Today we had some interesting connections made. We sat down at a table this morning at breakfast at the conference and sat among a group of people. As we started talking, we all realized we were from Texas. How weird is that? Out of hundreds of people at this conference, a table of about 8 of us sat down randomly and realized we were from Texas. One guy grew up in Texas and now lives in Kentucky. But, we had great conversation.

Tonight I'm writing after attending the most POWERFUL service I've ever attended, I think. The most right on. The most equipping. The most straight from heaven word. The most powerful downloads from heaven. The most powerful service for children's pastors. It's midnight here. . better get some sleep for tomorrow!!

Greetings from California

Here I am in the hotel room in Redding. Krissy and I are having a lot of fun here. The conference started this morning and it has been amazing so far! This morning during worship, I really felt set apart from everyone else at the conference. Not in an arrogant way, but just different. At one point, I closed my eyes and I saw myself speaking at a conference. Again, not in an arrogant way, just speaking. There are several women here and the Lord showed me that women are naturals when it comes to children's ministry. Kids need the nurturing that God has put inside of us. (I'm not saying that men can't be good children's pastors either.)

Krissy & I went to Olive Garden for lunch and she started sharing what God had shown her. It was the exact same things I had received!! Then, when she went to the session with Lenny LaGuardia, he was talking about how he wasn't surprised that there were so many women in children's ministry because it comes naturally to us because of what God had already put in us as women.

Anyway, I hope that all made sense. It's really late, but I just wanted to say that we are having a great time. Please pray for us. I saw on the news that American Airlines was cancelling a lot of flights and that is who we are supposed to fly with on the way home on Saturday. Hopefully that will all be over by then. I sure don't need anymore airplane/airport stories!!

We're back -- FINALLY!

OK, so I lied in my last post. We just THOUGHT we were headed home on Thursday! We got to the airport only to find out that our flight (along with several others) had been cancelled and we couldn't fly out until Friday at 2:45 pm. Great. We had to stand in a forever long line to get to the ticket counter to talk to someone about all of it. Everyone around us was on their cell phones telling the people on the other end what they were going to say when they got up there -- and it wasn't very nice. We got up there and the ticket people were all in good moods considering the circumstances. They were hilarious! We didn't yell and scream at them. The man was very helpful, but wasn't able to get us home that night. The airline did pay for our hotel room and food, but we were out by the airport in the middle of nowhere, so we really couldn't go do anything. Plus, the restaurant food was VERY expensive and wasn't completely covered by our vouchers, so we had to spend a little extra money. I wanted to throw a fit like a little kid -- this was NOT part of the plan!

Anyway, we stayed one more night and braved the airports on Friday (yesterday). We got there about noon and made it through security after standing in line forever. Then, my bag had to be searched. She pulled stuff out and rubbed it with this wipey thing, said OK, and handed my bag back to me. Interesting.

We got on our plane at 2:30 and we were the only flight to DFW that was saying "On Time". We sat in the plane for an hour and it took 30 minutes to taxi out to the runway. It took almost 4 hours to fly to DFW, which meant we were going to miss our next plane. Great. I sat next to a man who snored the whole way and on the other side was a cute Muslim girl, but she didn't speak any English.

We get to DFW after what seemed like a forever long flight (landed at 6:30 our time) and sure enough, we missed our flight. The next flight out is at 9:15 pm (boarding at 8:55). Great. We ate at Chili's and sat there waiting.

We boarded our airplane at 9:15 (late again). We landed in Abilene at 10 pm and go to the luggage claim. Our luggage isn't on the belts. We head up to customer service and find out our luggage is there. Thank goodness!!

We pull in our driveway at 11 pm and walk into the house to some extremely excited children. I'm glad to be home, but I'm really tired. We had Payton a birthday party today, which only 3 kids showed up to, but that was probably a blessing for me.

I'm getting ready to do it all again on Tuesday to head to Redding, CA. Hopefully our flights will go better.

Aaron came up with a new slogan for American Airlines. They should say, "Thank you for flying American Airlines. We're sorry for the inconvenience."

Here are a few pictures to share. I haven't had time to "fix them", but maybe I'll have a chance to do that on the flight to California and I'll upload them once I get there on Tuesday. Isn't any time between now and then to get them fixed.

