Monday, October 31, 2011

North Carolina

A week ago today I got to accompany my husband on a preaching trip to North Carolina.  He preached a Family Conference for Pastor Albert Lopez, pastor of Open Door Baptist Church.  He and his wife, Joy have a wonderful church and ministry!  When our children were still at home, we use to all go with my husband and we would sing plus enjoy the time together as a family.  It was a little bit nostalgic for me now that it was only my husband and I that went this year. 
We had some delays with the flight we were taking which put us to the hotel later then scheduled.  We quickly got to our hotel room with little time to get ready and leave for the evening service.  The service went really well that night!  The auditorium was packed and the spirit was great.  My husband did a great job!





Pastor Albert Lopez

Pastor Danny Ortiz

 Pastor Lopez and his Family and us.



We had the next day free to ourselves until the evening service.  :)  Normally my husband would stay in his room and work and call the church office and give us work!  LOL!  Since I was with him we didn't work.  We did something that I've been wanting to do.... go to Mt. Airy, NC.  The hometown of Andy Griffith.  If you are familiar with the 1960's show "The Andy Griffith Show" you know who I am talking about.  This is one of my favorite shows!  Now a days there is so little that we can watch on tv without having to constantly mute the tv or change the channel. 
I just wanted to share a few pictures with you that I thought you would enjoy.

Andy Griffith's Homeplace  1935-1966

Barney's Diner


Gas pumps that were used in the show.

Side car that was used in the show.

Main Street

The original squad car from the show.
You can take a tour of the town riding in the squad car.


The character in the show "Floyd the barber" was based on the real town barber in Andy Griffith's hometown.  To this day he is still cutting hair, pictured below.
The walls are covered with pictures of tourists and some famous people that come from all over to take a picture with him. 








On Wednesday, my husband preached in a christian school chapel under Bailey's Grove Baptist Church pastored by Pastor Jon Shook in Ashboro, NC.   After chapel, Spanish Pastor, Ricky Rosario invited us, Pastor Shook and his wife over to his parents home to have a homemade puertorican meal and to celebrate my husband's birthday.  He turned 4? years old.  If I told you his age, then you'll know mine!  :) 
We had a great time together.  I regret not getting a picture of Bro. and Mrs. Rosario (Bro. Ricky's parents).  I do want to thank them for the delicious meal and the time spent together.

My husband preaching in chapel.

Pastor Jon Shook and his wife & Spanish Pastor Ricky Rosario and his wife.

Happy Birthday Handsome! :)

My husband preaching at Bailey's Grove Baptist Church.


Signing Bibles after church.


A family in Pastor Albert Lopez's church loaned us a hummer2!  It was NICE!  We had it from Monday to Thursday.  Yes it was hard to leave it but we enjoyed it while we had it!  



















Monday, October 24, 2011

Happy 93rd Birthday Mrs. Earlyne Stephens!

Yesterday, October 23rd was the 93rd birthday of Mrs. Earlyne Stephens.  Mrs. Stephens is sister to Dr. Jack Hyles, now in Heaven. 
Jared, Elyssa and Gabriella were in a church giving their missions presentation and Mrs. Stephens was there.  What a wonderful surprise to Elyssa when she saw Mrs. Stephens!  Elyssa immediately texted me and told me who she saw.  I told her to please get a picture with her, which she already had in mind to do. 
While attending Hyles-Anderson College, Mrs. Stephens was one of my teachers teaching Church Finances and Bookeeping.  She is one of the sweetest and gracious ladies I know.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

An evening with Gabriella

Tonight was a very nice evening!  We grandparents got to spend the evening with Gabriella.  Jared and Elyssa invited us all over to dinner.  We all brought food and had a nice meal at their house and of course held, kissed, hugged and loved on our grandbaby!  At one point Gabriella got fussy!  Well both grandpas and father insisted she needed to eat more!  She just finished a bottle!  So there we were debating on what the baby needed while she continued to fuss!  We have our ways of entertaining ourselves!  LOL!  Why is it that they think food cures all things?
Jared updated us on their latest deputation experiences.  We didn't care, we just wanted to make sure the baby was fine the whole time.  Not really!  :)  We are proud of our kids and thank God that they are doing well and giving their best in their presentations and trying to be a blessing in the churches they visit.  We later watched a few "I Love Lucy" videos and enjoyed each others company.
I praise the Lord for the good family the Lord has allowed our daughter to marry into. 

Gabriella with grandma Zapata


Gabriella with grandma Ortiz

Grandpa Zapata and Grandpa Ortiz


Uncle Andres listening to the Rangers game which by the way we won tonight! 
Series is 1-1!  :)

Saturday, October 15, 2011

World Series here we come!!!!

Our family really enjoys watching the Texas Rangers as well as the Dallas Mavericks!  I'm the "texter" (Is that a word?) in the family as I inform our boys in college in KY how our teams are doing during the final games of the year like when the Mavericks went to the NBA Finals and won! 
Well tonight our Texas Rangers beat the Detroit Tigers 15-5 and now we are going to the World Series! 

GO RANGERS!!!!!!!!











Living A Prepared Life!

We had our last missionary circle meeting of the year last night.  These are bi-monthly meetings we have with a Christmas party in December to end the year.
The theme this month was "Living A Prepared Life".  The room was decorated with purses hanging all around the room.  Of course that was an attention getter for my ladies!  LOL!  We love purses! 
I opened with a game, "What's in your purse"?  As I called out certain items, they had to hold it up to receive a point.  The lady with the most points received a little purse.  I also gave out a little purse with the one who had the largest purse and the one who had the most unusual item in her purse which was an attachment to a vacuum cleaner!  We had a good laugh!  (She cleans houses.) :
I then taught the ladies, which I used the purse as an example.  The things we carry in our purses serve the purpose of holding things that prepare us for different situations.  We carry kleenex incase we sneeze, lotion if our hands are dry, Advil if we have a headache and so on. 
I picked 4 areas in our lives that we should work at being prepared as christian ladies. 
  1. Our character
  2. Schedule/Organizing
  3. Physically
  4. Spiritually
Just like our purses hold things that help us be prepared for different situations, our lives need to be prepared for the different situations that may come.
Such a simple teaching but I think it's something we all need to be reminded of.  The key is to never stop learning!   



 












Monday, October 10, 2011

2011 Men's Retreat

For four years now, my husband has held a men's retreat at our church.  This past Thursday through Saturday was the retreat.  We bring in a guest preacher and along with my husband they teach different classes.  We have classes for married and single young men. 
I have never sat in the teachings, of course, but I hear it has been a great blessing to many of the men.  They leave feeling spiritually refreshed! 
This year my husband invited Pastor Albert Lopez from North Carolina.  Pastor Lopez and my husband have known each other since they were teenagers in Puerto Rico.  Pastor Lopez is also a graduate of Hyles-Anderson College.

The registration line
Here the men receive a notebook, pen and tag with their name and is also their meal ticket for the four meals we provide.




Pastor Albert Lopez