Lake Church and Ladies Night

first day

Travel and First Day

We traveled from Huntsville to Chicago and had a 7 hour layover.  We went though everything to get to the International Terminal. Rhonda had Gold status on Turkish Air so we all got to go into their waiting lounge for the 5 hrs.  We ate soup and salad and munchies for the entire time. 

We boarded our flight and flew for 11 hours to get to Istanbul.  That was a packed long flight.  There were lot of kids on that flight.  It was very hot on that plane.  Swelling was minimal compared to normal.  We arrived in Istanbul and had to go purchase Visa's and go through customs.  That took a while.  We kept going from one line to the next. 

We flew into Adona, Turkey a few hours later but our bags did not.  We all got into Mike's van and went to our hotel. We checked in and all went to Dana's room to chat before going to sleep.  While in her room we asked the night manager to hook us all up to the Internet.  He was so kind and so polite to us.

I woke up early and went to breakfast.  There was a spread of cheese and fruit and yogurt and scrambled eggs.  My kind of meal.  After breakfast we all met in Dana's room again and talked about our day.  We met Caroline and Autumn.  They are our guides for the week.

We dropped stuff off at the fellowship hall and went to lunch down the street.  It was a small hole in the wall place with home cooking.  We has soup and salad.  After lunch we all went to the fellowship hall where we learned to make baruk from Yelda.  That was fun to watch and fun to do as well. 

We had a small devotional and then sang songs.  We all made journals and signed each others.  It was dark when we finished so we went back to the hotel.  Autumn had to go home for a while and then she brought back denur for dinner.  Denur is a Turkish burrito made from either chicken or lamb.  It was yummy.

 

Bags Are Packed

I am so excited about the trip I am taking to Central Asia in the morning.  I am traveling with 5 other women, Suzanne, Winora, Cindy, Rhonda and Dana.

We will leave on Nov. 8 and arrive on Nov. 9 at 8:30 p.m.  Nov. 10 in the morning we have orientation and in the afternoon we will be hosting the ladies of the local church for fellowship.

 Nov. 11    In the morning we will attend the local church and fellowship with local believers.  The afternoon we will tour the city.

 Nov. 12    We are taking a day trip to a nearby village.  We will focus on prayer walking & connecting with village women.   

Nov. 13    In the morning we will be prayer walking and in the afternoon we will volunteering at a local deaf school - playing games and doing crafts with the kids.

Nov. 14   Spending the day at Incirlik with friends of Rhonda's.

Nov. 15   The morning is flexible and afternoon is girls night out with 2 workers.

Nov. 16-19   We will be flying to Istanbul for 3 days of sightseeing.  Flying back to the to the US on Monday the 19th


I can't wait to see what is in store for us.  The photos of the local people have been amazing to see.  I look forward to making a few breath taking photos of my own.  Stay tuned for more!

All In Song

Tevye from Fiddler On The Roof was not a Christian man.  He really explained how easy it is to choose the things of this earth.
"If I Were A Rich Man"

Beverly Shea sang a beautiful song about what it really means.
"I'd Rather Have Jesus"  more than any gold or silver.

Going to Israel and visiting the places that Jesus walked, where He was, where He prayed..."I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked"  felt His presence there,, where all alone He prayed.

"Sweet Little Jesus Boy"  You came to save us and take our sins away.  Please sir, forgive us Lord.

Words fail to describe whar\t being a Christian means to me. What Jesus did for me.
"Christ Means More to Me"  more than I can possibly show.

This country needs Jesus more now than ever.  I am proud to be an American
"God Bless The USA"

MFuge 2012

Fuge was amazing!  I was in Games and Rec.  Camp wide we had 20 salvations.  Jennifer was our track leader.  Bill was the other adult in our group and we had 18 students.  We would leave for site and Bill being a fireman would be in a hurry to get there.  He would run red lights.  He would travel across four lanes to go a different direction.  Very difficult to follow. 

Kyle is the one that I spent a little bit of time with.  He shared his story with me,  He is very good at sports.  He played basket ball constantly.  Then on Friday morning God said " Kyle if you are not going to slow down and share your story with these kids I will slow you down."  Kyle came down on a boy after dunking a basket and rolled his ankle. Kyle immediately started conversation with several boys.  At lunch he choose to share Bible time.  Starting in Genus and then sharing Matthew.  By the afternoon Kyle had lead 4 of the boys to Christ.

