The Blessings of God!

Last Friday night we had our bi-monthly Missionary Circle Meeting.  The theme was "The Blessings of God!"  We had umbrellas hanging from the ceiling and on the floor in the corners of the room and we also sang "Showers of Blessings".  I shared with the ladies that a lot of times we focus so much on the negative happening around us and to us, that we forget the positive which are the blessings that God has given us.  I encouraged us all to think of the positive when something negative happens.  No matter what happens and how much we may hurt, God is good!  The next time you find yourself thinking negative (like I have before) read Psalm 103 and be reminded of how good God is to us! :)

Ladies are divided into groups to pray for their specific missionaries, read letter updates and making plans to send cards for future birthdays and anniversaries to our missionary families. 

We have childcare provided for the moms who come to the meetings.  They play games, sing songs, have storytime on famous missionaries and snack time.  The teen girls that help me in this area do a great job!  Thank you girls!  I love and appreciate you! :)

Of course we can't forget our security guards on duty!  We are so thankful they are alert and roaming the facilities to make sure that things are fine and secure!  Wake up Bro. Daniel!

Gabriella's first deputation trip!

Yesterday Jared, Elyssa and Gabriella left for their first family deputation trip.  It was a 9 hour trip all the way down to south Texas.  They will be in two churches tomorrow, one pastored by Pastor Roy Velez and the other pastored by Pastor Noe Mendoza.
I ask that you please pray for them as they travel and begin raising support.

Are we there yet?

Wake me up when we get there!

This is better than staring out the back window moving backwards!

A visit with "Gabriella"....and Jared and Elyssa.

This past Monday my husband and I were really missing Gabriella.  It had been only a week from the time we last saw her.  My husband was ready to drop everything and go to Seagoville to see her.  Well Monday was "Honey/Mom Do Day" and I was not about to lose that very rare occasion!  So, with a little persuation we planned to go Thursday night after work.  Elyssa cooked us a nice lasagna dinner!  We had such a great time chatting and laughing with Jared and Elyssa....and of course time with Gabriella!  I got to feed her, burp her, kiss her, change her, rock her, get her ready for bed and put her to sleep!  Oh and I let my husband hold her for a few minutes!  LOL!  Just Kidding!  He had his turn also, except for changing her diaper.  :( 

Gabriella sleeping on my lap.

   

Family Update!

This summer was a huge adjustment for our family!  Elyssa of course has been married a year and this was her second summer with her husband, Danny stays in Kentucky working and runs his bus route but this was David's first school year and because of his job he could not come home for the summer. 
Even though we all had adjusting to do I know the summer did the boys good.  Danny had the opportunity to travel to other towns in Kentucky and hold tent meetings with a team from the college.  They went door knocking inviting others to church, soul winning and preached!  He really enjoyed it!  On the other hand David was able to work 2 jobs and get his last years school bill up to date.  Praise the Lord he has gotten a promotion and a raise. 
We are proud of our boys for the hard workers that they are and the love they have to serve the Lord.  But, we continue to always pray for them that they stay focused and stay close to the Lord!  We don't take for granted that they are in Bible College.  Our job as parents and as their prayer warriors will not stop until the day we reach Heaven!
Two weeks from this Saturday they will be coming home for a 4 day visit.  Due to their jobs it's not a very long visit but I will take what I can get!  Their main reason is to see their niece, Gabriella!  :)

David and Danny

Just wanted to share a few pictures! :)

The birth of Gabriella

Welcome Home Gabriella!

Meeting grandpa for the first time!

"I love you mommy!"

I could hold her all day!

"I can't believe she's mine!"

"This flower is too big for my little head!"

"Peace in the midst of the storm" (Gabriella in the midst of a crazy schedule!)

