God is so Cool!

We have been doing a Bible Study for the past 8 weeks, and every week there's always SOMETHING. I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive about this particular Bible Study because it is about the ....gasp...Old Testament. Eww, who wants to purposely study the Old Testament, and the tabernacle, no less!!! Well, let me tell you how cool it has been!! I will never look at the Bible the same! God is so awesome and complex. But I never realized how deliberate EVERYTHING in the Bible was. Even the endless description of the tabernacle and how and where and when it was to be built, all has a purpose! And I mean every detail! And the coolest thing is, is that it was all to be able to be with us. The tabernacle....a place for God to meet with us. Just a reminder that God loves us and is constantly in persuit of a relationship with us.

One year later....

I wasn't sure how I wanted to handle this.

Yesterday was one year that my dad has been gone. Wow. Doesn't seem real. My mom has been reading and studying a lot lately and she shares a lot with me. Recently she brought me an article about how we should celebrate my dad's life and not his death. So, I was trying really hard on not dwelling on the "one year anniversary" or whatever. But all weekend, my thoughts were going to exactly what I was doing one year ago at this time, one year ago at this moment...all that stuff.

So, I woke up yesterday not sure of how I wanted to feel. Do I get up and try and act like it was just another day? Or do I recognize how I really felt and be sad? Well, my feelings won out and I was sad. It was moment by moment, in the morning, of almost a play by play in my mind of what happened that day. As the day went on, and I got busier, it was almost as if I had had my time and was then ok.

If you would have asked me last year, where do I think I will be now, I don't know how I might have answered. I might have said that surely in a year, things will be easier, better...whatever that word is. But I don't know that it is. It's....different. I do remember in the days that followed his death some words of a family member that had also lost someone, they said...."It doesn't ever get easier" and I was like, uh, how sad. But now I think I know how she feels. It's almost a daily reminder of the fact that God is in control. My tummy still does those flip things when I think of the reality that he's gone. I miss him so much. And I hope, to some degree, that it never goes away.

Pre-Teen Camp 2009

It seems like I just can't get everything together at once. Now I am missing the cord that downloads my pictures from my camera. So, I can tell you all about the good week at Pre-Teen camp, but as of right now, I can't show you!!!

We had 3 girls go, plus, Travis who was in charge of the Teen Workers. One first timer. They seemed to have a great time! I wasn't able to go this year because of my job, but Tyler, Tucker and I drove up every single day and spent the day at the campgrounds. Tucker just couldn't bear the thought of not being in Ms Marie's Pre Camper class!

So, I do want to say a big THANK YOU to Samantha Sellars who took in my girls like they were her very own! They had a great week with her!

There were 48 salvations this week and that's awesome! That is one thing that I missed was being there for the services at night! But the cool thing was that there were also kids getting saved at the morning devotions and everywhere in between!

Also, Travis and I spent our 15th wedding anniversary at Camp Niangua! Where else! Everyone sang "Happy Anniversary" to us, and it was nice.

I promise that when I get my cord, you can see all the pics!

When it rains.....

You know how they say, when it rains it pours? Well, that's kinda how I've felt about our encounters with death in the past year to year and a half. I have been to or known of more funerals or passings than I ever have. And no matter who it is, or how old they are, the effects are the same. We always wish we had more time with them...one more day. What would you say? How would you treat them?

Well, I had to tell this story. I have a friend(s) who are wonderful people. Ever since I have known them, they have been taking care of others. In addition to their own 3 children, it seems like they always had at least one other child tagging along. Usually, it was someone they were realted to, but they were treating them as one of their own. And it was never easy, they were in and out of their lives, not knowing what the circumstances surrounding their stay was going to be, how long they'd be there or if they would be back. And we on the outside couldn't really tell if the children really understood or appreciated all these people were doing for them. They have even gone to the extreme of adopting one of them and permanently including them as part of their family. But, what seemed extra-ordinary to us, was second nature to them.

Fast forward a few years. They were visiting their nephew (who had previously been with them for a period) ,who had been diagnosed with leukemia, as he was getting treatment. While they were there, they noticed a young girl who never seemed to get visitors. Long story short, they got custody of her and took her home, all the while knowing of her serious condition of cancer. When they brought her home, she was in a wheelchair. The cancer in the bone in her leg was so bad that she couldn't walk. After surgery, things were better and life seemed to be taking a turn for the normal. What, at first, looked like a good deed, was quickly turning into a wonderful love and bond with this young girl. She was 6 at the time. My friends took her to church, opened their home and did their best to show her all the love and care that a normal family would. After a while, I noticed that their children were calling her sister and just accepting her as their own.

From what I hear, Monique was a wonderful child. She always had a smile and was loved by everyone. After almost 3 years of living with Clay and Tresea, it became apparent that she would soon pass away. The cancer had come back in more than one place and the pain was almost unbearable by the young child.

Monday, July 27th, Monique passed away. But, thanks to Clay and Tresea and their family, she went with the love from a family that truly treasured her and was thankful for the time that they had to spend with her. Monique is gone, but her influence and memories have forever changed my friends. They are one of a kind, and I am so thankful for the love that God has put in their hearts for hurting children. They are definitely a hero in my book.

The following is a poem that Shelley, one of Clay and Tresea's daughters wrote about Monique:

She came to us in need of Love

In need of love and care

We planned for her to heal and grow

Her life for God to spare.

But what we want and what God does

Is often not the same

And if we question the will of God

What we should feel is shame.

Her life began like a small cacoon

and its hard to say goodbye

But God had plans for this little girl

So, she became His butterfly!

Random Pics

Busch Stadium....so close

The skeleton waffle

Travis and I were up there, somewhere

Give him the camera......

A HUGE cross at Effingham, IL

AWESOME! Invertigo

The new DIAMONDBACK!

A lot more intimidating in person!

Tucker's 1st big boy coaster

This was in line for the

DIAMONDBACK

Hanging at the food court with friends
Travis, James, Abby, Tucker, Tyler, Lance







The new GO 10

Magnum








Abby trying it out!










How cool is he?









Our room was HUGE!
This is just half of it!






The first thing Tucker did
when we got into the room








The beautiful chandelier
in the lobby









The marble staircase











Our crazy beer guy!
He was nuts!







Prince Fielder

in action!







Wonder what
movie their watching?








Didn't get to go this time
but isn't it awesome?










Travis at the
Science Museum









Tucker and Abby
at STL Zoo

Is it over already?

Back to last week.....Tuesday, July 21st, I wonder how it always works out that there will be days when you have nothing to do, and then everything you want to do falls on one day?? That's definitely what happened this day. We had the regular stuff like, business meetings, ladies meetings, but we also had 2 former youth groups there and their competition was this day also. So, we managed our schedules and tried our best to fit it all in. We watched Bryce (from Cushing) and Alyssa (from Mtn Grove) compete, against each other! And Travis made it back to the business in time to hear all the important stuff! Then we went back to the hotel and spent a little down time doing some swimming with the Mtn Grove kids. That evening was spent at the youth service with Ken Hamm, a wonderful speaker from Answers in Genesis. If you ever have any questions about the validity of our faith, he's the man to talk to!! It was awesome!

Also, after we picked the kids up from their service, my cousin's husband, Mike helped Tucker pull his very first tooth!! You're a big boy now!!! Thanks Uncle Mike (that's what they call him)












Wednesday, July 22nd.....I spent a lot of this day worried about my stuff back home. We have our HEROES program going on Wednesdays and I just wanted to make sure that all the kids that wanted to go got picked up and taken care of! When that was secured, I found it easier to enjoy the day! The kids and I stopped by and watched some Veggie Tales (Moe and the Big Exit) while Travis finished up a full day of business meetings. When that was over, we felt like we hadn't seen each other in a couple of days, so we headed off as a family and went and had dinner and stopped by a near by mall for the evening.





Thursday, July 23rd......We knew we had to be out of our room today. It was kinda sad to leave our home away from home. I'm gonna miss having my bed made and fresh towels everyday! But we had big plans, and the kids still didn't know! We got all our stuff together and went down to call for the van. Then we took off and headed towards...KINGS ISLAND!
We tried to ride all the famous roller coasters, and it was cool that the Mtn Grove group was there, too. So, we got to ride some stuff with them also! We were there until about 5:30 and then thought we should start towards home. We drove as long as Travis could and ended up at a Comfort Inn in Casey, Illinois.

Friday, July 24th.....Homeward Bound! With a big chunk of the drive still ahead of us, we tried to get on the road early. The TV/movies, and the Satellite radio in the van was a lifesaver! And we made it home about 3pm.


WE JUST WANT TO THANK THE CHURCH FOR ALLOWING US TO TAKE THIS TIME AWAY AND MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE THIS TRIP. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE OLD FRIENDS, SPEND TIME WITH OUR OWN FAMILY, AND BE FILLED AND RENEWED AT THE SAME TIME!

Bill McPhail

Before I go on, I want to say a special prayer request for a family in our church. We received a phone call from a church member today to let us know that Bill McPhail had passed away this morning. Bill had taught Sunday School, led music, and served on the Church Board for years. We will miss his smile and friendly handshake. Please keep his wife, Ruth, and their family in your thoughts and prayers.