For JoDell

I dedicate this post to my good friend JoDell with whom we had the privilege of spending the recent weekend. One of the last things she hollared at us as we drove away was that she promised she would be checking our blog in the future.

During our furlough we've had an eye-opening experience concerning all the advances in technology that now dominate the way "we" in America do business and friendships. Changes in communication and how to keep up with it all was even the major portion of a discussion in a class we attended recently at a church. JoDell admits that she rarely checks blogs and email, but relies on texting and facebook. After repeated attempts to reach another friend via email and voicemail, we were told by a family member that she only answers texts or facebook messages. JoDell added that no longer is there much phone calling that goes on, but texting seems to be the major mode of communication. She made me laugh when she shared a story of someone wishing they could come up with an APP that would allow you to speak your text into the phone instead of typing it . . . a nearby friend was listening and sarcastically cut in that the APP is already available--it's a LIVE PHONE CALL!!!!!!!!!!!! Ooops, yeah, got ya on that one.

We've been off visiting and enjoying the company of dear friends again. Two weeks ago we trekked down to Pueblo and attended New Day Church. It was great to see SO MANY wonderful people and to give and receive hugs. The most recent weekend was spent visiting with friends we know from Geoff's days at Atlas Pacific Engineering. Toby was blessed to ride a motor bike at the Blicks house and they all had fun on the trampoline. Following that we wound up on the Eastern Plains of Colorado with "neighbors" Jim and JoDell Rogers and their boys. We felt right at home as Jim and JoDell hosted us and we all laughed about their inconsistent electricity and "iffy" water. We will always be "neighbors" though oceans currently separate us (Geoff lived across the street from them in Pueblo and we continued to live across the street from them through our first 4 years of marriage.) The kids played great together and Toby learned to ride an ATV, while Acacia rode a motorbike alone. They rode for hours and we spent our last night out on their land building and enjoying a campfire complete with s'mores (made with Reese's peanut butter cups--a yummy new twist thanks to the Rogers!!!)

Please enjoy some of the recently captured moments . . .

Uncle Cody came to visit!!!! The kids gave him lots of loves!!!!!! (kevin is hiding in the blanket)

Cody and Geoff picked chili peppers in the back yard. We roasted them on the grill!! YUM YUM

A group shot to remember the special visit--we kept Cody's arrival a secret until the morning of the day he came and when they found out they went bonkers!!

Our visit at New Day church was a real treat!! We didn't get too many pictures, but got at least a few. Chuck Highline, Geoff and John Horton

One of the true highlights of the day was seeing Cliff!

Afterwards we went to lunch with the Browns: Roger, Chris and Mike.

This past weekend we spent Friday and part of Saturday with Dwight and Debbie Blickensderfer and their kids. This picture pretty much sums it up. . . we had a VERY FUN time. Lots of visiting for the adults and lots of playing for the kids!

The kids loved the trampoline.

Toby rode around and around on the motor bike!

Debbie read a bedtime story to the kids who all climbed on the top bunk to listen and look at the pictures.

The Blicks hosted a dinner get-together for Atlas friends. What a blessing to visit and share stories with Noelle, Paula, Kelly and Jay(not pictured).

We left the Blickensderfers on Saturday and headed to Jim and JoDell's in Lamar. The kids felt like they were in the great outdoors of Uganda again, with the added twist of motor bikes and ATVs. Kevin commented on the way home from Lamar that he played the LEAST amount of video games of any visit we'd had so far! We all shouted hallelujah!!!!!

Toby on the motor bike----they rode for hours.

The second day Acacia learned to ride alone and she did fantastic!

Kevin rode on the back of ATVs and motor bikes and had just as much fun as the other two!! The driver in this pic is Toby.

All the NEIGHBORS!!! Jesse in the green shirt, Jacob in the brown and Acacia on the front ATV, then Jim with the dog, Maddie, JoDell, Toby, Kevin, Geoff and myself.

Out on their land, sittin around telling stories and enjoying each other's company. We collected firewood, rode ATVs and motor bikes, climbed tire piles, built a campfire, watched a deer, drank soda, made s'mores and watched the moon rise. Awesome times that we'll cherish forever.

