2011 Float Trip

The very next weekend after Galveston I went to float the river with my Houston buddies, or what was left of them.

Jenise planned this entire trip to the very last detail.  She booked the place that she and Stephen had stayed at before, told us what to buy, what to bring, and how to enjoy ourselves to the fullest.

Jenise, her sister Julianne, Wendi, her sister Ashley, and Tracy and I were slotted to go.  Just days before we left Jenise and Julianne's grandfather passed away.  We all grieved for their loss as well as our loss of their presence on the trip.

Tracy and I carpooled from Houston and met the Dallas crew at the River House Tea Room in Gruene for lunch.  Delicious!  We shopped around for a bit then headed to the cabin.

Wendi and I at Hideout on the Horseshoe.  Great place, of course picked out by Jenise.

This place was convenient because we were right on the Guadelupe.  Unfortunately, the river wasn't moving, so we headed to the only river I have ever floated, always due to a drought or raging rapids - the Comal.

I brought these chairs to sit outside our cabin in the river.  Never happened, but we sure did get a lot of us out of them in the living area.

Right before going to dinner our first night in town.

The gang in front of Gruene River Grill

The next morning we loaded up our snacks, our inflatable rafts from Walmart ($2 more than renting and worth every penny!), and went to work.

Wendi and Tracy with our Walmart hats we bought to float the river.  Protect the faces.

Wendi brought a water proof camera and took some photos of us floating.  We made some female friends who offered up a pic for us.

Another under some shade.  The smaller intimate group was by far by favorite float trip.  I think the larger the group the more you have to keep up, especially in the water shoot toilet bowl (where I got stuck this year).

After going in two different directions we ended the float with a blizzard!

That evening we met up with Cabell and Amanda at the Huisache Grill.  Delicious way to end the night!

The next day we met up with Paige Murphree at the San Marcos Outlets for some shopping.  Wendi and I holding our breath before going into the Pottery Barn Outlet.

One last group shot before hitting the road back to reality.  This was the last time I saw Wendi before she flew off the Doha thee weeks later.  Bah!  Only 3 more weeks before I get to hug that neck again!

And Jenise, raincheck on a float trip ASAP....

Adoption Update

We finished our adoption classes two weeks ago.   Praise the good Lord!  No more sitting through long lectures about this and that.  Let's move on to the next thing!

I bought our fire extinguishers and thankfully had a conversation with Jen about getting them inspected, which I did this week.

We are moving houses in December.  The Lord has been all up in that transition.  More on that later.  So many people that have previously been adopted have been in the thick of this.  The Lord has been faithful to show His Goodness through all of this.

Called the fire marshal to see what I needed to change in our new house before having a fire inspection for adoption.

Still have to get all 3 of us TB shots.  Justin said briefly today when I told him that he didn't want to adopt because of the shot.  I asked him that he would rather not get the shot vs. give some kids a home who don't have one, point them to Christ, tell others about the gospel and how Christ loved us enough to adopt us into His family, and get him some much needed siblings.  To which he laughed.  Then he asked if we would get the shot the day we got the kids.  I told him how grateful we are that Jesus didn't decide to not get on the cross after realizing how hard it would be.  And we decided that getting a shot wouldn't be so bad.

Perspective.  We all need a little of it now and then.

Three weeks ago was Orphan Sunday.  It started in Zambia, 117th poorest country of 128. There was an AIDS crisis, and a pastor looked at the scriptures and said let's do something about this.  I dare you to go and listen to Jay's Sermon on Orphan Sunday.  7-8 families from our class have since come forward to adopt.   Jay talked about how we wrestle with why God cares so much about caring for the orphans.  And it all comes down to this - it's for the worship of our Great God.  God intends for the primary communication to be within the family.  So what happens to the kids that don't have a family?  Who will take them in if we as the Body choose to make up excuses?

I have been reading a book that Becca Harris recommended called Setting their Hope in God.  It has a daily prayer with Scripture incorporated into it that help me to be more focused in my plea for Justin.  I have been praying it over our future children.  It has made their arrival seem nearer.  I am anxiously anticipating them as I pray specific needs for their souls.

I read  Jen Hatmaker's blog post about being the village.  A great read on how you can be helpful once the dust settles on a family that recently added an orphan to their home.

Pray for waiting children  is a blog that shows a child that needs a home and gives you specific ways to pray for them.  Check it out and intercede for a child that may not know how to pray for themselves.

With Christmas around the corner, you should check out the Lifesong for Orphans Gift Catalog.  It's a lot like Samaritan's Purse Christmas Catalog that has purpose to your giving.  Not only can you donate to a family that would have financial needs to adopt, but you can help one learn a trade, get a job, or escalate out of poverty.  Make a dent in the cycle of poverty where sin orphans children.

A year and a half ago I would have wanted anyone talking about adoption to stand at arms link.  Wasn't ready.  But after reading Adopted for Life I knew I didn't have many excuses left.

Challenge yourself this Advent Season to pray as to what it is the Lord is calling you to do with the orphan crisis.   And get on it. 

Galvez with Midway girls

Once, and sometimes twice, a year I get the privilege of hanging out with my besties from back home, with the addition of Wendi-loo.  This year we went to my grandparents' beach house to hang out.  Majority of the girls hadn't been there since 2002.  We decided on a Sunday - Tuesday to avoid conflicts on the weekends.  Wendi flew in from Dallas and we drove on down to start the fun before the rest of the girls showed up.

