The One About Homesickness, Hungary, and Heaven

I got homesick at church tonight.

Not homesick for our house or family in Mississippi, but homesick for my OTHER family--the family that I may never see again on this earth--

One of our sweet missionary friends from Hungary is visiting the U.S. right now.  He's here to raise more financial support for his family's ministry and to spread the word about mission opportunities like the one we were privileged to participate in two years ago.  Istvan shared his testimony and ministry updates with our small group tonight, and when it was time to go-- when we all said our farewells-- the homesickness set in.

Istvan with Phil in Budapest

He's here alone on this trip, but last summer his wife and children traveled to the states with him. When their visit with us came to an end and we said our farewells, they urged us to join them again in the work in Hungary, and the homesickness washed over me...I remember trying to hold back tears.

I've had that same feeling before...

Two years ago I felt it when Betti and Tomo left our camp in Hungary to return to their home in Macedonia. We had been blessed to spend two weeks with them at the Speak Out language camp.... we talked and listened for hours as they shared how Jesus gloriously rescued and redeemed them and how He later opened the doors for them to be missionaries to their own people.  I vividly remember our last evening with them... the prayer, the tears, the hugs... sweet Tomo even gave us a replica of a clay lamp that was used by early Macedonian Christians (the ones mentioned in the book of Acts, y'all).  He encouraged us to be diligent--ready--and consistent in letting our light shine in America. When this faithful couple left us, my heart ached so much.... they invited us to join them on staff at their Macedonian language/evangelistic camp, but only God knows if we will be able to accept that invitation or if we'll ever see them again.

Tomo and Betti after a water gun fight during Speak Out

During that summer in 2012, our family spent nearly five weeks with other believers like Betti, Tomo, and Istvan; our mission was to share the good news of salvation with Hungarian students.  Our time was spent among dedicated brothers and sisters in Christ from all over the world who have left behind homes, home lands, good jobs, extended families, and much more--all for the gospel's sake.  We heard their stories, we watched them minister to lost students, we prayed with them for God to work in mighty ways among the people of Hungary, and we learned from their examples.

And y'all.  Y'ALL.  The Hungarian students....the ones who were already believers and who had decided to join the Speak Out Staff and minister to their peers.... Those young men and women were ON FIRE. Many of them --like my friends Betty and Rebekah-- spent their afternoons witnessing to strangers in the nearby villages as well as dedicating hours to praying for the campers.  Betty and Rebekah even arrived at our going away party in Budapest a few hours early JUST SO THEY WOULD HAVE TIME TO WITNESS TO PEOPLE IN THE AREA.... Y'all.  

It's been two years and still, my heart is so full as I remember the beauty of the body of Christ at work in Hungary.  After all of this, how could we NOT feel like we had indeed become family with these amazing people? For most of our first month back home in the U.S., Phil and I both ached --even cried-- with homesickness for our new family members... 

If you've been made a part of God's family through the work of Christ on your behalf at Calvary, then you may understand this homesickness I'm (so pitifully) trying to describe.  Think of the precious believers you have met and grown to love throughout the course of your life...  The shared experience of being made NEW and being FORGIVEN and having JESUS as a BEST FRIEND can draw strangers together in a matter of moments.  That bond that Jesus creates among His people is hard to describe but SO VERY REAL and PRECIOUS to those of us who know Him. I can't help but think of the many summer camps, youth retreats, and conferences I've attended as well as the different church congregations I've been blessed to worship with.... so many brothers and sisters that I've laughed, shared, and cried with .... so many brothers and sisters I haven't seen in years and who I will not see again....at least, not HERE, anyway... can you relate?  Do you at times feel some homesickness for your Christian family, too?

When we attend the funeral of a fellow believer, even as we grieve, we are greatly comforted by the reality that we will see that loved one again in heaven.  That same feeling of loss, that same ache, and that great hope of reunion is what I'm feeling tonight... except, there hasn't been a funeral.  No one has died.  I'm just missing my family--my brothers and sisters who are a part of God's family all over the globe--and the chances of seeing many of them again on this planet are small....

What a blessing it was to see Istvan again tonight and to hear of the continued work in Hungary.

And what a blessing it will be when "the family" is all together again.  Knowing a day is coming when goodbyes are a thing of the past and knowing we're all finally "home" makes the hope of Heaven even sweeter, doesn't it?  

