Daniel is so much better and I am trying hard to recover. I spent the majority of the day relaxing which is completely out of character for me.

I collected a nice first "mess" (typical southern term) of green beans from the garden. I also managed to grow some good peppers and squash. We gave all the green beans to the pastor as first fruits. It is a good feeling to know the Lord will bless the rest and will surely provide even more as it gets tended and watered and showered with sweet sunshine. There is nothing like fresh veggies that you grow on your own. Those pepper seeds were sold to us as green bell peppers. Well, they are NOT. They look like poblano peppers. They have a hotter smell too. I guess I'll know when we try to cook with them.

I tried to take a day to relax because of the upcoming events. We have sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much to get ready for. 3 conventions, 2 camps, a trip to Honduras and more! I am very excited to get the ball rolling, but also know that if I don't crash a bit, I will be worthless at anything else.

I'm eager to see the Letcher Family again. The Lord has blessed my family so much with people we love and enjoy being ourselves with. Our own families-The Cox Family and The McMahons are obviously our favorites. We love laughing and being goofy with them. The Letchers are right there among those we enjoy most. We love sharing the Word, fellowship and making new memories together. Hopefully, we will get more opportunities to create those memories as time marches on.

See you later. Have a beautiful evening. I hear storms are brewing everywhere. Be safe and blessed.

Well, hello there!
It has been a lllooonnnggg time since I've posted anything on this blog. I have another one too and it is just as dormant as this one.
I am not sure I can promise to maintain the blog, but I will do my best. I journal because it is more convenient to do while traveling. I truly don't think you'd be real interested in all that I journal about.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the Lord for a beautiful BTI. I was honored to be on staff this year again and to witness the beauty of God's concern and care for His people. Several were healed. The students witnessed amazing things that so many had only heard about in times past. People were saved, sanctified and Holy Ghost filled as well. There was a sweet spirit present in every class, devotion and service.
As my husband and I met the Jimmy & Georgia Williams at the church when they finally arrived in town, I felt a sweet spirit from the young people who were gathered to play ball and fellowship. Even though they were for the most part being silly and just getting to know one another, there was a feeling of family there. I love and appreciate that our young people could find haven here at the church rather than out in the world. That's how it should be.
I was also blessed to have the Lewis family, my extended Cox family and a precious jewel named Stephanie Letcher with us for the whole BTI. Stephanie was here a little longer for David and Jimmy's graduation ceremony too. I wish I could have been a better hostess, but I think almost everyone knows who stays with someone at BTI who is also on staff, it is pretty well a "take care of yourself" kind of accommodation. hahaha
I do wish I would have been able to tuck all the teens and kiddos in every night! I love being with them all and appreciate that they respect our home and one another. It was one of the highlights of the BTI for me.
Well, I'm at work and with all the assembly preparations that must be done, I better get off here. I am at break--just in case any of you followers would be curious and have an urge to rat me out to the boss. hehehehhee
God bless and keep you!

Blessings

Well, as I sit here in my house in Cleveland, I am thinking of all God has blessed me with. He is so wonderful. I haev a wonderful husband who I know loves me. I have three boys that are loving, thoughtful and sweet. I have parents that can't be beat in any area. I have a great extended family in OK that I'd like to see soon. I have a perfectly awesome local church family. A host of friends and a best friend that I can trust to be around when I need them.

I am not saying everything is perfect. That couldn't be further from the truth! Things are hard right now. Really hard. But, I know who I serve and why I serve Him. I know He will care for me in all ways. I love the Lord and He loves me too. His eye is on the sparrow. So, I know He watches me!

Mount Saint Helens

Well, never in a million years would I have been able to guess what my senses took in on our trip to Mount Saint Helen's with daddy yesterday!  I am still in shock at the devastation the 1980 eruption left behind.  Now, I fully expected lava deposits and such like, but that is not at all what we saw. BTW, if ever you want to see it, my daddy is a superb tour guide!
I can hardly wait to have time to put my pics on here and add them to this blog so people can see (a small portion) what I saw. It was a tree graveyard. Literally, tall trees that are bark, limb, leaf and life free standing still and erect like monuments in a cemetary. They aren't randomly scattered. Some aren't standing straight at all, but were leaned over almost to a fall, but not completely. It was soooooo very eeiry! I am shivering just thinking about it.
Oh, I don't have energy or words to describe the scene, but I will try in later posts. I must go to bed now. Rick is not feeling well. I am kinda concerned about him. I know he has  a lot on his mind and the upcoming move is weighing on him too. Good nite all!!

