Just Like Jamaica

Okay, maybe not JUST like Jamaica, but we did have an interesting experience today!  Miss Barbara was cleaning up the kitchen after lunch when she heard what sounded like a knock at the kitchen door.  She opened the door to see this-

and this-

  

She had just come downstairs and said she had gotten chased by goats.  They apparently escaped from the neighbors down the street and found their way to the church.  When she took the garbage out all of a sudden she saw them and started running back to the church.  When she started running, the goats chased after her!  Then they climbed up the kitchen stairs and started butting at the door.  They were tame, it was just really funny to see them out there.

Hence, the title of the post- Just Like Jamaica- as you don't typically see animals roaming freely like you do in Jamaica or a country like it!  It's been a long week though so it was really good to have something that funny happen to kind of lighten my crabby mood.

Officially Bored

Yes, I'm bored.  Yes, I haven't posted in a week now.  No, I don't really have anything to talk about.  So, here's what I'm going to do.  I'm going to go into my pictures, close my eyes, click a file, keep my eyes closed and click a picture.  Then I'll post it.  Yes, I'm that bored and yes, I'm that lame.  Sometimes.  So, here goes.

Well, looky there.  It's Devin!  How appropriate because I was just with him tonight.  He wanted to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks.  So we did.  It was fun.  Hmm.... maybe I'll do that again and see what comes up next.  Isn't this the most fun you've had all day?

Awww..... this is from when we had a girls weekend in Leo at Dustin and Mandy's house.  Not very good quatlity, but the kids sure are cute!  Okay, one more time then I'll be done.

It's the aunts picture!  That was when I had a liiiiiiitle bit of a tan.  I no longer have that liiiiiiiiitle bit of tan. 

Okay, well, that's all.  I'm done being lame now.  Off to bed I guess.

Praising the Lord!!

So, all those unconverted people on our team I talked about in my last post?  Well, four of them have given their lives to the Lord and started repenting!!  We just got word of the fourth one and I'm so excited I just can't stop grinning!  My prayer is something along the lines of "Keep em coming Lord!  Just keep em coming."  I just wanted to give that praise report:)

Jamaica 2010

Well Jamaica was awesome, as usual.  Memories made, work done, spritually rejuvenating and just plain FUN! 

The work we did (some of it at least)...

Sorting, organizing and pulling nails out of wood so it can be reused. 

Mixing/pouring cement

Breaking up cement under the swingset and refilling it with sand so the kids have a softer place to land when they fall.

Building walls

Painting/repainting/touching up paint

Some of the kids I love so much

My sponsor kids

Cassandra

Rushede

Our failure of a beach day

The sign that greeted us upon our arrival at Ocho Rios/Dunns River Falls

Drab, cold, gray and rainy

The entertainment of the week

Huge euchre tournament, complete with trophy (sorry it's sideways).  Trophy consisted of a syrup bottle wrapped in tinfoil with scorecards sticking out the top!

Setting up a pigeon trap with the goal of catching enough to butcher and eat for supper.  I caught the first one!  Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) the goal was never completed.

Odds-n-Ends

The team, minus Victoria Stoller who couldn't come until Tuesday:(

Discovering and having some fun with an old go-kart we found in the wood room

Beautiful flowers

Very common sight at a stoplight: someone washing windshields in the middle of the intersection looking to make and extra buck.

My thoughts

I have to admit, when I first got the team roster I was a little dissapointed in the fact that there were mostly 18-20 year olds.  BUT- I was wrong to be disspointed.  I loved the group so much and of course had a great week with them.  Quite a few of them were unconverted so the team had a different feel to it than other teams have been.  So there were plenty of people and things to pray for on this team.  I grew to love and care for everyone there.  The ones that need the Lord know how badly the rest of us want it for them.  Doors were opened for some really good talks, along with what I said earlier- just plain fun.  It was the perfect way to start out a new year.  I'm excited to see my kids tomorrow.  It's been three weeks since I've had their cuddles and loves.  It's late though, so I need to go to bed, but I just wanted to share my week!

Christmas/New Years

Another Christmas come and gone.  Another year come and gone.  Christmas Day was spent with my family.  It was also the day we took, our family Christmas picture.  We're pretty on top of things round these parts:)  But hey, New Year's cards are just as nice as Christmas cards.  Haley got really into opening presents this year.  I know, I know- it's nothing different than any other child around her age but it's just so fun to watch her get a thrill out of ripping paper apart. 

I just can't get enough of the little punkin!

One thing I love about my Christmas break is having time to sit down and play games.  Scrabble is a favorite.  My new game is a favorite too, now.  I got Ticket To Ride for Christmas and I'm hooked.  I think I've played it four times:)

New Years Eve was a lot of fun this year.  Last year I spent it with married friends and Kristi. Kristi had to work, some couples had new babies and some were just plain tired.  So my NYE party last year ended promptly before midnight.  It was kind of a drag.  Good company, just not for NYE.  This year I planned a party with my two dear friends, Katrina and LeaAnn.  And I just realized right now that I never got a picture of the three of us.  We had a lot of fun though doing it and having people over.

Other than just groups of people sitting around I didn't really get any good pictures.  But we had a really good time.  I stayed up much later than normal and came walking into my house around 4:20.  I was trying to be really quiet in order not to wake up my parents.  As I was tip toeing around I heard my dad jublilantly call out "Happy New Year!"  Talk about scaring the tar out of someone!  I walked into their bedroom only to find that as I was getting in and going to bed, my mom was getting up to get ready for work!  Poor thing. 

Now I'm sitting around killing time until 1:30 in the morning when I leave to go meet at the Gridley church for my Jamaica trip!  I'm so not used to going in January.  March is what I'm used to.  I always go in March.  This is trip number 10 and I always go in March.  But for some reason I said I would go on the January trip this year.  I admit, it was hard to get excited this time around.  There was just way too much going on, there wasn't even time to get excited.  And it was really a pain to try and pack for my trip two weeks ago when I was still in Alabama and trying to remember everything I needed.  At least I remembered  my passport.  Now, though, I'm getting anxious.  Now that it's here I'm excited.  I'm ready for the warm balmy weather. 

I'm ready to see the sparkling blue ocean.

I'm ready to see the lush green foilage. 

And I'm most definitely ready to see those sweet brown faces.

Yes, I am ready.  I had decided that since I slept in so late after my New Years bash I would just stay up until it was time to go.  Now I'm second guessing my decision.  My eyelids are starting to get pretty heavy.  1 1/2 more hours...... 1 1/2 more hours.......  happy new year everyone!