A Want To Go

So Daddy Don-ish. Gotta love it!! The only thing that would have made this better would be to have had Brother Doug sitting beside him in one of the other small chairs.

Growing like a week. Adorable, adorable!!

This past Wednesday evening, I had the pleasure of traveling to the home of some friends' of mine to hear another friend tell of his recent mission trip to China. Apparently, I was not present at church the day that all of the upcoming mission trips were presented to everyone. Had I have been, I know I would have been jumping on board-or at least getting information on the trip to China. I did not learn about the trip until the team was already established, tickets were already purchased & the group was nearly on their way. Since my return home from Taiwan, there has constantly been, within me, a fascination for Asian people. I desire to talk to them, learn more about them & establish relationships with them. I've been saying for the past 3 years that I would LOVE to go to China on a mission trip. My friend, Daddy Don (the name a group of us girls gave him as he chauffeured us around Taiwan in 2005), had an excellent presentation complete with pictures as well as informative material for us regarding his trip to China. I was so blessed to hear of the doors that God opened for them there in the communist country. I only wish that more would be able to hear about the team's trip as I believe more would realize that, as Don said, you don't have to be a pastor, a Sunday School teacher, a farmer, etc. to go on a mission trip. Basically, you just have to have a heart for people & want to plant the seed. You may not think you have anything to offer that could be of benefit to the group or the mission-if you know Jesus, you have all you need. I listened to Don share about 2 brothers who were along on the trip-both excelling in Tae-Kwon-Do. Neither probably went on the trip expecting to really use their skill much. However, as Don spoke, it seemed that their Tae-Kwon-Do was something that enabled them to get more involved while they were there & to begin building relationships in order to share the gospel. Who would have thunk it? God using Tae- Kwon-Do? Their trip has come & gone-another team may return next year. I'm already in prayer seeking whether or not I shall be on that team. On another note, I had not been to Rob & Kristina's in nearly a year. Though there to hear Daddy Don speak, it was great to see their daughter Evelyn. I remember 2 yrs. ago when many of us greeted them at the airport when they brought Evelyn home from South Korea. She is getting so big--such a precious child. She found my keys immediately & carried them for the longest time. Once I showed her the pig keychain that has the ability to light up & "oink", she was really happy. A blessed evening of fellowship was had there within the Simmons' house as I was so delighted to be spending time with people I love very much. Those that were there were all a part of the Taiwan team & the time we spent overseas is something I'll cherish always....there's a very special bond that was formed between us all.

Hiding Them In My Heart

Years ago, I set out to by this book as a gift for someone. As I began to look at the book myself, I knew that I couldn't resist--I too, was in need of a copy. I'm sure you are thinking that I'm a bit old for a children's Bible Story book. The book itself is not what I was really desiring; it was the enclosed CD with 100 Bible songs. I knew many of the songs were songs that my grandma had taught me as a child. They were songs that were still in my memory thanks to grandma & time spent in church. I bought the book...yep, a grown adult buying a kids book for thyself. I'm not ashamed to admit it! I'm also not embarrassed to say that I have listened to the CD many, many times. Several weeks ago, I pulled disc 1 out to play in my car. I've been singing along to those songs for days. This morning, it was time to switch to disc 2. As I sang songs like "I'm the Lord's Army", "His Banner Over Me is Love", "Do Lord" I thought about being in Young Musicians at Edmundson Road Baptist Church a a kid singing those songs. I thought about time spent at Mt. Carmel Baptist in Ft. Payne, AL for VBS & singing those songs. Even as I was on my way to church & "I'm in the Lord's Army" came on, I found myself trying to do the actions (marching in the infantry, riding on the cavalry, shooting the artillery, zooming oer the enemy). Though taught to me long ago, they still resonate within me. Simple songs of yesteryear that still are impressed upon my heart.

On the Move

Noah's been walking for a while now & Drew just started walking this past week. I'd not filmed either of them taking steps yet but tonight, while at my aunt's house, I thought I'd capture them walking. Unfortunately, it slipped my mind that I needed to make sure that I had the camera pointing horizontally rather than vertically. So, my apologies to you for your having to tilt your head to view this sideways. Next time, maybe I'll do a better job. Still, here they are....Drew & Noah, on the move!!

Jubilee in the Open Air

Every once in a while, we receive a mailing from the city with information as to activities that will be taking place in the community & so forth. Months ago, one of these mailings arrived & my dad looked through & noticed that there would be a number of free concerts at the park by the City Hall. A couple of weeks ago, on a Thursday evening, my dad & I loaded up the car with our lawn chairs & made our way to join the many others who were there to enjoy some music.