Aaron with some big billboard behind him. . yes, we knew what it was!
Just thought it would be funny!

Rockefeller Center

Getting on The Subway

St. Patrick's Day @ the Today Show -- that's Lester Holtz
(I think that's how you spell it)

Can you see Al Roker?

See Meredith?

The World Trade Center

Monica, we didn't get down there to get the bull picture. We found a picture of it in the internet store, but we couldn't figure out how to get it home because it was in a frame and our carry-on bags were already full. I wanted to buy a CD that was a picture postcard CD, but we looked down the street and our taxi was there -- 15 minutes early and New Yorkers aren't the most patient people! ;)

The End of NYC

Today we're heading back, but we have had a blast!! My mom asked me last night if I could live here. . I think I could -- Aaron could not. ;)

I think we've seen everything in this town . . well, everything you can see in Manhattan. We went back to the World Trade Center this morning. WOW is all to say about that. When you see it, it makes things from that day make more sense. Like how many people would have been running up the streets. Like how many people were in that building. Sure, we've heard the numbers, but to be here and see it, it just means so much more.

Yesterday we went out the outlet malls. Had a blast there!! Spent money on the kids, of course. How is it that we do that? They got a LOT of clothes. Aaron and I got some new shoes. ;)

On Tuesday we went out to the Statue of Liberty. I laughed and told Aaron that Ira needs to come and power wash her!! We stayed on the ferry instead of getting off and walking around. It was REALLY COLD that day, especially around the water.

Monica, when we went to Wall Street my camera was dead. We were down by there this morning, but I didn't get your comment until we came back to our hotel. We're going to go see if we can find at least a postcard of it before we leave. Our taxi will be here in 40 minutes to take us back to the airport. But there are souvineer shops on every corner. . actually 5 or 6 a street block!!

So, I'll post pictures when we get back. Tomorrow is our 10th anniversary . . hard to belive it's been 10 years. This was quite a way to celebrate that!!

Tomorrow is also Payton's 7th birthday. . WOW! 7 years! I'll post more on that tomorrow. So, for now, good bye from New York City!!

NYC - part 1

We are in NYC and having a blast!! Our flights went good with only one mishap at DFW, but only delayed us about 30 minutes. This is all so surreal. It all looks fake. Today we saw Times Square, Broadway, the WOrld Trade Center, Wall Street, the NY Stock Exchange, Rockefeller Center, NBC STudios, Brooklyn Bridge, and the subway. Subway was an interesting experience. WHen we arrived in NYC, my camera battery was dead. We found a shop down from our hotel that sold those batteries and we bought one -- for $20!!

WE're waiting on the subway and as I'm taking off my gloves, my camera drops to the ground, and my battery fell down in the subway tracks! So, there went my camera. SO, I have no pictures of the WTC, Wall Street & NY Stock Exchange. . actually we did get some with Aaron's camera, but I was frustrated!!

We've had an walking filled day today and I'm exhausted! My feet are kind of throbbing. WE've found this internet cafe thing just up the street from our hotel, so I"ll be checking in again, I'm sure.

The COUNTDOWN

You see that little ticker over there?!?! It says 2 days until we go to NYC!! 2 DAYS!!

This has been the craziest week for me! I thought about listing everything here that I had to get done. . might do that later after I mark some more stuff off the list. I'm so excited!! When all of you are starting church on Sunday, I'll be landing in New York City!! We have a plan of when and where we're going each day. We found out there will be a St. Patrick's Day parade right by our hotel on Monday. EXCITING!!

Well, I have a million and one things to get done today. I go to NYC on Sunday, fly back on Thursday night, Payton's birthday is Friday, my parents are coming in on Friday, Easter is on Sunday, I leave for California on Tuesday, we do our first backpack hand out on Friday, I fly back on Saturday!!! This is a crazy life I live!

Now I must jump in the shower!

We're IN!!

Today's meeting with the school went WONDERFUL!!! I was glad that I had Joel there to break the ice a little bit for me. The principal there is great!! She reminds me of someone that I know, but I haven't figured out who yet.

Joel explained what we wanted to do and I was able to give them a little more information. I explained that they didn't have to do anything -- just identify the kids who need it and we'll do the rest. It was wonderful!!!

