We’re back…

I guess, back where? would be a good question. We’re back in Guatemala. It’s taking a few days to get settled in and unpack the bags. We brought back eight, yes paying the price for them too, but it’s cheaper than shipping things. Plus, the stuff is with us. If you ship something, who knows if we’ll get it or if we’ll get taxed extra for it. it’s best to bring it via plane.

Our trip was fantastic. Catching a cold was not, which I am still suffering from, but keep praying for healing! The trip surpassed any and all expectations. I just love to see how creative our God is in it all. It was fantastic to visit 10 churches and sleep in 7 homes and drive to visit 4 beautiful states. We drove through two others but didn’t stop. it was a wonderful three weeks! There was little down time. We were hoping for one day off but it didn’t happen and that’s ok. We kinda get them here so it works out.

It was great to see family and tell them the good news in person. The news that we are expecting Baby #3 in May 2009. So very exciting!!!! Keep the pregnancy in prayer. I am behind but will be blogging the pregnancy on my site: http://www.jackiesue.com/baby3blog/ 

Until next time, I have a lot of catching up in the home and on the web.

Love and Blessings to you,

Trip Prep and Prayers…

Hello… so what are we up to? We’re cleaning the house real good.. one, it needs it and two, i like to come back from a trip with the house in decent order… heehee. With this we’re cleaning so much. Today, my husband took the kids car seats out of the car and I cleaned them! How long have those raisins been there? UGH! The seat covers are ALL perty now and I even re-checked the belt adjustments. For both kids the seats were getting too tight so I knew we needed to adjust them to their growing size! YEAH! I dont know about you but I like getting these things off my check list.

I am starting to think about packing, like the weather in all the places we’re going and how to pack minimally gong up! I am making sure I have all the Time/Date/Places all figured out before we go. What are we doing where and what do we need etc? It’s best to do as much as I can before we go so when we go, we just fall in place. Oh if it were a perfect world! But I make sure we’ve left room for changes and traffic and weather! Things out of our control and we KNOW it will happen. I believe God challenges us to truely reveal our walk with HIM! I love it (God’s ways, not being challenged)! Because it surely challenges me and in most cases I say, “you;’re right God, when he says ‘LET IT GO!” heeheee

I have prayer requests I am emailing but realized it may be easiest to post here:

I trust you and your prayer teams will pray as you are led to do so, and any prayers are GREATLY appreciated!

• We have items in the storage unit to sell (table, chairs, 1966 malibu parts, wet/dry vac, ladder, etc)
• We need a projector to use during our travels in the states for our presentation , it can be returned to the owner after we leave Nov 7. Although we’ve been praying for one to use here in the field to show the Jesus film and other evangelical videos
• We need to buy tickets to return next year – so we’d need $800 for the four of us to come to the states in 2009 to keep our passports current and legal.
• We need to pay for luggage & pre-assigned seats to COME to the US or to RETURN to GUA on Spirit Air.

Eight bags is what we need round trip for a total is $190

They now charge for seat reservations *sigh* For the trips up and back, the total is $60

• We need to raise gas money for our tour. We have estimated $500 for gas total.
• Above all… just PRAYER… we cannot be here or there without it!!! In addition, please pray for our preparation, the print materials, the presentation, the limited packing and our home here while we’re gone, the ability to pay rent before we leave, pray for our travels (security with kids, carry ons and car seats), for use to bathe in GOD and give HIM the GLORY in it all!Again, Thank you!

   

  

A must-read blog for all

This earth was blessed with a girl named Ellie for 9 years. I invite you to read Ellie’s mom’s blog. She has taught me for sure to be a better mom all around. I felt I already cherished each day with my children, never knowing what God has planned for me or them, but Sarah has really helped me go an extra mile in cherishing the responsibility God has blessed me with… I’m a wife and a mother of two and I do not take these roles lightly.

Happy Birthday Ellie in Heaven, we know you are dancing with the Angels.

Read more: http://ellieskees.blogspot.com/2008/09/happy-birthday-ellie.html

Happy Birthday to me :)

Too funny huh!? oh well had to post. Loving the e-cards and well wishes! My husband made wing for dinner – yum!!! It’s a great day! Thank you God for creating me for Your purpose!!!!

In a GREAT place

I just want to blog this before going to bed. If I died (my flesh will die but my spirit will live eternally in Heaven) today… Please let all know I am feeling great and that I am in a GREAT place in my life! I need to go because my daughter is calling so I cant go into details but I am soooo in a GREAT PLACE!

THANK YOU GOD!!!

