Thankful Thursday

Olivia's first day of Kindergarten

I cannot believe how big Olivia has become! Five years ago today we received our referral for a sweet little baby girl with the cubbiest little cheeks! Today she is starting Kindergarten!

She is in Mrs. Hamm's class. Mrs. Hamm was Gracie's Kindergarten teacher, too.

Oliva is very excited, but was more nervous than I expected. She stuck very close to me on the playground.

I know she'll have a wonderful time. She was already making friends by the time I left.

Now I only have 3 little ones at home. But they keep me plenty busy!

Our Hosts

Blessed Be the Tie That Binds


Kevin, Jose, Yamy and me.



Don't you love this picture? These are Jose and Yamy's younger two boy. Daniel and David. They LOVED the Reds caps that Mandy's mom packed. Except they thought they meant that they were Yankees! Too cute!

This is the whole family. David, Yamy, Jose, Fernando, Enmanuel and Daniel. Our family. They have shown us the love of God in a manner we've never experienced before. They are our brother and sister. I guess that makes the boys our nephews!

They married when Yamy was 16 and Jose was 20. It is very common to marry that early, but often times the man is much older than his bride.

Jose is rather soft spoken, until he is in front of his congregation. Then he has such a passion for delivering the word of the Lord.

Yamy is worship leader. She is so dynamic. Her love for the Lord is tangible and contagious. She has a passion for prayer that I have never seen before.

Fenando plays trumpet. Kevin says his playing has really progressed in the last year.

Enmanuel is such a sweet natured young man and very shy.

Daniel is just an ornery as a little boy can be. He and Josiah could get into lots of trouble together!

David is a sweet little guy. He loves lots of attention and his brothers are happy to give it to him.

I long to see them again soon. I miss them desperately and wonder if our relationship would be as intense if we saw each other regularly. It is so obvious that God has placed us all where were are to glorify HIS kingdom. Praise be to God!

Because HE Lives
Tonni

Cool old cars

There were cool old cars everywhere we went. This gorgeous purple car belongs to a friend of Jose. It has all original parts. Too cool.

Front of the Church

Simple and heartfelt.
Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty

Passionate Prayer

Passionate prayer.....prayer where the Holy Spirit is a tangible presence. Where His hand feels no different than the hand of the person beside you, because He is inhabiting the person beside you.

Passionate prayer.....prayer for another church miles to the north. Prayer that overtakes your spirit and possesses you. Prayer more real than anything I've ever experiences. Prayer that brings Jesus Christo into your midst.

Passionate prayer.....prayer between two churches. Prayer for two churches trying to follow God's will for them. Prayer the crosses all boundaries, cultures, generations and languages.

Passionate prayer....prayer in another language that you understand in your heart. Prayers from home that sustained me throughout this trip. Prayers for home that reassured me all was well.

My prayer life has been transformed. My Lord and Savior is more real to me than He has ever been. He hears and he cares. He feels my pain and my joy. He has linked my heart with these people 1000 miles away. It is an amazing privilege to be able to speak to the Creator of all things, the Alpha and Omega, King of kings and Lord of lords. Just remarkable, amazing, and awesome.

VERSE(1):
The splendor of a King,
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at his voice,And trembles at his voice

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

VERSE(2):
Age to age he stands
And time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End, Beginning and the End
The Godhead, Three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb,The Lion and the Lamb

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God,
all will see How great, How great
Is our God

VERSE (3)
Name above all names
You are Worthy of all praise
and My heart will sing how great
Is our God(x2)

CHORUS(1): How great is our God, Sing with me
How great is our God,and all will see How great, How great
Is our God

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God, Sing with me
How great is our God,and all will see How great, How greatIs our God

By Chris Tomlin


Because HE Lives
Tonni

Faces of the Children

Click on the picture to enlarge it. These are the faces of the Kingdom of God!

This is a banner that was made by the pastor of our sister church. Pastor Jose made this sign to show the river of love that runs between the 2 churches. Amor is the Spanish word for LOVE.

Our first day on our mission we spent the afternoon with the Jose and Yamile and his family at his house. The homes are one story and made of cinder block and concrete with flat roofs. This helps to protect them from hurricanes. The hospitality we were shown was absolutely amazing. We were on a mission trip to serve and felt that we were the ones who were being served. Pastor and his wife had a gift for Kevin and one for me, as well as one for each of our children.

It was such a blessing to meet these people that I have heard about for 9 months. There was an instant bond that is impossible to describe. I felt like I had known them my entire life. Even though we spoke different languages, the Holy Spirit was so amazing!! We had an amazing interpreter. A 16 year old named Lisi. She has pretty much taught herself English by watching tv and listening to music. She was a riot, but more on that later.

The first night we went to the church and met the church community. What amazing people. So welcoming. We had the best fried rice EVER for dinner. And to make it special, each family from the congregation contributed one ingredient to the dinner. There was also fresh cucumber salad and fruit punch.

After dinner we played games. Grace Church vs. our sister church. It was so funny! We played charades, musical chairs, capture the flag and there was an eating contest. Mike Clemmons and another gentleman had to race to see who could finish a bowl of fruit and juice fastest. No hands. They were both down on their faces like dogs, slurping it up! Mike won!! What a talent, and what a good sport.

We got to see the blueprints to add a bathroom to the church. Our church is helping to fund that. They are also planning on putting a roof over the roof top as they use that for classes.

I have so many pictures and will be publishing soon!

Because He Lives
Tonni

My return to the world of blogging!

Wow! Fred has recovered! And will be home sometime this week. It turns out he did not have a virus, but a partially downloaded program.

I plan to start updating all of you on my mission trip. Please realize that some parts will be sketchy and some names left out. But let me assure that God is working amazing miracles in the area we went to.

Gracie is going to start 3rd grade on Thursday. Olivia will go for Kindergarten screening on Thursday afternoon. She will have a phase in day next Tuesday, will be off on Wednesday and start full time the next day. she is going to be going to all day Kindergarten. She is very excited.

Josiah and Charis will be waiting a year to start preschool. But I am going to start baby sitting 2-3 afternoons a week for a little boy. The boy time will be good for Josiah.

Kevin has started school and has students starting tomorrow. He is finishing up his summer class at Asbury this week. He is going to take the fall of from seminary. He is just so exhausted from being so busy. And so am I! When he is so busy, I have all 5 kids on my own. Anyone who has spent any time with our crew knows that there is no shortage of energy!!

Because HE Lives
Tonni

I've Been Tagged!!

Meme: Middle Name

I've been tagged by Terri for a meme about middle names!

So here goes...1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.

2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.

3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

L~Laughter, I love to laugh and my children provide lots of opportunities to laugh!!

E~Excited by the life God has blessed me with!!

I~Intrigued by people

G~Going, Going, Going all of the time!!!

H~Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!!!

Hmmmm.....now who to tag....

Dawn, Melissa, Sharon, (Kate, you've already done this....) So I guess just three!!

Because He Lives
Tonni