 Istvan and his wife Isabella

 Tomo and Phil in Budapest

 Ingrid and J.R....they left their secure jobs and home in the U.S. and now live and minister in Hungary

 Istvan and family dressed in costumes for our weekly Staff Hunt

Ingrid and I dressed for Staff Hunt

The Davis Family + Daubenspeck Family = The Davispecks

We shared a home together in Hungary for the month.  Despite our differences, we felt like family.  (We're from the Deep South, y'all,  and they're from Philadelphia, you guys.)

Betty and Rebekah in their staff hunt costumes

....some of my "little sisters" in Christ

I'm not sure which Hungarian student leader this is, (and I actually swiped this photo from a Cru staff member) but I know he's a part of the family, too.  

Take a look at the Speak Out website and video HERE.  FYI: When we were in Hungary in 2012, we were privileged to drive the awesome van that's featured in the video.  

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also."  John 14:1-3 

 9 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”  Revelation 5:9-10

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,

“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  Revelation 7:9-10

Here's What's Happening

(If you're just here for the donuts, scroll on down until you see pictures of dough....)

I know a few of my family members check in here from time to time to see what we're up to, so here's a quick family update followed by a brief stumble down memory lane, a look at one of our home school activities, and a how-to.

Family Update
Last year, Phil and one of his friends traveled with a local church to Juarez (a city in Mexico) to build houses for two families who had no reliable shelter. He had a great time and planned to take Drew back with him this year.  However, after our month-long adventure in Hungary last year, we didn't think we would be able to afford another mission endeavor anytime soon.  To make a long story somewhat shorter, Phil received a phone call about a month ago and was told that two places on the team were available because two other people had to drop out.  All expenses had already been covered, and all we had to do was provide spending money.  Praise the Lord!

So, my boys left for their trip on Saturday morning and will return on Friday.  I found this picture on one of their team member's Facebook walls:

I think Drew is the third kid from the left on the top of the hill.

They called me EARLY this morning to tell me they were crossing the border into Juarez and won't be back in touch until sometime Thursday.  At night, they will be sleeping in a local church in Juarez, and during the day, they will be building a house for a family who has been on a waiting list for over two years.  Phil said the home is just a basic shelter.  There is no kitchen or bathroom; from what I understand, the families in the area share a kitchen and bathroom that is centrally located. 

While my boys were beginning their travels on Saturday, my girl and I (and my daddy) attended our first shooting practice with our local 4H shooting sports group.  Aubrey's age group can shoot air rifles and air pistols; the older kids can shoot MANY kinds of guns, and they can also participate in archery. When Drew comes home, he'll begin practicing shooting with a .22 rifle.

I asked my daddy to go with us so he could translate for me.  When we went to our first informational meeting two weeks ago, I was overwhelmed by words like caliber and cartridge, and when I heard phrases like ".22 ammo prices are sky-rocketing because people are stock-piling ammo right now," well, I nearly came undone. 

Anywho, Daddy went with us, and his presence and his interpretations were a tremendous asset.  We had the best time, y'all.  The 4H instructors and volunteers COULD NOT have been any more wonderful or helpful.  If Saturday was any indication of what's in store, then we are VERY WELL PLEASED. 

Once an instructor figured out that Aubrey is left-eye dominant, he had her start shooting like a left-hander, and she began doing much better.  She has two weeks to practice before a "postal shoot" --whatever that is-- and then we'll see if she can go to the district competition in Charleston this May. 

A Stumble Down Memory Lane
As I was sorting through some old workbooks, I found a handwriting practice page of Drew's from 2007.  He wasn't happy about practicing his skills during the summer, thus the sad face doodle beside his name.

Home School Stuff and a How-To
LONG before we ever began home schooling, I discovered the Five In A Row series by Jane Claire Lambert.  If you're not familiar with FIAR, it's a literature-based unit study approach to teaching at home.  To me, it's just a whole lot of fun.  When the kids were really young, we read some of the FIAR books during the summer, and we'd pick out some of the more fun activities to do.  One in particular that I remember was re-enacting The Story of Ping.  We used a Beanie Baby duckling and ninety-nine wooden blocks to represent Ping and his numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins that lived on a boat that floated down the Yangtze River in China.  Ping and the other ducks would march off the boat each morning and later would march back on in the evenings when their master would call.  The last duck to board the boat each evening would receive a little spank on his tail feathers to remind all of the ducks not to lag behind.  One evening, poor little Ping realizes he will be last in line, and he has to choose between a spanking or spending a night alone on the river. 

Another one of our favorites was Lentil, by Robert McCloskey.  It's all about a boy named Lentil who lives in a town called Alto where everyone can sing except for Lentil.  No worries, though, because Lentil finds a way to make his own music and of course, he eventually uses his talent to save the day.

