On the road and so busy!!

Sorry I have not been keeping up with the blog like I want. We have been on the road so much in 2011. As we make the long drives and spend hours in the van, I always have these great ideas for the blog. Then when we stop I am so busy giving my best at each church that I never stop and post anything. I will try today to just give you an update on where all we have been and what we have been up to this year.

January 2011 -
In January we traveled to Springfield, MO to see my sister and her wonderful family. I am so thankful that God has allowed us to spend so much time together on deputation. We are making sweet memories that I will hold dear and recall when we get to Japan. While in Springfield we were able to meet with the Baptist Bible Fellowship International office. We turned in our application and have began the process of becoming partners with them. We believe that this will open more doors and opportunity to share our heart for Japan with others. We also had the chance to attend church at West Republic Baptist Church. We had a great Sunday with them. We have made good friends at this church. We also visited Dale Street Baptist Church and was pleased that they too, have joined in support with us. We left early on Thursday morning and made the 12 hour trip to Austin, TX for a missions conference at Faith Baptist Church. While in Austin we had the chance to take the kids to the State Capital. Although it rained the whole week we had a great time. The kids really enjoyed the State Capital and we really enjoyed the preaching and fellowship. From there we headed home for a few days. It was nice to be home and take a few days just doing nothing!! :-) The next weekend we were in San Angelo, TX at Life Point Baptist Church. Mike spoke at the Men's Prayer Breakfast on Saturday. Sunday night we went to Odessa, TX. We had a chance to share our burden for Japan with this church. This is also the church my brother is on staff at. We had a chance to visit with them. Again so thankful for the memories we are making. We did also have chance to go to Abilene to see my parents and my Grandmother. She has had a rough start to the year with her health. Please keep her in your prayers as even now she is not home yet but making great improvements. I was able to spend lots of time with her and listen to her talk about "the good ole' days"!!! So much wisdom to learn from our elders!!!

February 2011
We left Mesquite on Feb. 1, 2011 at the beginning of the "Great Ice Storm of 2011". We drove to Mobile, AL and then from there to Jacksonville, FL. We had a great time but didn't get to see the sun that much. It was cool and rainy the whole week. On Saturday we were able to head to the beach and the sun did come out for a while. The kids picked up sea shells and watched the waves roll in. Regency Baptist Temple was such a blessing to us this week. So friendly and made us all feel like family. We had a great time watching the end of the Super Bowl at the Pastors house Sunday night. It was great time of food, friends and fellowship!! That's what Baptist do best!! :-) We left on Monday and headed to Mobile again. Don't know what we would do without the Litton's!! They have been a huge blessing to us. Always opening their home to us! From there we have come to Springfield again. (I am writing this blog from my sisters living room!) We had planned to head out for Garden City, MI this morning. God saw fit for us to stay another day in Springfield. Yesterday our windshield cracked. We had to get it repaired and it is taking longer than we wanted. God is in control and I know he is taking care of us!

Please pray for us, we plan to leave early in the morning. I hope this keeps you all up to date.