Brother In Law

Brother-in-laws

My sister let me go on all her dates.

All her dates.

I can't remember any boy she ever dated that I did not meet and even tag along on their date.

I had my favorites.

This boy just happened to be the one.

I mean he cheers for the wrong team but the heart keeps no record of wrongs.

His mother went to be with Jesus this week.

And since we have all cried enough for the day I will just like to say...

I learned through grief that in-law is family.

That when your family hurts you stop and you hurt beside them.

Please pray for this family in the days to come.

Thankful

I think sometimes God gave us Thanksgiving so we could get focused before Christmas. I mean eating turkey in November is not in the Bible but thankful hearts and praise are all throughout. Psalms 136:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.




I could list the million things I am thankful for today. I could list friendships that I treasure. I could tell you about my family who I love and depend on so much. I could tell you about how my kids are my true blessing from God. I could write an entire blog about the blessings that surround me. I could tell you I am thankful for being able to get our passport today.

I could tell you I am not thankful that it cost more to leave this country than it does to feed my family for a month!

I choose to tell you that I am also thankful for heartache, for pain, lost friendships, broken ankles, divorce, embarrassment, death, tears, harsh words and for lessons learned. Those stories tell you not who I am but who He is through me. 2 Cor. 12: 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

I am a sinner. I am in deep need of a Savior.
Thankful for it all this Thanksgiving. Praying that you all look around your table this Thanksgiving and give thanks for His love endures forever.

Dog Days

The yard sale was big success on so many levels. We were able to raise some funds for our trip and love on some people right here in our own community. It is very humbling to watch people rummage through your belongings that you have discarded or to watch a child pick up a broken toy and beam with excitement. I mean really that is how Jesus sees us - broken and discarded and then He picks us up with excitement and shows us to His Father and says "look who I bought for you."
After the yard sale I came down with the dreaded stomach virus. I felt like dog. Not this dog. Lulu could never feel that bad because she is a Lab. And Labs are happy 100 % of the time. She is a lab in a 16 pound body. She is not real sure how to jump yet. She still can't go downstairs but has mastered going up them. She recently figured out how to climb on the ottoman to then get to the couch. I am pretty sure when she weighs 100 lbs. she will still think she weighs 16 lbs. She loves water. She likes to drink it, play in it and spill it. At her recent check up the vet tried to give me the serious new puppy talk. "Mam, she will be a large dog. She will need a firm master and you should always reward positive behavior. Distract her with appropriate chew toys. Never allow co-sleeping. Promote good dental hygiene. Never feed food from the table. Poopy Scoop the yard weekly so she has a fresh area. Practice leash walks and socialization daily....etc" Right about that time I looked over at Lulu and I believe I heard her say, "I am a dog. You are my mommy. Let's go home before she sticks something else up my nose and hinney."

Pretty Sure

Pretty sure these babies will go first.

Pretty sure I am way too excited about having a yard sale.

Pretty sure my kids are way too excited about using the potty on the airplane.

Pretty sure my husband should come home from traveling cause I am not a good single parent.

Pretty sure Lulu pees more than any other dog on the planet.

Pretty sure momma kitty is packing on some extra weight for winter.

Pretty sure I still have pumpkin decorations out in my house.

Pretty sure I watch Good Luck Charlie way too much.

Pretty sure Yard Sale is this Saturday at 7:00 am

Things I am keeping

Lulu met the horses today. I think they were fast friends. Lulu was really hoping they would play chase. We encouraged through the fence sniffing and no inside the fence activity.

The kids are growing so fast. It seems like it was just yesterday when paci's and diaper bags were everywhere. I was a nap time enforcer. The clapper for first steps and there is not an Elmo video I have not seen. Today they tell me what they are wearing, what they want for supper and then they fix it.

They have and make memories without me all the time.

So for today, I am keeping some things as their mommy. As their mommy, I will not correct these sayings.

Son, "I keep bless you-ing" (sneezing)

Daughter, "Pretznels" (pretzels) and Plublix (Publix)

Nope for today, those sayings stay uncorrected.

For today we made some memories with just me and them.

For today we laid in the grass and giggled about nothing.

For today we went to Plublix, ate pretznels, son kept bless you-ing and all was right with the world.

Stamps Helps Missions

Stamps our "ranch romeo" invited us to use his other home. I spent some time asking the postal workers if they could start feeding Stamps a little more. We have lots of furry things at our house and we could use some help. I was told the post office is having hard times and that they have told Stamps to work for food. I am not really sure there is a Stamps solution and since Momma Kitty still sits beside him in the yard as they watch the sun go down. I am guessing he is ours to feed.

