Go and make disciples of all nations...

THE GREAT COMMISSION...How often do we think of this commandment from our Lord? Especially when we are actually talking about other nations and not just our own. I know I am guilty of not thinking of it near enough...but man has it hit me full force.

I have been meaning to do this for a couple weeks now, but have not been able to sit down and put my thoughts together. A lot of you know my sister, Jill and her husband and two kids left for Rwanda, Africa on December 2 to do mission work there. They will be there for a minimum of 5 years. I, as the rest of my family, am so glad they are doing the Lord's work and that their kids will be able to grow up serving the Lord in such a special way. But a part of me wants to be able to bring them home whenever I want. That's the selfish and human part of us. I know the Lord has put upon their hearts the people/orphans of the genecide that happened over 10 years ago in that country. I love them dearly, and even though I will miss them more than I can say, will miss watching firsthand Fred and sweet baby Tess grow, learn and experience so many things, I will know that life is not about us and our wants and needs, but ultimately making disciples for our Lord and Savior.

Please pray for my sister's family and their team as often as you can. For their safety, learning the language, culture shock (as it sets in), the people of Rwanda and for us here in the states who will be missing them.

Chris, Jill, Fred and Tess - Thank you for giving up so much to give others so much! We love you!

Lucy and Tess

The grandkids

This girl is in love with her cousin, Fred

Tess with her Aunt Kaylee at the airport -

did I really let them take her with them on the plane?

Brinton's 3rd birthday party

I know this is a bit late - what a surprise :) We had a small, and last minute, party for Brinton for his birthday. The Brentwood tournament is always this weekend and Devan has to be at the gym Thurs, Fri and Sat. We weren't really sure what we were going to do, so we just decided to have a few friends come eat cake and them play outside. Brinton loved it! I made him a Diego cake (next time I will not pick one with so many different colors - I thought about just finishing him with the same color late Friday night :) It did drive me a little batty, but I was happy to do it for my little boy.
Diego - Boy am I glad that's over :)

My friends

Yummy...

Our family :)

Can it be, my boy is 3?!

Well, I can't believe it, but my little Brinton turned 3 today! It's hard to imagine that 3 years ago I gave birth to this beautiful little guy. In just three years he has brought his dad and me (and so many others) such joy! I can't imagine my life without him. He is so sensitive to the things going on around him. He loves people and wants everyone to be his friend. He loves wrestling with his dad and Lucy. He loves his sister and is so helpful and watchful of her. I love watching him play with her, go get her milk, etc for her from the fridge and say, "Here ya go, Lucy, you want your milk?" I love the way he sometimes will crawl in our bed in the early morning hours to sleep with us for a few hours. I love watching him with his daddy, listening to Devan tell him stories at night. I've walked by his room several times at night and listened to him pray and Devan pray with him, then Brinton will say, "Will you tell me a story and then after that a bible story?" Devan will ask what story from the bible he wants to hear or he'll tell him a new one. What a blessing for B to have a daddy like his. I love when he hugs me or puts his arm around my back like he sees Devan do and then just grin at me. I love watching him play with his cousins and know how much he will miss them when they go to Africa in a couple of weeks. I know he'll cry and wonder why they are so far away, but what an example of faith his aunt and uncle will be to him as he grows up and listens to stories from them. I love watching him with his grandparents; how he wants to sleep with them when he's there and have them read books and books until I am sure they are worn out. I love watching him play with his friends and knowing that there are so many people in his life that love him and are so good to him. I am so blessed that he is healthy and, for the most part, a well-behaved child. I could go on and on, but as most of you know I usually don't blog this much...

"Thank you God, for putting this amazing little boy in my life. For letting me take care of him, love him, hold him, pray for him, and share him. Please help me to be a good example and mother to him all of his life. Let him walk with you all of his days so he can be with You forever. You have blessed our family so much and we are thankful!"

Sweet, Baby!

1 year

2 years

3 years

Dora and Diego

Well, here are my cute Dora and Diego. I am happy to say these costumes were CHEAP. After borrowing vests, rescue packs, Pam sewing some awesome Dora shorts, the total cost for me was about $ 8. YAY! We went to the church for trick-a-treat a trunk and had a great time with our friends!

Dora and Diego ready for action!

Check out the 'packs

Lucy kept wanting to hand suckers to everyone/anyone.
It's her new game to just keep getting stuff and handing it to you :)

My snuggle partner

Ohh, light...This pic is dark - but I put it in here just to show you how bright
her shorts were. No getting lost!

