Tuesday, August 24, 2010

So Much to Say!

My brain is too full of stuff to write without bullet points! And exclamation marks!

-We took the kids to meet their Pre-K and Mother's Day Out teachers today. God bless them! I feel really good about these sweet and capable ladies who will be caring for my beloveds.

-My sister and brother-in-law are in town. I am praying hard for God to move them home soon. Please, sweet Jesus!

-I got to see my adopted big sis Amy with a little baby bump. What joy! She and my mom spent some time this afternoon shopping for maternity and baby clothes. I couldn't go with them because...

-I had a conference call with the Compassion Guatemala Bloggers team! I'm sort of embarrassed to tell you that this was my first ever conference call. Curtis had to come home from work and take care of the kids while I hid in the guest room and listened in. That is because any time the phone is to my ear my kids are compelled to make various and sundry demands on their mother. It's remarkable, really. I've been getting to know the other ladies through their blogs, Twitter and emails and they are such neat women! Our trip is in two weeks. TWO WEEKS! It began to really hit me last week when...

-We were in Colorado! I spent our lazy mountain evenings reading Dr. Wess Stafford's book, Too Small to Ignore. I'm not finished, but it has been great preparation for the trip. So, a very generous and wonderful family allowed us to stay in their condo in Vail last week. What? A free vacation in Colorado? How quickly can we leave?!?! The answer was 36 hours. It was a two-day drive but it was totally worth it. It was simply amazing to be able to play outside with the kids. The heat index here today is 110. When we left Vail yesterday morning it was 48 degrees. Is that not glorious?

-August in Houston is so hellacious that I do not understand why there is not a city-wide revival every year.

-Guess who is doing some post-vacation WW points tracking? Oh yes, that would be me. Pass the baby carrots. And the ibuprofen. I've got a mean headache from the return to sea level. Let's call it reverse altitude sickness.

37 comments:

Bobbie said...

Welcome Home!! I can only imagine that y'all really enjoyed your Vail weather, sorry we couldn't get rid of the heat while you were there! :) We tried, I promise!!

Your trip to Guatemala with the Compassion team sounds awesome. We'll keep you in our prayers as you prepare to go and while you're there. What a blessing this time will be for you and the Guatemalans.

You have been a little on the busy side! Relax and enjoy your 'Mommy' time while the kids are in school!

Marla Taviano said...

I was JUST thinking about you! I've missed you! I CAN'T WAIT for you to blog from Guatemala!!I am seriously SO EXCITED!!

annalee said...

welcome home!

now i'm soo eager for your compassion trip!

Lauren said...

Cannot wait to see how God is going to use you on this trip!!!!!!! So excited for you :)

And Vail, how fun!!!!!!

Mary H. said...

It is HOT in North Alabama, too!! Praying for your trip!!
Blessings,
Mary H.

Angela said...

My hubby got altitude sickness on our honeymoon in Colorado! It was horrible...he was so sick! But nothing a little oxygen could not fix!

Can't wait to see those pictures.

I wrote on my FB page today that I hope everyone knows Jesus because I could not imagine going somewhere hotter than here! ha

Alison said...

Welcome home to the Lone Star! I am so excited for your trip and even jealous that you get to spend time seeing God work along with the lovely Ann V. I will be praying.....

I got to hang out with Becky Blume Davis today and her boys in Fort Worth! We lived the glory days in Aggieland and mentioned how fun it is to keep up with you here. xoxo

Kari said...

Hey now! I am trying to mentally prepare myself to move to Texas - don't scare me with those weather reports! The company my husband works for is moving in June 2011 to Dallas! Just as you are trying to rope your family back together in the same state- I am preparing to leave mine.

I love your blog! Good luck with your trip preparations, back to school for your children, and all that you have going on!

Kari

Courtney (Women Living Well) said...

Vail is BEAUTIFUL! Hope you got to go for a ride in the Gondola. I have family that lives there! It's wonderful to get to visit family in such a beautiful place in the world! Glad you got this time away!
Courtney

shana said...

That is an excellent book! Parts of it are pretty hard to read, but it's so valuable.
Blessings,
Shana

Emmy said...

So fun! I am so excited about your Compassion Guatemala Trip! My kids went for 10 days in July! They had an incredible experience!

I tried to email you some pictures (not sure if I had the right email) anyway if you didn't get them I have a few posted on my blog. Hope that doesn't seem weird... but I think you will get SO excited when you see the faces of these adorable children! Oh they are so precious!! I want to go!!!!

Please know I will be praying for your team!

Emmy : )

(the airlines did lose 26 of their 33 bags so pack a good carry on just in case! : ) )

Kristen @ Moms Sharpening Moms said...

You were in my neck of the woods. We recently moved from Hawaii to Colorado Springs. While I will miss Hawaii come winter, I can appreciate the cooler summer temps!

So glad y'all were able to have a little vacation. It does wonders!

Fran said...

I am soooooo excited about your compassion trip! I will be praying for you as you lead up to the big departure day.

Blessings and love,
Fran

Kelly @ Love Well said...

This?

"August in Houston is so hellacious that I do not understand why there is not a city-wide revival every year.

