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!