Making the News!

“The faculties of each of the schools participate by nominating students they feel deserve this award.  Some of the guidelines are that the students must be good citizens and hard workers.  Students who consistently set good examples for other students as well as students who work hard to bring their grades up will be considered.” Baylor Co. Banner

You make us very proud Elleigh!  We can’t wait to see what the Lord does with you.  I admit, the plans after college scare me A LOT!!!!  However, we pray you live up to HIS standards and do whatever He calls you to do and go wherever He calls you to go (even if that means my baby girl and possibly my grandchildren living on another continent!)

Until I Can Think

I am alive and I do realize I have been slacking on blogging lately! 

Sallie and I have not been feeling well.  She had a stomach virus last week and this weekend we started getting the crud.  Took her to the Dr today and they tested for the flu but it was negative.  Thank God!  He said no signs of infection so probably just viral.  Her temp goes up all day and by night she is burning up. 

So, I have some things to blog but all this stuff in my head has me not thinking clearly!  My head feels a little confused, so until I can think I leave you with this pic of the the girls I took while they were playing (NICELY) a few weeks ago.  They really do love each other!

And to keep her from feeling left out and because I think she is beautiful, Miss Hall!

Love, Love, Love!

As always we stretched out Valentines Day as much as possible.  We love it! 

We started on Friday afternoon with Sallie’s class party.  We did ice cream with lots of different toppings and it worked well.  We got half way to town and I realized I left my camera at home so no party pics.  Actually, I had the camera but had taken the battery out to charge and forgot to put it back in.

Several years ago Elleigh and I made heart shaped rice krispy treats for her friends and I decided to those this year for Sallie’s class.  This year they made strawberry flavored heart shaped marshmallows and the girls loved them.  They have eaten them a lot for snack.  So, I decided to try them in the rice krispy treats and they were really good.

On Friday night A cooked for as he always does each Valentine’s and we get out the fine china, etc.  Since V-Day was on Monday which is therapy night for Sallie and Sunday nt was church and Sat nt was banquet at church that left Friday night.

Here he is getting the table ready (in MY apron!)

It is always so much fun to do a candlelit dinner with the girls.  We are very big on eating together at the table each night but it adds a twist when we get the china out and eat by candle light!  This is one of my most favorite traditions we have.We normally dress up a little more but it had been a long day and we did not take the time to dress up quite as much.  It was a come as you are formal dinner!Each year we discuss changing the menu and Elleigh has a fit!  I am SO glad we did not change it.  A’s completely from scratch shrimp fettucine alfredo is wonderful but this years was especially wonderful! I am always in charge of dessert.  I planned to make cheesecake and ran out of time so I got a Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake at Sam’s.  Needless to say it was good!  The girls always want Chocolate Covered Strawberries so we had those and I did make the strawberry sauce from fresh strawberries.  It was really easy and delicious!Since Valentine’s was on a school morning we decided to do our annual Valentine’s breakfast on Sat morning.  YES, those are pink pancakes!  ADORABLE!!!I am sure I say this every year but this picture says it ALL!  A did this!  Think God knew what He was doing giving him 4 GIRLS?!?!?!A continued the tradition of giving the girls a teacup and he is this year’s choice.  It is one of the new Vera Bradley patterns.  Very pretty!I try to get pics of the girls drinking from them the first time so that they will have the pics to remember when they are adults and we give them their collection.Ell tries to be a good sport about getting up early for the festivities!Each year our church does a Widows/Widowers banquet near V-Day.  I love it.  The GA’s help to serve so Sallie loved doing that.  Ell helped us out in the kitchen and Millie and Lizzie hung out with Melbie so all was good!  I forgot to take my camera once again (what is wrong with me?) but I did take this one as we were headed out the door.  I made the girl’s shirts but for some reason couldn’t convince Elleigh she needed one too!

The festivities continued at church on Sunday and then on to today so we have celebrated the LOVE a lot! 

Lizzie and Millie posing in their heart shades from their Melbie!

Kinda sad to see it all come to an end.  We look so forward to it all every year.  The one thing we have not done is celebrate as a couple and have no idea when that will happen.  Our February calendar looks like December and March is not much better.  Maybe soon!

Finally There!

The original word post is a couple of posts after this one.  This post and the one below are the pics that go along with that post. 

Outside the building where the church meets.  It is the rainy season there so lots of water which does not keep them out!

Cleaning up water inside the building to get ready to meet there.Aaron talking with Noah (one of the leaders of the church)David preaching on Sunday as Noah interpretsIt is wonderful to see how much growth the church there has had.  When we were there in July they had 15-20 total and now they have doubled that.  Notice the chairs.  These people have NOTHING and they bought these chairs a few at the time with their tithe money.Little chairs for the little ones who sit up front.  Notice A sitting right beside them.  I bet he needed his fix!Wonderful sign to see!They saw several lions this trip.  They are massive!

This was Aaron’s third trip but his 1st this time of year so the falls were running this time.  Isn’t this breathtaking?The teamMore of the creation God gave us to enjoyThe team along with Richard (beside Melba) who is our wonderful guide each tripIf you remember me telling about the tree from the summer trip this is another shot.  This is outside the hospital and these women come in the last month of their pregnancy (from the bush) and camp out here until they deliver.  It is quite a moving and beyond humbling experience to witness.The ladies on the team took them some bread and rice and were able to share Christ with them as well.  Not sure on the number but I do know that some accepted Christ here.  Melba shared with us that this young lady is 12…  Trying to get their fire started.  Melba is wonderful at developing relations with the people there.  Here she is helping them to sew the sacks that they use to sit on outside.This is a shot of a woman going back to her home after delivering.  That is the diaper bag I am assuming she got at the hospital when she delivered on top of her head.  Walking no telling how far after having a baby and no man in site for any type of support.  A always loves the babies!  Looks kinda like a politician!  These were the 5 individuals Aaron had the great priviledge of baptizingAaron speaking to the group before the baptism with Erastus interpretingI love this shot!  I just can’t explain the bond that is created between the people who go and the people there.  It is one that only God could create.  I talked to him not long after this and the excitement in his voice was intense!  You just can’t re-create moments like this.

There is still so much to do.  God has accomplished more than we ever imagined but he still needs us to help them in many ways.  This summer’s team plans to spend some time helping them on repairs on the building.This is David and 2 of his children.  Remember from July that David had closed the disco side of the building for the church to meet and while we were there he closed the bar side which has remained closed but David does suffer financially.  His family is making it but it is hard.  Please pray for David.A speaking to the church as the dedicated the children of the churchSurrounding them to pray for themThe children of the church in Outapi, Namibia!  Thank you JESUS!!!