Around, Around and Around

The last couple of weeks have felt totally crazy. Between packing up my parents and moving all their stuff to a storage unit in 2 1/2 days, Arika's birthday, Easter, and trying to get ready for Indonesia. I feel like a hamster on a wheel. I finish my day and I feel like I've gotten NOTHING done. Is that possible? My mind goes in all different directions, (course that's normal for me, huh?)
As I sit here writing this, I have 3 loads of laundry that need to be folded, about 3 more that need to be washed and folded, The bathrooms are screaming to be cleaned, (I keep trying to block them out.) I have a card table full of pictures and tub more full to go through. (to organize) Those are just the ones that need to be done now. How is there possibly enough time in my day?
Am I the only one out there that feels like this? I know I should just one thing at a time, and not get overwhelmed, but, I'm getting really frustrated!! I wrote this partly to let you know why you haven't heard the rest of the bear story, and because I need encouragement, But yet as I sit here thinking about it. I've been relying on myself, not God to give me strength. Philippians 4 :13 I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me. I am nothing without Him.

New Life

I'm very proud to say I'm an Aunt AGAIN!! Carter was born yesterday at 12:50pm is 7 pounds 10 oz., and 20-1/2 in. long! He is so cute and very expressive. I'm so glad I could be at the hospital for my sister who I count a best friend. I love you JO! I'm so very proud of you!! You have a beautiful Baby boy!

It was pulled back ready to strike...

I'm really not trying to make you wait. It's been really crazy around here. And for me I really have to be in a writing mood!! So if you haven't checked out the first and second part of my story check them out!


I backed up quickly and she stayed still, while the rest of us went around her. No one got bit. They said that was a rattler too. I thought it was strange cause I didn't remember seeing a rattle or hearing it. Talk about having enough snakes within 3-4 hours! We continued on our hike. We got to stop at a really cool place called the Grato. The water was beautiful. Such a crystal clear blue! But too cold for me to swim! We did have fun climbing on the rocks and got some pretty good pictures. (which I can't find, sorry.) After about an hour at the Grato we headed for our campsite for the night. We had about 2 kilometers left to hike. I barely made it back. (for those of you who don't know, I have lyphodema. It's extra tissue fluid in my feet and legs. They swell up pretty bad in heat and with a lot of walking.) My feet and legs were killing me. But none the less I did make it back! What a sigh of relief!! After a little rest some of the ladies got dinner ready. I couldn't eat. I just started breaking down crying, I had had enough! I headed for the ladies washroom and one of the ladies on staff came and talked to me. She was so sweet. She let me know she believes God has His hand in everything. Including snakes. We may not always understand it. She let me know that we had seen more snakes that day than she had seen on the same hike in the last 6 years!
At that point she asked me to decide if I thought my legs could handle the next day. Which was a 19 km hike with rough terrain. Since my legs were hurting so bad and I was emotionally spent, I told her I didn't think I could. We decided I would do the last 6-7 km and finish the hike. Whew! Was I relieved. I was then able to eat a little. A few of us decided to go wash our hair with my Herbal Essence Shampoo in the lake!! It was "Refreshing" to say the least!! haha! Then we all sat around the campfire, sang songs, and made s'mores. All of us were on a total of 3 campsites. The main site we cooked at was on one side of the road. The other two were on the other side. We slowly all headed for bed. It had been a very long and draining day. My friend Avie and I shared a tent, and Hemp was in the other (right next to us.) Everybody else was across the road. I was so excited that I would get a good full nights sleep without being woken up by Arika. (She had woken up every night in jungle camp, since she always got out from under her covers and would get cold.)
I drifted off into sweet slumber, so welcomed after a long trying day. Only to be woken up by my friend Avie Yelling, "JOY, SOMETHING IS TRYING TO GET IN THE TENT!"

Memories Part II

Okay, so I know some of you are upset with me. Here's another part of the story. If you haven't read the first post check it out! Here's some pics!

The group of ladies for the hike! This was right before we left.

This is at the "Top Noch" restaurant, this is Ruth sitting right beneath the buffalo!

Hearing our last instructions from Shane before we hit the trail!