Made me snort my milk and granola. Seriously.

Kelly @ Love Well said...

Oh! I have to chime back in and say I'm so looking forward to the Guatemala trip. I was just thinking about y'all and praying for you yesterday.

Lindsee Lou said...

I'm giddy for you about your trip! I can't wait to read all about it. Praying for you!

Marc and Charity said...

You really do make me laugh. I can't wait to hear about your trip! Praying for you as you get all things sorted and ready!

CAROL LIVIN FOR GOD said...

Glad you are home I have never been to Vail but I bet it is pretty over there. Will be praying for you as you get ready for your trip to Guatemala. I just thought of somethimg my brother who lives in Houston is also going to Guatemala in a couple of weeks he is going with his church I believe I just found out he is going day before. He is going to help them put water in I think so maybe you all will get to meet that would be awesome if you do tell him his sister in Albuq. Nm. said hi
Relax now that the kiddos are in school.
Blessings
Carol

Erica said...

So glad you are back!
What a blessing to get to take that trip to CO. That was like our NC trip 2 years ago...just glorious!
I can't wait to see how the Lord works in and through you on the Compassion trip. What an honor to be asked to go.
I've been doing WW 3 weeks now. Down 5. I was hoping it would be at least 6, but it is progress none the less. Thank you for encouraging me to take the step towards accountability in that area.

Ashley said...

I can relate to the Vail weather, we went for our vacation in June, and it was amazing! We even went through snow on the way to Vail, and it was sad when we left it was in the 40's and when our plane landed in Nashville it was like 100% humidity.............
Luckily, we are going back to CO next week for a family reunion! Can't wait! Need another break from this AL weather too...

Heather said...

Baby carrots and hummus are my current WW fave...

Kristin said...

Got real excited this morning when I read that you will be blogging from Guatemala, looking forward to your posts and of course praying for ya!! Its 109 today where I live in California yet forcasted to be 83 on Saturday; weather is fickle lately!!

Letters To Jesus said...

Amanda I'm excited for you about your Compassion Guatemala Trip. I know it will be life changing.It's refreshing to see someone actually doing ministry in action. May God Bless you abundantly!

tanya said...

I agree with you on the city-wide revival. My thoughts exactly! I've wanted to post on my FB status something like - "I sure hope everyone is saved! I can't imagine living in this type of temperature for eternity." But, I haven't. We have a myriad of friends and that's probably not the best way to love them to Jesus.

Anonymous said...

We honeymooned in Vail! So beautiful and romantic. I just read your post on the LPM blog. I am so happy that the Lord has made a way for you to have the next year at home with your precious family. When I was expecting our second born last year, I was still working full time and there did not seem to be a way out. My heart was to be home with my children. I owned my own business and the demand of that, as well as the economy declining just seemed to be drowning me. The Lord is faithful! I have been at home now for a little over a year. We have had to make some financial adjustments, but it is so worth it. I will be praying over your family! So very happy for you.
Much love,
Becky

Allison said...

I feel you with the heat...it was 105 here!

FitzandMolly said...

I am going to have to quote you - I laughed out loud at the "August is so hellacious" statement!

Jill said...

I am looking forward to reading about Guatemala. I wanted to share about some great kids/family tunes for you and yours...you might have these already, but it is something that came into our life recently, and we went and bought them for our kids church. check them out.
www.seedsfamilyworship.com

Allison said...

My parents were in vail for the two weeks right before you! You just missed eachother! They keep saying "next summer" that they will get a place for a month and let us come, but it hasn't happened yet! Maybe next year will be our lucky break! Can't wait to read all about your trip to Guatemala. Love you!

Diana said...

I LOVE Vail! I am so jealous! I live in Denver and used to go up there all the time before kids, now we don't make up there very often. I am glad you guys were nice and cool up there because it was nice and hot down here. Sunday it topped out at 102!

Lauren said...

I'm so glad y'all had a nice time in CO. It sounds like it was very refreshing. Also, somehow I missed that you were going to Guatemala! Awesome.

Missy said...

So glad you got to have a get away with the family!!!!

I can't believe you leave in 2 weeks. AH!

Kelli said...

I am seriously so excited about your Compassion trip. OH how I wish I had more blog readers for that SOLE reason! Comments whatever, who cares, but I need those to convince Mr. Groves. :)

Traci said...

It's too hot here in KY too. My kids started fall sports and they are so out of shape from being indoors all SUMMER!

I'm so excited about your trip and all that's going on in your life. I just have a ton of respect for you. Can't wait to read about Guatemala. Wish I were going!

Anonymous said...

How exciting!

Kendra said...

Did you mean August has been so hot you don't know why there hasn't been a city-wide REVOLT? :) I think it's hotter everywhere. In our little village people are practically melting. The avg. temperature in our bedroom has been 90. Needless to say, we invested in an A/C for the b/d last week...

Shelly said...

I am so excited you are going to Guatemala on a Compassion trip. My son was adopted from Guatemala three years ago. If you happen to go to Quetzaltenango and you drive by the hospital there, would you please take a picture? Our son was born there and I'd love to have a picture. I know it's a long shot, but I wanted to ask!

Shelly