Recovering Stolen Things

The Borger Police Department called me this afternoon and asked me to come in and identify stolen property.  I was so excited.  One officer had told me they'd recovered a hard drive and that was what I was most excited about!  This hard drive contains page after page of information from our food & clothing ministry.  It's information we have to turn in each year to the food bank...and information we use to receive grants from United Way.  It's just a ton of work.  And by the way, it's not work I've done, but what a volunteer, Janice Williams, has done.  We were praying to recover that hard drive.

But it wasn't there.  Gas cards were there (minus three of them), an old outdated Visa card was there, frozen food was there---but no hard drive and no monitor.  I'm so sad.  

Wedding Preparations

I guess since I have wedding on the brain (our anniversary, wedding pictures, etc.), God met me there today. Tell me about your wedding. Did you enter into it casually, comfortably, nonchalantly? I doubt it. If you're like me, you spent months (actually YEARS!) dreaming about it, reading Bride's magazines, saving for it, planning it and executing it. (You may argue that my pictures don't convey all that planning. ha!)
I know that with Amy's wedding, we started a year ahead of time. (And this was before Jay proposed---talk about faith! ha!) Amy wanted a Christmas wedding, so the year before, I went out and purchased Christmas lights and decorations when they were 80% off. We started storing and saving for the big day. That started a year of preparation. (Jay finally got around to proposing like in July! ha!) There was nothing casual about that year. In fact, when Matt started hearing Amy's wedding bells, he got on the ball and proposed to Lisa and we planned their wedding in 2 months. They were married 4 months before Jay & Amy. Trust me, there was nothing casual about that. And then David & Lindsey announced their intentions soon after and they were married 11 months after Jay & Amy. It was a wild ride---we just stayed in "wedding mode" that whole time.
But you know what? I loved it. I loved preparing. I loved fulfilling each of those brides' dreams---because I got to help plan and prepare all three. Just last February, Zach & Shanna were married. I got to help with those preparations, too. Every wedding was different--a different season, different colors, different dreams.
What are you doing to prepare for the biggest wedding of your dreams?!? Jesus is coming back soon. When the Bible was written, a Jewish man was engaged and then went to prepare a home for his bride. They didn't see each other during that time. And the bride prepared. She kept watch---because one day, without her knowing when, her bridegroom would show up for her. Do you think she had an idea of when it would be? Of course!!! She could see the signs---he was over there building their house---so I'm sure she walked by often to see how close it was to being finished. Their wedding would last for days. There had to be great preparation for guests who would stay for days! Lots of food, lots of gifts, lots of wine, etc. And then, she would go live with her husband in the home he'd prepared forever.
This morning, as my prayer partners & I met, we agreed we need to be preparing for the wedding. How do we prepare? Will we know when He's coming? Of course! We can see the signs He told us to look for. We CAN'T enter this time casually, nonchalantly, or comfortably as believers. We have to be focused. There needs to be an intensity about us. We need to be wise stewards. We need to be telling others about Christ. We need our oil lamps filled up just like the 5 wise virgins (bridesmaids) did in Matthew 25.
But just like we need to be prepared for that great wedding, even more we need to be prepared for that marriage. Are you? I keep reminding myself to be conformed to Christ---so that when I meet him, I won't be ashamed. It's time to purify ourselves. It's time to quit being casual. Put off your comfortable clothes and and get in shape---spiritual shape! You know, I told you that I was a size 7 in those wedding pictures. But with the intensity of all those preparations, I'd dropped to a 5---which is why my wedding dress isn't fitted. We should have that same intensity about us for this wedding! Be prepared for your wedding and the coming of your Bridegroom. Be ready to give yourself to Him purely and completely. Look up---He's coming!!

Thieves caught!

I got a phone call to come to the police station this afternoon. They caught the thieves! The policeman told me that he thinks most of the gas cards are recovered---at least 95%. And.....the exciting part.....he thinks our hard drive may have been recovered as well. You have no idea!! We hadn't backed up that information and it was going to be a killer to completely make new forms for 3 different ministries we do and input a year's worth of information. I'm so hoping it's OUR hard drive. I'm also very excited that my computer-genius son, David, is coming this weekend so he can put my computer back together! (Aren't you excited, Dave?) I was told none of it could be released until tomorrow when they get permission from the D.A. So I should know more tomorrow! I have no idea who the robbers are. But apparently, they were working out some deal w/ the police, because I was told the police were going to take them around town and video as the thieves told them how they broke in to each church/business. Please continue praying for their salvation.
Father, thank You. We asked for a miracle, and it looks like You're blessing us with one! Thank You for protecting all that was ours....or rather, Yours. I'm asking You to break these men's hearts. Let them see their need for You. Draw them by Your Spirit. What Satan has meant for evil, please turn to good. I love You, Daddy! In Jesus' name, Amen.

Skype may have to go in the trash!

All I'm saying is that I thought Skype was my friend. What could be more wonderful than getting to see 3 kids and their families, right? That's what I thought until last night.
We'd just gotten home from our fabulous trip to Cancun when Amy called and said the whole family was waiting to talk to us on Skype. The first sign of trouble was when they pointed the camera to Olivia and she saw her Buff & Gee and reached her chubby little arms up for us to hold her. HOW DO I GET THROUGH THAT COMPUTER TO PICK UP THAT BABY?!?! I played patty cake with her a few times to get us through that rough spot.
Then...minutes later, the camera is turned to Amy where Isaac has his head pressed into her side where he proceeds to have a melt-down. It was all I could do not to cry myself---or promise to hop on the next airplane to Florida! Oh my. This is harder than I thought it would be. But after some alone time with Ike and a bunch of silly faces, we left him laughing....I think.
After Skype-talking, Andy & I walked to our friends' house where we were having our small group. I looked up at my husband of 33 years and said, "I may be having to go to Florida soon----without you!" Ha!! I've almost got enough saved up for one plane ticket---but not 2. And with this kind of deal....I'm not sharing! And Skype's not invited, either.