The band that was playing (a local band) was Sins of the Pioneer. They did a bit of Creole/Cajun music as well as R&B. I've never been to New Orleans but the music they were playing made me think of that which I envision hearing down in the bayou. I gotta say, kind of made me hungry for some gumbo, Jambalaya, red beans & rice too. Now, the band was not the best band I've ever heard by any means but for no charge & for something fun to do in the evening, it was good. In a couple of weeks, there's another concert--Broadway showtunes or something..should be good. In August, there's a night of Golden Oldies & Country music. I'm hoping to make it to all of those.

Partyin' It Up at the Wade's

Shelby & Cody sit outside awaiting the rest of their family for group photos

One of their 2 Black Labs (not sure if this is Ace or Indy)


Me & Cody Wade...perhaps the next Steven Spielberg?

In addition to the birthday party we had in store last Saturday, we also had a graduation party to attend...to celebrate Shelby's graduation from Francis Howell High School (which, had we not have moved...would have been the school I would have graduated from. I'd have been a Viking rather than a Bulldog!). The Wade family & our family go back many, many years. My dad & Mike have been friends since childhood & still today, remain good friends though they rarely see one another. Mike's wife, Beth, likes to tell (as she did during the party on Saturday) that I am in all of their wedding pictures...I was probably no more than 2 years old at the time. Our families have been friends for a long time. I remember when I was a kid, we would go to their house & they had a houseful (or so it seemed) of Labradors. I was terrified of them for the longest time & over the years, I grew to love those dogs. Whenever I would think of going to Mike & Beth's, I'd anticipate & look forward to seeing the dogs. Those dogs are long gone now but they have 2 other Labs. I was more than excited to get to play with them on Saturday. Mike has always been very funny & always a jokester...a lot of fun to be around. Growing up, I was the oldest so when Cody & Shelby came into the picture, I never really had anything to do with them in the few times of seeing them. It seems unreal to me that, like myself, they are not kids anymore either. Cody was leaving on Sunday to head to L.A. for an internship with the American Film Institute. I went ahead & requested a photo of he & I...just in case he should ever become someone famous! Shelby will be starting college in the fall. Though I would loved to have been able to stay & visit longer with the family, I'm glad for the time we had together. The Wade's are treasured friends for sure.

Laughter Filled the Park

Adrianna showing off her new sunglasses received as one of her many presents.

Like Father like son

My lil' Buddy, Noah

My Hannah Bug swingin' away

Amazing what a 6 yr. old can convince people to do--our silly faces at the request of Adrianna!

Someone wanted to be goofy for our picture together.

Me & Ian-lovin' the new do kiddo!

My flight through the air

This past Saturday was a rather busy one. After attending a graduation party, we headed to Civic Park to celebrate Adrianna's 6th b-day. Is it me or do kids seem to grow up way too fast? We had a tasty BBQ & then Adrianna got busy opening her many gifts. She is now well-stocked on Hannah Montana items. As we all know, that is important--kids just "have to have" everything Hannah Montana. She also got some new outfits as well. However, those didn't seem to impress her as greatly as all of the Hannah Montana things. Once all the gifts were opened & we had sang a beautiful rendition of "Happy Birthday" & ate cupcakes, everyone did their own thing. Some played catch with footballs & softballs; others played Frisbee. Then, there were people like myself--who opted out of the sports arena & went straight to playing with the kids. Hannah Bug asked me to take her swinging so I walked her down to the swings & pushed her. Hannah's a talker...she rambled on & on to me about anything & everything she could think of (she's almost 4) as she was swinging. I couldn't hear or understand half of her conversation since she was flying back & forth past me. I did catch on to her ratting out her baby brother as she told me that Baby Drew cries a lot & he bothers her stuff. That little lady kills me she's so funny. After I wore myself out pushing her, it was off to help Adrianna & Rose on the big kid swings. Finally, my turn had come. I sat my tush on the swing & was ready to go. Seems that swinging is not nearly as easy as it was when I was a child. As a kid, I don't think I really ever noticed how much upper body strength is needed to propel yourself up in the air. Needless to say, I was lacking. My cousin's friend, Jordan, was kind enough to give this big kid a push. She pushed alright...got me high enough that I was screaming. Then the laughter came. I could not hold in my laughing. I'm pretty sure that my family looking on was finding the situation quite amusing. It had been years since I'd been on a swing! The weather could not have been any nicer out that day & I think everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. Chanda...good work, the park was a wonderful idea!!