I'd love to live in a town like Alto back during a time when kids could safely roam the streets until dark, when everyone knew everyone else, and when heroes were welcomed home at train stations by cheering crowds and brass bands.

Whoa...I didn't mean to chase that rabbit (or duck) trail, but man, I really love the FIAR series!  Anywho, when we decided to home school this year, I bought a copy of Beyond Five in a Row by Becky Jane Lambert.  It is, as the title suggests, a step beyond the original FIAR books, and is full of great ideas to use with 8- to 12-year-olds. 

Homer Price is a book for older readers, while the stories in A Robert McCloskey Collection are for younger kids and for moms like me who just love the simple themes, detailed drawings, and the small-town, 1930s & 40s settings.

 

 

Right now, we're reading Homer Price, and I'm using Beyond FIAR for some extra activities.

Last week, we read the chapter about Homer and the out-of-control automatic donut making machine, and then we made our own donuts.  I mentioned our cooking plans to my mom, who told me that she had also made donuts--in 1977.  One time.  I was a bit nervous until I realized that our recipe is a "healthy" version that requires no frying in hot oil or lard.  (Maybe "healthier" would have been a better word to use, because seriously, when have you ever seen a "healthy" donut?  Goodness. Even the word "healthier" seems to be a stretch.)  I think my mom and I are alike in that we are not overly fond of cooking over pots of hot, splattering grease.... thus, her 36-year hiatus from donut-making.

So, one night last week, Aubrey and I stayed up WAY TOO LATE and made donuts.  (Drew was lying prostrate on the couch with a headache--until he smelled the finished product.)

Now, the two of you who have persevered to the end of this nonsense probably remember that 1. I'm not a professional cook, and 2.  I'm not a professional photographer.  So, exercise much grace and withhold your criticism of my skills as you peruse these hastily snapped pictures.

I hate, loathe, and despise touching raw dough.  And raw meat.  No worries.  No meat was used or touched in the making of these donuts.

From the resting of the dough...

...to the rising of the same...

The memory of the texture of the dough makes my skin crawl....I have issues.

At this point in the process, I was pretty hopeful.  Until...

...they came out of the oven looking a little overdone.  They actually were NOT overdone; I think the butter Aubrey brushed over the tops before baking caused them to be a little brown on top.  It reminded me of the time I covered myself in baby oil and tried to get a tan.... Overdone? Yes.  Crispy on the outside?  Most assuredly.  I'm talking about me now, not the donuts.  They donuts were fine.

Powdered sugar can make anything beautiful.



 

The verdict:  not bad.  Not bad at all.

 

But definitely, not real donuts.  Not real at all.  You can taste the absence of sizzling lard.

 

Still, they were quite tasty.  If you leave out the nutmeg and cinnamon, you'll have the BEST yeast rolls you've ever put in your mouth. 

 

How-To....

If you have a hankering for some homemade, baked donuts, follow the recipe below.  If you'd rather have some slap-yo-mama-some-kinda-good yeast rolls instead, leave out the nutmeg and cinnamon, and you probably wouldn't want to cover them in powdered sugar either. 

 

You're welcome.

 

:)

 

Homemade, Healthier (whatever) Donuts

2 (1/4 oz.) pkgs. dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water

1 1/2 cups warm milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

2 eggs

1/3 cup shortening

4 1/2 cups flour  (I used bread flour.  Don't know if it makes a difference.)

1/4 cup butter, melted

sugar to decorate

 

In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water.  Add milk, sugar, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups flour (hold the rest of the flour in reserve).  Blend for 30 seconds with a mixer on low speed as you add the remaining flour.  Cover the bowl and allow the mixture to rise until doubled in volume (approx. 1 hour).  Turn dough onto a well-floured surface and roll with a rolling pin until your dough is 1/2" thick.  Using a well-floured doughnut cutter (or a large and small drinking glass), cut dough into doughnut shapes.  Place doughnuts on a well-greased baking sheet.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Brush the tops with melted butter and allow to rise until the volume of each doughnut has doubled once again (approx. 20 minutes).  Bake doughnuts for 8 to 10 minutes.  Brush once more with melted butter and sprinkle sugar on top.  (Makes 1 1/2 to 2 dozen doughnuts.)  I think we made 28, and of course, we baked the "holes."

 

*This recipe came from Beyond Five In A Row: Vol. 1, by Becky Jane Lambert, 2001, Five In A Row Publishing.