(by the way, the date on the pics is wrong because we forgot to set it after putting in new batteries--so much for conquering technology.)

Back from Texas!!

Our trip to Texas was a great adventure!! We drove more than 12 hours straight to reach our first destination: Dale and Pat's in Colleyville!!! They have been dear friends for many years and it was a treat to be in their presence again. We were privileged to meet many of their friends as well when we attended church with them on Sunday a.m. The kids' favorite part was riding Lightning, the horse.



They spent as much time with the horse as they could: brushing, riding, petting and talking to Lightning went down as tops on their list of great things in Texas.



Dale and Pat with the kids and me. Geoff was taking this picture, but managed to get in the next one with Carrie (Pat and Dale's daughter) and her husband Tony.

Time spent with Gary and Leslie Patterson and their family was a blast of fun! It had been TOOOOO long since we'd seen them!! Last time I saw them their twins were toddlers and now they are seniors in High School!!! Yessirree, squirting whip cream DIRECTLY into the mouth of my son is the one and only Leslie Patterson!!!!!

Geoff and Mary and Leslie and Gary----hallelujah for long time friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We were amazed at God's timing as we were able to see our friends Greg and Jennifer. They don't live in the states and just HAPPENED to be here when we were AND we all were in Texas at the same time!! It was a true blessing to see them and talk face to face about our unique situations living in countries so different from the U.S..

We didn't just sit around talking, though! We swam for a couple of hours and then went to a local park where we shot off a rocket made of simple materials: 2L soda bottle filled with water, string, PVC pipe and a bicycle pump---the kids (small and bigger) had a great time and we all got showered with water :)

We also spent a very enjoyable time with Mark and Jennifer Smith. Jennifer and I were in YWAM together 18 years ago and hadn't seen each other since then. Meeting her husband Mark and their two kids and seeing their family together was an encouragement and a blessing. They own the Harley Davidson dealership in Fort Worth and the kids LOVED sitting on the motorcycles!!!!! We loved getting to know our friends more! Their widespread generosity is a blessing to the Kingdom to be sure!!!!






Toby, revved up and ready to go!

We were blessed to swim again at Mark and Jennifer's!! (TEXAS IS HOT AND ANY CHANCE TO SWIM IS WELCOMED!!!!!)

After leaving the Dallas/Fort Worth area we headed down to San Antonio. The Alamo was a must see and the tour was moving to say the least. Our kids have learned their history by seeing places first hand and we love it!!

Here, they asked if they could take a picture with the officers guarding the Alamo.




In front of the most recognizable building still standing at the Alamo site.

After San Antonio we headed to David and Debbi Allen's near southwest Houston. We went swimming AGAIN-----TEXAS IS HOT!!!!

David and Debbi were graciously hospitable! An added blessing was getting to meet the folks in their church family. The church in Needville has supported us for the past four years, yet we had never met the majority of the members!!!!! It was a joy to share smiles and hug their necks!

We arrived in Denver Tuesday evening, Wednesday was Geoff's mom's birthday, and I left at 6 a.m. Thursday for California to attend the "Women of Faith" conference with my mom, sister and aunts. It was an inspiring weekend, but I forgot to take my camera!!!!!! I was able to see my wonderful friend from High School, Dianne!! I wish I had a picture to show you because she is a miracle of the LORD!!! The same year we left for Uganda she began dealing with a serious illness. She was diagnosed eventually with stage IV Lymphoma and yet lives and breathes this day!!! I am so thankful for the blessing of being able to spend time with her and her awesome husband, Chuck, and I pray she stays well until we meet again!

We've settled down a little bit and even started school up again with the kids. But, we'll have a delightful interruption this Friday as we welcome Uncle Cody for a visit!!!! Cody worked with Geoff in Uganda at the Maize Mill and Vocational School last year from June-December. We tried to see him in Texas where he lives, but it didn't work out, so this visit is an added treat we didn't expect to receive!!! God is GOOD!!!

We'll be back here again soon for another update!