So we got to the trail and got all geared up. They suggested we only take the necessities. Like water, extra socks, bug spray, etc. So we hit the Bruce Trail. It had some difficult terrain. Rocky, slippery, and a lot of up and downs, not just up, down, but UUUUUUUUUUUUUUP, DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWNS. Like holding on to the trees while you went down so you didn't roll down and die!! I felt like we were RUNNING!! (Remember I'm 5' 2" with very short legs, I was still sporting a good amount of baby weight and very, very out of shape.) I was in the back of the group having a very hard time keeping up. I took a little side trail with one of the ladies to see the bay, and there was a flash of green that slithered across my path! I let out a scream, then realized it was only a garter snake. Whew! We hiked for about an 1 1/2 hours an stopped for a break at a beautiful lookout spot, it was like we were all on a huge rock with cracks in it. Some of the ladies decided to hike down to a cave. I decided to save as much energy as I could! I sat down next to two of our staff members, but careful not to sit over a crack. Unlike one of the staff members. She looks down and says, "oh, hello." and got up. You guessed it! A snake! I was out of there so fast! Then I totally freaked! I started bawling, not just crying but BAWLING! They said it was a Mississauga rattler. It took everything I had to look at the snake. But I wanted to know what they looked like. Everybody was taking pictures, all excited about it. Then they had us stand back so they could make it rattle so everybody would know what they sounded like. They poked it but couldn't get it to rattle. It just slithered off.
So we continued on. I tried to stay closer to the front. They said it was good for the morale. We couldn't keep up with the lead. So I had one of the ladies (Avie) walk in front of me!! No way was I going first! As we were walking along, She just about stepped on a snake!! It was pulled back, ready to strike...

Memories part 1

I decided to share my story of the bear. But there is more to it than just the bear. I thougt it would be fun to share with you my whole experience This post is dedicated to Hemp, and Avie! What great memories! I hope you all enjoy the story. I tried to give those of you who aren't familiar with New Tribes missions training some background. I hope you enjoy. (sorry I can't find my pictures.)

In fall of 2005 my husband and I decided to continue our training with New Tribes Mission. Only we decided to head to the Canada campus as it was actually closer than the Missouri campus.
In our first year we learned about culture, tribal missions, relationships, and many more things. Part of our training the first year was Jungle Camp. We had to design a house out of green house plastic, screen, poles, and duct tape. Along with planning meals for the whole month, without being able to go to the store or leave "jungle camp." We had 2 weeks to build and then we lived in it for 4 works. It was fun, challenging, different, and hard all at the same time. During the 4 weeks, all us ladies, (single and married) went on a 2 day hike in the Bruce Peninsula National Park on the Georgian bay in Canada. We took off from Jungle camp first thing in the morning. (the only time we were allowed to leave "jungle camp") We stopped to have breakfast at a very interesting restaurant called Top Noch. The dining are had a disco ball, a HUGE buffalo head, and a chandelier. The food was pretty good despite the decorations!
While eating, one of the guys that came with us, started telling us that we did need to be careful about the Mississauga rattle snakes, and what to do, blah, blah, blah, I didn't hear much more after that! I started flipping out!! I have hated, let me restate that, HATED!! snakes for as long as I can remember. I decided it would be wise to let them know that I had a phobia of snakes. He wasn't really sure what to tell me. So we all headed out for the Bruce Trail.
More to come on the next post!

Renewed Passion

I sat in church last week taking communion, thinking about what a precious gift I've been given with Christ dying on the cross for my sins. Then the Lord brought to my mind the thousands of tribal people all over the world who haven't had a chance to hear of God's love and grace. Those that will die before they ever have a chance to hear. They live everyday in fear of evil spirits. Why don't they know yet? Because they haven't been told!! Some have asked for the God talk, but are still waiting years later, since their are not enough missionaries. I can't imagine doing anything else with my life, to have a part in the Gospel of Christ reaching to the uttermost parts of the earth. Since Jim and I have been raising our support for over a year and we are only at 27%, I've gotten caught up in every day life, forgetting why we are going. Thank you Lord for renewing my passion for missions! I'm so glad I serve a God who knows what he is doing even when I don't understand!

25 Random Things...

So here it goes. Thought this might help you get to know me more. If you feel like a challenge, try doing it yourself!
25 Random things about me.
1. I've never lived in one house for more than 3 years.
2. I've lived in 6 states(Oregon, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, North Carolina, and Michigan) and Canada.
3. I love bike riding, but hardly ever get too.
4. Sometimes wonder if I was born in the wrong decade.
5. I had to redo first grade.
6. I was home schooled from first grade(second time) on.
7. I finished 1 1/2 years of High School in 3 weeks so I could go to Bible School.
8. My husband was the first person I kissed and it was only a month before our wedding.
9. I got to do things in high school (go to a concert) that my older sister NEVER got to do! Thanks Tina and Jodi!!
10. I hate playing dodge ball.
11. I would love to go sky diving.
12. I love to bake.
13. I love to down hill ski, but haven't in over 9 years.
14. Volley Ball is my favorite sport to play.
15. I Learned how to play soccer when I was 22.
16. I have a condition in my legs called Lymphedema, had it since birth.
17. Excited to live in Indonesia.
18. I have a short attention span.
19. My most favorite job before being a mom, was being a car porter at a Car dealership.
20. When I was 14 I had a white and brown rabbit named Boganvia.
21. I have a phobia of snakes.
22. I've had a run in with a black bear.
23. I love sugar and carbs but can't eat it anymore due to having Hypoglycemia.
24. The sound of nails clicking or being bitten drive me nuts.
25. Can't stand it when windshield wipers are going, the windshield isn't wet and they make a weird noise.