Meet Gabi

In many parts of America, growing up in a Christian home is not an unusual thing. 

In fact, in certain parts of the Southern U.S., you can throw a biscuit and hit a Christian.  Or maybe a church-goer.  Y’all know what I mean.

Not many people can claim to have grown up in a Christian home in Hungary, so to meet a Hungarian who came to know Jesus as a child while being raised by Christian parents, well now, that’s a rare thing.   And for that Hungarian to be not a second generation Christian but rather a third generation Christian, well, that’s downright amazing.  And fascinating.  Let me introduce you to Gabi.

We had the privilege of eating lunch with Gabi last week, and we asked all the usual questions.  “Where are you from?” and “What work do you do?” and “Have you visited the U.S.?”  

This is his story:  Gabi lives in Budapest and works for Campus Crusade for Christ.  He and a team of Hungarian Christians spend their lives evangelizing and discipling students on a university campus.  They hold Bible studies, sponsor activities, and have prayer with people.  They also conduct surveys among students, and if students have spiritual needs or questions, the team gets their contact information and schedules meetings to speak with the students individually.  The group Phil worked with during the fall gathered the names of more than 500 students who provided their contact information and indicated that they would like to speak with someone about spiritual concerns.  Gabi says they have the “good” problem of having more students to contact than they have staff who can make follow-up calls. 

When students accept Christ as their Savior, Gabi and his teammates begin the work of discipling them:  teaching them about the Bible, showing them how to share their new faith with others, etc.  Some of our staff here at Speak Out are actually students that Gabi has led to the Lord.  Other believers financially support Gabi and the team so that this work can continue.  Just a few weeks ago, Gabi and his wife were in the U.S. to meet some of their supporters and to share about the work God is doing among Hungarian students. 

When I asked Gabi how he became a Christian, he told us that he was raised in a Christian home and came to Christ as a child.  Then he shared this story.

Some of you may know that Hungary was a Communist nation until 1990.  Madarasz Lajos, Gabi's grandfather, was a preacher in Hungary during this time when Christianity was illegal.  He held “underground” or secret church meetings during the 1960’s for people who wanted to know about having a relationship with God through His Son Jesus.  Not all churches had to meet in secret, though.  The ones that were approved by the government were mainly places to gather and talk about political issues. Some of the priests in the state-approved churches actually served as spies for the government by reporting any person or activity that seemed to be “Christian.” 

Besides leading an underground congregation of believers, Lajos was also a teacher of math and Physics.  Somehow, his employer discovered his secret Christian work and forced him to make a choice.  Lajos was given three days to decide to keep his job or to continue pastoring the Hungarian believers.  Gabi said, “He told them, ‘I don’t need three days to decide.  I will tell you now.’”  Lajos had a wife and seven children to support, but he chose to faithfully proclaim God’s word, even though it ruined his career. 

God was faithful, though.  All seven children thrived and all seven became believers.  Later, forty-six grandchildren were added to the family, and all forty-six became believers as well.  Gabi and his work with CCC are just some of the fruits that have come from the devotion and courage of that brave Hungarian pastor.  Only heaven knows exactly how many lives were rescued and redeemed in spite of the restraints of Communism.

I, like Gabi, am the product of a Christian home, and I am also a third generation Christian.  I thank God for my Christian heritage, and the work of Christ in our family is just as amazing.  But the courage of that one man to willingly face persecution in a Communist country…. his story both challenges and convicts me.  I’ve never been forced to choose between my relationship with God and my employment, or between feeding my family and sharing my faith.  How easy it is to serve God in America, yet how many faith-sharing opportunities have I ignored?

God, make us mindful and grateful for every opportunity to make Your glory known.  Thank you for heroes of the faith who motivate us and challenge us.

Thanks for meeting our new friend.  Will you pray for him, his wife, and their ministry team as they faithfully spread the Good News of Jesus Christ?

By the way, if you haven't seen it, I'm trying post pictures of Speak Out on our family blog.  Check it out:  www.davisfamilyinhungary.blogspot.com

A Reality Check from Tanzania

I have never been to Tanzania, but I want to go there now.

Today as I was scrolling through the Twittosphere, I landed on a link that led me to this beautiful account of an average American mom meeting the fifteen-year-old Tanzanian boy that she and her family sponsor through Compassion International.

I'm totally stealing her story and her pictures to share with you, but if you scroll to the bottom of this post, you will see that I'm including the link to her original account.  (It's way better than mine....I just want to give you a taste of what she wrote.)