Not that things have been bad or anything, it's just that is has been incredibly busy and I have had no time to blog about my now favorite subject....my grandbaby, Gabriella!  :)
Let me back up a few weeks and share with you the details of how things went.
The week before our trip to California, Elyssa went to the doctor for her weekly check up, July 6th.  She was told that she could possibly have the baby within the week.  Reason being her amniotic fluid was low.  If the fluid did not come up by the next appointment they would have to induce.  She had also been having contractions.  I have to say that I was a mess!  I didn't want to leave out of town!  I wasn't sure if she would go into labor by herself or the doctor would have her admitted.  She was very fatigue and ready!  :)
After awhile I realized that God is in control and if she were to have the baby while we were gone then that's what the Lord wanted!  (I have to tell you though that I was sooo torn!  My place was with my husband on that preaching/mini vacation time but our daughter also really wanted me there with her as well.)  I wasn't accomplishing anything by worrying so I left it in God's hands and enjoyed my time in California.  We arrived on the day of her next appointment, July 13th wondering if the doctor would tell her that they would need to induce because of her fluid count still being low.  We were so anxious and excited knowing that this could be the day she would have the baby.  I was ready to get off the plane and head straight to the hospital!  But we went home and waited till Jared and Elyssa called to give us an update.  We were disappointed to hear that the doctor decided to wait because her fluid was up.  Shame on me!  Here I am disappointed when all this time I was praying that her fluid would increase which was very important for the baby!  Here the Lord answered our prayer and I'm disappointed about what the doctor decided! 
Well, I figured I'll just take advantage of the time and continue to get ahead on my work at church, home duties and enjoy the Youth Revival that will be held the following week.  We did just that.  On Thursday I decided to leave in the morning and spend the day with Elyssa and then go with her to the evening service while my husband left to preach in Mexico.  Before I left the house Elyssa called and said she thought she was in labor.  I told her to keep timing her contractions and change her activity and I would be there soon.  (Woman on a mission!)  My husband and I said good-bye, then he headed for the airport as I headed to Elyssa's house.  Her house is in Seagoville, TX about an hours drive.  I got on the interstate and it was BUSY!  I couldn't get on the HOV lane cause I didn't have any passengers with me so I had to drive in the traffic.  Elyssa kept texting me saying hurry cause she really wasn't feeling good at all.  Finally, I said "Lord! Please help me get to Elyssa's house quick!  Please clear this traffic!"  The Lord is so good!  Would you believe that the lane I was in started flowing so quickly!  It was like the parting of the Red Sea!  I got there in 45 minutes with a little help from my heavy foot on the gas pedal!  :)
I got there and definetly she was in labor.  I called Jared who was at the church involved in the day sessions at Youth Revival.  He came home immediately and we left for the hospital.  Long story short they sent her home till she was in active labor (which to me she was!) and by 10:00 that night we were back at the hospital and she was admitted.  Youth Revival had just ended so Jared's parents, Andres and some of the teens at church came to the hospital to wait.  Meanwhile, down the hall we too were anxiously waiting for the time to come.  My husband had already landed safely in Mexico, preached the evening service and was waiting on any news about the baby.  I was keeping him updated through text messages.  Then at 4:32 Friday morning Gabriella was born!  I can't begin to tell you the overwhelming feeling I felt when I saw her come into this world.  For about 30 seconds I just covered my mouth with my hand as tears filled my eyes!  I couldn't speak!  To see my daughter become a mother for the first time was beyond words. 
They had so many visitors come to the hospital from family and friends!  They have all been so kind and sweet to them.  All went very well in the delivery that Elyssa and Gabriella were able to come home Saturday.  I stayed with Elyssa from Thursday until Monday night to help with things in the house and with the baby.  I then went back to work on Tuesday and Wednesday and on Thursday we left for Tenaha to another youth conference where my husband was one of the guest preachers.  We returned home on Saturday to prepare for Sunday services and on Sunday afternoon we had lunch with my parents and their teens from Kansas City who also went to the conference in Tenaha.  That night after the service Jared, Elyssa and Gabriella came to Lewisville to spend time with my parents, Gabriella's great grandparents.  They spent the night and stayed with us the whole next day.  That night we all went out on an activity at "Medieval Times".  It's an arena where you watch a show with live horses, Kings, Queens & Knights.  While you watch the show you are served dinner.  It was alot of fun! 
I thought that after the show things would pretty much get back to routine.  I spoke to soon!  We ended up staying in a hotel that night.  The compressor in our AC unit totally went out!  Our house was an oven!!!  Yesterday morning we got up and went to work then went home for about 3 hours so I could do laundry because my husband left for El Salvador this morning!  Lord willing it will be fixed by tomorrow.  Needless to say, I haven't had time to blog! 
I just want to thank you all who prayed for the health and safe arrival of Gabriella and for Elyssa too!  We are very grateful!