see her.

When I got engaged to Lee, his grandparents warmly accepted me into the family.  It was a blessing, with my own grandparents so far away.

It is emotional, now, sitting here writing this.  Grandmother raised four children, had many grandchildren, and many, many great grandchildren.  Yet, she made each of us feel loved and special.  She even made it to Erika's adoption, three years ago.  She wouldn't have missed it.  Do you know how special that was to me?

Please pray for Lee's mom and the rest of the family.  We know Grandmother is with Jesus, but we will miss her so much here.  She was a blessing to all who knew her.

Grandmother with Tricia, Lee's mom

Grandmother with her sister, Jane

Tea Party

Whew...it was a hot one today.  Like so hot that literally, you are so lethargic from the heat from about 10 am- 4 pm...that nothing in your life gets done.  Except sitting in front of a fan...and trying to keep hydrated.

The morning started with Tori and I waking at the crack of dawn to go to a garage sale of missionary friends who are moving back to the states.  We tried to drive, but our neighborhood was blocked in by the parade of all the Bands from around the nation.  Pretty cool by the way.  SO, we came back, parked, and walked.  And at 7:30, it was already so sweaty.  It was worth it though.  We got a few little things, one being some new plastic plates.  I have been looking for some...and they are just what I wanted:)  The way home included a stop at Brodies for a drink.  By 8, we were dripping.  But I loved the walk and talk with my amazing 14 yr old.  I am so thankful for my kids and cherish alone time with them...

As we came home, Lee and Erika were heading out to watch the bands.  I guess they did some pretty cool tricks and it was a great way to start the morning.  I did a few things around the house, but I kid you not...by about 10, we were all just sitting and watching a movie.  We did not have the energy to do anything else.  So hot and kept getting hotter.

I had tickets for the girls and I to go to a tea at the George Price Museum.  We had a hat decorated for Erika for a contest, clothes picked out...but oh, the dread of getting ready in a house that by now was 95 degrees!   In the house....no AC relief.  But somehow, we got ready.  We all felt not very beautiful and very sweaty and make up running off our face...but we went.

And I am glad we did.  I had such a wonderful time with my wonderful girls.  In the picture with my friend, Andrea, you can see how horrible I looked.  But I so enjoyed the tea party anyway.  I enjoyed the beauty, the conversation.  I bid on a beautiful cross for our wall and won.  I was so happy.  It was just a great day.  Oh, and Erika was the only one who decorated a hat in the children's category, so she won a beautiful centerpiece of amazing cookies:)  She was just beaming.

The next few days are supposed to be hotter!!!  We have been blessed with such nice cool weather for so long this winter...or mild, I should say.  So this heat is really tough on us.  Pray for some cooler temps...some relief:)  Thankfully at night, the temps go down.   We look forward to the evenings for sure.

Repurposing her flower girl dress with a pretty sash.

Love this picture of my beautiful girl.  Tori was beautiful too, but I respected the Mom, please no pictures because it is 95 degrees and ....

We sat with Santiago, and his mom, Andrea...they attend LifeNet.  Erika and Tori love this baby...he was a doll:)

Beautiful centerpiece and Erika ended up winning one.  The cookies were amazing.

And something important I forgot to say is that this fundraiser is for the tutor center that Tori helps at on Mondays in Maya Mopan.  So many of the children knew her.  It also is for a sponsorship program that helps kids go to school.  Just a great time for my girls and I, but a great cause too.   And one of the best parts was just going and not being in charge or having to help set up or clean up.  So often as a pastor's wife, I am always organizing or in charge or doing things...that I don't get to just sit and relax and visit or even eat with my own kids.  So today was a blessing on so many fronts.  And by the time we got home, the temps had dropped to a more bearable temp...maybe like 85 or so.  

Thankful for the Intercessors God has put in my life

"I love what God is doing, have to be honest I don't get here very often and miss much of what is going but God does not miss it. He sees every drop of sweat, every drop of love, every drop of you that you pour out for Him and He is well pleased."