OK, so the blog I am swiping these photos from is called The Nesting Place.  The lady in the picture is the writer, who refers to herself as "The Nester" because her real name is supposedly strange and difficult to pronounce.  [For some reason I want to call her "Keely" .... maybe that's her name on Twitter or maybe I dreamed it .... if that IS her name, then I don't find that strange or difficult at all.  I prefer Keely to "The Nester" any day.  But just in case I invented the name "Keely" and it really isn't her name at all, let's refer to the pretty lady as The Nester.] 

Please don't leave yet.  This will get better.  I promise.

So Keely and her family sponsor (through Compassion International) that adorable Tanzanian teen pictured below. His name is Topiwo. 

The Nester and several other sponsors were invited to be Compassion Bloggers, which means they are given the privilege of meeting and hugging the children they sponsor, and they tour all of the Compassion facilities and see how Compassion works in their "children's" villages on a daily basis.  While they are traveling and touring, they blog about their experiences.

The Nester explains it all so much better than I, but please, hang in here, OK?

So Keely The Nester wrote about meeting this beautiful boy that she and her family sponsor.  Follow the link to her post and see for yourself all the great pictures.  The ones below are the ones that grabbed my heart.  These are pictures she took on the way to Topiwo's home.  See?

These are the roof-tops of Topiwo's neighbors' homes.

This is the inside of Topiwo's home.

The Nester explains that before Compassion International found Topiwo's family, they had little, if ANY, food to eat.  Now they have food, and Topiwo has a new faith and a fresh start in life.  This next picture KILLS me.  KILLS ME DEAD.  Look at that. 

These are The Nester's words from her original post entitled "Decorating Truths from a 15-year-old Tanzanian Boy":

 On the outside of the home Topiwo had painted Psalm 23 and then his name and the names of others who live there.

Topiwo lives in a mud hut.

Do you remember how the 23rd Psalm starts?

Did I happen to mention that Topiwo lives in a mud hut? And that his family lives in Tanzania and didn’t have any food until Compassion stepped in? This young man quietly declares his faith and I wondered about what message I am sending people when they walk through my front door? Do I really believe that I have everything I need, or do I immediately launch into declaring what I don’t have and what isn’t good enough as soon as someone walks into my home?--from The Nesting Place, May 10, 2012

Did that grab anyone else's heart besides mine?  Talk about a reality check, right? 

I'm so convicted because I DON'T often invite people to our home because of its many flaws (like paint peeling on the front door, stained carpet, damaged dining room flooring, and I could go on and on....).

However, I should be thankful because we actually HAVE a front door.  We HAVE carpet on the floor.  We HAVE a room used just for the purpose of dining together--at a table.  AND, we have running water, indoor plumbing, electricity, air conditioning, a refrigerator and cabinets full of food, a roof that doesn't leak, and I could go on and on.  And so could you, right?

If "The Lord is my Shepherd," then I should be able to relax and revel in the knowledge that He has provided all that I need.  So what if my carpet isn't as clean or as nice as yours? I have Jesus.  He makes me lie down in "green pastures."  He also "leads me beside still waters."  Most importantly, "He restores my soul."  [Who needs carpet, anyway?]

Lord God, please help me learn a lesson from Topiwo.  Help me rest in the knowledge that as long as my Lord is my Shepherd, I will have everything I need. 

And truly, isn't HE all that we really NEED?

Maybe one day I'll invite you over, and maybe I won't make excuses or complain about my carpet (and door and dining room, etc.)   Instead, maybe we will just sit down for a hot cup of coffee and enjoy talking about how sweet it is to trust in Jesus, our Shepherd.

To read The Nester's own account and see her other pictures of Topiwo, visit http://www.thenester.com/    Her post was written on May 10, 2012, and is entitled "Decorating Truths from a 15-Year-Old Tanzanian Boy."


My understanding of how Compassion Int. sponsorship works is a little fuzzy, but I believe that it is a ministry that provides food, clothing, education, vocational training, and THE GOSPEL for children in poverty-stricken environments all over the planet. Compassion sponsors like The Nester send monthly contributions to aid specific children from specific locations.  Please visit The Nester's blog for a better explanation.

The One Where I Try to Make Up for Lost Time

So, it's been over a month since I've visited my own blog.  Since Phil's out of town and the kids are in bed, and since I've had so much coffee I can't sleep, I think I'll take some time for a cell phone dump.  (That sounds atrocious, doesn't it?)  A writer whose blog I follow will periodically feature her own cell phone dumps--a post made up of the pictures that happen to be on her cell phone at the moment.  So, I thought I'd give it a try.  Some of you may choose to sign off at this point, but I know at least ONE of you will enjoy these pics (Hi, Aunt Becky!).  Drum roll please........ and here we go:

She loves accessories.