The mother load in 6 parts!

Ok I tried to be creative with my title. Basically, We’re back from our trip and I have 6 loads of laundry!

I’ve simplified my separating darks and other. I had 3 loads of each – 6 very full loads of laundry! Thanks to our large capacity washer purchased from another missionary couple. Especially thanks to my husband for cleaning the screen in the hose. The water was trickling out and I couldn’t do laundry like that. It would take forever. Actually, before out trip I used the hose in our garage to fill the washer fast. I know I should have taken a phot of that!

So now we’re all clean, well our laundry is. AMEN and Halleluia for our washer and dryer!!! Thank you God for blessing us with these modern conveniences. I see people washing their clothes in “pilas” and I just couldn’t imagine. I mean… I would have NO time to Blog about doing laundry if I has to hand wash each piece. And with my luck, it would rain when I put my clothes on the line.

I so believe, understand, and experience the TRUTH about God not giving us more than we can handle. He wired me and knows my make up and knows what I can handle with HIS help.

Gained 2, much needed…

Today, we gained a much needed TWO HOURS! We went on our whirl wind tour in the states and flew back and gained two hours back. WHEW! I’ve been off and on dozing but have to stay up because my daughter is very awake and wanting to play. So I pray to get my sleep tonight!

Our trip was awesome! I hope to make time to write about it in the days to come. As soon as I sort photos too. But all-in-all we accomplished seeing family and getting some familiar items from the states. God surely was all over our trip and blessed us enormously! THANK YOU!

Love to all we got to see and those we just couldn’t squeeze in! It was a CRAZY trip – remind me to not keep doing this.

I love those who fill these shoes…

Tonight before going up to bed, my daughter lined up our shoes. I dont know why, but I had to take a photo. Then just have some thoughts about it. I think it is so cute she lined them up. This is so amazing to me. I am married and I have two children!!! What a place to be in life – I am so excited!!!!

I love my husband so much. He’s great and we work extremely well together. Really we do. We’re not perfect but i admit, our relationship is great. I credit it ALL to God!

Dear sweet Lydia. She is an amazing daughter. After being told – no natural kids due to PCOS, then she comes along – We KNOW there is a GOD with a PLAN we, on Earth, cannot understand and predict. Sometimes it’s like this and an AWESOME result, then sometimes it’s tough, like being told you’ll never have biological kids. I am reading a blog of a mom who just lost her daughter to cancer at 9 years old. This only reminds me to cherish my time with Lydia (and Levi & Levi II). We just don’t know. She had a healthy daughter then BAM diagnosis cancer and a year later, God’s taken her Home.

SO whatever God’s plan is for me and those he’s blessed me with in my everyday life – a husband and 2 kids, I am doing my best to enjoy this here on earth, because I know with my husband, we’ll see each other in eternity (Heaven). I pray my daughter and son believe and choose Jesus as their Savior/God.

My precious son Levi II is just a perfect addition to our funny family. God has orchestrated this so wonderfully. I am living an absolute dream. And to think, Heaven is this time eternity! WOW! Levi II is so full of joy (he’s not 2 & 3 yet). He’s great for us three. I am excited for our families to see him soon.

Dear God, Thank you for blessing me with your SON Jesus and for the blessings on earth, the three L’s in my life: Levi, Lydia, and Levi II!!! WOW. I’m humbled. AMEN!

Life day to day isn’t easy and perfect. With God, it helps it all! And I love those who fill the shoes above. Yes with God’s help; I love me – I love Levi – I love Lydia – I love Levi II – I love God and His Son, Jesus!!!

Good nIght,

Blooming Roses!

Thursday, I cut three roses from out back. I had never had a rose garden and this home we rent has one! We were having guests over and we had three buds out back. I know nothing about roses or how/when/where to cut them etc. So I just guessed and did it!

We’ve been watching them slowly open as we sit at our table to eat each meal.

This morning as I came down the stairs, I said, “WOW” and saw one rose open and beautiful. I just had to take photos of it. The color is like a flourescent orange. The photo is not “photoshoped”.

I gave thanks to God for blessing us with roses and for this beautiful bloom! He must feel this way about us when we “get” what He says to us through His Word. When we finally “get it!”

yes click the photo to make it larger

Happy Anniversary!

I love you Levi Jr. Thank you for taking me as your wife Under God 8 years ago! Thank you for all you do for us and for God! I love you more and more each year! Together as One! Eph. 5 – You are my Sunshine, my only Sunshine!

TIOOW – FF

Your Love,
Jackie