Meggie and Lucy being entertained by Haley

Pumpkin Patch

We had a busy week and meant to go to the pumpkin patch earlier. But of course it didn't happen, so I took them Friday afternoon before Trick-a-treat a trunk. Needless to say the pumpkins were pretty much all rotted and scarce. The pics I got didn't have them both smiling at the same time, but at least they were sweet while we were there.

Brinton's fake smile

Lu checking on B to make sure he's smiling...now she's not looking

Pumpkins!

Sweet smiles

I don't carve pumpkins, but since Devan was still at
basketball practice we gave it a shot.

Lucy

Brinton

Fall Fest at school

The kiddos had fall festival at their school last week. Lucy really didn't care about any of the games, she just wanted to put stickers on her face and she thought that was hilarious. Hey, what can I say, my kids know what's fun :)

Lu and Mama

Hugging the duck - she's into hugging everything

Shootin' hoops

I think we have a marksman in our midst
(he made sure he was gonna hit the target)

Daddy and Brinton - too cute

Camping

We went camping as a family for the first time this weekend! So glad we got to experience this with some GREAT friends! It started out a little rocky for us at first. I got there with the kids that afternoon (Devan had practice and wasn't there til almost dark). Brinton and Lucy were playing and Brinton was trying to climb up in Ryan's truck, fell and hit his chin on the tailgate. His mouth was bleeding and his tooth looked a little wiggly. I called Devan to see what to do and probably was a little too dramatic (I still don't think I was.) Anyway, the dentist we called after hours didn't answer, so we just waited it out and it seems like he's okay. It was just sore for a couple days. I was then just a little paranoid every time they fell or looked like they were going to fall, etc. I'm sure everyone was laughing at me inside. :) Saturday was much better:) The kids had fun riding bikes, taking wagon rides, going to the lake and so much more. Brinton was already asking to go back as were in the car going home.

Cason & Lucy

Sweet Ms. Summer giving LuLu a bike ride...She loved it!

Cheese

The lake - Brinton's favorite spot

Climbing

Sweet boy

My friend

Yum!

Fall Festival!

We went to Fall Festival last weekend and had a pretty good time! At first we didn't think Brinton was going to do anything, but after watching Lucy try some things he jumped on the wagon. As you can see in the pictures, Lucy got on the jumping thing and Brinton just pretty much sat on the edge and smiled for the picture. She may just have to toughen him up a little.

Yes, this is me squeezed in this small train car!!!

Me and my boy

Yes, I'm having fun.

This is great (I didn't wanna get off)

Shortly after we got home from fall festival, the kids and Devan took a nap. I, too, was planning on taking one, but there were other plans for me... I started having stomach cramps that turned into terrible ones all through the night. Short story: I had horrible cramps, bloating, etc. , went to after hour dr. on Sunday night, spent a few hours in the hospital that evening making sure everything was okay with baby (yes, it was). They said it was probably just a GI bug. Well I've never had one like this before. The pain was horrible and a few times I told Devan I'd rather be in labor - at least it wouldn't last this long. It took til Thursday to start feeling myself again. I hope to never have that happen again. It was nice to start feeling myself again and being a wife and mommy :)

Animal Farm at school!

1st day of school, or is it?

Here are my kids on the 1st day of Children's Ark. Well, it was Lucy's first day anyway. Brinton, we found out later that day, had the croupe. He didn't go to school because he wasn't feeling well (as you can see from his face in the pic), but then he just got worse and worse. I took him to the after hours clinic later that night and they gave him a steroid to help him breathe easier. He was actually feeling a lot better the next day. And of course Lucy got it a few days later:(

Back to school...they go on Monday and Thursday for 4 hours and seem to really enjoy it so far. Lucy hardly whimpers when I drop her off. I am so thankful for their Christian teachers and the environment they are in with their friends. Brinton on his first day - with Lu

Mom, can't you tell I'm excited by this real smile on my face:)

Our cousin, Tess

We went to Ft. Worth a few weeks ago to attend a mission seminar for the families of my sister's team going to Rwanda. It was very helpful and the people in charge did a great job of giving us information on how to cope (and a lot of other advice), etc with them leaving the country in December. It was also very emotional as each team member blessed their parents, siblings, etc. and talked to them about what they mean to them... You can imagine the waterworks that went on that weekend. While it is so hard to say goodbye in a couple of months to seeing them physically - they are only beginning to say hello and introduce the love of Christ to so many who desperately need it. I am sure I'll blog more about them later - but I am not up for a big cry right now:)
Here are some pics of my kids and their little cousin, Tess. (Sorry, Fred, your sister hogged all the pics:)