Ike Mission Trip

Last week Chris and I went as sponsors with our church for a mission trip to Galveston, TX to help rebuild the area that was devastated by hurricane Ike six months ago. We had 43 all together that went, 34 youth and 9 sponsors. We arrived on Saturday and got settled at Westgate Baptist church, this is where we stayed for the week. Sunday we attended church at Westgate in the morning and then the afternoon we did some site seeing in Galveston. We drove over to Galveston island, but we had to take the ferry to get to the island so we had a huge coach bus on the ferry but the kids loved it. They fed the seagulls on the ride over, there were so many of them it was a little scary. They would just keep flying at you because they think anyone on the ferry has food to feed them. When we arrived on the island we saw first hand all the major damage that Ike did to the island. It was unreal, everything was gone and everyone was just living on their land in FEMA trailers. These trailers are so small that I couldn't imagine what it must be like to go from living in a nice size house to having your family in a trailer that is probably around 800 sq feet if that. I just felt great sadness for these families who had lost everything.

Monday through Friday we worked at a church in Bridge City, TX that had lots of damage from the storm. They needed lots of painting to be done, baseboards to be installed, dry wall installed, doors hung and so much more. Since we had so many kids with us we decided to split them up in two groups each day and let a group work at the church and take the rest out into the community and help people with their houses. I stayed at the church for most of the week and headed up the painting team. We painted 12 rooms overall and each room had to have any where from 2 to 4 coats and some rooms which were a nightmare ended up with 5 to 6 coats of paint. Chris and another guy named Jeff and some of the youth guys helped hang dry wall and put up baseboards. The other team that went out helped out the people living around the church buy helping them removed drywall, floors, trash ect from their homes so that when these people get their insurance checks they can start rebuilding. The one thing I noticed most was that the people who are living through all of this just seemed so tired, their spirit is broken and just seem hopeless. Everyone was so thankful for all that we did and some would just cry over the fact that we just took away their trash. It really made me see that these people are hurting so much and I think they feel they have been forgotten. I just hope that by us all being there and doing this work for God that it made them feel that God has not forgotten about them. He is still there and He will help them rebuild and heal their community. It was such a blessing to be able to be there and give everything I had for God last week. I truly realized that what we did last week is what being a Christian is all about. It is giving everything I have to God and allowing Him to work through me so that people can see His compassion, His love, and His greatness. I am so thankful for Gods faithfulness to me and all of the blessings He has given me.

Here are some pictures from the week. I will post more on picasa.

Breelyn and Lexie who were in my room.

The girls working on a room...one of many we painted

They guys who worked hard on baseboards and hanging sheet rock. Wanda was our motivator for the week. She is a wonderful woman.

Katie and Adrianne worked hard on all of our doors in the church.

Playground after we restored it and cleaned it.

Check Ups

Friday was the day we took the girls in for their well check ups. I knew Bree would have to get a shot and I thought Katie would to so Chris went with me just in case I had two screaming kids on my hands. The check ups went well. Katie weighed in at 34 lbs and is 3' 4" tall. She had to take her first eye test which she had to name the shapes on the chart. Everything checked out fine with Katie and no shots for her until next year before she starts school. Bree also had a good check up she weighed in at 23 lbs and 3oz and was 34 inches tall. She is a little low on the weight side she is in the 10%range for her age group but the doctor doesn't seem to concerned. He said she is well porptioned and doesn' t look unhealthy so he just reassured me that some kids are just smaller and don't gain weight until later. We go back in 6 months to get the weight checked again. When Dr. Pfanstiel checked her ears he said that one tube was on its way out so I am praying that her ears stay healthy after the tubes fall out and we don't have to get them put back in. All in all the girls are doing great and are growing like weeds.

Running Through the Tunnel

I have mentioned in an earlier blog that Chris and I both were coaching an basketball team for Upwards. Well, at the beginning of each game the players and the coaches are announced and we all get to run through a big inflatable tunnel. Katie has been dying to run out of this tunnel all season long so our last games were on Friday and Chris let Katie run out of the tunnel with him. Here is a short video of them coming out. She was so excited about being able to do this. It is so funny how the smallest things mean the most to kids. Just in case anyone is wondering I happen to have a better than season than Chris....so I guess that means I am the better coach. :) Sorry, I had to through this in as he made a bet with me awhile back on who would end with the winning season. But in all fairness I only won because one of my games ended in a tie instead of a loss for us, but I'll take a win anyway I can get it. :)

