Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Babies First Mission Trip



You are not going without me, mom.
 We went to the Russellville and Phil Campbell area.  Ranita has been going for years with Shades Mountain Baptist Builders for Christ.  This year they had teamed up with the Spanish church youth as well.  We had 3 projects that were being worked on during the day.  There was a Spanish church that was being painted and the outside grounds being worked on to prevent rainwater leaking into the building.  Another Spanish church was recently purchased and it didn't have any windows in it.  So we had a team adding windows.  Then the big progect was working at Meadowview Baptist where the church was destroyed in the tornado.  Then at night we were leading a Vacation Bible School or EBV at Nueva Vida.  This was the same church the windows were being put in.  The two Spanish churches joined together for the one VBS.  Our plan was that Ranita would do construction during the day and I would teach VBS in the evenings and we could swith off the babies.  We started VBS that Sunday night.  Here is how it started......
See this bus and the carport behind it....we let's just say the bus didn't really fit under it.

See the result? 





The bus got stuck under the carport, so they got as many people as they could find to get on the bus and see if we could make it low enough to get back out.  I bet we had 40 people crammed like sardines on the bus.  It made for a fun start to VBS.  I taught the 4th and 5th graders.  When we went out to recreation, they were going to play kick ball.  Let's just say the girls needed a little encouragement to play, so I played with them. It was girls vs boys.  Yes, I am not kidding, I played with them.  My first kick was horrible.  OUT, but since I was so old they boys said I could have 1st base.  But see, I was just tricking them.  The next two times up to kick, I made it home.  Girls won.  The first VBS was a success. 

The next day, the babies and I didn't spend much time in the hotel room.  We went to work on getting VBS ready for that night and met up with Ranita for lunch. 

 This week at VBS, we had some hand painting, fun, and lots of learning about God's creation and the life of Jesus.  The theme for the week was Maravillas incredibles or Amazing Wonders.  One particular night we were learning about Jesus when he was young.  We had a even had a visit from Simeon and Anna.







Back at the hotel.  The room was just too small for David, but he found things to do. 
Let me just add....I had these clothes perfectly folded with each day together and pjs and extras.  Needless to say, after this they just got thrown back in the drawer for about 15 minutes until we started over.  David and Victoria made lots of friends at the hotel.  That has to be the nicest staff I have ever dealt with.  At night while I was teaching VBS, Ranita would keep the babies at the church.  On Wednesday, mom and dad decided to come up for a visit.  That was a nice break for us! 
 
 Ranita decided to teach the babies how to sheetrock.  I think they are better at the demo portion of construction right now.



We had a great week, and a great deal was accomplished.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

4th of July and more

Happy 4th of July.  We decided to celebrate at my parents house.  My brother Randall and nephew Cason and Bama came to celebrate with us.  Mom and dad cooked for us and the babies entertained us.  That afternoon Ranita and I decided to take the babies to Splash Adventure.  Then we met up with Stacey near UAB to watch Thunder on the Mountain fireworks.  The babies slept right thru the fireworks.  The lady sitting beside us couldn't believe they didn't wake up.  Here are a few pictures from the day.





She is not as innocent as her daddy and granddaddy think.

Trying to be like my cousin


my contribution to the food




a treat from dad's garden






The next day we decided to try out the pool we had for our house.  The babies really seemed to enjoy it.


Then off to dinner we went.  Victoria just was too tired to eat that night.


Our sweet friends invited us to the lake with them.  We had so much fun and David and Victoria had so much fun playing with their friend fulton.



Yes, mom I took V's paci and I am not ashamed about it.


My babies will sleep anywhere

We decided to finish off the 4th of July week with a trip to the River.  My niece Caley went with us and we met up with some of our friends.




yum.....

We decided to finish off the night with letting the babies work at feeding themselves some.  Here is the final result.