Beautiful Day

     It has been a gorgeous day! We woke to momma's cornbread riding on the air down the hall to our room! YUMMMMMMMM  We had a dinner at the Yakima church today so, the food had to be made this morning. She not only made great food for the dinner, she prepared an awesome Sunday School lesson too. She is a good teacher! I am so grateful to be able to sit under her this Sunday. God must really love me.
     We came home and had a little nap after the morning service. Tonight, I preached and was blessed by the Lord. Then, we came back to daddy & momma's and received a text from my sister-in-law, Penny. She told us to go to facebook and watch a video. We did. It was she and my other 2 sisters-in-law, Holly & Crystal and my neice, Jamie joining the Church!!!! We were thrilled! It made us sooooooooooo happy! Aint God good?!
     We also got word that one of our churches in Tennessee has another member ready to join and the potential of more in one of our smallest churches where the pastor is working so diligently! Praise God!
      As if it could get any better...we also got a text that another TN church was encouraged this morning after much turmoil and heartache! Also, one of our new field works is about to boom! It's first services will be Sunday at 2pm! God is sooooooooo great! Oh! That we could be worthy of His great blessings!

Washington Trip

     The plane trip left much to be desired at the beginning. The initial getting to the right place in Atlanta was a real pain! Then, boarding and seeing how tiny the plane is on the inside was terrifying! I think all that know me would be proud though. I did not make a scene. I didn't climb the walls or demand that I be allowed off for oxygen of my own. Nope, I stayed the course. I was beginning to adapt to the close quarters when the pilot announced we would be taking off. That lift off signaled for me the finality of this decision to fly. Did you know that once you are in the air, you cannot get off not matter what???? Yep. That was my second bout with panic. But, again, I managed to overcome. I think it was concern for my boys and the comforting of my sweet husband and momma that got me chilled out enough to continue. The flight itself was ok. The only real issue I had was the occasional bout of no air. I managed to get my mind off it along the way. My daddy kept asking momma if I was ok. Having my most precious people being concerned for me helped  a lot!
     We arrived at my parent's house around 4am. We were soooooo wiped out! It wasn't really until the next day that we begin to take in some of the beauty of Yakima. It is a rather dry (almost desert) place. If it weren't for irrigation of many forms, this place would be so barren that no life could make it. But, there are patches of beautiful green. I always thought Washington was known for apples and cherries and that was it. Turns out, hops, apples, cherries, corn, pears, peaches, milk, grapes, and mint are among their most common agricultural contributions. It has been so educational for my boys. They will hopefully get to tour a place where the apples are stored and preserved for shipping all over the world.
    We have so much more to see. So, off we go....

On The Road Again

Well, we are about to hit the road again! I love it, but this has been quite the whirlwind of preparations and packing and planning. We FINALLY closed on our house! YAY!! God is soooooooooooooo faithful. Things may not be answered right when we'd like, but He knows when, what and how! I love the Lord for His provision!

We closed on the house, begin movinga few boxes of stuff right away. The McGriff's brought over some furniture. Then, we received my parents for a visit until International Youth Camp which begins August 14th. I will be teaching a class then doing devotions for all the staff each night of that event. Then, we begin the general assembly on the 17th. Then when it is over on the 22nd, we come home and wash all the clothes and repack for the plane ride to Washington state. That will be fun!! haha

We will be packing for 5 of us for 2 weeks. We will be going to Deception Falls, the Pacific coast, Seattle, Mt. Saint Helens and more. We will be preaching in at least 2 churches and hanging out with my parents in Yakima. The boys are VERY excited!

This is sooooooooooooo much. Then, when we get home on the 7th...the daunting task of moving lies before us. We don't have too much to move, but all the re organizing, cleaning and such will be there waiting for us.

I love my life. God is good to me and I do not deserve Him. But, I thank Him!