This is just part of a facebook message that a friend sent to me last night.  Her words and her heart behind her words meant so much and were so encouraging.

"Reflections: The ministry journey is a family affair. These awesome missionary kids (Josh, Tori and Erika) are an integral part of God's call on this family (Lee & Robyn). They serve, they sacrifice and they sow seeds of God's love! Pray for them, thank God for them and the next time you're around some M.K.'s, pay them some special attention! They deserve it!"

This was the status of our President, Glenn Burris, who just visited us the past couple of days.  Can I tell you?  This man is so humble and so loving and my children, Lee and I feel so deeply loved and cared for after just a couple days with this man.  We feel so honored that he would take a few days out of his intensely busy travel schedule to fit us in.  Days that he could have spent resting before ministering at a large conference in Honduras.  He just was a blessing.

Last night, we had a dinner for church leaders and pastors to be able to hear Glenn speak, have some Q and A, and just fellowship.  It turned out so nice.  We have a man in our church who is an excellent cook.  He and his wife decorated, cooked, set-up, tore-down.  I know they were exhausted, but I also know that they really blessed all who were there.  Tori, along with a few other young people served.  They did a great job.  I was proud of our church family and was glad that Glenn got to meet at least a few of them, since he won't be here on a Sunday.  I was also thankful for the handful of local pastors who attended.  Pastor Caleb and the other pastors and leaders from Cayo also attended and it was a blessing to have such a great turn out from them as well.

Final preparations being made

Dr. Glenn Burris, what an honor to get some time with this man

We had over 40 people in attendance for our dinner.

The men who are leaders and pastors in Cayo with Foursquare.

As I was just looking at the photos, I thought it was so crazy that we had the dinner in the room, that until just recently, we used to squeeze into every Sunday morning.  What a blessing it has been to have the bigger room, that also now sometimes seems so full!  It is a blessing to be able to minister to so many people.  Overwhelming at times, but a blessing.  Last night, one of the leaders shared with me how thankful she was that Lee and I were obedient to God calling us  here.  She said, you do not know how much prayer has gone into getting a family like you to come and minister and raise up a church of true discipleship.  It is when the Lord uses people like that to speak to me, that I am most encouraged.  It is then that I feel I can "sweat a little" for Jesus:)  It is getting warm, now, though.  And it is the dry season.  This is the toughest time of year for our family.  But also a time of blessing as we enter the time of celebrating Jesus' death and resurrection.  Just last night, one of the leaders asked if we would do the water outreach again like we did last year.  I love the enthusiasm and desire to serve their community.

The Cost of the Calling

In this post, I will be very real, very transparent.  Many thoughts and emotions swirling through my head and I will try to express how I feel right now.  Part of this blog is also a journal for me.  It is therapeutic, in a sense, to write down the rawness of my feelings at this moment.

The third missionary couple, awesome friends, people our family deeply loves...since January, just told us that they are returning to the states.  Two of the couples had gotten here right before us, one about six months after us.

There is something dark, in the spiritual realm, that fights people who are here in the name of Jesus.  I'll be honest...I have felt it attack our family.  All of these couples have reasons for leaving.  All of these couples have something they are moving into.  But the bottom line?  It is TOUGH being a missionary here in Belize.  Maybe anywhere, for that matter.  I only know Belize.

It has been something I have had to process as each couple shares with us.  We know the stats.  We have been told by Belizeans...they simply wait for the time that the Missionaries leave.  I do not feel that it is hard on the Belizeans when the Missionaries leave because they expect it.  It is what it is.

I don't want our family to be another statistic.  I totally understand why all of my friends are leaving.  They all are very precious people.  A part of my heart leaves with them.  But I must stay here.  We must leave a self-sustaining ministry behind.  We must leave an impact on this nation.

Please pray for us...the girls of the family...as we watch our friends leave.  It is painful.

