Two Different Worlds

We are having a great time and have quickly acclimated ourselves fully back into this American culture.

But it is surreal too.

I live my life in two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT worlds.

How quickly I have gotten used to the AC.  It even affects how I wear my hair, which clothes I wear, if I wear makeup or not.

How I am already used to running to the store for what we need.  In Belize, I have learned to do without so many things that I feel I NEED here.

Driving....so much, so far.  I truly believe in our first two weeks here, we have been in the car more than a year in Belize.  And so fast.  The cars are so fast.  And Police.  They are EVERYWHERE.  And they WILL pull you over:(

Eating.  Wow.  So much choice, that it is simply overwhelming.  I think Lee and I are officially over eating fast food.  Our taste buds are enjoying, but maybe not our overall systems.  I seriously know I am lacking in the fruit and veggie dept, as our my children:)

Love.  It is like Christmas, Birthdays, and every holiday wrapped in one.  We are enjoying being with longtime friends and family.  We are enjoying being loved and spoiled.  God is filling our Love Tanks, for sure.

Shopping is so much fun.  You try on the clothes in AC.  You only buy the ones that fit, instead of guessing at market:)  So many choices of clothing, as well.  And sales.  Fun times.

But in the midst of enjoying all of this, my heart is always reminded of the world I am away from right now.  Reading on Facebook how they are struggling with high temps and smoke.  Missing my "kids" back in Belize.  Wondering how they are doing.  Missing watching friends with babies and expecting mommas that I love.  Missing my other family.

We are having a blast.  But this is not our real life.  This is something that can be hard for us.  For my kids.  Simply being in America is truly like living in Disney World.  So we enjoy every moment.  But it is just that, a moment.  Then back to what God has called us to.   Back to our real life:)

First Half of our Trip

I can't believe it has been two weeks since I last wrote a post.  Life has been incredibly busy.  We have been in the states for almost two weeks now.  I have a ton of pictures, but our lives have been full with graduation, weddings, speaking at churches, large and small, seeing family, visiting a college, and lots and lots of doctor visits and shopping!

Our family has been so awesome to us.  We have been blessed to spend time with both of our parents, and all of our siblings, nieces and nephews.  We have squeezed in times with friends.  There is just never enough time.  Today, I have been busy since early this morning and need to be settling soon.

Our main base has been Wayne and Jodie's home.  They have spoiled us rotten!  The kids are enjoying the time with their cousins when they get home from school. 

Here are a few pics of the trip so far:

waiting to board the plane...

breakfast with Lee's parents and cousins

watch out Belize...here she comes:)

Mother's Day weekend was the first time in four years (my brother's wedding) that my entire family was able to get together.  Mom is just glowing with all eleven of her grandchildren around her!  We all had such a great time barbecuing in the park.  The Lord gave us a beautiful day as well.

Sunday, Mother's Day, we ministered in Waxahachie.  And Tori's best friend showed up!  What a blessing and awesome surprise.  So afterwards, for lunch, we had my parents, Emily's family, a few girls from CFNI and the Next Gen pastor.  It was so much fun!

The beginning of our trip included a few small hiccups.  But God has stepped in and began to bless us, refresh us in such great ways.  As we have gone to doctors and dentists, God has given us favor as we paid the bills.  When we have had to stay in hotels, He has done the same.  The trip has been great to just get away from the constant that ministry is.  We have still been extremely busy, but it has just been a different type of busy.  We have been showered with Love by our friends and family here in the states.  And that love energizes to keep going.

We enjoyed going to the theatre the first time in about three years.

Lots of waiting in Dr. offices.  So thankful to have shows recorded on my I touch to entertain Erika.

Lunch with these special girls.  Planning short and long term trips to Belize.

These girls have been friends since they were in diapers.  Its amazing how time and distance is laid down when they see each other.  I love their relationship and love for each other.

What a blessing to enjoy a special mother/daughter brunch with my girls, my mom, my mom in law and sis in law.  Thank you Jodie!