February 2012

My sweet class threw a surprise birthday party for me, and as another surprise, these two OLD  :) guys showed up for the fun.  They both graduated YEARS ago.  (in 2010, I think? The years in the classroom are beginning to blur...)

My phone was taken hostage by these crazy girls

My friend Hannah told us about a ministry that she and her family are involved in. They provide a Sunday lunch for the homeless in downtown Memphis.  My husband loves to serve.  Joining with the GO Memphis crew has been such a blessing and a great teaching opportunity for our kids.

Lunch

Distributing coats and blankets.  Chaos.

This is a (terrible) shot of Aubrey with weatherman Ron Childers.  He visited our school on career day and chose Aubrey as one of his helpers.

Isn't he cute?

A picture of a picture of Daddy, me, and Momma in the Grove at Ole Miss--May of 1999.  I started playing with my Facebook timeline and added a few old pics.  I was too lazy to hook up the scanner, hence the picture of a picture.

Phil had the privilege of traveling to Juarez, Mexico, with a group from New Prospect in Olive Branch. 

They built two homes for two families in two-and-a-half days.  In many instances, families of up to 10 or 11 people will live in these houses that are slightly smaller than our living room.  What blessings we take for granted...

What can I say?  He's a baby magnet.

While Phil was in Juarez, I got to visit with this sweet thing for a few minutes.  In the picture, he's doing that backwards goodbye wave that babies do.  He's one of my "grand-students;" I taught his precious mother for two years.

This sweet thing is that little guy's mommy.  She introduced me to her little man when he was only a few weeks old.  A few weeks after that, she went to be with Jesus.  We miss her so much.

Just another reminder that God's ways are higher than our ways.  Even when I don't understand His ways, I choose to trust.

My crazy children at the post office--applying for passports

He caught that nasty thing in the pond in front of our house.  Wanna come over and catch one, too?

Another picture of a picture--Drew and our nephew Joey.  (I may take a moment and cry.... it seems like they were babies only yesterday....)

My little sister (-in-law) Sarah got us free tickets (box seats, actually) to see Cinderella at the Orpheum.  It was Aubrey's first ballet and first trip to the Orpheum.

Aubrey enjoying her new (old) bedroom furniture:)  My aunt Julie recently moved and decided to give Aubrey this dresser and some other pieces that belonged to my great-grandmother.  She also gave her a comfy bed that belonged to my grandparents (can you see it in the mirror?).   

Ok, I know this is a silly picture, but it makes me laugh so hard.  I took this while Drew and I were at the pediatrician's office waiting to see a doctor (Drew had an awful sinus infection).  He was so sick, but he couldn't stop laughing at this sign that was posted on the door.  He said, "Momma, if you can read that sign, then you REALLY shouldn't have a dirty diaper."  (Yes, I know what

the sign means, but he had me laughing so hard I cried... the doctor thought we were crazy...)

I'm almost finished with this post......pretty much....

Actually, I still can't sleep (although YOU probably can after being bombarded with all of this nonsense), so I'll continue....

Yet another picture of a picture. I miss the old Far Side comics SO much.  My college roommates and I would get a 365-day Far Side calendar and read all of the comics before the end of January. 

Vintage Far Side. Put a girl in the picture instead of the guy and you have a portrait of my life.  Really.  Ask my mother.

I deal with teenagers all day, so yes, my sense of humor can often be immature and unsophisticated.  Still.  That's funny.

So this is a picture from tonight.  Our old grill is no longer with us, so the kids and I purchased an inexpensive table-top grill.  I (stupidly) thought the grill was already assembled but soon discovered otherwise...

Drew and I were hungry for steak, so we decided to put the thing together ourselves.  The task seemed a bit daunting, so Drew suggested we pray and ask God to help us figure it out without getting frustrated and yelling (he meant me not getting frustrated and yelling).  So, we prayed (he led), and we did it.  With God, nothing is impossible.

They weren't as good as Phil's steaks, but they were edible.

This is the last one--I promise.  Above are (say it with me) more pictures of pictures -- these are of Phil and me at ages 19 and 20.  The bottom picture was taken two weeks ago while we were on a carriage ride in downtown Memphis.  Of course we love each other, but what a gift it is to still like each other after all this time.

Bless your heart for persevering to the end.  'Nite, y'all.