We know that we must not be friends with only the missionaries...or just the missionaries...for this reason.  They will not be here forever.  It is why it is hard to become deeply close the Belizean people.  They don't want to invest their full heart...only to see us walk away.  We have to prove we are here for a long time.  But still, they have a hard time believing us.

Today, I saw someone that I have not see for a while.  A Belizean Christian couple.  We chatted.  One thing she said has rung in my ears and heart all day.  "So, you're still here.   Are you making Belize your home??"  She fully expected that we would be gone by now.

Pray for me.  I know we are called.  We spent the day with young people at a Gospel Expo.  Kids from our church that we love and love to hang out with.  I know God is using us in their lives.  These are the people I must vest my time and life into.  And it is a joy to vest our time in them!  

We had a wonderful day.  The weather was beautiful for being outside for the Christian Expo.  We enjoyed the young people in our church serving through their talents.  

We are excited about what God is doing through LifeNet.  Not through Lee and Robyn, but through the entire church body.  We are excited at the relationships that are there.  We are excited that God is using our family.  And even when it is hard to say goodbye to fellow Americans that we love, we must remember that we did not come to Belize for Americans.  We came for Belizeans:)

We ran into Alina when we went to go pick up Lee at the airport last week...what a wonderful surprise!

How we had to take a hot shower for a few days...thankfully it is now fixed!

At the Expo today

This made Erika so happy!!!

watching the puppet show

little poser, she is:)

Making our House more Homey

Two years ago, we moved into our house.  It was a total blessing from the Lord.  It is a nice size home by Belizean standards, yet, was a little small when we first moved in.  We were guardians to the homeowner's daughter and then our own three kids and Lee's office.  But it was doable and we are blessed.  We were not sure if we would continue to live here, though, after Wini left.

But, now, each of our kids has their own room (which is more condusive to their homeschooling) and Lee's office is now outside of the house.  Whew, we can breathe a little now.  And I find myself more content with the home.

This house is not very "homey" to me, though.  I am not an interior decorator, but with the tile floors and white walls, the home is more practical than it is comfortable.  Yes, it does feel like home...but in a very temporary sense.

Decorative things are harder to find here and are more expensive than a simple run to Walmart or Hobby Lobby.  But I am on a quest, now, to make our home more "us", more permanent feeling, more comfortable.

Tori was the first to kind of spur me on.  Her room is very much her personality.  She has done a great job of expressing herself through her sayings and pictures on her walls.   We encounter challenges because the walls need to be painted and they are concrete.  We use more tape than we use nails.  And our window curtains must be airy, so the wind can blow in through the windows.  And we each have a box fan in one window of our room.  Necessity, but not so pretty.

Next, I began working on Erika's room.  We went with "pink".  It brightens up the dark wood of her room.  It is a fun room to play in, but her comforter makes it cozy for sleeping.

So, when Lee's office finally moved out of our bedroom, it instantly felt more like my own room.  But I still didn't like the furniture arrangement.  Our room is long and big, but we also have a lot of furniture.  Huge freestanding closets, which we have kept out from the wall to make another closet behind where we can store things.

Well, Saturday, Tori and I went and got some nice, breeeeezy curtains for my room.  Then, Lee and I moved things around.  Well, actually Josh helped with the Muscle part.  But I still had a lot of work, cleaning under things that hadn't been moved in years (we bought most of the furniture from the homeowners when we moved in).  But I LOVE MY ROOM.  Finally...  I still have some things I would like to do.  But, finally, my room seems cozy and comfortable and more like me and less plain.

Life here is hard and busy and crazy and so decorating has fallen far to the the bottom of our list.  But it is amazing how just doing a little rearranging, getting some curtains, throwing some throw pillows from our home in Katy on the bed, makes me feel so much happier.  It is amazing how making the asthetics of our home has just made me really LOVE it!

Now, to get the hot water maker fixed!!!!!  Praying for this to happen today.  I am not "Belizean" enough to tolerate the cold showers!!!

Monkeys, Baptisms, Grandparents, Anniversaries

Whew...Life has been busy.  So busy that I have not had time to update on what has been going on.