And then Lee got to perform the wedding of someone very special to us.  His favorite part was wearing the robe:)

Erika with the daughter of the bride at the rehearsal dinner.  We didn't take the kids to the wedding so we could have a little "date night".

And of course, Corey was stunning.

We were also blessed to squeeze in an evening with Alice Salinas for family photos.  She was busy taking the wedding pictures as well.  I know I will treasure these photos so much.

There are so many things going on that have not been recorded in pictures.  We have shared about Belize in several churches, met with several pastors and friends.  It is a busy time for us.  But also a time of blessing.  People wanting to know what they can pray for and we know they will.  Sunday morning at Life Church in Katy, two special ladies prayed over me.  I cried like a baby.  Not because I was sad,  just because they knew exactly what and how to pray for me.  I am so incredibly blessed to have a  family in Belmopan, Belize.  And I am so incredibly blessed to have a family in Katy, Texas, as well.
Our physical family  has gone out of their way to serve us and love on us.  It is like Christmas, Easter, and all our birthdays rolled up into one trip.

At the end of the week, we will begin our road trip to Florida for Convention.  It is hard to leave our family once again, but also a blessing for our little family to get some time away.  Please pray for our safety as we travel.

What's in my heart

This morning I woke up with a long to-do list...not too hard.  The hardest is deciding what to pack.  I don't want to take too much, because I desperately need new clothes and other things and want to have room.  But I also need to have something to wear in the mean time:)

I have a doctor's appt for Erika in a little while.  She has had pain in her ear and fever on and off all weekend.  She is doing better, but I am concerned about the flying and it being painful for her.  Ear pain is the worst.

Then, one of the ladies in our church had a baby boy yesterday morning.  We can only visit at 10:30.  And yes, they are strict because she will be in a room with twenty other mothers:)  I went and took a gift to her on Friday, knowing we may be gone when the baby came.  I could barely even hug her...that baby was ready to come!

Yesterday, Erika and I stayed home (because of her fever).  I missed church.  I missed my family.  How do people live without a church family?  But I still got to see several of them in the afternoon and at night.  All bidding us goodbye.  We are loved:)

Balance that with all the emails from my mom and sister-in-laws, chatting with my sister on Facebook.  Our family in the states is preparing for us to come as we prepare as well.  It feels good to have that love waiting on us:)

It is an interesting thing.  This living in two different worlds.  Wednesday morning, we will wake up early to drive a bumpy, crazy highway to the airport.  We will get ready in no AC, with fans blowing on us.  We will load the plane out on the tarmac, climbing up steep stairs.   We will leave a part of our heart here.  Some worry that we won't come back...and that breaks my heart most of all. We have to reassure and reassure them that we are...  Wednesday afternoon, we will get off a plane, into all the luxury of the airport in the states.  We will live for a month in AC.  Everywhere we shop, eat, sleep, we will be comfortable.  We will eat at restaurants and have such variety to choose from.  We will be surrounded by and pampered and loved on by family and friends.  And they will be sad when it is time for us to go again.  And so will we.

But this is our calling.  This is what Jesus has asked us to do.  To live, love and disciple Belizeans.  God has been preparing us for this all our lives.  Even though we didn't know it then.  Our life is our offering to Him.  We have to depend on Him so much.  We have depend on Him for our finances.  We can't work more hours or harder, although we do work hard.   We simply have to trust Him to supply.  And while He does His part, we serve.  With everything we have.  Compared to some, our sacrifice is small.  

Below are the lyrics to my new favorite song.

Because I see in real life God doing this.  Restoring hearts that were broken and hopeless.  And He is using us to bring that message.  Not just a message of salvation.  Belize is so over-evangelized.  Taking it deeper.  Fathering the fatherless.  Mothering the motherless.   A young man just shared with Lee that he wished someone had shared some things with him a long time ago...now, he is eager to share those things with others.  

And that makes any sacrifice we make, worth it:)

GREAT ARE YOU LORD
Written by: Jason Ingram, Leslie Jordan, David Leonard

You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken
Great are You, Lord

It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only

You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken
Great are You, Lord

All the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord