New Wheels for the fam'

Well, it was time to trade the ole Impala, rest her soul. She's been having tranny problems...so it was either shell out the bucks to fix her, or move on to something else. Kids are getting bigger, filling up the car...so we decided to move on to something else, something else bigger.

So, purchased a Honda Odyssey...it rocks! My favorite features so far are the remote doors and the back up camera. Though I admit I haven't played with all the buttons yet. I love it! The kids love it. Now we can go on road trips again w/o having to borrow or rent a ride. Nice. Can't wait until we can take a trip in it. :-) Need to take a picture.

Super fast trip to Alabama

I had to leave home on Sunday to go to 'bama. My aunt slipped into a coma and passed away on Sunday afternoon. I brought my mom up to be with her family, and to go to the funeral. And in my haste, I didn't pack enough clothes. grrr. So I had to go shopping.

I went to Florence to try to find some clothing, and since I was out, and had time, I went by UNA to visit. So it will be 10 years this December since I graduated. Remember that.

I pulled in to visitor parking, and asked the girl who looked like she was about 12 in the booth if I was in the right place. She said "yes ma'am" MA'AM??? Ok, totally uncool. In that ma'am she said I had aged enough to not be considered a co-ed anymore. Grrr! :-0

Went and visited my old haunt, the science building, saw some professors of mine. My advisor was in class, so I went to see another one. He told me in front of a girl working in the micro lab, (who by the way, must be like doogie houser, because she was totally only 11-12 and in college...are you seeing a trend?) that there hadn't been a class like mine in years. I told him, yeah nearly 10! We caught up a bit on gossip...where some old friends were, how his family was doing etc. Walked back up to see if my advisor was back yet..and ran into him. He was headed to another class, so I hung around for 50 mins or so till he got back. Totally worth it! This man was a father figure to me, and a huge important part of my life. It was good to catch up with him. I spent way more time than I intended, but had a great time. A small bright spot in the trip. The professors looked older...er, more distinguised, and the students looked waaaay too young to be in college. :-) And of course, I look the same...right? I know better, but let me believe it.

Had to do the funeral home thing tonight, and saw people and family that I hadn't seen in years. Remembered some of them, and not others. Forgot just how big my family is...

Blue Titans are undefeated!

OK, so maybe they've only played 2 games. But they are. Undefeated that is.
Princess loves it...even though she's not played soccer in 1 1/2 years. She's picking it back up though. Playing with kids that have been playing every season since they were 4, she is behind. But having fun!

AND SHE scored two goals on Saturday. One in each game! We were supposed to be in a tourney this weekend, however, early Monday morning she came to us with a fever...and a headache. Kept her home from school, took her to the after hours clinic monday night. Negative for strep and flu, but still feeling rotten.

Tues, Wed, more of the same, back to the Dr, FLU! So she's been out of school all week, and her fever finally started coming down today. The dr gave her tamiflu to help...and poor girl had the vomit side-effect....YUCK! So 103 fever, headache, feeling rotten, and 3 hours of vomit last night. Needless to say, we aren't taking THAT any more.

Hopefully she'll be better this weekend. Lysol is our friend, and punkin has not been allowed to be around big sis all week. I pray she doesnt get it, but that we dont get it either!!

Update: Ended up back at the doctor on Sunday, because she was running fever again. Bronchitis! But after a round of antibiotics, she's finally better.

We Will Go

I spent the morning at We Will Go Ministry in downtown Jackson yesterday. I was so touched and moved by the experience, that I wanted to share some of it. But, as i set down to write a blog, I can't even put it into words. David and Amy Lancaster are about a mighty work for the Lord. There is no other way to describe it. If you know ANYTHING about downtown Jackson, you know its rife with drugs, prostitution, murder, every sort of violence known to man. Everything you can think if is bought and sold down here...people included. And this family, called to missions...was called to sell their suburbanite house, and move to the heart of it all. So they did. They sold their house and move their family onto Congress Street. (if you are from around here, YES I said congress street. off fortification street). The bought a house The Love House, 4 years ago and moved in. Their kids play outside, they walk the streets. Their sole goal is to be a light in the darkness...and they ARE. Then they bought another house, two houses down, the Peace House. Another couple moved in. The house between them, a crack house. The houses behind them, crack and prostitution houses. Then, they bought the house between them (Faith House)...and the house behind it (Hope House). The three houses behind them, currently still full of all kinds of violence, and selling of everything...while they are not for sale have been shown to the Lancaster's as "next" and will house people who come to Christ and want to be discipled to go out and spread further into Jackson. Amy told us yesterday she sees one for single guys, one for single women, and maybe one for small families.

Yesterday, volunteers were working on one of the new buildings...Faith House. I was part of a group from our church to go down. The Faith House has four apartments in it. The vision for this building is to house other disciples...either singles or couples, to move in and help with the ministry. Our little group painted one of the apartments. Just a couple of months ago, this building was full of drugs, prostitutes, and all sorts of litter that goes with it. Now, its clean and being renovated. We worked along side some of the people who have been reached...ex crack addicts, who are so thankful they have finally had someone care enough to tell them about Jesus and his love. Churches from all over were represented, working in different buildings, doing different things. It was amazing. These properties are 100% safe. The peace of God is there. The people are protected...and they are making a difference. Yesterday, the Faith House was also dedicated, with prayer and praise for the Lord on and around it..a very amazing experience. The Lancaster's really do see people with God's eyes...lost sheep that need the word..not judgment for their choices.

It opened my eyes...to the horrible things people go through right here under our noses. Sure, missions to Africa, China, the Middle East...all good things, and all needed. But, if you feel like you need to be doing something, but those far off places just don't seem to be the answer...Look in your backyard. Look in inner city Jackson. For a lot of the people on my friends list, you aren't more than an hour from 3rd world conditions. And YOU can make a difference. They need help doing everything...packing goody bags, painting, cleaning, just loving. I am totally going back. I don't think it can be explained it words. But in just the few hours I was there, I was forever changed.

There are so many stories...
They have church outside, every Sunday, with a baptismal in the back yard of their house.
The police, when people get out of jail in Raymond, and have no one to go to, drop them off on this block, because they know the "crazy white people" will help
Local drug dealers, who haven't accepted Christ yet, will bring people to the Lancaster's, all hours of the night, because they know that the "Crazy white people" never turn anyone away.
AC, one of the men helped...found Jesus at their kitchen table, a 90 lb crack addict who had lived in a dog house for 2 years. Now, a healthy, vibrant servant of the Lord...painting along side us, breaking out into song.."Worthy is the Lamb" every time it came to mind.
And on and on and on.

http://www.wewillgo.org/Site/Welcome.html

Ice Cream Makes me Wiggly.

Thats what punkin' told me tonight. We were out and about, after dinner. Went to Petsmart to get dog food, and then strolled to the ice cream parlor, since it was in the 70s today.

After eating her ice cream, punkin was dancing around the place...we were laughing at her because she was in a obvious sugar rush. I asked her what she was doing and she started giggling...and she said "ICE CREAM MAKE ME WIGGLY!"

So I snapped a few pics. Then we went to Target and walked around...with TWO wiggly kids. :-)

Pink Piano

I know I know, I'm a slacker, and haven't blogged in forever. So here's some catch up.

The girls got a late Christmas present this week. Its a pink piano. I had no idea they even made such a thing. :-)

The other day from the living room I heard the first bar of "Row Row Row Your Boat" so someone is learning! :-)

Toothless Wonder

Princess finally lost her front two teeth.

I think the gap look is too cute. :-)