Plus...this week I have had one of those colds that just knocks you off your feet.  I have done the bare minimums to get by, but am beginning to feel better, yet still not 100 percent.  

Last night, we went out to dinner with a new couple in our church and their mom who is visiting from Texas.  It was so nice to go out on a Friday night.  Just as we got there, I started feeling a migraine coming on and thought what will I do?  I cannot drive home and don't want to ruin it for my family.  But God surely did touch me and the headache went away and I had a great time.  God is in the details of our lives:)

I have lots of pictures for you.  If you are my friend on Facebook, you have probably seen most of these already.

We were so blessed to have Lee's parents here for several days.  They brought "Christmas" from them and Wayne and Jodie...and we were so greatly blessed.  And not only that, they brought us lots of groceries that we cannot get here...and that is always a blessing to us!

As you know from a previous post, they stayed with our kids so I could join Lee on the conference to North Carolina.  It was such a refreshing getaway for Lee and I, and something I didn't realize I needed until I went.

But also while Lee's parents were here, we visited Banana Bank, had our first Family Fun Day, Celebrated ten baptisms, one being our own precious girl, and they went ziplining.  I was so impressed especially with Lee's mom, for being so brave.  I am not so brave.  I took the oppurtunity to stay home and grocery shop, do laundry and get the house situated.  I am glad they had a great time.  And then, all too soon, it was time for Lee's parents to go home.  Three days later, Lee left to California for the Foursquare council meeting.  An honor and blessing for him.  He came back so excited and pumped as the leaders of Foursquare encouraged and poured into him while he was there.  He came back so excited about what God is doing at LifeNet.

The kids love the monkey at Banana Bank

My beautiful children all ready for Family Fun Day...a busy day for a Pastors family that Erika had a blast and I was thankful for my older children who did so much to serve!

Lee's mom singing in our church service.  What a blessing that she finally got well from her cold and got her voice back:)

Erika's Belizean Grandma...she baked cookies for us and attended Erika's baptism.  Ms. Marion is a special lady to our family...

After the Baptism, we celebrated at Antonini's with dinner and ice cream.  Erika got a beautiful Bible with her name on it.  In the front, we each wrote about her accepting Jesus.

The next morning, they all went ziplining.  Erika must have told me 100 times how much fun she had!

Lee's mom is so brave!

And, all too soon, it was time to go back to the airport:(

So, what else has been going on?

We are getting ready for our President, Glenn Burris, to come in a few weeks.  We will host a dinner for Pastors and Leaders to come and glean from him.  Barry, a missionary in our church, will cook for the dinner.  And he is an amazing cook!  He came last week and made us the dinner he will make that night....  Wowsers, it was amazing.

Then this past Sunday, we celebrated TWO years of LifeNet.  We had over 200 people at church.  Barry baked us the most amazing, delicious cakes with LIFE on them.  When I saw all the people, I was afraid we wouldn't have enough.  But we did.  And everyone enjoyed.

This little girl loves to serve.  She got out all the plates so the girls could quickly put the cake on the plates.  And aren't our servers beautiful?  I love how they truly represent the diversity of LifeNet.  This picture was not planned, but when I saw it...  And the young in our church serve.  They serve on our worship team, in our Children's Church, they serve cake:)  We are truly blessed to be their pastor.

Last thing I wanted to share.  Tori recently began serving out in the village at a Tutor Center.  She loves it.  I am so proud of her.  She works alongside a missionary who attends our church.  This is a safe place for the kids to come after school and I love that Tori gets to be a part of it.  In a few weeks, they will have a Tea as a fundraiser.  I will take the girls and will be excited to post pictures.  We are always looking for fun, girly things to do so I am looking forward to it:)

So, life is busy.  Life is good.  Today we do not have much planned and I am thankful.  One more day for me to fight this cold.  For tomorrow will be full with church and a council meeting in the evening.  But, Lee has an office now.  And for that, I am so thankful.