I connected with Ameer.  He is the sweetest boy ever.  He is supper smart as well.  When I asked Ameer what he was going to go to college for he said that he probably would not finish High School.  He said that nobody in his family finished High School.  I was very sad that this straight A student felt that way.  Just because of location.  Just because of family history. 

I need to figure out how to make a difference in someones life right where I am, in Huntsville.  I need to find a local Ameer that I can inspire.

Venus in Tranist

Look -- up in the sky.  The small black dot on the face of the sun is a transit of Venus  -- the heavens aligning so that the planet Venus marches slowly across the disc of the sun.

It was a last-time-in-a-lifetime spectacle, one that only happens when Venus, the second planet in the solar system, comes directly between Earth and the sun. Because of the complexities of orbital mechanics, there are two such alignments in a period of eight years -- the last was on June 8, 2004 -- followed by a break of more than a century.  Next transit is December 10, 2117.

Bobby Sue, Darrin and I stood in the back yard with welding helmets on and stared at the sun until we could see the tiny little dot at 1 o'clock.  It was exciting to know that we had taken the moment to look.  A stop and smell the roses event. 

Wow time flys

8 and 1/2 months and getting such a personality!!

He really looks like he likes the hat and the flower....

Not so much.  He did not like the grass.  He did not like the hat on his head.  And that flower... just get it away as fast as possible.

Fiddler On The Roof

Sunday 44 of us

from Willowbrook

went to Rainsville to see

 Fiddler on the Roof.

We stopped at Western Sizzling on the way there for lunch and at Dairy Queen on the way back.  Was fun to get to hang with the ladies for a while.

Great Things For Children To Hear

1. I love you! There is nothing that will make me stop loving you.
 Nothing you could do or say or think will ever change that.

2. You are amazing! I look at you with wonder! Not just at what you can do, but who you are. There is no one like you. No one!

3. It’s all right to cry. People cry for all kinds of reasons: when they are hurt, sad, glad, or worried; when they are angry, afraid, or lonely. Big people cry too. I do.

4. You’ve made a mistake. That was wrong. People make mistakes. I do. Is it something we can fix? What can we do? It’s all over. You can start fresh. I know you are sorry. I forgive you.

5. You did the right thing. That was scary or hard. Even though it wasn’t easy, you did it. I am proud of you; you should be too.

6. I’m sorry. Forgive me. I made a mistake.

7. You can change your mind. It’s good to decide, but it is also fine to change.

8. What a great idea! You were really thinking! How did you come up with that? Tell me more. Your mind is clever!

9. That was kind. You did something helpful and thoughtful for that person. That must make you feel good inside. Thank you!

10. I have a surprise for you. It’s not your birthday. It’s for no reason at all. Just a surprise, a little one, but a surprise.

11. I can wait. We have time. You don’t have to hurry this time.

12. What would you like to do? It’s your turn to pick. You have great ideas. It’s important to follow your special interests.

13. Tell me about it. I’d like to hear more. And then what happened? I’ll listen.

14. I’m right here. I won’t leave without saying good-bye. I am watching you. I am listening to you.

15. Please and Thank You. These are important words. If I forget to use them, will you remind me?

16. I missed you. I think about you when we are not together!

17. Just try. A little bit. One taste, one step. You might like it. Let’s see. I’ll help you if you need it. I think you can do it.

18. I’ll help you. I heard you call me, here I am. How can I help you? If we both work together, we can get this done. I know you can do it by yourself, but I’m glad to help since you asked.

19. What do you wish for? Even if it’s not yet time for birthday candles and we don’t have a wishbone, it’s still fun to hear about what you wish for, hope for, and dream about.

Senior Trip



    Last week, April 1-7, I went on a trip with the senior adults from Willowbrook Baptist Church.  We loaded on the bus on Palm Sunday morning and headed to DC.  We had lunch at Cracker Barrel and dinner at Pic-A-Dilly.  Looking out the window at God's country was just amazing.  The rolling hills and the old barns. We stopped in Wythevelle for the night.  Earlene and I shared a room.   I think we were both tired.  It did not take long for us to fall asleep.

    Monday we got up early and headed the rest of the way to DC.  Arriving in the early afternoon we went to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.  I enjoyed the Early Flight exhibit and the planets room.  I wish my friend Earlene had been able to keep up with me on this.  I did walk into the cockpit of a Pan Am airplane and that was cool to see how far airplanes have come.

