From a Home Run to a Grand Slam

Friends and Family,

Wow tomorrow will be the day I leave on my very first mission trip. I have talked about this day for quite some time now. I think I started this talk about 12 years ago. When I applied to get into dental hygiene school. Never did I think that it would be with one of my very best friends! That part is so exciting!

There are so many things floating around in my mind. I guess more of the unknown of what God has planned for me in this journey. I know he has been calling me on this trip for some time now but to actually leave tomorrow is.. CRAZY.
I know with all my heart that HE has had a hand on this from the beginning and way before He put it on my heart. This trip has started off completely and utterly in his hands, his actual finger tips. I love times like this, when you know that he is so close that you can almost feel that little shove. I LOVE IT! Don't I WISH all parts of life were this clear! HA! That will come one day too! :0)

I guess my main heart pitter patter is leaving my little curtain climbers. They are so stinking cute and not at an age where they understand. And get this....Griffin is actually asking where I am during the day! Yes, my son is asking questions! Yippee! So, I guess one of my biggest prayer requests would be that my Husband will have a really precious time with his sons. That he will have supernatural patience. That he will really soak in this time with them and that it will be one they all 3 will cherish together. My other really big prayer request is that I will not miss a beat when it comes to what God has planned for me, that I will 100 percent surrender all I have to Him. That he will use me to the fullest and then some!

Then there is- missing my family like crazy! I did however find out that I will have skype! Yippee! I wasn't sure until a week ago when it was confirmed. Music to my ears!


So just to let you in on how all this came about. I went to visit Kel in November to run a race that I was no where near ready for but ran anyway. Dumb very Dumb.
During this visit she mention a dental mission that a dentist was interested in doing this summer. It was just a blurb of information. All I knew was the location,sometime in the summer and that she and another friend Tami would be going on. She told me to pray about it and to let me know when and if I felt like I should go. This was on a Sunday.

So, that week I ask the girls(my small group besties) to start praying for me that it was something that I had considered at some point in my life but that I wanted it to be God's timing not my own. That it would be in his will and not in my control. I didn't tell JV at this point because I really wasn't sure if this was for me?

A week past and the thought had not left. It was completely heavy on my heart and I knew my girls had been praying and the Lord was answering. I emailed Kelly for all the details. She gave me the details and at the end of the email it read this
If you are meant to go the money will appear

My first thought was Wow to have that faith! My second thought was that is exactly the faith I need to have. I emailed my small group prayer warriors and let them know the specifics and that I was going to talk it over with my Jv that night. I then ended the email with the same line of faith the money will be there if I am suppose to go.

That night I stayed with the boys and sent Jv to bible study. When he came in I asked "How did tonight go?". This is what he said "Good, The ONLY thing I asked the guys to pray for where Our finances."
Can you believe this? I am not kidding. So that line of Faith went straight out the door. How was I suppose to talk to my husband about taking a mission trip that I needed money for?

That night I went to bed prayed about it and left it in God's hands.


The next day was a new day. A day of work for me. I walked in the door of the office and walked my first patient back. Really nice guy, a believer. We started talking about all different things but mainly about our faith and all the goodness it brings. When I was finished I buzzed the buzzer to let my boss know that I was ready for him to check my patient. My patient started to share a topic of missions with me and what his church was doing. During this time My Boss walked in. He lays the patient back, still my patient is talking about mission trips. I grab the light to shine it where it need to be and I said "Well, I might have a chance to go on a dental mission this summer." It was then...that my boss said "Might?" "Is it going to cost a lot?" I stated "Yes and the amount". WITH OUT ANY HESITATION He proceeded with this "If you go I will pay."

WHAT?! What?! was I hearing him correctly? During this time my patient with dental tools in his mouth is saying "ya ya ya" I couldn't believe my ears. My only hessitation was finances and God knocked it out of the ball park with a Home Run! He slapped me in the face with a wake up call screaming "OH YOU OF LITTLE FAITH". A wake up call that was DEFINITELY needed! Oh, how I need these moments daily!

Now, remember I have still not told my husband. Ha! I called him and told him that I had something I needed to share with him, that we needed to put the boys down and have some time to our selves. It was wonderful! We talked, I shared the story of God's Glorious mercy and Grace. He was very excited! He couldn't wait!
He told me afterwards that the whole time leading up to the financial part. His mind was spinning with how we could get the funds because he was going to find a way for me to go. I love my huge hearted husband!

So...... there it is I am off to the Philippines for 2 weeks! I am very excited. I mean when a mission starts off with a Home Run you know it is going to end with a Grand Slam!

Uncle Lee and Aunt Marcee

This month has been super busy! We have loved every bit but our church might be calling soon!(Due to missing so many Sunday church services.) Ha! Last week my brother came in from NY and this week Jv's brother and his wife came in from TX.
It was our first time meeting Marcee and what can I say we feel in love! She is amazing and a perfect fit for Lee. Pops really loved the fact that she played Golf! Mega brownie points:0).
They were here for a whole week and it seemed like two days. Here are some pictures a couple of days out of the week.












Beach Trip
We got to take Marcee to our beach. She had never been but had heard that it was much better than the beaches she had been to. She loved it. We stayed one night but took full advantage of our time and got to show her lots of things!











After a morning on the beach we all got dressed and decided to take Marcee and Lee to Broadway. That is where we ate lunch and then took the boys for a couple of rides. It was so hot but the boys didn't mind at all! The rest of us were ready to go after a couple of rides.


The Magical Merry Go Round. I was ready to go because it was so hot but something very magical happened on that merry go round. Dee rode with the boys the first time and then I got to ride the second time around. I was holding on to Gray boy and I felt this little hand reach over. Griffin placed it on my back. I turned to see him and he was leaning over and said "Want to give kisses" with his lips puckerd. He has never said this with out me prompting him! Truly magical!!! I am a sucker for merry go rounds now and will not pass one up especially if my little romantic is with me!




















Boat Trip!
Jv got to take Pops Lee and Marcee out on the boat. They had a really great time but were exhausted!








We were so sad to see them go but I think Marcee really loved her visit! Which means they will be back! Yay! We hope to see them next September! Yipee! The boys loved them so much and I know will love to have them back. Jv and I loved our time just wish It could of been longer.

My Little Clown

Gray is definitely the clown of the family. We catch him doing all kinds of silly things. He makes us laugh till we cry! Griffin even says "Gray's so silly."
He really is. He doesn't even try He just is. Which makes it that much more silly!
We love you little one! Thanks for bringing us so much laughter!

The Boat is Ready!

We took the boat out last weekend! We were dying to take it out but have had other plans up until last weekend. We took the boys and our very own unbelievable in laws!
We had a great time and both boys loved it this year. We swam, parked at a local area that we could get the chairs out and just sat and enjoyed.
We had a great time and the boys were perfect! We stayed from 10:15 till 4:30! What a great day!