Our REAL Anniversary Trip

Ok....Andy & I only told our other kids that we were going to Lubbock for our anniversary. We didn't want them to be jealous. But actually, we met at Zach & Shanna's and made a run for Cancun for a quick weekend. What a blast!!! We felt like honeymooners again---hanging out with near-honeymooners themselves.



We got a random person to take our picture in front of the sign when we entered Cancun. We knew we'd need proof that we'd been there. I wish you could have seen the water---it was crystal clear---so amazing. You would have loved seeing Andy in his swimsuit. As you can tell, Shanna freezes everywhere! But I couldn't believe it when she was wearing a jacket at Cancun!! But we were having so much fun, I forgot to take alot of pictures.



When we got there, Shanna was determined to go square dancing. So she brought along her outfit so she could find a place to do that very thing. She also got Zach a matching shirt and bolo tie so that everyone would know that they were together and belonged solely to one another for the dances. But Zach wouldn't let me take his picture with her. Zach also had a cowboy hat, so I'm sure that's part of the reason he wouldn't let me take his picture. (It was so sweet to see what a new husband was willing to do for his bride who gave "that look" that talked him into square dancing!!) But look at Shanna----she didn't care---she was ready to go dancing!

Anyway, we had a wonderful 33rd anniversary. Thanks for the trip to Cancun, Zach & Shanna. It was awesome!!
(Ok...we really went to Lubbock, ate at Cancun, and Andy didn't have on a swimsuit. Shanna is wearing the square dancing outfit for Halloween at work and Zach did NOT dress up! A girl can dream.....)

33 Years!

Today, Andy & I are celebrating our 33rd anniversary. So I got up early this morning and rummaged until I found our wedding album and since I don't have a scanner that works, I took pictures of pictures. They may not be great quality, but you'll get the general idea of what we looked like 33 years ago. Take into consideration that Andy had a long mustache the day before we got married---and I'd never seen him without one!! So it was a total surprise when I saw him on our wedding day. I thought he was going to pass out during the ceremony---but he was just actually a little whiter where his mustache had been. ha!

My dad walking me down the aisle. Andy & I were married on a Saturday, September 27, 1975. Notice the woman in the background wearing gloves. I got my dress at Daisy's in Amarillo.

I don't think unity candles were very old at this point. Isn't my arrangement lovely? I had a cathedral veil.....and was a size 7. Sigh.....

Here we are leaving after the ceremony. Andy chose my bouquet himself. I LOVED it!!! Love that ruffled shirt, don't you?

This is the reason you save a napkin....so you can take a picture of it 33 years later. Don't you love the blue???

So in love. I had thought about children. I was thinking 4. But I never thought past the point of the oldest one being about 6 years old. I certainly never considered being a GRANDMOTHER!!

Our wedding party. Don't you love my bridesmaid's hats? If you'll notice, each bridesmaid's dress was just a little bit different---not by design. They each had a different seamstress and it just happened. The flower girl and ring bearer were my little cousins. The flower girl's dress was a Holly Hobby pattern.

Yes! We had blue punch. Quite tasty! Andy was 25 years old and I was 19. When we left the church to make our getaway, I was supposed to toss my bouquet. But instead, Andy dragged me down the steps of the church, I dropped my bouquet and I tore holes in my hose and my knees were bleeding. I couldn't find those pictures---but trust me, they were lovely! We went to Amarillo to our new apartment on our wedding night and then went to Red River, NM for our honeymoon.
Andy & I are celebrating our 33rd anniversary with our youngest son, Zach & his new wife, Shanna. They live in Lubbock. They just fed us a wonderful steak dinner. I reminded Andy of the 1st dinner we cooked for someone else. I made a pot roast....and the roast was....not done. So I fried it up on my electric skillet. I think I sat down and cried after they left. It was a disaster. Zach & Shanna are way ahead of the curve. I'm taking home a new recipe for apple dumplings that are out of this world!
It's hard to believe we've been married for 33 years. But they've been great. I married my best friend...and it's only gotten better. Thank You, God, for blessing me with the best!

2nd Post Today

I had to include some pictures I took at Living Water this morning. These are kids whose parents were there today. I got to try out my new printer---and sent these moms home with a photo of their children. Too much fun for me!! I loved it!



This is Em 'Rynn. The first time he saw me at Living Water, he held out his arms to me and yelled, "Nana!" His mom was as baffled as I was! I thought maybe I looked somewhat like his Nana....but he doesn't even live close to them or know them well. So Em 'Rynn & I have bonded. He was willing to sit and let me take his pic without mom around. Then he followed me to my office to watch his picture being made. Too cute!! Don't you love that hair???

This little girls was bashful at first, but she really opened up as I began snapping pictures. I wish my camera were faster---I missed some good shots. And I never found out her name.

Isn't she adorable? I never found out this beauty's name either. But she loved the camera. I think she'd had a little experience posing. Precious!

This morning, I found out about 4 more places in Borger were robbed last night. Calvary Baptist Church, Curves, Gerald's Office Supply & Onions. I told you about Carol who had information for the police. Well, the police never went to talk to her, so I took her to the police station after our Grocery Give-Away today so she could tell them what she knew---and she knew even more today. I think there have been about 10-12 places hit in Borger now. Please pray they get caught! And pray God changes their hearts.