The Big 2 for Bree

On Thursday, my baby turned two. It seems so hard to believe that she is already two. Time just goes by way to fast. On Thursday we took Katie and Bree both to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate Bree's big day. We had pizza and played some games. When we were done we headed home to have cake and open presents. Bree has become a big fan of Elmo so her birthday was all about Elmo, which she loved. I decorated the house so that when we came home from Chuck E Cheese she would see it and she went crazy say Elmo, Elmo, Elmo. When we were having cake Bree was more interested in playing with her drink than eating her cake. We shot some some video of that and her also playing with her balloons. She was trying to wrestle her Elmo balloon. She was definately into opening presents this year and had no problem tearing into them. She loved all of her gifts. Below is the link to the b-day pictures and video.

http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=82edb7286423435e722290&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=email

The Big 4 for Katie

Katie turned 4 years old on Sunday. We had a great day with her and she was so excited to be turning 4. This year was the first year we have had a big birthday party for her with friends. We invited over 7 of her friends from church to our house. We had pizza, cupcakes, played some games and God was good to us because we had a beautiful day with the temp in the 60's so the kids could play outside some. Katie loved the party and having all of her friends over, but she was especially excited about all the gifts. She was dying to open them and once we let her at them she was flying through them like crazy. She got lots of great gifts. We have wonderful friends and family that sent gave her lots of great gifts. We are so appreciative of them. Katie also got lots of phone calls throughout the day from family wanting to wish her a happy birthday. By the end of the night Katie looked at me and said next birthday I am going to be 5, I told her lets just enjoy being 4 for now. Momma needs a year to recover from the party. :) Instead of uploading photos I am putting the link to the pictures so you all can view them.

http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=822f74bd0504fdbaddf6bf&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=email

Happy Valentine's Day

The girls had Valentine's Day parties at school on Friday. Katie came home with a bag full of candy, cards and crafts. She made a cute picture frame made out of red and pink puzzle pieces and it says "I love you to pieces" Her teacher took a picture of her with a heart background and then put her picture in it. I love it...it was so precious. Bree made mommy and daddy a valentine that was a rose and the rose part was her had print, very cute. She was so proud to give it to us when we picked her up. Saturday we spent valentines day together as a family. Katie and Bree got a kisses puppy dog and some candy from mommy and daddy. The girls and chris got me some chocolate and a adaptor for my ipod so I can play it in the car. Saturday afternoon we had an appointment to get the girls pictures made for their birthdays, but before we left the house Chris checked the mail and in the mail was cards for the girls from Nana and Papaw and of course they had money in them. Well as soon as Katie saw the money and she new we were going to the mall to take pictures she asked if she could buy something with her money. So our trip of going to get pictures stretched out to dinner at Chick-fil-a and then a stop at toys r us for them to buy something. It was great v-day with all the people I love the most. Here a few pictures of them on v-day.

Katie and Bree showing off their new puppies

Loving on the puppies, eating candy and watching cartoons.


Katie showing off her new play make-up she bought with her money from Nana and Papaw. Thanks Nana and Papaw!

Katie showing Bree all of her new make-up
Bree checking out her new book she bought with money from Nana and Papaw. Thanks Nana and Papaw!

Girls having fun finding Elmo and Grover in the Hide and Seek book.

Weekend Activities

The past couple of days the weather has been so nice, it has felt like spring with it being in the 70's all weekend. The girls have loved being able to go outside and go for walks and of course play in the backyard. Katie went to a birthday party on Saturday at a bowling alley. This was the first time Katie has every bowled. She did pretty good. I got some video on my phone so I will have to try and upload it later. Katie liked to bowl but didn't like the shoes she had to wear. I think they hurt her feet so after about six frames she was done. After the b-day party Chris and I took both Katie and Bree to see a movie at the dollar movie theater. This was the first for both Katie and Bree. We knew Katie would do good watching the movie but we weren't sure how long Bree would sit and watch it. We thought if we are only out 4 dollars it wouldn't be that bad so we gave it a try. We took them to see Madagascar 2, it was so cute because they had booster seats for them to sit on so they could see over the seat infront of them. Chris and I were amazed that they both sat throught the whole movie barely saying a word. Katie kept wanting to sing the song "I like to move it, move it" but other than that they both were zoned in on the movie and sat so still. It was a fun day with them and Katie keeps asking when we are going back to the movies. It fun now that Bree is getting to the age we can do all of these things as a family now.