    Tuesday we went to Arlington Cemetery.  That was very sobering to me.  It brought tears to think about the men and women that have paid the ultimate price for my freedom.  Some of the soldiers that are buried there were among the elite.  President Kennedy, Audie Murphy (the most decorated soldier), the monuments for the Challenger Space Shuttle accident victims. 

I could not help but want to go see DanDad's and Honey's graves.  Time did not allow for that.  We did break off and go see a grave of a fellow Willowbrooker, Billy.  I was amazed to see a three star generals funeral and to find out that the funeral for a general and a private are the same.  While there at the cemetery I thought about the week it was.  Easter week.  Wow the price my Savior paid for me to have freedom in me is unbelievable.  The Father, my God, came to earth in the form of a baby.  Lived a perfect flawless life here on earth.  Spent years trying to teach us about Him.  Suffered a brutal night and day of torture and hung on a cross. With total love gave His life for every person on earth past, present and future.  Died and was buried.  Three days later he rose again and is now my living savior.  My connection to God.  The only path.  Wow. 

   

 At the unknown soldiers grave we watched the guard march back and forth.  21 steps, 21 second pause.  21 steps back, 21 second pause.  Then on the hour, every hour, there is a changing of the guard.  That was very cool to see.  The detail that they have to go through.  And to wear a belt that is 2 notch's to tight was unreal.  The look so neat and clean.  I am both saddened and also happy for the families that there will never be another unknown soldier.  With DNA testing that is no longer possible.  In fact the Vietnam soldier that was buried here was recently identified and returned to the family for burial.

After lunch at the old post office, we went to the World War II Memorial.  I loved this memorial.  It was so peaceful and very elegant.  I loved the simplicity of the stones with wreaths on them around the perimeter, the water fountains in the middle and the gates representing the two oceans that we entered the war from.  The wall of stars that represented the men and women who gave their lives for freedom was impressive.

Then the Korean War Memorial.  Life size steel men replicating the trek that we made back and forth along the 38th cordon.  19 statues with reflections in the wall of faces to add up to 38.

The Vietnam Memorial.  Not as impressed with this monument as I thought I would be.  I know people that fought in this war.  I saw first hand my friends that lost legs, arms, sanity because of this war.  I did not see this as our guide described it.  A knife going into the ground dividing us.

The Lincoln Memorial.  I wish I could have seen this at night.  There were so many people and so little time to see this.  The Civil war is my favorite era to study and read about.  I love the costumes and the lifestyle.

The Jefferson Memorial.  What a beautiful building this was.  15 minutes just is not enough time!

The World War I Memorial.  We drove by this one. 

Dinner at Union Station.  We had a little down time here to just relax.  Dinner was good and we all were ready to head back to the hotel for the night.

Wednesday we went to Mount Vernon. 


We spent half a day there. 

We toured the mansion, the gardens and hiked down to the wharf. 

We had lunch at the restaurant that served typical colonial food.  I had the meat pie.  Yum.






 After lunch we went to George Washington's tomb and we as a church were able to lay a wreath on the grave. 

It was a special moment for all these men.  I could see their pride for the time they served this country and the price they were willing to pay for freedom.  Some how this needs to be instilled in every American!

We got the opportunity to stop at the Marine Memorial and took a semi group picture.  There were a few that choose to stay on the bus.  We again only had 15 minutes to run around it.  We debated on how many soldiers there were.  Would have made sense to me to have 5 one for each branch of the military but there were 6.

Thursday




We made our way upstairs to see the animal photo contest winners for this year.  This is where we caught up with some of our friends.  We took a moment to talk and then over to see The Hope Diamond. 

We made our way over to the American History Museum and found GI Joe.  Amazing that we found him so fast.  We had lunch down stairs.  The went to the top floor to go see the First Ladies Ball dresses.  They were all so beautiful.  I would have hated to give up my dress to a museum.    We finished out the museum looking at the cars and trains.



Dinner was at Pier 7 on the water.  The food was top notch.  First course was a fruit plate that was yummy.  Then a salad came.  After that I had the steaks with broccoli.  Dessert was a cake with ice cream in it with strawberries on top.  Yum. 



After dinner we went to the Kennedy Center for the a play.  We laughed so hard!  The view form the top of the Kennedy Center was amazing.

Friday morning we toured the Capital Building.  I was surprised by how big the building was and how small it felt.  The history that is in that building was overwhelming.  The people who had a dreams and never let anything stand in there way.  So many of them put God first and relied on Him for their strength.