When we first got there we didn't waste any time in breaking into our favorite things gift exchange that Caryn had suggested.  You brought up to $25 of your favorite thing(s) and we drew numbers to see who would go first.

We also got gifts from Jerr-Bear about how super we were...

...that is super tired!

We delved in the gifts, starting with KT.  Look at that glow - must be from the excitement of the game.

And look at Ann's glow - must be from the excitement of the prize.

I ended up with this bad boy - Waco in the house!

Also, Wendi grabbed these shoes in every size so I got to buy a pair off of her at the end of the game.

The stash

No, that glow on Katy wasn't because of the thrill of being first to pick in the game but from the news that she was prego!   And ironically we found out a few weeks later that Ann had just found out prior to this weekend that she was expecting as well.  Our group keeps abounding in babies!

Prior to posing before dinner.  Maybe everyone was talking about how lovely their toenails looked or something.

All snazzed up for a night out on the town.

Enjoying a delicious, windy meal at The Spot.  There was a live band so we did a bit of shouting as well.  My food took awhile to show up but other than that it was a great time.

After driving the scene on the seawall we put on comfty clothes and played a little Whoonu.

Caryn won the game and got the extra gift leftover from the favorite things game.

The next day we slept in, ate big, and went to the beach.  Wendi taking one for the team and taking a good photo.

I have to hand it to this crew.  I grew up going to the lake with this bunch, learned how to water ski, and always tried to never touch the lake bottom.  Except for Katy J, no one else grew up beaching it like I did.  And in Galveston, land of the lovely brown water.  We had a great time relaxing and chatting.

I stayed by the water the entire time.

We went back, showered, and learned things like the trick to Lauren's curly hair.  Cannot remember the name of this contraption, but it blow dries and curls at the same time.  Fascinating.  And makes Lauren's hair look fabulous!

Sporting our shirts with no makeup.  True beach style.

We then attempted a boat ride.  Trying to figure out why the boat isn't totally in the water.  All my lake buddies giving me pointers and me clueless.  Good thing I was the driver, right?

Making a call to my dad about it.

Ann using her free time to fish.

Since the gas gauge is broken (thanks to Ike), my dad advised me to put gas in it.  I truly believe this is why we had a hitch a first.  The Lord was sparing me from breaking down due to no fuel in the middle of the canal. 

We lowered the boat with no problem and were off!  High five by the excited passengers.

Ann truly tried to use all the time she could to fish.  Wanted to bring back some fresh grub for the Waco fam.

One last fishing attempt.  And me washing the boat (that's for my Grandpa to see I was doing my duties). 

The spoils of the weekend.  Wet, dripping dry bathing suits.

I don't know what made this weekend so special.  Maybe our purposeful conversations, our intentional topics, or the sensitivity the group gave me after I went downstairs to take out the trash and stayed in the hammock for a good cry after hearing the joyful news of Katy's pregnancy.  What can I say, I still grieve at odd times.  We have been through it all with this group of ladies.  We have celebrated and we have mourned together through the blood of Christ.  The older, and hopefully wiser, I get, I truly start to be grateful for the friendships that encourage me to look to the Lord.  This group of ladies fits that bill to a T.  Hanging with this crew in the junior high and high school days is half the reason I didn't spiral into many directions of sin.  The Lord's grace.  The Lord knew I needed a good accountability group...and this was it.  Love you all so much.  Am savoring the time we get to spend together again in January!

Jaylen's 6th Birthday

Jaylen, the boy we shepherd from Yellowstone Academy, has truly impacted us in such an amazing way in the short amount of time we have been around him.  I called his mom asking when we could see him and was told his birthday was the following Friday.  So we decided to take him on his birthday to celebrate.

First we let him ride a bike for the first time.  Jaylen is athletic and can pick up on things quickly.

Riding buddies

We went inside to play around with some guitar action.

Then it was time to open presents.  Swimsuit and a perplexus.  Derek insisted we try to find something to make him think.

Derek showing him the ropes while Justin zooms through his.

Then we went to Kicks Soccer and played around for a bit.

Justin was starting soccer in the fall so this was good practice.

The inner child in me came out and I once again had to run in scoring like my old wing days.

Mid air

Then we went to Rina Forest Cafe.  We walked up to the Galleria and of course Jaylen was on sensory overload.  He wanted to do everything.  We walk up and the hostess asks us for a table for three.  I look her dead in the eye and tell her party of four.  She apologized profusely over and over.  I just saw it as preparation of what was to come.  The Lord in His Goodness giving me a glimpse.  Letting the world know that just because everyone doesn't look the same doesn't mean we aren't all together.

Jaylen didn't know what to do with the whipped cream.

And we of course had to have the balloon man come over.

As we took Jaylen home I asked him if he had ever had a birthday party.  He said no.  A cake?  No.  No gifts, no one has ever sung him happy birthday, no cards, no present, nothing.  Now I know heaven isn't made up of people that have birthdays, but how different we would all be if no one celebrated you.  If they didn't tell you that you were important and worthwhile having a blast with.  It was our privilege to do that with Jaylen. 

May the Lord be glorified through our time with him!  May his heart turn to love the Lord.