The United States is thankful for my service and I am sure they will send me a resolution to commend my hospitality.I mean this cute little boy sang at the Veteran's Day program and this little girl agreed to wear red for just one day! Anyway, letters are coming to a mailbox near you.

Let's Get It Started

Starting the process.

I like to jump into things head first. My husband likes to take his time. So together we usually find a middle ground. We missed the first deadline for the mission trip because we were praying and waiting. I guess we thought some big billboard would say, GO TO BELIZE. The billboard didn't happen but saying yes did. After saying yes the world started spinning and it has been exciting.

Today we all got our passport photos. I must say to see your little ones faces so excited about going on a trip to share Jesus is something that has brought me the greatest joy. We also signed, sealed and stuffed our mission letters. I am excited to see who God uses to partner with us on this trip. Just by sharing where we are going and who we will minister to, I have been able to have some great conversations with people at work and in the community.

We are getting ready for our first fundraiser which will be the all familiar yard sale. Makes me thankful to go through each room and collect boxes of things to sale. The children in Belize that we will meet barely have walls and a roof on their home. They own very little in material wealth. The gospel in their community is the only hope.

Our second fundraiser, we are auctioning off 4 Auburn vs Samford football tickets. Lower level in the south end zone. Highest bid wins.

Keep the emails coming. I love to hear from you. mommyroachof2@gmail.com

Family Mission Trip

What if we could go on a family mission trip? What if our kids got involved in “missions” at an early age and what would the impact be for their lives as believers? What if we are obedient as a family to God’s call for each of us to go? Matthew 28:19-20. These are the questions Joey and I began to ask ourselves over the last year. Our home group read through Radical. A book that would transform how we thought about missions. We were wanting to "GO" last year but when I experienced 2 more ankle surgeries we learned we would have to wait for God's timing.

Like most parents, we wondered how we could go on a mission trip and how would we leave our children behind. We knew we wanted our kids to go with us. As parents we try to talk to our kids about how blessed their life is and even find ways for them to serve others. However, as parents we have spoiled them beyond measure and as parents we want to let them experience different realities more than we want them to get the next new video game. Our prayer was for a family mission trip. Husband and I have never been on a mission trip and knew it was something we wanted to experience together. Then the opportunity came to go with our faith family on a family mission trip to Belize. This will actually be the second time a group from our church will take families on a mission trip.

Our faith family partners with Light of the Valley school in Belize. Our family met David Rhodes the missionary we will be partnering with almost 2 years ago. He taught my children how to eat a banana upside down or right side up but they thought he was super fun. On this trip we hope to have VBS in the mornings with the kids at our partner school. VBS is dear to my heart here at our local church and I am excited to share that with the kids of Belize. We hope to provide some training for the teachers of the school. Most have a high school education and don’t get much training as far as teaching methods and classroom management. In the afternoons, our kids will spend time in the classrooms with the Belize students and the adults will work on projects at the school. One afternoon we will deliver rice and beans in a nearby village.

We are so excited about this opportunity for each of us to be used by our Heavenly Father. Most importantly, we need your support through prayer. We firmly believe that through prayer and faithfulness, all things are possible - Matthew 21:22. As you can imagine, a trip like this requires financial support from a number of people. We will be having fundraising opportunities to help with the financial cost. We look forward to seeing not only what God has in store for us but what He will teach us through this process.

If you'd like more information about our trip, or how to make a tax deductible donation, please send us an email mommyroachof2@gmail.com and please follow our journey on our blog.

LSU and Spooky Sliders

Since all I can hear about is LSU this week, here is my LSU recap. The boyfriend and I enjoyed a weekend away without kids in tow to LSU. And though the outcome of the game was less than desirable we had a great time. I got to meet the boyfriend's big boss, enjoy the biggest and fanciest tailgate of my life. Ate gumbo, gator and stuff that would make you scream "Geaux Tigers!" The overall fan base in Baton Rouge is a little scary. I would not say that most were hospitable. They love their purple and gold and EVERY single fan wears it from head to toe. I am use to the Plains where everyone says hey no matter what team you cheer for, where a handshake and a "good game" are often heard, where southern hospitality is the norm and dressing up like pimps is for Halloween not ballgames.

Speaking of Halloween we went low key this year. I cooked up some Spooky PW sliders before we left out the door and can I tell you, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. They were yummy. Don't skip a step. We went and visited family, home group leaders and close friends. My children only knocked on a few doors of people we did not know. Daughter rocked her costume and son is starting to be too cool or too big for costumes. Sad.