Pondering the Past 30

All too soon, my 20's will be gone & I'll be 30 years old. 30...can it really be? While 30 really is not old at all, I like to exaggerate the idea of it a bit. I find it hard to believe that so much time has passed by. For whatever reason, I have felt the need to think about my life & the years behind me....reflect a bit. I have found myself sitting at the park on a park bench pondering my life...asking myself if my life has been of value & worth. Have I made an impact in the lives of those around me or those I've come in contact with over the years? At the end of my life, will I have left a "legacy" as Nichole Nordeman states in her song below (which, I kind of consider as my theme song)? I pray so. As I've done my thinking, I've been reminded of many wonderful times. I remember helping prepare & serve food during the floods of '93. Then, 15 yrs. later, I found myself carrying food to an area effected by flooding just last spring. I think about my former Sunday School class going to a senior citizens home to make Easter picture frames with the residence & my dressing up as the Easter Bunny & how much joy that brought to those older people. I never dreamt that they would want their picture taken with me & that they would plan to insert that particular picture in the frame they had made with us! They had the time of their lives' with me as I hopped (& yes...I really did hop like a rabbit) around the room though. I recall the countless number of times I have either went to sing in nursing homes or low-income housing areas & the people request song after song & have just been happy to see a "young" face & have someone "young" to talk to that would listen to their stories. I see myself downtown at the men's homeless shelter serving food & then mingling with the men as we laughed & joked together but later praised the Lord together through songs & testimonies. I remember going with some college students to unthinkable areas to search for homeless people to deliver food, clothing & most importantly, the Word of God. I think about my first ever mission trip--to Colorado, teaching Bible to children & at the end of the week, learning that the student I had grown closest to (Joel), had prayed to receive Christ into his heart. I picture myself helping lead a missions class during VBS at FBC O'Fallon & loving on those kids. I remember being assigned to a home in which I set up camp everyday for a week to serve as a leader during a Backyard Bible Club. Daily, my cousin & I led the kids in songs, Bible stories, games, crafts, etc. I think about the time when I volunteered to lead a group during a Disciple Now weekend & after having been assigned to lead middle school girls, I wondered why I volunteered. Though that was my most trying experience, I realized why I did it when weeks later, one of the girls came to salvation. Of course, I think of God calling me to the other side of the world to use the gospel to teach English to Taiwanese students. Still today, I hear from many of those kids that I fell in love with quickly. In my years working at One Way, there were opportunities day in & day out to be used by God. Having worked there 10 years, my mind overflows with stories....whether it was helping someone purchase their first Bible, teaching someone how to use a concordance, praying with a customer about a wayward teen, listening to someone who was just lonely & in need of a friend, etc. . . there was always plenty. Of all that I experienced at One Way, the most difficult time had to be when I helped a young couple find an appropriate song for the funeral of their stillborn infant. As I suggested the song & they listened, tears streamed down their face as they told me it was "perfect." Weeks later, I received a thank you note in the mail expressing their gratitude towards me for my help. Another memory I have is that of a mother entering into the store in search of a book that she could give to her daughter to help teach her about grief as she had just lost her grandmother. As I did some research & the mother browsed the store, her daughter (who was probably 5 or 6) wandered to the front & began to cry. I asked the little girl what was wrong & she told me her grandma died & she was sad. I went around & wrapped my arms around her & began to share with her that I too, had lost my grandma. I talked to her about our grandma's being in heaven with Jesus. When her mom returned to the front to talk to me again, I had found a book that I felt might work. The title was "Sarah's Grandma Went to Heaven." The lady was in disbelief at how fitting the book was...her daughter's name was Sarah. After the funeral had come & gone, the lady & Sarah returned to the store to personally thank me for taking the time & effort to find a book that would help & to thank me especially for the time I spent comforting Sarah when they had been in before. I am so incredibly thankful for each & every opportunity God's blessed me with. I boast not in myself for none of these things would or could have been done apart from Him loving others through me. However, I am glad that over these years, God has seen fit to include me in His plan & to use me. I'm far from where I need to be & where I hope to be but as I move forward, I pray that I will be all that He desires for me to be so that He gets all the praise & glory. My prayer is that of David in Psalms 34:2-3, "My soul will make it's boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it & rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together." May I, however many years I have left on earth, be about the Father's business.