On the move again . . .

It has been a while since I last posted something for the blog. I have many reasons for being so quiet. 

{1} I don't want to share when I am feeling down, discouraged, or stressed. 

{2} Sometimes I just don't feel that I have anything happen that is "Blog Worthy" 

{3} We are getting so close to leaving for Japan that I am a basket case. I can't get my thoughts together enough to put them into words.

So for the last three months I have been silent. [on the blog that is ] Today I will share a few of my thoughts, my feelings ~ my heart with you.

Since my last post we have been to Springfield, MO for May Fellowship Week at Baptist Bible College, back to Texas, moved the Merkel, TX, back to Springfield, MO for Candidate School, back to Texas, got a "new to us van", up to Iowa, back to Texas and now ::today:: we leave for Tennessee and Kentucky for two weeks!!

We have gained some new supporters and new friends along the way. But these last three months have been hard on all of us. We moved - we left our home in Mesquite, TX. We have known since day one of deputation that this time would come. We knew we would have to leave behind our friends, give up our space, our things. We all knew and had talk about this day. Oh Boy!! We were not prepared {I was not prepared} for how hard it was really going to be. I felt so bad as a mom, asking my kids to give away, throw away, and walk away from "NORMAL". I kept telling them, "Think about all the new stuff we will get when we get to Japan." It seemed to help a little. The day came when we loaded up the van and my parents truck and moved to Merkel, TX. We are living with my parents until we make the BIG move. We are getting settled in and things are working out great. The kids have never lived in a small town and think its just awesome that they can ride their bikes to the store. It's just that sometimes I hear "Mom, can we just go home?" And it breaks my heart because this is home now. This is normal now for now. Four kids in one bedroom is home now. Four boxes labeled with four different names to keep all your favorites things in is home now. How do I explain this to four great kids - without feeling like I have taken so much from them?

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

I don't want anyone to think that I am not excited about Japan. I am THRILLED about Japan. I am excited about the adventures we will have. I am so ready to start a ladies ministry in the church and make new friends. I am excited to see how the kids will make new friends. I am worried about the language but I know that God will help me. I am excited about setting up house in Japan and learning how to shop a meal at a time rather than a week at a time. I am also excited to learn how to cook like the Japanese!! I am sure that will be an adventure all it's own.

I have so much to look forward too. I am thankful that you have chosen to follow us on
Our Great Adventure . . .

Until next time ~ Cristy

Just wanted to share

While at a park this spring we saw this tree. I took a picture because I was amazed at how tall the tree was with most of the roots exposed. The kids and I talked about the tree for a while. "How can the tree be standing?" "Why is the tree still growing?" After we left I kept thinking about this tree and the old song comes to mind.

::Just like a tree planted by the waters, I shall not be moved. I shall not be, I shall not be moved. I shall not be, I shall not be moved. Just like a tree planted by the waters, I shall not be moved.::

I want to be like this tree. I want to still be standing after the storms have washed away my ground. I want to be standing with my hands held high, doing what God created me to do. I want to be standing when everyone and everything else has failed. I shall not be moved!!

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalms 1:3

For God so loved . . . Japan

We are selling these shirts to help us with our plane tickets and start up costs when we get to Japan. As of today we have 289 days till we leave for Japan. That may sound like a while but it is coming so fast. We have 9 months to finish raising our monthly support and the money it will take for air fare, deposits on the apartment, the utilites and our new furniture. ::and by new I mean used::

The shirts are 100% pre-shrunk cotton. We have sizes XL, L, M, S. We plan to order kids sizes in the next order. We are asking $10 per shirt. (feel free to give more if you like) ;~) We can ship them for around $5. If you would like to place your order please call or email me!! Thanks so much and God bless!!

Cristy's cell number - 214-728-5781

Cristy's email - cristyrox@sbcglobal.net

Friends, Forts and Fun!!

Just an update of some pictures and things we have been doing. Since my last post updating our travels we have been from Michigan to Texas and then Florida and back. On our way back from Florida we stopped in Mobile, AL again with the Litton's. We had the chance to stop at Fort Gaines, a Civil War fort. We had a great time looking at the fort and learning how they lived and protected the Mobile Bay.

Eli, Jonah, Rachal, and Noah in front of a cannon.

While in Garden City, MI Mike was able to preach at United Baptist Church and also speak in the Chapel service at United Christian School. We were able to see friends we had not seen in years. What a blessing!!

Mike teaching chapel

Me and Becky

Gabe and Noah - Best friends in kindergarten

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.

A clean slate . . . . well sort of!

As we look at the new year ahead of us. I think about the blank, the clean, the fresh start that comes from the New Year! What's done is done for 2010 and 2011 is so full of possibilities. What did you promise to do, to change, stop doing for 2010? Did you complete it? For me it was lose weight, get healthy and grow closer to God. Well, I did lose weight but by March I was packing it back on. If I was not eating right then I was not being healthy and then the last one. As much as I try I always feel that I am two steps behind where I should be. I always feel that my walk is not as good as it should be.

Revelation 21:4-6

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be anymore pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, it is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirt of the fountain of the water of life freely.

I am so glad that God can make all things new. So as we look ahead to this new year, I am glad that I can start over and try again to make myself better. I can work on my weight, I can work on being healthy and I can work on having a better relationship with God. And when March comes around and I find that I am not sticking to these promises I have made to myself, I can rest assured that God makes all things new and I can start over whenever I need to!!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful and blessed Christmas. Our family was blessed beyond means. So many people who gave a little more to help our family have a great Christmas. To those of you I say "Thanks from the bottom of my heart. You will never know this side of heaven how much this meant to our family!" I am praying that God will bless you with a new year full of great and wonderful things!!

Bitter Sweet!

It is December 1, 2010 and we are getting into the full swing of Christmas around here. We sat up our Christmas tree Monday. The kids and I made salt dough ornaments for the tree. It was so much fun. We looked back over all our ornaments and the kids all picked out the ones they had made over the years past. Our tree this year is nothing like it has ever been. I have always had a theme for our tree. All the ornaments, ribbon and wrapping paper have always matched. This year our tree is made of memories. And as much as I have always disliked the multicolored trees with mis-matched ornaments, this year our tree is BEAUTIFUL!!! As we set the tree up and the kids hung the home-made ornaments on the tree ~ I cried!! I know, shock!!! But it was the thought of this being our last Christmas in this house. Our last Christmas for a while in the USA. It was much harder than I thought it would be. As Mike and I look forward to the new year we will see so many First!! Next year will be our first time to live in Japan. Our first air plane ride with the kids!! Our first house in Japan!! God is still working on me, and for that I am thankful!!

Merry Christmas!!!