At the end, the principal said she thought it was something they should do as long as everyone agreed and of course, nobody disagreed! I met with the school counselor and we are going to work together on this project.

A pastor's wife, who is a teacher at the school, caught me afterwards and told me she was going to talk to her husband and she was confident that her church would help us. I explained that we needed to get a few more things ironed out on our end and the plan was to go to each church and let them know what we needed. She thought it was a great idea.

I'm so excited that I just can't hide it. I had to go to the church and let everyone know. I felt like I wanted to shout it from the highest point in Clyde that God is so good!! Let me tell you two things I've learned in the last few weeks:

1. Money is not really an issue.
2. When God has a plan, he just needs a person to carry it out. He likes to move at HIS pace, not always ours.

(Now picture me doing a silly dance!!)

New Endevors

Superbowl Sunday, we went to John & Kristy B's house to watch the big game. During the game, Kristy & I were talking about C-town and the dynamics of the town. She said there were kids at school that you knew lunch would be the only meal they got that day. That statement wouldn't let me sleep that night. I started praying for God to bring me those kids. I wasn't quite sure what I would do with them once I got them, but surely I could do something.

That Monday, Gary C. brought an article to our staff meeting about people in Haiti who are making cookies from mud. They are adding shortening to mud, baking them, and eating them because they are so hungry. The price of rice is so high that people can't afford it. I shared with the staff what had been on my heart and I just started crying. Again, I asked God to send me the hungry kids. I couldn't do anything about people in Haiti right now, but I wanted to do what I could for kids right here under my nose.

Fast forward a week. Pastor Bryan challenges each department to find a way for our departments to get outside the walls of our church. I have a team meeting and I asked my team what they thought we should do. Joel says, "Why don't we ask the kids?" Genius idea. . . next item on the agenda. This is where we got interrupted by the big fire in town!

But as we regrouped and kept talking, I was able to share the above story with my team and really share my heart about what I wanted to do. This is when things started to fall into place. Joel knew about a program at the Food Bank in A-town that gave backpacks to hungry kids on the weekends. It was their own stash of food so that when they got hungry, they had something they could eat. As we sat around that table, ideas started to flow. Money actually started to flow -- or ideas on where to get it. I got home and couldn't sleep because I was so excited about the thought of being able to see hungry kids with food in their stomachs.

The next morning I woke up totally overwhelmed. How in the world am I going to do this? How can I throw one more ball into the air among all of the other things I'm juggling? I have so many things going on. How am I going to go meet with the Food Bank and the other places I will have to go? I called Krissy and had a little "meltdown". She encouraged me and told me to just take a step back and look at it without the overwhelming feelings. I got off the phone feeling better and just asked God to make a way.

Wednesday morning, Joel calls me and tells me that he wants us to get on this. He said he would go meet with the Food Bank and at least get the information for me. I was again so thankful that God has put my team together for a reason!!

So, Joel met with the Food Bank yesterday (Monday) and got the information. He also got us a meeting at the elementary school tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon to introduce the idea and just let them know what we want to do. I am so thankful for him!! I'm so excited that this is happening!! God has been so faithful in this whole thing. I feel like it's a whirlwind and it's happening so fast. But, we have a plan.

It will take $1445 to feed 100 kids on the weekends for a month. We aren't going to start out with 100 kids, but that's our goal. It costs $3.61 per child per weekend to send them home with a backpack of food. $3.61. . . not much at all. Here's how good God is. The first person that we told about it said he would give me $1000!! Last Wednesday, I mentioned the idea to my life group and they were ready to jump on board asking what they needed to do to sponsor some kids. Just this past Sunday, someone told me they would give me the money every month to feed 100 kids!! I think I'm finally learning that money is no object.

I'm not going to totally depend on the adults though. We are ordering some banks for our kids to collect change for this project. This is going to be their project. They will have the opportunity to put the food bags together. They are going to help find the money to fund this. I know they will, too!!

Anyway, that's just part of the plan. There are a few more things to be worked out before I reveal it all, but please pray for us! Pray that we will have favor with the school system tomorrow afternoon. Pray that I wouldn't be nervous, but confident about what God has called us to do. I'm so excited that our kids are going to make such a difference in the lives of their peers!