Carson is off to a great start this school year.  While he is suffering from some testing anxiety.  He is hitting the mark with his grades, behavior and relationships. 

Happy Birthday, Best !

I hope you have a wonderful day. We have so much fun together.  I love hanging out with you.  I love riding in your car with the top down.  I love riding the rides on the boardwalk with you. I love our time together. But most of all, I love you!

 

Happy 8th BIrthday Carson

Dear Carson,

Today is your 8th birthday.  I can't believe you are that age already.  Where has the time gone??  You are truly a blessing to daddy and me.  We are watching as you grow up so fast and we are so proud of who you are and who you are becoming.  You are so smart and funny and kind and strong. 

God, we pray for Carson.  We ask that you continue to fill him with wisdom and compassion and strength.  We thank you for blessing us with him.  Continue to draw him close to You and direct his steps.

Tonight Cinderella said, " I think something is inside Kyndel. I hear this beeping sound."
 

5 hours on the beach today (yes there are beaches in NJ, John Carney). The little ones had a great time.  Carson jumped the waves while Cinderella was busy making friends.  

Just the highlights

Hershey Park, Wildwood boardwalk and Storybook land all within one week. Phew! Of course I did not remember to bring my camera to any of the parks. At Hershey Park, Carson rode his first upside down rollercoaster.  He loved it. On the Wildwood boardwalk, Cinderella went on her first haunted ride. Finally, at Storybook land Carson was our tour guide as Best takes him there a few times a year.  Overall, we had a great time. 
We do not want the summer of 2014 to end....
  

A note from a Guatemala team member sent on Monday night.

We arrived back home safely late last night at around 12:30 am.  The trip was amazing.  We built 2 homes, delivered over 50 wheelchairs, hand delivered food and clothing to app. 15 families living in remote areas (many live at the base of a volcano!), and prayed for and with countless men, women, and children.  God was clearly at work all week as people gave their lives to the Lord, others rededicated their lives to the Lord, and many received physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.  A number of our team members experienced spiritual warfare and physical illness, especially during the latter part of the week, but your prayers made all the difference as everyone felt much better by the time we headed home yesterday morning.  So thank you again for your prayerful and financial support and being a part of bringing glory to our God. Praise God for GretaJo who started this journey seven years ago.

Thanking God for his strength this week.  I can really feel the prayers. 

Carson should of been a fish.

baggage

so my baggage has left the country this morning at 4:15am. I sent five suitcases to Guatemala with the team. Please pray for them as they are going to be challenged mentally and physically.

Life is too short
to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forgive the ones who don't and believe everything happens for a reason.

-fortunate youth

One day I will want...
    to hear that little voice call me mommy every 5 minutes.
    to feel that little hand on me at night with a soft voice saying " Can I sleep with you?"
    the same song played over and over again (right now its, What did the fox say).
    to hear mommy will you play with me?
    to pick up the toys I just fell over.
    to wipe that cute little face that has ice cream all over it.
    to buckle him in the car
    to sit at baseball practice while its 90 degrees out.
    to be the taxi driver.
    my little boy back.

Life is going by so quickly.  I want to savor every moment with my children.  Do not wish time away.


           


 

my little ones

I have to go to the bathroom.....

Its the new 'I really do not want to go to bed so I'll say I have to go to the bathroom routine."

A new professional career chapter

starts tomorrow at 9:00am.

1 Peter 5:6,7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.

 

height and weight as of today

How often does this happen?
46" inches tall
46 lbs.
 

Never Give Up; Never lose hope. Always have faith, it allows you to cope.
Trying times will pass as they always do.
Just have patience, your dreams will come true. So put on a smile, you will live through your pain. Know it will pass, and strength you will gain.
-God vine

Are your bags packed?

Well in two short weeks the Guatemala mission team from Calvary Baptist Church will be boarding their flight to Guatemala.  This year fundraising was a little on the light side as life was very busy for most of us.  However, we had a wonderful turn out at the yard sale.  The ride/walk/run event which was hosted on the same day tripled in size from last year.  Most of the riders cycled up to 36 miles while the others did the 16 mile ride.  If you have never cycled before I would suggest you try it if you like the outdoors and exercising.  Yes, the cycling outfits are a little awkward at first but you get use to it.  Lately I have found most of my deepest conversations with the Lord on my cycling bike.  He has completely unclogged my heart, cleared away thoughts, and brought me to a place where I want my relationship to continue to blossom with him.  Sorry to side track,  the two fundraisers above, along with a few generous givers we were able to meet our required amount for the mission trip.  Praise God!  So with all that being said, my bags (backs are what Guatemalans called our bags) are not packed as I am not going to Guatemala this summer.  It was a very tough decision for me.  I waivered for many months and went through the motions as I was going, however deep inside I knew differently.  My personal life has made a few turns which require my attention to be focused here.  So the team must go on.  The team will be building homes, food/clothing distribution and wheelchair distribution.  There are two new team members going this year which is very exciting.  Its also interesting to watch and listen to new members working in Guatemala for the first time.  So I will be anxious to hear their stories. 
In the meantime, I thank you all for your continued prayer. I ask that you will continue to lift the team up as they have some heavy work in front of them.  Its not only physical work but also mentally challenging. If you click on the link below the song is called Your Love Amazes Me by Michael English.  This song clearly states the God will never leave us no matter what.  He will continue to love us and the only way we can be save and forgiven is through him.  I encourage you to take a few minutes and listen to the song with a clear mind. 

http://youtu.be/S_ubhKAVjW8

Happy 4th of July

sign the dotted line

After 13 years with the same management company my time has come to an end.  With much prayer, I have accepted and signed the dotted line with a new company.  More to come... 

Heaven questions

As Carson was swimming today he asked, "Mommy, what does heaven look like?" "What do you think I will do all day?" "Mommy, do you think I will have the same color skin?" 
Yes, a flood of questions without stopping. Before I could explain any of his questions he was under the water swimming.
 

burn baby burn

36 miles on my bike in 2 hours and 35 minutes.  Ahhh my love for cycling.

just in case you were wondering

six months until Christmas.

Carson's bucket list for the summer:

Go fishing once a week
Ride more roller coasters
Go on dates with Best
jump the waves at the beach
swim at Mommom's pool every day
read only one book this summer
skate board at night
travel to some place fun
eat lots of ice cream
visit the animal shelter
find lots of bugs
ride my pony every day
stay up until 10 pm at night

 

First day of SUMMER

Carson went fishing for the first time today.  He loved it.  He did not catch any fish but he did catch one crab. 

ahhhh

It's weird how certain songs can flood my mind with memories in a matter of seconds.

Psalm139:15-17 You, O Lord, know me inside and out. You know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing to something in my mothers womb. Like an open book, You watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before You; All of the days of my life You ordered and prepared before I'd even lived one day! How wonderful are Your thoughts toward me!

Listen to the words. what a powerful song.

Its been 7 years

Happy 3rd Birthday Cinderella