Guadalajara Mexico

Our hearts are praising the Lord that we have been able to feel His presence with us, to see His provisions for us and to see His answers to many prayers!

We left Jackson, MS early Friday morning, January 22nd with 10 pieces of luggage.  Even though we had weighed them to make sure they were within the weight limit, the check in person did not even pause to weigh our luggage.  When we arrived in Guadalajara, we were able to find 2 carts to load our luggage upon.  As you exit the terminal you have to push a button.  If you get a green light you can go through but if you get a red light you have to allow them to check your baggage.  We both received a green light as we exited the airport!

We were taken to the home of a couple our age until we could find our own place.  God had other plans though as Pedro and Carmina have become dear friends. They instantly made us feel welcome and Carmina has helped me to shop and to show me what to buy in the grocery store. Pedro works for Dodge and was able to help Steven find us a car on Thursday. We had hoped to do without one for a while but it quickly became apparent that we needed a car and God provided it for us quickly!

We went to look at one apartment Friday afternoon which was a possibility but Saturday morning we found our home!  It is a 3 bedroom apartment on the second floor so we don't have to be concerned about someone breaking into our windows.  It is beautiful, just perfect and has lots of windows and sunlight which is a must for us. The owner recently spent 5 months remodeling this apartment and hasn't been able to rent it.  She had even lowered the rental price recently.  We know that God had this place just for us.  The furniture in it looks like new.  We have 2 1/2 baths, it has ceiling fans, a new King size mattress in the master bedroom and even an air conditioner in the bedroom. King size beds and air conditioners are scarce in Mexico. It also has incredibly gorgeous crown molding along the ceiling 12 inches in height. We love our home and continue to Praise God for it!! We moved in Tuesday morning and began to set up house. We feel somewhat settled and I have even been able to cook today.

Friday night our Internet began working in our home!  And today, Monday they are here hooking up a television service for us.

Saturday afternoon we were able to visit a small town, Tlaquepaque with Carmina and Pedro.We are astonished at how God has provided us friends so quickly.

And of course we have been to church for 2 Sundays.  Yesterday the Pastor introduced us at 4 services.  Pastor Kenton preaches at 5 services on Sunday because the sanctuary will only hold a few people at one time.

And the most recent blessing is that a lady in the church wants to teach us Spanish.  What an incredible Praise to the Lord this is for us.  Not only will it be more cost efficient but we won't have to go to the University. Anna is from Argentina so she speaks English but living in Mexico she has learned fluent Spanish.  We are super excited that she will come to our home and we will begin next Monday studying Spanish.  For now our best friend is our Spanish/English dictionary!

Our hearts continue to be filled with Praise for God's quick provisions for us. And we continue to be amazed at His grace extended to sinners like us.

Thank you so much for praying for us and we would like to ask you to Praise the Lord with us as well.

Graced Again

“I guess we should call this gospel brokenness, because only the gospel of God’s grace can enable us to be completely honest about our stuff without falling into toxic shame or self-contempt. And only the gospel can humble us, soften us, and give us the power to repent—or, at least, not run away or rant. When followers of Jesus walk openly in this kind of brokenness—gospel brokenness—angels in heaven rejoice, and people without faith or those with much cynicism about Christians, are likely to reconsider who Jesus is.  Scotty Smith, Restoring Broken Things

Christmas 2009

What a gift from God to be home this Christmas with our children!!  We had a grand time!!

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father

As this year draws to a close, I was just reminded how much I need a wise Counselor, a strong arm fighting for me and a Father's love forever.  I praise Him that His love isn't based on anything I do or don't do.  And I stand amazed that He loves me, one whose heart is indeed desperately wicked.  Take a few minutes and listen to this incredibly encouraging message - http://www.sevenrivers.org/mp3files/091224message.mp3

Graced Again

“The crucial significance of the cradle at Bethlehem lies in its place in the sequence of steps down that led the Son of God to the cross of Calvary, and we do not understand it till we see it in this context. The key text in the New Testament for interpreting the incarnation is not therefore, the bare statement…‘the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us’, but rather the more comprehensive statement…‘ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich’.  Here is stated, not the fact of the incarnation only, but also its meaning; the taking of manhood by the Son is set before us in a way which shows us how we should set it before ourselves and ever view it—not simply as a marvel of nature, but rather as a wonder of grace.”  J I Packer, Knowing God

More Thanksgiving Pictures

For more incredible Thanksgiving pictures visit the "professionals" blog site.  Lindsey captured the day beautifully!  http://linzphotography7.blogspot.com/

Thanksgiving Gingerbread Houses

We had a glorious time with the family on Thanksgiving.  Last year we made 1 gingerbread house and we used a kit.  The kids had such a good time that this time Steven and I made the gingerbread so more people could make houses.  And all the kids enjoyed it this year!! The above picture is Chad and Kelly's retirement cottage.  Kelly helped build the structure and Chad decorated it.  Notice those nifty bushes in the front.  Their house won best decorated and it would definitely be a great cottage to live in - one day

This is Wyatt's home and he did it all by himself! Well, he had a bit of help with the icing but otherwise he decorated it just like he wanted, he didn't want any help thank you.  It's really cute and his decorations so go with his personality.  Wyatt did a GREAT job!

This is Raney's house and it is too cute also.  Raney had a bit of help with hers because she was struggling to decorate her house because she was too busy eating all the candy!!  That girl loves her some sugar!

And the last house won Most Original.  Steven decorated it and well check it out:

This side is a duck blind with green (of course) decoys and 4 tree stumps.

And the other side is a deer blind.  So he can hunt duck or deer.  Man he would LOVE to have a cabin like that and especially some land to put it on!

Oh and one last thing, check out Chad's satellite antenna on the front of his roof.  He needed that cause we all know that some hunting show is going to film Dad in his new blind!